Author: Stanford Clark

TCM “Must-See Sci-Fi” Update for November 2020

I am watching all 50 movies listed in the cool book from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) called Must-See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies that Are Out of This World by Sloan De Forest (Running Press, 2018; available at Amazon.com and Shop TCM). The complete list of 50 films is here.

Here’s the rundown of the November movies courtesy of the Movies Past and Present Instagram feed.

The Matrix (1999)

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Only three more movies left in this project, which is kind of a bummer. I’ve really had fun with this one. Still, some exciting movie watching projects await for 2021. Stay tuned…

TCM “Must-See Sci-Fi” Update for October 2020

I am watching all 50 movies listed in the cool book from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) called Must-See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies that Are Out of This World by Sloan De Forest (Running Press, 2018; available at Amazon.com and Shop TCM). The complete list of 50 films is here.

Here’s the rundown of the October movies courtesy of the Movies Past and Present Instagram feed.

Brazil (1985)

Robocop (1987)

Jurassic Park (1993)

November 12, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. And follow me on Instagram (my handle is @moviespap).

Now in Theaters

Put on a mask and enjoy some “comeback classics” in the theaters! Check your local listings.

Three by…

I’m continuing my “Three by…” series where I watch three different films from the same director. This month’s director is the French director, photographer, and artist Agnès Varda. The three films I watched were:

Varda received an honorary Academy Award for her body of work in 2017.

The Criterion Collection has recently released a boxed set with all of her films.

Thanks for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

October 30, 2020 Podcast

Happy Halloween! Welcome to this week’s podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. And follow me on Instagram (my handle is @moviespap).

Now in Theaters

Now Streaming

Reviews

Thanks for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

Pixar’s “Soul” Coming to Disney+

It has been a wild ride for the distribution of Pixar Animation Studios’ upcoming film, Soul. Due to the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, the folks at Disney and Pixar have decided to release the film on December 25 to Disney+ rather than move the film to a 2021 theatrical release date. While I’m sad not be able to enjoy the artistry of this Pixar film on the big screen (hopefully, we’ll get a chance in the future), I feel grateful that we at least get to see it this year.

Here’s the latest trailer.

Also, check out this cool track by Jean Batiste who is one of the songwriters on the film.

Here’s the latest poster for the upcoming Disney+ release.

©️ Disney/Pixar

Soul is coming to Disney+ on Christmas Day, December 25.

October 15, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to this week’s podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. And follow me on Instagram (my handle is @moviespap).

New in Theaters

  • Honest Thief (Briarcliff Entertainment)
  • Comeback Classics: The Nightmare Before Christmas (Disney; 1993); check your local listings

“Three by…”

A new monthly category for the podcast is going to be an exploration of three different films from a specific film director. I’m calling the section “Three by…”. The three films will be sample representation from the director’s entire body of work and/or some of my favorite films from the director.

This month’s director is Carl Reiner. Reiner passed away this summer at the ripe old age of 98. Turner Classic Movies recently had a tribute day where they showed six of his films. I recorded them on my DVR and finally had a chance to watch the three films which I discuss in the podcast, each from a different decade of his career: Enter Laughing (1967), Oh, God! (1977), and All of Me (1984).

Thanks for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

Our Mega Marvel Cinematic Universe Re-watch!

With the rescheduling of Marvel Studios’ Black Window from November 8, 2020 to May 7, 2021 (thanks, COVID-19…), I’m embarking on a new movie watching project to ease the disappointment. I’m watching all 23 films of the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” (MCU) starting this weekend.

To mix it up, I’m going to watch the films in story chronological order rather than by release date, which really should be fun.

