***SPOILER FREE ZONE*** The super-sized issue twenty-two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hits theaters Thursday, and superhero fans around the planet have no idea what to expect. So take a breath and enjoy that moment. No doubt by the end of opening weekend, tons of people will be spoiling the film for others (intentionally or…
Tag: tears
Fan Expo 2018: An Exploration of Fandom, Age,and Being a Geek
There are few things that portend the end of summer for me more than Toronto’s Fan Expo, falling around the Labor Day Weekend it is one last big sendup and celebration of countless fandoms. And this year Expo made sure to pull out all the stops, there were celebrities and panels, parties and purchases that…
Schindler’s List (1993) – Steven Spielberg
The next title on the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film as I return to the historical section of the book is Spielberg’s heart-wrenching, anguish filled look at the Holocaust through an adaptation of a true story. Over the course of three hours, this black and white film, with only significant and poignant uses…
The Amber Spyglass (2000) – Philip Pullman
The final novel in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is on the book shelf this week, and I was curious to know if it would have the same effect on me as it did when I first read it eighteen years ago. I remembered nothing of the final half of the book after a…
The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) – Peter Jackson
As I return to the Family genre of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book I am greeted by an old friend, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the final family film recommendation. I grew up with the book. I was introduced to The Hobbit via the Arthur Rankin…
Doctor Who (Matt Smith) – Nightmare in Silver, and The Name of the Doctor
Nightmare in Silver gives us another Doctor Who story written by Neil Gaiman. This, the penultimate episode of the seventh series, first aired on 11 May 2013. The Doctor (Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) take her charges, Angie (Eve de Leon Allen) and Artie (Kassius Carey Johnson) on an adventure. They head to Hedgewick’s World…
Uncommon Type (2017) – Tom Hanks
I’ve been a fan of Tom Hanks’ since Bosom Buddies, I’ve watched him grow from a comedic actor to one of my favourite all time actors. I have delighted in his career, and love when he steps away from the front of the camera to work behind it, directing, producing, writing. It was his writing…
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) – John Hughes
Paramount Pictures, in time for both Canadian and American Thanksgivings, released the 30th Anniversary edition of the John Hughes classic, Planes, Trains & Automobiles. John Candy and Steve Martin portray Del Griffith and Neal Page respectively; two travellers thrown together as they try to find their way home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Watching circumstance after…
Star Trek: The Original Series (1968) – The Empath and Elaan of Troyius
Captain’s log: stardate 5121.5 The Empath is an interesting episode, written by Joyce Muskat and with an original airdate of 6 December, 1968, this one uses a bit of minimalist set design to give it an almost surreal feel. Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) find themselves trapped in…
Doctor Who (David Tennant) – Doomsday and The Runaway Bride
It’s time. The second series of the reinvigorated Doctor Who comes to a close this week, as things pick up exactly where the previous episode ended. Doomsday aired on 8 July, 2006 and was penned by showrunner Russell T. Davies. The Doctor (Tennant) and Rose (Billie Piper) find themselves in what will become known as…
The Mind Reels 