Do The Right Thing

In class when we were discussing about if mookie "did the right thing", I noticed how how much emphasis Spike Lee really wanted that perticular scene to have, and how it reflects on the films message about racism. First off, I personally think that mookie had every right to be mad, since one of his good friends, radio rahim, was killed by the cops as a result of sal's pizzera. But, I also believe that by mookie throwing the garbage can, it did'nt solve anything, it just made everything get more out of hand.

I also agreed with Mr. Klobuchar on how radio rahim was asking for it the entire movie, and how it was actually his own fault that later ended up to him getting killed. I also agreed with how the cops had every right to hold him back, because he was resisting. Its not like the cops had arrested him, and then beaten him to death.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie, because it has a great moral, but Lee also usses innovative ways of filming with using colors, or camera angles to give the story a third dimension type feeling to it. I also thought Lee did a great job of using humor to keep the audience entertained. In conclusion, I thought this perticular movie, out of all the movies we've watched, was by far the deepest in terms of having your own opinion, which I think is really cool.

The Battle of Algiers

Peter Rainer from New York Movies, describes how The Battle of Algiers is later recognized by many critics as one of the most realistic reinactments of all time. Rainer also said how Pontecorvo's approach to directing was a much looser, caught in the moment type of filming, although everything is carefully choreographed. Rainer believes that this way of filming adds a realistic feel through the progression of the film.

Though at times I thought some of the scenes were a bit aukward, I can see how Pontecorvo used this way of filming to add a sense of realism though each event taking place. I also agreed with Rainer about how Pontecorvo showed what the terrorists felt before each bombing, and how it again adds realism to the movie. Overall I thought the article was really good because Rainer gave insight to what the movie is about, but also about what Pontecorvo thought of it, and the techniques he used to make the film as realistic as possible.

Memento is Awesome!!!!

The movie Memento, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a true masterpiece of what can be accomplished on camera. This movie was unique in how the color scenes went back into time. At the same time, the black and white scenes moved ahead until the two merged into each other near the end of the film to bring closure to the movie. I personally thought this style of filming was smart because in the opening scene when Leonard shoots Teddy, it leaves the audience with the feeling of suspense because they want to see all of the events that took place leading up to the killing.

Another unique style of filming that I noticed was how Nolan left small clues in the story that did not make any sense until the end when it all added up. I thought Nolan also did a great job of giving this movie a film noir feel to it; mostly due to the black and white scenes. With both of these techniques used in the movie, it gave the film both a classic but also a new age spin to it.

Overall, I really enjoyed watching Memento due to the fact that it showed what is possible to do on camera. It also showed how certain feelings or expressions can be displayed by images, which I thought was very interesting. In conclusion, this movie has all of the necessary elements to make it an outstanding movie, in my opinion at least.

Kiss Me Deadly

I thought the movie, Kiss Me Deadly, by Robert Aldrich is the perfect portrayal of a film noir, which later gave way to the classic detective-type movie such as James Bond. The main character, Mike Hammer, is the foundation that this movie relies on to make it the movie that it was. I also thought that it was interesting how Aldrich decided to add a sci-fi type plot to the movie near the end. Unlike other film noirs, this film used different methods of conveying the story to ultimately be regarded by many critics as the best film noir ever made.

Another unique trait in this movie is that the story had multiple main conflicts; unlike the classic film noir, which usually only had one main conflict. Though at times this kind of plot was confusing, it added another demension to the genre of film noir. This movie was one of the first films to have multiple conflicts, which later gave way to how movies are done today.

In conclusion, I liked the movie because Aldrich did a great job of connecting all of the conflicts of the movie at the end. Most film noirs that were made around this time period never had multiple main characters or multiple conflicts, which made this movie unique. This movie was a milestone for the genre of the classic detective movies for a variety of reasons. This movie also used many different techniques of filming that directors are still using today.

Double Indemnity

The film, Double Indemnity, directed by Billy Wilder, is a true example of the genre of film noir for many different reasons. This movie has all of the common characteristics to be considered a film noir, which helped set the tone for many other movies of this genre that were made during this time period. It is in this genre of filming that directors could get very creative with lighting, make-up, acting, etc.

Though this movie was somewhat "cheesy" in parts, I thought that the director did an excellent job of using every technique possible to his advantage to truly show the potential behind the genre of film noir. I also thought the actors did a great job of staying in character throughout the entire movie. In conclusion, I think that this movie is a great example of how directors can use techniques of filming to create a mood that carries throughout the entire film.

