Beware The Spaceman

Author: Analyst

  • Mrs Doubtfire: The Rental Rush

    Retro Reaction in ZX Spectrum colours

    It’s hard to understate how big this film was back in the mid‑90s. Released in 1993, but again remember that longer wait period we had back then — there really was a wait if you didn’t get around to seeing it in the cinema.

    Why I remember the hype so well is because it was the only time I ever saw a whole shelf at Barry’s filled with copies of the same movie. Even with those extra copies, for an entire week every single one had the red on loan sticker.

    When we looked at Hook, I mentioned how much of a force Robin Williams was during this era. This is the last time he appears in this 90s film set — I’m sure not the last time we’ll return to his work in Reaction. But let’s deal with the elephant in the room. Even now, I still find it hard to understand how a guy who made me laugh so much — the only one to cause Barry’s to sell out for a week straight — could have been so unhappy privately. Thank you for the laughs

    My brother and I still occasionally quote Mrs Doubtfire today, 30 years later.

    The premise: fun‑loving father Daniel (Williams) is going through a messy divorce with his wife Miranda (Sally Field). To gain access to his children, he disguises himself as nanny Mrs Doubtfire.

    Yes, elements of the film are now seen as dated. Daniel does, well, near‑on stalk Miranda. But rewatching it, it’s still funny and not malicious in the way some comedies can be. The humour comes from seeing Daniel try to take on the lone‑parent role while simultaneously sabotaging Miranda’s next relationship.

    Miranda doesn’t really come off as “the baddie” in this one, but you’re still rooting for Daniel throughout the movie.

    One thing that really stands out is that, unlike most films like this — particularly of the time — Miranda and Daniel don’t reunite at the end. Here in the UK, around 42% of people are divorced. Having a family film deal with that back in 1993 was very forward‑thinking.

    Next time we’re sticking with comedy, with Dumb and Dumber

  • Gerry Anderson’s Project Sword: what could have been

    Comic panel with title

    Gerry Anderson is best known for Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds. Toys for Project SWORD were produced in 1967, along with a comic strip around the same time. Whether the idea was ever intended to lead into a TV series is largely speculation — but you can’t help wondering.

    Time Bomb Comics have now published a modern graphic novel, written by Lizbeth Myles and illustrated by James Gray.


    Spoilers on the book’s content below

    Set in the year 3031, meteorites have devastated the Earth. SWORD (Space World Organisation for Research and Development) is tasked with the evacuation program, sending humanity to new worlds — in the case of this book, Mars.

    The story mostly follows Alex Peake, who is called in when the computer responsible for selecting which humans to save — and which to leave behind for now — begins to malfunction. It’s a bleak premise. His search leads him to the computer’s programmer, Helen Bannock.

    Helen is uncomfortable with her role in creating the selection system, but reluctantly agrees to help Alex. Together they discover that the computer hasn’t malfunctioned at all: it has learned to value all of humanity. Alex and Helen ultimately set the machine to self‑destruct.

    There’s still the matter of how the meteorites came to be, and who — or what — caused them. Helen joins the team at the end of the book as SWORD vows to find a way to fix Earth for everyone.


    What did I think?

    This felt like a pilot — a book that sets up more adventures for Project SWORD. The sequences with the rocket and vehicles genuinely made me smile. They have that unmistakable late‑60s TV flavour, with at least one eye on the toy market.

    It’s an interesting project and a window into what could have been. Definitely worth a read, particularly if you have an interest in Gerry Anderson’s other franchises.

  • Zeta Wing: a lost 80s Arcade shooter

    Cassette tape with title

    Released in 2020, Zeta Wing — programmed by one person, Sarah Jane Avory — feels like a big‑budget C64 release. Avory, known for Gemini Wing on the Amiga, really pushed the hardware here and felt big budget.

    One thing I really appreciated was the difficulty setting. I’ve always said I enjoy games, not that I’m good at them, so an easy mode was very welcome. Also, you don’t lose all your power‑ups each time you’re hit. It looks like an 80s shooter, but it’s a bit more forgiving.

    This one ticked the boxes for me. It has a catchy soundtrack, it’s not overly difficult (as these bullet‑hell games so often are), and it looks fantastic. Many stages feature parallax scrolling that feels like it shouldn’t be possible on humble C64 hardware. It also ran smoothly for me with no signs of slowdown — on a C64 Mini, (not tested on original hardware).

    The game features seven stages. (I didn’t make it to the end because again I’m not very good.) The stages I played had boss fights at the end too, which wasn’t a given for shooters at the time.

    I had a good time with this one. The game is available on itch.io, usually for a few pounds. It works on the C64 Mini, Maxi, and original hardware. It’s great to see old hardware getting releases like this from industry veterans.

  • Jurassic Park I appreciate you now

    Retro Reaction in ZX Spectrum colours

    Its the mid‑1990s. Another video rental from Barry. Jurassic Park was a 1993 movie, but there was that half‑year wait for rental. Then a few weeks before it hit the shelves of the local video shops—basically anyone who wasn’t called Blockbuster.

