James Bond movies make up one of the most successful and influential franchises in world cinema. A monument of popular culture in their own right, 007 movies have also inspired countless other flicks -- not just spy movies, but also Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Asian action cinema. But which entries in the James Bond film series are the best? Which of them remain worth your time as the decades wear on? Of course each generation has their own relationship with Bond and the leading actors who played him. Many believe there will only ever be one true 007 --…
What makes an action movie great? It’s not just explosions—it’s timing, choreography, editing, and story stakes. From incredible set pieces to beautifully-choreographed action to amazing one-liners, action is a popular film genre for a reason. Popular action movies take all shapes and forms. This list includes everything from superhero movies to Hong Kong action thrillers and even a couple of Star Wars flicks thrown in for good measure.And with so many new action movies hitting theaters and streaming platforms, it’s a perfect time to revisit classics that shaped the genre. So buckle up—here comes the definitive ranking of the best action…
It’s easy to mix up the different types of camera shots and types of angles. To make a shot list, a filmmaker or video creative must know the classic types of shots based on attributes like shot size, shot framing, camera movement, camera mechanisms, and depth of field. We'll break down all the camera shots, camera angles, and camera techniques that you need to know for your next film or music video. We also include camera shot examples from famous movies to help solidify all the discussed cinematography techniques.Continue reading 50+ Types of Camera Shots, Angles, and Techniques
In psychology, there’s something called the serial position effect. It means people tend to remember what comes first and last, not what occurs in the middle. Filmmakers know this phenomenon all too well. Combine that with today's stream-ability and countless options… and the opening to a film is as important as ever. Today, we study the best opening scenes in movies to see how the best in the business grab the audience and never let go. Continue reading 25 Best Opening Scenes in Movies & What Makes Them Great
What defines a cinematic shot? For many of us, it is the result of masterful cinematography that creates depth, tone, and tells a story through lighting and camera work. One lighting technique that can help achieve all of these things is volumetric lighting. What is volumetric lighting in filmmaking? Odds are, you have seen this lighting in some of your favorite films. Cinematographers and photographers alike love the captivating effect it has. Let’s take a look at volumetric lighting in cinema and how you can achieve it in your own projects. Continue reading What is Volumetric Lighting — Definition and Examples
Over the years, Linus Sandgren has made a name for himself as one of the world’s preeminent masters of cinematography. We’re going to explore Sandgren’s exemplary work with the goal of better understanding how his different cinematographic techniques better the visual feel of their films. By the end, you’ll know some of Sandgren’s greatest works, as well as what makes them great.Continue reading Linus Sandgren Cinematography Style & Techniques Explained
Roger Deakins movies include Fargo, Skyfall, Sicario, No Country for Old Men, and recently he won the Academy Award in Cinematography for Blade Runner 2049 and 1917. But these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the best Roger Deakins movies. We watched every one of them to see which films we think qualify as the best of the best in cinematography. Continue reading Roger Deakins Movies — His 16 Best Ranked for Filmmakers
Sam Mendes, director of stage and screen, may not release quite as many feature films as some of his contemporaries but one thing he has displayed in abundance is variety. With the exception of his turns in the James Bond series as the Spectre and Skyfall director, it’s rare to see Sam Mendes movies tackle the same subject matter more than once. With a chameleon filmography, he leaps from gangster film to war film to drama to rom-com. Mendes adapts his style to best suit the story at hand, rather than focusing on a cohesive directorial fingerprint across his body…
Audiences and filmmakers alike love sequels. And we all love to rank and debate which are the “greatest.” But deciding which films belong on a “best movie sequels of all time” list can feel overwhelming. How does one choose from every film ever made? And how to rank one above the other? While such a list is by definition subjective, it doesn’t have to be arbitrary. One way of more rigorously determining if a movie is the best in a certain category is by ranking it according to aggregated scores across categories. To determine the best sequels of all time…
Every month, dozens of movies arrive on Netflix, but it can be a hassle keeping track of all the great content that comes and goes. Don’t fret though, we’re going to break down the best new movies on Netflix each month to help you decide on what to watch. These are the best of what’s coming to Netflix in June, 2020.Continue reading Best New Movies on Netflix, Filmmaker Playlist (September 2020)
