Rome, Open City (1945) – Roberto Rossellini

Rome, Open City, Roberto Rossellini’s first film is on the What Else to Watch list following my screening of Bicycle Thieves as I continue my exploration of DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Decidedly melodramatic the story is set in World War II Rome, and the story weaves a group of characters together, as they work…

Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – The Woman Who Lived, and The Zygon Invasion

The story that centred on Ashildr (Maisie Williams) last week continues this week with The Woman Who Lived. Written by Catherine Tregenna this episode debuted on 24 October, 2015. Travelling on his own for a while The Doctor (Capaldi) arrives in 17th century London when he encounters the repercussions of his compassionate actions in the…

Bicycle Thieves (1948) – Vittorio De Sica

It had to happen sooner or later. Working my way through two film books at the same time, one of the titles would have to synch up… And as I continue exploring the fantastic The Movie Book from DK Canada, and delve into the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, this is the…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – The Nagus, and Vortex

Station log: stardate unknown Ira Steven Behr pens the teleplay from a story by David Livingston which finds Quark (Armin Shimerman) getting into some trouble when the Ferengi Grand Nagus, Zek (Wallace Shawn) arrives on the station. This episode first aired on 21 March, 1993. In a fun bit, O’Brien (Colm Meaney) is overseeing the…

Superman: Miracle Monday (1981) – Elliot S. Maggin

Superman has always been a hero of mine, and when Christopher Reeve brought the character to the big screen back in 1978, I was a fan for life. At that age, I was completely enchanted by the first film, and it’s follow up in 1980, Superman II. I had the Superman: The Movie Book, I…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993) – Frame of Mind, and Suspicions

Captain’s log: stardate 46778.1 Frame of Mind is a Brannon Braga scripted tale that first aired on 3 May, 1993, and is a Riker (Jonathan Frakes) centred story. The Enterprise’s First Officer is afraid he is losing his mind, as he seems to be slipping between realities – he is by turns aboard the Federation…

Taxi Driver (1976) – Martin Scorsese

Out of all of Scorsese’s work, I think Taxi Driver, the next stop on the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book as I return to the Thriller genre, is my favourite. It also features one of my top performances by Robert De Niro. Much has been said and written about Taxi Driver since…

Harvey (1950) – Henry Koster

James Stewart turns in yet another amazing turn, as I continue my way through DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Working on the What Else to Watch list following the recommendation of It’s a Wonderful Life, I delighted in settling in for this one. Mary Chase adapts her Pulitzer-Prize winning stage play to the silver screen,…

Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – Before the Flood, and The Girl Who Died

Before the Flood is the conclusion of the cliffhanger to last week’s underwater base/ghost episode from last week. Penned by Toby Whithouse, and first airing on 10 October, 2015, it finds the Doctor (Capaldi) travelling back in time to before the underwater base was flooded, and the deserted sunken village they were investigating is alive…