Dolittle (2020)

My "rule" for deciding my favorite movie experience of the year is to have seen that movie in theatre, the year of its release.  Only thing is, I never imagined there would be a year in which movie theatres would remain closed for months.

Movie poster for "Dolittle" (2020)

"Dolittle" wasn't my favorite movie of 2020.  As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was the only movie released in 2020 that I saw in theatre.  (I also saw "1917" with my son in January, which was technically released in December, 2019).

I read several of the Doctor Dolittle books as a pre-teen, and enjoyed them.  Dolittle is a physician and naturalist who can speak with animals.  (Hugh Lofting first conceived of the character in letters to his children while stationed in the trenches during WWI.)

My daughter, Sophia, wanted to see a movie one evening, and since I had seen the trailer a couple of times and had fond memories of the books, we just went and saw it.  Unfortunately, "Dolittle" is possibly one of the worst movies I have ever seen.

How can you go wrong with Robert Downey Jr.?  He was a great choice to play Doctor Dolittle, (I also enjoyed Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes).  I blame the horrible script (the film apparently underwent re-shoots after poor test screenings).

I tried to catch "The Invisible Man" before the shut-down, but just missed it.  I wouldn't see another movie in theatre until the summer of 2021.  Fortunately, there were some pretty great films, released that year (to be continued...)

Wonder Woman (2017)

Ever since they were little, I would remind my kids that Wonder Woman was Greek (every chance I got).  In fact, she was the only member of the "Superfriends" who wasn't American (counting Superman as a naturalized citizen, of course).

Movie poster for "Wonder Woman" (2017)

My cousin Dina was a huge fan of the TV series starring Lynda Carter in the 1970s.  (I remember watching the pilot with my father in our living room at home.)  See also "13 Great Reasons to Watch the 1970s Wonder Woman Show - Ranked".

Finally, I was an avid collector of the 1980s run of DC's "Wonder Woman" by George Perez, which emphasized the Greek roots of the Amazon princess.  That's why I was so excited to see a big-budget Wonder Woman film.

Gal Gadot was a good choice to play Wonder Woman on the big screen (her pronunciation in the one Greek line was spot-on, by the way), and setting the action during WWII, as in the original season of the Wonder Woman TV series, was perfect.

However, the scene which really caused me to jump out of my seat?  When Steve Trevor says "British tea for the Germans, German beer for the British, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels for both" of course!  (You can check it out, here.)

Wonder Woman was originally created by psychologist William Moulton Marston.  I found the documentary "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women" (which I caught on a flight, pre-Covid) to be interesting, although somewhat disturbing.

The Legend of Tarzan (2016)

As a lifelong fan of the character, I was excited to learn that a new Tarzan movie was in the works.  It had been over three decades since I'd seen "Greystoke" in theatre, and none of the Tarzan movies since then had been particularly good.

Movie poster for "The Legend of Tarzan" (2016)

I got back into the Tarzan novels in 2012, on the centenary of the publication of the first Tarzan story in the pulps.  I even attended the Centennial Conference at Bridgewater College in Virginia, that November.

When I learned that the Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship would be holding their annual gathering in Los Angeles that year, with a special advance screening of "The Legend of Tarzan", I knew that I had to attend.

My wife and I took separate planes to LA, and I was ready and waiting in a rented jeep when she stepped out of the terminal.  We saw the movie on the Paramount lot with fellow Burroughs enthusiasts and members of the Burroughs family.

I think director David Yates did an admirable job of portraying a classic hero through a twenty-first century lens.  The music and cinematography were brilliant.  It's a shame the movie didn't do well enough to justify a sequel.

We saw "The Legend of Tarzan" three more times in theatre, including once with my friend Joe and his wife, Kim.  We've seen the film again on DVD and itunes, since then.  It never fails to bring back memories of a really special trip.

Robin Hood (2010)

I wasn't sure what to expect from Ridley Scott's treatment of the Robin Hood legend.  "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" was a favourite movie of the year, almost two decades earlier, and so I was curious to see how the two would compare.

Movie poster for "Robin Hood" (2010)

Set in 1199, "Robin Hood" could almost serve as a sequel to Ridley Scott's "Kingdom of Heaven".  King Richard the Lionheart appears in the final scene of that movie, preparing to leave on the Third Crusade, and again at the beginning of this one.

I'd read about the death of King Richard at the siege of Chalus Castle, and so was in disbelief and awe when I realized that the opening sequence would involve that historical episode.  To me, the movie was worth watching, for that alone.

