The Oscars are not just about celebrating the best in film, acting, writing and producing; they are quite overtly about fashion at its most glamorous and dramatic. Where else can people see A-list stars shimmy down a red carpet draped in the most glorious stylish and sexy dresses that many of us could have never even conceived of? Every year there are a vast array of impressive cocktail dresses, grand gowns and phenomenal jewellery and the 2012 Oscars did not disappoint.

The Up-and-Comers

Rooney Mara, making waves for her role in the ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ franchise, has been on the style radar frequently over the past year. While she usually tends towards more drastic geometric lines, she pulled out all the stops this year. Draped in a beautiful ivory Givenchy creation with a subtle train and plunging neckline, which gave it an extra touch of femininity and glamour, the up-and-coming young star had all eyes on her as she took to the red carpet. Another young actress who impressed was Emma Stone who has also shown she is one to watch for the last year. She stood out from the crowd in a gorgeous Giambattista Valli dress with giant bow in a hot fuschia shade personifying this season’s trend for neon colours and statement looks.

The A-Listers

We would expect nothing less from the superstars of film than to wow us with their style and they did this in spades. Michelle Williams dazzled as she channeled a Marilyn Monroe-esque look in a coral peplum gown by Louis Vuitton. Though retro, the actress managed to keep it effectively modern with her pixie style haircut and fresh make-up. And of course, perhaps the most glamorous of all was Angelina Jolie. The style icon took to the stage in a dramatic but elegant black velvet strapless gown with an immeasurably high slit. The actress is the queen of stylish and sexy dresses but this was the perfect combination of vixen and classic Hollywood which put everyone else in the shade.

Channeling the looks of the Oscars is actually not that difficult. A huge amount of stores emulate these red carpet looks almost immediately so it you are looking for cocktail dresses that nod to the Oscars, have a look online for great bargains and copycat pieces.

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IMG: Konstantin Yuganov – Fotolia.com

Westerns

One of the earliest Asian films to be adapted for western cinema was the Magnificent Seven, which is a direct adaptation of the Japanese film Seventh Samurai. Changing the characters in the film from Samurais to Cowboys, The Magnificent Seven is literally a Western adaptation in every sense of the word. Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars is another film to be adapted in such a way, taking its inspiration from Yojimbo.

Horror

Japan has always been a leading producer of horror films, and this was emphasized with the recent American remakes of such films as The Ring (originally RIngu) and The Grudge (originally Ju-on). Both versions of these two films enjoyed much success in both the east and the west and even lead to sequels.

Such is Japan’s reputation for creating such horror films, critics have coined the phrase “J-horror” to describe the genre. Another such example of this genre is the film Dark Water which was originally was developed from a short story entitled Floating Water, by Koji Suzuki and made into a film in Japan. Not long after, the American version was released.

Thriller

Martin Scorsese won an Oscar for his film The Departed, but what many people didn’t realize at the time was that this thriller was adapted from the Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. This film, perhaps more than any adapted j-horror flick demonstrated the story telling skill and variety of films coming from the east nowadays and has further raised the west’s interest in eastern cinema.

Photography: Fer Gregory

It has been a long standing tradition to present to the public the most recent offerings in a film festival. Depending upon the genre that is being considered there are numerous film festivals for cineastes to choose from. Internationally there are hundreds of these gatherings, with some of the top festivals being:

The Sundance Film Festival

Held in Park City, Utah, USA, the venue focuses on independent films. The first film festival in this location was done in 1978.

Cannes International Film Festival

Presented in Cannes, France, it eyes the promising cinema for the upcoming year. This is a gathering of the biggest names in the industry worldwide. The Cannes film festival was first held in 1947 and has remained a cornerstone since.

Edinburgh International Film Festival

This event takes place every June and incorporates two weeks of screenings. This venue accepts a wide range of genre from animation to documentary, full length and short features.

