Modern Silent Film Questions

Questions for blog posting:
1) What differences do you see in traditional silent films and films of today?

Traditional silent films generally do not have any sound coming from the movie at all other than music, but today's films had some start.
2) Which do you prefer?

I like both for different reasons.  I think that modern films, such as Momentos and Nuit Blanchet are really cool with their newer technology, and I can relate to them more, but I also love the traditional silent films such as Charlie Chaplin.  I think that because I'm used to such faster paced movies, I prefer watching modern silent films.
3) How will you use these differences in your own work?

I originally thought that I wanted to make a traditional silent film, but after watching these films, I'm going to think about it more and make a better decision of what I should choose.

Georges Melies

Answer the following questions in a blog post:
1) What did you notice/learn about Melies' style?
Melies' style is very different and strange, which makes it really cool.  He likes to have supernatural characters and magic.
2) Were there consistent elements in his films? What were they?
One really consistent element was his use of camera tricks, or special effects.  Melies really knew how to use the camera to make things look magical, which was especially impressive for the time he was making films in.
3) Did you enjoy his films? Which ones? Why?
Yes, I really enjoyed how creative and clever all of his films are.  Everything that happens is totally unexpected.  I specifically enjoyed The One Man Band - 1900  and The Prolific Magical Egg - 1902.  Both of those films had really cool effects and I imagine that seeing those when they originally came out was really amazing.
4) What will you take away with you from watching these films?
I'm really impressed with how well Melies used the camera and could have such cool effects, especially because film was so new.  I will take away a big appreciation Melies' innovation and creativity.

Hoosiers Film Review

Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman, is the story of the underdog team, the Hickory Huskies, in their journey to the state championship basketball game in Indiana.  Shot in 1986, the true events of the film take place in 1952.  After the small farm town of Hickory, Indiana loses it's basketball coach, Coach Norman Dale enters the scene in an effort to improve the team's technical skills, and truly teach the boys how to play basketball.  Coach Dale makes some controversial decisions, such as bringing the town drunk, Shooter, onto the coaching staff.  The stubborn town is not keen for change, and with less success than anticipated, thanks in large part to the missing star of the team, Jimmy, Coach Dale is put up for review for the town council.  Jimmy saves Coach Dale's job as he promises to play, but only if Coach stays.  With Jimmy back on the team, and Coach Dale's efforts finally paying off, the Hickory Huskies suddenly become wildly successful and progress towards the state championship.

This is not just a story of a basketball team, but it includes the romance of Coach Dale and Ms. Fleener, Jimmy's care taker and a teacher at the school.  It also tells the story of Shooter, who rises up from his poor habits as the town drunk to help coach the team, and fix his relationship with his son.  As the preacher alludes in the pre game pep talk before the state championship, this is the story of David and Goliath, which gives us hope that the underdog always has a chance.

Because the film was shot in the 80's, it is not quite as artistically made as one made today, but the film angles and lighting is very good.  Additionally, the basketball was staged very well, and captured well on screen with much of it in slow motion so we can see what's really going on.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed the film.  It was a very inspirational story, and I would recommend it to anyone who likes sports movies, or the classic "underdog" films.  It can certainly be enjoyed by people of all ages, and is worth a watch.

The Artist Critique

1) Describe the film.
The Artist is a black and white silent film set in the late 1920's and 1930's.  It is the story of a silent film star, George Valentin, who goes from being on top of Hollywood to being in bankruptcy.  While he's on top, George meets Peppy Miller, a woman who goes from being a nobody to rising to the top as "talkies" become the new big thing.  The two obviously have a connection from the time they meet, and as George crashes and burns (literally), Peppy helps lift him back up as the two discover the next big thing of being a tap dancing duo.
2) How is the story driven?  By the characters or plot?
The story is driven by both characters and plot.  Because the film was silent, the main focus was simply on their ability to act with their facial expressions and body language.  George and Peppy were extremely lovable characters without even having to speak.  In that way, the story was character driven; however, it was also the plot of their story that drove the film.  I was constantly wondering when George and Peppy would get together and how their story would play out.  Additionally, the story took a turn as George entered a depression.  I enjoyed the movie not only because it had great plot, but also because I loved the characters.
3) Talk about the cinematography.  How was the use of lighting, acting, camera angles scene development used to help enhance the film?
Filming the movie in black and white was very effective.  I especially enjoyed the beginning when the point of view switched between people watching a film, and George behind the screen, and actually seeing the film.  That really created a good idea of what watching a film in the late 1920's was like.  The film looked old fashioned while at the same time using modern technology and seeming modern in that way.
4) What was you favorite scene from the film?  Why? Describe the scene as well as how it was shot.
My favorite scenes were when Peppy first comes to the set of George's movie and they do the tap dancing sequence back and forth.  There is such anticipation for when they will actually see and recognize each other as they are separated by that screen.  Additionally, I love the way the scene when Peppy is racing to George's house and he is contemplating killing himself was shot.  Specifically, I was really impressed with the scene when George has the gun pointed up his mouth, and there is a screen that says BANG!, but then shows that it was actually Peppy crashing the car and rushing into see George.  The fact that that scene was silent made it even more suspenseful.
5) What is the experience of watching a silent film like? How does it relate to watching a "talkie"?
Watching a silent film makes you focus more on the film.  Sometimes when I'm watching a "talkie", I do other things and don't pay attention because I'm "listening" to it (when in reality I'm just not focused on it).  I was surprised at how much I felt like I actually got to know the characters, despite the lack of dialogue.  The experience is similar to watching a "talkie" for that reason: you still love the characters, and follow everything that is going on with them.
6) Would you encourage others to view the film?  Why or why not?
I would definitely encourage others to view The Artist.  I did not think that I would really enjoy watching a silent film because I thought it would be boring, but I was very pleasantly surprised with how much I loved it.  I think it was a great story and it made me appreciate the time period and the simplicity of watching a silent film.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Fiml Review

