movie chronicles

This week it's time to rattle your dags and check out musicals from 1962. Films:- The Music Man, State Fair, Summer Holiday.

The Film Fanatics dove into the Steampunk selections of the SF marathon and came up with "Planet Of The Apes" - Get your hands off me, you stinking human!!!

The Film Fanatics stalk through the tundra of Russia to discuss 1979's "Stalker". This comes from the "Alien Invasion" section of the Science Fiction marathon.

A special episode to encourage support for the current situation in India. This week's episode features films from India. Films: Basant, Love In Simla, Zimbo Shaher Mein Music: "Bhimpalasi", Ravi Shankar

This week we review:- The Gay Divorcee, The Merry Widow, Death Takes A Holiday, and Jolly Fellows.

The joy continues in the Science Fiction Marathon with a discussion of the Three Stooges in, "Have Rocket, Will Travel".

This week is a catch up episode running through the early thirties. Films: - Hell-Bound Train, Morocco, The Darktown Revue, Dishonored, Dog Gone, The Exile, Hot Biskets, The Girl From Chicago, Veiled Aristocrats, Ten Minutes To Live, Verdict Not Guilty

I revisit "La Belle Epoque" for the Science Fiction marathon.

WWI continued and the folks sat down to watch: - All Night, A Dog's Life, The Blue Bird. Music: "Probing Andromeda", Ivor Biggun.

This week things go crazy when "Paris Qui Dort (The Crazy Ray)" (1924) strikes Paris. This episode continues the Science Fiction series and is the last of the Silent period. Where do we go from here? Look out for the announcement...

Come on! You knew I was gonna go there - Disney movies from 1962. Films:- Almost Angels, Big Red

This week's discussion features the German epic, 1927's "Metropolis". This continues the Science Fiction marathon and we're nearing the end of the Silent sub-section. Where will we go from here?

This week the podcast takes a walk on the dark and mysterious edges of 1934. Films:- The Ghost Walks, It Happened One Night, It's  Gift, The Mysterious Mr Wong, and La Hermana de San Sulpicio

This week I get my inner freak flag flying for the Martian Socialist Revolution as I discuss "Aelita, Queen Of Mars" for the Science Fiction marathon. Music - "Dance Of A Thousand Lights", Rick Wakemen

Back into the war zone of 1918, this week's episode discusses:- All Night, A Dog's Life, and The Blue Bird.

This week's episode continues the Science Fiction mini-series. I get my hands on "The Hands Of Orlac"... and he wants them back. Sheesh. Everyone told me he was 'armless. Music: "Dance Of A Thousand Lights", Rick Wakeman.

This week I'll guide you through some Fantasy films from 2020 including:- Wendy, The Old Guard, Young Hunter, Freaks: You're One Of Us, and #Alive.

The promised episode where the Film Fanatics discuss how Covid-19 will affect the movie business has finally arrived!!!!!!!

The horror of 1962 is examined in:- Panic In Year Zero, The Phantom Of The Opera, and Tales Of Terror. Keep a spare pair of underwear handy when listening to this episode.

This week's effort covers animated films from 2019. Entries include:- The Addams Family, How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World, and Lego Movie 2: The Second Part. Music:- "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copland via ELP.

This episode wanders into the wildernesses of 1934. Films:- Peck's Bad Boy, Schnarzan The Conqueror, Tarzan And HIs Mate, The Thin Man

This week we take a stroll on the dark side with:- Us, The Sleepover, Good Boys, & The Wandering Earth. Music: "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copland via ELP.

Break out the Champagne, it's a new year. Everything will be all right! And if you believe that you're just in the mood for Fantasy films from 1962. Films:- Five Weeks In A Balloon, Nude On The Moon, The Wonderful World Of The Brothers Grimm

This episode features New Zealand and Pacifica films from 2020. Films: - Triple Scoop, Childhood Room, Missy Fishy, Stuntman, Money Honey, Alien Addiction. Merry Christmas

Disney films from 1934. Feel the kitten hate....

Once more into the breach, dear friends. Back to the last year of WWWI to watch: - WW1 - The St Mihiel Drive, The Sinking Of The Lusitania, W.S.S. Thriftees

A special annoucement: Movie Chronicles will be published once a week for the next six weeks.  The Film Fanatics conclude their discussion of "War And Peace"

This epic length episode is brought to by:- "The Miracle Worker", & "The Mutiny On The Bounty". Music:- Hansel And Gretel Overture, Engelbert Humperdinck

This episode gets EXPLOSIVE. It's the second episode of "War & Peace" AND we discuss "The Dead Don't Die" all while Guy Fawkes night is going on outside.

