It’s time to look at ten essential films of the 1950s… Quentin Tarantino has never been shy about expressing his opinions on cinema. He once claimed that the two weakest decades in cinema were the 50s and 80s. Sure, Tarantino directed Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, but I’m still going to disagree. The 80s were […]
10 Incredibly Influential Action Movies
We look at ten of the most influential action movies ever made… The action genre excites and entertains like no other and it’s fair to say that the lasting appeal shows that audiences have long held the desire for escapism. Whether it’s Western shootouts at high noon, kung fu battles in the streets of Hong […]
Dust in the Eye: Ten Tear-Jerking Moments in Action Movies
Tom Jolliffe looks at ten tear-jerking moments from an eclectic mix of action movies (with major spoilers)… Action movies are exciting, sometimes empowering, often chaotic and move at a breakneck pace. The primary directive of an action film is to invest you enough into the characters’ quest that you care what happens, but usually only […]
Action Movies Blessed with Stunning Cinematography
Tom Jolliffe looks at ten action movies blessed with stunning cinematography… There are great action movies and there is great cinematography. Not always, but occasionally, the two meet in the middle and we get an action film that also looks especially incredible. In general, the action genre may go for a more neutral palette, to […]
The A-Z of Action Movies: R-V
In the latest instalment of our action A-Z, we look at films beginning with R to V… Summer has been in full swing. The cinemas are back up and running and the streaming services have been releasing content left and right. Summer means action! It’s the season. If you’ve run yourself dry of current content […]
Essential Samurai Movies You Must Watch
Marvelous Videos on the way of the samurai, as seen in motion pictures… Like ninjas, samurai have become one of the most popular Eastern icons in fictional media. Whether it was because of their armor, bushidō code, or mythological stance as Japanese knights, they have become mainstays of cinema. Many artists have worked to create […]
Cinema’s Groundbreakers – Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon
Continuing a look back at some of the most ground-breaking films in cinema, Tom Jolliffe takes a look at Rashomon… When looking back through the work of Akira Kurosawa, it would be difficult to pinpoint only one film as particularly ground-breaking. The truth his, through his early career in a post-war boom for Japanese cinema […]
Could dumbing down cinema threaten the legacy of timeless classics?
Tom Jolliffe looks at the current monopolisation of cinemas from Hollywood tentpoles, and whether timeless classics are at risk of being forgotten… The debate has raged throughout the last half year. Martin Scorsese was at the forefront. Cinemas are being overrun with Theme park rides. The cultural, dramatic and thematic impact with some of these are […]
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 […]
How Seven Samurai created the blueprint for this year’s biggest film Avengers: Endgame
Tom Jolliffe takes a look back at Seven Samurai and its influence on modern action cinema, including the film event of the year, Avengers: Endgame… When everyone in the world within 50 miles of a cinema runs off to see Avengers: Endgame (myself included), I’d like you to bare something in mind; That is a […]
