The following year Chaplin added another 15 releases to his name, and throughout his career branched out tackling directorial, writing and acting rolls. Nearly all of Chaplin’s work involved very visual comedy routines, so it’s silent films and slapstick comedy we’ll be focusing on today!

Making A Living (1914) [IMDB]

Marking Chaplin’s first appearance on film, Making A Living was released in 1914 and sees the slapstick icon playing a swindler who accepts a job as a reporter. After witnessing a car fly over a cliff, Chaplin’s character steals a rival reporter’s photograph of the event in a bid to pass it off as his own.

The two reporters become entangled in a plot to retrieve the photograph, eventually ending in typical slapstick style. I won’t spoil it, but if you are a big Chaplin fan then you’ll probably want to see his first outing on the silver screen.

Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914) [IMDB]

Notable for being the first film to feature Chaplin’s “Tramp” character, Kid Auto Races at Venice is another comedy of errors from the silent film era. When Charlie visits the Venice race track in California he manages to anger thousands of fans and the racers themselves with his usual slapstick antics.

One particular running joke involves a film crew who are attempting to film the race. Nearly every shot they capture is ruined by Chaplin unwittingly walking in front of the camera, finally climaxing in a funny Chaplin-esque confrontation.

The Pawnshop (1916) [IMDB]

One of Chaplin’s more popular titles, The Pawnshop stars Charlie as a shop assistant eager to compete with another member of staff with disastrous consequences. The “bull in a china shop” cliche would apply fairly well to his character here, as he destroys nearly everything around him in some way or another.

Of course there’s more to it than that, and seeing as this film is still viewed favorably today it would make a great introduction to the world of silent film, slapstick comedy and the great Charlie Chaplin.

A Dog’s Life (1918) [IMDB]

Another outing for Charlie’s “Tramp” character and another very favorably viewed Chaplin film, A Dog’s Life is a touching tale of a street tramp and his dog’s fight for survival in the inner city. Charlie’s character lives in a vacant lot, and after attempting to get a job and failing he manages to rescue Scraps, a dog being attacked by other strays.

The two form an instant bond which takes them on a journey around the city, stealing sausages and encountering crooks. This film is both easy to watch and particularly engaging (especially if you love dogs!) and despite its age is still guaranteed to entertain you today.

The Kid (1921) [IMDB]

In his first full-length roll as a director (also having written the film and starring as the lead character) Chaplin’s “Tramp” finds himself caring for an abandoned child. The opening title of the film is “a comedy with a smile – and perhaps a tear” which couldn’t ring more true as slapstick meets tragedy head-on.

Considering this is Chaplin’s full-length directorial debut he did extremely well to ensure a product of such high quality that’s still loved today.

The Gold Rush (1925) [IMDB]

Another return for the “Tramp”, Charlie ventures to Alaska in search of employment and gold. Whilst there he predictably manages to frustrate and become entangled with the wrong crowd, eventually falling in love.

Another particularly well-regarded film, Chaplin himself declared that this is the film he would most like to be remembered for, and now that it’s freely available online then I think that’s far more likely!

City Lights (1931) [IMDB]

Probably the most highly-regarded film on this list, City Lights sees the “Tramp” character falling in love with a beauitful blind girl in this genuinely funny and moving silent film. Released a few years after the arrival of “talkies”, the film still did extremely well and was named by greats Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick and Andrei Tarkovsky as one of the best films ever made.

Does it really need much more of an introduction than that?

Conclusion

Silent films are truly a product of the past, a lesson in film-making, direction and early moving picture techniques. Not only are the films themselves highly watchable, funny and at times moving but also important from a historical and cultural standpoint. The phrase “they just don’t make ‘em like they used to” well-and-truly applies to Chaplin and his unique brand of comedy.

Any favorite Chaplin films? Any favorite silent films? Share your thoughts and links in the comments below.

Propaganda is a by-product of nearly every war or major conflict, and acts as a concentrated effort by the government to influence, calm and control. The Second World War saw propaganda make the jump from posters and radio broadcasts to the moving image, in film form. Let’s take a look at some of those films.

Why We Fight: Prelude to War (1943)

Directed by Frank Capra and produced by the US Army’s own Special Services Division, Why We Fight: A Prelude to War tells the story (as of 1943) of the Second World War in 7 documentary-style films beginning with the 1931 invasion of China by Japanese forces.

