Thursday, October 25, 2007

Classic vs. Revisionist


All the western movies can be divided into two different catagories: Classic and Revisionist. Most of the older movies are classic; for example Stage Coach, and most of the recent ones are Revisionist; for example Unforgiven, and 310 to Yuma. The revisinist westerns are more violent, crueler, darker,and deeper. Personally I like the Revisionist movies for these reasons. I think classic movies are too slow, too easy to predict the outcome, the technologies are not up to date, and I am not a fan of Black and White films. Stage Coach was pretty decent for a classis movie, my favorite part was the coach shootout against the Indians. But Unforgiven was far better, I liked how in the beginning Will was a pig farmer, and went back to shooting, which he was good at. I also like the character of Munny, who thinks he is the most powerful man on earth. If it weren't for the revisionist movies, western wouldn't be as famous as it is now.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Acting in Babel



In the movie, Babel, among all the other important and defining characteristics, I thought acting was done very well by all of the characters. Among all characters, I thought Brad Pitt, and Rinko Kikuchi. Brad Pitt, like always, did a great job acting and anything else that an actor is suppose to do. Brad was born on December 18, 1963 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Brad was involved in many school activities during his teens. His first ever starring role was in 1988 in a film called The dark side of the sun, shot in Yugoslavia. One of my favorite movies of all time, Seven Years in Tibet, is starred by Brad Pitt. He does a great job acting and due to the themes of Tibetan nationalism in the film, the Chinese government banned Brad Pitt from China for life. After seeing this movie, Brad Pitt has been my favorite actor, for the role which demanded a great deal of trekking and mountain climbing and risk of opposing China to support my small nation Tibet.
Back to Babel, I think Brad Pitt was chosen for this movie for many reasons, such as him having a lot of experiences doing movies in many different countries in many different circumstances. Some other reasons are that of course he is extremely famous, great actor, and great influence. I think the most important character he has that gave him the job is because when has grown beard, and has ragged clothes, I think he can fit in any part of any country and fit in perfectly.
I think Brad is very versatile due to all the reasons he was given the job. On the set one can see how one the greatest Hollywood actor is willing to go to some third world country and deal with people over there, and doesn’t judge. Off the set, as everyone knows that Brad Pitt, and Jolie goes around the world saving children, raising many poverty issues to the world, and being a great influence.
I also think that Rinko Kikuchi did a phenomenal job acting, especially acting as a deaf girl. Rinko was born in January 6, 1981 in Kanagawas Prefecture, Japan. She has worked in film, television and theater, as well as 25 TV commercials and music videos. Her first acclaimed movie was called Sora no ana which was featured across many international film festivals. But she is most known for her terrific acting in Babel, where she played a mute girl who doesn’t want to be judged by her muteness, but her physical beauty and how she is inside. For this movie, she won many awards, but most famous of all was her Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress which made her first Japanese actress nominated in 49 years, and second actor in history of Academy for nomination without saying a single world. She will star in an upcoming film called The Brothers Bloom.
I think she was chosen in this film because of her great acting. Addition to that, she really does look like a deaf girl, and she has eyes of great concern and confident that I have never seen before. She is versatile because she had to do some pretty stunning things, like showing off her “hair.” On and off set, one can tell that she will do almost anything to get famous and get what she wants, and off set she looks like a really nice and cute girl.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Stagecoach Blog post


One of the most important scene is when Doc Boone says, "well, they are saved from the blessings of the civilization." In this quote, I think Doc is trying to say that since Dallas, and Ringo are moving to their ranch, they won't have to deal with all the social discrimination. Due to the fact that Dallas is a prostitute, and Ringo an outlaw. For example, if you were a slave in the States during 1800s, you would rather chose to live in a hut in middle of the forest back in Africa.

Doc is also tring to say that civilization isn't always the best place to live at, because of all the people discrimination the different and lower people. One important theme is civilization vs wilderness, and in the end, wilderness won. This movie execed by expectations.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Citizen Kane Mise-en-scene



In the movie Citizen kane, which is one of the most well done movie of its time, in every aspect, is especially well done in make ups. All the characters, espeically Kane, have been transformed from young adults to old people. High key is also used to show the mansion. I think if I was watching this movie aruond the time it was made, I would be astonished.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Finding Nemo


Review of Finding Nemo
You all have probably seen Finding Nemo, which is one of best movie ever made. This is a funny, very interesting, and a happy ending movie. This movie is directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, and Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds wrote the screenplay. As you all know, the story starts with Nemo (played by Alexander Gould) disobeys his father Marlin (played by Albert Brooks) by swimming into the open sea and gets caught by diver. Marlin chases the diver but gets behind and asking for directions, meets Dory (played by Ellen Degeneres). From here they face many hurtles and adventure to finding Nemo.
Finding Nemo is original and very unpredictable. This animated movie did a really good job on making it look real with the textures, light, and movements. The water being blue brought all other colors live and attractive. The plot of the movie is well-structured. If fishes could talk, I think this is how they would talk. Some of the most important themes are family, love, and sacrifice. Since Marlin promised to take care of his only son, he sacrificed everything he had to look for his son, family, because he loves his on so much.
The cinematography and the photography in this movie were incredible, and these are some reasons for the movie’s success. For example; they used the extreme long shot to show the whale weak comparing to the vast ocean. There were high-keys when Dory and Marlin were looking at the trench.
The sound effects really added to the flavor. Not only the songs were good, the music went perfectly along with the scene.
In the end, this is a funny as well as an adventurous movie that makes you fell in love with fishes and buy some as pets. This original movie takes you to another world, and makes you want to watch it many times.