By Romke van der Veen Just recently a new ‘Alien’ movie was announced, this time to be produced (not directed) by Ridley Scott. But this news got little media attention. Why is this? For a franchise that was once considered some of the best science-fiction out there. A franchise that produced blockbusters and even one…
Ukraine and the Charge of the Light Brigade
By Romke van der Veen There are certain regions of the world, which have historically been at the convergence point of conflicting cultures. Ukraine has been one of these frontiers; a place of tensions between powers, not unlike the Balkans, Caucasus or the Arabian Peninsula have to an even greater degree. In Mackinder’s ‘Heartland Theory’…
Blue Thunder – The Foregone Era of Smart Popcorn Flicks
By Romke van der Veen Many today might associate older action films with the cheesy, cliché and overly loud schlock that appeared in the 80s with Rambo, Die Hard and Commando. It isn’t inaccurate, the trend of the loud and violent action blockbusters, which have remained a staple of action and even some thrillers alike….
Why Do We Know Friday the 13th?
By Romke Van Der Veen With another Halloween that has come and gone, I was reminded of some of the holiday’s most infamous icons and horror in general. Jason Voorhees, I’m sure you’ve heard that name alongside that of Freddy Krueger and Michael Myers (from Nightmare on Elm Street and Halloween, respectively). But why? These names are commonly known…
Keanu Reeves: Acting Hero or Action Hero
By Romke van der Veen With the release of Matrix 4 this winter, we could say this decade marks the return (of sorts) of Keanu Reeves into the limelight as our beloved action star. He is a celebrity that has amassed immense notoriety and fame for what is, in fact, only just a handful of…
The Conflict of Historical Filmmaking
Romke van der Veen When you’re depicting history in movies, or portraying a historical event, making a biopic or period-piece, you are always confronted with walking the line between drama, historical accuracy, or even documentarian type filmmaking. A great example of this conflict is the 2008 German film, Baader Meinhof Complex. Now, German historical films…