Media Notes: Roundup for April 2026

 

 

  

 

Welcome to my somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during April 2026.

Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise. I am trying out the movie database as an alternative as IMDB is getting more restrictive and paywalling more features. If it becomes a problem, I may just use Wikipedia). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available). 

• Event Horizon (1997. Horror. Science Fiction). I commented on this one back in the April 2019 roundup.  It is one of those favorites that if I see it come up on a channel, I will stop to watch it. It came in April again, so yea, I watched it. Via TubiTv, though I also own it on DVD. Watched 4/4. 
• Airplane! (1980. Comedy. Spoof. Parody). Plot description: "After the crew becomes sick with food poisoning, a neurotic ex-fighter pilot must safely land a commercial airplane full of passengers." This is a spoof of the airline disaster films of the mid-1970s or so. I remember watching some of those, and I also remember watching this close to the time it came out.  Part of the reason we watch films like these is the cast, which here includes: Robert Hays, Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Robert Stack among others. If you ever watch the Airport movies, you will notice the various cliches parodied here. Even if you have not seen those movies, you'll recognize some of the cliches used in later disaster films. Still, despite some dated details, the humor overall holds up pretty well. For recent viewers, there may be a gag or two that may not be as "politically correct," so there is your heads up. Otherwise, a pretty good spoof that still works. The pacing is pretty good as we get joke after joke at a steady clip. 4 out of 5 stars. Viat TubiTv. Watched 4/4. 
• The Knock Knock Man (2025. Horror). Plot description: "A group of friends summon an urban legend as a dare, but when someone breaks a rule, the entity becomes real. As it hunts them down, they must discover its origins and banish it before they're all killed." Opening has a brief text explaining the origin of the legend, a neglected child that dies and becomes the lost spirit of the Knock Knock Man; it is a pretty good premise for a horror film. We start with the usual cast of somewhat spoiled teens that we can't wait to see dead, you know, superficial people we could not care less. Once they get to the lake house, and evening hits, they start the game, and initially it works. When one of the players breaks the rule, that is when the trouble starts. This was an OK suspense movie. The horror when you look at it is relatively minimal, it is more suspense that outright horror: will the Knock Knock Man get them or not, and we can all guess the answer. Pacing is OK; it manages to maintain a sense of tension throughout, but aside from that, a passable slasher film, except the deaths are relatively minimal. There is some gore, but no big deal. The acting is average at best. Thing is this character could have potential for a series along the lines of urban legend movies or similar horror, but it stays at a basic level. Decent enough movie to watch late at night, but it is mostly a watch once and move on. The twist at the end with the Black guy did not quite make sense if you consider the rules the movie set out for the Knock Knock Man, but then again, it is horror and sometimes rules get broken. 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/10, 
• Your Host (2025. Horror). Plot description: "Four friends get trapped in a sadistic game show, forced to outwit a twisted serial killer while racing against time. Every move brings them closer to freedom or a gruesome fate."  After we get a somewhat gruesome opening where a "contestant" chose poorly and gets killed, we moved to our four friends coming to some luxury country house one of their parents own. Again, as happens in these kind of movies, your usual vapid shallow characters you won't care about much. The one rich kid is an asshole, the two girls are a bit on the obnoxious side, though one of them is because she is worried over a sick parent, and the remaining guy is sort of meh. 15 minutes into the movie they get captured by a stranger and taken to the unknown game show location. The host puts them through a series of torture games. Once the "show" starts, it keeps going. At one point in the game, they have to confess the worst thing they did, which in a way confirms they are all assholes. Is that reason why they were picked for the game? Anyhow, we do not get much about the host or reason why the youth are chosen initially. Late into the film we get, via flashbacks, the host's background and a bit of why they were chosen. Overall, it is a decent thriller with a variety of fairly gruesome deaths. Reminiscent of the Saw  films? Yes, it is. Still, the actor portraying the host does pretty well. The rest of the acting was OK. While not great, it is pretty good. I watched it in part because Tubi suggested it as having similar appeal to The Knock Knock Man. It was a bit better though not by much. There is some gore, but not as much as other more known horror films. Still, it is watchable.  2.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/10.