Film Review 1

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third movie in the Harry Potter series.  Famous for being "the boy who lived", the orphaned Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts for his third year.  With Sirius Black on the loose, Harry is at risk for being attacked by one of the darkest wizards in the history of the wizarding world.  The plot thickens as Harry finds out that although he was the cause of Harry's parent's death, Sirius was his father's best friend, and remains his own Godfather.  To protect the castle, Hogwarts becomes home to dementors, who suck the happiness and souls out of anyone they plant their "kiss" on.  With Sirius on the loose, and the constant fear of dementors, Harry learns in his divination class about the dark omens facing his near future, and learns how to fight off dementors from his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Remus Lupin (who happens to be a werewolf).  After seeing Hagrid (Harry's friend, and the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher)'s pet hippogriph, Buckbeak innocently killed, Harry's real adventure begins with his best friends Ron and Hermione by his side.  After Ron is carried off by a wild dog, Hermione and Harry chase them, only to find out that the dog is none other than Sirius Black, who is actually innocent of causing Lilly and James Potter's death.  In fact, it was Peter Petigrew, who has been in hiding as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers.  When the full moon is revealed, and Lupin turns into a werewolf, chaos ensues as Pettigrew escapes, and Harry and Sirius are attacked by Dementors but are saved by who Harry believes to be his father.  Sirius is captured and is set to have his soul sucked out until the ever-wise Albus Dumbledore comes to the rescue with the idea of turning back the time.  Harry and Hermione go back in time to try to save two innocent lives and uncover the mystery of who really saved Harry and Sirius.  Because this is a film in a series, both character development and plot line were extremely important.  The series shows Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they mature each year, as was evident in the film.  Additionally, Harry's discovery of his Godfather and other discoveries about his parent's past adds to the plot of the entire series.

Not only was the story in The Prisoner of Azkaban impressive, and incredibly entertaining, but also the cinematography was outstanding.  One of the most entertaining scenes was at the beginning, when out of anger, Harry turns Aunt Marge into an inflating woman, who continuously expands and floats away into the sunset as Harry leaves his aunt and uncle's house.  Additionally, the filming of all of the flying and scenery around the castle is amazing.  And, of course, the special effects are outstanding to show all of the magic.  The lighting also added a lot to the film.  One prominent example is whenever the dementors come, the lighting is very dark, and all happiness is gone from the scene.  The cinematography in The Prisoner of Azkaban is quite possibly the best of all of the movies in the series.

Finally, my overall opinion of the film is very positive.  Although I may be biased because I love the books, it is not only the story that I love.  The film was beautifully shot, and although the plot was the main focus of the film, the cinematography greatly enhanced the film.  I would most certainly recommend this film to people of all ages for it's excellent plot and good use of lighting and angles.

Short Film Blow Out

Two Men
1.  In 50 words or less tell what the film was about.
The film is about why you never stop two men running down the street.  It goes in to all of the different scenarios that run through a man's head about why they could be running, and you never stop them because you just never know.
2.  What was more important/memorable/significant?  The plot or the characters?  Why?
I think that the plot was more significant because we didn't really get to know the characters.  It was the message that was more important because it was told us about the type of life they lead and could have applied to anyone.
3.  What did you take away from the film?
I took away the understanding that some things aren't for us to judge, because we never really know why someone is doing what they're doing.  If you try to stop them, you could be making a mistake.

Tokyo Glow
1.  In 50 words or less tell what the film was about.
The film is about the fast pace life in Tokyo, but shows the light man from a crosswalk sign slowly walking through it all, wearing all white.  It ends with him seeing the light up girl from the ladies bathroom sign, he pauses, and it ends.
2.  What was more important/memorable/significant?  The plot or the characters?  Why?
I think that the plot is more important because the character (the crosswalk man) is mostly important because he shows the slower pace of how fast the world around it is going.  The message is mainly about how fast the world around us is moving.
3.  What did you take away from the film?
The world around us moves incredibly fast, and it's important to slow down and appreciate the beauty of everything around us.  It has a very dream-like feel because it shows the light-up man walking around the city.