tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83913251043944832802023-11-16T04:33:48.490-08:00Popcorn and FilmsHi everyone!
This is a blog all about films. I will be updating it with reviews, news and my thoughts on classic as well as upcoming films. Feel free to post a comment and follow (: CatCat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-27319573731377661302016-01-02T10:42:00.000-08:002016-01-02T10:42:40.392-08:00Review: Frozen River<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOTMAGGLWTwdd42YKEw1un7Sx95_9QF-4iq1IhMnLSAWvKRbG0InXVrhUaZ6pmVRMyLMoz83u7TRHbTwyDjORsEmTSN-tm7SpykbIkFMsfOe3rpqNIurLHDfyR9Ku1uSHykHhmRQ2wg2-/s1600/Melissa-Leo-in-the-film-F-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOTMAGGLWTwdd42YKEw1un7Sx95_9QF-4iq1IhMnLSAWvKRbG0InXVrhUaZ6pmVRMyLMoz83u7TRHbTwyDjORsEmTSN-tm7SpykbIkFMsfOe3rpqNIurLHDfyR9Ku1uSHykHhmRQ2wg2-/s320/Melissa-Leo-in-the-film-F-002.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently watched Courtney Hunt’s 2009
‘Frozen River’ (nominated for two Academy Awards). I felt that it was such a
thought-provoking watch that I should express just what I found so impressive
about this film.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Examining the hardships of raising a family
in poverty as a single mother, Frozen River is a raw reflection of a world
often ignored by Hollywood. Left by her gambling-addict husband to support
their two sons alone, Ray - being pushed to desperation – joins Mohawk
reservation resident Lila and the pair engage in smuggling illegal immigrants
to earn money. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film’s style is so effective in its naturalistic
approach that it feels like a documentary at points. I wouldn’t say that it
fits into any specific genre label, despite exhibiting the sense of
anticipation found in a thriller and the emotional elements to a drama. Hunt’s
film could, however, be described as ‘socially realist’ (that is, to point up the
everyday conditions of the working classes). The film has, though, been </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">described
as belonging to the extension of social realism, ‘Neo-Neo Realism’ – the desire
to ‘escape from escapism’ after world-shaping events such as World War Two and
9/11. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film manages to explore social,
feminist and racial concerns without entering into the realm of melodrama,
cliché or self-pitying characters. The audience is not immediately encouraged
to like the protagonists but does eventually align with both Ray and Lila as
they grow as individuals and endure their struggling to get by.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjx05PGafSQ9K9HwEzyT6vMKTuKpBeoZzMQpupn9RXdDzkkictGn3gl3qkL2457mET99wnOxFztM_keNKeqDJaehTJCshoKqF7UPfyTYBOzPLSASdRWiLNMcfXjazHsLpdxnp1h9RGhXWf/s1600/Frozen-River-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjx05PGafSQ9K9HwEzyT6vMKTuKpBeoZzMQpupn9RXdDzkkictGn3gl3qkL2457mET99wnOxFztM_keNKeqDJaehTJCshoKqF7UPfyTYBOzPLSASdRWiLNMcfXjazHsLpdxnp1h9RGhXWf/s400/Frozen-River-001.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Reviews including </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Vollkorn-Regular; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Stephen
Holden’s in The New York Times argued that Frozen River had ‘no political axes
to grind’. While this may be true, I did think that Hunt’s film was making a
profound comment on the impossible situation for those on the edges of society
and how that situation, although similar, can differ solely due to race. This
is evidenced when Lila tells Ray troopers will not stop them because she is
white. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: Vollkorn-Regular; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Courtney Hunt said in an interview: ‘I
just think if a story is good enough to compel people to watch it, then it’s a
good movie.’ Frozen River certainly tells a good story – more than that, it is
an important story. When up against the wall to keep a family going, people
will do whatever it takes and yet, the reality of the struggles of the working
class are far from popular, Hollywood material. Surprisingly gripping, Frozen
River is more than worth a watch. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-88034024764251074432014-04-17T03:59:00.000-07:002014-04-17T03:59:03.656-07:00A Definite Top 10: ‘The Graduate’
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Yesterday I watched Mike Nichols’ ‘The
Graduate’, perhaps for the 50<sup>th</sup> time. It’s safe to say it’s one of
my all-time favourite films. I think it’s difficult to find a film that manages
to deal so well with such thought-provoking issues as self-identity and
alienation, in both a serious and lighthearted way.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Dustin Hoffman maintains that he and
Katherine Ross were last resorts for the roles of confused graduate Benjamin Braddock
and Elaine Robinson (the sensitive daughter of Mrs. Robinson). However it’s
difficult to think of better alternatives. The film explores Benjamin’s sense of a lack
of meaning in his life, alongside his relationship with both Elaine and his previous
affair with her mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The soundtrack of Simon and Garfunkel songs
is, for me, one of the best elements of the film. Aside from being a massive
fan of the music itself, the sense of both fragility and certainty in the words
