The Top 10 Movies of the 2010s (Video) 
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
Shot-for-Shot Analysis of the Opening of “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
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
Understanding Movies 101 — What Cuts in Movies Are
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
Understanding Movies 101 — Extreme Close Shots
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
What Long Shots in Movies Mean
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
What Overhead Shots Mean
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
The Red Pill Scene in THE MATRIX — Shot for Shot
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
What Makes This Movie Great? — Episode 5: RASHOMON
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
Understanding Movies 101 — What are Tilted Shots?
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
What High-Angle Shots Are, and What They Mean
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