Back in the zone of the NZIFF, the theme this week is War. Films include:- Heroic Losers, They Call Me Babu, Corpus Christi, While At War, & 1917.

This episode I welcome back the Science Fiction series with 1919's "Himmelskibet" from Denmark. Music:- "Dance Of A Thousand Lights", Rick Wakeman.

Yes, there will be a brief pause in the episodes covering the 2020 NZIFF. I am hoping to get the next volume of "Movie Chronicles" published before Xmas and this is taking up most of my time. Meanwhile, this episode returns to adaptations from literature in 1934. Movies include:- Of Human Bondage, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Treasure Island.

This episode is a sidestep into the almost nine hour Russian Epic "War And Peace" from 1966.

Returning to the Science Fiction series I'll kick off with the Silent Film choices. This episode looks at the short films, a medley of marvellousness. Films include:- Voyage To The Moon, Voyage A Travers Impossible, El Hotel Electrico, Le Resultantes du Feminisme, Under The Seas, A Submarine Pirate, Frankenstein, R.F.D. 10 000 BC, Ghost Of Slumber Mountain, The Truth Behind The Ape Man. Music:- "Dance Of 1 000 Lights", Rick Wakeman

This episode spends considerable time riding with "The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse". Hopefully, the saddle sores will have healed in time for the next episode....

For a change of pace, this episode explores adaptations from literature made in 1934... and they're biggies. Films:- The Count Of Monte Cristo, & The Little Minister

Continuing the 2020 NZIFF (and beyond) series, this episode features Horror films released in 2019. Films:- Yummy, The Children Of The Dead, It: Chapter Two, & The Great Hack. Music:- "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copland via ELP

This episode finds us in France. I talk about Louis Feuillade's two serials from this year (Judex & Tih Minh) and then we take a trip to the Front Line for "WW1 - Part One".

Back to the NZIFF film festival, I'll explore the theme of country matters in:- In The Name Of The Land, The County & The Unknown Saint. Music:- "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copland via ELP.

This episode kicks off the Science Fiction Season with "Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets" (2017). Sadly, it will be a couple of weeks before we get fully into the swing with the Science Fiction Silents Mini-series (Co-Vid and such like). Music - "Sky Scraper", Seventh Wave

Returning to the NZIFF, the theme is... the good life. Films:- Mi Vida (Netherlands by way of Spain), Martin Eden (Italy), and 1982 (Lebanon). Music: "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copland (via ELP)

This episode returns to the war. It's 1917, and people took to Westerns for light entertainment. Films:- Bliss, The Heart Of Texas Ryan, The Mystery Of The Double Cross Music: "Butchers Tale (Western Front, 1914)", The Zombies

I return to the 2020 New Zealand International Film Festival to spotlight the NZ films given a premier there. Films:- Before Everest, The Girl On The Bridge, Loimata The Sweetest Tears, Tupaia's Endeavour, Vintage. Music:- "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copland via ELP. Look out for "Movie Chronicles: Beginnings", published on Amazon.

This is a catch-up episode on films from 1914 I missed discussing. Rather than tell you the films I'll list the countries:- New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Jamaica. We even make it to a Third World Country, the USA. Music:- "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)", The Zombies.

Continuing the 2019 NZIFF I get heavily into animation - most of which I didn't see at the festival. Films:- I Losty My Body; Fritzi: A Revolutionary Tale; The Prince's Voyage; The Adamms Family; How To Train Your Dragon: Hidden World; Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

This episode asks the burning question:- With the Film Fanatics running out of material, what happens next? Check it out.

On a lighter note, this episode I've hunted down some recent animated releases. Films:- The Willoughbys, The Larva Island Movie. Music - Fanfare For The Common Man, Aaron Copeland via ELP.

The last Film Fanatics discussion EVER revolves around 2016's "Hacksaw Ridge". What will fill the Film Fanatic space? Stay tuned - more same time, same channel, next week.

And now, we get into the meat of the 2020 New Zealand International Film Festival. Films:-  Pirotechnia, Leap Of Faith- William Friedkin On "The Exorcist", Kubrick By Kubrick Music: "Fanfare For The Common Man", Aaron Copeland via ELP; "Tubular Bells", Mike Oldfield

This episode it's into the desert with "Lawrence Of Arabia". Music:- Theme To "Lawrence Of Arabia"

The NZIFF episodes begin. This episode the retrospective film took me into the dark space of Australian Horror. Films:- The Last Wave, Suspiria, and 36 Crazy Fists. Music: Fanfare For The Common Man (Aaron Copeland via) ELP.