Within my oral film commentary on Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972), I believe I used a reasonable amount and accurate film language to analyze the elements of the 5 minute extract I chose. However, at times I did confuse some of the terms when explaining certain aspects that are significant to the scene, such as diegetic vs. non-diegetic sound in terms of musical score. I did, to the best of my ability try to utilize specific terms relating to the three film styles of realism, formalism and classicism. I related each concept to how they all come together to form one bigger, thematic meaning in terms of how it correlates to the film as a whole. I additionally, discussed the importance of how the film's reinvention of the conventions in the gangster genre affects the socio-cultural and Italian American aspect of the films historical context. In terms of the cinematography, I talked about how the influences of the sense of noir-esque in the extract. Although lighting does play a significant role in the noir aspect, however within my commentary, I did not discuss how it is an important element that compliments it, which probably brought down my score in this certain criteria. When it came to giving my rationale as to why I chose this specific extract, I stated that it was a very pivotal moment within the film due to how it consists of a clear transformation for Micheal's character while bringing out a more apparent, larger theme which is loss of innocence due to how this is Micheal's major murder. I could have went more in depth on why I chose this by relating it to the significant elements that are incorporated within the extract such as musical score and lighting. Although I think I did spend an appropriate amount of time discussing the influences that impacted the reinvention of the gangster genre I could have gone further in depth in explaining the socio-cultural aspects that influenced the films in relation to the time period. This could have improved my chances go me getting a better score. I additionally could have been stronger in the area of my delivery and in the way I articulated my analysis of the chosen extract.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Friday, December 20, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Location as Character
Location
San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden
Director's Commentary Shot Script
Shot 1: Depth/Perspective - Establishing my location with a revealing shot
Shot 2: Depth/Perspective - Perspective in shot by having a use of foreground which is the stone pathway, mid ground which are the koi fish and background which is the water and trees
Shot 3: Focal Point - Continuation of previous shot due to how it goes to an extreme close-up of koi fish
Shot 4: Lighting for Effect - Lighting affects trees in a way that contrasts them to give the shot more emphasis and a heavenly tone and mood
Shot 5: Balance, Unity and Proportion - All related nature elements create one harmonious and serene feeling
Shot 6: Focal Point - Focus is on water and ripple as the peace is interrupted but attention is still maintained throughout shot
Shot 7: Depth/Perspective/Rule of Thirds - Branch is in the foreground, the trees are in the mid ground and the pagoda is in the background. Rule of thirds, since the attention is mainly on the pagoda as well as the branch
Shot 8: Lighting for Effect - Sun reflecting through trees gives off heavenly tone
Shot 9: Framing/Lines/Angle - Position and framing of camera gives off feeling of focus as well as dominance
Shot 10/11: Selective Focus/Object Match - Framing of two objects as one shot shifts focus and moves to the next
Shot 12/13: Rhythm/Lighting for Effect/Graphic Match - As shot pops up, music's beat matches.Sun shining through trees gives off another heavenly and serene tone. Dip to white transition matches with sun in next shot
Shot 14: Depth/Perspective/Texture - Camera tracks across leaves that are out of focus while other elements in background are in focus
San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden
Director's Commentary Shot Script
Shot 1: Depth/Perspective - Establishing my location with a revealing shot
Shot 2: Depth/Perspective - Perspective in shot by having a use of foreground which is the stone pathway, mid ground which are the koi fish and background which is the water and trees
Shot 3: Focal Point - Continuation of previous shot due to how it goes to an extreme close-up of koi fish
Shot 4: Lighting for Effect - Lighting affects trees in a way that contrasts them to give the shot more emphasis and a heavenly tone and mood
Shot 5: Balance, Unity and Proportion - All related nature elements create one harmonious and serene feeling
Shot 6: Focal Point - Focus is on water and ripple as the peace is interrupted but attention is still maintained throughout shot
Shot 7: Depth/Perspective/Rule of Thirds - Branch is in the foreground, the trees are in the mid ground and the pagoda is in the background. Rule of thirds, since the attention is mainly on the pagoda as well as the branch
Shot 8: Lighting for Effect - Sun reflecting through trees gives off heavenly tone
Shot 9: Framing/Lines/Angle - Position and framing of camera gives off feeling of focus as well as dominance
Shot 10/11: Selective Focus/Object Match - Framing of two objects as one shot shifts focus and moves to the next
Shot 12/13: Rhythm/Lighting for Effect/Graphic Match - As shot pops up, music's beat matches.Sun shining through trees gives off another heavenly and serene tone. Dip to white transition matches with sun in next shot
Shot 14: Depth/Perspective/Texture - Camera tracks across leaves that are out of focus while other elements in background are in focus
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Realism/Classicism/Formalism
Realism
The film style known as realism is mainly utilized to convey a meaning of truth. This is usually done in a way that preserves and establishes reality in terms of showing viewers' a sequence that is not manipulated and altered in the edit. A shot is usually held for a long period of time and is not cut in post production, therefore creating one long, continuous take. This form of film making derived from times as early as 1895 when the Lumiere Brothers, Auguste and Louis, created their 50 second short film known as Arrival of the Train. This short film can basically be described as one continuous shot of a train arriving as passengers scramble to gather their belongings and board. As we discussed in film class, early film critics have claimed that viewers of the short film apparently attempted to dodge the locomotive "coming" at them due to how the picture looked so real. This can demonstrate the aspects of realism and how it can truly affect audience members, furthering the idea of how many can be afraid of the concept of reality and the familiar.