• The Witch: Part 1: The Subversion. (2018. Action. Mystery, Science Fiction. Korean film. Original title: Manyeo). Plot description: "When a bright high school student with memory loss enters a national talent show to help her struggling family, she finds her ordinary life flipped upside down by the sudden arrival of mysterious strangers seemingly connected to her past." Initially I thought this could be a horror film given the title, but the trailer conveyed it was a different concept, so I decided to take a chance.  For starters, the opening credits with the various medical and pseudomedical images was interesting, adds a bit to the movie's initial mystery. The protagonist is a girl that escapes some kind of institution at 8 years old. She finds herself adopted by a cattle farmer and his wife. Time passes, and she is 19 now, the economy is bad, and her adoptive parents' health is frail, which motivates her to enter the contest. However, the contest brings exposure she did not want nor need. The story builds gradually as we get hints and bits of the girl's past and those who want to capture her. About halfway into the movie things really start to escalate, and the hunt is on. To be honest, this is not a new idea: some special child or youth kept in an unknown agency and raised to be an assassin or such. So the movie hinges on the intrigue, which it keeps very vague at times, and the action, which for at least first part of the film is minimal. We get some clues the program, whatever it is, is not just in Korea but other parts of the world as we get references of some kids being made in America (the U.S.). That part I find intriguing, but we do not get much of that background. As for the girl, it is the case of guy or gal with mysterious past living a peaceful life until they come after them. You know, stirring the nest of hornets they should've left alone. On a side note, for some reason, the dialogue in brief times uses English phrases but it is otherwise in Korean with subtitles. Not sure why they made that choice, but it is a bit weird to hear. As interesting as the film is, there is a bit more talking than anything else which kills the pacing. When the scientist is just talking out exposition later in the film, it just drags as you wait for the confrontation we all know is coming. The twist at the end, where we find out who baited who, is a nice detail. Yet in the end, some excessive dialogue ruins what can be a great action film. This is  Also it leans a bit much into melodrama for what it is. a two-hour film, but it probably could have worked just fine in an hour and forty minutes or so. Still, in the end, story and execution are decent. Protagonist performance is pretty good too. It is good visually, and the action scenes are done well.  I'd say it is one worth watching despite some flaws. I like it enough to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/25. 
• The Witch: Part 2: The Other One (2022. Action. Mystery. Science Fiction. Korean film. Original title: Manyeo Part 2: the Other One).  Plot description: "After escaping from a secluded laboratory, a young girl with overwhelming power finds herself on the run from several mysterious organizations, seeking refuge with a woman and her younger brother." Turns out there was a sequel to the previous movie, this time with a new girl. Tubi has it this month, so I just went right away to watch and see if it is worth it. The plot starts now about 10 years later from the original. Turns out in all that time the scientist's sister, who is also a researcher, has been doing some research of her own along with others. Some of the gifted children are out in the wild, and of course the organization, or rather organizations because there are factions it seems, wants them eliminated. Meanwhile, the new girl manages initially to stay out of sight with the woman and her brother. This movie is a lot slower than the previous one, and the added subplots, such as a gang trying to take over the woman's land for some development, does not help the film. Again, too much talking at times just slows down the film. Then we get annoying characters like the farm woman's brother, who is a typical annoying teenager. The attempts at humor, such as the grocery store scene, do not help much either. Bottom line is various folks are after the girl, but we need to get through other subplots to get there. The overall concept of the films is good enough, but this sequel we probably could have done without. By the way, this one includes a post-credits scene, so it looks like they are leaving an opening for yet another sequel. However, if we go by this one, I am not expecting a third installment to be any better. This one in the end was a bit of a mess with the subplots, and it felt slow for most of it. For this one, it could have been so much better if it was better focused, shorter length. 1.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 4/25.  

