Boyhood is filled with different cinematic elements in different unique ways, giving the movie some perfection with elegance and reach into your heart with family matter. The element I would like to focus on from the film is on editing.
In the film, editing was used effectively when the main character Mason was moving out from his home at a young age always from his friends and the friends that he knows with his family. The scene transitioned from Mason being at a very young age and moving out to the impact it has had on him in the next scene which taken of him the next year. It shows Mason being impacted with living in a new home in which his mother meets her new husband Bill and Mason's family moving in with them. The editing was shot well with them moving out and how it impacted the family with moving in with Bill's family and Mason personally changing with his personality and his attitude.
Another important moment where editing was important was the scene where Mason arrived home late while his mother was throwing a party. Mason has dramatically changed from the previous scene he has been in with being normal and behaving very shy and the mother being concern for her child to Mason's mother throwing a party and Mason coming back home past curfew and telling his mom the truth that he has being drinking and smoking with his friends. The editing went from Mason and his mother being innocent and having a strong between them to Mason and his mom being separated and Mason behaving like as if he doesn't care about anything in the world. The editing shows how much as one year can have an impact on the individual and who they really are.
The scene where it was least effective was towards the and of the end of the film when Mason was talking with a girl about the moment and their opinions on the subject. This coming from the previous came almost out of nowhere with this small inspiring conversation about "moment" and jus Mason and the girl talking. The scene wasn't that necessary when compared to other scenes where Mason himself was dragged into the pitfalls of his life as well as the joys. This was barely introduced when he went to college and met his roommate along with his friends. Another film that used this concept almost in a similar way was Ratcatcher. in the film, the family were relocated into a new neighborhood and lifestyle when moving out. Although it doesn't show a big time lapse, it does show the scenes where and how the family is affected with the moving out and experiencing the different scenario.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Myst #4: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
I love movies with special effects and with a lot action along with a touch of romance to show the extent of how far the characters are willing to go to protect or save or help the other character. The special effects expands my imagination as to what the director can do and bring to life. I especially love how the actors interact with the computer generated forms ranging from robots to a whole world. With that in mind, I don't like when the entire movie is based entirely on the special effects without reason. The Director Michael Bay directed all the Transformers along with "Pain & Gain" and "Pearl Harbor" which are action movies that has good editing from special effects to the editing in someone being cut in half putting the audience in amazement with seeing the effects across the movies and some wondering to themselves "how did he do that" when watching one of his movies. When I was watching the movie, I was kept at the edge of my seat while watching the movie because of how realistic the transformers looked and amount of action with explosion and special effects mixed into it despite the story line itself. I mean the storyline was good and all but it wasn't extremely good material and could've been revised a few times more to improve the story but other than it was good.
Towards the beginning of the film, we are going to take a close look at when Alice (Isabel Lucas) transformed into an evil transformer from human to a robot. (Spoiler) When Alice transformed, her face transforms and than the rest of her body follows with the whole transformation. The composition is her flash turns inside out as her metallic body comes out and overcomes eats away her flash as she is getting prepared to kill Sam (Shia Labeouf). As she transforms, the sunlight being shined through the window casts a shadow from the robot as even the smallest want to look as real as it can with her transformation and her surroundings. The camera zooms in on her at a low angle to show the dominance and of how evil she is. The close up shot indicates the significance of her and how important she is as she starts the hunt for Sam and the surprise she also brings.
Another scene was towards the end when Sam stabs Optimus Prime to revive him. What Amazes me about this scene is how Sam goes on top of Optimus, it looks like as if Optimus was actually real and not computer simulated. When Sam stabs Optimus, Optimus moves from the shock and Sam moves along with him and looks like as if he's touching him. The camera switches from medium shots to close shots to show the effect from the cause of Sam stabbing him in his heart and Optimus coming back alive. The medium shot show how big Optimus is and how small Sam and how little chance Sam has at reviving him considering Sam is tiny when compared.
In my opinion, what I enjoyed about the movie was with each different scene there's a different scenario with the special effects and how it plays and important role for a certain character and shows a different composition with the transformers. what I didn't like about the movie was how the storyline was being told. It was in a generic way with the good guy in trouble and somehow coming back to the top and beating the bad guy and saving the day. Don't get me wrong there were some funny and awesome scenes but the majority of it was just descent. I would recommend this movie to those who love action packed movies that has a lot of good special effects.

Another scene was towards the end when Sam stabs Optimus Prime to revive him. What Amazes me about this scene is how Sam goes on top of Optimus, it looks like as if Optimus was actually real and not computer simulated. When Sam stabs Optimus, Optimus moves from the shock and Sam moves along with him and looks like as if he's touching him. The camera switches from medium shots to close shots to show the effect from the cause of Sam stabbing him in his heart and Optimus coming back alive. The medium shot show how big Optimus is and how small Sam and how little chance Sam has at reviving him considering Sam is tiny when compared.
