New York. 1973. While it looks like a different time on film, not everything has changed, and consequently, Forbes documentary, which looks at a hostage situation that featured around the clock coverage at the time is just as relevant today as it was then. There’s errors on both sides, accusations, instituionalised racism, redemption for some,…
Tag: racism
Parable of the Sower (1993) – Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler’s science fiction tale, that follows a young woman of colour on her quest to understand herself, the ideas of god, and the destiny of humanity. Within pages of this novel, I was completely swept up in Butler’s storytelling style, her characters, and the world she created. And here’s the thing, the world…
The Ballad of Black Tom (2016) – Victor LaValle
H.P. Lovecraft gets a fantastic spin in this novella by Victor LaValle. Lovecraft is hard to admit you like, because his stories of cosmic horror and old ones are so good, and have become such a cornerstone of horror fiction, but he was just so racist and that permeated all of his writing. The Ballad…
Lovecraft Country (2016) -Matt Ruff
This week I dove into Matt Ruff’s brilliantly entertaining Lovecraft Country, which takes all the things you love about a good Lovecraft story; otherworldly horror, science fiction mixed with horror, and some other familiar horror tropes, the creepy doll, the haunted house, and deliver it without Lovecraft’s far too prominent racism. As much as I…
Diamonds Are Forever (1956) – Ian Fleming
The fourth James Bond adventure by Ian Fleming is on my book shelf this week, and I dug into it eagerly. Despite some troubling moments of racism, 007’s literary adventure in this book is damned enjoyable, and you can see a number of themes and locales survived the jump to the big screen with Sean…
Casino Royale (1953) – Ian Fleming
Some twenty years ago, my sister gifted me with six of Ian Fleming’s original James Bond adventures. First printings from the Macmillan Company, these wonderful little hardcovers were in great condition but sans books jackets. I hadn’t read any of the Fleming Bonds since my early teens, when I was in the midst of discovering…
Blinded By The Light (2019) – Blu-Ray Review
It’s hard to tell which songs will speak to you, which ones will define your existence, which will resonate, and inspire you. That’s the basis of Warner Brothers new film Blinded by the Light which comes home on blu-ray and DVD today. This time, the music that touches a soul is that of Bruce Springsteen…
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2009) – Mystery of a Thousand Moons, Storm Over Ryloth, Innocents of Ryloth, and Liberty on Ryloth
“A single chance is a galaxy of hope.” The blue shadow virus threatens the Republic in this episode written by Drew Z. Greenberg that first aired on 13 February, 2009. Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein), Padme (Catherine Taber) and countless clones (Dee Bradley Baker) are infected with the virus, and it’s up to Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter)…
Revenge of the Zombies (1943) – Steve Sekely
Not all zombie movies are going to be winners, and I realize that as I continue to explore the dark recesses of DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book, and its chapter on zombies. This feature from 1943 is too short (and still feels too long) and doesn’t have a lot going for it, despite…
Zombies on Broadway (1945) – Gordon Douglas
DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book by director John Landis, moves on to the realm of the mad scientist, leaving werewolves behind. And the first one I dove into was this genuinely funny film from 1945. It’s marred by moments of racism, but the rest of it proves to be very enjoyable. It what…
