Wonderfalls (2004) – Karma Chameleon, and Wound-up Penguin

Jaye (Caroline Dhavernas) gets single white femaled in Karma Chameleon. Written by Tim Minear this episode aired second, on 19 March, 2004, when it was actually the third in the narrative order. When a fish in the bar, and a stuffed chameleon tell Jaye to help ‘get her words out’ when it comes to a…

The Grudge (2004) – Takashi Shimizu

Takashi Shimizu who wrote and directed the original J-horror version of The Grudge, Ju-On, delivers the North American adaptation that isn’t quite as creepy and unnerving as the source material, as it tries to find a blending of Western and Eastern film styles that doesn’t always work. I remember Ju-On freaked me out the first…

Mission: Impossible (1967) – The Legacy, and The Reluctant Dragon

Paramount Pictures’ Mission: Impossible – The Complete Series on blu-ray continues to entertain as I explore more of the first season of the iconic season. First up this week is The Legacy, written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, it debuted on 7 January, 1967. Dan (Steven Hill) and his IMF team, including Rollin…

Quantum Leap (1993) – The Beast Within and The Leap Between the States

Sam (Scott Bakula) finds himself in rural Washington state on 6 November, 1972. Despite the fact that he is mistaken for bigfoot in the episode’s opener, we soon learn he’s a Vietnam vet, named Henry, who has been living in the woods. The Beast Within was written by John D’Aquino, who previously played Frank in…

From Here to Eternity (1953) – Fred Zinnemann

  An all star cast brings James Jones sprawling book to the big screen, and is my next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my revisit with Casablanca for the Romance and Melodrama genre. Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed, Ernest Borgnine, Claude Akins and Jack Warden bring…

Quantum Leap (1989) – Good Morning, Peoria and Thou Shalt Not…

  Sam (Scott Bakula) gets to be a DJ this week, in a riff on Good Morning, Vietnam. Written by Chris Ruppenthal with an airdate of of 8 November, 1989, Good Morning, Peoria, finds Sam leaping into radio personality Chick Howell on 9 September, 1959, in the small town of Peoria. Broadcasting from WOF, Sam…

Out of Africa (1985) – Sydney Pollack

  Meryl Streep and Robert Redford headline this romantic drama  that is based on a true story, and is a recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Gone With the Wind. Claiming a number of Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Score (by John Barry), Screenplay, and obviously, Cinematography,…

Corner Gas: The Movie (2014) – David Storey

  One of Canada’s most beloved sitcom had a theatrical release this month, and now, it’s been released to DVD and Blu-Ray. Corner Gas: The Movie, takes us back to Dog River, and catches us up with all of our old friends, Brent (Brent Butt), Lacey (Gabrielle Miller), Hank (Fred Ewanuick), Oscar (Eric Peterson) &…