In my opinion, what I enjoyed about the movie was with each different scene there's a different scenario with the special effects and how it plays and important role for a certain character and shows a different composition with the transformers. what I didn't like about the movie was how the storyline was being told. It was in a generic way with the good guy in trouble and somehow coming back to the top and beating the bad guy and saving the day. Don't get me wrong there were some funny and awesome scenes but the majority of it was just descent. I would recommend this movie to those who love action packed movies that has a lot of good special effects.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Monday, November 9, 2015
Short Term 12 : Blog Post
Short Term 12 is filled with different cinematic elements in different unique ways, giving the movie some perfection with elegance and reaches into your heart. the element I would like to focus on from the film is on lighting.
In the film, lighting was used effectively when the main character, Grace, would talk or just simply hang out with Jayden. When Grace and Jayden sat next to each other trying to comfort each other, there was low key lighting on their faces and barely enough light surrounding them. Their bodies is being partly covered by the darkness the and on top of their heads shows the most light but still minimal light. The lighting shows that both of them have been through some sort of trauma at a very young age at their childhood. They're both devastated and are being haunted by their memories of what happened to them in their thoughts. The only person who can relate to them are each other and are special kind of friends.
Another important moment where lighting was important was at the scene where Grace and Jayden were riding in a bike together in night. The lighting around is set in night time, sure it was because it was at night but this scene took place at night time purposely to show the darkness that still surrounds them, not just individually but also both of them together. Both Grace and Jayden are riding together with grace being relaxed and Jayden holding her. this shows that Jayden's trauma was recent whereas Grace wasn't and that Jayden is scared and can only rely on Grace for help and protection and that she also experienced a similar situation. The lighting that's literally shining right on their heads (even though it's a street it's taken right above their heads) suggest that there might be hope in them and a recovery for a new life. For the new hope, they'll need to be with each other for without them, their might not be any light but darkness instead.
The scene where it was least effective was when Grace was talking with Marcus. Marcus also has had something bad happen to him and that it also destroyed some part of him. Some darkness should have been showing on him for his past that has shaped him destroyed a part of him. When Marcus talks to him, theirs no light shining upon them and no darkness but low key lighting on Grace's face. The scene contributed a lot from this scene on building and knowing who Marcus really is and why he's there. With no lighting we can't depict if whether he still traumatized from what happen to him or if the memory isn't haunting him. The director's use of lighting helps with the story by showing you the darkness in each of the characters and how it affected them and in who they are. When the characters would speak or show up, some minimal lighting is shown in some scenes upon them to show you that they have a dark past that haunts them so you can see what they've through and so you can mentally see their emotionless face. Another film where this component is used really well is The Godfather. One of the characters, Vito Corleone, always hard almost pure darkness upon him with little lighting shining on him. It was to show the soulless, evil man that he is and it tells you that Vito is a powerful man and that if you fail him, you'll suffer the consequences he's going to put upon you.
In the film, lighting was used effectively when the main character, Grace, would talk or just simply hang out with Jayden. When Grace and Jayden sat next to each other trying to comfort each other, there was low key lighting on their faces and barely enough light surrounding them. Their bodies is being partly covered by the darkness the and on top of their heads shows the most light but still minimal light. The lighting shows that both of them have been through some sort of trauma at a very young age at their childhood. They're both devastated and are being haunted by their memories of what happened to them in their thoughts. The only person who can relate to them are each other and are special kind of friends.
Another important moment where lighting was important was at the scene where Grace and Jayden were riding in a bike together in night. The lighting around is set in night time, sure it was because it was at night but this scene took place at night time purposely to show the darkness that still surrounds them, not just individually but also both of them together. Both Grace and Jayden are riding together with grace being relaxed and Jayden holding her. this shows that Jayden's trauma was recent whereas Grace wasn't and that Jayden is scared and can only rely on Grace for help and protection and that she also experienced a similar situation. The lighting that's literally shining right on their heads (even though it's a street it's taken right above their heads) suggest that there might be hope in them and a recovery for a new life. For the new hope, they'll need to be with each other for without them, their might not be any light but darkness instead.
The scene where it was least effective was when Grace was talking with Marcus. Marcus also has had something bad happen to him and that it also destroyed some part of him. Some darkness should have been showing on him for his past that has shaped him destroyed a part of him. When Marcus talks to him, theirs no light shining upon them and no darkness but low key lighting on Grace's face. The scene contributed a lot from this scene on building and knowing who Marcus really is and why he's there. With no lighting we can't depict if whether he still traumatized from what happen to him or if the memory isn't haunting him. The director's use of lighting helps with the story by showing you the darkness in each of the characters and how it affected them and in who they are. When the characters would speak or show up, some minimal lighting is shown in some scenes upon them to show you that they have a dark past that haunts them so you can see what they've through and so you can mentally see their emotionless face. Another film where this component is used really well is The Godfather. One of the characters, Vito Corleone, always hard almost pure darkness upon him with little lighting shining on him. It was to show the soulless, evil man that he is and it tells you that Vito is a powerful man and that if you fail him, you'll suffer the consequences he's going to put upon you.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Myst #3: Drive
I'm not a fan of a dark theme crime movie and often times it's hard to follow with the story or what the main character is doing. Don't get me wrong, there are some crime related movies either because of it's intensive unpredictable scenes to the smaller aspects of the cinematography and fitting well with the story. The director Nicolas Winding Refn directed Drive and other including "Only God forgives", "Bronson" and the "Pusher" which are crime movies that have decent storylines and well appropriate cinematography and fitting in with the appropriate scenes in the movies symbolizing the personality of that certain character. While I was watching the movie, I was wondering if I was going to get bored either from making no sense to me the scenes of being judgmental if the scenes would make sense with what's happening. When I was this movie, I was amazed at the scenes in cooperation with the cinematic aspects and how the characters interacted with those scenes. The movie is about a driver (Ryan Gosling) and that he is a very good at stealing money. As the movie progresses, he becomes fails at stealing a heist. The consequences of him failing is that he ahs to protect Irene (Carey Mulligan) and Benicio (Kaden Leos) from the criminals that want him dead.
