JAWS

I am pleased to say that I have seen Jaws and it is a classic favorite of mine. It was nice to have an excuse to watch it again. The music in this film is infamous. Everyone knows the Jaws music. Whenever I hear it I instantly think of Jaws and sharks. I love sharks and find them fascinating. I look forward to shark week on Discovery Channel every year. That being said,  I am terrified of sharks. I am aware of the odds of a shark attack. They talk about frequently on Shark Week. However, it still makes me nervous to swim in a lake let alone the ocean. This is why this film is scary. Unfortunately, shark attacks have happened and will continue to happen. This fact makes this film scary because it can happen. The ocean is full of mysteries and a giant rogue shark could be out there, who really knows?
The editing in this film also helps in giving this film tension and that scare factor. Cutting back and forth between people on the beach and people playing in the ocean and then to an underwater point of view that can only be the shark. Keeps the audience on their toes and makes them uncomfortable. There is one shot when the chief of police is on the boat with the two other men who are hunting the rogue shark and the chief is literally in the middle of a sentence and it fades out and to a new scene. That was a little wierd and the timing felt off.
As mentioned above the music from this film is infamous and most everyone is familiar with it. The use of music in this film helps to build tension and curiosity. The use of silence is also helpful in this film. It will be an underwater shot from the shark's perspective and you can only hear the water and the muffled sounds of children playing and people enjoying the beach and sunshine. It gives the audience an idea of what the shark hears while at the same time seeing what he sees.
I honestly feel like this film would still do well today in the box office. Imagine seeing a classic like Jaws on the big screen in 3D. Jurassic Park was awesome when they brought that back to theatres and I feel like Jaws would do just as well. Sharks are still real and attacks are still happening so the scary aspect is still there. Jaws is awesome and always will be.

DANCES WITH WOLVES

I had never seen this movie before this class and I was a little worried that it would be a snooze fest. I had a hard time watching Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and I was sure this would be another tough one to sit through. However, I was pleasently surprised at how much I enjoyed this movie. It is a little bit of a western with the gun fights, monologue, and wide open landscape shots but I believe it is mostly a drama due to the real life characters in real life situations. It also has Man vs. Man and Man vs. Nature as well as diary entries. Throughout the film Kevin Costner writes in a journal about his experiences with the indians and such. 

Music plays an important role in this movie. It helps set the mood and scene for the movie. It is only instrumental music with no words or singing which is fitting for this movie. I think it would be odd to put songs with lyrics in this movie. It would throw things off. It can go from peaceful music showing the open landscape as Kevin Costner rides horseback to being anxious about the sound he hears in the early morning light creeping around his fort which turns out to be his beloved horse to pain and sadness when watching the infamous wolf Two Socks is killed. It really helps put the audience in the moment and feel the emotions the characters are feeling. 

Overall, this was a great film and I am glad that I have now seen some of these amazing films in class. The acting was very good in my opinion. Stands with a Fist is very believable. You feel her pain as she is mourning for her husband and her fear of the white men when she encounters John on the prairie. I love the way the actors portrayed the language barrier. Keven acting out a buffalo and then Stands with a Fist trying to remember how to speak english. Even later in the film when she's had practice she has some trouble and it is believable and realistic. It was a very well done film and it absolutely deserved to win the Oscar. There is a little of everything in this film. There is lonliness, trimph, sadness, anger, love and romance, war, drama, and even a little humor. It tells a believable and evertaining story. 

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

This film was a bit slow for me. However, there are good attributes about this film. This film's theme is about changing yourself to become who you want to be but not completely losing oneself. Abrahams is trying to be himself but he also wants to win the olympics as a jewish runner. Little wants to win as well but is torn because he also wants to follow God. The acting in this film is fairly decent. It is believable and draws you in. They bring life to the characters and make them relatable. The music isn't bad either in this film. It also helps make you feel like you are apart of the film and experiencing the highs and lows with the characters. Production design was well thought out and portrayed. The costumes are good and help set the time. The editing is a big part in every film and this film was well edited. I believe it was the story line that is a bit slow for me but the editing helps it along and keeps you interested in the plot. It is a relatable story due to the fact that the antagonist is themselves. They need to stop holding themselves back. That is relatable and well recieved in any time line. People will always second guess themselves and worry what other people think. The human race will never be able to trust that we are good enough and worthy. The characters depict this very well. That is what I pulled from the film.