Russell Crowe did fairly well in the title role, although the long shadow of "Gladiator" was hard to avoid.  (He even rode the same horse in both movies).  Still, I appreciated the grittier take on the character of Robin Hood, and so wasn't displeased.

The movie also stars Cate Blanchett as Marion, William Hurt as William Marshal, and Max von Sydow as the elder Loxley.  (In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a sucker for historical epics with strong supporting casts.)

While there's been talk of a sequel, I would rather see a trilogy of sorts, with Scott directing a film about the Fourth Crusade.  (If anybody knows how to get word to the man, please let him know that I have a screenplay in the works.)

300 (2007)

Both of my parents are from villages near the ruins of ancient Sparta, where there's an imposting statue of Leonidas, so I've always known who he was.  (We've even passed by the Leonidas monument in Thermopylae, on previous trips to Greece.)

Movie poster for "300" (2007)

I saw the 1962 film "The 300 Spartans" on TV as a kid, but it wasn't until I stumbled across the first issue of Frank Miller's "300" while browsing in a comic book store in Montreal, that I took a deeper interest in the story.

I re-read those "300" comic books with my wife, prior to our first trip to Greece (we had only been dating for a couple of months).  We later included color-photocopied panels from the series in a scrapbook that we made.

Zack Snyder's film adaptation in 2007 came as a pleasant surprise.  Our twin daughters had just been born, and my wife's friend Sue kindly watched the kids while we stole a quick date night to see the film.

I was blown away by Snyder's visuals.  He really captured the look and feel of Miller's art.  I haven't yet seen the sequel "300: Rise of an Empire" from 2014, but heard it wasn't as good (I plan to see it, anyway).

Most recently, Miller published the follow-up graphic novel "Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander" in 2018, (upon which "Rise of Empire" was partly based) which I also intend to check out.

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

By 2005, I was heavily into researching the Crusades for a project I'm still working on.  Although my interests focused mainly on the Fourth Crusade, I eagerly consumed any material leading up to it, and so was very excited to learn about "Kingdom of Heaven".

Movie poster for "Kingdom of Heaven" (2005)

I saw the movie with my cousin, Jim, at the Cineplex Cinemas on the Queensway, (which had replaced our old standby, Sherway Cinemas, back in 2001).  While newer, there was a certain charm to the older cinemas, which remains lacking, today.

The film is set in the mid-1180s, and follows a fictionalized account of the career of Balian of Ibelin.  The cinematography was gorgeous, augmented by an evocative score by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Unfortunately, Orlando Bloom was badly miscast as Balian.  This was compensated for by great performances by Edward Norton as King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, Ghassan Massoud as Saladin, and Eva Green as Sibylla.

The film drew criticism for its depiction of the relationship between Christians and Muslims during the period involved, having been more influenced in reaction to contemporary events, rather than by actual historical accounts.

As with "Troy", a Director's Cut of "Kingdom of Heaven" was later released, which I thought was a much better film, and even included a mini-doc on the historical aspects "Creative Accuracy: The Scholars Speak".

Troy (2004)

I brought a copy of Homer's "Iliad" with me on a trip to Turkey back in 1996, reading along as I traveled from Istanbul to the ruins of ancient Troy, near the port city of Çanakkale, before making my way down to Bodrum (where I caught a ferry to Greece).

Movie poster for "Troy" (2004)

For years, I would return to the Iliad every June, whether through historical fiction ("The Firebrand" by Marion Zimmer Bradley"), graphic novels ("Age of Bronze" by Eric Shanower), or literary non-fiction ("The War that Killed Achilles" by Caroline Alexander).

My wife and I took my mother to see "Troy" at the Cineplex Cinemas on the Queensway in Etobicoke, shortly after it was released.  (My wife was pregnant with our son, so it was kind of like his first movie, also).

I really enjoyed the film, and was annoyed by those who complained that it wasn't the Iliad.  After all, the name of the movie is "Troy" not "The Iliad".  The idea was to depict an imagined history that might have served as the basis for the epic poem.

Brad Pitt was perfect as Achilles (he attended the screening at Cannes with Jennifer Aniston), and there were so many memorable scenes (most notably the pivotal exchange between King Priam and Achilles, in which Priam begs for the body of his son).

Years later, I ordered the Director's Cut from Amazon.  I liked both versions of the film, but then, I love anything dealing with Greek mythology.  The Homeric epics in particular are timeless, and will resonate through the ages.

