Seven Samurai (1954) – Akira Kurosawa

The next film recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is yet another iconic film from Kurosawa’s oeuvre. In a catalogue of films that are all exceptional, it’s tough to pick a favourite, but this may very will be mine. I love the American remake from 1960, The Magnificent Seven,  it’s…

The Magnificent Seven (1960) – John Sturges

That music, that cast… It’s no wonder that Sturges’ Americanisation of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is one of my all time favourite westerns, and the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Wild Bunch. Elmer Bernstein’s rousing and memorable score supports Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Eli…

Toronto After Dark 2016: In a Valley of Violence – Ti West

It was action night at Toronto After Dark on Sunday, wonderfully hosted by the Scotiabank Theatre here in Toronto, and they delved a little further west than they have in the past by screening the latest Ti West film, the western, In a Valley of Violence. West has gotten a lot of love from Toronto…

The A-Team (1983) – When You Comin’ Back, Range Rider? Parts 1 & 2

  This week’s installment of the A-Team brings us a two-parter that aired as one big double episode on the 25th of October, 1983. It was penned by Frank Lupo and parts of it seem reminiscent of the episode Desperado, from The Greatest American Hero (also written by Lupo, with Cannell) – of course it was…

Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) – Jimmy T. Murakami

  With the advent of Star Wars in the late 70s, every studio, almost every writer, wanted to get in on the sci-fi band wagon, including Roger Corman. Known for his exploitation films with incredibly low budgets, Battle Beyond the Stars, was his biggest budgeted film, and was my introduction to the story of the…

Trailer Tracks: The Magnificent Seven (1960) – John Struges

One of those remakes that totally works! Based on Kurosawa’s fantastic Seven Samurai, the story was transplanted to the west, where a group of hired gunfighters, including Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn and James Coburn, are hired to fend off bandits. I don’t know about the song featured in the trailer though…