Crash

The movie Crash was is the perfect anaology of how we as human race deal with life, people and our own experiences. The movie Crash is about several stories during a two day LA drive involving a collection of inter-related characters, a police detective with a drugged out mother, and a younger brother who is a thief. Two car jackers who are constantly theorizing on society and race. A white district attorney and is irritated with his pampered wife. There is a racist white single veteran cop, who just happens to be caring for his sick father at home. A successful Hollywood director and his wife who deal with the racist cop. There is a Persian-immigrant father who purchased a gun to protect his shop from getting robbed. A Hispanic locksmith and his young daughter who is very afraid of bullets. Throughout this movie there were so many areas where I felt like I could relate to. Parts that brought me to tears when the little girl jumps in front of her father because he told her that the blanket she wore was a special blanket and could protect her from bullets and the Persian man thought the Hispanic man replaced his locks only to be broken into. While the gun was fired, I thought surely the little girl had been shot, but soon realized, the gun had blanks in them. Being of different race myself, it is easy for me to relate to racism and bigotry in the U.S. I always thought if a person was racist it was because of their parents. But not everyone is racist, and that is exactly what the movie shows. The cop who harrassed the Hollywood director and his wife, is going through his own personal problems, the fact that his father is sick and his dying is unbearable to deal with, yet he continues to protect the people. In one scene of the movie, this cop ends up saving the life of the Hollywood director.
This was a great movie, I loved watching it. I really enjoyed the setting of the movie, how the director told several stories in one movie. The music, the lighting, all the effects that were part of  this movie.

Dances with Wolves

Dances with Wolves
The movie Dances with Wolves was a very creative film, that portrayed Native Americans.
A Luetienant John Dunbar played by Kevin Costner requested to be in a position on the western frontier, where he finds deserted. He decides to stay at the post and wait for more troops to show. Dunbar soon realizes he is not alone, and befriends a wolf he calls Two-Socks, because of his two white socks on his front legs. Dunbar also has encouners with an Indian Tribe, which he makes friends with and soon discovers a white woman, Stands with a Fist, who was raised by this tribe. Dunbar spends more and more time with the tirbe earning their respect as one of their own, and educating them on the white mans culture. Dunbar soon sheds his white man ways and lives among the tribe. The tribe named John Dunbar Dances with Wolves because they saw the wolf following him one day and Dunbar had to get off his horse to chase the wolf away. A wild animal such as a wolf is hard to train and tame, so it was very unusual for a wolf to follow a man, later a tribal member called him Dances with Wolfs.
I really like this movie because of the music, the location and the scenery. It showed how peaceful and humorous Native people are. The action in the film was very exciting, especially the part when they go on the buffalo hunt. It was curious to see the director incorporate buffalo hunting and put it in the movie. The effects the film makers used to create these large animals was amazing. It was ineresting that they showed that a single arrow could kill a buffalo dead in its tracks. Very entertaining no doubt, but we all know that it takes more to bring a buffalo down. However, the lighting, the effects and the music made this movie come together. I guess i really enjoyed this movie because I could relate to it, being Native American and watching certain things about this tribe and how the director showed Indians. It also reminds me of the plot of Avatar, where an outsider comes into Native terriotory earning the respect of the Natives, becomes part of the tribe and saves the day, both great movies. The choosing of the cast was well done, the director had actual Indians playing the roles of the Native people. I have seen too many hollywood movies where there are white people dressed as Natives. Dances with Wolves grabbed my attention once I learned what the movie was about, and who was the cast in the movie.
The music I really enjoyed in this movie, it was very dramatic at times, and changed to soft and light music when it needed to. The music drew my attention to certain scenes and I was able to grasp the feeling of that scene.

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight is probably one of my favorite movies, with all the action it has to offer, all the gadgets that Batman has and the plot of the story is very entertaining.

In the movie, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. With the help of the District Attorney, Harvey Dent, the both want to see crime stopped. But, the city of Gotham is becoming prey to the the criminal mastermind, Joker. The Joker forces Batman to chose in crossing the line of being a hero or a criminal.

What drew me to liking the Dark Knight was of course, the plot. While watching the movie, it had me guessing what would happen next. Also, to be a criminal of that nature, and to portray that character the way that Heath Ledger did, is simply amazing. Christian Bale as Batman, and the way he spoke, the voice he used, also played a very good part as Batman. Who stars in the movie can help a movie as well. I would like to watch a movie especially if I like the actors/actresses.

