Raymond Lee, Caitlin Bassett and Mason Alexander Park in Season One of the continued ‘Quantum Leap’

When bringing back a previous television show as the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) did with Quantum Leap (1989-1993), a central decision is to continue the original storyline or create a new world for the show. In a move that many thought they didn’t want, Quantum Leap (2022- ) returned with storylines that extended the universe of the original series with really good results.

(Raymond Lee as Ben Song in the television reboot of Quantum Leap).

The original Quantum Leap series ran for five seasons with Dr. Sam Beckett having never returned home after a series of leaps into the lives of people, aiming to turn right what once had been wrong. 30 years after Beckett had vanished after stepping into the Quantum Leap accelerator for the last time. We are introduced to the story of Dr. Ben Song and Addison Augustine, Song’s fiancé. We see Song breach protocol and initiate a leap in Augustine’s place with no planning for such a turn. Raymond Lee and Caitlin Bassett portrayed Song and Augustine, respectively.

(From left, Nanrisa Lee as Jenn Chou, Ernie Hudson as Herbert ‘Magic’ Williams, Mason Alexander Park as Ian Wright and Caitlin Bassett as Addison Augustine in the television reboot of Quantum Leap).

Ernie Hudson, in a reprisal of the role of Herbert ‘Magic’ Williams from the third season of the original series, heads the team left behind. Jenn Chou and Ian Wright, as portrayed by Nanrisa Lee and Mason Alexander Park, support the Quantum Leap project with the wife and daughter of Sam Beckett’s observer, Al Calavicci, playing recurring roles. Susan Diol and Georgina Reilly portrayed Beth Calavicci and Janis Calavicci, respectively. Twists in the larger unfolding story of the 18 episodes of this first season back rested with Walter Perez, who portrayed the mysterious Richard Martinez.

(From left, Walter Perez as Richard Martinez, Susan Diol as Beth Calavicci and Georgina Reilly as Janis Calavicci in the television reboot of Quantum Leap).

Executive producer credit for the new season rests with Donald P. Bellisario as Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, having developed the new series, also served as executive producers. The core sensibilities of the original series remain with this reboot, though ways in which the universe exists for the audience are appreciated extensions into the current world. The world for next season and beyond is well open for Quantum Leap, which leads to my rating of 4.0-stars on a scale of one-to-five stars for the opening season.

Matt – Saturday, April 8, 2023

Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock in the Jan de Bont movie ‘Speed’

In coming across a list of favorite movies since 1992 attributed to Quentin Tarantino recently, my expectation didn’t immediately think of the Jan de Bont directed movie Speed (1994) starring Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper and Sandra Bullock. The fresh look at the film happily offered more than I remembered.

(From left, Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven and Jeff Daniels as Harry Temple in the Jan de Bont movie Speed).

Working as bomb disposal experts for the Los Angeles, California Police Department‘s SWAT team included Jeff Daniels as Harry Temple and Keanu Reeves as Jack Traven. Our first introduction to these all stars comes when Traven and Temple thwart an attempted extortionist bombing in an elevator.

(Joe Morton as Lieutenant Herb ‘Mac’ McMahon in the Jan de Bont movie Speed).

The averted tragedy takes a pair of unique turns that saves the day twice, resulting in the promotion of Harry Temple following the incident. It was praise from Lieutenant “Mac” McMahon, as portrayed by Joe Morton, that in part sees Harry ascended to detective.

(From left, Dennis Hopper as Howard Payne and Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter in the Jan de Bont movie Speed).

Despite the superior work in averting one disaster, the suspense, action and danger of bomber Howard Payne, as portrayed by Dennis Hopper, has not come to an end with one averted attempt at making death in large numbers. Circumstances represent themselves when Payne reemerges with an attempt to repeat the extortion again. This time, Payne has attached the bomb to a bus that will explode if the bus slows to less than 50 miles per hour. Passengers leaving the bus also prompts an explosion.

(The bus in the Jan de Bont movie Speed).

Passenger Annie Porter, as portrayed by Sandra Bullock, just barely becomes a passenger on the ill-fated bus. Porter is joined with passengers Ortiz and Doug Stephens, portrayed by Carlos Carrasco and Alan Ruck, respectively. The drama of keeping the bus going, with Jack Travern interacting with a second attempt to end Payne’s revenge, become the drama that we witness through the remainder of the film.

(From left, Alan Ruck as Doug Stephens and Carlos Carrasco as Ortiz in the Jan de Bont movie Speed).

Speed offered a solid portion of good versus evil, wrong versus right, suspenseful intrigue that asks you to suspend a degree of disbelief. The movie doesn’t take itself too seriously, and there is suspense for the characters that women and men can find emotionally satisfying. That a love interest of sorts is formed between Traven and Porter is the whip cream and cherry that tops the dish of ice cream that is Speed. I give Speed 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Wednesday, April 14, 2021