The sequel is a dubious beast. Almost always inferior to whatever greatness preceded it and viewed as little more than a desperate cash grab, it’s largely an artistically hollow affair.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is one of the incredibly rare exceptions to this.

Like a phoenix from the ashes, this stunning anomaly is a complete and utter improvement on the original in every way. The emotions are more tangible, the design is more intricate and — most importantly — it finally does not shy away from depicting the vicious action that beats through its dark heart.

Ever since Harry Potter lumbered into holiday cinemas and became the all-conquering annual box-office cudgel that couldn’t be stopped, prospective young adult fiction authors (and studio executives) have frantically churned out franchise after franchise in the hopes of landing the next great white billion-dollar-deal.

But for every Twilight, there have been 10 Percy Jacksons and Golden Compasses.

The fact that Peterborough has a vibrant visual arts scene is stated so often it could almost go without saying. And everyone knows this is a great town for music lovers. But what may not be as widely known is that, for the last 20 years, a small but dedicated company has been bringing world-class performance artists from across Canada and the world to Peterborough’s stages, parks, streets, and theatres.

In the world of dance, Peterborough is on the map — thanks to Public Energy.

Public Energy is about the power of contemporary dance and “anything performancy” — as artistic producer and founder Bill Kimball puts it. The company brings together a lot of different elements, often more multi-disciplinary than one expects from something billed as “dance”.

Jeff Macklin’s “new work” and an opening night extravaganza at Gallery in the Attic

Jeff Macklin is well known to many. He’s the man behind Prevail Media + Design (prevailmedia.ca) and Jackson Creek Press (www.jacksoncreekpress.ca).

He is about as community as they come. In both his personal and professional life he is a constant presence and supporter of all things Peterborough, particularly in the realms of arts, culture, and music. His recent client list includes Peterborough Careers, The Sapphire Room, Jos. Fortin, and Wild Rock Outfitters.

I’ve seen Rocky Horror before. I’ve seen it on television, in midnight screenings with full audience participation, on the stage, at parties on every video format imaginable, and have done the Time Warp at every wedding I’ve been to over the past 20 years.

Once a cult phenomenon, it seems that Rocky Horror has become positively mainstream and, well, a bit boring. When it became a special Hallowe’en episode for Glee, to me Rocky Horror had officially “jumped the shark.”

So when Peterborough’s the motley collective decided to stage the original Rocky Horror Show for this Hallowe’en season, I wondered to myself, ‘do I really want to do the Time Warp again?’

Well, it seems that I did. The motley collective has made me fall in love with The Rocky Horror Show all over again, by presenting it in the way that Richard O’Brien intended. I haven’t been this excited about Rocky Horror since I first saw it when I was 15 years old.

It gets chilly in November as we head into winter, but it’s warm inside — especially in venues across Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Take a peek at some of these upcoming live shows I’ve handpicked.

There are many other excellent shows listed in our Pubs & Clubs and Concerts & Live Music columns, but these are a few I highly recommend.

Space: the current frontier.

Science fiction is once again in vogue at the multiplexes. This is a welcome change from the usual pre-award season autumnal offerings of face-smashing buddy comedies and hackneyed stab-a-thons tailor-made to cash in on Hallowe’en hype.

The Ways of Cloud and Water, New Paintings by Janet Read at Christensen Fine Art

Still glowing from Peterborough Pathway of Fame honours this year, Peer and Lori Christensen continue their influential and consistent contributions to the local arts community.