When I first saw this movie in class, for some odd reason I knew that the Wyatt Earp reminded me of another character in a movie that I had seen before and at first I couldn't think of who it was, but I finally figured it out at the end of the movie: he reminded me of HawkEye from The Last of the Mohicans! I later realized it because last year in APAL, we saw that movie to go along with the changes in the literary movements and how Americans writers began to move away from the European-type writing and this is how classic American writers not only introduced a new genre, but also new defenitions of the classic American hero. So anyway, both the hero in My Darling Clementine (Wyatt Earp) and the movie itself, remind me of HawkEye and The Last of the Mohicans because both heroes share similarities for the causes for which they are respectively fighting.
To begin with, both Wyatt Earp and Hawkeye typically represent the elements of the classic American hero. In Wyatt Earp's case,
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
citizen kane
I have to admit that when I was first presented with this movie, the first thought to run through my mind was something like this: "Black and white? Are you kidding? What kind of knowledge can we gain from a film that was made before I was even born?" Boy, was I wrong. I think that the best knowledge that I gained through watching this movie was all the elements that fall under the catagory of cinematography.
My favorite part in the entire movie was how the producers were able to emphasize and focus their attention on Charles Foster Kane through other means other than just showing him talk all the time. What I mean by this is the certain part of the movie where Kane is both literally and figuratively the mere center of attention. For example, towards the beginning of the movie, Kane is shown playing outside through the window pane while the three adults are deciding how Kane will live for the rest of his life. Also, there is an instance once Kane is grown up where there is a party going on with the new associates of The Inquirer in which Kane is shown dancing histerically with the women again through the reflection of a window and in this scene, Leland and Bernstein are talking about what the think of their partner and boss, Charles Kane. I just think that even with the lack of cool cinematic effects back in those earlier days, producers and directors were able to capture and unravel the importance of their main character in a way that was depicted through more than just words.
My second favorite part of the cinematic element was how depending on the lighting, the mood, the overall atmosphere, and even the symbolism portrayed instantaneously changed based on the lighting. For example, the part right after the newsreel is finished playing and the newspaper critics are united in a room, the lighting used is extremely low key because we are unable to recognize or even identify every single character on set. In this scene, and also the one in which Kane is getting ready to sign his Declaration of Principles, the low key lighting is used to add intensity and drama; it makes the characters appear shady and dishonest. Who would have known that with the right lighting, the meaning of a scene can change completely?
Overall, I guess my hypothesis was wrong because I actually ended up learning a whole lot out of this movie, not to mention that I also absolutely loved it! I guess it doesn't matter the quality of the equipment that is used; it matters more the the extra time and sacrifice that the movie makers are willing to put into the movie to create an amazing film.
My favorite part in the entire movie was how the producers were able to emphasize and focus their attention on Charles Foster Kane through other means other than just showing him talk all the time. What I mean by this is the certain part of the movie where Kane is both literally and figuratively the mere center of attention. For example, towards the beginning of the movie, Kane is shown playing outside through the window pane while the three adults are deciding how Kane will live for the rest of his life. Also, there is an instance once Kane is grown up where there is a party going on with the new associates of The Inquirer in which Kane is shown dancing histerically with the women again through the reflection of a window and in this scene, Leland and Bernstein are talking about what the think of their partner and boss, Charles Kane. I just think that even with the lack of cool cinematic effects back in those earlier days, producers and directors were able to capture and unravel the importance of their main character in a way that was depicted through more than just words.
My second favorite part of the cinematic element was how depending on the lighting, the mood, the overall atmosphere, and even the symbolism portrayed instantaneously changed based on the lighting. For example, the part right after the newsreel is finished playing and the newspaper critics are united in a room, the lighting used is extremely low key because we are unable to recognize or even identify every single character on set. In this scene, and also the one in which Kane is getting ready to sign his Declaration of Principles, the low key lighting is used to add intensity and drama; it makes the characters appear shady and dishonest. Who would have known that with the right lighting, the meaning of a scene can change completely?
Overall, I guess my hypothesis was wrong because I actually ended up learning a whole lot out of this movie, not to mention that I also absolutely loved it! I guess it doesn't matter the quality of the equipment that is used; it matters more the the extra time and sacrifice that the movie makers are willing to put into the movie to create an amazing film.
