Captain’s log: stardate 47988.0 After seven seasons (and just over a year of posts on the blog) Star Trek: The Next Generation came to its series finale with this feature-length episode that was penned by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga (who were also deep into the writing of the first Next Gen feature film…
Tag: high school
Grease (1978) – Randal Kleiser
The joyous, infectious, and iconic screen adaptation of the classic stage musical is the next stop in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film as I return to the musical chapter of the book. Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Jaws, Star Wars, these and a few select other films were staples of the 1970s. You…
Toronto After Dark 2017: Tragedy Girls – Tyler MacIntyre
BFFs, LOLs, LIKES, RETWEETs and MURDER. The Toronto After Dark film festival comes to a close this evening at Scotibank Theatre with the Toronto premiere of the exceptional dark comedy, Tragedy Girls. A Heathers for the cyber age, the film follows two students and best friends, Sadie (Brianna Hildebrand) and McKayla (Alexandra Shipp) who are…
Red Dawn (1984) – John Milius
The final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Dr. Strangelove is John Milius’ dark and violent film, Red Dawn. With an all-star cast including Patrick Swayze, Lea Thompson, C. Thomas Howell, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Powers Boothe and Harry Dean Stanton, the film chronicles an invasion…
My Best Friend’s Exorcism (2016) – Grady Hendrix
Where do I even start with this book? I enjoyed this one so much. We were in the local Chapters, and I was immediately caught by the cover. It’s designed to look like a 1980s horror movie on VHS. And the story embraces everything you loved about the 80s – the shows, the music, the…
A Hard Day’s Night (1964) – Richard Lester
Before Richard Lester ruined the Superman franchise he brought one of the best and most enduring music groups to the screen not once, but twice. His first entry the mockumentary A Hard Day’s Night is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Jailhouse Rock. Re-watching this…
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…
Superman: The Animated Series (1996/1997) – The Main Man: Part II, My Girl and Tools of the Trade
Superman (Tim Daly) and Lobo (Brad Garrett) are still in trouble as The Main Man: Part II opens. This episode had an original airdate of 16 November, 1996, and sees these two unlikely allies, working to escape the menagerie they have been thrown into by The Preserver (Sherman Howard). Lobo remains moronic, violent, and vastly…
Quantum Leap (1990) – All-Americans and Her Charm
Sam (Scott Bakula) is going for the touchdown in the first episode up for review this week. All-Americans was penned by Paul Brown and Bellisario, and directed by John Cullum. It aired 17 January, 1990. It’s 6 November, 1962, and Sam has leaped into high schooler Eddie Vega. Along with his best friend Chuey…
Toronto Screenwriting Conference 2016 Day One
Not that I need a break from Hot Docs yet, if ever, but there is a lot going on this weekend, and Sue and I were delighted to be invited back for our fourth time to cover the Toronto Screenwriting Conference. The conference is always amazing, and Sue and I start with the best…
The Mind Reels 