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Crichton, Preston present big adventure in ‘Micro’ (2011)

Michael Crichton left us with one last grand mystery upon his passing. We know he wrote “over a third” of “Micro” (2011) before he died,

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King’s career starts with bloody bang in ‘Carrie’ (1974)

Stephen King makes a remarkable debut with “Carrie” (1974), a rough-and-tumble but intensely readable short novel that’s perhaps more notable for its influence than for

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‘Electric Ant’ comic (2010) luxuriates in Dick’s themes

I read the “Electric Ant” comic book series (2010, Marvel) and then revisited Philip K. Dick’s 1969 short story right afterward. I was surprised by

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‘Eternals’ (2021) lacks the usual MCU fun, but has gravity

Of 2021’s four Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Eternals” is the most intellectual but the least fun. “Black Widow,” “Shang-Chi” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home” are

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‘Carey Treatment’ (1972) wildly adapts ‘A Case of Need’

I described Michael Crichton’s “A Case of Need” (1968, written under the name Jeffery Hudson) as a hardboiled medical mystery. But there’s the book version

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Flanagan’s ‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019) a slow burn, but worth it

With “Doctor Sleep” (2019), Mike Flanagan’s knack for blending horror and humanity is ever-present on screen. But his biggest accomplishment might’ve been the off-camera tiptoeing.

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James Gunn cuts loose in DCEU’s ‘Peacemaker’

“Peacemaker” (Thursdays, HBO Max), the first DC Extended Universe TV series, rehabilitates the title character, the least likable member of last year’s “The Suicide Squad.”

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‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep: Dust to Dust’ (2010) an emotional journey

“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep: Dust to Dust” (2010, Boom! Studios), an eight-issue prequel to Philip K. Dick’s novel (which was being adapted word-for-word

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Crichton brothers team up to do some ‘Dealing’ (1970)

“Dealing, or The Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues” (1970) is Michael Crichton’s only collaborative novel (not counting the posthumous “Micro”), written with his brother Douglas (1948-2012)

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Kubrick’s ‘Shining’ (1980) both simple and complex

“The Shining” (1980) is in a class of movies with “2001” and “Blade Runner” where they’re the most boring thing ever when you’re a kid.

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