Surfacing: New Pharaohs [New Act]

Words: Maxamillian John

You might have made the mistake of thinking that Maya Marie, former lead singer of Sohodolls, had given up years ago because there were no more soundscapes left to conquer. But she didn’t, and there were! In between co-writing 'Beat Of My Drum' for Girls Aloud alumnus Nicola Roberts, and Kelsey Ellison’s 'Pom Pom' and 'BOOM BOOM’, she also released her own solo and non-onomatopoeic songs 'Play My Way' and 'Open Checkbook'.

On Camera #26: Jurassic World / Electric Boogaloo / Austin To Boston / Gambit

Words: Saam Das & Maxamillian John

In Cinemas: 'Jurassic World' (2015)

On Camera #25: Spy / Black Coal, Thin Ice / Kingsman / Son Of A Gun / The Clangers

Words: Saam Das & Maxamillian John

In Cinemas: 'Spy' (2015) + 'Black Coal, Thin Ice' (2014)

BFI London Film Festival 2014 Reviews: No Man's Land + Electric Boogaloo

Words: Maxamillian John

'No Man’s Land'

The producers of 'No Man’s Land' openly noise about the film’s Wild West roots and its 'Mad Max' visuals, but thankfully it’s a lot more fun than that. Design aside, Ning Hao’s movie runs more like a French farce, with events of increasing coincidence and physicality bringing a character to their knees.

BFI London Film Festival 2014 Mini-Reviews: Still The Water + Black Coal, Thin Ice

Words: Maxamillian John

East Asia doesn’t export many pure comedies over to the West, but that isn’t to say that humour doesn’t travel well. Neither 'Still The Water' nor 'Black Coal, Thin Ice' are comedies, but both are extremely funny in different ways. Their mirror-image narrative techniques also make for an unexpectedly refreshing double-bill, and let’s hope they get at least a limited theatrical run rather than going the way of most festival fare.

DVD Review: Behind The Camera (2012)

'Behind The Camera' (UK Release: 28 July '14) // Words: Maxamillian John

E J-yong’s fictional documentary 'Behind The Camera' is the postmodernist film I’ve been waiting for all my life. It deals with a particular concern of postmodernism that can’t be tackled through isolated academia alone: the interaction between fiction, reality, and the viewer. Subjects like intertextuality and archive fever are all possible topics for study without the presence of any art, but how can you talk about fiction without some example of fiction?

Godzilla Through The Ages: Gojira (1954) To Godzilla (2014)

Words: Maxamillian John

“I know what the world needs,” said the CEO of Hollywood Studios. "I know.” A pall of silence fell over the conference room. Beyond its tinted windows aeroplanes scored the sky in white, just as silent as the trembling producers within. "The world needs another Godzilla movie!”

Year In Review: Maxamillian John's Top Films Of 2013

Words: Maxamillian John

Our end of year lists continue here at FG, laughing in the face of 2014. Here are my top ten films from 2013, which will also be making up some of the choices in a forthcoming collated FG writers poll.

Mini-Reviews: London Korean Film Festival 2013

London Korean Film Festival (Various venues, 7-15 Nov '13) // Words: Maxamillian John

The 2013 London Korean Film Festival passed by earlier this month, and we attended some of the festival's screenings - including Kim Sung-su's stylish thriller, 'Flu', which is also out now in UK cinemas. Here's a brief round up of some of the other films we caught at this year's fest, namely 'Boomerang Family', 'Moss', and 'How To Use Guys With Secret Tips'.

Film Review: Flu (2013)

'Flu' (UK Release: 22 Nov '13) // Words: Maxamillian John

Out this weekend is the Korean blockbuster 'Flu'. Kim Sung-su’s stylish thriller is only superficially similar to American epidemic disaster movie, such as 'Contagion', and the recent trend to throw an epidemic spin on zombie films, such as 'World War Z' and 'The Crazies'.

DVD Digest #9: The Internship + The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey + Pacific Rim

Words: Maxamillian John

I want to tell you about the latest DVD releases but I'm having trouble finding a good place to start. Because 'good' is in very short supply this week. While I may not have anything to recommend, don't leave because I have a lot of warnings. This column might save you up to three hours of your life.

