Author Archives: Lee Russell Wilkes

Where the Camera Behind Citizen Kane Still Rolls

Steve Gainer’s Everything Cinematography YouTube, 5 episodes Social media suffers no shortage of lifeless movie channels. Yet, Steve Gainer’s Everything Cinematography is a welcome break from anonymous YouTubers endlessly reshuffling the same old talking points. The canon has long since settled. Refreshingly, Gainer focuses not on the movies but on the cameras and the operatorsContinue reading “Where the Camera Behind Citizen Kane Still Rolls”

Foundation Season Three: The Mule Rises, Dynasties Fall and Colour Palettes Riot

Three seasons, Apple TV+ The third season of Apple’s Isaac Asimov adaptation Foundation settles into cutting-edge filmmaking and beautiful colour design, quickly becoming compelling – if flawed – viewing. Foundation’s premise remains recognisable from Asimov’s books. In the far future, Hari Seldon, a mathematician, hits upon a method of accurately predicting the long-term future andContinue reading “Foundation Season Three: The Mule Rises, Dynasties Fall and Colour Palettes Riot”

Predator: Badlands, or If It Bleeds, We Can Emasculate It

Predator: Badlands is Emasculated Masculinity: The Movie, complete with championing disability, taking down the patriarchy – and a cute Disney animal. At one point in the movie, a creature spits acid at an android and completely melts it away. You know you’re watching a bad movie when you’re envious. Yes, Predator: Badlands is so badContinue reading “Predator: Badlands, or If It Bleeds, We Can Emasculate It”

Alien Resurrection?

8 episodes, Disney+ Alien: Earth sets out to expand the Xenomorph’s universe beyond that of the classic Ridley Scott and James Cameron movies. Reassuringly, the show is no reboot, and the showrunners take us to literal eye-popping new territory. 2024’s awful Alien: Romulus was the series’ greatest hits rehashed for Gen Z and a clearContinue reading “Alien Resurrection?”

Nepalis take a bow for the new revolution

After years of anti-corruption protesting, it took cutting off access to PUBG, TikTok and trans-influencers to move Nepali Gen Zs to revolutionary fervour. A deposed government later, they couldn’t agree who should lead, or even what they stood for. Lee Russell Wilkes draws conclusions from witness testimony. At the start of September, the pro-China NepaliContinue reading “Nepalis take a bow for the new revolution”

Jumping aboard Singapore’s Knight Bus

Singapore’s Harry Potter: Visions of Magic dives into the world of the Daniel Radcliffe movies. With controversy surrounding the pending HBO remakes, fans should enjoy the nostalgia while the magic remains. By Lee Russell Wilkes I can’t shake noticing Harry Potter got into Hogwarts solely because of who his parents were. If the exclusive schoolContinue reading “Jumping aboard Singapore’s Knight Bus”

American Cinematographer’s Photography Issue is Light on Story

The ASC give us trees. Lots of backlit trees.  Cinematographers know a thing or two about making movie scripts into the images on our screens. You’ve seen the initials ‘ASC’ after countless screen credits and probably don’t know it stands for the American Society of Cinematographers. The acronym signifies the bearer is an industry-recognised masterContinue reading “American Cinematographer’s Photography Issue is Light on Story”

Surviving in the Nepali Diaspora

Rupa Poudel navigated an abusive grandmother, the threat of forced marriage, and Nepal’s soul-destroying education system before finding a future studying in Germany. You can safely say a culture is in trouble when it comes down to wisdom. Imagine growing up in a country slowly collapsing under the weight of its own straight-jacketing traditions. SavvyContinue reading “Surviving in the Nepali Diaspora”