Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993) – Gambit Part II, and Phantasms

Captain’s log: stardate 47160.1 Ronald D. Moore pens the second part of this two-parter, based on a story by Naren Shankar. Airing on 18 October, 1993, it completes the story of Picard (Patrick Stewart) posing as Galen with a gang of intergalactic pirates who pillage archaeological sites. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is still held by Baran…

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 Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1993/1995) – Masks of Evil

Indy’s (Sean Patrick Flanery) adventures continue this week, as his time with French Intelligence during the Great War continues, and brings him face to face with some real evil. The movie combines two episodes, and changes the canon order of when they originally happened to facilitate a comprehensive story. Istanbul, September 1918 Airing on 17…

Harvey (1950) – Henry Koster

James Stewart turns in yet another amazing turn, as I continue my way through DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Working on the What Else to Watch list following the recommendation of It’s a Wonderful Life, I delighted in settling in for this one. Mary Chase adapts her Pulitzer-Prize winning stage play to the silver screen,…

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) – The Passenger, and Move Along Home

Station log: stardate unknown Morgan Grendel, Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Micheal Piller pen this episode from a story by Grendel that first aired on 21 February 1993. This episode, while not stellar, balances the A and B story of the episode nicely, and builds the characters a little more. Kira (Nana Visitor) and Bashir (Alexander…

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – Blu-Ray Review

Hitting blu-ray and DVD today from Disney is the latest instalment in the Skywalker Saga, The Last Jedi, director/writer Rian Johnson’s follow-up to 2015’s The Force Awakens. Johnson delivers a strong film that has proven divisive with some fans, but for yours truly, it’s up there with The Empire Strikes Back, it sends characters in…

Amelie (2001) – Jean-Pierre Jeunet

The final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Pretty Woman is a film that is pure joy captured on film. Jeunet’s beautiful comedic romance brought Audrey Tautou to international attention, and did something that usually takes a lot of effort – got a North American audience…

When Harry Met Sally (1989) – Rob Reiner

The first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following my screening of Pretty Woman for the romance and melodrama chapter of the book is one of my favourite rom-coms of all time. And personally I think it should have been the main title over Pretty Woman. Set over the course of…