I dive into disc three of the DVD release of Shogun this week which marries the conclusion of the third episode, originally broadcast on 17 September, 1980, and the fourth episode, which aired on 18 September, 1980. James Clavell’s novel, adapted by Eric Bercovici continues to explore feudal Japan through the transplanted Blackthorne (Richard Chamberlain)…
Tag: 1980
Shogun (1980) – Disc 2
The epic mini-series adaptation of James Clavell’s novel (he also served as one of the show’s producers), Shogun continues this week, as I dive into disc two, which includes episode two and parts of episode three which originally aired on the 16th and 17th September, 1980, following the airing of the three hour premiere on…
Shogun (1980) – Disc 1
Ah the late 70s and early 80s, the age of the television mini-series, an almost forgotten television event, though slowly being rediscovered by the advent of the limited series. It’s slightly different of course, because back then, there were only a few channels available, making a mini-series an event over consecutive nights. Shogun was based…
The Changeling (1980) – Peter Medak
Next up in DK Canada’s immensely enjoyable Monsters in the Movies, is the classic Canadian horror (shot in Vancouver and featuring some homegrown talent), The Changeling, a wonderful addition to the ghost chapter I am currently delving into. After his wife and child are killed in an accident while on vacation, composer John Russell (George…
The Fog (1980) – John Carpenter
The venture into the paranormal continues as I delve into the chapter on ghosts in DK Canada’s very entertaining Monsters in the Movies book. This time, it’s John Carpenter’s take on what plays out as a classic ghost story. The story itself is basic, and in the hands of Carpenter we get a creepy little…
Firestarter (1980) – Stephen King
It was going to happen sooner or later, I came across a Stephen King that really didn’t do it for me. There’s an idea at the core that I really enjoy, but it felt like King wasn’t exactly sure he wanted to go completely dark, in his telling of this tale. Little Charlie McGee is…
Han Solo and the Lost Legacy (1980) – Brian Daley
Smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca have lit out of Corporate Sector space to avoid some of the problems they have been happening and find themselves on some of the furthest outreaches of the galaxy in a region of space known as the Tion Hegemony. Here, Solo and his wookie co-pilot bump into Han’s old mentor…
Altered States (1980) – Ken Russell
William Hurt is on the search for the purest truth, and that, in this case, places him squarely in the mad scientist chapter of DK Canada’s very enjoyable Monsters in the Movies book. Eddie Jessup (Hurt) is a scientist seeking the ultimate truth, and finds himself experimenting with isolation chambers and a ritualistic, possibly hallucinogenic…
Miami Vice (1986) – Streetwise, and Forgive Us Our Debts
Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas) deal with a strung-out undercover cop, Vic Romano (Bill Paxton!) and the hooker he is in love with, Carla (Deborah J, Adair). Written by Dennis Cooper this episode first debuted on 5 December, 1986. It also features Wesley Snipes as Silk, a pimp running his…
The Big Red One (1980) – Samuel Fuller
Samuel Fuller wrote and directed the final film recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Saving Private Ryan. This title closes out my time with it. The tagline for the film says it best, “The real glory of war is surviving.” And that is what the heart…
The Mind Reels 