As the name suggests, the film was designed to inform (and probably justify) to the American public the country’s involvement in WWII. The film was also a direct retaliation to Nazi propaganda film “Triumph of the Will” which also appears further down this list.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Slightly early to be considered a WWII film but way too important and highly-regarded to leave out, Battleship Potemkin (original Russian: Bronenosets Potyomkin) tells the story of the mutiny that occurred in 1905 when the crew of the Potemkin rose up and rebelled against their on-board Tsarist officers.

Considered to be one of the most influential propaganda films ever made, Battleship Potempkin was named the greatest film of all time at the Brussels World Fair in 1958 and is now available completely free of charge from the Internet Archive.

Bon Voyage (1944)

A French propaganda film produced towards the end of the Second World War, Bon Voyage tells the tale of a British RAF pilot who was shot down and managed to escape over French occupied territory. The film was produced in French, and the version below is accompanied with English subtitles.

The film was directed by one of cinema’s greats, Alfred Hitchcock. Being a Hitchcock production (with some help from the British Ministry of Information) the director managed to stamp his unique approach on the film, making it a must for fans of his work.

Churchill’s Island (1941)

Produced by the National Film Board of Canada (and currently hosted on their website), Churchill’s Island is a 1941 film chronicling the defense of the British Isles and the lengths taken to preserve the country’s freedom.

The film won the very first Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject, earning the recently created Canadian film board their first Oscar. The film is regarded as historically important today thanks to the fantastic original footage that provides a moving, visual record of war on this highly fortified island.

Triumph of the Will (1935)

Regarded as one of the most important, well-produced and innovative films of all time, Triumph of the Will is a propaganda film straight out of Nazi Germany shortly before the country went to war. Commissioned and overseen by Adolf Hitler himself (look for his name in the opening credits), the film re-imagines Germany as a great power and sets Hitler as the great leader who will take the country to dizzying new heights.

Produced by female director Leni Riefenstahl, Triumph of the Will won awards in the US, Sweden and France amongst others and is still regarded by many as a highly influential film, even today.

The True Glory (1945)

A joint production between the US Office of War Information and Britain’s Ministry of Information, The True Glory documents the Allied victory on the western front from several different perspectives. The film makes use of fairly innovative first-person camera angles and voice-over techniques to deliver several different perspectives on the struggle.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1945.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwGtWEF2SE0

Conclusion

These films provide unprecedented visual reminders of a world at war, a dictatorship taking hold of its people, the effort to safeguard a homeland and even the relief felt around the world once the Second World War was declared over. If you know of any other films that have historical punch like these then don’t hesitate to share them in the comments.

Even several of the following movies aren’t of the highest caliber, but they’re the best of an average bunch, so us gamers will have to make do. Issues often arise when filmmakers try to stick too closely to the plot, which is why many of the movies listed below are merely based on elements of video games. It’s a much safer bet to lift characters or certain ideas from a game or franchise and explore that in greater depth.

The Top 10 Video Game Movies Of All Time

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Angelina Jolie was the perfect choice to play the movie version of Lara Croft. And the planets aligned to mean this was a movie worth making. Lara Croft is still an iconic character, but in 2001 she was at the peak of her powers.

Tomb Raider is one of those video game movies that benefited from gamers wanting to see their favorite title brought to life.

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within

Absolutely gorgeous CG visuals make Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within worth watching. It’s probably my favorite film of this entire list. It benefits from its lack of needing to stick to a plot from an existing game, merely borrowing elements from the Final Fantasy series.

Recent Hollywood efforts have lessened the visual impact but it still looks sumptuous and has an interesting storyline to boot.

Mortal Kombat

The first Mortal Kombat hasn’t aged well. But then neither has the game series. This movie takes the literal approach to adaptation, and suffers as a result. With characters which work on a 2D level but fail when fleshed out. However, it has its fans, and has become something of a cult classic.

Avoid the sequel at all costs. Unless you enjoy ‘fatalities’ to the point you’d like to die from watching a terrible film.

Resident Evil

The first Resident Evil movie is a pretty classy affair. Milla Jovovich adds an especially beautiful element to the engaging storyline and rage-filled action sequences. Elements from the game are liberally sprinkled in amongst new plot devices which stop the whole thing grinding to a halt.