ROCKY

Rocky is a well made film with a good, accurate story line. It is not hard to see why it won Best Picture. It is a Cinderella story that is uplifting and gives the feel good vibe.
Diegetic Sound: An example of this is when Rocky is training and he is running and there is a train in the background as he runs through the field. You can see it and hear it and you know the sound is coming from the train. 
Non-Diegetic Sound: An example of this is from the same scene as above when Rocky is running and the Eye of the Tiger song is playing. It adds to the scene but it isn't part of Rocky's world. He doesn't hear the music. 
Off-screen Sound: An example of this would be when Rocky and Adrian are sitting on the couch watching TV and Adrian's brother comes home and is yelling at Adrian and saying mean things to her. The camera remains on Rocky and Adrian but you can hear her brother yelling. 
Theme: This films scene is about Rocky finding himself. He wants to win the big fight and prove he is more than just a leg breaker for the mob. 
Save the cat: Rocky wanting to be with Adrian. Even her own brother thinks it is hopeless and that she will never marry. He gives her a chance and sees beauty where others do not. 
Another instance is when Rocky doesn't break the thumb of a guy who owes the mob leader money. He believes him when he says he will get the money and gives him a chance to follow through with his promise. It makes the mob leader angry but Rocky wants to give him a chance. 
I believe another moment is when he gives his previous trainer another opportunity to be his trainer. His trainer doesn't believe in him until after he gets invited to the big fight. Rocky originally tells him no when he first asks but then gives in and lets him be his trainer. 
These relate to the anti hero because Rocky is a leg breaker for the mob but he also has a heart. He wants to be more and show people he is more than just muscle. It was well recieved because it is a good story with a feel good vibe and people can feel for the characters and relate. 

AMADEUS

       Amadeus was an interesting film. It is not what I had expected at all. I am not really sure what I thought it would be about but my mind never once went to Mozart. It was very well done. I often do not think of these famous people as regular people. What kind of life did they have and how they lived. The costumes in this film are very extravagant. Big, full dresses and lots of hats. Almost everyone is wearing a dramatic hat at one point or another in this film. The circle that Mozart runs in is high up in social standing so there are parties all the time and costumes for the parties. As in the characters in the film are dressing up and wearing masks for the parties and other events. The use of color in this film mostly light with dark dramatic costumes and props. It makes them pop and more noticable. However, there are parts in this film when the color pallet is dull and toned down. For instance when Mozart is writing the opera for whom he thinks is his father's ghost he is troubled. He is in a dark place and the use of color helps bring you in to his darkness. If not for the candles and the fire it would be pitch black dark. There isn't much color in the costumes and the set. It makes you focus on Mazart and what he is going through.
     The production design also helps to portray the story. In the beginning when we first see the mental hospital it gives you a sense of hopelessness. There are men literally in cages. This also helps us to see how far we've come as far as helping those with mental illness since the time of this film. We don't lock them in a place with others like them without help and just forget them. The houses in this film portray extravagance and luxury and riches. While Mozart's home is far from a mansion it also shows us that he is far from living in a dump. There are big fire places and crown molding and large doors windows and fancy chandeliers.
    I think the theme that I took away from this film is to be careful what you wish for. It may seem like something you really want or need at the time but have you looked at the big picture and how whatever it is you want will affect it?