Toronto International Film Festival

The TIFA takes place in Toronto, Canada and has gained recognition as one of the most important film festival events in North America. Many of the films presented at this event have gone on to gain Academy Awards and other recognition.

Venice International Film Festival

The oldest of all film festivals, this gathering began in 1932 in Venice, Italy. This film festival offers a unique opportunity for the general public to purchase tickets to the event unlike the other larger events which are invitation only.

Berlin International Film Festival

Recognized as one of the most renowned of events in the industry it is also known as “Die Berlinale”. This event is divided into ten different sections to highlight the many areas that are showcased during the screening. This event began in 1951 making it one of the oldest festivals and is held every February.

Melbourne International Film Festival

Started in 1951 this is the largest film event in Australia. The festival is three weeks in duration and showcases about 400 films during that period.

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Another of the oldest festivals, this was established in 1946, and is perfromed in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The event has gained a reputation as one of the largest of Europe’s events.

Photography: RealPhotoItaly – Fotolia

New Zealand has a proud history of producing actors and actresses that have gone on to be stars of the silver screen. There have been many films over the years that have featured New Zealand born stars in their leading cast, which shows that although the country is small in size, it is in no way lacking in creative talents.

Russell Crowe – Born in Wellington, New Zealand

Known for his roles in blockbuster productions such as Proof, Romper Stomper, Hammers over the Anvil, L.A. Confidential, The Insider, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, and State of Play, Russell Crowe is one of New Zealand’s most famous exports. In addition to winning an Oscar for his role in Gladiator, Crowe is considered by many to be one of the most talented actors working in Hollywood today.

Lucy Lawless – Born in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand

Lucy Lawless’ best known roles include the lead role in Xena: Warrior Princess, as Xena, and Lucretia in the three different series of the hit TV show Spartacus. As well as receiving praise for her TV roles, Lawless is also a well-known name within the music industry with two acclaimed albums to her name.

Sam Neill – Born in Omagh, Northern Ireland to New Zealand parents who were stationed there at the time

Sam Neill has been a part of multiple successful productions over the last 30 years. However, it’s his role as Dr Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park that the actor is probably most famous for.

Anna Paquin – Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and returned to New Zealand with her parents when she was four years old

The second youngest Oscar winner for her film role in The Piano, Anna Paquin is possibly better known for her involvement in X-Men, and the True Blood series. She has been nominated for many awards for her cinema roles and promises to be one of Hollywood’s most loved stars.

Melanie Lynskey – Born in New Plymouth, New Zealand

Best known for her film roles in Coyote Ugly, Sweet Home Alabama, and Two and a Half Men. Melaine Lynskey has been nominated for numerous awards, including a winning nomination for her role as Pauline Parker in Heavenly Creatures.

Karl-Heinz Urban – Born in Wellington, New Zealand

Possibly best recognized for his roles as Eomer in The Lord of the Rings, Vaako in The Chronicles of Riddick, and Kirrill in The Bourne Supremacy. Karl-Heinz Urban is one of New Zealand’s most critically acclaimed actors.

Photography: miket – Fotolia

Independent film is defined differently person to person. The general accepted guideline is an independent film is less than 50 percent financially backed by one of the “Big Six” movie studios, Paramount, Warner Bros., Columbia, Walt Disney/Touchstone, Universal or 20th Century Fox. A larger and more difficult definition of a successful independent film could include many factors such as a breakthrough role or theme, critical reviews, box office proceeds, and many other factors. There are a number of independent films that can be considered successful, here is a small selection of some of the most notable independent films:

Citizen Kane (1941)

Presented by RKO Pictures, this black and white movie was directed by Orson Welles. Considered by many to be the best movie ever created, the techniques and film content are still considered groundbreaking to this day.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

This is another independent film which is thought to be one of the best as presented by Stanley Kubrick. The effects used far surpassed anything that was available at the time. The story line included deep thought provoking material. It also introduced the use of music to replace narration during a scene.

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

This is another independent film by Stanley Kubrick which pushes the boundaries of public opinion and acceptance. It cases the extremes of human behavior and the questionable methods used for its modification.

