Fletch (1974) – Gregory McDonald

I first read Fletch back in the 80s when the Chevy Chase movie was coming along, and for some reason I had problems keeping the story threads straight, as most of the text in the novel is dialogue, not action, so I would lose who said what and would have to go back, and back…

Octopussy and The Living Daylights (1966) – Ian Fleming

Ian Fleming’s final James Bond book, the second published posthumously and the fourteenth 007 book overall is a collection of previously published quartet of short stories. And it’s a great collection to go out on, though of course Bond would continue to live on under other authors, and of course, as an ongoing film franchise….

The Beach Girls and the Monster (1965) – Jon Hall

Sometimes bad is bad, but sometimes, sometimes it’s so bad it’s good, and I had a great time with this title which is the next one featured in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies. Filled with a swingin’ beach soundtrack, this one ended up being delightful, and had me laughing out loud as a dangerous…

Killer Ape (1953) – Spencer Gordon Bennet

I knew that they all can’t be winners, but this one was scrape off the bottom of your shoe bad. Killer Ape with one time Tarzan, Johnny Weismuller as Jungle Jim is the next film in DK Canada’s always enjoyable Monsters in the Movies book. This entry, in the chapter on monstrous apes, was just…

The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987) – Stephen King

This week I continue my journey with Roland, the gunslinger, introduced to us in the first volume of The Dark Tower series, The Gunslinger. Roland is in trouble from the off when he wakes on an expansive miles-long beach that is the shoreline of the Western Sea, and immediately runs afoul of some of the…

POPnology at the Ontario Science Centre

It’s summer vacation, time for camps, bike rides, beaches, family trips, seemingly endless days spread out before the young to enjoy, to forget the long reach of scholastic achievement, teachers, and books. So how can you make learning fun, and ensure that the entire family is entertained? Combine education with entertainment, with movies, and pop…

People On Sunday (1930) – Robert Slodmak & Edgar G. Ulmar

People On Sunday is the next big stop in DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Called a film without actors, the film is fluid and natural, following five people on a Sunday. Erwin, a taxi driver, Brigitte, a retail, clerk, Wolfgang, a wine trader, Christl, a film extra, Annie, a model,  are the film’s subjects, as…

Road to Singapore (1940) – Victor Schertzinger

  The first musical recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Jazz Singer, is this highly enjoyable romp starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Hope and Crosby play Ace and Josh respectively, a couple of sailors, and chums who love to crack-wise, drink, chase…

Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1953) – Jacques Tati

  Jacque Tati directs and stars in the next film selection in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. It’s a gentle, chuckle-filled film that while probably not vastly entertaining to today’s audiences is a delightful little escape from the clash and furor that so populate today’s comedies. Taking a page from the…