Toronto After Dark 2016: As the Gods Will – Takashi Miike

Things got nigh on bizarre this evening at Toronto After Dark, as it continues to entertain at the Scotiabank Theatre here in Toronto. It was Japanese cinema night, and sadly, thanks to work constraints, I was only able to make one screening today, but what a screening! If you aren’t familiar with Miike’s work, it’s…

The Ten Commandments (1956) – Cecil B. DeMille

  Melodrama and spectacle are the order of the day as I dive back into the Historical genre of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. DeMille’s remake of his own 1923 is a towering, four hour long epic that boasted top of the line effects (at the time), stellar casting, including Charlton…

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (2004) – Susanna Clarke

  I’d always been intrigued by the cover of this book, and the idea of magicians in England in the 19th century tweaked my interest as well. I was never put off by the rather gargantuan size of the book, I just knew I had to be in the right frame of mind to take…

Edward Scissorhands (1990) – Tim Burton

  Tim Burton’s suburban fairy tale is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following my screening of The Wizard of Oz. Perennial Burton favorite Johnny Depp is the titular character, a gentle young man, created by an elderly inventor (Vincent Price) who dies before he can give his creation…

Tarzan (1999) – Chris Buck & Kevin Lima

  It’s Disney’s turn to take on the classic Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character of Tarzan as I continue my exploration in the highly addictive Sci-Fi Chronicles book. Tony Goldwyn lends his voice to the animated film, along with a star-studded ensemble including Lance Henriksen, Minnie Driver, Brian Blessed, Glenn Close Wayne Knight and Rosie O’Donnell. This…

All About Eve (1950) – Joseph L. Mankiewicz

  The next drama title that was recommended following my screening of Les Enfants du Paradis from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, All About Eve is a tale of ambition and betrayal, with a stellar script and direction by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Bette Davis stars as an aging theater actress, Margo…

Chimes at Midnight (1965) – Orson Welles

  So I’m getting back on track with the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, and am getting ready to finish up my time with Mr. Welles. I was quite looking forward to sitting down and watching this one, as I do like my Shakespeare, and I was quite interested to see how…

All Cheerleaders Die (2013) – Lucy McKee & Chris Silverston

  Hitting DVD and Blu-Ray today is this entertaining romp that is bound to become a cult classic, All Cheerleaders Die. The opening night feature for the Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) Midnight Madness, I was a little unsure about this one, but thought I’d give it a shot. I was happily surprised. What could…

Jamon, Jamon (1992) – Bigas Luna

  The recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Women On the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown continue with this entertaining Spanish film featuring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. Legs of ham, underwear models and naked bullfighting all play a part in this enjoyable and erotic film…