While watching the movie I noticed all the music playing, and tried to imagine what it would be like if the music were different, or if there was no music at all. But because of the music, I was able to use my imagination more and the sound of the music helped express the emotions. The music definetly drew my attention and it helped create a visual in my mind.

Watching the Dark Knight there is a lot going on, although the movie is a little dark at times, I felt like I was almost placed in Gotham and a part of what was going on. Selecting the cast, location and costumes helped me visualize the whole story. The Joker in his face paint and suit, almost a little creepy but I also felt very sorry for him as well. He always seemed to be one step ahead of Batman, predicting what Batman's next move was going to be. The Joker seemed very intellegence in judging peoples character and using that to hurt them.

The Dark Knight is a great movie, very entertaining and very good use of visual affects, characters, location and costumes.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

                                                    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

            This movie is about a young boy who became an eccentric chocolatier. Willie Wonka, played by Johnny Depp is a very creative, and well established owner in the chocolate business. Mr. Wonka, has a worldwide contest by sending out 5 golden tickets in the chocolate. Whoever finds the golden tickets have a chance to become the new owner of the chocolate factory.  A young boy named Charlie, whose family is very poor, finds a golden ticket and a chance to become the heir of the factory. The interesting part of this movie is that no one from the outside has ever been in the factory. The fun part of this movie is all the creative ideas Willie Wonka has. Gum that taste like a 5 course meal, or the neverending gobstopper, a candy that never looses its taste. In the beginning of the movie there is a large river of chocolate, one of the children falls into, but is sucked up and to another place in the factory. As the children are going through the factory, they are all tested in someway to see if they would be the rightful owner of the factory. The last child left is of course Charlie.

            I remember the original movie, one of my favorites. As you can imagine I was very excited to see this new feature. Thinking about how much the movie business has expanded with visual effects and the creativity. I still enjoy watching the older version, but the new one has a variety of different effects such as the oompa lumpas, or the girl who chewed gum became very flexible. Johnny Depp plays this character very well. All the bright colors, the different scenes in the movie, the new inventions of Willie Wonka are incredible.

            A few things stand out to me the most. The fact that Charlie and his family are very poor, he lives with 4 of his grandparents, and both his parents in a small house that almost looks abandoned. Although Charlie has had a very hard life, his luck is about to change when he has the opportunity to enter into a contest with Willie Wonka and the chance of becoming the next heir. At the end of the movie, Charlie is tested Mr. Wonka tells Charlie, in order for him to own the factory, Charlie must leave his family. This is something Charlie could not do; all the riches and chocolate in the world could not take Charlie away from his family.

            Another part of the movie that stands out to me is that how horrible and awful these other 4 children can behave. They have no respect for Mr. Wonka and his belongings. My favorite part of the movie is when Vercua Salt wants a squirrel, but she is not allowed to have one. She begins her tantrum and is dumped where the bad nuts go. The other children are well off, parents are not struggling like Charlie’s family, yet Charlie, is a very calm and honest person, although he has a very hard life at a young age.

            There are a lot of life lessons in this movie, even if a person does not have a lot in life, appreciate what you do have instead of what you don’t have. Being honest and sincere will get you far in life, it may not seem so right away, but sooner or later, you will be glad you were honest at a difficult time.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire

This movie was always a favorite of mine. Jamal, a young boy from the slums of Mumbai is on a TV show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, but is accused of cheating. The police cannot believe that this young man has made it so far in the game show, someone who is believed to be a common “slumdog”. Jamal and his brother were orphaned when their mother disappeared when they were children. I really liked the movie because it showed another culture and the ways that poverty affected different parts of the world. The first thing I noticed about the movie was that it was young children fending for themselves in a cruel and evil world. Yet, Jamal seemed to have turned out to be an honest and respectable young man.  It was emotional for me because I have young children and just the thought of not being there for them, to provide and protect them, how awful that would be. It was really sad to see a young child’s eyes burned just so the tourist and other people would feel more pity on that child and give them more money. Filming the movie there in Mumbai also shows the culture and the lifestyle they live. Throughout the movie while Jamal is interrogated, you can feel the emotional intensity of the game, and his life. I think the movie meant a little more and the audience was able to grasp the whole story better since the movie was filmed in Mumbai. It was interesting to see that his long friend, Latika and how their love for each other, even after all the years they hadn’t seen each other, was still there.

