Carte Blanche (2011) – Jeffery Deaver

James Bond is back, in the modern era. Jeffrey Deaver, acclaimed author of the Lincoln Rhyme novels updates 007 for the 21st century with his novel, Carte Blanche. While there are recognizable names and characters, Deaver shakes things up a little bit as he establishes a new timeline for Ian Fleming’s iconic character. This time…

The Equalizer (1988) – Day of the Covenant, and Splinters

McCall (Edward Woodward) and Mickey (Keith Szarabajka) find themselves caught up in a human rights struggle when Scott’s (William Zabka) new girlfriend, Zandili (Kasi Lemmons) may be a political terrorist from South Africa being hunted in New York by mercenaries and South African law enforcement. Day of the Covenant was written by Robert Eisele and…

Black Order (2006) – James Rollins

Sigma Force is back in their bext adventure from author James Rollins, who once again combines high adventure, with science, technology, and little known corners of history to deliver another rollicking adventure. This time out, both Painter and Gray find themselves out in the field and caught up in the action in a tale that…

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) – Richard Donner

1989. I graduated high school and was living on my own for the first time, and my movie collecting addiction was swinging into full gear and this film, along with Last Crusade and Batman were some of my purchases that year, making me choose for the first time between proper meals or cinematic confection. It…

The Man in the Brown Suit (1924) – Agatha Christie

This week’s Agatha Christie entry to the book shelf is another delightful adventure thriller. Sure there’s a murder and suspects, but it’s definitely more akin to an adventure story, with a wonderful female heroine in the form of Anne Beddingfield. Anne finds herself caught up in an adventure that would give the cinema serials she…

Toronto After Dark 2019: 8 (2019) – Harold Holscher

Toronto After Dark brings us a tale out of South Africa tonight with 8. Marrying the feel of a haunted house tale with the legends and myths of the tribes of South Africa this film plays almost as a gentle tale, and while light on real scares, there are some character moments that resonate and…

Zulu (1964) – Cy Endfield

The next stop in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Lawrence of Arabia is the epic, Zulu starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker. Now, while one could make arguments about themes of British Imperialism and Colonialism running through the film, I saw more fit to see the film…

Conversations with Dolphins (2016) – Jerome Julienne and John Jackson

“They say the sea is cold, but the sea contains the hottest blood of all, and the wildest, the most urgent.” – Whales Weep Not! D. H. Lawrece Airing as part of the CBC’s Nature of Things tonight, is this fascinating documentary about one of my favourite mammals on the planet, dolphins. From endurance swimmer Adam…

District 9 (2009) – Neill Blomkamp

  So the Neill Blomkamp is next up in the Sci-Fi Chronicles book (I am loving this thing) with his first feature film, District 9, that was produced by Peter Jackson. As a commentary on race, apartheid, and just how badly we as a species can exploit and hurt others, District 9 may be more…

Black Sails: Season 2

  Last year, Anchor Bay sent me the first season of Starz pirate adventure-drama, Black Sails, and I chain-watched the entire season over two sittings. I was aghast that this show had somehow slipped under my radar, it’s beautifully shot with gorgeous locations, practical sets (with some fantastic computer generated extensions) and has a fantastic…