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.