Towards the middle of the movie, we are taking a closer look at when the driver kissed Irene. When they kissed, there's light coming from a little source that has it while the rest of the room is covered in darkness and the light shining on their faces indicate that there might be hope in what they're about to do and or their mission to save each other. The darkness indicate that while their might some hope with the light shining upon them, that there might be a chance that death will occur and concur their lives and that they might die with what they're about to do. Their kiss indicate like that of a usual movie that it could be their last time together considering that it might their last time being alive. The high key lighting is separated from the darkness with no low key lighting showing a chance of them surviving and a chance of them not surviving.
In my own opinion, what I enjoyed about the movie was the how the lighting fit in well with each scene and how it set separate tones of the mood of the characters and their situations they're in from the different components that fit well together. What I didn't like about the movie was how (Spoiler) towards the end, the movie left you to ponder as to what just happened and what's going to happen to the main character next. I would recommend this movie to those who love crime related movies and those who always criticize a movie for they might be surprised of what this has got to offer.
Drive Official Trailer
In my own opinion, what I enjoyed about the movie was the how the lighting fit in well with each scene and how it set separate tones of the mood of the characters and their situations they're in from the different components that fit well together. What I didn't like about the movie was how (Spoiler) towards the end, the movie left you to ponder as to what just happened and what's going to happen to the main character next. I would recommend this movie to those who love crime related movies and those who always criticize a movie for they might be surprised of what this has got to offer.
Drive Official Trailer
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Myst #2: Avengers: Age of Ultron
I loved action packed movies a lot and I sometimes lose interest to the movie that I'm watching that is if the action isn't flowing well with the components from lighting, editing to the camera angles. You may think that it may sound weird but I don't want to watch an action movie where the camera isn't flowing but rather it takes a scene then out of nowhere another scene comes into play. The director Joss Whedon directed this film and other including "The Avengers", "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" which where intended to amuse the audiences from all of the action and amazing graphic editing and amazing camera work that looks like as if there was just one camera filming the whole time and you as the audiences personally spectating from the action is taking place. Action movies varies when it comes to the story line and what other genre it collides with. In most movies that I've have seen have good cameras at scenes but in most however are very little used. I get upset because most movies have the capability to achieve more from their camera work and form better angles. This movie had a lot of really good angles. (Spoiler) The film starts of with the team fighting against the enemies and win as usual. When the team celebrates their victory, they accidentally unleash a powerful enemy named Ultron that somehow cam the cyber world. Ultron came out when the team were celebrating and the enemy downloaded itself into a robot that was built from Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) . When Ultron came to up close, he attacked severely with other robots which he summoned to attack the team. The team lost and they retrieved because they weren't prepared for what happened to them. Upon deciding on how could've they let that happen, they start to turn against each other assuming it was each others fault. When they start to realize that going against each other won't help anything, that's when the team started to suite up and go to the war the verse against Ultron and the enemies he summoned. After an intense battle with Ultron, the team (not surprisingly) defeated Ultron and reclaimed their victory.

In the beginning of the movie, When the team versed against their enemies their was a clean continues good clean flow with each individual fighting the enemies while helping each other fighting with the quantity of enemies. Their was clean continuity editing with each character fighting with the characters fighting one enemy and then fighting another enemy from a different angle. The angle and the height matched perfectly as the characters fought from ground level and fighting on rooftops. The camera was at a good range of distances as the characters fought from one enemy to the next exposing them and the enemy and a little of the background, the long shots. At the above picture, when the characters lined at a perfect angle, it exposes all of them at a long shot along with Hulk and Iron Man being exposed at medium shot.
Another Part of what I liked was the fight between Hulk and Iron Man. When they fought each other, the camera would go back and forth with each other at a continuous motion when they would go back from the strike and they themselves would hit the others person. The camera would go continuously from long shot to full shot and sometimes to medium shot. There was constantly different shots happening while it's giving a nice flowing and continuity editing with the angles of the camera and the distances.
In my opinion, What I enjoyed about this movie was not the generic exposition to rising action to climax and resolution in a predictive manner but whether I enjoyed the different types of camera angles and the different type of camera shots. The editing was flawless and caught my attention to the movie. It was like seeing an illusion image, it caught my attention to the movie and wondered what other camera cool shots and angles the director was going to bring to the plate. I recommend this movie to those who on behalf love action, superhero movies but also like to see really good camera angles and shots the editing provided for a flawless and continuous motion with the scene. All in all, I think this movie was one of the greatest that's associated the camera but the story was as always generic.