Here’s the watch order (with the year of original release in parenthesis):

  1. Captain America : The First Avenger (2011)
  2. Captain Marvel (2019)
  3. Iron Man (2008)
  4. The Incredible Hulk (2008)
  5. Iron Man 2 (2010)
  6. Thor (2011)
  7. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
  8. Iron Man 3 (2013)
  9. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
  10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
  11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  12. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
  13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  14. Ant-Man (2015)
  15. Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  16. Spider-Man: Homecoming  (2017)
  17. Black Panther (2018)
  18. Doctor Strange (2016)
  19. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
  20. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
  21. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
  22. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
  23. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

The goal is to watch one of these films a week. I’ll update the blog periodically, but will be tracking most of the action on the Movies Past and Present Instagram feed (@moviespap). Please follow or watch along if you’re into this sort of thing!

Speaking of Marvel Studios, I love this Avengers poster art by Matt Ferguson (@mattfergusonartist on Instagram).

©️ Marvel Studios, Matt Ferguson

October 8, 2020 Podcast

Welcome to the podcast!

You can listen below as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. And follow me on Instagram (my handle is @moviespap).

New in Theaters

  • The War with Grandpa (101 Studios)
  • Yellow Rose (Sony)
  • Comeback Classics: Coco (Pixar; 2017), Hocus Pocus (Disney, 1993), Beetlejuice (Warner Bros., 1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema, 1984), and Akira (Funimation; 1988). Check your local listings.
  • TCM Big Screen Classics: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (Universal, 1960)—October 11, 12, and 16. Details at fathomevents.com/tcm.
  • Fathom Events: Other films include a 40th anniversary screening of Friday the 13th (Paramount; 1990) on October 9 and 10, and a 30th anniversary screening of Total Recall (Rialto Pictures/StudioCanal; 1990) on October 10, 13, and 27. Details at fathomevents.com.

Reviews

Enola Homes (2020); watched on Netflix

TCM “Must-See Sci-Fi” Project

Brazil (1995); rented from the Apple iTunes Store. Part of this year’s TCM science fiction movie watching project.

Thanks for Tuning In!

Subscribe to the Movies Past and Present podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. I hope that watching some great movies will bring you peace and comfort this week. Be safe out there! Thanks again.

Ranking of All 24 “James Bond” Films

I have just finished watching in order all 24 of the James Bond 007 films in preparation for the 25th Bond film (aka “Bond 25”), No Time to Die, which is scheduled to open in theaters in November 2020. (Correction: No Time to Die has been moved to an April 2021 release date. #covid19sucks) It’s been a total blast and just the escape that was needed during COVID-19.

Here’s my ranking of the 24 films, starting with the bottom (and courtesy of my Instagram feed).