 

Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

• Kojak (1973-1978. Action. Crime. Drama).  The classic police drama procedural with Telly Savalas in the title role as Lieutenant Detective Theophilus "Theo" Kojak. Went on with season 4, which I finished, and into the 5th and final season of the series. Overall, I've been enjoying this series very much. Good writing, good drama, and of course, Telly Savalas had some serious charm. Rest of the cast perform well too. Via TubiTv. 
• In season 4, episode 15, suddenly we see Brian Dennehy as a security company officer.

 

Book Review: Puerto Rico: a National History

Jorell A. Meléndez Badillo, Puerto Rico: A National History. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2024.  ISBN: 9780691231273. 

Genre: History

Subgenre: Puerto Rico, colonialism, imperialism 

Format: hardcover

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College  

 

"Colonialism has shaped the ways Puerto Ricans conceptualize themselves, their politics, and their idea of nation. This book argues that we cannot understand Puerto Rico's current fiscal, political, and social crises without recognizing its colonial reality" (xiii).  

 

At a bit over 210 pages, this book tells you the basics of Puerto Rican history. Historians can write multiple volumes on the topic, and I am sure armchair historians will still complain this book is too short, not comprehensive enough, leaves some details out, etc. This book may not be for them. This book is a more general history for folks who want to get an overview and get the basics. 

If you are an American, this is a good book to learn the history and conditions of the U.S. colony. 

If you are like me, born on the island but now living in the diaspora, the book may provide a good refresher on the history taking us to the current time. 

If you were born and raised in the diaspora, this may be a good book to read as well. 

The book is arranged into 15 chapters, and it includes a prologue, acknowledgements, notes, a selected thematic bibliography, and an index. The prologue sets the context and gives a bit of the author's and his family's experience. After that the history starts with Puerto Rico's first native/indigenous populations then goes through the Spanish colonial era to the American invasion to the future after Hurricane Maria.  

A strength of the book is in the narrative. Unlike so many academic textbooks, the author weaves the history as a narrative that is accessible and easy to read. I found myself reading the book at a speedy pace. It was not easy to put it down as I was engaged. Once I got to the late 20th century, I found myself remembering the events he writes about. The text often triggered my memories. Yes, this is an academic book, but it is accessible for the non-academic reader. 

Another strength of the book is that it is well documented; you can check the notes as needed to verify facts. Some of the notes can be interesting too. 

If you want to learn more, the selected thematic bibliography can provide some suggestions for further reading. 

I'm glad I read the book. It gave me a refresher on the history. I also learned some new things, and it was an easy and interesting book. 

I recommend the book for public and academic libraries. It works well for readers of popular works as well as academic readers. In academia, programs in history, political science, peace and social justice, and Latino studies may find it of interest. I'd consider adding a copy to my personal collection. If you prefer, a Spanish edition is also available at this time. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

 

Book Review: Black-Owned

Char Adams, Black-owned: the revolutionary life of the Black bookstore. New York: Tiny Reparations Books, 2025.  ISBN: 9780593474235.

Genre: business, history, nonfiction

Subgenre: African American and Black Studies

Format: Hardback

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

 

The author has written a well-researched and readable history of Black bookstores in the United States. The story begins with the first Black-owned bookstore, which opened in New York in 1834. From there the story moves to the 20th century and on to the 21st century into today. Some of these stores were owned by activists and fostered revolutionaries and political activities. Others wanted to run a book business. Often these owners faced obstacles, racism, discrimination, violence, and harassment from the government, especially the FBI. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction.
• Ten chapters.
• Conclusion.
• Books Black Booksellers Want Everyone to Read. A list of 10 books they want you to read. From their list I've read two: Beloved and Their Eyes Were Watching God. 
• Black-Owned Bookstores in the US by State. As of this book, Kentucky does not have one (or at least one that made the list). 