    This film came with hype. It was “the adventure 65 million years in the making.” I remember reading that this film would make you believe that living dinosaurs were real.

    This is a movie I’m split on. I know the consensus is that it’s a classic. But I think I saw this film at the wrong time. Perhaps my attention span wasn’t there yet. The first dinosaur doesn’t appear until about 20 minutes into the film.

    As an adult I know that this is because the first half of the film sets up the action. At its core it’s a character‑driven film. Today I appreciate this. The film’s narrative on the dangers of messing around with nature couldn’t be more relevant. And the effects still hold up. In so many ways this was ahead of its time.

    In the 1990s… it just took too long to get going. It was too “talkie”.

    Did this stop us collecting the toys? Nope. It didn’t stop us buying the video game or watching the sequels that followed either. But at the time I found it slow.

    A few years later the film came to BBC. It was a big premiere. I remember my grandad telling me they had “watched the dinosaurs last night and wasn’t it slow. It never seemed to get going.”

    First impressions die hard. This was a film that I was over‑hyped for but too young to appreciate.

    Next time we’re still in 1993. It’s a big family film and Robin Williams is back on our screens. You could argue it’s the biggest film of that year… But Barry is all out! See you on the next one.

  • Millie & Mollie Rewind time on the Commodore 64

    Cassette tape with title

    It turns out Max Caulfield isn’t the only video game protagonist who can rewind time. Sisters Millie and Molly can too—and they can do it on the Commodore 64.

    Released in 2020 for the Commodore 64, Millie & Molly is a pick‑up‑and‑play puzzle platformer where you clear enemies simply by walking into their side. The catch is that neither character can jump. Getting level with the enemies means pushing items into place, and one false move can snooker your progress.

    That will happen a lot, and that’s okay. Because you have the rewind button right there. You can undo the last move, retrace all your steps, or restart the entire level. There’s no time limit either, so each puzzle can be taken at your own pace.

    If you’re using a system without a save function (like if you bought the cassette and are running it on original hardware), there’s a password system too. In many ways it has a lot in common with the sort of games you might see on a mobile phone: it suits any playtime from a few minutes to a few hours. Just be prepared for it to swallow more time than you bargained for.

    The game would have been a hit in any decade, and it’s a great example of how old hardware still has plenty to offer. It’s not trying to replace your modern gaming experience—it’s part of an analogue alternative. No DRM. No DLC. There’s something forever‑80s about that.

    Millie and Mollie is available on itch.io and on modern platforms via antstream. There is also a mobile version

  • Hook (1991) – Uncomfortably Familiar

    Retro Reaction in ZX Spectrum colours

    “Have to fly. Have to fight. Have to crow. Have to save Maggie. Have to save Jack. Hook is back.”

    Back to another 1990s video rental from Barry’s — this time, Hook. Adventure movies like this were the kind I really used to get into. This one, however, I remember confusing me back in the 90s. Hook was marketed as a sequel to Peter Pan. Everyone knows the story of Peter Pan, right? Right?

    Well, it’s 1991 — or to be honest, a little after that, thanks to rental delays — and I’m under ten. It concerns me that I haven’t seen Peter Pan before watching Hook. This is made worse by the way the first half of the film has so many characters urging Peter (Robin Williams, practically the face of family movies in the 90s) to remember.

    A little later I managed to track down the Disney cartoon, and it still didn’t seem like a sequel as such. It looked and sounded a lot different. Adult me knows this is because Peter Pan was a 1953 Disney cartoon, and Hook was a 1991 blockbuster released by Sony Pictures. But to a kid, it didn’t make sense. I sort of wish someone had clarified that it’s a sequel to the Peter Pan book — but honestly, I’m not sure anyone in our house knew that.

    The concept: what if Peter Pan grew up? Spielberg has mentioned the issues with the film’s second half. They’re there, definitely. They’re undeniable. There are parts where it looks like a theme park.

    But this is Retro Reaction, not a movie critic blog. It’s always been about how these movies make you feel. That first half of Hook, with its strong message about Peter forgetting what childhood is like — about him being busy with life and missing out — that’s where the story is so strong for me.

    I wonder if, for younger watchers, this falls into the same category as Home Alone. They’re treading water, waiting for Peter to remember and for Pan’s return to save the day in the final act. I don’t blame them. I was once in that category. For me now, though, it’s all about the emotional journey he takes to get there. Helped a little by the iconic John Williams soundtrack again. As an adult, it can strike an uncomfortably familiar note.

    We’re still in the 90s and still renting from Barry, so there will be more Robin Williams in the weeks to come. But next time… we’ve got some dinosaurs.

  • The Commodore 64 Never Died

    Cassette tape with title

    Those following the Retro Reaction blog will know the Commodore 64 wasn’t something I owned back in the day. I came on board with computers in the Amiga era, though through family and friends I had played a ZX Spectrum. The only time I ever saw a breadbin was in the local electronics store, Knights, and I wanted it badly. My parents deemed it too old (and by that point 16‑bit was well and truly here). It wasn’t the machine I was fascinated with particularly, but the games. The C64 in the shop window had Batman and Bart Simpson on display.

