Film Related to class: In class we spoke of the language used in class. The language used in this movie did consist of a lot of vulgarity. I think that the vulgar language symbolized who the military men were. They were basic, and harsh people who didn't beat around the bush. It is not surprising that when they try to do something sneaky, it all goes terribly wrong. They were men who joined the army to shoot guns and blow up things. They word choice reflects this. There is also a language barrier between the locals and the military. The locals end up being ignored because of this, but they aren't just yelling about nothing. They have a very serious story that the main characters know nothing about. The language in this movie reflects a lot. It reflects the barrier between the US military and the local villagers. It also reflects the tunnel vision of the United States soldiers, and their very basic approach to war.
Article Summary: ( http://entertainment.time.com/2013/02/27/the-art-of-the-steal-10-great-heist-films/slide/three-kings/ ) In this article, Three Kings is named as one of 10 Great Heist Films. The article states how some heist movies use the war as backdrop to a heist, but in this movie the heist ends up being the backdrop to the film. They are trying to steal the gold, but the war is the real issue in the movie. This movie is not only a good action heist movie, it also exploits the American's policy at the end of the Gulf War and how much it failed. The most obvious part of that is how they left Saddam Hussein in charge. The four soldiers ended up being stand ins for the entire US military and came to the realization of how terrible the local people's situation is. By the end of the movie the soldiers realize that the best thing to get out of this war is to regain their honor.
Article Related to Film: This article speaks of the real plot of this movie. It is not about stealing gold a driving off into the sunset. Three Kings is about soldiers who felt robbed out of the experience of War, and then realize what is really going and and are changed by it. The article states that the movie exploits the United States poor decision to leave at the worst time and how it affected the local population. They were taken over by Saddam's military right after the US left after really doing nothing. The gold is just to make the movie a little more Hollywood and a little less political.
Critical Analysis: I enjoyed this movie for the same reason the person who wrote the article did. This movie was not only about stealing gold and some action tossed in their. This movie was about the positive and negative power of money and international politics. I liked that this movie really showed how touchy international affairs can be and how a simple situation like crossing villagers over the border in order to save their lives, can turn into multiple helicopters and higher ups coming in and immediately having to take over. It was also a war movie that did not glorify the military. The soldiers trying to bring the villagers to freedom were seen as being good people to the viewer but were seen as bad by the rest of the US military. This movie didn't make the locals as terrorists or radicals, just as the desperate people they were. I love multilayered movies and this film was a great example of one. The soldier were trying to get the gold but the movie tells the story of the war, the people it impacts, the soldiers, and American politics in general.
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
He Got Game
Film Related to Class: In class we spoke about how Spike Lee uses montages. I think that he does this to add some background to his films. It gives a more complete setting to where the film takes place. His montage showed people playing on nice basketball courts. We also spoke of his use of classical music. Spike Lee strayed from hip hop and went really old school. I like when films use seemly opposite things, such as basketball and classical music. One of the most elite forms of music, and the most city style hip hop sports are combined. I think that the slow motion and the classical music went together well.
Article Summary: ( http://www.allmusic.com/album/he-got-game-the-music-of-aaron-copland-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000382819 ) This article explains how bold Spike Lee was in choosing classical music for his film. The composer of the music was Aaron Copland who has composed music associated with the American heartland and not the inner city and hip hop. The gamble pays off during the montage and the display of universality of basketball. The author did think that the music worked to s certain extent but that other genres like rock, R&B, rock, or jazz.
Article Related to Film: This article spoke of the classical music used for Spike Lee's film. Spike Lee decided to use classical music and not the basketball associated hip hop. I think that the classical music went along with Jesus' sophisticated approach to his career and how he valued education. Jesus may have lived in the ghetto but some parts of him seemed to not belong there. I think that the classical music spoke specifically to the Jesus character in the movie.
Critical Analysis: I did enjoy the movie and how the viewer got to follow the Jesus character through his process of choosing a school. I think that a lot of people don't realize how much pressure and turmoil is involved in a character like Jesus's life. People think that someone like Jesus have it very easy but people like him have it harder than most people. I think that Spike Lee went into a realm that is not usually spoke of. People like to criticize college athletes for taking money and perks but what they don't realize is that just because they have a nice jersey and all the attention in the world, when they go home they still have nothing. This movie not only opened up peoples eyes to the pressures behind being an athletic star but also had a very high pressure plot involving Jesus' father.
