4 Shots From 4 Films: The Iron Rose, Fascination, Night of the Hunted, Lost in New York

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

All of the shots in my latest entry in 4 Shots From 4 Films come from movies that were directed by the great (and sadly underappreciated) French director Jean Rollin. Several of Rollin’s films are available for viewing on Netflix. Track them down and, when you get the chance, be sure to read my review of Rollin’s Night of The Hunted!

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Iron Rose (1973, dir by Jean Rollin)

Fascination (1979, dir by Jean Rollin)

Night of the Hunted (1980, dir by Jean Rollin)

Lost in New York (1989, dir by Jean Rollin)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Planet of Dinosaurs, Real Genius, Switch, Some Girls

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Valerie Troutman

Since I’m new here, it was suggested that I cut my teeth on one of these 4 shots from 4 films posts. Also, because I’m new, I thought I would go with 4 films that have a special place in my heart. An introduction of sorts.

Of course, that means telling a little story behind each one.

Planet of Dinosaurs (dir. by James K. Shea)

Planet of Dinosaurs (1977) is a simple one. My Mom recorded it off of TV when I was a kid and I watched it over and over and over again. It’s a classic bit of Sci-fi B-Movie making. I watched this so many times that I can even recall the commercials. There was one for some compilation of hit songs. I was so young that when Gloria by Van Morrison played I thought he was saying the word Tijuana.

Real Genius (dir. Martha Coolidge)

Real Genius (1985) is just a great movie, but it especially resonated with someone like myself who always felt out of place because I was so into computers at such a young age.

Switch (dir. by Blake Edwards)

Switch (1991) is the easiest to tell the story behind. I’m transgender. I found it on cable one night as a kid and it became one of my favorites.

Some Girls (dir. by Michael Hoffman)

Some Girls (1988) is a tough one. When I first got a TiVo I put the Wishlist feature to use in order to see all the movies by actresses such as Angelina Jolie, Julianne Moore, and Jennifer Connelly. One day this movie popped up. I’m still not sure why, but it managed to bore a hole into my heart. It can still make me sad watching it.

4 Shots From 4 Films: The Natural, Eight Men Out, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Arleigh

Today we celebrate the 4th of July, the United States’ Independence Day, and I mean the one from British rule and not from invading aliens.

This day has always been about the balance of one’s level of patriotism (or lackof), gathering with friends and family for barbecues and fireworks. I would also like to add that the 4th of July has also meant watching or listening to one’s favorite baseball team. Baseball, for me at least, will always remain America’s national past time.

So, here are four films that one should check out this day, or any day to understand why baseball remains such a major part for some people’s lives.

4 SHOTS FROM 4 FILMS

The Natural (dir. Barry Levinson)

Eight Men Out (dir. by John Sayles)

Bull Durham (dir. by Ron Shelton)

Field of Dreams (dir. by Phil Alden Robinson)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Madam Satan, Safe In Hell, Rasputin and the Empress, and Search For Beauty

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Lisa Marie Bowman

All of the scenes below come from films that were made and released between the introduction of sound in the late 1920s and the adoption of the infamous Hays Production Code in 1934. This was truly an exciting time for film as an art form. Not only were filmmakers intoxicated with discovering what they could accomplish through the medium but they were also unhindered by censorship or regulation. The end result was some of the most visually imaginative and narratively daring films to ever be released by the major American studios.

There’s a reason why film lovers continue to eagerly seek out pre-code films. And if you want to experience what made the pre-Code era so memorable, you could not do any worse than to start with the four films featured in this post.

Madam Satan (1930, dir by Cecil B. DeMille)

Safe in Hell (1931, dir by William Wellman)

Rasputin and the Empress (1932, dir by Richard Boleslawski)

Search For Beauty (1934, dir by Erle C. Kenton)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Enter the Dragon, Lady Snowblood, Black Belt Jones, Three The Hard Way

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Jedadiah Leland

Everyone, at some point in his life, has wanted to learn karate. The films featured below are a big reason why.

4 SHOTS FROM 4 FILMS

Enter the Dragon (directed by Robert Clouse, 1973)

Lady Snowblood (directed by Toshiya Fujita, 1973)

Black Belt Jones (directed by Robert Clouse, 1974)

Three The Hard Way (directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., 1974)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Sabotage, The Raid 2, John Wick, Fury

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Arleigh

2014 had it’s share of very good action films and here are four that I was particularly drawn to. While the film themselves were of varying degrees of quality in terms of storytelling. These 4 films all had one thing that I enjoyed despite their films’ flaws. They all had action scenes that I thought were quite excellent.

