The BFG (2016) – Steven Spielberg

This one seemed like a surefire winner, you’ve got Spielberg working from a script by Melissa Matheson who wrote E.T. The story is adapted from Roald Dahl’s story, and Mark Rylance brings The Big Friendly Giant to life. But no matter how good, the computer-generated images were, combining the computer characters with live-action ones, specifically,…

The Da Vinci Code (2006) – Ron Howard

Director Ron Howard pairs with Tom Hanks to bring Dan Brown’s incredibly popular novel, The Da Vinci Code to the screen. Hanks portrays symbologist Robert Langdon, who previously popped up in Brown’s novel Angels and Demons, but it was the subject matter, and the way it tied into art and some historical moments that really…

M*A*S*H (1979) – Inga, The Price, and The Young and the Restless

Alan Alda writes and directs this episode, Inga, which first aired on 8 January, 1979, and definitely sees a bit of a course adjustment for Hawkeye’s (also Alda) sexist attitudes towards women. When Hawkeye hears about a Swedish female doctor coming to camp for a brief tour, he gets ready to turn on the charm,…

M*A*S*H (1976) – The Colonel’s Horse, Exorcism, and Hawk’s Nightmare

James Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum pen The Colonel’s Horse which was first broadcast on 7 December, 1976. When Colonel Potter (Harry Morgan) gets a week’s leave in Tokyo, where he will be joined by his wife, who caught a flight from State-side, Frank (Larry Linville) is left in charge, much to everyone’s dismay. Radar’s (Gary…

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) – Hayao Miyazaki

The final entry on the What Else to Watch list in DK Canada’s The Movie Book following my screening of Spirited Away is another brilliant Miyazaki film, Howl’s Moving Castle. This was my first time watching this one, and I can now admit to rating this one as high as I do Spirited Away. It’s…

Sophie’s Choice (1982) – Alan J. Pakula

The recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film for my screening of Schindler’s List are all powerful and exceptional films, and the first one featured some truly stunning performances. Adapted from the novel by William Styron, Pakula adapted and directed this moving and stunning film that sees Meryl Streep, in an Oscar…

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – The God Complex, and Closing Time

The Doctor (Smith), Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) find themselves in a spooky hotel when the TARDIS lands in this week’s episode… The God Complex. Written by Toby Whithouse, this occasionally scary episode first aired on 17 September, 2011. It seems the hotel that the Time Lord and his Companions are stuck in,…

Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – The Lodger, and The Pandorica Opens

James Corden shows up this week in the very entertaining episode, The Lodger. Written by Gareth Roberts, this episode first aired on 12 June, 2010. The Doctor (Smith) is separated from Amy (Karen Gillan) and the TARDIS by a mysterious event that seems to be located around a flat that houses Craig Owens (Corden). So,…

Mamma Mia! (2008) – Phylida Lloyd

The final recommendation for my screening of Jailhouse Rock for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film is the beloved stage musical, Mamma Mia! Using the catchy tunes penned by cherished pop group, ABBA, the tale is a but of a post-modern Philadelphia Story as a young woman, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is on the…