A good example of how realism is used in movies can be seen through this scene from the 1985 film The Breakfast Club specifically within the time frame of 0:28 - 2:46. In this scene the five students in the school library are giving confessions as to why they received a Saturday detention. This long, continuous tracking shot of Andrew Clark, played by Emilio Estevez, conveys realism due to how there is not cuts within the sequence. Having watched the film and knowing the traits of his character adds to the strength of the dialogue he delivers, making the scene even more powerful. Not only does Andrew say why he is in detention but gives insight as to how his actions affected him as a person as well as establish the relationship he shares with his father. The emotions and mood of the scene feel real because of how the camera is mainly focused on the character that is deliver his monologue; nothing takes you away from the character and no cut-aways are used within this tracking shot which contributes to and enhances the idea of realism. Notice how the shot is not just stationary, but how it is tracking around Andrew Clark. Doing this creates more of a dramatic mood and feeling to the seen which adds to the power and strength of the scene, showing how this arrogant and masculine character really portrays his empathetic side for others.
Classicism
Classicism is a style of film that demonstrates the fluidity of a scene due to how it condenses all the action without omitting any significant pieces of information out. All the cutting and editing seem invisible to the viewers due to how it is concise and to the point. Given that this style of editing is the most common in Hollywood film making, its focus is mainly centered on the characters as well as the roles they play within the storyline of the scene. Classicism conveys the idea that every cut and shot is crucial and would make the scene incomplete without it.
A great example of classicism is when the audience is so engaged in a scene to the point where the cuts and edits seem as if it is not there during the actions. This scene from the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan is a great example to exemplify classicism due to how the current action is mainly being focused on within the scene. With this scene in particular to the film, the action creates more of a suspenseful mood not only because another character unfortunately dies but how he is being killed. The idea of classicism is heightened through the use of many quick and concise cuts which each revealing a new idea and raising the tension. As the editing style states, every cut seems invisible due to how the actions to the audience are so enthralling because of the power the scene maintains. Additionally it creates more dramatic intent because of how, prior to the scene, audience members have grown to know this character throughout the film as it progresses up until this point in the plot. During the fight between Mellish and the enemy soldier there are many quick cuts between them to demonstrate each of their perspectives. Each shot can convey meaning in terms of showing two shots that portray dominance and superiority to give audience members more context on what the result of the fight will be. In between these cuts we see the knife slowing making its way to Mellish's chest hoping that he will break free and survive. This is where classicism is also emphasized. Everything is so fast paced that the action of the scene becomes even more evident. In the small time frame of 0:49 - 0:53 there is a short cut from a close-up of Mellish's expression as he dies to a medium shot of the two fighting soldiers which finally the final outcome. As the cut seems almost non-existent, the first thing the audience sees is the intended focus which is the enemy on top of Mellish with his own knife lodged in his chest. Additionally the cuts between Mellish fighting and Upham making his way up the stairs with a terrified look on his face establish a sense of parallel action that also heightens the dramatic intent of the scene. Viewers want Upham to make it in time to rescue Mellish but as the cuts and edit moves on between the two actions, it becomes obvious that this sense of poetic justice unfortunately will not be fulfilled.
