Bitter Moon (1992) – Roman Polanski

The final recommendation for Pandora’s Box from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, is this darkly comic study of sex, desire, greed and cruelty from Roman Polanski. Nigel (Hugh Grant) and Fiona (Kristin Scott Thomas) have been married for seven years, and are on a Mediterranean cruise as an anniversary present, and…

Bananas (1971) – Woody Allen

After Manhattan, there were 4 other Woody Allen films to view as recommendations from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film, I’ve already watched Sleeper, so I dove into the next recommendation, Bananas. And I was pleasantly surprised! Allen who wrote the film alongside Mickey Rose, of course stars and directs. He plays Fielding Mellish,…

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013) – Stephen Chow

Released this week to Blu-Ray and DVD is the latest effort from director Stephen Chow, and if you know the name, then you know what to expect. Best known to Western audiences for his films Kung Fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer, Chow is a phenomenon, and Journey to the West is yet another enjoyable example…

Orphan Black S02E06 – To Hound Nature in Her Wanderings

This week’s episode of Orphan Black continued to up the ante, and still leaves me reeling as to how this show can continue to be amazing week to week, and not falter once… It was a lot of fun this week to be able to spend more time with Helena (Tatiana Maslany) again this week….

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) – Bryan Singer

The X-Men are back! After the less than stellar Wolverine spin-offs and the horrendous X3, it’s good to see Fox actually giving the Marvel property some respect, viewers and critics know it can work when it’s given the proper time and attention, as illustrated by X-Men: First Class, as well as the first two films….

Manhattan (1979) – Woody Allen

The Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book’s next title and recommendations are a series of Woody Allen films, which should be interesting, because I’ve never been a huge fan. The main title of the section is Manhattan, and I’m a little divided on it. Backed with some beautiful Gershwin tunes, and shot in…

Godzilla (2014) – Gareth Edwards

The King of Monsters returned to the big screen this weekend, with Monsters director, Gareth Edwards updating the classic cinema tale for the 21st century, while embracing its origins from the 50s. Filled with spectacle, and a perfect matinée, popcorn filled homage to the original series, the film, despite Edwards deft touch, and eye for…

Orphan Black S02E05 – Ipsa Scientia Potestas

In an interesting, and highly enjoyable episode, we get to spend more time with Helena (Tatiana Maslany) this week, as the clones react to the pressure that Rachel is starting to exert on Cosima, to bring Sarah to heel, and of course, turn over little Kira (Skyler Wexler). Speaking of Kira, in her moments with…

Smokey and The Bandit (1977) – Hal Needham

Sometimes you just want to unplug with some silly, goofy and good-hearted. This one definitely falls into that character, and it has to be over 15 years since I last sat down to watch this one, though the film’s main song, Eastbound and Down performed by country music star, Jerry Reed (who plays Cledus “Snowman”…

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – Joel & Ethan Coen

The final recommendation from Some Like It Hot in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is my second favorite Coen Brothers movie, an update on the classic Odyssey tale, and featuring some of that great old-timey music (overseen by T Bone Burnett). George Clooney is Ulysses Evert McGill, and he has just escaped…