All images ©️ Eon Productions

24. A View to a Kill (1985)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 14th film is A VIEW TO A KILL (1985). Agent 007 (Roger Moore in his final outing as James Bond) uncovers another dastardly plot—this time, it’s megalomaniac horse breeder and industrialist Max Zorin (played joylessly by the usually great Christopher Walken) who plans to take over the world’s silicon microchip market by destroying California’s Silicon Valley. Along for the ride are Zorin’s henchwoman and lover May Day (played by Grace Jones) and good girl geologist Stacey Sutton (played by Tanya Roberts). Terrible script, acting, and everything (except for the theme song by @duranduran which is a guilty pleasure). Directed by John Glen. ⭐️1/2 out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #aviewtoakill (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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23. Octopussy (1983)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 13th film is OCTOPUSSY (1983). When British secret agent 009 ends up dead and in possession of a fake Fabergé egg, agent 007 (Roger Moore) is put on the case. He uncovers yet another dastardly plot involving the real Fabergé egg, an atomic bomb, a rogue Russian general, an exiled Afghan prince, and a German circus troupe all linked to a mysterious businesswoman/secret female cult leader named Octopussy (Maud Adams). If the plot sounds stupid, well, it’s because it is. This outing is a total bore. Directed by John Glen. ⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #octopussy (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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22. Moonraker (1979)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 11th film is MOONRAKER (1979), aka “James Bond in Space.” 🧑🏽‍🚀 Roger Moore is back again as Agent 007 who is investigating the mysterious disappearance of an American space shuttle. He joins forces with CIA agent Dr. Holly Goodhead, played by Lois Chiles, as they travel the world and into outer space (really) to uncover the mystery and, of course, save the world from a dastardly plot. Also stars Michael Lonsdale as the film’s super villain Hugo Drax and Richard Kiel as the unkillable Jaws. Goofy and uneven, there is still plenty to like. Directed by Lewis Gilbert. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #moonraker (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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21. The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The ninth film is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1974). Bond is on the trail of Scaramanga, a ruthless assassin who has his sights on making Agent 007 his next kill, along with some other nefarious activities. Stars Roger Moore as James Bond, Christopher Lee as Scaramanga, Maud Adams as Andrea Anders, Britt Ekland as Goodnight, and Hervé Villechaize as the villainous sidekick Nick Nack. Directed by Guy Hamilton. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #themanwiththegoldengun (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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20. The World Is Not Enough (1999)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is scheduled to open in theaters this November.🤞🏽) The 19th film is THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (1999). Agent 007 (again played by @piercebrosnanofficial) uncovers a dastardly plot involving nuclear bombs, an oil pipeline, a bad dude named Renard (played by Robert Carlyle), and a woman suffering from Stockholm syndrome (played excellently by @sophiemarceau). Also along for the ride are nuclear physicist Dr. Christmas Jones (played horribly by Denise Richards) and shady Russian businessman Valentin Zukovsky (played again by Robbie Coltrane). Solid script, action, and direction are brought down by some lack-luster performances (namely of Renard and Dr. Jones). Directed by Michael Apted. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. @douglassrhunter #jamesbond007 #bond25 #theworldisnotenough (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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19. Live and Let Die (1973)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The eighth film is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s LIVE AND LET DIE (1973). British actor Roger Moore makes his first appearance as Agent 007. In this film, Bond takes on a villain named Mr. Big who is not only a ruthless drug lord, but is also the evil dictator of the Caribbean island where all the drugs are produced. Jane Seymour makes her film debut as the tarot card reader Solitaire. The film also stars Yaphett Kotto as the evil Mr. Big, Julien Harris as the metal-armed Tee Hee, and Geoffrey Holder as the super creepy voodoo priest Baron Samedi. The soundtrack by George Martin is a standout. Directed by Guy Hamilton. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #liveandletdie (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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18. Thunderball (1965)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The fourth Bond film is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s THUNDERBALL (1965). The evil SPECTRE organization gets its hands on two NATO atomic bombs and holds the USA and UK for ransom. Thankfully, Agent 007 is there to save the day—both above ground and underwater. Bond is again played by Sean Connery. Also stars Adolfo Celi as Largo (aka SPECTRE No. 2) and Claudine Auger as Largo’s girlfriend Domino. Directed by Terence Young. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 out of 5 stars. Rented it on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #thunderball #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions, MGM)

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17. Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

16. You Only Live Twice (1967)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The fifth film in the series is a very loose adaptation of Ian Fleming’s YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (1967). In this over-the-top spy adventure, Bond is sent to Japan to locate a diabolical crew from SPECTRE who, from a very impressive and classic secret lair, are wreaking havoc on the US and Russian space programs. Sean Connery is back as James Bond. Also stars Tetsuro Tanba as Japanese Secret Service agent Tiger Tanaka, Mie Hama as the “Bond babe” Kissy Suzuki, and Donald Pleasance as Blofeld (aka SPECTRE No. 1 or the villain with the white Persian cat that he is always petting). Directed by Lewis Gilbert. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 out of 5 stars. Love this 1967 theatrical poster from Japan (pictured above). Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #youonlylivetwice #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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15. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The sixth film in the series is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE (1969). Australian model and actor George Lazenby (pictured) steps into the role of Agent 007 for his first and only time. In this film, Bond makes a deal with mob boss Draco (played by Gabriele Ferzetti) to secure more information about the latest diabolical plans of SPECTRE baddie Blofeld (played in this film by Telly Savalas). Bond also happens to actually fall in love with the mob boss’ daughter, Tracy (played by Diana Rigg), which leads to some tragic consequences. Directed by Peter Hunt. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #onhermajestyssecretservice #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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14. Quantum of Solace (2008)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is scheduled to open in theaters this November.) The 22nd film is QUANTUM OF SOLACE (2008). Continuing the storyline from 2006’s CASINO ROYALE, Bond (played again by Daniel Craig) is on the hunt for the bad dudes who blackmailed his lover Vesper Lynd. His search leads him to nefarious businessman Dominic Greene (played by Matthieu Amalric) who himself has one of those classic Bond villain “take over the world” (or at least a country…) ambitions that Agent 007 must put a stop to. Also along for the ride are revenge-seeking former spy Camille Montez (played by Olga Kurylenko), British staffer Strawberry Fields (played by Gemma Arterton, who has a very GOLDFINGER moment in this film—just sayin’), and Giancarlo Giannini as Bond ally Mathis. A solid film and best watched in conjunction with CASINO ROYALE. Directed by Marc Forster. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of 5 stars. @douglassrhunter #jamesbond007 #bond25 #quantumofsolace (📷: @007, MGM, Eon Productions)

