Star Wars tagged posts

May 12, 2020, Posted in  Features Comments: 3 comments

For more information on BFI Japan 2020, click here

To view Japan 2020 on BFI Player, click here

BFI Player’s Japan 2020 season is now live, with two first rate collections to keep you occupied during lockdown. One focusses on Japan’s most famous filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa, and features 21 films from the 30 he made in a career spanning six decades. The other showcases classics of Japanese cinema across the decades – click here for details on that one.

People most likely know the name, but as the years tick by the audience for Kurosawa’s films inevitably dwindles. Which makes Japan 2020’s collection essential… for many reasons.

Chiefly, Kurosawa movies are dazzling. As important, they still seem fresh and accessible to modern eyes.

Kurosawa was the first ...

April 18, 2020, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

For multiple obvious reasons, No Time to Die has been moved back to November. But we still wanted to give you a Bond episode for April.

There were twenty-four 007 missions from which to choose, including some of the most influential films ever made. So, why did we go for Moonraker, the Bond film typically dismissed as the Star Wars rip-off with a double-taking pigeon?

The short answer is because Rob W likes it. The longer answer is, because Rob W likes it and Rob D was scared Rob W would go full-on Jaws if he didn’t get his way. That’s also the false answer.

The real reason is because Moonraker is a fascinating Bond film...

December 21, 2019, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

The Electric Shadows Podcast reaches its three-quarters of a century mark! And in the 75th episode Robs Daniel and Wallis see just how strong the Force is with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The film has proven as divisive (almost) as The Last Jedi, and our two intrepid casters in pod have opinions on what it does well and where it stumbles. We don’t want to spoil the discussion here too much, so we’ll not go into specifics. Suffice to say, there is a spoiler section because the film packs in quite a few surprises. But, it’s behind a clearly defined spoiler wall midway through, so don’t worry.

Also, this will be the final episode under the moniker, The Electric Shadows Podcast...

December 20, 2019, Posted in  Reviews Comments: 3 comments

Director: J.J. Abrams

Writer: J.J. Abrams, Chris Terrio (story and script), Derek Connolly (story), George Lucas (characters)

Cast: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Ian McDiarmid, Richard E. Grant, Domhnall Gleeson, Billy Dee Williams, Kelly Marie Tran, Keri Russell

Producers: J.J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy, Michelle Rejwan

Music: John Williams

Cinematography: Dan Mindel

Editor: Maryann Brandon, Stefan Grube

Cert: 12

Running time: 141mins

Year: 2019

What’s the story: When Emperor Palpatine (McDiarmid) returns, the Resistance must find his base before he brings destruction to the galaxy. First Order Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Driver) hunts both the Emperor and fledgling Jedi Rey (Ridley).

October 8, 2018, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

Or if you subscribe to Spotify…

In this episode of The Electric Shadows Podcast, Robs Daniel & Wallis are slightly stunned to realise they’ve reached their 50th podcast! To mark the occasion they discuss their formative movies, which movie makers made the biggest impression on them, and why films are just so darn important.

In a trademark freewheeling, tangent embracing chat, the pair cover formative child movies, films that choke them up, first movies owned, films that got them into films, and leave the listener with two recommendations.

Rob W gets the opportunity to test out his vocal skills while the two ruminate on the Best Comedy Of All Time, while Rob D recalls annoying a friend’s parents in his quest to get an a...

May 28, 2018, Posted in  Podcast Comments: No comments

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

Or if you subscribe to Spotify…

Recorded in the small hours of the morning, Robs Daniel and Wallis deliver their verdict on the troubled Solo: A Star Wars Story. Little spoiler for what they think: don’t believe the negative reviews and disappointing box office, this is rip-roaring adventure. Listen on to find out why.

They also discuss the film’s production woes that saw original directors Lord and Miller replaced with Ron Howard, and why Star Wars films are better served by efficient, journeymen directors.

Rob W also explains why a second viewing of Avengers: Infinity War has left him feeling he was premature in writing off the Marvel franchise in episode 43...

December 31, 2017, Posted in  Podcast Comments: One comment

Robs Daniel & Wallis take a brief look at Star Wars: The Jedi in this pint-sized podcast. Primarily because they wanted to throw their hat into the ring regarding the current fan fury over Rian Johnson’s Star Wars movie. We’ll do a full review when the Blu-ray comes out in 2018.

So, in a SPOILER FILLED discussion the two run through what impresses, what are legitimate complaints and why it doesn’t trash the extended universe. Just because something is different, doesn’t mean to say it ruins everything around it…

We’ve got a goooood feeling about this.

To check out Rob Wallis’ movie writings, head over to www.ofallthefilmsites.com

Twitter: rob_a_daniel

iTunes Podcast: The Electric Shadows Podcast

December 29, 2017, Posted in  Features Comments: One comment

Another year, another 10 movies that define why we love cinema. 2017 was such a strong year for film releases that many excellent movies failed to make our Top 10.

Honorary shout-outs then to such must-sees as Wind River, IT, Mother!, Una, A Silent Voice and Wonder Woman. Great movies all, all pipped to the post by the titles below.

Whatever brow-furrowing misbehaviour 2018 brings, one sliver of good news is that cinema should remain in fine shape. From what we saw at the London Film Festival in October, at least three five-star movies will be released next year.

But, without further ado, here is Electric Shadows’ 10 Best Films of 2017…

10. Brawl in Cell Block 99

Writer/director S...

December 12, 2017, Posted in  Reviews Comments: 6 comments

Director: Rian Johnson

Writer: Rian Johnson (screenplay), George Lucas (characters)

Cast: Daisy Ridley, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Kelly Marie Tran, Domnhall Gleeson, Andy Serkis, Benicio Del Toro, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels

Cert: 12

Running time: 152mins

Year: 2017

What’s the story: With the First Order hunting the Resistance into extinction, Rey (Ridley) seeks out Luke Skywalker (Hamill) to bring him into the fight.

What’s the verdict: Of the new wave of adventures set in a galaxy far, far away, The Last Jedi has the toughest mission to date. To do something different.

The Force Awakens and Rogue One recaptured the magic. Partly by leaning heavily into the nostalgia, mixing the new with the comfortingly familiar.

Writer/director Rian ...

December 3, 2017, Posted in  Reviews Comments: 2 comments

When discussing Blade Runner, Ridley Scott said, “It’s as bad to be ahead of your time as behind it.”

Director William Friedkin can sympathise with this.

In the early 1970s he was a filmmaker in synch with the mood of the nation. He revitalised the cop thriller with The French Connection in 1971, nabbing Best Director and Best Film among a five Oscar haul.

Two years later he reinvented horror cinema for the modern age with The Exorcist.

Then, in 1977 he delivered to American audiences Sorcerer, a film fundamentally at odds with a country aching to slough off a decade of uncertainty and corruption.

A loose remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 thriller The Wages of Fear and Georges Arnaud’s same-name source novel, Friedkin’s movie was too bleak for a nation hungry for the escapist th...