Gary Collinson selects his Five Essential Hong Kong Action Stars… From the fantasy swordplay of early wuxia films to the kung fu explosion of the 70s and ‘Heroic Bloodshed’ of John Woo and Ringo Lam, the action genre has always held a prominent position in the cinema of Hong Kong. The innovative output of the […]

Gary Collinson selects his Five Essential Films of Ridley Scott… In a journey that’s taken him from South Shields to Hollywood, Ridley Scott has earned a reputation as one of the most accomplished visual filmmakers working today. The founder of advertising agency Ridley Scott Associates (responsible for the classic 1974 Hovis advert) and production company […]

Gary Collinson presents Five Essential British Film Directors… With his latest film Inception grossing over $271m to date in North America, director Christopher Nolan has officially overtaken fellow countryman Ridley Scott to become the most financially successful British filmmaker of all time. This is a marvellous achievement when you consider the fact he’s made just […]

With Tron Legacy set for release this month, Trevor Hogg explores the evolution of Disney’s cult sci-fi franchise… “The first one had a lukewarm response critically and box-office wise because it was a great year,” recalled actor Bruce Boxleitner (Snakehead Terror) who played the title character in the original Tron (1982). “You had The Thing, […]

With his latest film The Social Network hitting cinemas this October, Trevor Hogg profiles the career of director David Fincher in the first of a three part feature… Watching a behind the scenes documentary on the making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) was a life altering experience for the six year old […]

Trevor Hogg profiles the career of filmmaker and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Jane Campion in the second of a two part feature… read part one. In 1981, Jane Campion watched a teenager perform at the Phillip Street Theatre in Sydney, Australia; the director immediately wanted to cast the young actress in her graduation film. Unfortunately, the […]

Trevor Hogg profiles the career of filmmaker and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Jane Campion in the first of a two part feature… The daughter of Richard Campion, theatre director and co-founder of the New Zealand Players Company, and stage actress Edith Armstrong, Jane Campion was raised in the world of the dramatic arts. The acclaimed filmmaker […]

Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire set for remake of the Carol Reed classic? According to CHUD.com, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire are attached to a remake of the classic 1949 British film noir The Third Man, with screenwriter Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises, and the upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of […]

British film censor re-evaluates guidelines in response to audience feedback… The British Board of Film Classificiation has recently issued new guidelines after consultation with almost 9000 members of the public. Regarding explicit and graphic sexual images in films such as 9 Songs (directed by Michael Winterbottom), the BBFC found that most people felt such imagery […]

Trevor Hogg profiles the career of legendary director Stanley Kubrick in the second of a two-part feature… read the first part here! “It’s not a question of my own satisfaction or lack of it,” answered Stanley Kubrick when questioned on why he was not drawn to contemporary stories or themes, “but of the basic purpose […]