Star Wars 40, Me Older

Two times this week I've posted Star Wars bits in anticipation of the fortieth anniversary of that film's collision with planet Earth.

On May 25th, or maybe sooner if I get an itchy quill finger, I will post my memories on how I first heard about Star Wars.

This week I'll upload to this blog a piece I wrote about Star Wars creator George Lucas's steadfast refusal to release the original version of Star Wars to the high-quality Blu-ray format.

Set your phasers on stun 'cause this blog's ahead warp factor nine....

Star Wars: Admit One

The fortieth anniversary of the original release of Star Wars is coming next month, and for us older folks, the question sometimes comes up: "How many times did you see Star Wars when it first came out?"

The movie made a lot of money because it was what's called "a repeater". Young people especially went back to the movie theatres over and over to see what was then a new thing; a high-quality comic book on the big screen.

Perhaps due to my age at the time, sixteen, I saw Star Wars, enjoyed it and did not rush back to see it again. Once was enough, there were other movies to see and I was interested in many other things.

In September of 1977 I became friends with a guy at my high school who was a huge fan of the film. He was a couple of years younger. It was through a school club that we first met. Two or three weeks later Star Wars reappeared in Barrie, Ontario, this time at one of the exciting Bayfield Mall's two screens, and my fan friend and I, with colourful umbrellas in hand, trotted off one rainy night to see again the silver screen's smash hit of '77.

I saw Star Wars two times that year: First, in July at the "Imperial 2" in beautiful downtown Barrie; then it was a tinny movie house in stunning uptown Barrie.

My favourite film in 1977 was Annie Hall. I saw it once.

Past Pic: Slinky Black Cat

The NHL is Now Bite-Sized

After watching a couple of minutes of National Hockey League television coverage on the CBC just now, I am convinced that the game was much more popular in the 1970s.

Television networks, and the NHL itself, may promote the stuffing out of the games, especially playoff games, but nothing can cover-up the fact that the league is in a slump.

Forty-five years ago NBC carried NHL games weekly on Sunday afternoons; players had personalities and the league had personality.

Hyper-cutting and flash frames in video promos signify a vacuum.

A Peanut's History of N.A.F.T.A.

Canada and the United States of America signed the North American Free Trade Agreement which started swinging in 1994.

I remember there was some anxiety on this side of the border by some folk who were not so sure the agreement would be a good thing for this great country. Canadians are naturally conservative about some issues, and it made sense that signing such an affecting and encompassing document should concern some of us; including me.

As things turned out NAFTA was a good thing, for both nations.

President Donald Trump and his magnificent internal reactionary forces are making noises about wanting to pull out of the agreement altogether.

One of my strongest memories on the issue of whether or not Canada should sign the agreement is this one: A certain U.S. politician, I've forgotten who it was, reacted to the apprehension of Canadians with a direct "... you don't get another chance."

It seems that Donald Trump wants another chance....

It's a Star Wars Spring Board

Hard to believe that Star Wars hit movie screens forty years ago this coming May. Recently I reviewed video files that I have on USB sticks; on one of them is an interesting documentary titled The People vs George Lucas. (These 'people' really like Star Wars. I like Lucas's attitude: "Get a life! Will you, people? For crying out loud, it's just a movie!")

Long in my plans is an article replaying my experiences with the movie that changed Hollywood. As that town is populated heavily by a certain breed of sheep, the film's influence can be easily overplayed, but the fact is Star Wars is a fun movie; and was, especially at the time it exploded on the scene. I enjoyed it very much, even if I didn't demand possession of the tie-in toys. (I was sixteen years of age, which may have had a bearing on it.)

Soon, sometime in May, my personal story of Star Wars will be posted for all my fellow older farts to enjoy as they are fired back to the astounding year, 1977!

Past Pic: Some New Royal Ontario Museum Skin

Maurice Devereaux Films and Jokes

Today I took a bit of a break and watched two making-of docs: "Playing with Your Nerves - The Making of Slashers" and "End of the Line - A Splatter of Faith". (Both titles were directed and edited by my longtime friend Jean-Denis Rouette.)

Canadian filmmaker Maurice Devereaux is a talented guy. Although he hasn't made a feature-length film since 2006, his most recent one, End of the Line, proved, illustrated, that he knows how to work in the traditional narrative form and do so with flowering aplomb.

Devereaux has been vocal about how film distributors treat independent filmmakers very poorly; which is a nice way of saying that they are, as the director likes to term them, "sharks". They want everything for nothing.

Watching the above docs brought back memories of seeing End of the Line at its TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) premiere in September of 2006. After the thrilling screening, we, members of the cast and crew who journeyed to the city, and I, settled down on the Pilot Bar's rooftop patio. Not long after we took our seats and drinks Maurice was called over to another table. He was chatting with the party for a while, about forty-five minutes or so. With little fanfare Maurice returned to our table and told us the news. They were distributors from Japan and their offer for the Asian market was something that our filmmaking friend could not refuse: $60,000.

On a more pleasant note, the conversation was fine. At one point I was asked something; with some understated reserve I said, "I just wanna be the Irwin Allen of Canada". What I considered to be nothing more than a statement or answer born of humbleness got quite the laugh from everyone at the table. It may have been due to the fact that I was only kidding -- I hope.

From a Dependent Brat: The Church of Me

RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen (retitled "CFB Baden-Soellingen" in 1968), in then West Germany, had two cute little churches parked side by side near the end of a street: houses of two denominations, Catholic and Protestant; directly opposite was the base's hospital; and at the end of the street, watching, stood the fire hall with its fire engines and crash-tenders.