Terminator (1984)

Directed by independent film director, James Cameron, this film launched Arnold Schwarzenegger into the spot light. Given great applause by critics, it went on to create multiple sequels and a television series.

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Presented by Gus Van Sant, the controversial gay and bi-sexual content is welcomed by critics. This is considered a classic of the gay film genre.

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Quentin Tarantino became the most famous independent filmmaker in the 1990’s with a string of widely popular movies. Pulp Fiction is financially the most successful of any independent film. It was made with an eight million dollar budget but grossed near $214,000,000 dollars worldwide. This production continues to enjoy a large cult following.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

With a budget of only $25,000 filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez created a shocking horror thriller that was welcomed by the film community and audiences alike. The video technique was the first of its kind to be allowed at a film festival.

Photography: Alexander Vasilyev – Fotolia

The Dark Knight Rises

This might possibly be one of the most heavily anticipated films to come to a cinema near you in recent years. Not only was the previous The Dark Knight one of the largest grossing films ever, but also The Dark Knight Rises is the end to the three-part series director Christopher Nolan has wound together. The previous two films aren’t just comic book movies. They are true cinema to the fullest, and you don’t have to be an action or comic book fan to enjoy this movie.

The Avengers

The Avengers is another comic book movie coming out this summer, with many of the characters having been established in previous films already. Iron Man has had two successful movies in the past few years, plus last year saw the release of Thor and Captain America. Both these two also are part of The Avengers, in addition to The Incredible Hulk and Nick Fury, played by Samuel L. Jackson. This proves to be an incredibly fun movie to go see, as it is the perfect popcorn cinema flick.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Lord of the Rings trilogy proved a smash hit, although these three were based on books, which were sequels to the original The Hobbit. The Hobbit is also directed by Peter Jackson, and with improved special effects, it should boast one of the top grossing cinema products of the year. However, even though the Hobbit book is the shortest of the four (including the Lord of the Rings trilogy), it is broken down into two movies, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer before you know the final outcome of the film adaptation. Of course, you’ll see a few familiar characters, including Gandalf and Gollum, although most of the other main characters are new.

Image (c) Fossilpopil

2011 was a good year for the Asian film industry, with many long anticipated releases being brought to cinema and DVD release. There has been a growing demand for Asian film in the UK over the past few years, as such a great number of high quality films have been produced. Although the films are not as easily accessible to the European market, the demand is constantly increasing, as people are breaking down the barriers of language to unite in the joy of high quality cinema.

Blockbuster films

Let the Bullets fly was the biggest grossing Chinese film of the year, and received high praise from many critics. It follows the story of a bandit taking on local gangsters. The star of the film is Chow Yun Fat, who played an excellent leading role, and pushed his already growing presence in the industry forward to the next level. Shaolin, the first mainland film produced by Benny Chan, was a huge success in the box office. It is a high impact film centered on a Shaolin Monastery, and the lead role is played by the superb Andy Lau. It is an action packed film with a solid cast, and some touching moments. Jackie Chan plays a supporting role in his usual high quality manor, adding to the grand feel of the Asian film.

Independent releases

Buddha Mountain is one of the lesser known Asian film releases of 2011, but received extremely good reviews and critical acclaim. It follows the story of three young Chinese college dropouts as they go on a journey to discover their place in the world. It is a superb example of some of the excellent independent Chinese filmmaking that is currently being produced. Invasion of Alien Bikini is another example of a low budget, high quality Asian film. Costing less than $5000 to make, it is a true cinematic success, and is a truly great story with some fine acting skills that would put some of the million dollar Hollywood disasters that were produced in 2011 to shame. There were plenty more great Asian film releases in 2011 including The Lost Bladesman, which is an epic warrior film, Sacrifice, which is a take on the Shakespearean tale and The Unjust, which is a gripping and intense Korean action film.

Photography: Konstantin Yuganov – Fotolia