Formalism
The film style of formalism is a director's way of manipulating time and space in a way that seems nonlinear to the movie's narrative. When taking a formalist approach to a film, reality is not something that wants to be preserved unlike realism or classicism. Director's want to portray a certain scene or sequence so it is perceived through their own eyes and vision. For the most part, this editing style may come off in a way that doesn't seem familiar or even unusual to audience members, which creates a very abstract emotion and tone for the films storyline.
Formalism can really be shown through the director's vision within the scene that it is manifested in. In this bar scene from the 2010 film The Other Guys, Detective Allen Gamble (Will Ferrel) and Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) go to a bar grab a couple of drinks after failing to complete a case without any mishaps. However this scene can convey that their night was something more than what was expected. This scene can exemplify the film style of formalism due to how it differs from all of the other aspects of the plot's linear narrative. Time and space is manipulated through the use of one continuous freeze frame that takes the audience through the bar as we see Hoitz and Gamble making their way as the night goes one and doing something different each time in each different place within the bar. Although this scene only lasts 45 seconds, the use of this editing technique makes it seem as if the night is moving along over a longer period of time due to how many various events are occurring. This is how formalism shows its significance. Although, at first glance to the audience this scene may be a bit unusual, the viewers are able to gain context in this instance of time. This editing technique can also be referred to as "bullet time" which allows the audience to see and take in all the different aspects and pieces of information that is relevant to the current scene. Within this formalist sequence, one passage of time connects to the effect of their failure, consisting of a night of going crazy, which can also be used to humor the audience. Even if it is not completely pertinent to the entire storyline, the usage of this film style can be utilized for the enjoyment of viewers.
The film style known as realism is mainly utilized to convey a meaning of truth. This is usually done in a way that preserves and establishes reality in terms of showing viewers' a sequence that is not manipulated and altered in the edit. A shot is usually held for a long period of time and is not cut in post production, therefore creating one long, continuous take. This form of film making derived from times as early as 1895 when the Lumiere Brothers, Auguste and Louis, created their 50 second short film known as Arrival of the Train. This short film can basically be described as one continuous shot of a train arriving as passengers scramble to gather their belongings and board. As we discussed in film class, early film critics have claimed that viewers of the short film apparently attempted to dodge the locomotive "coming" at them due to how the picture looked so real. This can demonstrate the aspects of realism and how it can truly affect audience members, furthering the idea of how many can be afraid of the concept of reality and the familiar.
A good example of how realism is used in movies can be seen through this scene from the 1985 film The Breakfast Club specifically within the time frame of 0:28 - 2:46. In this scene the five students in the school library are giving confessions as to why they received a Saturday detention. This long, continuous tracking shot of Andrew Clark, played by Emilio Estevez, conveys realism due to how there is not cuts within the sequence. Having watched the film and knowing the traits of his character adds to the strength of the dialogue he delivers, making the scene even more powerful. Not only does Andrew say why he is in detention but gives insight as to how his actions affected him as a person as well as establish the relationship he shares with his father. The emotions and mood of the scene feel real because of how the camera is mainly focused on the character that is deliver his monologue; nothing takes you away from the character and no cut-aways are used within this tracking shot which contributes to and enhances the idea of realism. Notice how the shot is not just stationary, but how it is tracking around Andrew Clark. Doing this creates more of a dramatic mood and feeling to the seen which adds to the power and strength of the scene, showing how this arrogant and masculine character really portrays his empathetic side for others.
Classicism
Classicism is a style of film that demonstrates the fluidity of a scene due to how it condenses all the action without omitting any significant pieces of information out. All the cutting and editing seem invisible to the viewers due to how it is concise and to the point. Given that this style of editing is the most common in Hollywood film making, its focus is mainly centered on the characters as well as the roles they play within the storyline of the scene. Classicism conveys the idea that every cut and shot is crucial and would make the scene incomplete without it.
