Ran (1985) – Akira Kurosawa

I return to the War section of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, and settle in for Ran, Kurosawa’s epic opus. Taking its inspiration from Shakespeare’s King Lear, the film is a visual masterpiece delving into tragedy, drama and action. It is also one of the top recommendations on the What Else…

Marvel Studio’s Thor: Ragnarok Blu-Ray Review

Thor Ragnarok the immensely enjoyable third solo adventure of the Marvel hero comes home on blu-ray and DVD today, and continues to build on the Marvel Cinematic Universe while also bringing in something new to the adventure… A huge sense of humour and fun. Chris Hemsworth as the titular god shows that he can manage…

The Bounty (1984) – Roger Donaldson

The next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my return to the action genre and my screening of The Pirates of the Caribbean, is The Bounty. This one has everything working for it, a score by Vangelis, an all-star cast including Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Liam Neeson, Daniel Day-Lewis,…

Treasure Island (1950) – Byron Haskin

Disney’s tale on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of pirates and high adventure is the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl for the action genre. Disney branched away from animated shorts and films with this,…

Key Largo (1948) – John Huston

The next title on the What Else to Watch following DK Canada’s The Movie Book recommendation of Casablanca is the classic drama from director John Huston, Key Largo. Starring Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Edward G. Robinson the story is sharp, well-written penned by Huston and Richard Brooks, from a stage play by Maxwell Anderson….

Toronto After Dark 2017: Defective – Reese Eveneshen

Screening tonight at Scotiabank Theatre as part of the Toronto After Dark film festival is this science fiction action flick that is sure to be a divisive viewing experience. In the not so distant future, corporations are in control, and our phones and televisions will advise on everything that is acceptable, and remind us of…

Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam

Back in 1981 or 1982, on a free Super Channel or First Choice weekend I received my first introduction to the cinematic stylings of Terry Gilliam with Time Bandits. An odd, decidedly British science fiction adventure film, it is also one of the recommendations (following T2) as I return to the Action genre of the…

The Desert Spear (2010) – Peter V. Brett

The second book in Peter Brett’s Demon Cycle series finds its way to the Book Shelf this week, and it is as captivating as the first while continue to world build, pick up story threads, and throw now beloved characters into new scenarios and choices. A fast-paced read, Brett crafts Desert Spear with an eye…

She (1935) – Irving Pichel

I return to the action genre in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film. Having seen the main title, Raiders of the Lost Ark countless times, and of course, having written about it, I move now onto the recommendations following the title. Irving Pichel directs this epic adventure, She, based on the H. Rider…