Groundhog Day

The movie Groundhog Day, directed by Harold Ramis, is a true display of what you can do with a camera. I personally thought that it was quite clever how Ramis used the camera to create the story of Groundhog Day in such a unique style of filming. I also thought that Bill Murray did a great job. If it was not for his humor, the movie would not have been nearly as amusing.

Though this movie is inevitably repetitive, I thought Ramis did a good job of entertaining the audience with Bill Murray's sense of sarcasim throughout the entire movie. Without the humor aspect of this film, the plot alone would be extremely annoying. I also thought that Ramis had good intentions of making this movie have a good moral or lesson behind the story, which is to enjoy and make the most of each day.

Overall, I thought that this movie was very well done since it shows how the camera has the possibility of making this type of movie. Though most people like this movie for the humor, I actually really enjoyed this movie's story because it is perfect for Bill Murray's type of acting as well as his sense of humor. In conclusion, this movie has all of the good elements that a good movie should have: A good story, great actors, and innovative filming.

Bringing up Baby

I personally thought the director of this movie, Howard Hawks, did a great job with the overall photography this movie needed, to be considered a romantic comedy. With this movie being produced in 1938, theres no question that this movie's photography was nothing less than marveled about. I also thought that Hawks did a great job at showing contrast between the characters, though his way of photography so the audience can better understand everything that is going on. Without this movie's sense of photography, theres no doubt this movie would have been as susessful as it was, for it's time.

I also noticed that the role of photography in this movie was quite different than other movies during it's time. Unlike other movies, the use of photography added contrast to the ever changing plot that this movie so desired for. I believe that it's through this way of photography, is why comedy like this is so sucessful.

The Story of the Weeping Camel

For this blog entry, I chose to watch a foreign documentary titled The Story of the Weeping Camel by Byambasuren Davaa and cowritten with Luigi Falorni. The movie is originally Mongolian but has several different subtitles to pick from. Though this movie was directed by Davaa, the film's main cinematographer is Falorni.

I was very impressed with the wonderful job Falorni did filming with just a handheld and Stedi-Cam. I did not initially know this until I read an article on Falorni about what equipment and techniques he used in this film. It demonstrates how you can make a great film from something so simple and affordable. Something that I had noticed since the beginning of the film is that Falorni made the takes no shorter than 10 or 20 seconds usually. I personally thought that Falorni did a great job with having longer takes since the movie was done in that nature of filming. This way of filming also adds constrast to the story in a positive way.

Another unique way of adding realism to the story was having all diegetic sounds. Falorni did this since he pictured the movie as being a documentary, and it was in his best interest to have all diegetic sounds utilized in the film. This technique added realism along with the long takes in the film.

In another article that I read, it said that Falorni wanted to shoot the movie in a way that would display "a story of salvation." I personally thought that was interesting because even though there was hardly any talking in the movie, you could still relate to the story of salvation through the images alone. In my opinion, that is what makes this movie so well done; the cinematography speaks for itself.

With this movie being a narrative documentary, all of the story was done withrestricted narration. Though some parts of the movie have different points of view, Falorni still wanted restricted narration done.

Though most of the movie was done with either handheld or Stedi-Cam, I personally felt Falorni did a remarkable job in capturing the organic realism behind the story. If this movie was done on expensive equipment, it would not add any extra dimension to the overall meaning behind this story. This is what separates Falorni from so many other directors in my opinion.

Overall I thought that this film was very well done for being a foreign film and for being filmed in the location where it was. It was through Falorni's unique way of capturing images on the camera that truly separated this film from so many other films that I have seen. I personally recommend this movie to anyone who has the time to view it.

My Darling Clementine

For my blog entry on My Darling Clementine, I'm going to talk about the significance behind the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. John Ford, the director of this movie, had rising suspense until this perticular scene so it would be much more significant. I personally thought this scene was crutial, because you get to see who the characters really are in the midst of all the chaos.

Overall, I truely thought this scene in the movie was necessary so the viewer can better understand the plot, which at times was confusing in my opinion. I also think this scene, and the events leading up to it, acts as a destinct finale for the sucess of this movie. In conclusion, I thought this scene was very important in the general meaning behind the film.

Citizen Kane

For my blog entry, I decided to talk about the various camera angles used in this film that helped emphasize characters, and places. The first angle I had often noticed, is that Kane was viewed usually from a low angle, while the other person he was talking to would be viewed from a high angle. This way of filming made Kane look significantly more powerful than the other person he was talking too. This angle alone helps the viewer feel how important Kane truely is in the story.

