The Offbeat Marquee: Film and TV Reviews

Ingmar Bergman is a director of unparalleled brilliance. Since his first script, 1944's Torment , Bergman has always delivered thoughtful and engaging films that delve deep into humanity. Be it relations between one another, our consciousness and subconsciousness, or any number of various facets of our existence, Bergman cuts to the very core of humanity and bring to light these many layers and elements in exceedingly artful ways. And one of the great tales told by the Swedish titan that demonstrates this well is his cherished and revered classic, The Seventh Seal . The Seventh Seal is a masterful piece of filmmaking that explores man's relationship with religion in medieval times, a time when the Church had a stranglehold on feudal Europe. The story of disillusioned knight Antonius Block, played by the impeccable Max von Sydow, returning from the grueling Crusades to lands ravaged by the Great Plague and taking on Death itself, portrayed by the chilling Bengt Ekerot, ...

INTRODUCTION It's probably best that we dial things down and finally get around to talking about something I mention in the description of this godforsaken blog: TV! Namely 80s British children's programming! There's one major reason why I've chosen this unnaturally specific arena of the small screen...I grew up on it. Through the power of the internet, DVDs, and even syndicated broadcasts in the US in some instances, I was able to experience what kids from London to Lancaster watched during the days of Thatcher and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. And I ate that stuff right up as a tot. There was something unique about English programming in general at the time. There was a certain homeliness to it. It was as if you return to your house or flat, turn on the tube, but it was catching an episode of Last of the Summer Wine or Only Fools & Horses that truly made you feel like you were at home. When it comes to kid's programming, I find that the UK is...