CHRISTMAS MOVIES - It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

 Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do Christmas films follow their formula?

It's A Wonderful Life (1946) is a film, partially set at Christmas and popularly watched during the festive season.

The following may contain spoilers for

"It's A Wonderful Life" (1946)

POLL - SEX & ROMANCE

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• "Carry On" films - A British series of sex comedies.  [Carry on Behind]
• Erotic romance - Romances that have lots of sex.  [9 1/2 Weeks]
• Historical romances - Romances set in an earlier period.  [Titanic]
• Lesbian romance - A romance between 2 women.  10+ films have already been tested for this genre.  [The Incredible True Adventure of Two Girls In Love]
• Manic Pixie Dream Girl - Films based around this character type.  10 films have already been tested for this genre.  [Garden State]
• Romantic drama - A romantic drama.  [Breakfast At Tiffany's]
• Romantic tragedies - A romance with a death.  [Sweet November]
• Rom Coms - The standard formulaic romantic comedies.  10 films have already been tested for this genre.  [Sleepless In Seattle]
• Supernatural romance - Romances between humans and supernatural creatures.  [Twilight]
• Teen Sex Comedies - Coming of age films meet sex comedies.  [Porky's]

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, many Sex & Romance films are comedies, dramas films.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are Sex & Romance sub-genres not included here that appeared in previous polls.

• Comedies & Musicals - includes: Sex Comedies.
• Dramas & Historical - include genres that often include romances, like Bio-Pics, Coming of Age films, Melodramas and the like.
• Exploitation films - especially Sexploitation films.

There are Sex & Romance  sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls.

• Suspense & Thrillers - especially Erotic thrillers.

Any sub-genres of Sex & Romance you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

SLASHER FILM RULES - Black Christmas (1974)

Every genre has cliches, but how well does a Christmas horror follow the Slasher film follow the Slasher film rules?

Black Christmas (1974) in a Christmas Horror film and early slasher film.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

CHRISTMAS MOVIES - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

 Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do Christmas films follow their formula?

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is a stop-motion animation children's Christmas horror.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

POLL - SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Alien Invasion films - Films about a mass invasion by alien forces.  [Independence Day]
• Disney cartoons - Cartoons.  By Disney.  [Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs]
• Dystopic Future Societies - Films about a future world where although for many life seems great, it actually sucks for most people.  [1984]
• High Fantasy - Fantasy films set in a fantasy world.  5+ films have already been tested for this genre.  [The Princess Bride]
• Post-Apocalyptic - Films about a future world where society has collapsed.  [Mad Max]
• Space Opera - Films built around spaceships and space battles.  [Star Wars]
• Super-Hero films - Films built around people with powers beyond those of normal man.  [Superman]
• Sword & Sorcery/Barbarian films - High fantasy films, but set earlier, with more savage characters and darker magic.  [Conan the Barbarian]
• Time Travel - Time travel.  Films about  [Back to the Future]
• Virtual Reality films - Films mostly set in a virtual world.  [The Matrix]

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, many Science Fiction & Fantasy  films are exploitation films, etc.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are Science Fiction & Fantasy  sub-genres not included here that appeared in previous polls.

• Action films - Disaster film could be vaguely Science Fiction, and Alien Invasion films can include elements of Disaster films.  Space Opera may use elements of War films.
• Crime films - includes: Vigiliante fims may use elements of Super Hero films.
• Horror films - Often include Science Fiction or Fantasy (superntural) elements.  Especially Alien Attack, Demonic Possession, Ghost Stories, Zombie Films.

There are Science Fiction & Fantasy sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls.

• Sex & Romance - includes:  Supernatural Romance may contain fantasy elements.
• Suspence & Thrillers - includes: Outbreak/Contagion films, a very weak form of science fiction, with connections to zombies.

Any sub-genres of science fiction & fantasy you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

HIGH FANTASY RULES - Labyrinth (1986)

 Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

Labyrinth (1986) is a muppet-based children's high fantasy film with a storybook feel.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

Labyrinth (1986)

ZOMBIE FILM RULES - Analysis (Part 2)

Films have formulas and rules, but how well do films follow those formulas?  Are the Zombie Film Rules accurate?

The results for the second half of the rules for Zombie Films.