In the beginning of the movie, When the team versed against their enemies their was a clean continues good clean flow with each individual fighting the enemies while helping each other fighting with the quantity of enemies. Their was clean continuity editing with each character fighting with the characters fighting one enemy and then fighting another enemy from a different angle. The angle and the height matched perfectly as the characters fought from ground level and fighting on rooftops. The camera was at a good range of distances as the characters fought from one enemy to the next exposing them and the enemy and a little of the background, the long shots. At the above picture, when the characters lined at a perfect angle, it exposes all of them at a long shot along with Hulk and Iron Man being exposed at medium shot.
In my opinion, What I enjoyed about this movie was not the generic exposition to rising action to climax and resolution in a predictive manner but whether I enjoyed the different types of camera angles and the different type of camera shots. The editing was flawless and caught my attention to the movie. It was like seeing an illusion image, it caught my attention to the movie and wondered what other camera cool shots and angles the director was going to bring to the plate. I recommend this movie to those who on behalf love action, superhero movies but also like to see really good camera angles and shots the editing provided for a flawless and continuous motion with the scene. All in all, I think this movie was one of the greatest that's associated the camera but the story was as always generic.
Official Trailer
Monday, October 12, 2015
Memento: Blog Post
Memento is filled with different cinematic elements in different unique ways, giving the movie perfection with elegance and something to ponder on. The element I would to focus on from the film is on editing.
In the film, editing was used effectively at most moments of the film when the main character, Leonard, would switch from color scenes to the black and white scenes. The moment where the editing was used most effectively was when Leonard killed Teddy and the scene transitions to Leonard talking in a black and white scene. It was effective because it set the tone that Leonard has short term memory loss because he saying where am I. It also started the movie at the beginning and the opposite from the ending. With the movie playing in reverse, the black and white were playing their scenes in chronological order explaining somewhat of what's going with the movie and also explaining of why the main character has tattoos and other "small" things.
Another moment where editing was important was at the scenes where Leonard was interviewing Sammy Jankis. When Leonard would interview Sammy, he would talk about the side effects of his condition and how Sammy forgets everything. Leonard talks about how he forgets everything and that his wife tries to help but he forgets and that it would be hard it to remember this relates to Leonard and his condition as well. The scenes relates Sammy to Leonard in how they both forget things within the first couple of minutes.
Sammy and Leonard also don't experience any emotion such as fear and anger. Toward the end of the film, Leonard goes to the exact same position as Sammy suggesting that he has the same conditions and experience the same symptoms where it seems like they don't care about anything and don't know where they are.
The scene where it least effective is where Leonard is talking on the phone and then he ask "who is this". I think it's least effective because Leonard at some point did remember who he was talking to but just forgot considering he has short term memory loss. The scene doesn't have any important plot compared to the movie and no foreshadowing but just simply Leonard forgetting who he was talking to. The scene didn't contribute any important information related to the film and the bigger picture the film is trying to bring to the audience. The director's use of lighting helps with the film dramatically because the black and white scenes give the background of the character and who Leonard is. Leonard talks about what he's doing and why he has the tattoos on his body and about who he's trying to catch. The black and white scenes also give a foreshadowing of the movie. One foreshadow was when Leonard sat in the same position as Sammy. It gave information about who Leonard really was because when he described Sammy, he described himself because Sammy and Leonard as the same. A movie that relates to Memento is Inception. Both movies are hard to follow usually lead the audience into confusion while simultaneously trying focus on the main objective. The audience struggles a lot trying to connect everything together to make sense of what they just watched.
In the film, editing was used effectively at most moments of the film when the main character, Leonard, would switch from color scenes to the black and white scenes. The moment where the editing was used most effectively was when Leonard killed Teddy and the scene transitions to Leonard talking in a black and white scene. It was effective because it set the tone that Leonard has short term memory loss because he saying where am I. It also started the movie at the beginning and the opposite from the ending. With the movie playing in reverse, the black and white were playing their scenes in chronological order explaining somewhat of what's going with the movie and also explaining of why the main character has tattoos and other "small" things.

Sammy and Leonard also don't experience any emotion such as fear and anger. Toward the end of the film, Leonard goes to the exact same position as Sammy suggesting that he has the same conditions and experience the same symptoms where it seems like they don't care about anything and don't know where they are.
