Jailhouse Rock (1957) – Richard Thorpe

The Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book brings me back around the Musical genre, and this time around it features Elvis Presley himself. The story, such as it is, follows Vince Everett (Presley) who is serving one year (!) for manslaughter. While in the joint he meets a former country singer, Hunk Houghton…

The Mind Reels Visits the CBC

Last week, Sue Maynard and I were invited to attend the CBC 2017 – 2018 Season Preview. We knew it would be a chance to catch up with some good friends, and perhaps make some new ones. Arriving at 250 Front St West here in Toronto, we checked in and immediately were able to catch…

Canadian Screen Awards 2017 – The Red Carpet

The Canadian Screen Awards are always a lot of fun for Sue and I. It allows is the opportunity to catch up with friends in front of and behind the camera and make new ones as well. We were wonderfully outfitted for the night by the folks at Vistek. Make sure you check out their…

Dance of Death (2005) – Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

It’s been a while since I checked in with FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast, Preston and Child’s modern, American answer to Doyle’s Holmes. Last time we checked in with him, he was left in a bit of dire straits as his friend Vincent D’Agosta fled for his life. The story picks up a couple of short…

633 Squadron (1964) -Walter Grauman

Cliff Robertson leads the lucky 633 Squadron in this World War II melodrama that is the next recommendation from my screening of The Dam Busters for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. The actual aerial photography of the film is stunning, above and around England, while the rotoscope work behind the cast…

Doctor Who (Colin Baker) – Terror of the Vervoids

The Trial of a Time Lord continues for the Doctor (Baker) this week with Terror of the Vervoids, a four part story penned by Pip and Jane Baker that ran from the 1 to 22 November, 1986. As the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) continues his case against the Doctor, but he s finally able to offer…

Fan Expo 2016 – The Mind Reels Return

  This time next week, Sue and I will be enjoying all that is Fan Expo, Toronto’s biggest, celebrity filled geek-fest! I love going to Expo, and for the past few years, we’ve been fortunate enough the be able to cover this celebration of all the things we love as press, thank you to all…

Golden Son (2015) – Pierce Brown

  The second novel in Pierce Brown’s science fiction trilogy that began with Red Rising is on the Book Shelf this week, and if I liked the first one (which I did), I loved this one! The story picks up a couple of years after the events of the first book, and sees Darrow on…