We had to wait a year to see what would happen next in Kenneth Johnson’s V story, but he left the follow-up miniseries due to creative differences. He saw more of a Holocaust-Resistance story and the studio wanted something more gangbusters action adventure in the vein of Star Wars if they could get it. The…
Tag: john
V – The Miniseries (1983) – Part Two
Part two of the iconic science fiction mini-series V, written and directed by Kenneth Johnson, aired on 2 May, 1983. It aired the following night after part one, no week’s wait, not even a couple of days. This was an event, and for two nights it ruled television. Continuing it’s sci-fi retelling of Nazi Germany…
Mary Poppins Returns (2018) – Rob Marshall
Opening tomorrow, Mary Poppins Returns is an old school, classic Walt Disney film in the magical sense of the words. Knowing that it has to take on one of the iconic characters from the Disney filmography, Mary Poppins Returns has a big umbrella to fill, not to mention those shoes! But the Emily Blunt led…
V – The Miniseries (1983) – Part One
Writer/director Kenneth Johnson gave us a modern retelling of the Nazi Third Reich in the event mini-series that so impacted me, and countless others, when it first debuted on 1 May, 1983. It was all I talked about in school, finishing up the sixth grade. I didn’t get to see it all when it aired,…
Disney’s Peter Pan: The Signature Collection
Just over three years ago, I settled in for the 1953, Disney classic Peter Pan. A film I hadn’t seen in a long time. Now, it’s time for another revisit, with the beautiful Signature Collection blu-ray transfer available from Disney today. And yes, while there is still that troubling What Makes the Red Man Red…
Fake Blood (2017) – Rob Grant
Whether Canadian film-makers Rob Grant and Mike Kovac movie is fact or fiction isn’t the point of their latest cinematic effort. What is important is the film’s subject matter, and the commentary it makes on film, violence in cinema and the responsibility of the film-makers. Opening Friday at the Carlton here in Toronto, Fake Blood,…
The Deer Hunter (1978) – Micheal Cimino
Micheal Cimino’s examination of the effects of war, framed around the Vietnam conflict and a small industrial town in Pennsylvania is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Apocalypse Now. Laying out the scars, physical, mental and unseen that affected those who fought in it,…
American Graffiti (1973) – George Lucas
George Lucas’ nostalgic American Graffiti is the next stop on the list of recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Jailhouse Rock. While not a musical in the technical sense of breaking into song and dance, the music and the voice of deejay Wolfman Jack play an…
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…
Quantum Leap (1992/1993) – Promised Land and A Tale of Two Sweeties
Sam (Scott Bakula) finds himself back in Elk Ridge, Indiana, his home town on 22 December, 1971. Directed by Bakula, this episode was penned by Tommy Thompson and Gillian Hovarth, and aired on 15 December,1992. Sam leaps into Willie Walters, jr. who is in the process of robbing the local bank with his brothers Neil…
Quantum Leap (1992) – Killin’ Time and Star Light, Star Bright
Sam (Scott Bakula) is in for an interesting ride this week in Killin’ Time. Written by Tommy Thompson with an original airdate of 20 October, 1992, Sam finds himself in the person of Leon Styles, a violent escaped convict on 18 June, 1958. He’s troubled by the fact that Al (Dean Stockwell) hasn’t shown up…
Quantum Leap (1990) – M.I.A. and The Leap Home: Part 1
Season 2 comes to a poignant end this week, with one of the most important stories in the Quantum Leap universe. M.I.A. was written by Bellisario and aired 9 May, 1990. Al (Dean Stockwell) isn’t telling Sam (Scott Bakula) why he’s really leaped into the body of undercover police officer Jake Rawlins on 1 April,…