DVD Digest #8: This Is The End + Admission + Trap For Cinderella

Words: Maxamillian John

If the storm last week kept you indoors then you probably want to go outside now and frolic in the dying embers of autumn. But don't, it's a trap! The outside is actually terrible. My review of the Outside would just read - wet, overcrowded, insects attack randomly, and pizza is only available in specific areas. 3/10. Instead, why not stay indoors with one of this week's DVD releases? Let's have a look at them!

DVD Digest #7: Hummingbird + The Purge + World War Z

Words: Maxamillian John

Aside from being this week's DVD release date, October 21st was also International Day of the Nacho! I know! Invented by Ignacio Anaya - 'Nacho' to his friends - as a dish made from leftovers for the wives of American soldiers out on a shopping trip, nachos are a terrible cinema snack but a perfect home movie snack. But which DVDs won't make you vomit your nachos out in disgust? Let's find out!

Film Review: Enough Said (2013)

'Enough Said' (UK Release: 18 Oct '13) // Words: Maxamillian John

On the 19th of June, James Gandolfini died of a heart attack in Rome. An actor hugely admired by his peers, his unexpected death gave rise to the usual heartfelt homages and disingenuous testimonials by those close to him and those in the media who felt the need to stay in step with the prevailing temper. It's all moot of course, because the only testimonial should affect the public discourse is in the man's work. As such, 'Enough Said' represents one of the most articulate tributes to Gandolfini's talent.

DVD Digest #6: After Earth + The Big Wedding + Like Someone In Love

Words: Maxamillian John

No critic knows pain like a DVD columnist. Films that make it to your local cinema are already in the minority by virtue of securing a distribution deal, and most of those are still rubbish, so imagine what I have to put up with while I trawl each week's releases looking for something other than straight-to-DVD and no budget fillers. And often it doesn't work. This week, as I sat through 'After Earth' (spoiler alert: it blows) and 'The Big Wedding' (it's worse), I genuinely started to question my life. Thank god for 'Like Someone In Love', which was an absolute joy and reminded me why I do this.

LFF 2013 Reviews: All Cheerleaders Die + The Double + How We Used To Live

Words: Maxamillian John and Saam Das

The BFI London Festival 2013 continues into its final week, and we have mini-reviews of subversive horror 'All Cheerleaders Die', Richard Ayoade's new film 'The Double', and the Saint Etienne-soundtracked 'How We Used To Live'. All spoiler-free, of course, and showing this evening should you wish to pop down.

DVD Digest #5: Much Ado About Nothing + Bachelorette + Sharknado

Words: Maxamillian John

The Shakespearean rule of thumb is that a story ending in death is a tragedy, while a story ending in marriage is a comedy. This week brings us the release of Joss Whedon's adaptation of 'Much Ado About Nothing' and 'Bachelorette', both of which end in marriages, and 'Sharknado', which ends in a lot of death. Guess which one emerges as the real comedy! What does Shakespeare know, right?

DVD Digest #4: Dead Man Down + Populaire + Byzantium

Words: Maxamillian John

Hey gang, guess what today is? That's right: my birthday! But more importantly it's also a DVD release date, and the conflation of the two must mean that this week's DVDs are the best ever, right? Well... meh.

DVD Digest #3: Stolen + Trance + Good Vibrations

Words: Maxamillian John

Thank god for mediocrity. Last week’s DVD releases were gruelling in their sheer awfulness, but this week we’ve got the sweet release of 'Stolen' (2012), 'Trance' (2013) and 'Good Vibrations' (2012). That’s one failed blockbuster, one slightly underperforming thriller and one surprising and passionate love letter. In a summer where the bottom seems to have fallen out of the Hollywood blockbuster, it seems fitting that the quality of this week’s DVD releases is inversely proportional to their production budget.

DVD Digest #2: Forced To Fight + Jack The Giant Slayer + GI Joe: Retaliation

Words: Maxamillian John

Well that didn't take long. When I said in the first DVD Digest that there wouldn't be so many good films out on a single release date for a while, I didn't think the backlash would be this immediate. It’s with a heavy heart but a sense of duty that I bring you this week’s DVD Digest.