and songs perfectly mirrors Benjamin’s own state. The song ‘The Sound of Silence’
fits his condition in the film so well – as well as just being a wonderful
song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The originality of the directorial style is
another way in which ‘The Graduate’ marks itself out. While appearing a classic
rom-com (Doris Day was considered first choice for the role of Elaine), the
film manages to offer a refreshing twist in its style. For example in the
famous shot of Benjamin through Mrs Robinson’s legs, as well as the camera
acting as Benjamin’s vision when he wears the scuba goggles. This was very
different in filmmaking at the time and is still interesting to watch today – making
it an exciting kind of rom-com. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The script, written by Beck Henry, was
adapted from Charles Webb’s novel. Some of the lines – delivered by Hoffman in
the most brilliantly awkward way – are just hilarious. My favourite scene by
far is Benjamin telling his parents he’s decided to marry Elaine, despite her
not knowing… ‘well, what makes you think she wants to marry you?’ his father
asks, ‘oh she doesn’t. To be perfectly honest she doesn’t like me.’ It’s
difficult to describe just how amusing the contrast is between Benjamin’s
confidence in such a bizarre declaration and his parents’ bewilderment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KBUjBFSAj2J0tW1eBmZkfKsgY7FRVKEK1AIiIWmsfBWVxzU2j3ADTHbE7o6fqM8uoa4maSc5X9nRzU4PpGcjCL_Twzg7HsrKeBUfZPSEMnyHqwWXUYNBMagzlgRwrP40aPDgNZx6nzhT/s1600/the_graduate_ending_shot_elaine_and_benjamin_on_bus.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8KBUjBFSAj2J0tW1eBmZkfKsgY7FRVKEK1AIiIWmsfBWVxzU2j3ADTHbE7o6fqM8uoa4maSc5X9nRzU4PpGcjCL_Twzg7HsrKeBUfZPSEMnyHqwWXUYNBMagzlgRwrP40aPDgNZx6nzhT/s1600/the_graduate_ending_shot_elaine_and_benjamin_on_bus.png" height="225" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I also love the slightly unorthodox, ‘happy’
ending (I won’t explain incase anyone hasn’t seen it) which leaves the viewer
satisfied without feeling that they’ve been cheated of a credible ending. While
Benjamin and Elaine are together, there is definitely a sense that their escape
is full of uncertainty – seen through the separate shots of their concerned faces.
It’s most definitely worth a watch or re-watching if it’s been on the shelf for
the last 10 years… I’d say its brilliance lies in dealing with issues that certainly
don’t lose significance over time, in way that makes the viewer laugh, cringe
and reflect – somehow all at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-28701837287557881652013-02-08T08:29:00.002-08:002013-02-08T08:33:05.901-08:00A Game of Corruption and Morality in Politics.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvEtClB94h8cOvnQcXyjrCMzZF66kOAeEwOiwTaazhW-gQ5KTaTDaEoAn-CT-8jUDqkFLSHQf2CwXNWM5paiqwoDkssih7gBIn-Ab9-ocw902bRhlrXCbOo0L_f7i-LZAgiq8NVgtLGh4/s1600/lincoln+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbvEtClB94h8cOvnQcXyjrCMzZF66kOAeEwOiwTaazhW-gQ5KTaTDaEoAn-CT-8jUDqkFLSHQf2CwXNWM5paiqwoDkssih7gBIn-Ab9-ocw902bRhlrXCbOo0L_f7i-LZAgiq8NVgtLGh4/s400/lincoln+2.jpg" width="330" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30.0pt;">Lincoln</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30.0pt;"> </span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Released: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">16 November, 2012</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Directed by: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Steven Spielberg </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Produced by:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Steven Spielberg</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kathleen Kennedy </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Written by: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tony Kushner</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">(Based on ‘Team of Rivals: The political Genius of Abraham
Lincoln” </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">by Doris Kearns Goodwin)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Starring: </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Daniel Day-Lewis</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Sally Field</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">David Strathairn</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Joseph Gordon-Levitt</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">James Spader</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hal Holbrook</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tommy Lee Jones</span><span lang="EN-GB"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Summary: </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">‘</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lincoln</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">’ tells the story of Abraham Lincoln’s role in pushing
through the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution (which abolished slavery),
exploring the struggles he faced with his cabinet, gaining votes from Democrat
representatives and his own family. Set against the backdrop of the American
Civil War in 1865, Lincoln
faces a crisis of conscience in whether to end war (and chance the Thirteenth
Amendment not passing) or to use the war as a means to support ending slavery.