A great example of classicism is when the audience is so engaged in a scene to the point where the cuts and edits seem as if it is not there during the actions. This scene from the 1998 film Saving Private Ryan is a great example to exemplify classicism due to how the current action is mainly being focused on within the scene. With this scene in particular to the film, the action creates more of a suspenseful mood not only because another character unfortunately dies but how he is being killed. The idea of classicism is heightened through the use of many quick and concise cuts which each revealing a new idea and raising the tension. As the editing style states, every cut seems invisible due to how the actions to the audience are so enthralling because of the power the scene maintains. Additionally it creates more dramatic intent because of how, prior to the scene, audience members have grown to know this character throughout the film as it progresses up until this point in the plot. During the fight between Mellish and the enemy soldier there are many quick cuts between them to demonstrate each of their perspectives. Each shot can convey meaning in terms of showing two shots that portray dominance and superiority to give audience members more context on what the result of the fight will be. In between these cuts we see the knife slowing making its way to Mellish's chest hoping that he will break free and survive. This is where classicism is also emphasized. Everything is so fast paced that the action of the scene becomes even more evident. In the small time frame of 0:49 - 0:53 there is a short cut from a close-up of Mellish's expression as he dies to a medium shot of the two fighting soldiers which finally the final outcome. As the cut seems almost non-existent, the first thing the audience sees is the intended focus which is the enemy on top of Mellish with his own knife lodged in his chest. Additionally the cuts between Mellish fighting and Upham making his way up the stairs with a terrified look on his face establish a sense of parallel action that also heightens the dramatic intent of the scene. Viewers want Upham to make it in time to rescue Mellish but as the cuts and edit moves on between the two actions, it becomes obvious that this sense of poetic justice unfortunately will not be fulfilled.
Formalism
The film style of formalism is a director's way of manipulating time and space in a way that seems nonlinear to the movie's narrative. When taking a formalist approach to a film, reality is not something that wants to be preserved unlike realism or classicism. Director's want to portray a certain scene or sequence so it is perceived through their own eyes and vision. For the most part, this editing style may come off in a way that doesn't seem familiar or even unusual to audience members, which creates a very abstract emotion and tone for the films storyline.
Formalism can really be shown through the director's vision within the scene that it is manifested in. In this bar scene from the 2010 film The Other Guys, Detective Allen Gamble (Will Ferrel) and Detective Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) go to a bar grab a couple of drinks after failing to complete a case without any mishaps. However this scene can convey that their night was something more than what was expected. This scene can exemplify the film style of formalism due to how it differs from all of the other aspects of the plot's linear narrative. Time and space is manipulated through the use of one continuous freeze frame that takes the audience through the bar as we see Hoitz and Gamble making their way as the night goes one and doing something different each time in each different place within the bar. Although this scene only lasts 45 seconds, the use of this editing technique makes it seem as if the night is moving along over a longer period of time due to how many various events are occurring. This is how formalism shows its significance. Although, at first glance to the audience this scene may be a bit unusual, the viewers are able to gain context in this instance of time. This editing technique can also be referred to as "bullet time" which allows the audience to see and take in all the different aspects and pieces of information that is relevant to the current scene. Within this formalist sequence, one passage of time connects to the effect of their failure, consisting of a night of going crazy, which can also be used to humor the audience. Even if it is not completely pertinent to the entire storyline, the usage of this film style can be utilized for the enjoyment of viewers.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Contemporary Media Analysis
1. What does media say about the world we live in?
Over the years, media has evolved in many ways which mainly changed the way we view films as a society. However, one glaring aspect that has altered our perspectives in terms of looking at the media as a whole, is violence. From the times of the early 1960s until today, the media has taken this idea of violence in films and t.v. shows and overtime transformed it in terms of making it much more visual and glorified. Even in kids' shows today, violence is manifested in a way that seems questionable as to if they can actually be characterized as children programs or not. Considering audience perspective, the majority of viewers enjoy seeing gore, blood, explosions and physical fighting, therefore the media is portraying our society in a way that we are seen as almost obsessed with this concept on and even off screen. For example, the top 100 grossing movies of 2012 - 2013 primarily consist of films that are associated with violence, which further exemplifies the idea that our society feeds off this type of entertainment and just can't get enough of it.
2. Do you notice any one trend that keeps resurfacing through multiple media forms?
Aside from Breaking Bad, I think one trend that kept resurfacing through multiple media forms was the concept of "blurred lines". Throughout the presentations, many groups mentioned this idea and explained how the simplicity of the media has vastly changed in terms of incorporating more complex protagonists and antagonists in the plot of a film. Nowadays, movies no longer dwell on the idea of having a "straight-up" bad guy or good guy, whereas the bad guy if flat out evil or an enemy and the good guy is a perfect human being who seems to always prevail in the end. It it much different now in today's films. The protagonist of movies or t.v. shows seem more complex now in terms of the qualities they carry as an individual. By that, meaning they are flawed. These characters do not lead lives of perfection, however filmakers are developing them in a way that emphasizes or brings out their dilemmas in life. Doing this would make audience members more relateable. For example, Peter Parker in the 2012 film The Amazing Spider-Man isn't a perfect teenager with the perfect life. The creator wanted to make his character so he has social as well as academic issues making him a more relateable character to viewers, further showing that he is in fact a normal teenager behind this superhero quality he maintains.