The scene where it least effective is where Leonard is talking on the phone and then he ask "who is this". I think it's least effective because Leonard at some point did remember who he was talking to but just forgot considering he has short term memory loss. The scene doesn't have any important plot compared to the movie and no foreshadowing but just simply Leonard forgetting who he was talking to. The scene didn't contribute any important information related to the film and the bigger picture the film is trying to bring to the audience. The director's use of lighting helps with the film dramatically because the black and white scenes give the background of the character and who Leonard is. Leonard talks about what he's doing and why he has the tattoos on his body and about who he's trying to catch. The black and white scenes also give a foreshadowing of the movie. One foreshadow was when Leonard sat in the same position as Sammy. It gave information about who Leonard really was because when he described Sammy, he described himself because Sammy and Leonard as the same. A movie that relates to Memento is Inception. Both movies are hard to follow usually lead the audience into confusion while simultaneously trying focus on the main objective. The audience struggles a lot trying to connect everything together to make sense of what they just watched.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Formal Film Study: Movies Where The Main Characters Are Potrayed As TheBad Individuals

Industry: The movies give a different a different path of the story then those from the modern generic movies. When compared to the other Hollywood movies, the directors of these movies decided to take a different approach and give a different look to the main characters. The main characters in the movies have a different attitude, wanting to become the bad villains that corrupted the world or their surroundings in some way either through politics and money or craving their own desires in some way. The movies show how corrupt an individual could be either by cheating through the American currency system to obtain riches or to get to their own personal goal of killing someone or getting rewarded and praise from everybody else. The unpleasant main characters also manipulates others into helping them knowing little the character are using them to obtain and cheating the system to obtain their dream victory thus corrupting the system. Leonard Shelby (played by Guy Pearce) is an individual trying avenge his wife's death by killing the murder go always from the justice system and going by his own justice system the victim whom he thinks killed his wife. I forgot to mention that he by the way has short term memory loss so he forgets what he does in about 10 minutes or so. With the short term memory loss, he kills Teddy (played by Joe Pantoliano) from assumption since he met Leonard's criteria's and not from any actual facts. Leonard also killed him with his own system of justice and not the laws with a fair trial. Leonard also helps Natalie (played by Carrie-Ann Moss) by killing her boyfriend. One of main characters Natalie, manipulates Leonard so that he can kill Her boyfriend for her. Natalie takes advantage of his condition. In night crawler, Lou (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) is an individual who wanted to get and obtain every bodies attention through the use of capturing disturbing videos of citizens being killed or a car chase. Lou manipulates the news station employer Nina (played by Rene Russo) by talking to her in a nice tone showing that he's an intelligent person and by being nice to making not say no to him. At one point of the movie, he manipulates into telling her how much money he wants. In the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) manipulates the job of an American stock broker by telling the customers that they'll succeed if they invest their money. With the invested money that the customers out, Jordan actually steal their money for himself thus obtaining his American Dream of being rich. Most Hollywood movies tell the story where the main character or characters start being liked and are at the exposition state. As movie continues, the characters are moved into a rising action until they reach they're biggest threat or climax. Afterwards they fall into a depression and are picked up by resolution. The three movies are showed differently by the main characters being the bad guys instead and they succeed at what they're trying to achieve even though they go through obstacles and challenges ahead of them.
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Camera: The camera angles and lighting are unique with the lighting being consistent with the theme of the character and the angles focusing on the main characters but also the other people the main characters come across to.
Monday, September 28, 2015
Citizen Kane: Blog Post
Citizen Kane is filled with different cinematic elements in different unique ways giving the movie and perfection with elegance and something to ponder on. The element I would like to focus on the lighting that is used in the film.
In the film, lighting was used effectively at the moment when the three news reporters were discussing about what Charlie Kane meant when he said rosebud. The lighting indicated that the men are serious and their faces are hiding away from the camera suggesting that the men could be evil and the darkness in the movie. It could also show of how the director wants to cut their faces because it's showing how the news reporters are manipulating the story around.
Along with the midnight like darkness being put on the reporters faces, the lighting is effective in when the wife, Susan, left Charlie Kane after she denied of continuing her singing career being controlled. On the scene when Charlie's wife was is leaving him, she walks away through the darkness into the darkness "world". This could suggest that she is heading toward a dark path in her life as she walks away further and further away from her husband. Her walking away could have a foreshadow of her life going downhill as she steps away from Kane and her singing career.
With these two being very effective, the least very effective one is when at young, Kane is given up to another family. In that scene, there was minimal light and shadows that the characters produce don't matter as it it's not important in the scene as much as the characters being blurred out. How the director's use of lighting helped with the film was that the movie showed key themes and foreshadows with the use of lighting by exploiting that the characters are going to go to dark play or being evil in some way by being blended with the darkness. The director's use of repeated extreme close ups show the expressions being shown on characters.
The close ups show the characters being surprised at what is presented in front of them to the characters looking at something dramatic that's an important key aspect of the movie. Another film in which the lighting played a key role was Insidious. In Insidious, towards the end, a professional is in shock by what she is witnessing. How we can tell is when she looking at him, the room is filled with darkness and only her is filled with light suggesting that she is the source in which the devil is trying to go to. In her close up, she looks in horror and in shock as if she is looking at something will try to kill her.
In the film, lighting was used effectively at the moment when the three news reporters were discussing about what Charlie Kane meant when he said rosebud. The lighting indicated that the men are serious and their faces are hiding away from the camera suggesting that the men could be evil and the darkness in the movie. It could also show of how the director wants to cut their faces because it's showing how the news reporters are manipulating the story around.
Along with the midnight like darkness being put on the reporters faces, the lighting is effective in when the wife, Susan, left Charlie Kane after she denied of continuing her singing career being controlled. On the scene when Charlie's wife was is leaving him, she walks away through the darkness into the darkness "world". This could suggest that she is heading toward a dark path in her life as she walks away further and further away from her husband. Her walking away could have a foreshadow of her life going downhill as she steps away from Kane and her singing career.