Gladiator (2000)

I remember seeing the teaser trailer for "Gladiator" in theatre, prior to hearing anything about the movie.  The music used was by Basil Poledouris from the "Conan the Barbarian" soundtrack, which boded well.

Movie poster for "Gladiator" (2000)

I had just finished reading "When Death Birds Fly" by Andrew Offutt and Keith Taylor, which deals in part with the Battle of Soissons in 486 and the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, and so was primed.

My wife and I saw "Gladiator" in Montreal with our good friends, Don and Suzanne, (although I was half-expecting the film to culminate in the sack of Rome, and so the ending wasn't quite as epic as I'd anticipated).

I'd visited the Colosseum on my first trip to Italy, a few years earlier, and again on a vacation to Europe with my family in 2011.  It's an impressive structure, and easy to imagine oneself as a spectator in the crowds.

The score by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard (of "Dead Can Dance" fame) is memorable.  (A few years later, Luciano Pavarotti released a song called "Il Gladiatore", originally intended for the movie).

"Gladiator" went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture, paving the way for a wave of historical epics.  I'm grateful for the types of films made possible by its success.  (A sequel has apparently been in the works).

The Mask of Zorro (1998)

I was never a big fan of Zorro (unlike my cousin, Louie, who coincidentally grew up in the same small town as Zorro's creator, Johnston McCulley) but have always been enamoured of Spanish California, with its Mediterranean climate.

Movie poster for "The Mask of Zorro" (1998)

Like so many other memorable characters, Zorro first appeared in the pulps, debuting in the story "The Curse of Capistrano", serialized in All-Story Weekly in five instalments from August 9 to September 6, 1919.

I remember picking up "Dracula vs. Zorro" back in 1993, as my comic collecting days were winding down.  The title was published by the short-lived Topps Comics, and illustrated by Thomas Yeates (one of my all-time favourite artists).

That's why I was excited to see "The Mask of Zorro" during a trip to San Francisco to visit friends from high school (although Zorro's stomping grounds were historically further south, in the Pueblo of Los Angeles).

One thing I really liked about the movie was that it was framed as a homage to the character, telling the tale of an aged Zorro and his new protege.  This was also the film that introduced many of us to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Years later, I picked up Isabelle Allende's "Zorro" in advance of another trip to California.  It's a great novel, and serves as a sort of prequel to "The Curse of Capistrano" while drawing upon elements from "The Mask of Zorro".

Titanic (1997)

I was living in Montreal when James Cameron's "Titanic" came out, although saw the movie with my family when I came home for Christmas.  (The "draw me like one of your French girls" scene was a little awkward).

Movie poster for "Titanic" (1997)

I first learned of the sinking of the Titanic in a book that my mother got for us when we were young, "Strange Stories, Amazing Facts" (1975), which included "The Fiction That Came True: Strange case of the two Titanics".

The next time was in the pages of the first "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, "The Cave of Time" (1979), in which it's possible to be transported on board, just before the iceberg is struck (you choose whether to stay or leave).

I remember when the wreckage of the Titanic was discovered, in 1985.  We saw the IMAX documentary film "Titanica" several years later, at Ontario Place (which was re-released the same year that "Titanic" came out).

Something people nowadays probably don't recall is that most critics absolutely panned "Titanic" after its opening weekend (check the newspapers), which only reinforced to me how wrong film critics can be.

This was my fourth "favorite movie of the year" (the third in a row) that went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture (it's only happened a couple more times).  Were my tastes becoming more mainstream, or was the industry targeting my demographic?

The English Patient (1996)

I read "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje on the recommendation of a friend, a year or two before the movie was released.  It's a remarkable novel, set during a period of history that I find myself drawn to.

Movie poster for "The English Patient" (1996)

From the haunting vocals of the Hungarian folk song "Szerelem, Szerelem", to the gorgeous cinematography in Italy and Tunisia, to the plot with multiple flashbacks, the film is a rare example of a book adaptation done right.

I was a little disappointed that Hana's hometown was changed from Toronto to Montreal (the Danforth is even mentioned in Ondaatje's book), although suspect it was due to the casting of actress Juliette Binoche.

The movie was produced by Saul Zaentz, whom I'd previously associated mainly with Ralph Bakshi's "The Lord of the Rings" (1978), and was his third film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture.

I remember how disappointed Ralph Fiennes looked when he didn't win the Academy Award for Best Actor, although really he was my least favorite part of the film (even if it's rumored that he once visited my mother's village in Greece).

"The English Patient" is another movie that I haven't seen again, since seeing it in theatre, although I would like to.  However, I think it deserves to be seen on the big screen, and so will keep a lookout for the opportunity.