3. What do you see as the best and worst of what media portrays?
One of the best things mediea has started to portray is the acceptance of all different kinds of people, specifically LGBT. Recently various movies and t.v. shows are starting to show how society is beginning to reach out to the gay community through the use of film making. Shows such as Glee truly exemplify this idea due to the interactions as well as relationships between different characters of different genders. Additionally the animated film known as Paranorman added a part in the end of the movie where one of the characters say "You know, you're gonna love my boyfriend. He's a total chick-flick nut!". This is interesting because the character who says this in the movie is initially depicted as this masculine jock. Knowing this, creates the idea that society is able to look past stereotypical views.
On the other hand the media does portray a more ignorant side of society. In certain reality shows media highly exaggerates the idea of it being real, therefore giving it a false representation putting a bad influence on society. These "reality shows" for the majority of the time show fake actors/actresses, doing fake actions, giving fake dialogue. 99% of the time these shows are acted out just to provide entertainment to viewers when all this is doing is giving off a false idea of how these situations are played out in real life. For example, a show called The Bad Girls Club basically depicts the lives of 7 borderline ghetto women living in one house, seeing how each and everyone of them "interact" with each other.
4. Where do you see yourself contributing to the conversation?
In my group's presentation we discussed the acceptance of violence over sexuality. Our society feels that it is rather unacceptable to show a nude shot, however it is okay to show a person getting ripped apart limb from limb. More specifically on my part i talked about how violence is manifested within children's shows. Shows such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Pokemon can exemplify this concept. Yes, these are both animated series and aired on networks that are primarily aimed at an audience of mainly children. However, there is a matter of whether it exposes violence to today's youth or not. This could possibly affecting the minds of children due to how the media deems this sense of violence to be acceptable in shows like this.
2. Do you notice any one trend that keeps resurfacing through multiple media forms?
3. What do you see as the best and worst of what media portrays?
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| "Can I get a script? I forgot what I'm supposed to say when I tell her off"... |
4. Where do you see yourself contributing to the conversation?
In my group's presentation we discussed the acceptance of violence over sexuality. Our society feels that it is rather unacceptable to show a nude shot, however it is okay to show a person getting ripped apart limb from limb. More specifically on my part i talked about how violence is manifested within children's shows. Shows such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Pokemon can exemplify this concept. Yes, these are both animated series and aired on networks that are primarily aimed at an audience of mainly children. However, there is a matter of whether it exposes violence to today's youth or not. This could possibly affecting the minds of children due to how the media deems this sense of violence to be acceptable in shows like this. Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Top 5 Films of All Time
5 out of many in no particular order
As I put some thought into the films I would select to be in my top five, the first one that automatically came to mind was John Hughes's The Breakfast Club (1985). The Breakfast Club, in my opinion this film does an excellent job in expressing issues that universally exist, making it easy to relate to. From beginning to end, the characters and plot develop eventually leading up to a moral message that no matter who you are or where you come from, something as simple as reaching out can help you see past people and how others stereotypically view them. Although this may seem a bit cliche, it is true and by choosing this cast supports it due to how they are characterized. What I enjoyed most about this film are the characters and how the storyline overall develops. The diversity of this group gives viewers an opportunity to see things from each of their perspectives and demonstrates how their actions are what motivate the plot.
Normally I don't fully consider a movie to fall under the genre of action if there are a couple of fighting scenes and the majority is dialogue, unless those scenes are unforgettable. For me to enjoy and action film, there should be back to back action incorporating the usual elements; fighting, punching, blood, explosions, you know, manly stuff. The film Olympus Has Fallen was a great action film that, once reaches the central conflict, involves back to back action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. Not only does this film have lots of punching, fighting, shooting and explosions but also incorporates a suspense and unexpected plot twists. The protagonist is a highly intelligent man who is constantly thinking on the spot and strategizing different ways to save the president. Additionally this film, focuses on the political aspects of today's world and economy, which involve the ongoing feuding with different countries, giving the movie a more socio-cultural perspective.