The close ups show the characters being surprised at what is presented in front of them to the characters looking at something dramatic that's an important key aspect of the movie. Another film in which the lighting played a key role was Insidious. In Insidious, towards the end, a professional is in shock by what she is witnessing. How we can tell is when she looking at him, the room is filled with darkness and only her is filled with light suggesting that she is the source in which the devil is trying to go to. In her close up, she looks in horror and in shock as if she is looking at something will try to kill her.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
1935 Movie: From Ordniary to Gone
Studio:
I am choosing 20th Century Fox for their adventure films. I'm also choosing Warner Brothers for their films on social realism.
Cast/Crew:
Director: Irving Thalberg
A very talented young director who made prestigious, best picture-winning films also some very popular films such as the Grand hotel and Mutiny on the Bounty. He also was also known for the extravagant silent films with Erich von Stroheim.
Cinematographer: Sol Polito
An Oscar-nominated cinematographer who helped create visual characters for Warner Brothers. Sol will do anything to achieve efficiency and perfection even if that means having additional expenses.
Actors: Leslie Howard, James Cagney
Leslie would play in movies where he played the character that's associated with him. he served in World War 1.
James was known as a preeminent male star who was known as the tough guy and was also very accomplished.
Genre:
Drama/ Action. A result and affects of WW 1. The life of two soldiers who are also who are friends and how they both are impacted by the war and the losses they endure.
Synopsis:
The movie will began when a an 18 teenage boy named Mark (James Cagney) is about to finish high school and he has fun with his friends and has a good time. While in high school, he starts to have plans on where to go and what to do with his life. While thinking about his life, He discusses with his friends on if they're going to live with each other and if where they're going to live. Mark is a guy who wants to chill and who also loves his friends and wants to live a peaceful live without violence. In approximately one month after finishing high school, he gets enlisted to a WW 1 draft all of a sudden knowing very little why and being confused and scared because he is just starting his life with his friends and with what he wants to do in life which becoming a middle school teacher. After being drafted and put directly to the war front, he encounters another soldier named Alexander (Leslie Howard). When meeting Alexander he finds out that Alexander is a guy is was very poor and lived below the poverty living between different alleys and was exited to join the army because at least he got served food and was put with other soldiers in which where he came from didn't matter but where they're in in that very moment. On the other side, Mark came from a wealthy family where he was treated well and had money for his education and was afraid and scared to go war. Days after the joining the army, Mark and Alexander become best friends because they feel that they can learn from each other with Alexander helps Mark on how to keep calm during the war and telling Mark his stories of him being poor and how it affects the way he lives while Mark tells him his stories and promising to Alexander that he will help after the war is over. From day to day, Mark and Alexander have a very good friendship where they feel as if they're brothers to each other. When they go to the battlefield, they witness a lot of their comrades being shot and injured. After they whiteness it, they are filled with fear and sadness from all their fellow comrades being killed and no one honoring them. While experiencing seeing comrades dying one after the other, they start having nightmares about the war and bullets traveling through their flesh and out the other end and seeing people all around them dying. With fear filling them , they start to go to each other because all they could trust is them. After six months and having two months left, they go to the battle front. In the battle front, Alexander gets shot his right breast. Being in much agony and miles away from the battle front, there's nothing they could do to save Alexander besides him having his last few breaths. Upon having his last few breaths, he tells to Mark to promise him that he'll help him after the war to survive the teal world, being in denial that he is dying. Mark replies with see home buddy while being in tears. Minutes later, Alexander is struggling breathing from a pulmonary embolism and later dies. Mark gets emotionally damaged by the fact that his closest friend ever and his brother died, Alexander. After two months when the war is over, Alexander comes home but develops PTSD and struggles to live normal. Mark starts to get disconnected with his closest friends back at home and from his family. Mark starts to develop depression as his closest friend is dead and that he has nobody else to relate to. Suffering from having images of seeing soldiers dying and Alexander's death, Mark goes into the kitchen writes an "I'm sorry" note to his parents. Afterwards while he's crying, he's going to the center of his kitchen, under his fan and he hangs himself.
Hays Code:
considering the movie has soldiers dying on the battle front and a suicide, this movie will be a challenge to pass through the administration and being put out in public. However, this movies is portrayed as someone who is affected by war and how their behavior can change dramatically from the loss of their fellow comrades friends. For a majority of audiences, this movie isn't relatable in any way but it is relatable to those who served in the army and who have gone though similar obstacles. This movie will show audiences on how much they should honor the soldiers in the battle and to respect them as well.
Technology:
Black and white. Shows the two individuals going through a rough time in the war and how one is affected. receives award for the best drama movie of the year.
Why this is a good film:
This would a good for 1935 because even though World War 1 ended in 1918, I feel like people don't know what it was like in the battle front and don't know how much of impact it can have on a soldier if they join the army and fight. This film is universal because it shows the affect from all the soldiers from any country serving, not just in America.
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director Irving Thalberg |
Cast/Crew:
Director: Irving Thalberg
A very talented young director who made prestigious, best picture-winning films also some very popular films such as the Grand hotel and Mutiny on the Bounty. He also was also known for the extravagant silent films with Erich von Stroheim.
