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This is one of the best Batman fan films I've ever seen.

Shatner returns, along with some other familiar faces.

I finished watching the latest batch of episodes last night. I like this show a lot, but I think it should've ended with season 5. They're spreading the material extremely thin at this point, which leads to a lot of repetition. Characters go through the same formulaic cycles of bickering (this is particularly tiresome when it comes to Daniel and Johnny), the youngsters keep running into their rivals when out socialising and then getting into predictable confrontations, the same thematic conflicts about aggression versus balance keep cropping up, and we're fed familiar scenes of characters changing sides, falling out, cheating on each other, forgiving each other, etcetera.

I was bemused by Demetri getting selected for the Sekai Taikai during the previous batch of episodes, and after seeing his performance in the tournament I stand by my initial judgement that he has no business being there. I'm also not mad about the dark revelations concerning Mr Miyagi's past. On the surface it appears they've included that storyline to create internal conflict in Daniel, but I suspect the real reason is to set up a prequel series or movie about Miyagi in which they'll deconstruct the wise old mentor and portray his younger self in a less than favourable light.

Remember the school fight at the end of season 2, where the show effectively switched genre from sports comedy/drama to a full-on action series? Well something equally over-the-top happens in the tenth episode of season 6, only it's far more abrupt and ridiculous. I suppose they wanted to end these episodes on an explosive note that would build tension for the finale, but to me it felt like a contrived detour to prevent the show arriving at its natural conclusion five episodes early.

Despite these criticisms, I still really enjoyed the latest episodes. While the writing's not as sharp as in the early seasons, and the comedy has lost its edge and become a little too predictable, I still enjoy the melodrama and action. The cast remains excellent and the fight choreography is fun to watch. I like the characters, including the villains, and I had fun spending time with them again. I'll feel sad when this show ends, and I've enjoyed every season of it, but I do think it's reached the point where they need to conclude the story.

One final thing to mention is that it was great to see (SPOILER) Thomas Ian Griffith return as Silver. He's one of the best characters in the franchise and always gives a terrific performance. (end SPOILER) I just wish they hadn't spoilt the surprise of his return by including his name in the opening credits.

I think H4 still has the reigns for the most shocking ending that has come out of the franchise. It's great!

The final scene of H4 would've been a good way to end the entire series. Michael's story is concluded, but the evil lives on. The most disturbing part about it is Loomis's reaction – a usually clear-headed intellectual reduced to primal screams as he prepares to kill a child in a frenzy of terror.

Halloween 5 was such a weak follow-up.

Ages ago, I read somebody on reddit claim that Laurie's arc in the Blumhouse films would actually make more sense if it happened in reverse.

Ends shows Laurie determined to live a happy and comfortable life. But then, Michael Myers comes knocking.

Kills shows Laurie sacked out in the hospital recovering from her injuries but convinced she got Michael. She then discovers how mistaken she is.

2018 shows Laurie hiding out in her own isolated compound as she prepares for her final showdown. This time, she snares Myers in a trap and leaves him for dead.

I don't mind the Blumhouse films as they are. But I do think that redditor has a point when he suggests reversing her arc. In retrospect, that might've been the better way to go.

This suggestion makes a lot of sense. If she'd started out like she was in HE, trying to live a normal life but haunted by the occasional reminder of her traumatic past, and then evolved into the hard-edged survivalist from H'18, I think that would've worked better. H'18 had the best finale of the three films, and the trap scenario would've provided a more satisfying conclusion to the trilogy as a whole.

I watched Halloween Ends on Netflix last week.

I am going to assume that you have seen the Halloween Blumhouse trilogy, Silver.

Care to share your thoughts?

I don't have terribly strong feelings about it. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. It's ok.

Halloween '18 is essentially another of those back-to-basics retreads of Carpenter's movie that we get every ten years or so. I liked it more than Zombie's 2007 film, but not as much as The Return of Michael Myers. I suppose I'd rank it roughly on a par with H20.

