Posts by lee.fenton2002@gmail.com

‘North of 60’

is a desideratum, when it comes to fictional depictions of what life is like for white and indigenous people residing in the truly remote regions of Canada.

The television series debuted in 1992, created by Barbara Samuels and Wayne Grisby for the CBC; (Canadian Broadcasting Network) it was later syndicated worldwide. The show is based on the fictional town of “Lynx River” – located in the Delcho Region of the Northwest Territories. ‘North of 60’ tackles serious subject matter, as well as the ins-and-outs of everyday life in Lynx River.

Well, this isn’t the Denis Villenieuve one.

No, long before the French-Canadian visionary decided to grace us with his reimagining of the renowned sci-fi classic, David Lynch attempted the challenging feat of adapting Frank Herbert's ‘Dune’.

And when I say attempted, what I really mean is -- failed miserably.

David Lynch's version had some constraints due to the tech of the time - however, plenty of other motion pictures of the 80s that featured futuristic settings, managed to succeed where ‘Dune’ failed, suggesting that this film has more systemic flaws than just special FX or believability of setting.

RAGING BULL

a film Directed by Martin Scorsese.

From the splendid opening theme: the Intermezzo from Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”, we are told by the filmmaker that this picture is one of weight and meaning.

Scorsese utilizes slow-motion shots of Jake LaMotta shadow-boxing to emphasize the amount of training involved in professional fighting, and perhaps, by extension the amount of sacrifice in the craft of filmmaking itself. I don’t believe it’s a huge leap to assume that at least a portion of the characteristics of La Motta may have spoken to Scorsese. Films that feature tough men, with deep character flaws — seem to be his cinematic stomping ground, after-all.

‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ is an avant-garde redux of the original Sci-fi epic, Planet of the Apes —- the sequel received a mixed reception upon its release and has never gained the notoriety (and success) of the first film. To some, ‘Beneath the Planet of the Apes’ is a competent retread of the first film, lacking some creative vision but ultimately accomplishing what it sets out to do. However, others have criticized the film for beginning a downward trend of the series and adding little of worth to the overall lore of the Planet of the Apes franchise.

Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. 

I love the guy, yet there’s always been something nagging at the back of my mind about the eternal debate of who is the superior captain – Kirk or Picard?

And it’s this: 

Kirk realistically has no chance in this contest. 

Sure, he’s an awesome action hero, with hugely attractive qualities; generally speaking — he saves the day and manages to do it with a full head of hair and with the swagger and air of a protagonist who’s impervious to hardship. But this question isn’t about “the best sci-fi action hero”, no, it’s a question of who is the best “Starfleet Captain”. 

1. "The X-Files" is a popular science fiction television series that aired from 1993 to 2018, captivating audiences with its blend of supernatural phenomena and government conspiracies.

2. The show follows FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigate unsolved cases known as "X-Files," which involve paranormal and extraterrestrial phenomena.

3. "The X-Files" was created by Chris Carter and became a cultural phenomenon, winning numerous awards and gaining a dedicated fanbase.

4. The iconic tagline of the show is "The truth is out there," reflecting its overarching theme of seeking answers and uncovering hidden truths.

5. David Duchovny portrayed Agent Fox Mulder, a believer in the paranormal, while Gillian Anderson played Agent Dana Scully, a skeptic who provides a scientific perspective.

A modern remake of a 1960s science fiction anthology series of the same name, ‘The Outer Limits’ debuted in 1995 - created by Leslie Stephens, the show was filmed entirely in Canada. Principal photography occurred in (and around) Vancouver, BC. ‘The Outer Limits’ has been heralded as an achievement in televised Sci-fi and manages #91 on RottenTomatoes.com top 100 sci-fi shows of all time. 

While that rank isn’t incredibly high on the list - it still lets us know that someone recognizes this show had to crawl, before future sci-fi properties could leap and bound into worldwide recognition. ‘The Outer Limits’ was an innovator in the field of television special effects.

1) Pedro Pascal is a Chilean-American actor who has featured in many starring roles.

2) In the last decade he has become a household name due to the hit TV show ‘The Mandalorian’ and his starring role on the Netflix drama ‘Narcos’.

-3)His first name is actually José.

4)His astrological sign is Aries.

5)One of his biggest breakout roles was on the hit HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’. He played Oberyn Martell, a much beloved character of the series.

A nice jaunt into the horror-comedy subgenre from Nick Frost (star and co-showrunner), his previous appearances alongside Simon Pegg have always been a hit with the public. Now he’s going it alone with a new(ish) series from Amazon Prime. I put off watching ‘Truth Seekers’ for some time - and now that I’ve finally given it a chance, I’m delighted to say it’s a highly unique tribute to televised ghost stories, urban tales, and the horror genre as a whole. 

Where it really excels is its expert editing and jump-scares. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg helped to create the show with the director Jim Field Smith - and together they’ve made a very funny and offbeat comedy series that lovingly homages horror classics.  

A subway train is taken hostage by a team of criminals sporting automatic weapons. They demand a hefty sum of 1 million dollars US or they will start executing passengers - one every minute. Walter Matheau stars as a Transit Detective named Zachary who ends up with the unlucky job of negotiating with the hostage takers. Robert Shaw is the lead bad-guy, “Blue” an ex-mercenary who leads his team with a deadly poise. Martin Balsam stars as a disenfranchised transit worker, the accomplice - and inside man.

This film was heralded as an accomplishment in scale and for its visual characterization of New York, nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards in 1974. One for Best Supporting Actor (Martin Balsam), the other - a BAFTA for Film Music (Anthony Asquith). 

But I’m going to be blatantly honest…

‘The Taking of Pelham One Two Three’ just didn’t do it for me.