Cinematographer: Sol Polito
An Oscar-nominated cinematographer who helped create visual characters for Warner Brothers. Sol will do anything to achieve efficiency and perfection even if that means having additional expenses.
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James Cagney |
Actors: Leslie Howard, James Cagney
Leslie would play in movies where he played the character that's associated with him. he served in World War 1.
James was known as a preeminent male star who was known as the tough guy and was also very accomplished.
Genre:
Drama/ Action. A result and affects of WW 1. The life of two soldiers who are also who are friends and how they both are impacted by the war and the losses they endure.
Synopsis:
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Leslie Howard |
Hays Code:
considering the movie has soldiers dying on the battle front and a suicide, this movie will be a challenge to pass through the administration and being put out in public. However, this movies is portrayed as someone who is affected by war and how their behavior can change dramatically from the loss of their fellow comrades friends. For a majority of audiences, this movie isn't relatable in any way but it is relatable to those who served in the army and who have gone though similar obstacles. This movie will show audiences on how much they should honor the soldiers in the battle and to respect them as well.
Technology:
Black and white. Shows the two individuals going through a rough time in the war and how one is affected. receives award for the best drama movie of the year.
Why this is a good film:
This would a good for 1935 because even though World War 1 ended in 1918, I feel like people don't know what it was like in the battle front and don't know how much of impact it can have on a soldier if they join the army and fight. This film is universal because it shows the affect from all the soldiers from any country serving, not just in America.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Myst #1: Insidious
I love horror films and I'm pretty judgmental on deciding if the film is scary enough for me and by the way I'm not so easily scared from horror films and or if the film has a unique ending that will be remembered by me. The director James Wan directed this film and others including "The Conjuring", "Saw" and "Demonic" which were intended to put the audience on the edge of their seats wondering what would happen next while at the same time being scared from what's going on. while watching the movie, I was being judgmental in figuring out that the next scene was going to happen next. however, when half way through the film, I started noticing that the film was taking a different turn in its events. In most movies I watched, I usually get bored while watching about half way of a horror film in hoping that either the movie ends or that someone that I thought would least die would die, but this movie took at better approach. (Spoiler) The film starts of when the child (person on the front cover) of a family of three become possessed by the devil. As a possessed child, the kid starts doing possessed things until the family decide the physically and mentally help the child by tying him up and getting the devil out of his body by saying rituals to get the devil out. When realizing that it was a lot harder than it looks to get him back, the family decide to take a different approach. The family tie up the son and father and put these gas like mask in them. Next, the family brings in a professional to help in bring back the son. With the gas like mask, the professional sends the fathers soul and mind to "hell" to bring back the son's soul. When the father does bring him back, he beats the devil. I thought it would another typical movie where the good guy wins but instead what happens is when the father brings back his son's soul, he becomes possessed coming back. At the end of the movie, the father talk with the professional and in the middle of the conversation, the professional realizes that the father is possessed and when the professional comes to a full realization, the father kills her while the rest of the family is in the kitchen comforting the child who has been possessed.
Towards the end of the movie we are taking a closer look at the moment in which the professional realizes of is happening. (Spoiler) The professional is breathless in what happened
to the father as the father becomes possessed (above picture). The professional takes a photo of the father because she can't see the devil inside him so she decided to take a photo of him in hoping that she might spot the devil in which she did. the camera taken from the scene shows a close up the professional woman face showing that she's scared and horrified. Her action is important because it leads us to a foreshadow of what's about to happen to the character or something more dramatic that's going to happen in the near future. the low key lighting shining on the character's face reveals of a dramatic scene that's going to take place. The character seems threaten and in horror in what she had just revealed. She reveals with the light shining in half of her face while the other side is covered with a light darkness as is if she is looking at something dark from either the object of the threat that fills the room. The background shows that the darkness of the character has filled the room and is approaching the character while the character is in fear.
In my own opinion, what I enjoyed about this movie is the major plot twist the characters were involved in, especially toward the ending. The characters endured a lot especially the father and the son with a major battle to save the son while the mother watched in hoping that everything will go fine and that nothing bad will happen. This movie went well when the plot twist came up with weird obstacles and challenges the character faced along with the ending was perhaps one of the best endings and it's usually hard to say with a film never the less and horror film. What I didn't like is that before the plot twist happened everything happened in a typical horror film with a family coming in contact with something possessed and that possessed scaring the victims and audience half to death before killing the victims. I would recommend this movie to those who love horror films but specifically to those who love horror films and who are judgmental when it comes to movies for they may get their comments wrong.
* Photo of the father being possessed by the devil at the end of the film.
Towards the end of the movie we are taking a closer look at the moment in which the professional realizes of is happening. (Spoiler) The professional is breathless in what happened

In my own opinion, what I enjoyed about this movie is the major plot twist the characters were involved in, especially toward the ending. The characters endured a lot especially the father and the son with a major battle to save the son while the mother watched in hoping that everything will go fine and that nothing bad will happen. This movie went well when the plot twist came up with weird obstacles and challenges the character faced along with the ending was perhaps one of the best endings and it's usually hard to say with a film never the less and horror film. What I didn't like is that before the plot twist happened everything happened in a typical horror film with a family coming in contact with something possessed and that possessed scaring the victims and audience half to death before killing the victims. I would recommend this movie to those who love horror films but specifically to those who love horror films and who are judgmental when it comes to movies for they may get their comments wrong.