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13. Die Another Day (2002)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters in November.) The 20th film is DIE ANOTHER DAY (2002). After having been imprisoned and tortured in North Korea for 14 months, Bond tries to find the person who betrayed him all the while unraveling a crazy plot to use diamonds to fund the creation of a deadly weaponized satellite. The film marks the 40th anniversary of 007 films (DR. NO was the first in 1962) and includes many elements and Easter eggs paying homage to previous Bond outings (including the gorgeous @astonmartinlagonda V12 Vanquish). @piercebrosnanofficial is back again in his final stint as agent 007. Also along for the ride are @halleberry as NSA agent Jinx, @toby__stephens as the diamond dealer Gustav Graves, and @mspike as cold as ice MI6 agent Miranda Frost. Theme song is sung by @madonna who also gets a saucy little cameo. While some ill-conceived action scenes take it into the ridiculous realm, overall the film is a stylish, entertaining ride. Directed by New Zealand native Lee Tamahori. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. @douglassrhunter #jamesbond007 #bond25 #dieanotherday (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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12. License to Kill (1989)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, hopefully will still open in theaters this November as planned.) The 16th film is LICENCE TO KILL (1989). This is a pure revenge pic as agent 007 (played for the second and last time by Timothy Dalton) goes rogue to take down a Mexican drug lord named Sanchez (played by Robert Davi) who has critically injured his long-time pal, CIA agent Felix Leiter (played again by David Hedison), and killed Leiter’s wife (played by Priscilla Barnes). Also along for the ride are ex-CIA agent and ace pilot Pam Bouvier (played by Carey Lowell, pictured), a cooky televangelist (played by Wayne Newton—yes, really) who is a middleman for Sanchez’s drug cartel, and an evil henchman played by a very young Benicio del Toro. Not the best, but not the worst either. Directed by John Glen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #licencetokill (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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11. From Russia with Love (1963)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is scheduled to open in theaters this November.) The second Bond film is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE (1963). Bond is in pursuit a special cryptography device from the Soviets. Meanwhile, the shifty SPECTRE consortium of villains wants to avenge Dr. No’s death. Sean Connery is back as Agent 007. He is joined by Daniela Bianchi (pictured) as the Russian cryptographer Tatiana Romanova. Also stars Robert Shaw as the imposing “Red” Grant and Lotte Lentz as the treacherous Rosa Klebb (the mean lady with the venomous spike in her shoe) as the SPECTRE agents trying to take out Bond. Directed by Terence Young. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 out of 5 stars. Rented it on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #fromrussiawithlove #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions, @imdb/Getty Images)

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10. Spectre (2015)