HIGH FANTASY RULES - The Princess Bride (1987)

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

The Princess Bride (1987) is the .greatest movie ever made.  And a High Fantasy low-magic child-friendly film.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)

POLL - HORROR FILMS

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Animal Attack films - Films about an animal, group of animals or a giant animal attacking a group of people.  [Jaws]
• Alien Attack films - Films about an alien, or small group of aliens attacking a group of people, usually on Earth.  Similar to Animal Attack films, but less organised than Alien Invasions.  [Alien]
• Body Horror - Films mutilation or mutation of human bodies or the bodies of other creatures.  [The Fly]
• Demonic Possession - Films about demons or other entities taking possession of humans or attempting to do so.  [The Exorcist]
• Ghost films - Films about hauntings or other supernatural happenings.  [Poltergeist]
• Gorno/Torture Porn - Films about someone capturing and torturing a variety of victims.  [Wolf Creek]
• Gothic Horror - Films based on (actually or thematically) of older Gothic Romance horrors.  [Dracula]
• J-Horror - Japanese horror films.  [Ringu]
• Slasher films - Films where a group of people (mostly teenagers) are killed off one-by-one by an unstoppable killer.   20+ films have already been tested for this genre. [Friday the 13th]
• Zombie films - Films where a group of people try to survive the return of the dead.   10 films have already been tested for this genre. 

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, many horror films are exploitation films, etc.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are exploitation sub-genres not included here that appeared on previous polls.

• Comedies & Musicals - includes:  Black Comedies which often have some crossover with horror.
• Crime films - includes: Serial Killer films which have a lot of crossover.
• Dramas, Historical Films & Epics - includes:  Addiction films (depending on how they're handled) and  Disaffected Youth films (aka Teensploitation).
• Exploitation films - most subgenres will have horror elements, Splattter films is a specifically a horror sub-genre.

There are dramas, historical films & epics sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls.

• Science Fiction & Fantasy films - some films in these sub-genres will include horror.
• Sex & Romance - includes:  Supernatural Romance which doesn't contain much horror but was born from the horror genre.
• Suspence & Thrillers - Weak horror, but includes: Supernatural Thrillers which is a type of horrror.

Any sub-genres of dramas, historical films & epics you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

HIGH FANTASY RULES - Fire and Ice (1983)

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

Fire and Ice (1983) is an animated sword & sorcery film, with moderate magic and not child-friendly.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

FIRE AND ICE (1983)

MULTI-GENRE FILM - Jaws (1975)

Films have formulas, cliches and rules, but can one film fit two sets of film rules?

Jaws (1975) is a blockbuster animal attack film which I used to test the limits of the Slasher Film Rules and the Disaster Film Rules.

HIGH FANTASY RULES - Conan The Barbarian (1982)

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

Conan the Barbarian (1982) is a Sword & Sorcery film and as such was adult and mostly low magic fantasy.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982)

SLASHER FILM RULES - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Every genre has cliches, but how well do the Halloween films follow the Slasher film rules?

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) is set a year after the previous film and Micheal is back for the usual high-jinks, this time with a mental connection to his niece, Jamie.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1989)

POLL - EXPLOITATION FILMS

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Biker films - Films about biker gangs.  [The Wild One]
• Cautionary films - Film made to get around decency laws by claiming to educate against the acts they show.  [Reefer Madness]
• Mondo films - Fake or partially fake and sensationalist documentaries.  [Sweden: Heaven & Hell]
• Naziploitation - Torture porn/sexploitation films set in Nazi prison camps.  [Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS]
• Nudist films - Films set in and around nudist camps to get around prohibitions on showing nudity by using at exemption for portraying the naturalist lifestyle [Diary of a Nudist]
• Nunsploitation - Torture porn/sexploitation films set in monasteries or about nuns in dangerous situations.  [The Devils]
• Rape/Revenge - Films that feature a rape and vigilante justice committed by the victim or a relative of the victim on the perpetrators.  [I Spit On Your Grave]
• Sexploitation - Films that focus on more sex and nudity than mainstream films.  [Emmanuelle]
• Splatter films - Films that feature graphic violence and gore.  [Night of the Living Dead]
• Women in Prison films - Torture porn/sexploitation films set in women's prisons.  [Caged Heat]

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, many horror films are exploitation films, etc.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are exploitation sub-genres not included here that appeared on previous polls.

• Action films - includes: Martial Arts films.  While that genre is borderline, there are several sub-genres of Martial Arts films considered to be exploitation films.
• Comedies & Musicals - includes:  Sex Comedies and Stoner films.
• Crime films - includes: Vigilante films.  It also includes Serial Killer films which have a lot of crossover.
• Dramas, Historical Films & Epics - includes:  Addiction films (depending on how they're handled) and  Disaffected Youth films (aka Teensploitation).

