Author: fantasyscififestival

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace expanded the galaxy far, far away more than any of the films that preceded it. It introduced us to new faces, new places, and new corners of perhaps the most iconic Star Wars world: Tatooine. Most memorably of all, we were introduced to Podracing. While some may question the wisdom […]… Continue reading The Unsung Heroics of Ben Quadinaros —

‘Who is the living food for the machines?’ The most iconic of all silent films, Fritz Lang’s spectacular futurist fable tells the story of one man’s struggle to unite his father’s divided city. Widely panned upon release, Metropolis subsequently emerged as one of the most influential films ever made. The film envisions a world of […]… Continue reading 23. Metropolis (1927) — 50 Great Films

‘Buck up – never say die. We’ll get along!’ Twenty years after he first became a global icon, Charlie Chaplin bid farewell to the silent era with a film inspired by the social struggles of the time. In one of his best outings, Chaplin’s ‘Little Tramp’ battles industrial mechanisation, unemployment and the law in an […]… Continue reading 25. Modern Times (1936) — 50 Great Films

‘Who’s gonna care that we acted perfect?’ Terrence Malick established a distinctive style and unique reputation with his strikingly beautiful second release. Painstakingly crafted and two years in the editing room, Days of Heaven is a naturalistic vision that remains one of the most captivating films ever made. The film is seen through the eyes […]… Continue reading 28. Days of Heaven (1978) — 50 Great Films

‘There are few things more fundamentally encouraging and stimulating than seeing someone else die’ Stanley Kubrick’s blistering adaptation of Humphrey Cobb’s First World War novel reveals the careerism and callous disregard for human life at the centre of the war machine. Filmed in Germany with limited resources by a then 28-year-old director, Paths of Glory […]… Continue reading 35. Paths of Glory (1957) — 50 Great Films

‘We’ll be listening to you’ Francis Ford Coppola’s long-cherished personal project about surveillance and paranoia was the first film the director made after the universal sensation of ‘The Godfather’ (1972). Released in the same year as ‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974), The Conversation displayed a very different, but no less impressive, side to Coppola’s creative […]… Continue reading 40. The Conversation (1974) — 50 Great Films

‘We are lost! He is sending for the world’s greatest detective’ Of all the great silent comedians in the 1920s, Buster Keaton arguably had the best run of films. Already an established star and director, Keaton reached new comedic heights with a story about cinema itself and the way in which our hopes and dreams […]… Continue reading 41. Sherlock Jr (1924) — 50 Great Films

‘Some things are more complex than they seem’ Abbas Kiarostami began an exceptional decade of filmmaking with a story that blurred the thin line between fiction and reality. Although largely overlooked upon release, Close-up was pivotal in the development of Kiarostami’s career and is now remembered as one of the best films ever made. Close-up […]… Continue reading 42. Close-up (1990) — 50 Great Films

‘Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime’ Martin Scorsese’s fifth film with Robert De Niro was a brilliant pitch-black comedy unlike any other film the pair made together. An uncomfortable examination of celebrity culture and the lengths that people will go to for their moment in the spotlight, the film […]… Continue reading 43. The King of Comedy (1982) — 50 Great Films

The Wikipedia article of the day for June 25, 2020 is The Thrill Book. The Thrill Book was an American pulp magazine published by Street & Smith in 1919. The first eight issues, edited by Harold Hersey, were a mixture of adventure and weird stories. Contributors included Greye La Spina, Charles Fulton Oursler, J. H.… Continue reading Wikipedia article of the day for June 25, 2020 — Beyond Creativity