This is a survival horror film which lives up to the considerable hype afforded it.

Silent Hill

The movie isn’t as scary as the game it’s based on. But that would have been impossible to pull off. Silent Hill the game is a creepy, atmospheric affair, and Silent Hill the movie is very similar in style and scope. This is a film which shows up the biggest problem with video game movies: the lack of interaction.

Still, watch Silent Hill in a dark room in the middle of the night and be prepared to sense something is creeping up behind you once or twice.

DOA: Dead or Alive

If you dare to watch DOA: Dead or Alive then you may well lose a few braincells. This is not a movie for brainiacs, but then the game was hardly one for the purists, with the biggest draw being the animated bouncing of a certain body part. Yes, gamers are that easy to please sometimes. And so, it seems, are movie buffs, because this is one of the highest rated films on the list.

DOA: Dead or Alive is fun. No more, no less.

Max Payne

Max Payne was never going to be an easy adaptation. And the result of this attempt is a bit of a mess. It’s saved by the cinematography, which evokes an atmosphere very reminiscent of the film noir-styled game. Try to look past Mark Wahlberg’s woeful performance as the titular character.

This barely made it onto the list, only doing so due to the dearth of great flicks there are to choose from in this genre.

Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time was an attempt by Hollywood to make a big-budget video game movie adaptation that worked. The film retains enough of the plot of the game to please fans while not sticking so stringently to it to make it unwatchable. The special effects of the Sands Of Time of the title are stunning to watch, somewhat making up for the lack of a cohesive storyline.

Worth watching for Gemma Arterton’s bare midriff alone.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Final Fantasy VII is a pure gaming experience. Newer RPGs such as Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim are genius, but Final Fantasy VII remains many people’s favorite game of all time. The plot of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children will confuse those who have never played the game.

Advent Children is a lusciously animated epic showing what happened to the beloved characters after the game ended. And it was a bestseller on DVD and UMD as a result.

Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

Professor Layton is a phenomenon. And with good reason. Mocked by hardcore gamers, the storylines are involving, the puzzles cleverly constructed and difficult to break. The movie could have easily sucked, but the characters are present, the storyline is bizarre-yet-charming, and there are even a few puzzles thrown in to the mix.

Enjoy this film for the simple pleasures it affords.

Conclusion

Compiling a list of the worst video game movies of all time would have been easier, because this isn’t a genre bursting with gems. A desire to be positive, however, means I have recommended films that some people will abhor.

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Which videogames would you like to see turned into films from here on in? Uncharted and Halo are surely musts.

Image Credit: Ben Brown

Today’s Stuff to Watch takes a look at the action movie genre and features a few of the juiciest shootout scenes ever captured on film. Of course there’s no way I can include every quality shootout, so be sure to add your own in the comments underneath this article. Let’s lock and load!

Heat (1995) [IMDB]

Every time I think of this movie I can’t help but remember how gripped I was the first time I watched this scene. Of course the whole film is a quality production – but this particular scene sticks in your mind, has spawned countless references and even inspired a virtually identical mission in Rockstar Games’ GTA4.

Without a doubt a “must-see” action film, Heat stars Al Pacino and Robert De Niro but doesn’t rely on high profile actors to sell the movie. Take a look at the clip below; it sells itself.

Watch: Heat Downtown Shootout Scene @ YouTube (Embedding disabled on all uploaded videos of this scene, sorry!)

Hard Boiled (1992) [IMDB]

It should come as no surprise that John Woo knows how to make a good action film, and with Chow Yun-Fat in a lead roll then you know the body count will be high. The plot’s as loose as it needs to be, but provides the perfect set-up: world’s toughest cop teams up with an undercover agent to take down mob boss and uh… people get shot.

Hard Boiled is often hailed as one of the grittiest, bloodiest and most violent films of its kind and this point is demonstrated excellently in the clip below. If this looks good then you’ll be delighted to hear that the film is full of sequences like this.

A Better Tomorrow (1986) [IMDB]

Another John Woo film (and not the last either), A Better Tomorrow tells the tale of an ex-gangster trying to break ties with his gang whilst reconciling with his brother. The fact that his brother is in the police force means they’re both well trained in the ass-kicking department, and that’s all the set-up you need for an action flick.

The following scene is the kind of gory, all-guns-blazing bloodbath that made John Woo a “household” name.

A Better Tomorrow Part 2 (1987) [IMDB]

Remember that tough cop and his ex-gangster brother? Well this time round they’re teaming up with a restaurant owner and (in true action movie style) they’re out for revenge. There’s the plot over with – can you guess what comes next?

Here’s one of those typical over-the-top sequences action films have become so well-known for, except this one’s tinged with John Woo’s brutality and special effects department!

The Killer (1989) [IMDB]

The Killer is a tale of remorse and double-crossings as a retired hitman undertakes one last job in order to care for his girlfriend and repay a debt he owes (not your usual debt, either).

My only criticism of this particular scene is that the bad guy with the incendiary shotgun ammo only fires one round. Now that’s not much of a criticism, but then again this is another John Woo and it’s hard to complain about ferocious gunplay.

Boondock Saints (1999) [IMDB]

The most recent film on the list, Boondock Saints is a tale of two brothers, the mafia and an FBI agent who begins to question right and wrong. The clip below is a thrilling and gory clash, but this isn’t your usual movie shoot-out.

Instead we’re treated to a slightly less orthodox firefight, recalled and narrated by Willem “and then there was a firefight!” Dafoe.

The Wild Bunch (1969) [IMDB]

No list is complete without this tour-de-force, and no action fan is complete until they’ve watched this movie. Set at a time when the American “wild west” was disappearing, a group of outlaws are hot on the heels of one last big score.

This particular scene is actually the final shootout, so if you’ve not seen the film then you might want to skip it for now. If you have seen the film then I doubt you’ll be able to resist clicking play in the video below.

Conclusion

I’m very sorry I didn’t include your favourite shoot-out scene on this list (or maybe I did), but with so many to choose from it was tough to narrow it down to these few. Please leave your favourite scenes, films and recommendations in the comments below this article.In case you’ve missed Stuff to Watch recently, here are the last few entries:

• Internet Gold: The Original Fenslerfilm G.I. Joe Parodies
• 8 Hilariously Bad Movie Trailers
• 7 Free Online Christmas Films

Did you like these clips? Have you seen the films? Any favourite writers, directors or actors? Chat below!

This week’s article features a healthy mix of classic and obscure, featuring both short films and full movies for your enjoyment. Along with the usual helpings of sugar-coated Christmas tales there are a few alternative productions to shock and awe.

So whip out the Christmas booze, reach for the mince pies and feast your eyes on this lot.

Scrooge (1935) [IMDB]

Because no list of Christmas films is complete without an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel, A Christmas Carol, here’s 3! This one in particular isn’t the oldest production, but the first “talkie” version of the story produced.

Each different version of Dickens’ classic tale tells the story in its own way, and this classic black and white version starring Seymour Hicks is no different. There’s less emphasis on Tiny Tim than we see in other versions, and the ghosts are interpreted somewhat differently too.

If you’re a massive fan of this heartwarming Christmas tale then you definitely won’t want to miss this version.

Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol (1979) [IMDB]

The second version of A Christmas Carol on this list comes from no other than Warner Bros and stars one of the most famous rabbits to ever grace television. Unlike Scrooge above, this isn’t a feature length film and comes in at a rather short 8 minutes due to the fact that it made up a small part of Bugs Bunny’s Looney Christmas Tales.

It’s definitely worth a watch, particularly if you have young children who have little experience with the wonderful world of Warner Bros and their animated line-up. It’s also great to watch if (like me) you remember seeing this episode as a child and (like me) want to pretend you’re 9 again.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) [IMDB]

Last Christmas film, I promise! Up next it’s Disney and their take on Dickens’ tale – and who better to lead the pack than Mickey himself. The lead mouse predictably takes on the role of Bob Cratchit whilst Scrooge McDuck plays a fairly mean Ebenezer Scrooge.

Goofy, Jiminy Cricket and Willie the Giant each take on roles as the various ghosts that appear  in the story, and there are plenty of other Disney favourites to spot too. This particular adaptation runs for 26 minutes and that places it well and truly in the “short film” category – enjoy!

The Junky’s Christmas (1993) [IMDB]

The first of a very odd bunch of festive films, The Junky’s Christmas was originally a story written by William S. Burroughs around 1989 and was later adapted into a short but wonderful claymation film in 1993. This production is narrated by Burroughs himself, and even stars him briefly in the film’s live action intro.

What at first appears to be a dark and macabre take on the holiday season gradually lightens, eventually adhering to the “spirit of Christmas” ethos seen in so many yuletide motion pictures. The stop motion, narration and fantastic ending make this a must-see (though I wouldn’t recommend it for the little ones).

Santa Claus (Conquers The Devil) (1960) [IMDB]

This rather crazy Christmas film has its origins in Mexico where it was produced and released in 1959 before being dubbed for American audiences a year later. The result? A near-psychotic rollercoaster ride of insanity that probably hasn’t aged too well.

Let me make one thing clear – this isn’t a particularly good film, but if you like bad films (especially bad Christmas films) then this live action screamer in which Santa must fight a demon sent to earth by none other than Satan will bring the house down.

This film was used by Mike Nelson and company for the TV series Mystery Science Theatre 3000, where it features a comedy narrative which might make the experience less painful.

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964) [IMDB]

My, hasn’t Santa been busy? First the devil, and now 4 years later – martians! This one isn’t Mexican, however, and bares very little resemblance to the film above (other than the fact that it too is considered to be a bad film).

The plot really isn’t worth going into, this film regularly makes it onto “worst movies ever” lists and is consistently in IMDB’s bottom-100 films for good reason. You’ll probably know already if you can stomach this nauseating mix of sci-fi and Christmas, but if you think you need some help this one was also tackled on Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

Bloody Mary Christmas (2010) [IMDB]

A particularly obscure short film, this Italian production takes Christmas Eve and turns it on its head in one of the most alternative festive productions ever made. The film is subtitled in English, and with a running time of around 24 minutes it’s fairly easy-going even if you hate reading subtitles.

Bloody Mary Christmas tells the tale of Alex, a boy sent to live with his ruthless aunt and uncle who he considers to have forgotten the real values in life. This year Alex asks Santa for a different kind of Christmas, and it appears his wish comes true at the stroke of midnight as an armed mysterious figure shows up uninvited.

This is one far-out festive short film, you have been warned!

Conclusion

Christmas films don’t always have to be mushy tales of holiday kindness, though as Santa Claus Conquers The Martians demonstrates – it’s not overly advisable to stray too far from the usual formula. If you have any favourite Christmas films then please share them with us in the comments below.

Do you like any of the films on this list? Do you know any other Christmas films that are available online? Share the yuletide love in the comments section below.

Here are a selection of 6 Disney cartoons that were produced during the war, each with its own message and each designed to bolster public opinion behind allied war efforts.

Education For Death: The Making of a Nazi (1943)

Considerably different to the average Disney short, Education for Death is based on a book by Gregor Ziemer and features none of Disney’s usual characters. Instead the production focuses on the issue of youth and how the Nazi machine corrupted minds from a very early age.

At just over 10 minutes long this film was shown to US audiences in movie theaters in 1943 and probably had quite an impact. This isn’t the usual jovial Disney outing – far from it. The imagery contained in this short film is as serious as it gets and it’s easy to see why Walt believed his usual love-able characters would confuse the message.

Der Fuehrer’s Face (1942)

Starring Disney favorite Donald Duck, Der Fuehrer’s Face is a simple anti-Nazi propaganda film that went on to win the Academy Award for best animated short. The message behind this one is straightforward: Hitler and the Nazis are your enemy, support our troops and back the war effort!

There are lashings of comedy thrown in, after all this is a Donald Duck film! The obsessive extremes painted of Nazi Germany are almost comical – everything from clouds to trees are swastika shaped.

The Spirit of ‘43 (1943)

Propaganda wasn’t just used to influence public opinion against the enemy, far from it. In this example Donald Duck expounds the virtues of saving money in order to pay tax – and pay it on time.

At a time when the payment of tax was more important than it ever had been before the film was viewed by around 26 million US citizens. According to a poll, 37% of those who saw the film admitted that it had indeed affected their willingness to pay higher tax rates in order to fund the ongoing conflict.

Donald Gets Drafted (1942)

This short treads a fine line between brazen propaganda and typical Disney antics as Donald Duck receives his draft notice and prepares for the army. The film opens with Donald walking past seemingly endless recruitment advertisements, many of which look way too good to be true.

Walt managed to squeeze in a few more clever jokes about conscription and the army’s willingness to take new troops, though this film seems to have a less defined message than many of the other Disney wartime shorts.

Fall Out Fall In (1943)

In this cartoon we see Donald Duck marching for miles through storms, ice and baking hot desert sands before struggling with his tent and regiment’s particularly loud sleeping habits.

Donald was a busy duck during the war, and many of the cartoons produced simply follow his military career and inevitable mistakes that lead to hilarious consequences. Whilst this one is naturally not much different, it does at least tackle a few of the hardships faced by soldiers in the war.

Commando Duck (1944)

With a not-so-subtle reminder of who America was fighting and lines like “Japanese custom always say shooting a man in the back please” (yes, I know) this is one Disney cartoon that reflects the desperation of the war effort by 1944.

Rather than ending up peeling potatoes or troubled by fatigue this is one cartoon in which Donald seemingly succeeds – though not without the usual hysterical cartoon antics that made Disney so popular in the first place. Politically incorrect but historically important!

Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed this short collection of historical cartoons. This has to be propaganda at its fluffiest, and whilst propaganda is generally never a good thing these are probably some of the finest examples ever made.

More of these Disney wartime efforts exist, if you’ve got any other favorites then don’t hesitate in sharing them in the comments below. If you’ve missed the last few Stuff to Watch articles then be sure to check out these geeky documentaries, some clever lip reading and these awesome machinimas.

What do you think of these cartoons? Do you miss this style of animation? Any favorites? Comment away, below!

With my trusty Firefox browser by my side I go in the hunt for trusted movie reviews across the length and breadth of the web. There are more than a few movie websites featuring reviews on the latest that have hit the theatre. There are also quite a few Firefox add-ons that help to shortcut the process for movie freaks like me. And here are four Firefox add-ons that help you compare movies across the popular movie information sites.

CineMeter

To get a broad overview, you really need to be aware that each site rates a movie differently. IMDb gives a movie ‘stars’ according to the feedback it gets from users. Rotten Tomatoes uses a mix of reviews from certified film authors and major film reviewers to arrive at the Tomatometer score. Users also give feedback here on how a movie has fared. MetaCritic with its Metascore and MovieWeb also have their own rating systems.

The Cinemeter is a short and precise Firefox add-on that works from the right-click context menu when you select the name of a movie. It opens up a small window and displays the score from each of these sites. The ratings are hyperlinked and you can click on them to take you to the movie review page on each film site.

Film Info and Reviews

A very simple but useful add-on that helps you read up the movie ratings and reviews from ten different websites. Film Info and Reviews opens up multiple Firefox tabs and takes you straight to the specific movie page on these websites – Wikipedia, IMDb, RottenTomatoes, Roger Ebert, Flixter, Allrovi, Metacritic, Netfli, BoxOfficeMojo, and Movie Reviews.

The Firefox add-on is visible on the add-ons bar. You have to click it once to open up the search box with the selection of the sites. You can select your choice of sites and that stays saved till you change them. The sites in combination give you all the dope on a release – from critical feedback to how it’s faring commercially.

Movie Reviews Finder

Movie Reviews Finder is a simple search engine for film reviews. It is a search enabler for IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and other sites like Roger Ebert, Variety etc. Once you query the movie review search engine from the search bar, Movie Reviews Finder opens up a separate search results page with all the hits it could find for the said movie. You can choose to display only results from IMDb or RottenTomatoes by clicking the Refine results on top.

Eccellio Movies

This is again a very simple but interesting search tool for all things related to movies. It is based on Google Search, but it tweaks the interface to give you a set of filters that enables you to search for actors, film festivals, awards, soundtracks, theaters, and of course criticism. You can select a filter from the ones given and also limit the search to specific types of documents by clicking on the vertically arranged icons.

The above three Firefox add-ons are very simple in the way they implement their one sole function. But in the end they save me quite a lot of bother with their meta-searched movie ratings. To highlight their basic usefulness, I would say that these add-ons are timesavers. Which is your favorite movie information website? Here are a few more informational links:

• 4 Websites That Offer Family Friendly Ratings & Reviews On Movies
• 10 YouTube Channels You Can Switch On To Catch The Best Movie Reviews
• 10 Websites For SHORTEST Movie Reviews (on Twitter)

Do you visit the web to catch movie reviews before you visit the theaters? Give us your take on these add-ons too.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Once the phenomena started making use of other engines and games the term machinima was coined, combining “machine” and “cinema” into one misspelled term. The videos never really went away, evolving with each leap in hardware and software technology. Here is just a small selection of some of the best video game machinima on the net.

Freeman’s Mind [Half-Life]

For such a gung-ho protagonist; Half-Life’s Gordon Freeman is surprisingly quiet. Despite the fact that the hero is regularly interacting with scientists and security guards he never actually utters a word.

Freeman’s Mind attempts to fill in the blanks by providing a voiceover of Gordon’s supposed inner-monologue. The series of 38 videos follow Freeman on his quest through the Black Mesa complex with hilarious results.

I particularly like this machinima as it gives you a chance to relive your favourite Half-Life encounters with a humorous and clever twist.

Apartment Hunting [Quake]

Sometimes to really appreciate a movement you have to go back to its origins, and whilst this particular video is credited as the “first” machinima, I’ve chosen to include something from the ILL clan instead here.

They allegedly participated in the infamous Second Life CSI episode, which you’ve probably seen (and probably also qualifies as some sort of machinima). Apartment Hunting might look blocky and rough around the edges now but it still has charm and deserves recognition for the effort it must have taken to produce.

The Craft of War: BLIND [World of Warcraft]

If you’re looking for a technically impressive, well-edited and tightly orchestrated machinima then look no further than this specimen created using Blizzard’s hit MMO World of Warcraft.

WoW has been used heavily for machinima in the past, probably most notably in the “Make Love, Not Warcraft” episode of South Park. BLIND is a highly polished production that’s a must-watch for all Warcraft or machinima fans.

Civil Protection [Half-Life 2]

Civil Protection follows the not-so-average life of two Combine guards from Half-Life 2’s City 17. The comedy blends zany witticisms and well-shot footage to create a mini series that’s well-worth following.

The voice acting is particularly strong here, and it’s probably not surprising as the author is also responsible for Freeman’s Mind, above. The Half-Life 2 engine has long stood tall in the modding community, opening up new opportunities for games, mods and films like this.

The Gmod Idiot Box [Half-Life2/Garry’s Mod]

What can only be described as Robot Chicken meets Half-Life 2, The Gmod Idiot Box is a particularly silly yet entertaining machinima series. The videos take on the form of a clip show, jumping in and out of scenarios and often paying homage to pop culture and memes.

Garry’s Mod has of course been responsible for plenty of similar efforts, and The Gmod Idiot Box is one of the more consistent machinimas that utilise the mod. If you fancy giving it a go yourself it’s cheap as chips on Steam and comes with everything you need to waste a whole afternoon (or weekend).

Prelude to Victory [Half-Life 2/Day of Defeat: Source]

This video is a little different to the rest in that it was made by publishers Valve in order to promote Half-Life 2 mod Day of Defeat: Source. That means the production values, post processing and action itself is guaranteed to be very tight indeed.

Opening with a news report, the short portrays a clash between Allied and Axis forces using models, maps and weapons all found in the game.

Conclusion

Hopefully the dedicated community that has spent so long creating these creations will live on for future generations of games. Another successful game that has received plenty of machinima treatment is Grand Theft Auto IV, which we’ve already touched on in an earlier article.

If you have any favourites that we haven’t mentioned here, make sure you let us know in the comments!

‘Almost’ being the operative word – there’s often an awful lot of enjoyment to be had from a badly produced feature length film. Above all you’ll probably feel a sense of incredulity that the film ever made it to the DVD bargain bins, let alone cinemas.

Without further ado, let’s unleash some of the worst films ever made. You are tearing me apart, cinema!

Troll 2

Cashing in on the microscopic success of the original Troll movie, Troll 2 is a film that does not actually feature any trolls. Instead we’re treated to goblins (yes, there is a difference – jeez), a cast made of wood and lots of odd looking green food coloring.

The film was written and directed by Claudio Fragasso, an Italian who at the time spoke very little English. This led to a script full of broken sentences and awkward deliveries as the (American English-speaking) cast were told to deliver each nugget of dialogue verbatim, without any correction. Of course, Fragasso insists the film is a masterpiece.

My other favourite “fun fact” about this movie is that the entire cast turned up hoping to be extras, only to find out they’d been given lead roles. You simply couldn’t make this all up. Please watch this movie.

Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000

How do careers survive outings like this? Battlefield Earth is probably the best comedy sci-fi film of the last 15 years (not including any films that were intentionally funny) but was critically floored by movie-goers and reviewers alike.

John Travolta really brings this one to life (he doesn’t) as poorly worded dialogue and maniacal laughter is fired across the green screen for nearly 2 hours. The film is thought to have cost $44 million to make, much of that budget probably disappearing on Battlefield Earth’s CGI which makes up large portions of the film.

If you thought the latest Star Wars films were empty, soulless CGI-fests with overpaid actors, a convoluted plot and had very little in the way of redeeming qualities you should take a look at Battlefield Earth. Oh, and Star Trek called – they want their Klingons back.

Gigli

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were already booked to appear in this black comedy when they became the hottest Hollywood couple the world had ever seen (probably). Once the news broke, filming had already begun, but this didn’t stop the producers demanding re-writes to cash-in on the celebrity loving.

And thus – Gigli happened. A black comedy with some very poor-taste jokes and a confusing and entirely unnecessary romantic sub-plot. Picture J-Lo, provocatively placed on a bed sweetly whispering to Ben that “it’s turkey time” only for him to muster his best acting face and reply with a “huh?” that might as well be “derp!”.

Gigli was already a poor production that suffered further at the hands of the producers who tried to incorporate elements of a real-life romance to make a quick buck, which is pretty horrible if you think about it.

The Room

I could write an essay about The Room, but for the sake of those who haven’t seen it I will try and contain my emotions. Written, directed and entirely centered around the film’s benefactor Tommy Wiseau, The Room is an absolute tour de force of bad acting, dialogue and screenplay.

A scene simply described as “the roof scene” can be viewed in the video below in which Tommy delivers one of the finest outbursts of his career. This is not an isolated incident – if you do indeed decide to sit down and enjoy this modern masterpiece, you will encounter multiple scenes that make just as much sense.

Some trivia, for the discerning fan:

• The film was shot simultaneously on both 35mm film and in HD on modern equipment that Wiseau bought for the film (instead of renting, like most productions of this ilk).
• The film now enjoys a cult status, with regular midnight viewings and appearances from Wiseau himself.
• The production was initially written as a play, then a novel before the film was made. At first the film was intended to be serious, but since its reception and new-found cult status, is now marketed as a comedy.

Birdemic: Shock And Terror

Save the best till last, right? No. That’s not it. At all. Birdemic: Shock And Terror is another of those “has to be seen to be believed” outings. If you’re simply looking for bad dialogue and wooden acting then go and watch The Room. Birdemic has far more to offer – exploding birds and the worst CGI I’ve ever seen.

Honestly, I’m not sure that compositing a couple of basic 3D models over the top of raw footage on a fixed plane counts as CGI – but that’s the only loose term I can find to describe… this. Not only are the special effects abysmal, but it has to be one of the most brazenly preachy films ever made too – with repeated lectures to the audience about global warming and saving the earth.

The film’s writer and director James Nguyen submitted his creation to the Sundance film festival in 2009, which unsurprisingly rejected it. He then drove around the festival in a van covered in stuffed birds, blood and posters in order to find a distributor. The funniest part? He spelt both the URL and tagline wrong as “BIDEMIC.COM” and “WHY DID THE EAGLES AND VULTURES ATTACKED?” respectively.

Nguyen is currently making the sequel, Birdemic II: The Resurrection. In 3D! I’d be lying to you if I said I’m not looking forward to it.

Conclusion

This list provides proof that bad movies can provide just as much entertainment as good ones. In fact, I’d rather watch a terrible movie of this caliber than a middle-of-the-road 5/10 flick that doesn’t sink or swim. This is just a tiny percentage of films from the “so bad it’s good” category, so if you have any of your own favorites please add them below.

Have you seen the films on this list? Do you enjoy terrible movies? Moan, rave and discuss in the comments!