Category Archives: SciFi Fantasy

Cinequest 2025 – Alien

Posted on March 13, 2025 by ricbret

The film “Alien” presents a unique Russian science fiction story set in a Ural village, focusing on Lyosha, a hearing-impaired man seeking extraterrestrial contact after his mother’s mysterious disappearance. The film explores themes of alienation and connection, enhanced by striking visuals and a compelling mystery involving a telepathic girl who enters his life. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2025 – Shorts Program 3: Genre Quest

Posted on March 9, 2025 by ricbret

The Cinequest Genre Quest block of short films is excellent overall, with a number of film genres represented in bite size and slightly larger sizes. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2025 – Time Travel is Dangerous

Posted on March 6, 2025 by ricbret

Best friends Ruth and Megan discover a time machine and travel to the past to collect vintage items for their North London shop. Their adventures avoid changing history, filled with comedic elements reminiscent of Monty Python. The film, shot in a documentary style, delivers an inventive take on time travel. Continue reading →

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The 2025 Saturn Awards for Science Fiction

Posted on February 3, 2025 by ricbret

My review of the Saturn Awards show along with a list of award winners. Continue reading →

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Review: Korak at the Earth’s Core

Posted on March 20, 2024 by ricbret

Korak at the Earths Core is a welcome addition and continues the evolution of the world of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2024 – The Invisibles

Posted on March 10, 2024 by ricbret

The Invisibles appears in the Cinequest 2024 catalog under the dual category of Fantasy / Drama. And while both are correct, it sells the film short. But then, I’m hard pressed to find a category that would give the appropriate credit due here. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2024 – Tim Travers and the Time Traveler’s Paradox

Posted on March 8, 2024 by ricbret

This one of a series of reviews from this year’s Cinequest film festival in San Jose, California. Read more about the festival here, and buy tickets for showings of this and other films here. A scientist creates a time machine in order … Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2023 – Abruptio

Posted on August 20, 2023 by ricbret

Abruptio doesn’t just live in the uncanny valley, it’s bought prime real estate and built a mansion in the foothills with an incredible view. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2023: Share?

Posted on August 9, 2023 by ricbret

In 1969 Canadian televison produceed a one hour teleplay by Jim Hensen called The Cube. It was only broadcast twice, and although you can find it on YouTube it isn’t terribly well known or noted. The Cube was certainly was … Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2023: Tomorrow

Posted on August 8, 2023 by ricbret

If I were to tell you that this movie is about someone who wakes up each morning in a different body, always yearning to go back “home,” you’d probably say “Oh yeah, Quantum Leap! I loved that show!” But this … Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2022: Futra Days

Posted on August 20, 2022 by ricbret

Traveling forward in time isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, as Sean Graves learns the hard way. He’s supposed to spy on his future self to determine if he should pursue a new romantic love interest. Even though he’s … Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2022: Fanga

Posted on August 16, 2022 by ricbret

Tale as old as time… we all know the song from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. And we’ve probably have seen a production other than the animated Disney cartoon. But this is a movie truly a “tale as old as time” given its roots in folktales and myth. And with Fanga, writer/director Max Gold is going back to the source material, and added a modern twist. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2022: The Day I Found a Girl in the Trash

Posted on August 15, 2022 by ricbret

The Day I Found a Girl in the Trash is a near-future science fiction story. Typically near-future SF is anywhere from five to ten years out from “today.” This allows the writer/producer to focus on a smaller aspect of change. Continue reading →

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How To Survive Cinequest 2022

Posted on August 14, 2022 by ricbret

A viewer’s guide to what USA Today readers voted the Best Film Festival. I’m happy, so happy, to update this pre-Covid-shutdown article for use in 2022. This year Cinequest moves back from virtual film festival to one of in-person smiles, … Continue reading →

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Why I Judge Books by Their Cover

Posted on April 17, 2018 by ricbret

Book Judgement is someplace where I can review and express my love for the manufacture of books, the binding, typography… Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2018: Peaches

Posted on March 3, 2018 by ricbret

We all know the rules of time travel by now. Never travel to a time and place where you’re sure to meet yourself. Never do it twice at the same time. Three times is a very bad idea. And a dozen or so… well that could be real trouble. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2018:
Charlie and Hannah’s Grand Night Out

Posted on March 2, 2018 by ricbret

This is one of those cases where you’re best prepared when you’re unprepared. 
Trust me. This film is what film festivals are for. Continue reading →

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The Dark Tower – Defending the Rose

Posted on August 6, 2017 by ricbret

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.
Probably the best opening line in literature. Yeah, better than Call me Ishmael.
(Seriously Ishmael, I was just asking you for a name to write on your coffee cup!) Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2016: Sight Unseen Recommendations

Posted on March 2, 2016 by ricbret

Now that Cinequest is fully upon us, I need to touch on a small subject of interest to those of you going to the festival. There are WAY too many great films to see everything. Way too many. And some are terribly hard to review for reasons that will be obvious in a few paragraphs. But luckily those same programs are very easy to recommend, and do fall on my “Don’t Miss” list.
Continue reading →

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Star Wars VII trailer: Storytelling & the invisible structure

Posted on September 25, 2015 by ricbret

Storytelling and structure from Presentation Zen master Garr Reynolds by way of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and a priest named Father Roderick… Continue reading →

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