The second installment of The Dark Knight Returns continues the adaptation of the iconic 80s graphic novel. Redefining Batman for a whole new generation, and putting the dark in Dark Knight, the story continues its exploration of an older (now no longer retired) Batman/Bruce Wayne (Peter Weller – who still can’t separate his Batman and…
Tag: america
Parable of the Sower (1993) – Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler’s science fiction tale, that follows a young woman of colour on her quest to understand herself, the ideas of god, and the destiny of humanity. Within pages of this novel, I was completely swept up in Butler’s storytelling style, her characters, and the world she created. And here’s the thing, the world…
Poirot Investigates (1924) – Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie’s first collection of short stories, first published in 1924, sets forth a number of mysteries before her Belgian creation, Hercule Poirot, his little grey cells and his good friend Captain Hastings. While still capturing some of the humour of her novels, the short form of the stories doesn’t allow for a lot of…
Monsters (2010) – Gareth Edwards
It’s time for another close encounter with alien beings in the next title from DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies, this time, the creature’s are earthbound, and despite the titles are they really monsters? Or perhaps it’s the humans who are the monsters? Six years ago a space probe returning to earth with samples of…
For Special Services (1982) – John Gardner
John Gardner’s second 007 novel, updating Ian Fleming’s James Bond for the 1980s, is on the book shelf this week, and delivers the crisp, solid, sex and violence filled thrill ride we’ve come to expect from England’s top spy. This story, set largely in America, sees the return of Bond’s old nemesis, SPECTRE, with the…
Saboteur (1942) – Alfred Hitchcock
Hitchcock delivers a fantastically paced thriller, that stirs in some patriotism and humour as every man Barry Kane (Robert Cummings) finds himself caught up in a conspiracy on the eve of war. Kane works in an airplane factory, and is doing his part for the blossoming war effort. But when he inadvertently helps a fellow…
Hannibal (2001) – Ridley Scott
Anthony Hopkins returns to his iconic role of the cannibalistic doctor, Hannibal Lector in the sequel to the brilliant The Silence of the Lambs. This film shows up in Ten Bad Dates with De Niro on a list of films that it is painful to like. Jodie Foster and director Jonathan Demme elected not to…
The Supernatural Enhancements (2014) – Edgar Cantero
So last week I delighted in Edgar Canteros’ wonderful Meddling Kids, and wasn’t sure it could be topped. Then, I dug into this week’s scary ride, Cantero’s The Supernatural Enhancements. I went into this story with the bare minimum of knowledge, I knew the tale was doled out in surveillance footage, diary entries, letters, audio…
In the Tall Grass (2012) – Stephen King and Joe Hill
This week I decided to dig into something quick, and unnerving, and settled in for Joe Hill, and his father, Stephen King’s short novella, In the Tall Grass. And it’s wonderfully unnerving, bloody, and frightening. The concept of the story is so simple, and that is where some of the true horror lies. Cal and his…
The Mosquito Coast (1986) – Peter Weir
Featuring a unique performance by Harrison Ford, this adaption of Paul Theroux’s novel is the next title on the What Else to Watch list in DK Canada’s The Movie Book following its recommendation of Aguirre, Wrath of God. Featuring an all-star cast alongside Ford, including River Phoenix, Helen Mirren, Martha Plimpton, Peter Weir directs Ford…