As a big Marvel series fan, I without a doubt had to choose a film that involves my all time favorite superhero which is The Amazing Spider-Man also known as Peter Parker. Although I can go on and on about Spider-Man I'll break down the essential parts on why I specifically enjoyed this film more than the trilogy that came out prior to this film. Aside from all the action and web slinging, I admired how this film was created and based on the actual comic series, rather than doing a slight spinoff of it. Don't get me wrong I did in fact enjoy the trilogy but just happen to enjoy the more recent one. This is so because of the different aspects such as the original storyline and especially the characters. Peter Parker is someone many people can relate to as a normal teenager and a school student. He undergoes many emotional and life dilemmas which, reminds audience members that Peter Parker is in fact a real human being with real life problems. This is something I highly admire because he isn't characterized as this invincible, manly superhero figure who has very little emotions.
What I enjoy about Alexander Payne's The Descendants (2011) is that the genre, which is comedy drama, is noticeable and is highly manifested within the film. Although the plot is mainly focused on a family tragedy, there are various instances and pieces of dialogues that reminds us it is a comedy and make us laugh. Also, the protagonist, Matt King, narrates throughout the film to give the viewers some context on different scenes of the plot to place the setting. The movie's storyline is mainly focused on Matt King's internal and external conflict making him the central focus. By doing this the the story is mainly coming from his perspective and take on the whole situation that revolves around the plot.
Personally, if there is a trending piece of news that is mainly focused on one specific individual, I really enjoy learning about that person, their success and the story of how they became to be who they are today. Let's look at David Fincher's The Social Network (2010). The aspect of learning about a person's story and what it took for them to get where they are today highly intrigues me. As we may all know, Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, did whatever it took to become what he is today, the youngest billionaire. However, he didn't do all this by just creating a simple website that is designed to communicate with others on. Throughout the story, I admired how the film takes place in different locations and times. This way audience members are able to see his transformation throughout the years and what he went through whether good or bad. Casting an individual to play one specific person is probably the most significant detail in creating a film like this. However the casting crew did a phenomenal job in selecting Jesse Eisenberg to play the role of Mark Zuckerberg.
As I put some thought into the films I would select to be in my top five, the first one that automatically came to mind was John Hughes's The Breakfast Club (1985). The Breakfast Club, in my opinion this film does an excellent job in expressing issues that universally exist, making it easy to relate to. From beginning to end, the characters and plot develop eventually leading up to a moral message that no matter who you are or where you come from, something as simple as reaching out can help you see past people and how others stereotypically view them. Although this may seem a bit cliche, it is true and by choosing this cast supports it due to how they are characterized. What I enjoyed most about this film are the characters and how the storyline overall develops. The diversity of this group gives viewers an opportunity to see things from each of their perspectives and demonstrates how their actions are what motivate the plot.
Normally I don't fully consider a movie to fall under the genre of action if there are a couple of fighting scenes and the majority is dialogue, unless those scenes are unforgettable. For me to enjoy and action film, there should be back to back action incorporating the usual elements; fighting, punching, blood, explosions, you know, manly stuff. The film Olympus Has Fallen was a great action film that, once reaches the central conflict, involves back to back action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat. Not only does this film have lots of punching, fighting, shooting and explosions but also incorporates a suspense and unexpected plot twists. The protagonist is a highly intelligent man who is constantly thinking on the spot and strategizing different ways to save the president. Additionally this film, focuses on the political aspects of today's world and economy, which involve the ongoing feuding with different countries, giving the movie a more socio-cultural perspective.
As a big Marvel series fan, I without a doubt had to choose a film that involves my all time favorite superhero which is The Amazing Spider-Man also known as Peter Parker. Although I can go on and on about Spider-Man I'll break down the essential parts on why I specifically enjoyed this film more than the trilogy that came out prior to this film. Aside from all the action and web slinging, I admired how this film was created and based on the actual comic series, rather than doing a slight spinoff of it. Don't get me wrong I did in fact enjoy the trilogy but just happen to enjoy the more recent one. This is so because of the different aspects such as the original storyline and especially the characters. Peter Parker is someone many people can relate to as a normal teenager and a school student. He undergoes many emotional and life dilemmas which, reminds audience members that Peter Parker is in fact a real human being with real life problems. This is something I highly admire because he isn't characterized as this invincible, manly superhero figure who has very little emotions. 