Official Trailer
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Review of the Reviews
I agree with Tom Long's review on "Ex Machina". Tom Long talks about how the main character Caleb gets invited to a secret hideaway with a another person named Nathan and that later Caleb falls in love and has with a robot. Tom sets up the writing by describing the settings in which the movie takes place to the characters. The writer gives tells the preview of the movie along with the characters and who they are. The writer brings you in by telling you who Caleb is and why he is in the secret hideout and what encounters he has. The writer uses certain vocabulary to talk about who each individual character is and what they will bring to the "table". The writer also talks about how Caleb starts having a mutual relationship with the robot and starts seeing Nathan as a "deluded scientist".
I disagree with Bruce Bennett's review on "Ex Machina". Bruce Bennett talks about the movie was inputted with fresh ideas and that the movie isn't original in any way with female relationships and human sexuality. He goes on saying that the movie has potential to be a good movie like the "Twilight Zone". The writer sets up the writing by talking about that out of all the movies that have robots, that Ex Machina is empty in every way. He brings out the flaws that make this movie a disaster. he talks about how Caleb the character gets easily distracted by the robot over rational science. He says that for an advanced that how come there is not and off/on button. He approaches in a very disappointment way as if he wants to vomit on the film. He talks about all the negative and "stupid" detail of this film and how common sense was applied while making the film. He uses certain vocabulary to identify to how the movie was and how each interacted with each other. The writer talks mostly about the role of the robot and how it manipulated Caleb to distrust Nathan. The writer referenced in saying that Ex Machina could have been as good as Twilight Zone.
I disagree with Bruce Bennett's review on "Ex Machina". Bruce Bennett talks about the movie was inputted with fresh ideas and that the movie isn't original in any way with female relationships and human sexuality. He goes on saying that the movie has potential to be a good movie like the "Twilight Zone". The writer sets up the writing by talking about that out of all the movies that have robots, that Ex Machina is empty in every way. He brings out the flaws that make this movie a disaster. he talks about how Caleb the character gets easily distracted by the robot over rational science. He says that for an advanced that how come there is not and off/on button. He approaches in a very disappointment way as if he wants to vomit on the film. He talks about all the negative and "stupid" detail of this film and how common sense was applied while making the film. He uses certain vocabulary to identify to how the movie was and how each interacted with each other. The writer talks mostly about the role of the robot and how it manipulated Caleb to distrust Nathan. The writer referenced in saying that Ex Machina could have been as good as Twilight Zone.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Film Intro Survey
1. What is the first movie that really made a strong impression on you? Lion King because it's filled with a classic bondage between friends and family.
2. What are 3-4 of your favorite genres? action/adventure, comedy, documentary and horror.
3. What are 3-4 of your least favorite genres? animation, silent, musical and indie/art-house
4. What are your five favorite films? Dark Knight Rises, Spy, 22 jump street, Fast & Furious 7 and The Simpsons Movie
5. List three characteristics of what you consider to be a good movie? well scripted, unpredictable, plot twist
6. What are some (3-5) of your least favorite movies? Gravity, Demonic, Sharknado
7. List three characteristics of what you consider to be a bad movie? Predictable, broad story line and side actions
8. If you have favorite directors, list them. Michael Bay, James Cameron and Peter Jackson
9. If you have and favorite actors/ actresses, list them. Mark Wahlberg, Adam Sandler and Tom Cruise
10. List 3 films that you consider important films for people to see. Titanic, Lion King and Mad Max: Fury Road
11. What's your oldest favorite film? Anne of Green Gables
12. What's the best movie you've seen that's been released in the past 2 years? Ted 2
13. What are the next five films on your "queue"? Unstoppable, The Wolf of Wall Street, Captain Philips, Watchmen and Jupiter Ascending
2. What are 3-4 of your favorite genres? action/adventure, comedy, documentary and horror.
3. What are 3-4 of your least favorite genres? animation, silent, musical and indie/art-house
4. What are your five favorite films? Dark Knight Rises, Spy, 22 jump street, Fast & Furious 7 and The Simpsons Movie
5. List three characteristics of what you consider to be a good movie? well scripted, unpredictable, plot twist
6. What are some (3-5) of your least favorite movies? Gravity, Demonic, Sharknado
7. List three characteristics of what you consider to be a bad movie? Predictable, broad story line and side actions
8. If you have favorite directors, list them. Michael Bay, James Cameron and Peter Jackson
9. If you have and favorite actors/ actresses, list them. Mark Wahlberg, Adam Sandler and Tom Cruise
10. List 3 films that you consider important films for people to see. Titanic, Lion King and Mad Max: Fury Road
11. What's your oldest favorite film? Anne of Green Gables
12. What's the best movie you've seen that's been released in the past 2 years? Ted 2
13. What are the next five films on your "queue"? Unstoppable, The Wolf of Wall Street, Captain Philips, Watchmen and Jupiter Ascending
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