But the last episode is definitely provocative, polarizing Prisoner fans for decades. I read that after the final episode aired, viewers were so incensed that McGoohan went on an extended vacation to hide from the British public. I haven't seen such a reaction since fellow Twin Peaks fans viewed the series finale!

It's a great set-up to the sheer insanity of the final episode. Having a two-man play as an episode stresses not only the importance of their dialogue exchanges, but the intensity of the performances. I hadn't heard about McKern's health problems stemming from filming this episode (he looks remarkably better in the…

Yes, I remember seeing Black Robe years ago and you're right about the metaphor—Canada is depicted as a cold, inhospitable, alienating world. It's by no means perfect, but I did like the idea of setting a Canadian horror film in a uniquely Canadian setting.

I like the sequels because unlike most horror sequels, they don't diminish the impact of the first film. And any Canadian horror film set in an early 1800s Fur Trading Post is inspired. Perhaps we need a horror film featuring Louis Riel and his rebel cohorts?

His Due South wasn't too bad—it was a sign that Canadian TV dramas were slowly improving, in terms of quality, in the 90s (though it's quaint compared to Da Vinci's Inquest or Intelligence). Maybe Paul Gross, Haggis' former TV star, can give him a writing job up here in Canada. Or better yet, not.

Okay, once more: http://www.networkdvd.co.uk…

Okay, here's the link to the difference in transfers: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/fi…

I certainly will, hercules! The North American release will have the same transfer as the British release. Here's a link to show just how different the DVD to HD transfers are: http://www.dvdbeaver.com/fi…

The Prisoner on Blu-ray!
I'm quite enjoying these episodic reviews, Zack—a most thoughtful consideration of a cult classic. I'm tempted to watch my DVDs all over again, but I'm waiting for for the Blu-ray set to arrive from Amazon. According to early reviews, the HD transfers are startling compared to the DVD sets.

Awful movie based on equally awful book
I assure you that the book is a wretched piece of writing, not worth adapting to film. I feel bad for Rachel McAdams because she's better than this material. A guy who can't control travelling back and forth through time and finds love? Sounds like the silly Quantum Leap TV…

The only pop (sorry, soda) I miss is Cherry Coke, discontinued in Canada a few years ago. When I was in NYC this spring, I brought back many bottles (along with Yoo-hoo and boxes of Apple Jacks and Cookie Crisp, also unavailable in the Great White North). I was startled at just how many flavours of soda you Yanks have…

I remember reading Crash, Concrete Island and High Rise all in the summer of 1996—I fell in love with his nightmarish depictions of urban living. I worked at a bookstore at the time and made sure we had plenty of copies of his numerous books (and sold quite a few too, thanks to recommendations and the Canadian release…

We also have a Moose Jaw and a Red Deer.

I third the Unibroue selections. I will definitely try Dieu Du Ciel the next time I'm in Montreal. As for a good "shitty" beer, once in awhile, when I feel nostalgia for Saskatchewan, I will abandon my micro and imported beers and buy six supercans of good old "Pil".

To be fair to Calgary (I lived there for a decade), there are some liberal-minded people and Cowtown does have some decent theatre (One Yellow Rabbit), two arthouse theatres (the Uptown is wonderful), a thriving poetry scene, and it gave us Chad van Gaalen, Feist, Tegan and Sara and others, but the stench of…

Let's all hate Regina (except the Roughriders)!

Oops, bad editing—I meant to write that gay marriage was passed by the Liberals, not abortion rights.

Right now the Conservative Party of Canada maintains a minority government (while the left-leaning Liberal Party quietly rebuilds), but, yeah, our conservatism isn't as right-wing as American conservatism. Prime Minister Stephen Harper isn't a fan of gay marriage or abortion(that was passed by the previous Liberal…

The Canadian TVLand is available only through satellite or digital cable, but it's mostly crap—unless watching reruns of godawful 80s Canadian TV shows like Night Heat, Check It Out or Adderly is your thing.

Ah, yes, the requisite hate for Toronto. If you really want to hate a Canadian city, may I suggest Calgary? It's a big Canadian city with small-town attitude with the second-biggest urban sprawl in North America (next to Los Angeles). It's also peopled with oil-rich rednecks who choke on Alberta beef and think…