THE GODFATHER

        The Godfather is arguably one of the greatest films of all time. While I didn't particually enjoy it I can still appreciate the film. The film is very serious and the use of color helps portray the emotions in this film. For instance, in the beginning, during the wedding scene it shows the outside and things are bright and cheerful. The characters are in pastel colors and the sun is shining. However, when it switches to the inside where Vito is doing business the lights are dark and there are lots of shadows. This part of the film shows the most drastic change in color. For the most part the rest of the film is in sepia: tans, browns, and off white. There is also a lot of black in this movie. The suits that the men wear are always black and the cars they drive are as well. The long over coats are gray. Lots of low lighting. The use of shadowing was used throughout the film as well. It gives a sense of suspicion, importance, and fear. It is intriguing. It made me want to know more about the character and his business. The camera was more stationary in this film. It does a lot of person to person filming but other than that it stays in one place.
     This film is important even today because it tells us what is going on. Even though we may deny it or ignore it the time of the mob and mobsters existed and still does. Michael is a good guy. He tries very hard to stay out of the family business but in the end he stays loyal to his family and joins the business and takes over for his father. The Godfather is a well made film and deserves credit for that.

REAR WINDOW

 We just finished up watching an Alfred Hitchcock film, Rear Window. This was a great film. It was a little cheesey at times but given its age and what they had to work with at the time it is very well done. I believe the explicit meaning of this film was perserverence and pushing an issue when you know you are right. Do not let people talk you out of things you feel strongly about. The implicit meaning is that you never really know a person. You could be living next to a murderer and never even know it. Someone could be suffering but put on a good show in public. Be kind to others because they might end your life or their own simply because of something you said or did. The ethical issue that this film brings up as far as if you see a nieghbor about to commit suicide but you only know this because you are spying should you report it? I believe that you should. It is absolutely an invasion of privacy by peeking at them through a window but that person needs help. They need to know someone cares. If they get help it could change their life and they could be forever grateful. Or they could be really mad and sue you like the guy on The Incredibles. For me personally i would rest better knowing I tried. Back to the film side of things tho. I honestly feel like the acting in this film was reaaly good. It was believable and relatable. You really get a sense of each character and who they are. That is also a direct result of good directing. The director works closely with the actors to portray the story and this was very well done. The camera movement and lighting also contribute to the high rating of this film. It helps to build suspense and tension. Overall this film is awesome and has made me want to look into more Hitchcock films. Loved this film! 

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

  Our fourth film in class was Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid which falls into the genre, western. The multiple gun fights and wide, open landscapes are dead give aways. The film is pretty good. I can see why back in 1969 it was such a big deal. There is a lot of action and story moves along well. The gun fights are intense and keep you guessing. I believe the implicit meaning to this film is somewhere along the lines of sticking with the people who stick with you. These two friends stand by one another throughout all the obstacles they are faced with. It won the Oscar because the movie was put together well. The script and storline are well written and engaging. Paired with the music in the film it brings it all together to tell a good story. These men, Butch and Kid, are the anti-hero. They aren't doing good things or saving anyone. They are robbing people and trying to find better ways to do so and they also bring in other people and get them involved. However, somehow you still find yourself rooting for them. They are likable and loyal to one another and somehow relatable. Therefore you want them to succeed even if it isn't honorable. This was a good film and was well made but it really wasn't for me. Other than what I feel was the implicit meaning it didn't really say much more than that. Also, even though it was a well made film I am not so sure it would do as well today. Westerns aren't a super popular genre to begin with. It would need updated special affects and better picture. I believe it would suffer a bit in today's world. Although, it wasn't a terrible movie I don't find myself watching this movie again anytime soon. 

SINGING IN THE RAIN

Our third film was Singing in the Rain. I have never seen this film before which has shocked quite a few people. It is a well known classic. I did enjoy it and will be watching it again in the future.

Opening Image:The film starts out with a shot of a movie theatre. It is crowded with people and cars. There are lots of lights including spot lights. It is a big movie premiere. 

Catalyst: The moment that Don Lockwood jumps into Kathy Selden's passing car. They start chatting and getting to know one another. From that point on both of their lives are different. 

