Bat-tastic! Is that a word? It should be. Because if Batman (Will Arnett) had his way, I’m sure that is exactly how the Caped Crusader would describe it. With the LEGO Movie in 2014, Warner Brothers and LEGO proved that they can make a family film that is not only family friendly, it will entertain…
Tag: daughter
Fort Apache (1948) – John Ford
The next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film for my screening of The Searchers is another Ford/Wayne classic, Fort Apache. A sprawling western, the film not only boasts the talents of John Wayne, but those of Henry Fonda, Shirley Temple and Pedro Armendariz (who I always enjoyed n From Russia With…
Star Trek: The Original Series (1967) – Tomorrow is Yesterday and Court Martial
Captain’s log: stardate 3113.2 Tomorrow is Yesterday is the series first full-on time travel story, penned by D.C. Fontana this great, and often funny, episode had an original airdate of 26 January, 1967. After a slingshot around a star throws the Enterprise back in time (this sounds important and may be used again in future)…
Whistle Down the Wind (1961) – Bryan Forbes
As I return to the Family Genre in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, I come across a number of recommendations from a screening for E.T. which I’ve previously covered Whistle Down the Wind is a British film that focuses on a group of young children, including Charles (Alan Barnes), Nan (Diane…
Quantum Leap (1991) – 8 1/2 Months and Future Boy
Sam (Scott Bakula) leaps into a very pregnant teenager this week in the episode 8 1/2 Months. It was penned by Deborah Pratt and had an original airdate of 6 March, 1991. It’s 15 November, 1955 and Sam is Billie Jean Crockett, 16 years old. And he’s there to not only make sure the baby…
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) -The Conscience of the King and Balance of Terror
Captain’s Log: Stardate 2817.6 The Conscience of the King, taken from a line in Hamlet (the series has a wonderful relationship with the Bard), was a bit of a murder mystery that didn’t quite engage with me when I was younger, but has grown on me since. Written by Barry Trivers, this had an original…
Quantum Leap (1990) – The Great Spontini and Rebel Without a Clue
After the heavier subject matter last week, The Great Spontini is a bit lighter fare (partially, though it does deal with a heartbreaking reality for families, divorce and custody battles) for Sam (Scott Bakula). Written by Cristy Dawson and Beverly Bridges, this episode first aired on 16 November, 1990. Sam finds himself as a magician, Harry Spontini,…
The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) – Anthony Mann
An incredible cast fills out this recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Spartacus. Alec Guinness is Marcus Aurelius, whose death begins the downfall of the great empire, as his son, Commodus (Christopher Plummer) assumes leadership, and is unwilling to let anything stand in his way. They…
Toronto After Dark 2016: Train to Busan – Sang-ho Yeon
Train to Busan, the Korean zombie film that played to great acclaim at Cannes was the second feature of Toronto After Dark’s Zombie Night at Scotiabank Theatre Saturday night. A big budget, bloody kills, cool special effects and a solid story made for an engaging screening that saw zombie lovers out in force in the…
Escape From L.A. (1996) – John Carpenter
I love me some John Carpenter, and his work with Kurt Russell is always enjoyable, but this next stop in the Sci-Fi Chronicles book isn’t as good as it could have been, but I still enjoy parts of it, I mean there’s Kurt as Snake Plissken, again. This time the year is 2013, L.A. has…
The Mind Reels 