(no subject)
The movies Ive seen in February.
1. 2001: A Space Oddysey (Stalney Kubric, 1968) Here's a perfect example of why I dont like Science Fiction. By all acounts one of the centurys classics, but it is the nature of the genre to make character suboordinate to the issue, as presented by plot. Sure the animal-human-machine thing is interesting, but I'd prefer characters. Also the artistic aspects of this make it too long. Too many shots of spacecrafts floating around with classical music playing. This is a fake shot to begin with- its entirely created by the film makers. I would be less bothered by long footage of natural landscape, but building something and then taking a picture of it seems so artificial. This movie could easily be an hour long.
2. The Circus (Charles Chaplin, 1928)Veering away from the social issues that are more prevelent in other chaplin films, it has other strengths. The gags are wildly entertaining if not as excesivly creative as something like the dinner roll dance in the goldmine. Chaplin is at home in the circus, and I dont think I've ever seen anything as charming as the little tramp with monkeys climbing all over him.
3.Moolade (Ousmane Sembene, 2004)Example of a work where the issue is prevelent, but the characters are not lost. Rich African sense of humor and beautifully colorful mise en scene highlight this story while it confronts female circumsision.
4. Kwai me a river- The bridge on the river Kwai (David Lean, 1957) wowsers. Long, but because there are two simultaneous stories, its forgivable. Mysteriously doesnt drag. Begs to be compared to the good the bad and the ugly because of the climactic event of a bridge blowing up, and because they both have delightfully drawn out endings. I didnt think Id like this because im not much of one for war films, but i surprised myself. This film got academy awards for just about everything.
5. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004) Really, really funny. I thought the better parts were the clever ones particularly the parody parts, like the montage song. I didnt think it needed to be as vulgar as it was- not to say the vulgar parts werent funny, but they were unecesary aespecially compared to the rest of the movie. really funny though. achieves what a comedy should.
6.days of wine and roses (blake edwards, 1962) I love the song, and I love Jack Lemmon. I do not love alcoholism.
7. Within Our Gates (Oscar Michuax,192?)This movie was a pain in the ass to sit through. If it werent the first film made by a black director, it would have no cinematic merit. The story is trivial, the characters bland, and its silent and therefor boring.
8. The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin, 1940) I like him better as the little tramp. Although this film is a satire with political intentions, it is unclear to what extent it is a parody, a comedy, or a serious film. It lacks a certain cohesivness, A film that is more important than good. Not to say it doesn't have its moments, but its lacking the humor of a silent chaplin film, and lacking the dramatic tension of a straightford drama.
9.The Mission (Roland Joffé, 1986) I watched this film on my computer for braziilian history class because I dont think I'll be able to go to the screening this monday. I finnished up scrap Iron while I watched, so that was clearly where my attention was. From what I could tell, definitly a decent watch. Not a must see, but an enjoyable viewing experience nonetheless.
I watched Anastasia, but had seen it before. Made by 20th c fox. it would be very interesting to study how disney animated films have gone downhill, in the past. I could see myself writing a senior essay on that, looking at profits and reviews as primary sources. maybe i could apply for some cash and do that over the summer some year. i dont know what the cash would be for. It just seems like its available.
10. The Notebook
11. On the Waterfront
12. play time
13. Raging Bull (Martin Scorse, 1980) See Robert Deniro play an Italian. I dont think I'm a fan of scorsese, but deniro is very good in this.
1. 2001: A Space Oddysey (Stalney Kubric, 1968) Here's a perfect example of why I dont like Science Fiction. By all acounts one of the centurys classics, but it is the nature of the genre to make character suboordinate to the issue, as presented by plot. Sure the animal-human-machine thing is interesting, but I'd prefer characters. Also the artistic aspects of this make it too long. Too many shots of spacecrafts floating around with classical music playing. This is a fake shot to begin with- its entirely created by the film makers. I would be less bothered by long footage of natural landscape, but building something and then taking a picture of it seems so artificial. This movie could easily be an hour long.
2. The Circus (Charles Chaplin, 1928)Veering away from the social issues that are more prevelent in other chaplin films, it has other strengths. The gags are wildly entertaining if not as excesivly creative as something like the dinner roll dance in the goldmine. Chaplin is at home in the circus, and I dont think I've ever seen anything as charming as the little tramp with monkeys climbing all over him.
3.Moolade (Ousmane Sembene, 2004)Example of a work where the issue is prevelent, but the characters are not lost. Rich African sense of humor and beautifully colorful mise en scene highlight this story while it confronts female circumsision.
4. Kwai me a river- The bridge on the river Kwai (David Lean, 1957) wowsers. Long, but because there are two simultaneous stories, its forgivable. Mysteriously doesnt drag. Begs to be compared to the good the bad and the ugly because of the climactic event of a bridge blowing up, and because they both have delightfully drawn out endings. I didnt think Id like this because im not much of one for war films, but i surprised myself. This film got academy awards for just about everything.
5. Team America: World Police (Trey Parker, 2004) Really, really funny. I thought the better parts were the clever ones particularly the parody parts, like the montage song. I didnt think it needed to be as vulgar as it was- not to say the vulgar parts werent funny, but they were unecesary aespecially compared to the rest of the movie. really funny though. achieves what a comedy should.
6.days of wine and roses (blake edwards, 1962) I love the song, and I love Jack Lemmon. I do not love alcoholism.
7. Within Our Gates (Oscar Michuax,192?)This movie was a pain in the ass to sit through. If it werent the first film made by a black director, it would have no cinematic merit. The story is trivial, the characters bland, and its silent and therefor boring.
8. The Great Dictator (Charlie Chaplin, 1940) I like him better as the little tramp. Although this film is a satire with political intentions, it is unclear to what extent it is a parody, a comedy, or a serious film. It lacks a certain cohesivness, A film that is more important than good. Not to say it doesn't have its moments, but its lacking the humor of a silent chaplin film, and lacking the dramatic tension of a straightford drama.
9.The Mission (Roland Joffé, 1986) I watched this film on my computer for braziilian history class because I dont think I'll be able to go to the screening this monday. I finnished up scrap Iron while I watched, so that was clearly where my attention was. From what I could tell, definitly a decent watch. Not a must see, but an enjoyable viewing experience nonetheless.
I watched Anastasia, but had seen it before. Made by 20th c fox. it would be very interesting to study how disney animated films have gone downhill, in the past. I could see myself writing a senior essay on that, looking at profits and reviews as primary sources. maybe i could apply for some cash and do that over the summer some year. i dont know what the cash would be for. It just seems like its available.
10. The Notebook
11. On the Waterfront
12. play time
13. Raging Bull (Martin Scorse, 1980) See Robert Deniro play an Italian. I dont think I'm a fan of scorsese, but deniro is very good in this.