Tom Jolliffe looks at Home Alone 1 and 2 in comparison to every sequel and rip off which followed, and the secret of Chris Columbus’ success… It’s Christmas season and by law you will at some point be watching Home Alone. It might also come to pass that you’ll follow up the original seasonal classic, […]
Christmas Turkeys: In Defence of Santa Claus: The Movie & Jingle All The Way
Tom Jolliffe evaluates the positives of a couple of festive turkeys… For every festive slice of gold, there are a number of films which don’t quite hit the right notes. There’s been something about the Christmas movie in years gone by that has often felt like they’re pumped out to be ready for the season. […]
A Not So Holly-Jolly Christmas: Why are the mean spirited festive films so enjoyable?
Tom Jolliffe looks at mean spirited Christmas films, and why we enjoy them so much… We all love a bit of Christmas cheer. Okay, some of us do. There are plenty of warm hearted Crimbo films to enjoy. Injected with pure unadulterated saccharine. Any mean spirited film of course, will inevitably turn back into festive […]
Revisiting Bound: The Wachowskis’ Stunning Directorial Debut
Ahead of The Matrix Resurrections, Tom Jolliffe looks back at Bound, the Wachowskis’ directorial debut, which remains essential neo-noir… They had written a Sylvester Stallone action picture. Assassins would prove somewhat underwhelming to critics and disappointed at the box office. It would undoubtedly have been a money spinning gig for Lana and Lilly Wachowski but […]
The Good and the Bad: Nostalgia-Driven Cinema
Tom Jolliffe on nostalgia-driven films… Balance is a wonderful thing. In a recipe, each ingredient plays a part. Sugar is good right? The contentious ingredient has taken the blame for so many modern health issues over the years. Let’s face it, there’s almost no nutritional value, but it’s pleasing. You need sugar to make doughnuts. […]
15 Great Cinematic Journeys
Tom Jolliffe offers up 15 great cinematic journeys… When it comes to cinema, the very best films will grab the audience and keep us gripped throughout the runtime. Every character goes on a particular journey that can be literal and/or metaphorical. Those literal epic journeys which might see hobbits on a quest to take a […]
Rocky IV: Original Cut vs. Director’s Cut
Tom Jolliffe pits Sylvester Stallone’s recent Directors Cut of Rocky IV up against the original theatrical cut… Much like the iconic villain within it, Rocky IV defeats all man. A much treasured film which was always rated highly among Rocky fans, even if it might not have been objectively considered a great film. A wonderful […]
Dolph Lundgren: Director
Tom Jolliffe looks at Dolph Lundgren’s work behind the camera as a director… Dolph Lundgren is an action icon. For many fans his most enduring images are that of Ivan Drago, one of the most iconic villains of the 80’s from Rocky IV, or as He-Man in Masters of the Universe. Beyond that he’s been […]
Has the Meta Movie Been Played Out?
Tom Jolliffe looks at metacinema, and whether the well of engaging meta movie ideas has dried up… Metacinema. In more recent times more popularly referred to as meta, it’s a mode of filmmaking in which the audience is made aware they’re watching a piece of fiction. It goes a little deeper of course, as whilst […]
A Cannon Films Double from ’87: Masters of the Universe and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Tom Jolliffe ventures back to 1987 to look at two films which promised big things from Cannon Films, but would be the beginning of the end for the company… Oh to be six again. Life was much simpler. TV shows were better, films were better, music was better. I didn’t have to pay any bills […]