What I enjoy about Alexander Payne's The Descendants (2011) is that the genre, which is comedy drama, is noticeable and is highly manifested within the film. Although the plot is mainly focused on a family tragedy, there are various instances and pieces of dialogues that reminds us it is a comedy and make us laugh. Also, the protagonist, Matt King, narrates throughout the film to give the viewers some context on different scenes of the plot to place the setting. The movie's storyline is mainly focused on Matt King's internal and external conflict making him the central focus. By doing this the the story is mainly coming from his perspective and take on the whole situation that revolves around the plot.
Friday, August 16, 2013
What Makes a Great Film?
Blog posts..... Let's get it.
Although there are uncountable ideas on what makes a great film, there are three that stand out to me.
In my opinion it seems to me that the number one thing audience members look for in a movie is an engaging storyline, the one and most important element that connects and holds the entire film together. Although at times the storyline of a film seems jumpy and confusing, if well made, there is always that one aspect or moment within the movie that creates a compelling plot. This essential attribute in a film is what keeps viewers interested in wanting to always know more like what will be the protagonist's or even the antagonist's next move, who will succeed or who will fail or if there will there be a plot twist. One example of a film with an engaging storyline would be Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino (2008). As if he already didn't have enough to deal with, having his family constantly trying to drive him away for their benefit, Korean war veteran Walt Kowalski is living in a crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood forced to confront his own sense of prejudice when a troubled Hmong teenager who lives just one house down attempts to steal his most prized possession. Knowing the main character, Walt Kowalski, the storyline becomes even more interesting as the plot progresses, due to his shocking change of heart. However, the film does come with a rather sad yet satisfying conclusion.
Another significant component is making a great film would be the characters. Of course characters are physically the most important element you need in a film, who they are and their personalities, traits and qualities are what makes them so crucial to the general idea and concept of a film. As a movie gradually moves along in the story, we are able to interpret by a character's actions and words who they are and weather we choose to either like them, dislike them, empathize with or just flat out ignore them no matter how trivial or major they are. Characters are a way of setting the tone for a film and are what the plot mainly revolves around. For example in Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund's Cidade de Dues aka City of God (2002), there are many characters that have different backgrounds and come from different worlds but are all completely essential to the entire plot and how it develops. Theire past, present and future can highly influence the films direction.
Lastly the third attribute in making a great film is production value/mis en scene. A high production value can help set the tone, emotion and meaning of a shot or scene. Although not many audience members pay full attention to the production value of different scenes, it is very crucial to a film. Different elements, major or trivial, that make up the production of a scene or sequence are extremely important depending on what type of scene is taking place. The detail that goes into creating production value is what makes these films so worthy of appreciation, that is to those who notice it. For example in Michael Bay's Transformers (2007), the production value is extremely high, due to the obvious fact of numerous back to back explosions of buildings, cars you name it. These type of elements are what makes a films production value skyrocket.
Although there are uncountable ideas on what makes a great film, there are three that stand out to me.
In my opinion it seems to me that the number one thing audience members look for in a movie is an engaging storyline, the one and most important element that connects and holds the entire film together. Although at times the storyline of a film seems jumpy and confusing, if well made, there is always that one aspect or moment within the movie that creates a compelling plot. This essential attribute in a film is what keeps viewers interested in wanting to always know more like what will be the protagonist's or even the antagonist's next move, who will succeed or who will fail or if there will there be a plot twist. One example of a film with an engaging storyline would be Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino (2008). As if he already didn't have enough to deal with, having his family constantly trying to drive him away for their benefit, Korean war veteran Walt Kowalski is living in a crime-ridden Detroit neighborhood forced to confront his own sense of prejudice when a troubled Hmong teenager who lives just one house down attempts to steal his most prized possession. Knowing the main character, Walt Kowalski, the storyline becomes even more interesting as the plot progresses, due to his shocking change of heart. However, the film does come with a rather sad yet satisfying conclusion.
Lastly the third attribute in making a great film is production value/mis en scene. A high production value can help set the tone, emotion and meaning of a shot or scene. Although not many audience members pay full attention to the production value of different scenes, it is very crucial to a film. Different elements, major or trivial, that make up the production of a scene or sequence are extremely important depending on what type of scene is taking place. The detail that goes into creating production value is what makes these films so worthy of appreciation, that is to those who notice it. For example in Michael Bay's Transformers (2007), the production value is extremely high, due to the obvious fact of numerous back to back explosions of buildings, cars you name it. These type of elements are what makes a films production value skyrocket.
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