Kim Strauss Movies

The title of this Japanese anime series was an acronym for the Immortal Grand Prix, the most celebrated robot tournament of the year A.D. 2049. The human contestants in this tournament were obliged to maneuver their giant robots along a 60-mile track, racing and battling at top speed. Having won the IG-2 championship, the rookies of Team Satomi had earned the right to compete in the coveted IG-1. Managed by Mitsuko Satomi, granddaughter of the chairman of the once-mighty but now floundering Satomi Heavy Industries, the team was led by "forward" pilot Takeshi, a stubborn and rebellious youth. Other team members included Liz Riccardo, the obnoxious, hoydenish "defender" pilot to whom winning was the only thing that mattered; and child prodigy Amy, the team's "midfielder" and "tactician," who was able to merge her personality with that of her cybernetically enhanced cat Luca. The current IGPX champions were the members of Team Velshtein, coached by Sir Hamgra, who was Takeshi's mentor despite the fact that they were technically rivals. Providing the menaces were the foul-playing Yamma, Timma, and Dimma of Team Sledge Mama. Rounding out the cast were IGPX mechanic Mark Ramsey, who kept secret the fact that he was heir to a fortune, and announcer Benjamin Bright, the fabled "Voice of IGPX." In America, IGPX was sneak-previewed by Cartoon Network in "microseries" form in the fall of 2003 (presented in 5-minute serialized fragments), returning as a half-hour series by popular demand on November 15, 2005. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lennier uncovers irrefutable evidence of a Centauri connection with the mysterious attacks on the Alliance cargo ships. A boycott is levied against the Centauri, resulting in a disastrous reprisal. Originally telecast on June 10, 1998. "And All My Dreams Torn Asunder" was written by series producer J. Michael Straczynski, who regarded it as one of the best Babylon 5 episodes of all. By any standards, it is certainly among the most portentious of the series' fifth-season installments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sheridan finds himself at odds with the League ambassadors over G'Kan's proposed Interstellar Alliance Declaration of Principles. A small planet solicits the help of the Alliance in fending off raiders. And Garibaldi tries to align with refugee Telepaths by forming a new intelligence unit. The title of this episode is lifted from the "What a piece of work is a man" speech from Shakespeare's amlet. First telecast on February 4, 1998, "The Paragon of Animals" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Walter Koenig returns as B5's pesky nemesis, Psi Cop Bester. On this occasion, Bester and the crew are obliged to form an uncomfortable alliance. The mission: to capture and neutralize Lindstrom (George Gerdes), the dealer of a dangerous telepathic drug. Main complication: G'Kar may be on the verge of becoming addicted to the deadly "dust." Written by J. Michael Straczynski, "Dust to Dust" was first syndicated during the week of February 5, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Delenn is kidnapped by renegade mebers of the Nightwatch. Her captors threaten to kill Delenn unless the Minbari forces leave immediately. It is up to Sheridan and Garibaldi to devise a ruse that will enable them to rescue their comrade without depleting their defenses. This episode is highlighted by a B5 ceremony honoring the recent war dead, and by a surprise "cosmetic change" at the end of the story. First seen in America during the week of April 8, 1996, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season Two of Babylon 5 came to an end with the episode titled "The Fall of Night." Not satisfied with conquering the Narn, the Centauri continue waging war on other worlds. Sheridan's willingness to shelter a Narn warship causes friction during negotiations between the Centauri and the Earth. As the story rushes to a cliffhanging close, Keffer makes a startling discovery, and Ambassador Koch performs above and beyond the call of duty to save Sheridan's life. This final chapter in the series' "The Coming of Shadows" saga was written by J. Michael Straczynski); it first aired in the United Kingdom on August 15, 1995, then in America on November 1 of that same year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

On the verge of death, the Emperor of Centauri (Turhan Bey) hopes to negotiate honorable peace with the Narn. Instead, a power struggle blossoms into an all-out war, with Nondo in the middle. And former B5 Commander Sinclair makes unexpected contact with Garibaldi, delivering a message which could well determine the fate of everyone on the space station. First telecast on February 1, 1995, "The Coming of Shadows" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Subtitled "The Coming of Shadows," Season Two of Babylon 5 was launched on November 2, 1994. In the first episode, "Points of Departure", Bruce Boxleitner joins the cast as Captain John Sheridan, who assumes command of B5 when Sinclair is appointed ambassador to Minbar. Sheridan's first assignment is to deal with a renegade Minbari spaceship--a delicate situation, in that Sheridan's status as a war hero was predicted upon an attack against a Minbari outpost 12 years earlier. "Points of Departure" was written by J. Michael Straczynski. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

25 year ago, a fatal stabbing occurred during a broadcast of the popular TV comedy-variety series "The Barry Barnes Show." Now Barnes (Donald O'Connor) and his cast and crew have gathered together at the murder scene to stage a reunion special. Soon thereafter, a mysterious woman dressed in black shows up to accuse Barnes of committing the murder. When a second tragedy strikes, it is up to Jessica (Angela Lansbury) to find out just what the heck is going on now, and what really went on back in 1965. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide