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Toyota's legendary unkillable pickup continues to offer compact truck goodness

Long known for its rugged dependability, Toyota's Tacoma pickup is still an excellent choice in this market segment.

And, though there isn't a lot that's new for this model year, that doesn't mean the market is passing it by.

It also doesn't mean Toyota is standing still. In fact, there are two new trim levels for the 2026 model year, the SR5+ and TRD Off-Road+ trims, the latter of which was what Toyota sent me to play with for a week. That option adds nearly eight grand to the truck's price (as tested, it came to $56,788 before all the various kilos of extra flesh are added.

That package gives you lots of stuff, though.

You can also choose from a hybrid powertrain option, TRD Pro and Trailhunter packages to up your enjoyment ante. And, though Toyota's sample unfortunately didn't come with it, the 4X4 Double Cab 6M version comes with a six-speed manual transmission! The test unit came with the eight-speed automatic and it works fine. I just like manuals.

Gone is the V6 engine that for years was available in the Tacoma; now the truck is powered by a turbocharged four banger that puts out a pretty fine 270 horses. That seems a tad off when the base model (two grand cheaper than the manual) claims 278 horses, but what do I know?

The hybrid, not surprisingly, offers even more oomph: 325 ponies. more...

Warners gives Little Shop of Horrors a terrific 4K upgrade for its 40th anniversary

One of the best Hollywood musicals of recent decades is back with a brand-new suit of clothes and sporting a lovely new look and sound that really does this off-beat masterpiece justice.

As you probably learned from the title of this piece, it's Frank Oz' Little Shop of Horrors, the film version of the off-Broadway hit written by the great Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the writing team also responsible for the music of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and others. more...

Ford adds Tremor trim to its Explorer SUV

Fans of Ford's popular mid-sized SUV have a new choice to make when they're looking to purchase what the company says is America's number one-selling SUV.

It's the Tremor, which sits in about the middle of the Explorer line.

"We already knew the Explorer was capable and versatile," said Matthew Duffield, Ford's Explorer brand manager in an essay on Ford's media website. "It's always been a vehicle that can handle a family road trip or a weekend camping trip. However, we also know that there is a growing segment of customers who want more off-road adventure, more ruggedness, more of that 'go anywhere'. When we set out to develop an Explorer Tremor, we challenged ourselves to do something different. We wanted to build an off-road machine engineered to handle challenging terrain." more...

Supergirl brings girl power to superhero movies as it crashes onto 4K disc

Warner Brothers' latest superhero movie is another attempt to create a DC superhero universe that will rival Disney's Marvel Studios' wild run of successes.

And it doesn't.

What we get instead is a nasty and angry movie, a movie that almost feels as if it's trying to emulate James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, but without the humour and without any particularly likeable characters. more...

First impressions mixed for Mazda and Toyota's new mainstream SUV models

Two of Japan's nicest compact SUV's have been redesigned for the 2026 model year and while they're both compelling vehicles in many ways, in others they're afflicted with issues.

The two are the CX-5 from Mazda and Toyota's RAV4. I had a week with the Mazda but only a weekend with the Toyota, so this isn't quite an apples-to-apples comparison, but it's all the time I got so it's all I have.

I'm familiar with both vehicles in real life. My wife and I owned a 2013 RAV4 for several years and liked it a lot. Alas, it had a gremlin that made my wife eventually want to replace it – so last year we traded it for a 2022 CX-5, the previous generation to this new one. And we love it! more...

Lincoln Navigator tries really hard to amaze and delight – and that's too bad

Do today's automobile designers actually drive the vehicles they create?

I ask because it's hard to find a new vehicle these days (of the ones I get to review, anyway) that doesn't make me want to punch its lights out because, rather than just being a vehicle, they've become technology hubs that offer so much connectivity, electronic features and supposed safety nannies that it's difficult to live with them.

And, alas, the Lincoln Navigator that's the subject of this rant is a prime example, and it's a damn shame because – as with a lot of other vehicles that suffer the same tech overkill – there's a lot to like about it. more...

Man goes into space and space comes back with a vengeance on Blu-ray and 4K disc

Mankind's first trek to the stars,well the moon, is now on a terrific Blu-ray release, while Tim Burton's hilarious look at an alien invasion is now available in a lovely 4K disc version.

I'm talking about George Pal's Destination Moon, of course, as well as the much more recent Mars Attacks! Both are great sci-fi films, though they couldn't be much more different from each other.

Let's look at Mars Attacks! first. more...

Toyota's legendary Land Cruiser embraces the new while keeping a lot of the old

It's a famous off-roader that's as home on the African veldt as it is in the city, a vehicle that has taken its spot in automotive history much as has the legendary Land Rover and Mercedes G wagon. And it's still around after all these years, carrying people and their stuff to whatever far flung area to which they're heading.

Yes, the Land Cruiser, Toyota's answer to "you can't get there from here", an answer that basically says "oh, yeah, hold my sake!"

And, joy of joys, it bucks the recent trend to put everything on a touch screen – perhaps because its serious off-roading capability means you may be bouncing around so much that your fingers would never find the little virtual button.  more...

Ray Harryhausen gets the 4K treatment for his first colour classic

Nerds around the world rejoice! One of the movies that inspired generations of people to either geek out happily or pursue a career in special effects (or both!), has finally reached 4K disc status, and it's a fine package.

