Tom Jolliffe offers up an essential John Woo selection… John Woo has been a little quiet of late. There have long been rumours but finally it seems that his The Killer reboot is being produced by Peacock. This comes hot on the heels of his “comeback” movie Silent Night which should be out some time […]
The Films of 1992: A Great Year For Movies
Tom Jolliffe ventures back 30 years to 1992, a year full of breakouts, action spectacle, iconic soundtracks and more… In my last retrospective delve into the year of 1982, I boldly claimed that it might have been the greatest year of film ever. As I thrust my time machine forward a decade to 1992, I […]
10 Great Long Takes
Tom Jolliffe looks at some of the best long takes in cinema history… The beauty of cinema, is the sheer litany of techniques available for film-makers to convey their story. It’s a collaborative effort between actors, directors, cinematographers, editors and everyone in between. The power of editing lies in the ability to manipulate the audiences […]
When a Soundtrack Becomes Beautifully Contrary to Violence on Screen
Tom Jolliffe looks at the effective use of contrarian music in films which show violence… There’s something about a great film soundtrack whether it’s the score or songs (or both). You can have a melancholic drama which will usually be laced with melancholic music. You can have the rousing action adventure with the John Williams […]
The Essential Tony Leung Films
Tom Jolliffe offers up ten essential Tony Leung films… With boyish good looks, charisma and immense gravitas, Tony Leung has been mesmerising audiences for over 40 years. As well as an ability to convey so much through saying so little, he also has the rare ability to drift between genres as comfortably as anyone. He’s […]
The A-Z of Action Movies: E-H
In part two of our action A-Z, we look at a selection of films beginning with E-H… After an action packed A-D of action films, what does the next batch of carnage have to offer? Once again I delve into an eclectic mix of cult favourites and obscure video specials, with an array of action […]
From Hard Boiled to Soft Boiled: Why John Woo’s masterpiece will never be matched again
Tom Jolliffe revisits John Woo’s action masterpiece Hard Boiled… John Woo had already made quite a name for himself in China, thanks to hit action classics such as A Better Tomorrow and The Killer. In 1992 he released the film which would see him transition from Hong Kong director, to Hollywood. The film was Hard […]
Extreme Gun-Fu Action Movie Gems You Cannot Miss!
Marvelous Videos with a selection of essential gun-fu movies… Gun-fu. It’s a strange word, a western portmanteau that seeks to combine firearms with Eastern martial arts. But how can this be? How can you realistically have people shoot guns at close range without it seeming gimmicky or outright silly? Well, the great thing about movies […]
The Moments Which Made You Love Cinema
Tom Jolliffe on those moments which made you love cinema… It’s different for everyone and maybe for some it never happens. Not everyone (shock horror!) is into film. For those film buffs, nerds, geeks, or even merely casual enjoyers of cinematic delights, there are always defining moments. Maybe it’s a moment within a film. Maybe […]
The Art of the Visually Striking Film
Tom Jolliffe looks at the art of making visually beautiful films… Cinema is a visual medium. A way to tell stories through a combination of visuals and sound, through script and direction, and the manipulation of the editing. Some films are emotionally crushing, involving, gripping. Some are audio-visual sensory overloads. Directors can opt for a […]