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We wrapped up our @007 viewing project this weekend by watching the 24th James Bond film SPECTRE (2015). Agent 007 (again played by Daniel Craig) goes rogue to finish one more globetrotting mission requested of him by the recently deceased “M” (Dame Judy Dench) where he discovers some seriously bad dudes and some rather serious stuff. Meanwhile on the home front, MI6 is under siege by a questionable British bureaucrat (Andrew Scott) who has some dastardly deeds up his sleeve. This film brings together all four of the Daniel Craig “Bond” films (CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SKYFALL, and SPECTRE) in an unexpected and mostly satisfying way. Also along for the ride are Léa Seydoux as Dr. Madeline Swann, Monica Bellucci as Lucia Sciarra, @davebautista as Mr. Hinx, Ralph Finnes as new “M,” and @christoph_waltz as Blofeld. Directed by Sam Mendes. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. We’re now extra stoked for the 25th Bond film NO TIME TO DIE which opens in theaters worldwide this November! @douglassrhunter #jamesbond007 #bond25 #spectre . 🎨: @007, MGM, @sonypictures, Eon Productions

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9. Tomorrow Never Dies (1997)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 18th film is TOMORROW NEVER DIES (1997). In this caper, James Bond (played again by @piercebrosnanofficial) is investigating an ambitious media mogul named Elliot Carver (played by Jonathan Pryce), who has some crazy methods of controlling the news cycle. Also along for the ride are Carver’s wife Paris (played by Teri Hatcher), who has a bit of a past with agent 007, and Wai Lin (played by Michelle Yeoh, pictured), who has got some serious martial arts skills. Solid plot, pacing, action, direction, stunts, and editing. Everything you could hope for in a Bond pic. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #tomorrowneverdies @douglassrhunter (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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8. The Living Daylights (1987)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, will hopefully open in theaters this November if the world can get COVID-19 under control.) The 15th film is THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1987). Timothy Dalton steps in as Agent 007 which drastically improves the series. It also doesn’t hurt that everything from the script to the musical score are top notch. In this film, Bond works hard to unmask a complicated (but, thankfully, very interesting) plot involving the head of the KGB (John-Rhys Davies), a crazed American arms dealer (Joe Don Baker), a duplicitous Russian defector (Jerone Krabbé), an inspiring Afghani rebel (Art Malik), and, in Bond fashion, a beautiful Russian cellist (Maryam d’Abo). Dalton was inspired by the James Bond of Ian Fleming’s writings, rather than the buffoonery of the previous James Bond film outings. The result is a highly satisfying Bond film that respects the past but boldly moves forward into the future. Terrific film. Directed by John Glen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #thelivingdaylights (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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7. For Your Eyes Only (1981)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 12th film is FOR YOUR EYES ONLY (1981). Bond (Roger Moore) is trying to recover a missing encryption device before the Russians get their hands on it. Joining him in the pursuit is Melina Havelock (Carole Bouquet), who is seeking vengeance on the bad dudes who killed her parents, along with Milos Columbo (Topol), a smuggler from the Greek underworld with connections and skills. Particularly good action and chase scenes in this one. The title song by Sheena Easton is a guilty pleasure, too. Directed by John Glen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #foryoureyesonly (🎨: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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6. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 10th film is THE SPY WHO LOVED ME (1977). Bond (again played by Roger Moore) joins forces with a Russian spy named Anya (played by Barbara Bach) to take down the film’s megalomaniac villain, Stromberg (played by Curt Jurgens), a shipping magnate who is threatening to destroy New York City after stealing nuclear weapons from England and Russia. Also along for the ride is Stromberg's memorable henchman, Jaws (played by Richard Kiel), a seven-foot-tall dude with nightmarish steel teeth. This film has just the right mix of globetrotting, espionage, action, thrills, and camp. Big fun. Directed by Lewis Gilbert. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented the movie on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #thespywholovedme (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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5. GoldenEye (1995)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters this November, COVID-19 permitting.) The 17th film is GOLDENEYE (1995). @piercebrosnanofficial enters the Bond franchise with guns (and tank) a-blazing as agent 007. He is on the case to stop an evil Russian spy syndicate from using a deadly space-based weapon that will wreak havoc on Earth. Along for the ride are a beautiful Russian computer programmer played by Izabella Scorupco, a sadistic pilot with some killer thighs (truly) played with wild abandon by Famke Janssen, and the first female “M” brilliantly played by Dame Judi Dench. Great action, locales, one-liners, and everything else you’d expect in a Bond outing. Terrific film. Directed by Martin Campbell. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #goldeneye @douglassrhunter (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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4. Dr. No (1963)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is now scheduled to open in theaters this November.) First up is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s DR. NO (1962). Directed by Terence Young and starring Sean Connery as British secret agent James Bond, this film sets the standard for all of the films to follow. Exotic locations, exotic women (Ursula Andress is the main “Bond girl” in this film), beautiful cars, big action, and a megalomaniac villain with multiple minions and an elaborate lair all are part of this supremely entertaining first entry in the James Bond cinematic series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented it on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #drno #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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3. Casino Royale (2006)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, is scheduled to open in theaters this November.🤞🏽) The 21st film is CASINO ROYALE (2006). Based on Ian Fleming’s novel, Bond (played by Daniel Craig in his first time in the role) is tracking a bad dude named Le Chiffre (played by Mads Mikkelson) who finances terrorists. Agent 007 ends up in a high stakes poker game with Le Chiffre at the Casino Royale in Montenegro where our favorite British secret agent might have bit off more than he can chew. Also along for the ride are HM treasury agent Vesper Lynd (played by Eva Green), CIA agent Felix Leiter (played by Jeffrey Wright), and MI6 chief “M” (again played wonderfully by Dame Judy Dench). Violent, intense, and absolutely terrific. Directed by Martin Campbell. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. @douglassrhunter #jamesbond007 #bond25 #casinoroyale (📷: @007, @sonypictures, Eon Productions)