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad was Ray Harryhausen's first colour feature after working for years in the world of black and white, and partially because of that it was a groundbreaking film in the annals of cinefantastique. It featured a classic Arabian Nights-type tale brimming with fantastic creatures and a fantastic musical score by Bernard Herrmann – who would also score a few more of Harryhausen's epics and some of Alfred Hitchcock's outings as well. more...

Lexus RZ is a luxury electric SUV with range

I just spent a week in an electric SUV that didn't give me range anxiety!

Okay, I didn't venture too far from home, but I did drive this interesting vehicle as if I owned it, driving lead footedly through mostly urban miles with one nearby-city trip. I drove it just as I'd drive my own vehicles, neither of which are powered electrically in the slightest, if you don't count usual electric things like lights, audio, etc.

And after that week of driving it as if it were a Porsche, I still had a nearly 60 per cent charge left. I was amazed. more...

Arizer's new portable vapourizer works well and makes for a great conversation piece

Canadian vapemaker Arizer has released a new portable unit that, while expensive, is an interesting and efficient machine that not only works well, it's also cool enough to be worthwhile as a party ice breaker. It, like other such "dried flower" vapes, could also help you prevent issues such as popcorn lung.

The Go SRT, according to Arizer's Canadian website retails for $399.95 CAD, and it builds on the company's earlier ArGo portable. In fact, while it's superficially like the older unit, it's also a quantum leap from that model. more...

Tony Randall makes faces on Blu-ray – and yet another IPTV Update

File this under guilty pleasures: George Pal's 1964 fantasy about an old Chinese circus owner who's a lot more than meets the eye. And my favourite IPTV provider is back! Sort of.

But first, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, a movie I saw in the theatres back in the day and which has stayed with me not only because of Tony Randall's tour de force performances, but because it's an ideal nerd movie. more...

Bias Light and setup disc set can enhance your home theatre enjoyment – and an IPTV update

Have you been watching your flat screen TV in a darkened room and found it a tad dazzling on your eyes? If so, you may be a prime customer for something called a bias light, an interesting and handy technology that can take some of that dazzle away and help make your flat screen purchase even more enjoyable.

And if you want to ensure your 4K TV is performing up to its best, you can partake of setup discs such as the Spears and Munsil one I've been checking out for the past couple of weeks. more...

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV a far from outlandish choice

Mitsubishi's popular Outlander SUV is back with a new battery for 2026  and a few other tweaks in a mid-cycle refresh designed to make the vehicle even more appealing to consumers.

And it's a nice vehicle. more...

Mazda CX-30 Kuro offers a fun and sophisticated ride

Looking for an SUV that's almost a car, that's fun to drive, easy to live with, and offers the kind of reliability for which Japanese manufacturers have been known for traditionally?

If so, maybe you should head down to your local Mazda dealer and take a test drive in the wonderful CX-30. more...

The man who came to dinner and new Looney Tunes provide a real video feast

Nothing quite says "screwball comedy" more than good old laughs from good old Hollywood and this week I have a couple of them to tell you about.

The Man who Came to Dinner is a 1941 Yuk fest about a pompous ass of a writer (no, it isn't me) who finds himself taking over the house of some "ordinary folks" when he slips on ice outside their place and is forced to convalesce there, bringing about as much chaos to the homeowners as one could imagine. more...

Canadians really can buy a new car for under 30 grand

How much bang can you get for your 30 thousand Canadian loonies if you really want a brand new car?

Well, according to car buy/sell site AutoTrader, which is a place I've used several times to, well, buy and sell vehicles over the years, it turns out you do have some choices, though they're obviously at the low end of the marketplace. They've come up with a list of 10 vehicles that (as of their writing) all stay under the mighty 30 grand threshold – though you can undoubtedly option some of them up beyond that.

Of this list, only one "domestic" "Big Three" manufacturer made the cut, whereas Japan, South Korea and Germany are represented. And while SUV's are the rage, there are a few decent cars that made the list. more...

IPTV – an alternative to conventional cable and satellite providers – part three

Is IPTV a way to save money you'd spend otherwise on cable or satellite providers? Or is it just one big scam?

Yet another thing you should keep in mind when investigating an IPTV service is their payment method. Some of the "questionable" providers I looked at don't offer simple credit card payment, but insist you use electronic funds transfer as if you're dealing with someone on eBay. I hate that.

Fortunately, some – including my current favourite IPTV.ca – take credit cards in a straightforward manner.

Before you take the plunge, check out the various websites of the providers. more...

A true cinematic masterpiece and an unfortunate hagiography debut on 4K disc

One of the greatest movies to ever grace cinemas has finally received the video treatment it deserves, as has a movie that helped spawn generations of partisan hack journalists.  

Obviously, I'm talking about Ben-Hur and All the President's Men, both of which premiere this week on 4K disc.

William Wyler's 1959 version of Ben-Hur was a remake of MGM's silent version from the 1920's. It's a big movie, epic in scale and in storytelling, and in my opinion is one of the top two films ever made. Well, that I've seen, of course (Casablanca is my other choice, but both films are so different it's hard to compare them against each other). more...