Tom Branch Movies

The third installment in the widely beloved Spielberg/Lucas Indiana Jones saga begins with an introduction to a younger Indy (played by the late River Phoenix), who, through a fast-paced prologue, gives the audience insight into the roots of his taste for adventure, fear of snakes, and dogged determination to take historical artifacts out of the hands of bad guys and into the museums in which they belong. A grown-up Indy (Harrison Ford) reveals himself shortly afterward in a familiar classroom scene, teaching archeology to a disproportionate number of starry-eyed female college students in 1938. Once again, however, Mr. Jones is drawn away from his day job after an art collector (Julian Glover) approaches him with a proposition to find the much sought after Holy Grail. Circumstances reveal that there was another avid archeologist in search of the famed cup -- Indiana Jones' father, Dr. Henry Jones (Sean Connery) -- who had recently disappeared during his efforts. The junior and senior members of the Jones family find themselves in a series of tough situations in locales ranging from Venice to the most treacherous spots in the Middle East. Complicating the situation further is the presence of Elsa (Alison Doody), a beautiful and intelligent woman with one fatal flaw: she's an undercover Nazi agent. The search for the grail is a dangerous quest, and its discovery may prove fatal to those who seek it for personal gain. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade earned a then record-breaking $50 million in its first week of release. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

In the seventh episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," videotaped evidence presented by the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) would seem to prove that the Doctor (Colin Baker) is not only guilty of violating the Laws of Time, but was also responsible for various acts of treachery on the planet Thoros Beta. Certainly, the evidence suggests an evil alliance between the Doctor and the infamous Sil (Nabil Shaban). Making matters worse, Peri (Nicola Bryant), the only person able to clear the Doctor of the charges against him, is nowhere to be found. Written by Philip Martin and originally telecast on October 18, 1986, "Mindwarp, Episode 3" is listed in most sources as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 7. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Subtitled "Mindwarp," the second story arc of the 14-week Doctor Who continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord" began on October 4, 1986. In the first of the arc's four episodes, the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), still bent on condemning the Doctor (Colin Baker) for breaking the Laws of Time, offers videotaped evidence between the Doctor and the infamous Sil (Nabil Shaban) on the latter's home planet, Thoros Beta. Written by Philip Martin, "Mindwarp, Episode 1" is listed in most sources as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 5. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi