Miami Vice (1984) – Calderone’s Return Part I & II

This two parter sees the threat of the pilot episode come back to wreak revenge on Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) and Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Micheal Thomas). The first episode, originally aired as The Hit List was written by Joel Surnow, and first broadcast on 19 October, 1984. Sonny is due in court for a divorce…

Sunset Boulevard (1950) – Billy Wilder

As I return to the films of yesteryear, thanks to DK Canada’s The Movie Book, I settled in for a film that I’ve never been sure I wanted to watch, Sunset Boulevard. I just never imagined it would be my thing, but it does have a great pedigree including a cast that includes Gloria Swanson…

Before Sunset (2004) – Richard Linklater

I return to the brilliant The Movie Book from DK Canada, as I continue to work my way through the What Else to Watch list following my screening of Boyhood. I got a bottle of wine, and settled in for the follow up to Before Sunrise… Before Sunset. Nine years after the release of Before…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – Second Sight, and Sanctuary

Station log: stardate 47329.4 Mark Gehred-O’Connell, Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe created the teleplay for this episode from a story by Hehred-O’Connell. It first aired on 21 November, 1993. It’s the fourth anniversary of the battle at Wolf 359, where Sisko’s (Avery Brooks) wife, Jennifer was killed in the Borg attack, and for…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – Cardassians, and Melora

Station log: stardate 47177.2 Written by James Crocker from a story by Gene Wolande and John Wright, this episode first debuted on 24 October, 1993. Doctor Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and the Cardassian tailor (and possibly spy) Garak (Andrew Robinson) investigate Cardassian war orphans left behind on Bajor after the occupation, and those that have been…

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1993) – Winds of Change

The Great War is over, and the life of Indiana Jones (Sean Patrick Flanery) is about to change again in this movie edited together from two episodes, one of them unaired. Paris, May 1919 Written by Jonathan Hales, this episode was first broadcast on 24 July, 1993, and sees Indy reunited with his old friend,…

Red Beard (1965) – Akira Kurosawa

Red Beard is the next recommendation from the What Else to Watch list in DK Canada’s The Movie Book, following my screening of Rashomon. This film marks the last collaboration between Kurosawa, and iconic Japanese actor, Toshiro Mifune. Over a sprawling, and engaging three hours, Kurosawa explores humanism and existentialism through this adaption of a…

The Reader (2008) – Stephen Daldry

The final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Schindler’s List, is this moving, and thoughtful film based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink. Kate Winslet stars as Hanna Schmitz, a role for which she won an Oscar for Best Lead Performance. Set in Post World War…

Walk the Line (2005) – James Mangold

Joaquin Phoenix brings the legendary Man in Black, Johnny Cash to life in this biographical drama that is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Sound of Music. The film gives an unflinching look at the life and times of the musician, from his…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993) – Lessons, and The Chase

Captain’s log: stardate 46693.1 Jean Louise Matthias and Ronald Wilkerson penned this episode that first aired on 5 April, 1993. It is a Picard (Patrick Stewart) story that sees the captain discovering love with one of his crew members, the head of the stellar science services, Nella Daren (Wendy Hughes). As their relationship blossoms, and…