There are dramas, historical films & epics sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls.

• Horror movies - most subgenres will have exploitation films, depending on how graphic they are, especially the Gorno/Torture Porn genre. 
• Science Fiction & Fantasy films - includes: Sword & Sorcery/Barbarian films which may count.
• Sex & Romance - includes:  Sexploitation subgeneres and series the Carry On films, Erotic Love Stories and Teen Sex Comedies.
• Suspence & Thrillers - includes: Erotic Thrillers (a type of exploitation film.)

Any sub-genres of dramas, historical films & epics you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

POLL - The DRAMAS, HISTORICAL FILMS & EPICS.

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Addiction films - Films about drug and alcohol addiction.  [Trainspotting]
• Bio-pics - The stories of a person's life, or portion thereof.  [The Intimidation Game]
• Coming of Age films - Films about young people gaining maturity or learning a life-lesson.  [A Christmas Story]
• Disaffected Youth films - Films about teenagers or people in their early twenties who reject society.  [Rebel Without A Cause]
• Epics - Film with a large scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle.  [Ben Hur]
• Historical dramas - Stories of set among real events in history.  [Lawrence of Arabia]
• Melodramas - Stories that rely on strong emotion rather than characterisation.  [Sweet November]
• Period dramas - Stories set in the late 19th, early 20th century.  [Any Jane Austen adaptation]
• Political dramas - Stories that revolve around politics real and fictional.  [All The President's Men]
• Swashbuckling films - Stories of high adventure and swordplay.  [Robin Hood]

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, period dramas may be historical dramas, etc.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are dramas, historical films & epics sub-genres not included here that appeared on previous polls.

• Action films - includes: Disaster films.
• Crime films - includes: Court Room dramas.

There are dramas, historical films & epics sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls

• Sex & Romance films - will include: Erotic Love Stories, Historical Romance, Lesbian Romance, Romantic Drama.
• Suspense & Thrillers - will include: Outbreak/Contagion films, Anti-War films.

Any sub-genres of dramas, historical films & epics you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

HIGH FANTASY RULES - Dragonslayer (1981)

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

Dragonslayer (1981) is a High Fantasy film, as well as not quite a children's film and mostly low magic.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

DRAGONSLAYER (1981)

ZOMBIE FILM RULES - Analysis (Part 1)

Films have formulas and rules, but how well do films follow those formulas?  Are the Zombie Film Rules accurate?

The results for the first 5 rules for Zombie Films.

HIGH FANTASY RULES - Star Wars (1977)

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

Star War (1977) [later called Star Wars: A New Hope.] is a space opera film, which I'm testing the limits of the rules with.  It is a Family film with Low Magic (but High Technology).

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

STAR WARS (1977)

For purposes of testing, I'm looking at this as a stand alone film.  Information learnt in later films will not be applied.

POLL - CRIME Films

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Courtroom drama - A film based around a trial, often a murder but not always.  [Anything based on a Grisham novel.]
• Detective films - A film based around a cop, private detective or amateur detective solving a crime.  [Dirty Harry]
• Gangster - A film based around the mob.  [The Godfather]
• Heist - A film based around a group of people committing a complex crime.  [Ocean's Eleven]
• Heist Gone Wrong - A film based around a group of people after a crime goes horribly wrong.  [Reservoir Dogs]
• Murder Mysteries - A type of detective film, but more in the Agatha Christie style, usually a murder solved like a puzzle.  [Any adaptation of Christie]
• Noir - A stylish type of detective film usually from the 40s or 50s.  [The Maltese Falcon]
• Serial Killer Films - A type of detective film where a series of murders by a single killer is investigated.  [Silence of the Lambs]
• Sherlock Holmes films - Films based on the character created by Arthur Conan Doyle.  [Sherlock Holmes]
• Vigilante films - A film in which an ordinary citizen takes the law into their own hands.  [Death Wish]

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, Noir and Sherlock Holmes films are types of Detective films.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are crime sub-genres not included here that appeared on previous polls.

• Action films - includes: Action Comedies.

There are crime sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls

• Exploitation films - will include: Rape/Revenge (connected to the vigilante sub-genre).
• Thriller & Suspense films - probably most of.

Any sub-genres of comedy or musical films you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

ZOMBIE FILM RULES - World War Z (2013)

Every genre has cliches, but how well do zombie films follow the Zombie film rules?

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

WORLD WAR Z (2013)

HIGH FANTASY RULES - The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do High Fantasy films follow their formula?