            I liked the movie because of where it was filmed, the actors who were in it, and the plot of the movie. It was exciting to see how he would and why Jamal would answer the next question. It was also interesting to see how those questions related to his life experiences.

Walk the Line

Symbolism in film plays a very important part of its story.  In "Walk the Line," Symbolism is prevalent throughout the film.  For example, the film starts off with Johnny Cash waiting backstage at Folsom Prison.  The audience of prisoners are cheering for Johnny Cash's band to emerge, as Johnny waits by a nearby table saw.  The table saw symbolizes the death of Johnny's brother, Jack, who was killed sawing wood for a neighbor.  Johnny's relationship with his father, which was already troublesome at best, becomes much more difficult after Jack's dies. 

There is also symbolism in the Johnny's Music.  When Cash was enlisted in the Air Force he found peace in solitude while playing his guitar and eventually wrote "Folsom Prison Blues."  The song represents what Johnny Cash would eventually symbolize, which is that of an outlaw and rebel, which is why the inmates of Folsom Prison gave him a heroes welcome when he performed inside its walls.  Just look at Cash's dress and style, which was that of a person dressed as if he was going to a funeral.  Cash's style, bearing black clothes and dark shades, is strong evidence of him symbolizing rebellion.  June Carter wrote a song called, "Ring of Fire," after an altercation with Cash during and after a show.  Carter's song symbolizes her feelings for Johnny Cash and her pain as she watches him fall into the abyss of addiction. 

I had mentioned earlier that Cash's style symbolized rebellion.  When watching the film closely and following it's progression, there's a scene where Cash visits his recording company.  Let me remind you that at this point in the film, Johnny Cash is somewhat clean and sober.  The reason he visits his recording company is that he wants to perform at Folsom Prison and during his visit he's wearing a black suit.  In my opinion, Cash's black suit at that point of the film symbolizes the Death of Johnny Cash's old self and inner demons , and in a way, he was somewhat going to a funeral.

When I had first seen, "Walk the Line," I never really did pay attention to the symbolism in the film.  Thanks to the course material, I can somewhat point out some things that I was otherwise unaware of before this class. 

Good Will Hunting

When a person watches "Good Will Hunting," one cannot overlook the internal conflict that is going on throughout the film.  The film's main character, Will Hunting, has an intellect of genius level.  He has an extraordinary gift for mathematics, but chooses to work as a janitor at a university and also lives alone in a half-furnished house in a rundown neighborhood. 

You start to get a glimpse of internal conflict when Will, during his work shift, takes a look at a graduate-level math problem that a professor, Gerald Lambeau, left on the chalkboard as a challenge for his students.  Will Hunting solves the problem quickly without difficulty, and when the solution is discovered by the professor and none of his students claim solving the problem, which should have taken until the end of the semester, Gerald posts a much harder problem.  Will sees the problem posted on the board and starts writing on the board.  Gerald sees Will writing on the board and chases him away, but later realizes that the presumed vandal wrote the correct answers.  You can see that Will Hunting has the potential to great things with his life, but his self pity, being an abused child, is used as a mechanism for self-sabotage. 

Will's internal conflict starts to intensify when his self-sabotage and potential get the best of him and the two collide.  He's supposedly up the creek without a paddle when he gets arrested for attacking a police officer.  Luckily Gerald comes to his rescue, but there's a catch.  Will either spends time in jail, or is released under Gerald’s supervision where he must study mathematics and attend therapy sessions.  After appalling and scaring away the first five therapists, Will comes across a counselor, Sean Maguire, who understands where he's coming from.  With time, Will opens up to him, and they soon share a bond that no one else could invoke.  Eventually, he even learns to love a woman, Skylar, and opens up to her as well.  His self-sabotaging ways again try to get in the way of his potential to be successful in life and his potential to be happy and love a woman.  In the end his self-sabotaging ways diminish and he takes charge of his life.  He conquers his inner demons and the inner conflict that he has within himself is just but whisper compared to the furry that it was.

Altogether I thought the film was two thumbs up. It made me think deeply about the significance of the title.  It made me realize that, although people in general may have inner demons that get the best of them, there's still the potential that a person will overcome them not matter the obstacles.