My only real issue with it, other than its lack of originality, is that I don't buy into the characterisation of Laurie as a survivalist nut who's dead certain Myers is going to return. If it was the Laurie who'd lived through the events of Halloween II and H20 then I'd have no trouble accepting that characterisation. But if this is meant to be the meek and vulnerable Laurie from the original film, without the events of the sequels to instil the expectation of Myers' inevitable return, then I don't get why she's so sure her one-time assailant is coming back after four decades. I understand that she's got PTSD, but I don't think that's a solid basis for her conviction that a sexagenarian Myers is coming back. Again, if she'd lived through H2 and H20 I'd buy it. But if she's only lived through the original film and has lived a relatively normal life since, then it doesn't quite work for me.

Halloween Kills has a strong opening sequence that effectively captures the look and feel of the early instalments in the series. The storyline about the town vigilantes elevates it above being just another retread, and I like the appearance by the Silver Shamrock masks. It's a solid continuation of the previous film and a decent sequel.

I didn't think Halloween Ends was as terrible as its reputation led me to expect, but maybe that's because I went into it with low expectations. I thought it was ok. I appreciate that they tried to do something different, a la Friday the 13th Part V. But I didn't buy into the central romance, or the way Allyson instantly falls in love with Corey. The bully characters were so stereotypical and one-dimensional they belonged in a Stephen King story. I thought the final showdown was formulaic and unintentionally comical in places. I don't understand why Laurie went through the charade of pretending to kill herself. To lure Corey out? Why? He was coming for her anyway. Did she really need to dial 911? Couldn't she have just faked the telephone conversation if she knew Corey was listening in? That all seemed a bit forced to me. So it definitely has issues and is the weakest entry in the trilogy, but I didn't hate it.

As a general point, I miss the subtlety of the 1978 film. The most haunting moments from Carpenter's movie were the quieter scenes, like when Laurie sees Michael standing by the washing line looking up at her window, or the final shots of the film playing to the sound of Myers' breathing. There's very little blood in the first movie. It didn't need gore, and that restraint set it apart from other horror franchises of that era. I don't think there need to be any more Michael Myers movies after the recent trilogy. The formula's played out (I just realised the Halloween franchise now has more instalments than the Friday the 13th series!). But if they must make more, then I'd like to see a return to the subtler approach of the 1978 movie.

I've said numerous times that my favourite movie in the Halloween franchise is Season of the Witch. I don't think it's the best entry in the series (that would be the original), but it's my favourite on a purely subjective level. However, if I were to pick a Michael Myers headcanon trilogy, it'd be Halloween '78, Halloween II and The Return of Michael Myers.

I watched Halloween Ends on Netflix last week. Tonight I'm planning to watch the other Halloween III, Season of the Witch, which is still my favourite entry in the series. It's the perfect film to begin Halloween week and get the viewer into the spirit of the season.

Other Halloween films I'm planning to watch over the next week or so include Ghostwatch (1992), Hocus Pocus (1993), Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Trick 'r Treat (2007).

It seems Marvel has dropped the troubled Blade reboot from their release schedule.

Meanwhile the real Blade returned earlier this year and grossed over a billion dollars.

Snipes's Blade is arguably the most iconic and definitive iteration of the character. Even more so than the original Tomb of Dracula version.  The modern comic book Blade and every subsequent screen version have been modelled on him. They should just make a Midnight Sons movie with Snipes leading the team. It's not rocket science.

A remaster of The Thing sequel game from 2002 is coming out later this year.

Here's a gameplay trailer showcasing the improved graphics.

The PS2 version was insanely difficult. I'd rank it alongside the original NES Ninja Gaiden as one of the toughest games I ever managed to complete. I dusted off my copy about a year ago, and it definitely has dated. The fear/trust mechanics are still effective, but the combat doesn't hold up so well. Hopefully this remaster will improve the targeting system and maybe add a few extra health items and save points to the later levels. If so, it might be worth getting.

It's scheduled for release on every platform later this year.