His Girl Friday

The 1940's romantic comedy (His Girl Friday) By Howard Hanks took me by surprise because, even though it was in black and white, it didn't take any thing away from the greatness of the film. The film was put into very fast dialogue and the entire picture was quick and fast paced. That made the movie more enjoyable because there was never a dull moment and when there was no talking, people were running around all over the place trying to get information. This movie is actually a perfect example of what a romantic comedy "should be like" because in the end, the two main characters do get together. This movie surprised me with all of the long takes, for all the acting and the screen play. i really did enjoy this movie.

Unforgiven

Clint Eastwood does it again! The movie Unforgiven, directed by Clint Eastwood, brought back the western with alot of new matirial. Will Munny(Eastwood) plays the part of a washed-up old cowboy, whom had in the past been a ferocious outlaw. It gives the story of his life after his day of killing to a day of when he tries not to remember what happened in the past. Until the schollfield kid gives him an offer that he finds quite intriguing. From there we see what 10 years away from his holster has done to him.
When Clint first recieved this script back in the 1970's, he was hesitant about doing it because he wanted to look more the part for the older cowboy. I think i would have done the same because, what he had also done was bring back the western with many new cinamatic techniques, that wouldnt have been able to be acomplished in the 70's. Also the camera clarity really helped with the tone of the movie, it made it seem more believable that you were there.
He did a very nice job with the casting of this movie, With Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris, you have set yourself up for a pretty sweet movie. The element that i like about this movie is the double plot. As well as seeing Will's story you see Little Bill's and you get to see them meet up. This i one of my favorite movies...for now...

Stagecoach up in here

After watching Citizen Cane(Orson Welles) I began to appreciate the aspect of old films. Stagecoach was an interesting movie to watch because, i didn't necessarily like it but i was intrigued to watch it. Not only did the movie have important things to offer the film industry, but it opened the doors to an actor who in later years would be very successful. I like movies with no-name actors because it is easier to be brought into the film. What it brought so society is the (revisited) original western. Almost half of this movie is based inside the stagecoach, which at times to the "un art of filmed eye" would find to be boring. But to me, I view it as at time when there is not too much going on in the background, which sets up a perfect time when important dialogue or inferred actions could take place. The flow of the movie as well as the storyboard of main events, was kind of odd. Everytime there was a break in the movie, which was in the town center,a moment of calmness arose.
The movie was intruiging, not great, but intruiging.
And one more thing, th set of the first city was the same as lordsburg....

Journal # 3

he 2003 release of Finding Nemo(Andrew Stanton) captured the hearts of millions around the world with the story of a father in search of his lost son. The heart filled story created by Pixar Animation Studios "trumps the design glamour of earlier Pixar films"-Time Magazine. Apart from the Oscar winning story, I think the audience was intrigued by the animation.
Pixar created in 1985, is a break off company of Buena Vista Disney studios, which created original cartoon films such as 'Jungle Book', 101 Dalmatians, as well as many more. Pixar became famous for its CGI(Computer Generated Images)motion pictures, including 'Toy Story', 'Monsters Inc.' and 'Cars' .
Finding Nemo is special in the way that there are many characters and obstacles to render. Although with new technology the images have become easer to create, and produce. The CGI gives you a feel of a more 3 dimensional look, emphasizing that you are there(see picture above). This movie in particular is based in all water so the artists had the challenge of making the characters look like they were swimming in the ocean.
The acting of this movie is quite different than most movies because before any of the drawings or images are created the voice over actors have already finished the movie with dialogue. Then the artists match the sounds with the drawings. Marlin the main character played by Albert brooks, was a former writer and director for SNL back in 1976. His voice is easily recognized and is very fluent to hear, he plays a good protective father role. As well Ellen DeGeneres who plays Dory, a kind hearted fish with short term memory loss. As said on her own show 'Ellen' She had an easy time playing the character because she can connect with Dory so easily.
The final product. When this movie first made its way to the silver screen, critics and all who saw were amazed.
"Finding Nemo would be terrific regardless of its pedigree, but as a fith in a seemingly endless line of quality productions it sets a standard that few can presume to challenge"-Rolling stone Magazine
Personally when is saw this movie i cried, not to sound like a sobbing sally, but it was so good that those tears of raw emotion needed to proceed down my face with a glorified glimmer to all that saw. But honestly, the effect that really got me was the digital element, because you could see almost real life human emotion in these fish, because if this movie were to be done in regular animations you would have not gotten the same reaction.
I know i wouldn't have.