This film looks at how arguably the most important piece of legislation in
American history was passed through corruption (with representatives being
offered federal positions in exchange for voting for the bill).</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi6C-knGkZ1DjWVyeA-TLGNWJDJFDKDb5TFdDFL3u_6YhjoR4j-DAOpOxzjLo2peIz7S9N9hGDIIhSJTsOa7qkdHU7eXiVYRI0RHVZ2P2pPucRyj6tWgbArSEnqGpcDRbv4AblmpSM2CY/s1600/lincoln+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi6C-knGkZ1DjWVyeA-TLGNWJDJFDKDb5TFdDFL3u_6YhjoR4j-DAOpOxzjLo2peIz7S9N9hGDIIhSJTsOa7qkdHU7eXiVYRI0RHVZ2P2pPucRyj6tWgbArSEnqGpcDRbv4AblmpSM2CY/s400/lincoln+5.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
Favourite Scene: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"> My
favourite scene was the vote on the amendment in the House of Representatives.
When it is announced that there is a rumour that </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Confederate
representatives<span class="apple-style-span"> are ready to discuss peace, there
is a moment of panic as both parties decide that the vote should be postponed
if there is a chance of peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A message
is rushed to Lincoln, who denies that there are envoys that are in, or will be
in, the city. This is technically a truthful statement, as he has ordered them
to stay away! As a consequence, the voting goes ahead and the bill is passed by
a margin of two votes.</span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">I thought
that this scene conveys what politics really is. Although at times it can
appear to simply be old, white men in suits making boring decisions about
issues that do not really matter, it is actually voting for change which has
the power to completely alter a country. This scene also demonstrates that it
is necessary at times in politics, to play the game and not tell the entire
truth in order to make something happen, which one knows to be right –
eventually the important thing to consider if whether the ends justify the
means.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Abraham Lincoln: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I could write shorter sermons but when I get
started I’m too lazy to stop. </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thaddeus Stevens: </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">The most liberating constitutional amendment
in history, passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in America.</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Abraham Lincoln</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Euclid</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">'s first common notion is this: Things which
are equal to the same things are equal to each other. That's a rule of
mathematical reasoning and its true because it works - has done and always will
do. In his book Euclid
says this is self evident. You see there it is even in that 2000 year old book
of mechanical law it is the self evident truth that things which are equal to
the same things are equal to each other.<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">
</span></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF7cFOC_eLZO1YhZCbZMHR1rTM2s40DQT9HbA_EQAH6pTijKwwZNhiuYAunbeRgMWYOU_sNq8Dz4wNMnwIUvKPJ8QQOzS1dpKtBsrmHJxeTEOg2bjJGh3GhLHpaOVY-HA1sVIVxnvH7qU/s1600/lincoln+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF7cFOC_eLZO1YhZCbZMHR1rTM2s40DQT9HbA_EQAH6pTijKwwZNhiuYAunbeRgMWYOU_sNq8Dz4wNMnwIUvKPJ8QQOzS1dpKtBsrmHJxeTEOg2bjJGh3GhLHpaOVY-HA1sVIVxnvH7qU/s400/lincoln+4.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">My
Thoughts:</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The film was a fantastic portrayal of Abraham Lincoln’s
struggle to secure the abolition of slavery. Not just the Republican’s issues
(such as the civil war) but also the political issue of securing votes through
undemocratic means. The film also explores Lincoln’s own issues with his wife’s
instability and objection to their son serving in the army – due to the death
of their first son.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"><br />
<br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">However ‘Lincoln’ was not
entertaining in a conventional way, in that it is quite demanding of the
audience (or at least a UK
audience). Unless one has a good understanding of American history and
politics, it is a little challenging to fully understand the process of the
bill. At some points, I was wondering about the importance of particular
individuals and (until I did some research subsequently) I could not work out
why Republicans would support abolishing slavery and Democrats, oppose it! I
did not feel that there was really an adequate explanation of how slavery would
divide individuals on the political spectrum. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance was undoubtedly the best
element in the film! I felt he really captured a statesman torn between love, friendship
and his political conscience. There were some very moving scenes and I’d bet on
Day-Lewis nabbing that Oscar for best actor! However I did struggle in making a