Monday, October 1, 2007
journal #2
Animated films don’t tend to get the publicity that other classic films do. Before watching Pixar’s “Finding Nemo”, I would’ve known why, but this film absolutely changed the way that I perceived animated films. I first saw this movie in 2003 when it hit the big screen and ever since, I can honestly say that it has been one of my all-time favorite, even compared to Disney films and that’s a pretty big deal. But I began to appreciate it much more viewing it the second time around because I caught on to aspects and elements that make the film terrific that I wouldn’t have noticed sitting in a movie theatre, chomping away on buttery popcorn.
“Finding Nemo” is a revolutionary work of art because it has so much to offer: vibrant and high quality pictures along with an explosive story. It is safe to say that this film literally takes your breath way because it’s almost as if you are experiencing the entire thing first-hand and are swimming helplessly through Sydney and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef alongside Marlin (Albert Brooks) in the quest to find his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). The artists that worked on this movie really stepped up to their game because they filled the picture with finely detailed seascapes that emphasize the reality of this underwater phenomenon.
The story really begins when Marlin is forced to take his son, Nemo, to school due to Nemo’s excessive curiosity and tenacious spirit. Marlin is seen playing the role of the overprotective father because of his wife’s death and the implements that this event caused on Nemo, which was the result of a “bad fin”. However, when Nemo’s curiosity and Marlin’s fatherly devotion clashed in the dangerous Drop-Off, Nemo was suddenly taken by some divers (which turned out to be a dentist in Sydney) in his attempt to prove to his father that he was bigger and braver than he appeared. Consequently, Marlin swam uncontrollably through the life threatening ocean, encountering sharks, jellyfish, and other obstacles in his journey to save Nemo. Through the chaos, Marlin is acquainted with Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a blue tang fish whose short-term memory loss adds comedy to the drama. What Marlin does not know, however, is that he is basically racing against time because within days, Nemo will be given away as a gift to Darla, the dentist’s niece, a little girl whose lack of expertise with fish can lead Nemo to turn belly-up.
Director and screenplay writer Andrew Stanton created a magnificent motion picture because he made everything come together as funny and also emotionally captivating. The filmmakers from Pixar know what they want and where they are headed because they are aware of the type of films that movie watchers want to see. They set a tone and mood that is appropriate for children, all while staying within the boundary of the humor that the parents perceive. “Finding Nemo” is definitely one of America’s finest animated films because it is imaginative and engaging for viewers of all ages. It’s sweet, totally.
“Finding Nemo” is a revolutionary work of art because it has so much to offer: vibrant and high quality pictures along with an explosive story. It is safe to say that this film literally takes your breath way because it’s almost as if you are experiencing the entire thing first-hand and are swimming helplessly through Sydney and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef alongside Marlin (Albert Brooks) in the quest to find his son, Nemo (Alexander Gould). The artists that worked on this movie really stepped up to their game because they filled the picture with finely detailed seascapes that emphasize the reality of this underwater phenomenon.
The story really begins when Marlin is forced to take his son, Nemo, to school due to Nemo’s excessive curiosity and tenacious spirit. Marlin is seen playing the role of the overprotective father because of his wife’s death and the implements that this event caused on Nemo, which was the result of a “bad fin”. However, when Nemo’s curiosity and Marlin’s fatherly devotion clashed in the dangerous Drop-Off, Nemo was suddenly taken by some divers (which turned out to be a dentist in Sydney) in his attempt to prove to his father that he was bigger and braver than he appeared. Consequently, Marlin swam uncontrollably through the life threatening ocean, encountering sharks, jellyfish, and other obstacles in his journey to save Nemo. Through the chaos, Marlin is acquainted with Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), a blue tang fish whose short-term memory loss adds comedy to the drama. What Marlin does not know, however, is that he is basically racing against time because within days, Nemo will be given away as a gift to Darla, the dentist’s niece, a little girl whose lack of expertise with fish can lead Nemo to turn belly-up.
Director and screenplay writer Andrew Stanton created a magnificent motion picture because he made everything come together as funny and also emotionally captivating. The filmmakers from Pixar know what they want and where they are headed because they are aware of the type of films that movie watchers want to see. They set a tone and mood that is appropriate for children, all while staying within the boundary of the humor that the parents perceive. “Finding Nemo” is definitely one of America’s finest animated films because it is imaginative and engaging for viewers of all ages. It’s sweet, totally.
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