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2. Skyfall (2012)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The 23rd film is SKYFALL (2012), which is also the 50th anniversary Bond film (DR. NO was released in 1962). Daniel Craig is back as Agent 007 (along with the classic @astonmartinlagonda DB5, pictured). MI6 and its leader “M,” again played by Dame Judy Dench, are under attack by someone who knows a lot of insider information (Javier Bardem plays the villain this round). So Bond’s got a big and busy task trying to root out this increasingly dangerous threat. Also along for the ride are Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, Ben Whishaw as “Q,” and Ralph Finnes as Chairman Mallory. The real stars of this movie are director Sam Mendes and cinematographer Roger Deakins who created one of the most artistic and stunning Bond films to date. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. @douglassrhunter #jamesbond007 #bond25 #skyfall . 📷: @007, MGM, @sonypictures, Eon Productions

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And No. 1 Is Goldfinger (1964)

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We’re watching all 24 official James Bond @007 films! (The 25th film, NO TIME TO DIE, opens in theaters this November.) The third film in the series is an adaptation of Ian Fleming’s GOLDFINGER (1964). Sean Connery is back as Agent 007 and he is trying to bring down a notorious and nefarious gold thief. Here Connery is pictured on location in Switzerland with the iconic (and my favorite) Bond car, the Aston Martin DB5. From the opening song sung by Shirley Bassey, to the plethora of “Bond women,” to the multiple international locales, to the over-the-top villain and henchmen, to Bond’s famous one-liners, and to the non-stop action, it’s the definitive James Bond film. Directed by Guy Hamilton. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars. Rented it on @apple @itunes. #jamesbond007 #bond25 #goldfinger @astonmartinlagonda #socialdistancing (📷: @007, United Artists, Eon Productions)

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TCM “Must-See Sci-Fi” Update for September 2020

I am watching all 50 movies listed in the cool book from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) called Must-See Sci-Fi: 50 Movies that Are Out of This World by Sloan De Forest (Running Press, 2018; available at Amazon.com and Shop TCM). The complete list of 50 films is here.

Here’s the rundown of this month’s movies (courtesy of my Instagram feed).

Blade Runner (1982)

The Brother from Another Planet (1984)

The Terminator (1984)

Back to the Future (1985)