Another angle that Welles was famous for was the long tracking shot that went through the neon sign, and had eventually focused in on Susan. This shot is important because it shows how innovative Welles' way of filming is, in not just this scene, but the entire movie.

Overall, I thought that Welles had put alot of thought into the major sucess of this movie, by simply coming up with ways the camera could be used to it's advantage.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

The Day the Earth Stood Still by Robert Wise is widely acclaimed as one of the most influential sci-fi films ever produced to date. I agree with this statement, even though this movie might be considered "cheesy" compared to today's standards. I also think that this movie has a good message, which in the bigger picture of the movie's purpose, is to promote world peace.

When this movie was produced in 1951, not many other sci-fi films existed. At this point in time, this movie was very popular due to its special effects and technology. Though these effects aren't as amazing as what is made today, they still played a major role in the success of this movie at that time.

Another technique that I have noticed with Robert Wise, is that during important scenes in the movie, musical motifs are often used to emphasize that particular scene. I have found this beneficial since it helped me be more alert so I got more out of that particular scene. I have noticed that the motifs help emphasize the main characters as well.

When I was about half way through the movie, I noticed that at the part when "the Earth stood still" there were rhythmic relations with each shot that showed different parts of the world and the music that corresponded. I personally thought that this technique of filming was very appropriate because I have never really before been able to point out rhythmic relations in modern films prior to this since, they are not as obvious as they were in this movie.

At the beginning of the movie, I noticed that there was an extreme long shot where the space-ship had landed in Washington, D.C. I thought that this shot was useful because it showed to scale how enormous the ship was compared to other things in its background. I also thought it was a good establishing shot as well.

In conclusion, I thought that this movie was pretty good, keeping in mind the time it was produced in. Overall the film used various techniques of filming that I have noticed to be useful in watching. This is definitely a classic to the genre of sci-fi.

My Favorite Movie

My favorite movie of all time for me is The Life Aquatic by Wes Anderson, hands down. The entire movie is hilarious, but also has a great plot that keeps you into the movie. The main reason of why I like it so much is because the movie has somewhat of a cheesy feel to it, but thats what makes Anderson's movies so funny and special.

I've noticed that alot of Anderson's movies have many subplots, this movie especially, that at times can be confusing. Though this may be true, he can always find ways to keep you interested in what happens next. Heres a quote from Chris Barsanti: "Even though Team Zissou doesn’t have much of a clear mission and the film’s subplots are scattered willy-nilly, Anderson and Baumbach’s script finds plenty of ways to keep viewers engaged."

Overall, this is my favorite movie on many levels. It has funny subplots, good actors, and most of all, a great story. I recommend this movie to anyone who hasen't seen it yet, you WILL enjoy it!!

The Royal Tenebaums

The Royal Tenebaums, by Wes Anderson, is said to be the best film of his career by many critics. This movie in particular was very popular to all sorts of new audiences, due to the cast. With actors such as Luke & Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Ben Stiller, Gene Hackman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anjelica Huston, and Danny Glover as the movies main cast, it's easy to say that the movie would inevitably be one of his best.

Jeffrey Anderson, from Combustible Celluloid, explains how significant the beginning of the film really is, and how Anderson stages it so the plot of the movie could succeed: "The film begins with rigid, widescreen compositions but melts ever so slowly as we warm to the characters and become involved in their emotional plights. By the time the sublime final shot comes around, we're fully won over."

My personal opinion of the film is that it is an excellent movie that is well worth watching. I also think that even though Wes Anderson's movies can seem long at times, he can always find a way to keep your attention. One of these techniques that I have noticed in his work is that while something important is happening, he shows the multiple characters' views on what the important event was like in their minds. This way of filming is perfect for his types of movies because there are so many main characters that are equally important to each other in the story line.

Another style of filming that I have noticed with Wes Anderson is that his films (particularly The Criterion Collection consisting of Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic) have such a nostalgic look to them. Wes Anderson is probably the only director I know of that can consistently utilize this method so well.

Jeffrey Anderson mentions how each character in this movie has such a major role in the significance of the plot, being that all of the family members are back together again after 17 years they had been apart. I thought it was important that he mentioned that because even I noticed when I watched the movie how much detail Anderson puts into each character. I think that it is those meticulous details that we learn about each character that sets Anderson apart from most directors.

In conclusion, I thought that the movie was extremely well done. Overall I agree with Jeffrey Anderson on many of the details we both noticed about the movie. Even though the movie was long in length, Anderson knew how to keep the movie interesting and hold your attention. I can honestly recommend watching this movie; it is well worthwhile and entertaining.

Full review for The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson

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