Actor Ian McShane (1942)

The American film, John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023), is a neo-noir action thriller directed and co-produced by Chad Stahelski. Shay Hatten and Michael Finch are credited as writers. In the movie, John Wick prepares for revenge against the High Table while hiding underground with the Bowery King in New York City. He later travels to Morocco where he takes down the Elder, known as ‘the one who sits above the Table’. Upon hearing of this, Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont, a member of the High Table, summons New York Continental Hotel manager Winston and his concierge Charon. The Marquis expresses disappointment in ...

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) is an American neo-noir action thriller film directed by Chad Stahelski. The story follows John Wick as he navigates through Manhattan, where he finds himself in trouble for the unauthorized assassination of High Table crime lord Santino D’Antonio on Continental grounds. While at the New York Public Library, he acquires a marker medallion and rosary before being injured in a fight with hitman Ernest. Seeking medical treatment from an underworld doctor, John’s excommunicado status becomes active, forcing him to finish the suturing himself before being pursued by a ...

In the film John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad, John finds his stolen Ford Mustang in the hands of Abram Tarasov, brother of Viggo who was killed in the first film. He goes on a violent rampage against Tarasov’s men, causing significant damage to his car. However, he spares Tarasov and returns home. John then takes his Mustang to be repaired by chop-shop owner Aurelio. Later on, he is visited by Santino D’Antonio, a crime boss from the Camorra who reminds him of the ‘impossible task’ that John ...

The film The Brothers Grimsby (2016) is a hilarious blend of spy action and comedy, directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Phil Johnston, and Peter Baynham. The main character, Kyle Alan ‘Nobby’ Butcher, had been estranged from his younger brother Sebastian for almost three decades. During their time apart, Nobby became a hard-drinking football hooligan who settled down with his girlfriend Dawn and their 11 children in Grimsby. Meanwhile, ...

Hercules (2014) is an American action-adventure fantasy film featuring Dwayne Johnson in the lead role. Directed by Brett Ratner and written by Ryan J. Condal and Evan Spiliotopoulos, the film follows the journey of the eponymous character as he leads a team of mercenaries consisting of King-turned-prophet Amphiaraus, thief Autolycus, feral warrior Tydeus, Amazon archer Atalanta, and storyteller Iolaus. Known as a demigod and supposedly the son of Zeus, Hercules is known for ...

John Wick (2014), an American action thriller film directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad, tells the story of a grieving man in New York City. After the death of his wife Helen, John receives a beagle puppy from her to help him cope. However, a group of Russian gangsters led by Iosef Tarasov approach John at a gas station, attempting to intimidate him into selling them his prized 1969 Boss 429 Mustang. When their efforts fail, they break into John’s home, attacking him and ultimately killing the puppy while stealing the car. In an attempt to remove ...

The American crime drama TV series Ray Donovan (2013–2020), created by Ann Biderman, debuted on Showtime on June 30, 2013. The show follows Liev Schreiber as the lead character, who works as a ‘fixer’ for the prestigious law firm Goldman & Drexler in Los Angeles, representing wealthy and famous clients. However, his life is thrown into turmoil when his father Mickey Donovan is unexpectedly released from prison. After seven seasons, Showtime announced the cancellation of the series on February 4, 2020. However, a feature-length film to wrap up the story was ...

In the American fantasy film, Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), based on the German fairy tale Snow White by the Brothers Grimm, Queen Eleanor of Tabor pricks her finger while admiring a bright red rose blooming in a white winter. Three drops of blood fall onto the snow and she makes a wish for a daughter with specific physical attributes and a strong heart. As predicted, Snow White is born but unfortunately, the queen passes away many years later. Following her death, King Magnus and his army engage in a battle against glass soldiers from an invading army. During this time, King Magnus becomes captivated by ...

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), the fantasy swashbuckler film directed by Rob Marshall, marks a change in leadership for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. For this installment, Jerry Bruckheimer produces while Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio write, drawing inspiration from Tim Powers’ novel On Stranger Tides and connecting to previous films At World’s End (2007) and the first ...

The animated martial arts comedy film, Kung Fu Panda (2008), was created by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. In Ancient China’s Valley of Peace, Po Ping, a giant panda, helps his father at their noodle restaurant. His ultimate dream is to fight alongside the Furious Five – Tigress, Monkey, Crane, Viper, and Mantis – who reside at the Jade Palace and are trained by Master Shifu, a grumpy red panda. One day, Master Oogway (the wise tortoise who founded kung fu) predicts that Tai Lung (Shifu’s former protégé who is now imprisoned) will escape and attack the Valley in search of the Dragon Scroll – an artifact that ...

Coraline (2008) is an American dark fantasy horror film, animated using stop-motion and directed by Henry Selick. It is based on the novella of the same name by Neil Gaiman. The story follows a young girl named Coraline Jones as she moves from Pontiac, Michigan to the Pink Palace apartments in Ashland, Oregon. Her parents, Charlie and Mel, work from home and are often preoccupied with their urgent tasks. Along the way, Coraline encounters a black cat and Wyborne ‘Wybie’ Lovat, the grandson of her landlady. Wybie gives Coraline a ragdoll that looks just like her. This doll leads her to a small door with a ...

Scoop (2006)  is a romantic crime comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It follows the story of investigative reporter Joe Strombel’s spirit, who finds himself on the barge of death with other individuals, including Jane Cook. Cook claims she was poisoned by her employer, Peter Lyman, an ambitious British aristocrat who she believes may also be the notorious Tarot Card Killer. This killer has been targeting prostitutes and leaves a card on each victim’s body. Sondra Pransky, an American journalism student vacationing in London, attends a performance by magician Sid Waterman, also known as ...

Jesus of Nazareth (1977) is an epic film and television drama serial. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli and co-written by Anthony Burgess and Suso Cecchi d’Amico, it tells the story of Jesus’s birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. In the screenplay writing process, additional scenes were added for a more concise and dramatic presentation. Some characters, like Zerah, were also included for the same reason. Notably, Judas Iscariot is portrayed as initially well-intentioned but later manipulated by ...