It’s time to check in with that little Belgian investigator, Hercule Poirot, is doing. He and Hastings return in Agatha Christie’s Peril at End House. And to keep the genre fresh, this time Poirot and his slawart companion are determined to stop a murder before it happens. When a chance meeting with Nick Buckley, a…
Tag: wit
Fletch (1974) – Gregory McDonald
I first read Fletch back in the 80s when the Chevy Chase movie was coming along, and for some reason I had problems keeping the story threads straight, as most of the text in the novel is dialogue, not action, so I would lose who said what and would have to go back, and back…
Pump Up the Volume (1990) – Allan Moyle
There are moments, movies, books, and shows that stay with you, and some undeniably influence you. I remember where I was, and who I was (or at least on my way to becoming) when I was first introduced to Mark Hunter (Christian Slater) better known to his listening audience as Happy Harry Hard-on. With a…
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…
TAD 2018: Robbery (2018) – Corey Stanton
Toronto After Dark, my favorite film festival, playing at the Scotibank Theatre, breaks from the norm this eve, which for them the supernatural, aliens, blood and gore, and goes out on a limb with a Canadian crime drama. And full disclosure, I know some of the folk involved in the film, including my friend Samantha…
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…
Marvel Spider-Man: Inside the World of Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero (2017) – Matthew K. Manning
Spider-Man. For a lot of kids, myself included, Web-Head is our first introduction to the world of superheroes. Over time some of us may leave him behind, some of us stay with him our whole lives, and some come back to check on him time and again, like an old friend. I think, whether we’re…
Mostly Harmless (1992) – Douglas Adams
It’s time for one last adventure with Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect as I opened the pages of the fifth book in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy. Within moments I was laughing as I plunged into the familiar world that Adams created. He brings the story full circle and plays with other science…
Monsters in the Movies – 100 Years of Cinematic Nightmares (2011) – John Landis
How much do I love this book? Let me tell you! This gorgeous, coffee table book, available from DK Canada, penned and compiled by director John Landis (who directed my favourite werewolf movie of all time, An American Werewolf in London, though I was introduced to him through the Thriller video first) has created a…
Pete Winning and the Pirates: The Motion Picture (2015) – Mike Donis, Jason Leaver and Navin Ramaswaran
One of the things I most love about Toronto is the fact that I get to meet so many amazing people, and one of those that I am very lucky to call friend is Mike Donis. He’s a fun, smart guy, who has put his creative drive to work. In conjunction with James Christopher…
The Mind Reels 