Here In Xanadu!

Im going to talk about what i thought was most deffinatly a fantastic movie in my eyes. "Citizen Kane" as they call it these days has me looking at movies ever so differently now. Mostly because of the cinematic elements, mainly focousing on the editing, because a brilliant man named Orson Welles decided to do things a little differently.
Staring with the beginning 'Kane' gives his last word 'rosebud' which would be the end of the movie if he didn't start with it, am i right? So by placing shots of what is going to happen to the future instead of telling the story of how it happened, Wells pioneered a new way of expressing a series of events (story). What i don't seem to realize in movies today is that alot of them copy this idea of rearanging the plot.
Another thing that i liked was the progression of power in Kane, this was shown well by getting different camera shots to emphasise his mood or control. For example in the very begining the camera is looking down on him or level showing that he is not in any athourity to say or do anything important. Whereas when he is giving his political speech the angle is low showing how he has lots of confidence and power.
Based upon the time, and conditions this movie was to be made in, movies today still use these techniques and arrangements.

Rosebud

Journal Numero Dos

Yes i did it, West Side Story. Origionally a musical by Arthur Laurents(book), Leonard Bernstein(music), and Stephen Sondheim(lyrics), but was redone by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins in 1961 for an outstanding 10 academy awards. The Story of a "modern" Romeo and Juliet, Maria(Natalie Wood), a Puerto Rican Girl of 13 falls in love with Tony(Richard Beymer) a young ambitious boy of 18. Screenplay by Ernest Lehman, and chief of cinematography Daniel L. Fapp.
The Main plot, takes place in 1957 in New York. This is the uprising of gangs in the united states, the story follows mostly to Romeo and Juliet. Tony and Maria are two love birds dived by their social groups, the Sharks(Puerto Ricans) and the Jets(whites/non-Hispanic). the two fall in love and are struggling to be together by the gang violence and racial discrimination.
The thing i love about this movie is that Jerome robbins took what was looked down upon by nature(gang fights) and made it a beautiful art by dancing. I recently watched "the History of Gangs" on the history channel and saw that "rumbles" and knife fights were common gestures by hoodlums. Most musicals mainly focus on the music and singing, but this movie mostly pointed light at the dancing.
Richard Beymer(tony) plays a hard role in my opinion, he is a former jet and has moved on to become an adult. But his best friend Riff(George Chakiris) convinces him into going to a dance to help him with his gang business. Where as there he instantly falls in love with Beautifull Natalie Wood(WHO WOULDN'T!) It was a very convincing performance by Beymer because he captured what usually takes months if not years in about two minutes.
The only thing that took away from the film was the diologue probably because it was written in the 50's but also because these words seemed to distract me from the movie itself. Some of these words include (wop, coolie cool,wam bam,and dadie-o) if i ever hear someone say any of these words i will slap them in the face with a banana.
Some themes that i noticed were eternal love, as well as eternal rivalry, but the most important or should i say significant is that love conquers all. As cheesy as that is i have to say it because the whole film is built upon this structure.
As far as dramatic aspects, they didn't have to do much for costumes and settings, since this took place roughly the same time as it was filmed.
The most defining shot i thought in the whole movie to capture an element was the beginning shot. It was a high angle but instead of making the characters look insignificant it actually made them look more power full. this is because they seemed to all be looking at the camera with anger, almost if they were rebelling against the camera.
The most famous thing about the movie was without question the Music! Something that i picked up about it was that the famous motif we all have been taking about has shown up about 3 or 4 times with different songs. Including the most famous song "Maria" and the quintet (sung with all the main characters) "Tonight"
In my opinion the best movie to capture a real life event, especially because in the end...

Director Stephen Spielberg (God) had made a movie back in 1993 that stunned me and the rest of the world. The novel Jurassic Park by Michael Chriton was the story of a man named Hohn Hammond, who had created/bio-engenered living dinosaurs. The story goes on as a group of scientists,Laywers, and a few kids went out to inspect and tour the island that the park is on. Speilberg has put it on the silver scrren and did a wonderful job retelling the story of how the giant beasts got loose from their cages and created havoc amonst the park.
The main reason that it amazed me was because of Spielbergs decision to use CGI technology instead of stop motion claymation. This was a risky job because the computers of that time didnt have the efficent software they do today. In the end it worked out wonderfully and i give this movie a 200% rating. Thank you Stephen for poineering the wonderfull world of CGI.