connection with any of the other characters, but perhaps what I saw as the
underdevelopment of some characters is not so important in a film primarily
concerned with one character. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM0UPOZrMIgIyaE2ir3DjLBkVC2nsjUjoiMru6p5CBR5qbls027DuYLIsF5aH0DAq6-2E5Ip16Y5XTjx_gAPDiCoeD02q-LiUgJ3n5tlng_bMY4EM-Sebe2RMoYwnXNuyvT-dd6xQYGk3/s1600/lincoln+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM0UPOZrMIgIyaE2ir3DjLBkVC2nsjUjoiMru6p5CBR5qbls027DuYLIsF5aH0DAq6-2E5Ip16Y5XTjx_gAPDiCoeD02q-LiUgJ3n5tlng_bMY4EM-Sebe2RMoYwnXNuyvT-dd6xQYGk3/s400/lincoln+3.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Overall I think that, despite perhaps some underdevelopment in
the issue of slavery and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>characters, ‘Lincoln’ is a very good
film. There are moving scenes relating to politics, family and war. However I
also felt it lacked any sort of flair… but it could be argued that that is to
be expected in a primarily historical film. There was some talk about the
accuracy of the events, with some saying that it had exaggerated what had
actually occurred. </span><span lang="EN" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Historian
<span style="color: #660033; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joshua M. Zeitz</span>,
writing in <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #660033; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Atlantic</span></span>,
said: "<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Lincoln</span> is not a perfect film, but it
is an important film.” I share this conclusion. ‘Lincoln’ may not be completely accurate or entertaining
throughout, but it gives an interesting presentation of one of the most
important events in American history, with an extremely memorable performance
from </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #660033; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Daniel Day-Lewis.</span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27.0pt;">B+</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-90223418193129933992012-11-06T13:18:00.000-08:002012-11-06T13:19:39.156-08:00Guns, girls and bad guys. But a little different...<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 40px;">Skyfall</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjxMEkmRdrE8E_pjS1mk3oZQC3zCGmX4B4rtTCEe5kfRLym7nGWpq7fAAcyv3w4Zcfn8a8Fu7u7-eu6iPLJaSwcfTRl3OL7tdWLzgCsiHw6Uf9DKQLR29BkwQnmmWTPOR19lfNeXD8ZLQ/s1600/SKYFALL-UK-POSTER_650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjxMEkmRdrE8E_pjS1mk3oZQC3zCGmX4B4rtTCEe5kfRLym7nGWpq7fAAcyv3w4Zcfn8a8Fu7u7-eu6iPLJaSwcfTRl3OL7tdWLzgCsiHw6Uf9DKQLR29BkwQnmmWTPOR19lfNeXD8ZLQ/s640/SKYFALL-UK-POSTER_650.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; letter-spacing: 0px;">Release: </span><br />
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">23 October, 2012</span><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #010e66; letter-spacing: 0px;">Directed by </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="color: #660800;">Sam Mendes</span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Produced by:<br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Michael G. Wilson</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Barbara Broccoli </span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Written by:<br />
</span><span style="color: #660800; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">John Logan</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Neal Purvis</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Robert Wade</span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Starring: <br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Daniel Craig </span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Javier Bardem</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Judi Dench</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Ralph Fiennes</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Naomie Harris</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Berenice Marlohe</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Albert Hinney</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0px;">Summary: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A hard drive containing the details of all undercover NATO agents in terrorist organisations has been stolen. The task begins of hunting down the culprit. The search digs into the past of ‘M’, while the future of the British Secret Service is placed in jeopardy. As usual, Bond is called upon to save the day...</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="color: #4b1130; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">When Bond meets the villain, Raoul Silva, there is the usual exchange of sly insults. However in this film, Silva attempts to push Bond beyond his comfort zone by caressing him and saying “there’s a first time for everything...” to which Bond responds “what makes you think this is my first time?”</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0knz3V-Z635Kz2-8bzq3UjqALz5ryJuVOrLennvxqjYRq5qmM2DZTYsAmBPnhrNORao3HLp_bZjyteuvWXuQp6DdKGfXcg9e33JW6e_Idyzn8lSasuW8z0eRQpe_RexDxfjzaUyExQeT/s1600/javier-bardem-in-skyfall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0knz3V-Z635Kz2-8bzq3UjqALz5ryJuVOrLennvxqjYRq5qmM2DZTYsAmBPnhrNORao3HLp_bZjyteuvWXuQp6DdKGfXcg9e33JW6e_Idyzn8lSasuW8z0eRQpe_RexDxfjzaUyExQeT/s400/javier-bardem-in-skyfall.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I thought it was interesting to have one ultra-masculine character exhibit power over another through questioning his sexuality. However Bond just plays along... It was different to a typical power scene of weapons and pride-bruising and showed a different angle to the ‘ladies man’ Bond.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