You have gritty present-day action thriller, an operatic gangster epic, a revenge thriller and a war film. One stars an aging action star back from playing politician. Another a foreign film whose filmmaker and star have set the bar for all action films for years to come. Then there’s the stunt coordinators and 2nd unit directors finally making their mark with their first feature-length film. Lastly, a war film that brings the brutality of World War II tank warfare to the forefront.

4 SHOTS FROM 4 FILMS

Sabotage (dir. by David Ayer)

The Raid 2 (dir. by Gareth Evans)

John Wick (dir. by Chad Stahelski & David Leitch)

Fury (dir. by David Ayer)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Deadly Blessing, The Journey of Natty Gann, The New World, Cristiada

Posted on June 22, 2015 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Tonight, the film community is in shock following the news of the passing of award-winning composer James Horner. Our latest installment of 4 Shots From 4 Films is dedicated to to the memory of this talented artist.

The four shots below all come from films that feature a score composed by the great James Horner.

Deadly Blessing (1981, dir by Wes Craven)

The Journey of Natty Gann (1985, dir by Jeremy Kagan)

The New World (2005, dir by Terrence Malick)

Cristiada, also known as For Greater Glory (2012, dir by Dean Wright)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Akira, Perfect Blue, Madoka Magica Rebellion, Spirited Away

Posted on June 21, 2015 by pantsukudasai56

This column was a great idea since I’m a man of few words.

4 SHOTS FROM 4 FILMS

Akira (dir. by Katsuhiro Otomo – 1988)

Perfect Blue (dir. by Satoshi Kon – 1998)

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Rebellion (dir. by Akiyuki Shinbo, Yukihiro Miyamoto – 2013)

Spirited Away (dir. by Hayao Miyazaki – 2001)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Daria Nicolodi Edition!

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Daria Nicolodi in Tenebra (1982, dir by Dario Argento)

Daria Nicolodi in Tenebrae (1982, dir by Dario Argento)

I have to admit that I’m breaking the rules here. When Arleigh first suggested 4 Shots From 4 Films as a feature here on Through the Shattered Lens, I promised myself that I would pace myself and, at most, only contribute once on a weekly basis.

But then, after Arleigh posted the first entry in 4 Shots From 4 Films, I realized that it was Lucio Fulci’s birthday and, being the lover of Italian horror that I am, there was no way that I could pass up the chance to post a Fulci-themed 4 Shots From 4 Films. And now, less than 24 hours later, I find myself posting yet another 4 Shots From 4 Films.

But can you blame me? It’s Daria Nicolodi’s birthday and, if you love Italian horror, then you know just how important an actress Nicolodi is. Not only did Daria Nicolodi serve as the inspiration for what is arguably Dario Argento’s best film, Suspiria, but she also appeared in Mario Bava’s classic Shock. The combination of her undeniable talent and her outspoken and eccentric style — there is no such thing as a boring Daria Nicolodi interview — has made Daria Nicolodi into an icon of horror cinema.

And, on top of all that, she’s Asia Argento’s mother!

So, indulge me because, as a lover of Italian horror, there is no way that I could pass up a chance to present our readers with 4 Shots From 4 Films: The Special Daria Nicolodi Edition!

Deep Red (1975, dir by Dario Argento)

Shock (1977, dir by Mario Bava)

Inferno (1980, dir by Dario Argento)

Delirium (1987, directed by Lamberto Bava)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Lucio Fulci Edition

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Lucio Fulci (1927 — 1996)

Yesterday, I was excited to see Arleigh launch a new feature here at the site. With 4 Shots From 4 Films, the TSL contributors will be sharing favorite shorts from some of their favorite scenes. As opposed to doing our usual review or recap, this feature will let the image do the talking. Hopefully, some readers will be inspired to track down and watch, if they haven’t already, some of the films that we end up featuring.

At the very least, it’s a great way for us all to express our love for the cinematic art form.

Yesterday was also the birthday of the late, great Lucio Fulci. My first entry in 4 Shots From 4 Films highlights some of the maestro‘s finest work.