Braveheart (1995)

The mid-1990s witnessed a flourish of interest in Scottish history.  The film "Rob Roy" starring Liam Neeson was released in April, 1995, followed by "Braveheart" starring Mel Gibson, in May.  I saw both films in theatre.

Movie poster for "Braveheart" (1995)

I loved the battles, drama, and romance in "Braveheart".  It won the Oscar for Best Picture, although criticism has mounted over the years, with respect to its historical inaccuracies.  Still, it encouraged me to learn the actual history, by making me care.

I'd already made plans to spend the summer in Paisley (near Glasgow) that summer, and was interested to learn that most Scots enjoyed the film, although snickered at it (mostly the accents, and the casting of Gibson as William Wallace).

My time in Scotland kicked off an abiding interest in everything Scottish.  I got the chance to see a fair bit of the country, and met lots of interesting people.  (I even learned to appreciate Irn-Bru, but wouldn't touch black pudding or haggis).

The following year saw the release of "Trainspotting", starring Ewan McGregor, set in Edinburgh.  By that time, I was living in Montreal, and saw the film at Cinema du Parc, a wonderful repertory cinema (still in operation).

Netflix's "Outlaw King", released in 2018, tells the story of Robert the Bruce, and a similar film (intended as a sequel to "Braveheart") premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2019, but a wider release, planned for 2020, was canceled.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

I knew that I would enjoy "The Last of the Mohicans" before I even saw it.  Based on the classic novel, written by James Fenimore Cooper, the story takes place in 1757, during the French and Indian War (about a hundred years before "Dances with Wolves").

Movie poster for "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992)

I went to see the film with my girlfriend at the time.  It was (and kind of wasn't) a date movie.  There's romance, but also a fair amount of blood and gore (somebody literally gets their heart cut out).  We broke up, shortly afterwards.

The soundtrack was amazing (the main theme is based on "The Gael" by Dougie MacLean).  During a trip to California the following summer, my friend and I played it repeatedly as we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible, with the top down.

I saw the movie again with several friends at Ontario Place's Cinesphere.  It was an incredible experience on the 60 foot high screen.  (We were particularly impressed with Chingachgook's war club, and couldn't stop talking about it.)

Much of the action in the story takes place at Fort William Henry, on the south shore of Lake George in upstate New York.  I first realized this on a visit to Lake George with friends, while living in Montreal, but have never yet stopped there.

When my kids were young, I purchased the movie on DVD to watch with them, once they were old enough.  I still haven't gotten around to it (that one really gruesome scene keeps putting me off) but they're teenagers now, and have probably seen much worse.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

I remember hearing that there were two "Robin Hood" films in production, about a year before the one with Kevin Costner was released.  To this day, I don't think I've ever seen the other one (a British production, which ended up going straight to TV).

Movie poster for "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991)

"Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" was another movie that I saw with friends at Sussex Centre.  The opening credits, with close-ups of the Bayeux Tapestry and that awesome score by Michael Kamen, really set the mood.

"800 years ago, Richard 'The Lionheart' King of England, led the third Great Crusade to reclaim the Holy Land" and just like that, one is transported back in time, the muezzin's call to prayer echoing over Jerusalem at sunset, 1194 AD.

My interest in the Crusades, sparked by Indiana Jones and his quest for the Holy Grail, was enhanced by this movie.  (Years later, I would retrace the path of the Fourth Crusade across Europe with my family, but that's another story).

I wasn't yet aware of the BBC TV series "Robin of Sherwood", but the soundtrack by Clannad introduced me to it.  When I watched the series on DVD, I realized just how much the character of Azeem, played by Morgan Freeman, was inspired by Nasir.

Seeing a particular movie more than once in theatre automatically qualifies it for my list of favorite movies of the year.  I saw this one again with my sister, later that summer, (I remember that we got yogurt at TCBY, afterwards.)

Dances with Wolves (1990)

The first three cultures I became interested in and wanted to learn more about (apart from my own) were the Japanese, the Russian, and the "Native American" (as we used to refer to the indigenous peoples of North America, back then).

Movie poster for "Dances with Wolves" (1990)

I've always held a reverence for what we now call the First Nations.  As a kid, one of my favorite books was "Eagle Feather" by Clyde Robert Bulla (illustrated by Tom Two Arrows).  Later, in Grade 7, we read "Agouhanna" by Claude Aubry.