    Fast forward to modern times and the C64 Mini was released by RetroGames.biz. Better still, this version was pre‑loaded with games. I waited for a sale. Played it a bit, then read that the machine allowed new games to be loaded via USB… and the door was unlocked.

    I found that the Commodore 64 is one machine that never really died. In fact, the retro scene for this computer is absolutely thriving. These aren’t all hobbyists either — some of the modern C64 games rival the ones that came out back in the day. Some are even being released commercially for original hardware (see publisher Psytronik).

    Through further reading I learned that the C64 Mini is perhaps not the most complete way of enjoying this scene. Later, the C64 Maxi upgraded to a full‑sized keyboard, and later still Commodore were revived and released the Commodore 64 Ultimate. That one even allowed use of original hardware. Or, like me, if you’re a bit techy, there’s always the option of using a Pi 400 to unlock both the C64 homebrew scene and that of other 80s home computers.

    Whichever way you choose to open the door to this retro‑modern rabbit hole is up to you. If you like your classic gaming, though, opening it is a must. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. For these old computers, it will forever be the 80s.

    Next time: It turns out Max Caulfield isn’t the only video game protagonist who can rewind time. Sisters Millie and Molly can too — and they can do it on the Commodore 64. More on the sisters later.

  • The Day I Realised Ghostbusters Had New Owners

    Cassette tape with title

    In a time when there are literally thousands of hours of viewing choices out there, I still have a Blu‑ray player. I have a Blu‑ray player for movies like this. Ghostbusters: Afterlife belongs alongside those early films. It is, at least in my opinion, just as strong. Frozen Empire isn’t a bad piece of entertainment either.

    Spoilers approaching — but for a six‑year‑old film, I think we’re okay. The original Ghostbusters turn up for a few minutes at the end.

    If you were like me, those films were a big part of your childhood. So if you are like me, this may come as an unwelcome reminder that it wasn’t yesterday. In my mind, the Ghostbusters carried on off‑screen. They would always be as they were in 1984. So when these now‑old men turn up at the end — and knowing that Egon (Harold Ramis) isn’t with us anymore — it’s a bit of a gut punch.

    The nephews come up a lot in these blogs, something I hope they won’t resent later. But something happened while taking them to watch Frozen Empire, the sequel to Afterlife. After the intro scene finished and we got the Ray Parker Jr. theme, I saw them watching this (frankly brilliant) younger cast taking on the Ghostbusters mantle. Somewhere in the laughs and the jump scares, I understood: these aren’t my Ghostbusters anymore. It belongs to them now — the young cast on the screen and the young eyes watching. As it should be.

    Of course, I had inflicted my Blu‑ray collection on them previously. It must have had an effect. The youngest said, “Oh no, they’re in the library,” covered his eyes, then asked, “We go now, we go now, we go now.”

    The very same jump scare got me too, around 30 years earlier, on a VHS rented at Barry’s.

  • Retro Reaction 3.1 Home Alone

    Retro Reaction in ZX Spectrum colours

    Something has been happening with this film over the last few years. If you take a look at the Disney Plus posters nearing December, or even the TV guides, this 1990s film has quietly joined an elite group. A group it shares with the likes of The Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Snowman, and at least one rendition of A Christmas Carol. Home Alone has become a Christmas tradition, and my family are no different.

    So, back to the 90s. Realistically, it was probably late 1991 into 1992 before we rented this one. Back then, the waiting period from cinema to VHS was around six months. Rental stores always got the films next—but small rental stores like Barry’s? You could add a few extra weeks on again.

    Rewatching Home Alone anytime after the first viewing always has an element of waiting. You want to get to the part where the baddies fall into the traps—the twenty minutes of pure slapstick comedy at the end. As much as this film has become a tradition with the young nephews, I do catch them losing attention while waiting for that slapstick. The YouTube generation, I think.

    Watching as a, shall we say, middle‑aged adult, I notice the other parts of the film that make this an absolute classic. The iconic John Williams music. The sentiment on family. The fact the movie has heart—and is funny to go with it.

    A couple of years ago, I put this one on at my late Nan’s house. The nephews acted out the entire film. They knew every word. That is one powerful Retro Reaction.

    Next time we venture back to Barry’s, the year is 1991 and the movie… Hook.

  • Square Circles

    a spaceship above the world with title

    Before we get started, the experiences described in this column are my own. I cannot, and would not wish to, persuade or influence any of you — my few readers — from following your own paths.

    Here are just a few things I wish I could have told my younger self.

    My student loan is Plan 1. It will be with me until I retire or expire. I acquired this loan over twenty years ago by trying something at eighteen that was never going to work. I had a great Religious Studies teacher who once said that God can’t make square circles. I think this is one of the truest phrases I’ve ever come across.

    Cutting to the truth: universities, particularly ones here in the UK, don’t care about you. Universities care about your money. At the bottom of it all, they are a business.

    So if you are an unlucky one like I was this September — if you are a square circle — what is the answer?

    Walking away will get framed as a failure, when often the opposite is true. Go with your instincts. I wish I had.

    I learned more in the workplace, and now as someone self‑employed, than I ever did in an institution.