The Wizard of Oz (1939) is a High Fantasy film, as well as a Children's Film featuring High Magic as well as being a musical.

The following analysis may contain spoilers for

THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)

POLL - COMEDIES & MUSICIALS

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Black comedies - Films that find comedy in dark themes, especially death.  [Weekend At Bernie's]
• Farces - Films that use buffoonery and absurd situations for comedy.  [The Dinner Game]
• Gross-out comedies - Films that use toilet humour and sex for comedy.  [There's Something about Mary]
• Mockumentaries - Films that pretend to be documentaries to heighten the comedy.  [This is Spinal Tap]  Serious mockumentaries exist, and especially for horror films are often "found footage" films, but will not be tested by this category.
• Musicals - Films that include songs that replace character's dialogue or thoughts in some scenes.  [The Sound of Music]
• Parodies/Spoofs - Films that make fun of other films and popular culture.  [Airplane!]
• Screwball comedes - Films that use fast-paced repartee and heightened situations.  [Bringing Up Baby]
• Sex comedies - Films that find humour in sexual relationships, including attempts to get sex or cover up affairs.  [The Seven Year Itch]  Sub-genres of this type of film are Teen Sex Comedies and the Carry On film series, both of which appear on the Sex and Romance poll.
• Slapstick comedies - Films use exaggerated physical humour.  [The Pink Panther]
• Stoner comedies - Films that find humour in people who are high.  [Any Cheech & Chong film.]  

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, farces and screwball comedies usually include slapstick, etc.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are comedy or musical sub-genres not included here that appeared on previous polls.

• Action films - includes: Buddy Cop films.

There are comedy or musical sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls

• Dramas, Historical films & Epics - will include: Sex Comedies.
• Sex & Romance films - will include: Carry On films, Teen Sex Comedies.

Any sub-genres of comedy or musical films you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]

HIGH FANTASY FILM RULES - The Rules

Film genres have formulas and rules, but how well do films follow those formulas?

High Fantasy is a sub-genre of Fantasy set on a "Secondary World" (a fictional universe, as opposed to the real or "Primary World.")

POLL - The ACTION genre.

Rules, tropes, cliches all films have them, what sub-genres should I test?

Help decide on future film sub-genres to be tested by doing the following poll (explanations for sub-genres appear after the poll.)

• Action comedy - Action films with a strong comedy element.  [True Lies]
• Buddy cop film - Two cops are forced to work together to solve a crime.  [Lethal Weapon]
• Chase films - Someone is being chased.  Usually it's by law enforcement and they're being chased for a crime they didn't commit.  [The Fugitive]
• Die Hard-in-a - An overlooked hero kills off bad-guys one-by-one while trapped in a limited area.  [Die Hard]
• Disaster films - A natural or man-made disaster is occurring and a hero has to help a small group survive and escape.  [The Towering Inferno]  10 films have already been tested for this genre.
• Inspirational sports films - Underdogs in life achieve success in sport.  [The Mighty Ducks]
• Martial Arts films - A martial artist must fight many other martial artists, usually to achieve revenge.  [Enter the Dragon]
• Spy films - Action films involving espionage, with a hero who is a spy or an civilian pulled into the spy game.  [Any Bond film]  Not to be confused with Espionage/Spy Thrillers which will appear on the Suspense & Thriller poll.
• War films - Films about combat soldiers during a war.  [Saving Private Ryan]
• Western - Films set in the American old west.  [Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid]

There may be a lot of crossover between these sub-genres, Buddy cop films usually include a lot of comedy, etc.  Films may be tested in multiple genres.

There are action sub-genres not included here that will appear on later polls.

• Dramas, Historical Films & Epics - will include: Epics and Swashbuckling films.
• Exploitation films - includes many films that are also action films.
• Horror - will include: Animal Attack films, Alien Attack and other horror genres that include some action.
• Science Fiction & Fantasy - includes many films that are also action films.

Any sub-genres of action films you feel are missing and need to be added to the list?  Any films that need to be tested?  Please comment below.

~ DUG.

[Genre Polls]

[Slasher Film Rules][Rom Com Rules][Lesbian Romance Rules][Manic Pixie Dream Girl][Christmas Movies][Disaster Film Rules][Zombie Rules][High Fantasy Film Rules]

[Rules Explained][Schedule][Films List]

[Comic Book Stepping On Points|Classic Doctor Who refs|The Film Rules|Internet Truth Debunked|The Completist|Truly Fiction]