Tom Jolliffe casts his mind back to the era of video stores – a rite of passage for people growing up in the 80’s and 90’s… During my early years the infrequent but welcome visits to the local video shop brought with them, a huge wave of excitement. Perhaps second only to a cinema outing, […]
The Magnetic Brilliance of Sean Connery
Tom Jolliffe looks at the career and lasting legacy of the late Sean Connery, one of the most charismatic screen presences in cinema history… Cinema mourns the passing of another icon. For many this one will pack a weighty punch. Sean Connery was the man who became the first major face of a franchise we’re […]
Hazy Childhood Movie Memories
Tom Jolliffe on those hazy memories from childhood for movies that may or may not actually exist… When you think back to childhood, some memories remain vividly clear. This can extend to movies of memories that lock themselves into your memory banks without much being re-imagined by your mind. Certain films, like Star Wars always […]
He’s Dynamite, but Michael Jai White is still hugely underrated
Tom Jolliffe looks at action star Michael Jai White, who has never quite got the attention he deserves… For whatever reasons, some stars never quite reach the level their ability deserves. It can be a variety of reasons holding some back, and generally many stars tend to get that one shot at the big league. […]
Never Mind Bond, Is It Time To Resurrect Harry Palmer?
Tom Jolliffe on why the iconic spy character Harry Palmer could be perfect material for a reboot… With Daniel Craig’s final Bond film No Time To Die seeming as distant from release as it’s ever been, talk still bubbles away about who will replace Craig for a character who’s rapidly becoming outdated, and almost too […]
Movie Review – Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Jiu Jitsu, 2020. Directed by Dimitri Logothetis. Starring Alain Moussi, Frank Grillo, Marie Avgeropoulos, JuJu Chan, Tony Jaa, Rick Yune and Nicolas Cage. SYNOPSIS Every six years, an ancient order of expert Jiu Jitsu fighters face a fearsome alien invader in a battle for Earth. For thousands of years, the fighters that protect Earth have […]
Movie Review – Vanguard (2020)
Vanguard, 2020. Directed by Stanley Tong. Starring Jackie Chan, Yang Yang, Allen Ai Lun, Miya Muqi, Zhu Zhengting, Desmond Aldridge, Can Aydin, Sayed Badreya, Ruohan Xu, Barret Coates, and Fady Zaky. SYNOPSIS: Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world’s deadliest mercenary organization. […]
November 1990: The Month of Much-Maligned Sequels
Tom Jolliffe goes back 30 years to November 1990 and visits a string of maligned sequel releases… 1990 brought to a close a decade of popular entertainment and blockbuster success. The era really changed the face of cinema and audience tastes. Gone were the days of unflinching and gritty cinema being the predominant driving market, […]
Happy Bond Season!
Tom Jolliffe on the time of year that for some fans means Bond… It’s that time of year. We’re well into that final ten or so weeks of the year. For many fans, but particularly British gents, there’s a franchise that is deeply ingrained in our movie-watching lives from around mid October until the year […]
Daria Nicolodi: Remembering a Horror Icon
Tom Jolliffe looks back at the iconic career of the late Daria Nicolodi… 2020 hasn’t been very forgiving, and it was sad to hear the news of Daria Nicolodi’s passing. To a corner of horror fandom, particularly those versed in golden era Giallo horror from Dario Argento (to whom she was a long term partner, […]