Mid-Point: The mid-point in this film is when they have decided to make the talking picture movie into a musical. They will input Kathy's voice as Lina's in this movie and then announce later that it is Kathy's voice and Kathy will become a star. Everyone is on board with the plan and it seems things are falling into place. 

All is Lost: This is after the everyone has seen the film and they are excited to announce that the voice the crowd heard was in fact Kathy's. Then Lina tells them that they cannot. After consulting with her lawyer she tells them that she will sue if Kathy gets her media build up. 

Finale: After hearing the devastating news, Don comes up with a plan. They set Lina up to lip sync and then open the curtains to reveal that the singing voice is actually Kathy's. 

This film is a musical. It has multiple song and dance routines where the cast does the singing and dancing themselves. There is also heavy choreography in this film. As far as I can remember every song had its own dance number. Each dance number was more than a few dance moves. It was well thought out and took practice. 

This film was successful because it was funny, dramatic, and has catchy songs. The characters are fun and relatable. It has comedy, love, music, and even a little suspense. 

Explicit meaning:The conflict of the movie business having to start making talking pictures instead of silent films accompanied by music. 

AMAZING GRACE

Our second movie in class was Amazing Grace. This was the first time I had ever seen this movie and I hosnestly thought it was going to be a bore war but surprisingly I really enjoyed it very much and would watch it again. I noticed a lot about dialogue in this movie and it is very interesting. I dont remember any questions in this film being answered with a straight response. I have never noticed that when watching films but it makes sense. It keeps things flowing along throughout the film as well as gives you more information than direct question and answer. This film did hit each point of good dialogue. However, we are still looking at structure with this film so without further ado here is the structure outline of Amazing Grace. 

• Opening Image: It is a landscape with a trail. It is raining heavily and there is a horse drawn carriage traveling along the trail. They come by a carriage where the horse is laying on it's side and the assumed driver is whipping him to get him up again. William Wilberforce gets out of the traveling carriage in the pouring rain to tell the driver to give the horse a rest and then perhaps it will be ready to travel again. This is our 'Save the Cat Moment'. 
• Theme: William Wilberforce will use his voice to change the world. 
• Set-up: There is a point in the film early on when William can't decide if he wants to do the work of God to change the world or change the world by abolishing the slave trade. He has a dinner with some important people who can and are willing to help Wilberforce get his Bill passed. One man, a former slave, explains that by getting the slavery trade abolished he is doing the work of God and therefore he can do both. 

Another example is the way Wilberforce speaks about spider webs. He has much work to do and he feels as though he is making progress with his Bill but he would rather be looking at spider webs. Later after he succeeds there is a scene where he is sitting outside and next to him is a beautiful and intricate spider web. 

• Catalyst: There is a scene where Wilberforce is playing cards with some men against abolishing the slave trade and one of them would like to bet his slave when he runs out of money. Wilberforce gets up and leaves. He is angry and confused about what to do with his life. Then he has dinner with some soecial guests as mentioned above and is told he can do both by working on passing the Bill. 

The debate starts on what Wilberforce will do. Will he join in the political slave trade abolishment or do the work of God? 

• B-Story: The love story between William and Barbara. 
• Fun & Games: The most powerful scene, in my opinion, is the Madagasscar scene. The Madagasscar is a boat that tranposrted slaves. Wilberforce is talking to some people on a different boat and telling them how it started with 600 slaves but when it arrived it had only 200. The smell they were experiencing was "the smell of death". Wilberforce was trying to rally support and obtain signatures for his Bill and he definitely made a point in this scene. 
• Mid-Point: Wilberforce has some success with his Bill after bringing in 390 thousand signatures of support. The speaker agrees to examine the petition. He has gained support and gotten someone to listen to him. 
• All is Lost: Wilberforce loses the petition, his relationships start become rocky, and he bigins questioning his decision. He takes a break from petitioning and goes to stay with his cousin. 
• Dark night of the soul and debate: After reaching an all time low and leaving his goal to abolish slavery behind to stay with his cousin, Wilberforce meets Barbara. After telling her his story he states that he will tell her how it ends. She tells him it isn't over yet and his work is not yet finished. Wilberforce decides to keep fighting for his cause and announces that he will return to once again submit his Bill. 
• Finale: After an extensive amount of work and perseverance William Wilberforce's Bill is passed at last. He wins his fight. 
• Final Image: Wilberforce recieves a standing ovation after his Bill is finally passed. 