James Bond: “Everyone needs a hobby...”</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Raoul Silva: “So what’s yours?”</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">James Bond: “Resurrection.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Raoul Silva: “She sent you after me, knowing you’re not ready, knowing you would likely die. Mommy was very bad.”</span></div>
<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> I really enjoyed Skyfall. It was entertaining, thought-provoking in parts and quite different to any previous Bond film. There was a definite feeling of it moving with the times. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_83LBluoRmWexuzWS8gWq9YMezMWtTlXPHORcHV_sJn54IgBHKEcAAfMwHY-4LHuYopC8k28nxFg5dvfxZ9O74A7CtaWiH7gYFrSZdUJ1ua2mrGLRC-Ozl2Tu1cO3Nzb1CxRRFbGBP7X1/s1600/skyfall-clip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_83LBluoRmWexuzWS8gWq9YMezMWtTlXPHORcHV_sJn54IgBHKEcAAfMwHY-4LHuYopC8k28nxFg5dvfxZ9O74A7CtaWiH7gYFrSZdUJ1ua2mrGLRC-Ozl2Tu1cO3Nzb1CxRRFbGBP7X1/s400/skyfall-clip.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">The usual, excepted sexism was somewhat absent in Skyfall. Bond’s agent with him at the beginning of the film in Turkey was a woman who was as powerful and destructive as him - although there was a scene in which Bond laughs at her losing both wing mirrors due to careless driving... The character of M became more heroic, although unable to defend herself. Although it is not fair to say this Bond film has eradicated all the misogyny evident before, it has most definitely progressed in changing the presentation of female characters.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">There was also a sense of Skyfall moving with the times as the idea of the Britain’s role in the world was challenged throughout. Many characters made remarks concerning the Secret Service’s view of Britain as an Empire. There was even an inquiry into the actions of MI6. This portrayed a more political angle to the Bond film, and therefore made it more realistic. For once, it seemed that the Secret Service could be held accountable.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1LuD_32XZ_gAVBMaB_Zzgic88I8HLxsemx42GiYJYKwSGjabu-9FpEDKsqOwR-bJOViDKCfTC0FRJf0M5wzWRPUJtRh8Py-VjCMAdJFFfp6ULM02r9eWGBWqhC8Y5e79hZ605cvAmmyr/s1600/Skyfall-007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1LuD_32XZ_gAVBMaB_Zzgic88I8HLxsemx42GiYJYKwSGjabu-9FpEDKsqOwR-bJOViDKCfTC0FRJf0M5wzWRPUJtRh8Py-VjCMAdJFFfp6ULM02r9eWGBWqhC8Y5e79hZ605cvAmmyr/s400/Skyfall-007.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b></b></span></div>
<div style="color: #660800; font-family: Georgia; text-align: justify;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I also liked the villain. Rather than an outdated ugly, creepy man (which subliminally encourages people to believe anyone whose doesn’t look completely normal must be bad) Skyfall had a mentally-scarred ex-agent whose behaviour was driven by a sense of betrayal rather than a crazed thirst for world-power. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Overall, I had quite high expectations for Skyfall because I’d heard very good things about it and it definitely met my expectations. Bond and M were far more interesting characters and the film was nothing like the formulaic Bond films of previous years. Skyfall is absolutely worth a watch. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A</span></div>
Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-44607464265779261372012-10-17T10:23:00.000-07:002012-10-31T10:35:07.095-07:00Feel the Beat<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX35TlgxRwaMmBWomPRyFKpebtzNoW63fH8FGTGpkfFmvIINq9HJuttyn2Etuzq5Ije0v8NmEcxWcrUkqaE1CVvHhjqmt-Sd42C6TrlejwuUcTZwN2Mz_k5yLYya9vFG_mzfP7ZQYF1rTg/s1600/On_the_Road_FilmPoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX35TlgxRwaMmBWomPRyFKpebtzNoW63fH8FGTGpkfFmvIINq9HJuttyn2Etuzq5Ije0v8NmEcxWcrUkqaE1CVvHhjqmt-Sd42C6TrlejwuUcTZwN2Mz_k5yLYya9vFG_mzfP7ZQYF1rTg/s400/On_the_Road_FilmPoster.jpg" width="291" /></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On the Road</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 16.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Released:</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">October 12<sup>th</sup>, 2012</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Directed by:</span><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Walter Salles</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Produced by:</span><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nathanael Karmitz</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Charles Gillibert</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rebecca Yeldham</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Francis Ford Coppola</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Written by: </span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jose Rivera </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Based on Jack Kerouac’s novel
