Hard Boiled (1992) – John Woo

The Directory, filling out the last section of DK Canada’s marvellous The Movie Book, brings me a 90s action classic. One that set the standard for Honk Kong cinema, and found fans all over the world with its style of balletic violence, beautifully crafted shots, and fantastic set pieces. Not to mention, the exemplary Chow…

Harold and Maude (1971) – Hal Ashby

The Directory in DK Canada’s The Movie Book brings me another classic that I should have seen long ago, and now, have finally been able to remedy that. Combining dark humour with an offbeat romance, Ashby’s film embraces eccentricity while reminding us to live for today. Young Harold (Bud Cort – who looks twelve) has…

Dragonslayer (1981) – Matthew Robbins

Vermithax Perjorative. Was there ever a better name for a dragon ever? DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book brings me this classic film from ’81 as I continue my exploration of the dark chapter on dragons and dinosaurs. Boasting some fantastic creature effects, Vermitax may be the best looking dragon to ever be presented…

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) – Billy Wilder

The next title in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book is a bit of a red herring, which is kind of appropriate as it is kind of a mystery. Despite being nestled in the chapter on dragons and dinosaurs, the dinosaur, or monster in this one is apparent, from it’s first appearance that it…

Dry Summer (1963) – Metin Erksan

The Directory in DK Canada’s The Movie Book is continuing to supply exceptional films from around the globe, and today’s entry is a Turkish film that strikes a familiar chord about possession and greed. The story follows a pair of brothers, Osman (Erol Tas), and Hasan (Ulvi Dogan), a pair of farmers that are caught…

The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) – Nathan Juran

Setting aside the obvious whitewashing of the cast, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, the next film in the Dragons & Dinosaurs chapter of DK Canada’s extremely entertaining Monsters in the Movies is a lot of fun. And one that I have a bit of a history with. Growing up we moved around frequently (being in…

Jules et Jim (1962) – Francois Truffaut

The Directory, the final part of DK Canada’s The Movie Book continues to bring me exemplary films to expand my cinematic education, and today it brings me a classic Truffaut film. Adapting the novel of the same name by Henri-Pierre Rochem, Truffaut serves not only as director but writer and producer as well. The film…

Gamera vs. Barugon (1966) – Shigeo Tanaka

The kaiju battles continue as I delve deeper into the chapter on dragons and dinosaurs in DK Canada’s fabulous Monsters in the Movies. With some fun modelwork, and man in a monster suit action this one is fairly predictable, and the human story gets too much in the way of the monster action, but it’s…

Gorgo (1961) – Eugene Lourie

What would happen if England got in on the Godzilla craze? Well, I found out as I explored DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book and came across Gorgo as I continue to explore the chapters on dragons and dinosaurs. When a group of sailors capture a strange beast off the coast of Ireland and…

The Red Shoes (1948) – Micheal Powell and Emeric Pressburger

The Directory in DK Canada’s The Movie Book continues to introduce me to classic films I haven’t seen, and today they introduced me to the Oscar winning film, The Red Shoes. Taking home awards from the Academy for Art & Set Direction as well as Best Music, the story follows the life and career of…