This is a history of Black people, the communities the stores served, sellers, traders, publishers, literacy, and more. The narrative draws you right in. I just kept on reading. The are moving moments. Lessons to be learned. We learn about the essential role that Black bookstores play in their communities promoting reading, culture, and literacy. In addition, it is a well researched book featuring quotes and conversations with many of the book traders who made the history. 

This is a history that has been overdue, and the author finally wrote it and shared it with the world. It's an interesting book, easy to read, and everyone should be reading it. It's not just a history of bookstores. It's a part of U.S. history that was known in bits and pieces here or there by a few, mostly those who lived it. The author does an excellent job of bringing it all together. 

This is a book I recommend for all libraries, public and academic. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

 

Additional reading notes:  

In the introduction the author describes how she went about interviewing people, researching, and then writing the book. What she found when she started out: 

"Most of what been written about Black bookstores is strewn across old, defunct newspapers, obscure books, journals, and government documents. All of them were difficult to find. There was no singular place to learn all I wanted to know about them. I was shocked to find that no complete book existed about Black bookstores' history, struggle, and cultural impact" (2) 

 

Significance of Black bookstores: 

"To understand the Black social and political movements that have shaped our history, we must understand the role Black bookstores have played in them-- as well as the role they continue to play as we press forward into a new and uncertain future" (4). 

 

Mulzac's Liberation Bookstore had a section that more bookstores and libraries need to have: a "Know Your Enemy" section: 

". . .which Mulzac always kept up to date, had information on current events like the Watergate scandal" (61). 

The store's motto: 

"If you don't know, learn. If you know, teach" (61).  

 

It was about more than just selling books, for example: 

"Black students often turned to bookshops like Mulzac's to supplement their formal education through the shop's community programs, educational events, author talks, and debates. People of African descent could go to Black bookstores for the instruction and education they couldn't find in formal higher education" (67).

We may often take programs in Ethnic Studies for granted, but back then such programs did not exist and/or were fighting for their place in academia. And now with the current regime they are fighting for their academic lives again. 

 

Quote to remember: 

"Stop begging someone else to do for you what you should be doing for yourself" -- Ed Vaughn, activist and owner of Vaughn's Books. 

 

A pattern in Black America, one the Black bookstore faced: 

"This was a familiar pattern in Black America: when an aspect of Black culture became popular, large companies would capitalize on the market. With few resources to fight back, Black small business owners faltered under the disadvantage" (149). 

 

Boycott Note: This book is published by an imprint of Penguin Random House (PRH), and so it falls under my publishers' against Internet Archive boycott. However, I am exercising the library exception to the boycott in order to read it since my own library acquired it. Thus I am writing my full review here, and I will post a short review on our library blog. After that, I am not promoting it actively any further.  

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive

Lee Allred, et.al., Dick Tracy: Dead or Alive. San Diego, CA: IDW, 2019. ISBN: 9781684054145. 

Genre: comics

Subgenre: crime, detectives

Format: trade paperback

Source: Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library 

 

This was a fun romp to read. Dick Tracy, the iconic detective with the yellow trench coat, hat, and his two-way wrist radio, is modernized for the 21st century. However, the writers and artists maintain the essence of the character. 

Tracy is as honest as they come. After a big bust costs him his job in one city, he ends up in Chicago. He soon starts to clean up the city, and he soon clashes with the local corruption from the mayor, police chief, so on. Only support from the state government keeps him on the job, and a special task force helps him when he gets framed for a crime, an attempt to get him out of the way. 

The story is fast paced and fun overall. Once you start reading, you just keep going. The art feels like the classic comic strips,  but they also have a bit of 1990s or so style of cartoons. In modernizing, the authors try out some interesting things. For example, his wrist radio uses a special technology so cannot be tracker. This counters the need and risk of using a cellphone. 

