The next drama title for review in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this generation-defining film that not only stars Dennis Hopper, but he directed it, and wrote the script with co-star Peter Fonda and Terry Southern. Fonda plays Wyatt, though he’s referred to through the entire film as Captain…
Tag: California
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…
The Rockford Files (1976) – Foul on the First Play & A Bad Deal in the Valley
Season 2 of the Rockford Files comes to an end this week with these two episodes. First up is Foul on the First Play, written by Cannell from a story by Chas. Floyd Johnson and Dorothy J. Bailey. It’s original airdate was 12 March 1976… things worked differently back then I guess, because March…
The Rockford Files (1976) – The Italian Bird Fiasco & Where’s Houston?
Private investigator Jim Rockford (James Garner) tackles a couple of interesting cases in this week’s installment of The Rockford Files. First up we have The Italian Bird Fiasco, which originally aired 13, February 1976, and was directed by film legend Jackie Cooper. It was written by Edward J. Lasko. The phone gag this time…
Godzilla (2014) – Gareth Edwards
The King of Monsters returned to the big screen this weekend, with Monsters director, Gareth Edwards updating the classic cinema tale for the 21st century, while embracing its origins from the 50s. Filled with spectacle, and a perfect matinée, popcorn filled homage to the original series, the film, despite Edwards deft touch, and eye for…
Die Hard (1988) – John McTiernan
The 101 Action Movies brings me another one of my favorites. Fresh off the success of Predator, McTiernan took Bruce Willis, then mostly known for the TV series Moonlighting and launched him into superstardom as everyman police officer John McClane, who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Flying out…
Hot Docs: Valentine Road – Marta Cunningham
This is another one of those cases where I wish I was a better writer, because nothing I can come up with could possibly cover the gamut of emotions and questions and reactions to this amazing documentary. It’s something I feel everyone should see, and talk about, and then see again. I started my…
The Mark of Zorro (1940) – Rouben Mamoulian
The 101 Action Movies brings is a rip-roaring adventure starring Tyrone Power as Don Diego Vera and his alter-ego Zorro! This film relaunched the character of his previous on-screen appearance after Douglas Fairbanks had essayed the character in the silent era. I have to say, Zorro is a pretty cool character, and he’s like the…
The Lives of a Bengal Lancer (1935) – Henry Hathaway
The 101 Action Movies brought me this Gary Cooper classic that is not only lots f fun, but has a lot of heart. It’s a tale of honor, duty, bravery and loyalty that has not dimmed at all with age. Gary Cooper plays Scotch-Canadian Lt. McGregor. I quite like the fact that he’s a Canadian…
What Firefly Means To Me (or Why I’ll Always Be A Browncoat)
I came to the ‘Verse pretty late in the game. I’d never been a fan of Buffy or Angel (I remember refusing to watch the former because it wasn’t Kristy Swanson in the title role), so I wasn’t an automatic viewer of anything Joss Whedon did just because it was Joss Whedon. I was…
The Mind Reels 