When I was five and six years old my dad would take me to the RC place on Sunday mornings. I remember sitting enraptured by the sermons, specifically by their extraordinary length, especially to this then child, and by what I perceived to be utter emptiness. (It's possible I knew that some things in those sermons made little sense but had yet to hurl the word "emptiness" to describe them.)

One day, a moment I remember well, I said to my dad something in a way as to avoid any misinterpretation: "Dad, I don't wanna go to church anymore."

My dad's reaction: Laughter. The kind aimed towards the heavens when one realizes that his six-year-old is figuring things out fast. And setting firm his own well-considered belief system.

The base is now an airport. Baden-Airpark.

The State of Canadian Film

The Agenda with Steve Paikin, TVOntario's outstanding public affairs program, did an hour-long program two days ago on the state of motion picture making in Canada as part of its celebration of Canadian film.

The first part of the program is titled "What's Wrong with Canadian Film?"
Watch here.

The second segment is more 'positive': "Why Canadian Film Matters."
Watch here.


It's an argument I've long heard: "Canadian films are bad." I would disagree. Without getting into an essay here, bad films are not a Canadian domain. There are loads of bad films generated in the U.S., and elsewhere. The only theory or argument I would agree with is that too many Canadian filmmakers try to copy their favourite films, in style and content; and most of those are head-of-the-line and top-of-the-line Hollywood productions. Instead of self-consciously, or, as some cynics might say, unconsciously, imitating expensive Hollywood films, why not try doing something that is "you" (and more the scale of your own wallet)?

The Starlost DVD Liner Notes Story

A year ago today I wrote about my experience penning the insert liner notes for the DVD release of the old U.S./Canada science fiction television series The Starlost (1973 - 1974).

My Favourite Canadian Films

Here in Canada today is "National Canadian Film Day 150" (Canada, as a country, is 150 years old this year.)

The official website for the event is here: Canadian Film Day

This special day got me thinking about my favourite Canadian films. After some minutes of consideration my list will look like this (in no particular order):

Goin' Down the Road
Tales from the Gimli Hospital
Face Off
Careful
My Winnipeg
Roadkill
Jesus of Montreal
Starship Invasions
Montreal Main
Nobody Waved Goodbye
The Pyx
Mon oncle Antoine
The Death of a Lumberjack
Outrageous!
Shivers
Universe (short)
21-87 (short)
The Sweater (short animation)


I am missing so many, titles which escape me for the moment. In the days to come I'll be sure to post a "My Favourite Canadian Films II".

Poem: Friends Tell Coffee Time

Of Saturday it is!

Do you meet still
with availability?

Soap, water, squirrels
about my now laundry

In sanity punches....

___

2017

Simon St. Laurent

Re Collecting My Toronto Maple Leafs Thoughts

As I've noted a few times the last couple of weeks I possess a lack of faith in the Toronto Maple Leafs and their chances of getting anywhere this season.

I predicted the Leafs would not even make the playoffs (I was wrong) and after accepting defeat I entertained the idea that they would get hammered by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the post regular season (I was in error).

I can't imagine for a moment that the third-rate Toronto Maple Leafs will go far in these playoffs, never mind reaching the finals (I hope I'm right)....

Past Pic: Lake Ontario from Toronto Beach

Supervising George Lucas

I bought recently a Blu-ray disc of George Lucas's wonderful 1973 film and American cultural document American Graffiti. The vid was marked down quite a bit which helped my decision. Also marked down to the same low price of $7.99 was Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but since it's not my kind of movie (I was disappointed in that flick when I first saw it upon its original release) I did not even consider grabbing that one, too.

Back to my brand new American Graffiti Blu-ray: Later in the day I had a look at the box and saw a bit of text that had the unfortunate effect of reminding me that Mr. Lucas 'played' with the film -- for instance he put in a lovely sunset in the opening titles background. A little dismay set in. Much in the same vein as when Ward and June Cleaver's hearts would sag any time Eddie Haskell showed up unannounced at their door. My 'Eddie Haskell' was this text on the Graffiti box: "Digitally Remastered Picture Supervised by George Lucas."

Past Pic: The Former Brunswick House, Toronto

Those Cute Toronto Sports Team Jerseys

On my way home from work I have the pleasure of being surrounded on the subway train by Toronto Maple Leafs jerseys on the daze that broken teabag plays at the Air Canada Centre and by Blue Jays jerseys on their days at the Skydome.

Blue Jays, fine; Maple Leafs, whatever.

It occurred to me, actually it occurred to me many times before, that when I travel around this great city I more often see Montreal Canadiens jerseys, caps, shirts, and hats than I do the livery of their tragic adversary -- the Leafs.

Go, Leafs, go play at the Mutual Street Arena....

The Battle of Vimy Ridge

Here in Canada we've been remembering the Battle of Vimy Ridge, what it means to us as a country. One hundred years ago this week (April 9 - 12) Canadian and British soldiers purged the ridge of German forces. It was a bloody battle for both sides, with thousands of young men dying and thousands more injured.

Minutes ago I watched an hour-long program that analyzed the battle from a historical perspective: There is no denying that the battle won was a great tactical military victory, but, as is typical with celebrated military campaigns, what the score was in a strategic sense is open to debate.

One thing that is not open to debate is the loss of so many young men at Vimy Ridge; all those mothers' sons....

Past Pic: The Wave Walk at Toronto's Harbourfront