4 Quintessentially British Films

Ah, Great Britain. Known for their love of tea and the great range of countries and dialects despite being a small island, the land of the Union Jack has seen plenty of movies made to exemplify what it means to be British. There's quite a lot for the country to pick from when it comes to deciding what to make movies about, be it a historical epic, a dark comedy - or even a mixture of both.

The Brits may have a smaller entertainment industry than that of the States, but that does not mean British-made movies can't still surprise a first-time viewer. From awkward amazingly-written comedies to dramatic historical recreations, Great Britain has a way of producing the kind of high-quality entertainment that is not only incredible on its own, but stands strong as a way to identify a fellow Brit follower of Her Majesty's cinema.

It's also surprisingly old, having been producing films for over a century, among which there are some great films; too many to name, therefore it's important to identify great British movies that have a quality in them that is so distinctly Brit, outside of the accents. The industry has produced plenty of names that have stuck in households throughout the world as well, so it's not to be sniffed at.

So, let's take a load off, stick the kettle on, and count down this list of some of the top British cinema.

Kicking off the list is the most iconic British movie character of all time, most known for his secret agent antics, overt womanising and liver-killing boozing. Bond has been on some intense adventures throughout his career and it's hard to think of one that's even intenser than his 2015 Daniel Craig-led British-set masterpiece, Skyfall.

As it is set mainly in Britain, he's tasked with investigating a new threat to MI6 and protecting his boss and the closest thing to a parental figure he has in the form Judi Dench's M. Several scrapes with death occur down in the nation's capitol of London, and the pair are forced to travel to bonny Scotland to prepare for a final confrontation.

The film does a marvellous job showing the desperation of MI6 and M in trying to bring down this new enemy, with Bond MIA presumed KIA, but it also goes to great lengths to exemplify the British will to persevere through the hardest and most challenging times.

This unique antagonist in the form of Javier Bardem's Silva is creepy yet captivating, having internal knowledge of the organisation and so is in an alarming position to strike at their weakest links. But the protagonists come together, and persevere through the toughest obstacles Silva throws up, though not without consequences which the Brits are great at showing.

The UK is a country that has seen its fair share of hardships and unrest, so to see one of its greatest fictional icons deal with a similar scenario is nothing short of inspiring. Skyfall may not be the oldest Bond, but it certainly encapsulates what is so idealised about the character and the country - an unbreakable willpower and a continuous need to succeed.