Hill Street Blues (1982/1983) – Santaclaustrophobia, and Gung Ho

It’s the holiday season on the hill, and lots of things are going on at the precinct. Santaclaustrophobia, written by Steven Bochco, Anthony Yerkovich, and Jeffrey Lewis, first aired on 16 December, 1982. Belker (Bruce Weitz) is undercover as a bell-ringing Santa, but a young kid keeps spoiling things by revealing he’s a cop. Hill’s…

Hell House LLC (2015) – Stephen Cognetti

The found footage sub-genre of the horror realm can be hit or miss. You not only have to be willing to be swept up into the tale, and the reality it presents, it also has to be engaging enough to keep the viewer involved. Therefore it has to have an interesting story, and at the…

Chuck (2009) – Versus the Best Friend, and Versus the Beefcake

Chuck (Zachary Levi) tries to help Morgan (Joshua Gomez) deal with the break-up of he and Anna (Julia Ling) but trouble ensues when Chuck flashes on Anna’s new boyfriend. Chuck Versus the Best Friend was written by Ali Adler and first debuted on 23 February, 2009. And while the team, gets pulled in on the…

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007) – Gore Verbinski

The third volume of Disney’s theme park attraction turned tentpole franchise is the next selection in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book as I explore the chapter on Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales. I’ll admit this instalment in the series is a little top heavy with a convoluted plot, but as showcased in the…

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) – Elia Kazan

Tennessee Williams’ classic tale comes to the big screen in this 1951 adaptation that is my next stop in DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Now, lets be clear, I’ve never been a fan of Marlon Brando, not ever, he just kind of annoys me, and has his career progressed his lack of professionalism just became…

Before Sunrise (1995) – Richard Linklater

Following my screening of Boyhood, as recommended by DK Canada’s highly enjoyable The Movie Book, it’s now time to dive into the What Else to Watch titles that accompany it. First up is Before Sunrise starring Linklater’s good friend, Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy. Jesse (Hawke) and Celine (Delpy) are two travellers who meets on…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – The Host, and The Mind’s Eye

Captain’s log: stardate 44821.1 Airing on 13 May, 1991, The Host is another episode that doesn’t do justice to Doctor Crusher (Gates McFadden). This is yet another episode that centres around her character that is just a little too shabby. Written by Michel Horvat, the episode follows Crusher as she has a relationship with Ambassador…

Toronto After Dark 2017: Poor Agnes – Navin Ramaswaran

The second feature screening tonight at Scotiabank Theatre as part of the Toronto After Dark film festival is another new favourite. Poor Agnes, having its Toronto premiere this eve, is a disturbing drama that haunts and troubles even as its story captivates. Agnes (Lora Burke) is a serial killer, and she is a master at…

Star Trek: The Original Series (1967) -The Doomsday Machine and Catspaw

Captain’s log: stardate unknow The Doomsday Machine sent me on many adventures when I was a child. Written by Norman Spinrad, this episode had an original airdate of 20 October, 1967. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the stalwart crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise encounter terror in space. They arrive in a destroyed planetary system, and discover…