Before Joe Johnston directed one of my favourite comic book movies, The Rocketeer, he directed this Disney film that took the b-movies of the 1950s into the late Disney-fied 80s. There are nods to films he hasn’t made yet (which is really fun) and dialogue lifts from classic films and a playful sense of fun….
Tag: nick
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,…
Fear the Walking Dead: Season 1
Releasing today from Anchor Bay is Season 1 of Fear the Walking Dead, the new show from creator Robert Kirkman. Collecting all 6 episodes of the first season, the series, not so much a spin-off as it is a prequel (for now), promises to explore how the world got to the state it is when…
State of Women
During World War II, it wasn’t only the men who answered the call of their country. All over North America, women left their kitchens, shedding the restraints of home maker and house wife, to take up the hammer and torque to work in the factories (Rosie the Riveter), building the equipment that was put to…
Magnum, p.i. (1983) – Legacy From a Friend and Two Birds of a Feather
Thomas (Tom Selleck) tries to deal with the death of a friend in the first episode this week, Legacy From a Friend that originally screened on 10 March, 1983, and was penned by Robert Hamilton. And… this one was directed by the Rockford Files’ Stuart Margolin! When his friend is found dead, drowned. Magnum…
What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi
Debuting today on VOD and iTunes with a blu-ray and DVD release next week on the 26, is this laugh-filled fang-fest from New Zealand. Shot as a documentary, the film follows a group of vampires around modern-day Wellington as they struggle with divvying up chores, keeping blood off the couch, sweeping up spinal cords, finding the…
I Am ZoZo (2014) – Scott Di Lalla
I am ZoZo releases today from Anchor Bay, cashing in on the resurgence of Ouija board movies. To differentiate itself from the theatrical films dealing with the same subject matter, the entire thing was shot on Super 8mm. This gives the film a rather enjoyable, almost old-fashioned look, but, sadly, is the only redeeming…
Airwolf (1985) – Natural Born and Out of the Sky
String (Jan-Michael Vincent), Dom (Ernest Borgnine) and Caitlin (Jean Bruce Scott) put Airwolf through her paces this week’s dual installment. First up is Natural Born, airing 23 February, 1985, this one was written by Westbrook Claridge and Alfonse Ruggiero. Young Kevin (Lance Sloane) is a natural born helicopter pilot, he and his uncle (Noble…
Bitten Season 2
Get ready to howl wolfpack! Bitten returns to Space tonight with all new episodes as season 2, based on Kelley Armstrong’s bestselling novels, gets underway. And this show, has not been resting on its haunches. The season wastes no time, delving into lycanthrope politics, sexiness and Elena’s (Laura Vandervoort) vengeance. Right from the off,…
Magnum, P.I. (1981) – Tropical Madness & Wave Goodbye
Robert Hamilton writes an episode this week, well, originally aired 12 November, 1981, that causes some great strain on Thomas’ (Tom Selleck) and Higgins’ (John Hillerman) relationship in Tropical Madness. When a young English woman, Jennifer Chapman (Devon Ericson), seems to prefer Higgins to Magnum, Thomas is a little suspicious, but Higgins, flattered by…
The Mind Reels 