‘On the Road’</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="DE" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Starring: </span><span lang="DE" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="DE" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Garrett Hedlund</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="DE" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sam Riley</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="DE" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kristen Stewart</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Amy Adams</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tom Sturridge</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Danny Morgan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Alice Braga</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Elisabeth Moss</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Kristen Dunst</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Viggo Mortensen </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqT0tO16NP6aVZ9CmawHxQ8Arp5K_JofSTezUIB-j5MV10p4ZnUjKycHNfB14Fb1AX-eytLBXlUXkP2Ry1x7Hg9iP3PJsBJMQgJ4PJX1uLDGn_-fL53hbZzUgIU-k5JEy840KWMjMe9eQ/s1600/on+the+road.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqT0tO16NP6aVZ9CmawHxQ8Arp5K_JofSTezUIB-j5MV10p4ZnUjKycHNfB14Fb1AX-eytLBXlUXkP2Ry1x7Hg9iP3PJsBJMQgJ4PJX1uLDGn_-fL53hbZzUgIU-k5JEy840KWMjMe9eQ/s400/on+the+road.bmp" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Summary: </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">‘On the Road’ tells the story of
young deep-thinking writer Sal Paradise and his relationship with the wild Dean
Moriarty – the epitome of the Beat Generation. The pair embark on a journey
across America
with Dean’s lover Marylou - encountering various interesting people and events
along the way. The group (whose only consistent members are Sal and Dean)
manage to leave their mark wherever they go. The film follows scenes from the
book that has not yet been writing – we see Sal begin to write in the final
scene.</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An interesting
scene in ‘On the Road’ is where Marylou is talking to Sal while driving, with
Dean sleeping in the back of the car. Marylou is saying how she wants a normal
life with a house and a baby, and that she knows Dean will leave her soon. Dean
then wakes up grinning and says ‘I just had a great idea. You guys are gonna love
it.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtOTPGBL1WDHHUbOmwLYgjqnSLX79HYlw5xEP3C_wEV5WV06_Oi1xjBflFc9hS1G_ORbq9Pyv6SCecBoikwuLxM84HrJ8qhIiGcPRGMw5bF_3mSHR7Nf5cj0dlEr1nGk_2W2rx_QT5Bjk/s1600/on+the+road+2.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtOTPGBL1WDHHUbOmwLYgjqnSLX79HYlw5xEP3C_wEV5WV06_Oi1xjBflFc9hS1G_ORbq9Pyv6SCecBoikwuLxM84HrJ8qhIiGcPRGMw5bF_3mSHR7Nf5cj0dlEr1nGk_2W2rx_QT5Bjk/s400/on+the+road+2.bmp" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This scene shows the impact of Dean
Moriarty. While Marylou knows Dean will never give her what she wants and that
he won’t stay with her, she still stays with him. This seemed to be the case
with so many of the people Dean encountered. They knew that they would get
nothing from him, and some even knew he would cause them pain in the end, but
his free-spirit and approach to life was enough to want to keep him in their
lives. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Favourite Quotes:</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Dean Moriarty: “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I do
all these dumb things and think in all these distorted ways. And now I’m
burning up.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sal Paradise: “The only ones for me are the mad ones, the
ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything
at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn,
burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across
the stars.”</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Thoughts: </span><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">After reading ‘On the Road’ (which is one of the best novels I’ve
ever read) I was very interested to see how Salles’ would translate the journey
into a film. In fact, while in San Francisco
earlier this year I saw the car that was used in this film in the Beat Museum
– which is definitely worth a visit if anyone ever visits San Francisco! I bought tickets to watch the UK premiere of
the film at the British Library and left disappointed, but reminded of the
essence of the Beat Generation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I definitely felt
that ‘On the Road’ powerfully displayed the way of life of the Beat Generation.