BATMAN BEGINS

 Our first film watched was Batman Begins. I am a Batman fan so I really enjoyed this film. It's Batman! Who isn't a fan, right?   For this particular film we are looking at structure.  

      Act 1

• Opening Image: Bruce and Rachel playing in the yard of a beautiful mansion. Bruce is a well dressed child growing up in an ideal environment. Bruce falls into a well. Then it switches to Bruce in a dirty prison in mismatched, dirty clothing. He then gets into a fight with several other prisoners in a mud pit. 
• Theme: What is the reason for our film? For Bruce Wayne to become more than a man. To become a legend. 
• Set-up: This refers to a particular act which then later in the film pays off. There are several examples of this in this film.

In the very beginning of the film Bruce and Rachel are fighting to keep an arrowhead. Rachel originally finds it and Bruce wants it. She tells him she found it and 'Finders Keepers'. Bruce tricks her into taking it from her. Later in the film after Bruce returns from his absence, Rachel brings him a gift and it turns out to be the arrowhead with a note that reads, 'Finders Keepers'. Set-up and pay off.                                           

Another example is when Bruce is in the alley after being thrown out of Falcone's  restaurant and he decides to diasppear so he takes the cash out of his wallet and drops it in a fire barrel. He then trades coats with a homeless man. Later in the film as he is dressed as Batman he sees the homeless man again and tells him, 'Nice coat'. Set-up and pay off.                                                                                                          My final example is when Bruce makes the remark to his butler about how if he had his way he would tear down Wayne Mansion brick by brick. At the end of the film as Bruce walks around his burnt down home Rachel asks him what he will do now. Bruce's response is, 'Rebuild it, exactly how it was, brick for brick.'. 

• Catalyst: The catalyst is a life changing moment. In this film it is when Bruce's parents are killed in the alley by the desperate homeless man. His life is forever changed in that moment. 
• Debate: This is when Bruce must decide what he will do next. He can move on with his life and become the man his parents were raising him to be or he let his guilt and anger take over.                                                                                                                    

       Act 2

• B-Story: The B-Story is the other story that helps the theme and main atory along. In Batman Begins this is the story of Falcone and his drugs and his involvment with Dr. Crane and the asylum. Which actually turns out to be part of Raz Algule's plan. 
• Fun & Games: This would be the things shown in the movie trailor. When Bruce is training to become a member of the league of shadows, when Batman takes down Falcone and his men, or when he is driving in his Bat Mobile. Any of these scenes and many more in this film. 
• Mid Point: This refers to when things have reached a high and now start spiraling down. Bruce's relationships start to unravel a bit after he has become Batman and done so much to save Gotham but things aren't working out as well as planned. Which leads us to:
• All is lost and the dark night in of the soul: The bad guys move in and it seems things are going to work out in thier favor. When Raz returns in the film for revenge on Bruce and to finish his plans for Gotham is when things seem to be at a low. Bruce is feeling hopeless and as though he has ruined everything he family has built. There is also another debate period at this time. What does Bruce do now that everything is lost. Will he rise to the challenge or will the bad guys win?                                                      

      Act 3

• Finale: The big ending. Batman, with the help of some good guys, takes down Raz and his men and saves the city of Gotham. 
• Final Image: Bruce is cleaning up what is left of his family mansion and his relationships are better than ever. The bad guys have been taken care of and he can start to rebuild the city and continue his mission to make Gotham a safer city. There is also some setup at the very end when Gordon tells him to look into a criminal called the joker which is the plot for sequel.