Overall, the story feels retro and modern. In a time when so many comics want to be dark, gritty, and edgy, this one is just fun. It has a silly moment here or there, but that is part of the charm. The art is colorful and light. Old fans and new fans alike can enjoy this book. The book features the first four issues of the series. The book also includes an overview and historical timeline of the comic strip plus some extra annotations and editorial art. I am not sure if the series has continued at this time, but I would read more of it. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

 

Book qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: 

 

Deck Review: Runic Tarot

Jack Sephiroth, et.al., Runic Tarot. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. ISBN: 9780738770734. (link to publisher)  

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: vikings, Norse

Format: Kit with companion book and deck

Source: I own this one  

 

The Fool-0 

Up front, if you liked the Heaven and Earth Tarot deck (link to my review), you might like this one. JackSephiroth, artist and author of the Heaven and Earth Tarot, is the artist and author for the Runic Tarot. The art style here is similar to his other deck, which is a reason why I picked up this kit. Allen Dempter also worked on the deck's concept and did the runes research. Jaymi Elford wrote the book. A book by Elford is another good reason to pick up a deck kit. So we are off to a good start. 

The deck kit includes the companion book and the 78-card deck. The book is arranged as follows: 

• Runic Tarot. A small runic meditation to set up mood and get started working with the deck. 
• Introduction to Tarot. Briefly introduces the deck's concept combining runes and Tarot. We also get a short overview of Tarot structure. 
• Introduction to Runes. A brief overview to runes. We also get a table of runes. 
• Unlocking the Meanings. Some advice on using the book as starting point for your journey with the Tarot and runes. 
• Major Arcana. First we get a table showing which Nordic deities and runes connect to Major Arcana cards. Then you get the Major Arcana entries. Each entry includes a full color illustration of the card, image description, meanings, keyword for upright and reversed interpretation, and interpreting the runes. 
• Minor Arcana. Entries are arranged by suits. Note each suit draws from different runes. For example, runes in the suit of horns (cups) are drawn from the Medieval Futhark.  The card entries here lack illustrations. You get image description, meanings, keywords upright and reversed, and interpreting the runes. The text is shorter than in the Major Arcana entries, but you get enough to work with the cards. 
• Reading Tarot. This includes brief instruction on using the cards, runic spreads featuring 3 spreads, and a list of steps to do your first reading. If you're experienced you might skip the last page, but I'd say try the steps anyway to reinforce learning. 

The book is accessible and relatively easy to read. When it comes to the runes, you get the basics. If you know runes and/or work with runes, you may appreciate the integration with Tarot better. If you come with no knowledge, and you are curious, you may want to seek some supplementary reading on runes. Still you can use the deck and book just fine even if your knowledge of runes is limited. 

Eight of Shields (Pentacles) 

The card art is beautiful with a bit of an ethereal quality. If you like vikings, Nordic mythology and imagery, you'll probably like this deck. The deck has some Rider Waite Smith (RWS) elements, but much of the art offers unique elements that can add to your readings and interpretations. 

The cards are fully illustrated. They feature images that you can take your time looking at them. They are rich in detail and expressive. They are colorful with grey tones predominant. I'd say this is a good deck to use during the winter season. Of course, you can use it any time of year, but for me it works well in winter. If you work within the RWS system, this deck can work for you. The deck can work well for intuitives given the rich and expressive art. 

Each image in the deck features one rune or more. A small issue is the artist drew some of the runes too small or hid them too well in the art. There are one or two cards I could not see the runes; I realized a rune was there after reading a card description. I found this is a significant issue on some cards. 

On a side note, there is a mini-edition of this deck available, so if you cannot see some runes on the standard size deck, the issue may be worse in the smaller size. Despite that, I may get the small edition for my work office. 

Overall I love the deck. I found it to be a solid reader, reliable, and responsive. It works for me, In addition, it has made me more curious about runes, so I will start studying them down the road. I am gathering some study resources already. 

If you like Runic, viking, Norse art and beliefs, and you read Tarot, this is a deck for you. If you work with runes, this deck may be for you too. I do highly recommend it. It is one I'd consider getting a back up copy. 

5 out of 5 stars.

 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: