My Youtube video of the top-10 movies of the 2010s. I put a surprise at #1, one which nobody will have in any "best of the decade" list.
Josh MatthewsDecember 4, 2019
I analyze the first three minutes of Steven Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," starring Harrison Ford. This analysis is from a film critic perspective. I talk about how the shots and editing influence movie viewers. We will look at how the shots create the…
Josh MatthewsDecember 2, 2019
My alternative list to the Best Movies of the 2010s, from my particular point-of-view.
Josh MatthewsNovember 30, 2019
What is a cut for in movies and videos? Some students don't know, so this video will show you what they are. I also argue that movies are not inherently stories, but instead they are just a collection of images in a sequence. The story…
Josh MatthewsNovember 30, 2019
Close shots in movies are intense, but when and why are they used? This video gives you several of the reasons why extreme close shots are a key part of many movies. Observing extreme close shots is important for learning film grammar. Noticing them will…
Josh MatthewsNovember 27, 2019
Which movie images can make you feel awestruck, terrified, or both? The long shot is a crucial aspect of film. It shows you vast landscapes, vistas, horizons, and images of things that are enormous. But these shots aren't just about showing you pretty landscape pictures.…
Josh MatthewsNovember 26, 2019
Which shot in movies is the best for cliffhangers? One candidate is the overhead shot, also known as the birds-eye-view shot. In this video, I'll show you several examples of this kind of shot.
Josh MatthewsNovember 25, 2019
Many people quote the "red pill" scene from the first Matrix movie when they talk about "taking the red pill". That scene provides a powerful way of thinking about changing one's mind or waking up to a new reality. But how did it do that?…
Josh MatthewsNovember 23, 2019
SPOILERS within. Among the most famous movies ever, "Rashomon" is still not an easy movie to watch. It doesn't have a typical Hollywood plot structure, for example. But I'm here to help you. I'll show you some ways to watch the movie. I'll explain why…
Josh MatthewsNovember 22, 2019
This video shows you how close shots, or close-ups, are used in movies and videos. I talk about what it means for movies, as an art form, to use so many close shots. Discussed is Sergei Eisenstein, Jacques Tati, individualism, celebrities, and beauty. This is…
Josh MatthewsNovember 22, 2019
Here's my short video for beginners on what tilted shots usually mean. They are also known as oblique shots or Dutch angles.
Josh MatthewsNovember 21, 2019
In this episode of my podcast, I talk to special guest Dr. Tom Clark about the recent portrayals of villains or "bad guys and gals" in children's movies. SPOILERS abound. We will discuss, among other movies, Toy Story 4, Coco, Inside Out, Ratatouille, and other…
Josh MatthewsNovember 20, 2019
In this video, I talk about what high-angle shots in videos typically mean. The video contains plenty of examples from famous movies.
Josh MatthewsNovember 19, 2019
This is my basic introduction to Low-Camera Angles. You'll see examples from many movies that you know -- Star Wars, The Godfather, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and more.
Josh MatthewsNovember 13, 2019
This video discusses why The Coen Brother's "True Grit" is a great movie. I argue that it's a complex movie that interrelates with "No Country for Old Men," "The Night of the Hunter," and other works.
Josh MatthewsNovember 8, 2019
