The problem with action movies today

Fantastic video essay on the many problems with action movies today. You could really open up some of these points to all movies  in general (and even content & ads!).

So well argued by Chris Stuckmann, I was nodding the whole way through. I especially loved all the contrasting examples of brilliant action movies and why they work so well. No surprise it all boils down to character and story. Characters you believe in, that evoke an emotional response from the audience, whether you love or hate them, and a great story.

Via Kottke

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Loved this skate film, what really struck me was the way nature was a huge part of the visuals. Usually we're used to seeing concrete jungles in these type of films, all grey and covered in graffiti. No denying there is plenty of concrete here, but so much green from grass sprouting through the concrete, the yellow from the sun, and that moon shoot. 

Something else of interest is how it reminded me of a film I always used to reference for beautiful slow motion, was this skate film shot in Paris. I loved the music and how it was almost melancholic somehow. And at the time (6 years ago) the slo-mo was so new so there was so much wow around it, and what was possible. Now we can shoot 240fps on our phones, but I still love this skate film. 

Via Coudal

Adam Curtis. Journalist

We begin with his viewers. "They are quick, clever, intellectually confident, but not intellectuals," says Curtis. "They feel intimated by a lot of the snobbery and elitism that still clings to certain areas in this country." He contrasts this with the "rigid definition of how you are supposed to think" allegedly found among intellectuals, with their attachment to theories. "My audience isn't interested in that," he says - and nor, he seems to imply, is he.

Lovely write up on Adam Curtis in Creative Review, this quote especially was interesting. Always great to hear how people perceive their audience. Curtis' summary of his audience is bold and even quite challenging, but feels bang on. 

In the piece there's also a great insight into his trademark use of Arial/Helvetica in his films, and what his intention was with that. Surprisingly comparing it to the approach taken in South Park:

"The people I really admire are South Park because South Park, who I know lots of people think are silly, are not. They are actually brilliant journalists because they have the ability to boil stories down into good, tight little bits. When I use little bits of text I'm doing what I got from South Park, which is to simplify everything right down."

The Evolution of Batman in Cinema

Showing how Batman's cinematic image has evolved through time is a fun idea for a film, and it is superbly executed by Jacob T. Swinney.

It's incredible to see it start at something resembling Nosferatu, to the knowingly silly cartoon-like Adam West to the Gothic and dark Tim Burton 1989. Much like the films, I've not really thought too much about the Schumacher films (!), so just skip those.

Fun to see one animation film sneak in there, there is some great work in the various animations been created through the years, and the Mask of the Phantasm has a lovely Art Deco design to it, which really lends itself well to the Batman mythos.

Much like Batman himself, Swinney's edit comes into its own when Zimmer's score kicks in and we see the Nolan/Bale iteration kick in. And what a thrill. Some fantastic imagery in that trilogy which are all present here, and (if you'd forgotten) reminds you how cool those films are.

Now I want to watch them all again...again.

Before the Fall

Lovely short film from my friend and colleague Mike Brookes.

The intro is my favourite part - absolutely gorgeous, slowly revealing itself - reminiscent of the game Limbo (trailer below). Interesting to see this end with a Sopranos-esque ending.
Love the type used on the title too.