Article Summary: ( http://www.allmusic.com/album/he-got-game-the-music-of-aaron-copland-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000382819 ) This article explains how bold Spike Lee was in choosing classical music for his film. The composer of the music was Aaron Copland who has composed music associated with the American heartland and not the inner city and hip hop. The gamble pays off during the montage and the display of universality of basketball. The author did think that the music worked to s certain extent but that other genres like rock, R&B, rock, or jazz.
Article Related to Film: This article spoke of the classical music used for Spike Lee's film. Spike Lee decided to use classical music and not the basketball associated hip hop. I think that the classical music went along with Jesus' sophisticated approach to his career and how he valued education. Jesus may have lived in the ghetto but some parts of him seemed to not belong there. I think that the classical music spoke specifically to the Jesus character in the movie.
Critical Analysis: I did enjoy the movie and how the viewer got to follow the Jesus character through his process of choosing a school. I think that a lot of people don't realize how much pressure and turmoil is involved in a character like Jesus's life. People think that someone like Jesus have it very easy but people like him have it harder than most people. I think that Spike Lee went into a realm that is not usually spoke of. People like to criticize college athletes for taking money and perks but what they don't realize is that just because they have a nice jersey and all the attention in the world, when they go home they still have nothing. This movie not only opened up peoples eyes to the pressures behind being an athletic star but also had a very high pressure plot involving Jesus' father.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Fargo
Film Related to class: In class we discussed the director's connection to Minnesota. This movie takes place entirely in Minnesota and I think that they wanted to really show a lot of aspects of the state. They had many different characters from different walks of life. They had prostitutes, a family, a bartender and of course cops. Not all of these charters play a crucial role but everything in a movie is put in it for a reason. The Coen brothers being extremely smart clearly had they reasons for having so many minor characters.
Article Summary: ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10792814/The-truth-behind-Fargos-true-story.html ) This article explains how the movie was not actually based on a true story. It was stated in the beginning of the film that the movie was based on actual events and that the participants names were changed for their protection. When the movie was first coming out the brothers went as far as pretending that it was based on a true story and even flat out stated that it was true. Later on, they stated that the movie "pretends to be true."
Article Related to Film: The article did not really speak about the film content. It spoke of the truthfulness of the film. Weather or not the events were really true. We spoke in class about how the film was not based on true events, I do think that the first time I saw the film I thought it was actually true. The story did seem slightly unbelievable, but whenever I hear a crazy story I always think stranger things have happened.
Critical Analysis: When I first heard about this film I heard someone say that it was "hilarious." I had also heard that it was a comedy, or dark comedy. After seeing it, I realized the humor in the movie but was not prepared for the violence and graphic scenes. I did like how the film was filled with mild light humor and then followed up by murder and violence. The opposites of the humor and violence gave the film a unique feel. One moment your chuckling and the next you seeing a man getting beaten or shot. I think that it made the movie feel a little more real. There weren't characters cracking jokes and doing unrealistic things for laughs. Every joke or comedic moment in this film was very realistic. It was like you were sitting in, or eavesdropping on their conversations. That made this film much more believable when it came to being "based on true events." I liked the believable conversations because that made things much more intimate.
Article Summary: ( http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10792814/The-truth-behind-Fargos-true-story.html ) This article explains how the movie was not actually based on a true story. It was stated in the beginning of the film that the movie was based on actual events and that the participants names were changed for their protection. When the movie was first coming out the brothers went as far as pretending that it was based on a true story and even flat out stated that it was true. Later on, they stated that the movie "pretends to be true."
Article Related to Film: The article did not really speak about the film content. It spoke of the truthfulness of the film. Weather or not the events were really true. We spoke in class about how the film was not based on true events, I do think that the first time I saw the film I thought it was actually true. The story did seem slightly unbelievable, but whenever I hear a crazy story I always think stranger things have happened.
Critical Analysis: When I first heard about this film I heard someone say that it was "hilarious." I had also heard that it was a comedy, or dark comedy. After seeing it, I realized the humor in the movie but was not prepared for the violence and graphic scenes. I did like how the film was filled with mild light humor and then followed up by murder and violence. The opposites of the humor and violence gave the film a unique feel. One moment your chuckling and the next you seeing a man getting beaten or shot. I think that it made the movie feel a little more real. There weren't characters cracking jokes and doing unrealistic things for laughs. Every joke or comedic moment in this film was very realistic. It was like you were sitting in, or eavesdropping on their conversations. That made this film much more believable when it came to being "based on true events." I liked the believable conversations because that made things much more intimate.
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