I went to see "Dances with Wolves" with a large group.  The theatre was packed, so my friend Vince and I had to sit all the way at the front and to the left (probably the worse seat I've ever had in a theatre), but we soon got swept up in the film, anyway.

The movie has an interesting pedigree, in that it started out as a screenplay, which was turned into a novel (published in 1988), that was then adapted into the film, winning the Oscar for Best Picture.  A sequel to the novel was written, published in 2001.

In recent years, "Dances with Wolves" has been criticized for being a "white savior" movie.  While an important perspective, there are narrative benefits to the approach, in that Dunbar serves as the viewpoint character for a predominantly white audience.

This is one of those movies that I really enjoyed and that left a lasting impact, although haven't seen since.  My kids are getting old enough to perhaps be interested, particularly my daughters.  Perhaps I'll try watching it again, someday soon.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

We didn't see "Raiders of the Lost Ark" until March Break of 1982, and didn't see "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" in theatre, at all (although rented both movies, on VHS, several times, before seeing "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"). 

Movie poster for "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" (1989)

We saw the movie at Sussex Centre Cinemas in Mississauga, in operation from May 1987 until 2001, and a popular choice to see the latest film, at the time (although it was easy to get lost in their underground parking garage).

As unbelievable as it sounds, I had only just learned about the Crusades, a couple of years previously.  I'm not sure that I even knew very much about the legend of the Holy Grail, back then (although both would eventually become major interests of mine).

The movie pushed all the right buttons.  It was set during the first half of the twentieth century, involved travel to Europe and the Middle East, dealt with Judeo-Christian tradition, and was filled with spectacular action scenes.

I've seen "Last Crusade" again, many times.  I once watched it with my grandmother, who could only speak Greek, and so needed a steady stream of translation.  I remember that she really enjoyed it, particularly the ending.

I didn't see "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" when it came out, but rented it, a few years later.  I thought it was fairly well done, but didn't warrant repeat viewings.  I'm curious to see whether the rumored fifth film gets made.

Greystoke (1984)

I discovered the Tarzan novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs when I was in Grade 7.  By the time "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" was released, I had read the first 10 of them (there were 24 novels published).

Movie poster for "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" (1984)

I also read Philip Jose Farmer's fictional biography of the ape man "Tarzan Alive!" (which I discovered in the actual biography section of our public library, not the fiction section, leading to confusion on my part...)

I remember how excited I was to see this movie on opening night, taping the full-page newspaper advertisement to the back of my bedroom door.  My father was supposed to take me, but something came up, and we couldn't go.

Since my father had to work the next day, "Greystoke" became the first movie that I saw on my own.  I purchased a popcorn and a large Sprite (almost choking on it during the scene in which one of the African explorers gets shot in the chest with an arrow).

Even though the second half of the movie wasn't faithful to Burroughs' original story, it was still the best Tarzan movie I had ever seen.  The versions starring Johnny Weissmuller depict a totally different character from the one in the novels.

Years later, I learned that Andie McDowell's voice was dubbed by Glen Close, and screenwriter Robert Towne, dissatisfied with the movie, insisted that his dog "P.H. Vazak" be credited with the screenplay (which earned an Oscar nomination).

The Island at the Top of the World (1974)

My first trip to the movies was with my father, when I was only six years old.  I can still remember how excited I was to be doing something special with him!  I didn't know what to expect, but I was all in.  The movie?  Disney's "The Island at the Top of the World".

Movie poster for "The Island at the Top of the World"  (1974)

The film was released on December 20, 1974 together with mini-featurette "Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too".  I recall entering the darkened theatre, after the mini-featurette had already started, to see Tigger sliding down the printed margins of a book.

Unfortunately, the movie couldn't hold the attention of my six-year old self, and at some point I turned to my father and asked to leave.  I remember that he seemed a bit surprised, and was at first reluctant to go, but I insisted, so we got up and left.

Feeling nostalgic, I rented this film over the holidays, and was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it was.  A rich industrialist convinces an archeologist to join him on an expedition to the Arctic in search of his son.  Their mode of transportation is a French airship.

Actor Mako, who later played the wizard in "Conan the Barbarian" (1982) was cast as Oomiak, an Inuit guide.  Discovering a lost enclave of Norsemen, the expedition is ultimately successful, although complications naturally ensue.

The screenplay was based on the 1961 novel "The Lost Ones" by Donald G. Payne, writing under the pseudonym Ian Cameron, and represents a late example of "lost world" fiction popularized by writers such as Jules Verne, H. Rider Haggard, and Edgar Rice Burroughs.