It portrayed the free-spiritedness and love of experiencing life that makes
them such a fascinating group of people. However it also showed how easily this
can damage. Dean Moriarty (based on Kerouac’s friend Neal Cassady) felt
absolutely no responsibility towards anyone. In the end, neither of his wives
could deal with his one-sided view of sexual liberation. Indeed much of the
behaviour in the film shows a distinctly repressive attitude towards women.
Dean felt that it was fine to leave his wife to care for their child while he
and Sal went out for the night. Although there were women involved with the
creation of Beat philosophy and literature, they remained marginalized and insignificant
in comparison.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4H2eVcC-nbFD7oON21sDvQYKNu5svc3SpHAAQFhYCcUzsXCxgJKPCuh5RyTt78-GoSPeD3St1SUPd4NYB4z06GBsQEWtTAE-Xl9I0JxVUu684LVFjk92GL2CdVDENuHld4oA-93tItXT/s1600/on+the+road+3.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4H2eVcC-nbFD7oON21sDvQYKNu5svc3SpHAAQFhYCcUzsXCxgJKPCuh5RyTt78-GoSPeD3St1SUPd4NYB4z06GBsQEWtTAE-Xl9I0JxVUu684LVFjk92GL2CdVDENuHld4oA-93tItXT/s400/on+the+road+3.bmp" width="400" /></a> <span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">As always, a film which has been made out of a book can
never meet expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt that
some very significant elements of the novel were missing. In the novel, the
scenes seemed to mould together and create a world. The film didn’t quite
have the same effect. Much of it felt repetitive and directionless.
However many would say that this echoes the spirit of the
drifting journey in ‘On the Road’. I did feel that a strong part of the film
was the way in which jazz music was used in the evocation of the Beat
Generation, as was the presentation of a 1950s America of ‘Jitterbugging’, bebop
and open roads rather than freeways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Overall, I couldn’t help but feel that this film dragged
on (I subsequently discovered that it had been cut by 15 minutes following the Cannes premiere!) I think
it would have worked better if Salles had adapted the novel more – telling the
story of Sal’s journey in a different way. This would have made it more
interesting. The story works well in the world created by the novel, but not so
much as a film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found ‘On the Road’
entertaining but not inspirational. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">B</span><span style="color: #73540e; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-74989635134805588692012-09-12T08:25:00.000-07:002012-09-28T03:17:43.250-07:00The ultimate protest<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24FJOJx59tvHi1W-KXP0iydJcpfUkN73Tmq8bu0nf_Q8hAtKiCL-LqeeqUXC8bLS1DGN-J0aBdm8k0Q_TfrqslH91uJv-6KEFess1mwSFEeOIB75J3CooCRCCETxBMzFfmngdBlsJHHj2/s1600/hunger-2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24FJOJx59tvHi1W-KXP0iydJcpfUkN73Tmq8bu0nf_Q8hAtKiCL-LqeeqUXC8bLS1DGN-J0aBdm8k0Q_TfrqslH91uJv-6KEFess1mwSFEeOIB75J3CooCRCCETxBMzFfmngdBlsJHHj2/s400/hunger-2008.jpg" width="270" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Hunger</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 21pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released: <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">15 March, 2008</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Directed by: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Steve McQueen<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Laura Hastings-Smith</span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Robin Gutch</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Enda Walsh</span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Steve McQueen</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Michael Fassbender</span></div>
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<span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Liam Cunningham </span><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">‘Hunger’ follows the lives of imprisoned members of the IRA, including Bobby Sands, as well as a guard at the Maze Prison in 1981 Belfast. The film leads to the hunger strike which brought the IRA head-to-head with Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, and resulted in the death of ten IRA members.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TnxVa6eYGQg8eoNWYAsK1SFKA428iNT493UwSnIvLgAiOL1jfCW9CJ_2Hbt7lyPrQmIGwqRlZv29YM-Fz2h4ODmV1qKR5QgT78fyYIIb9mkHPrW-SnidBlcuizrAbS9rq5OFYYluUDqU/s1600/large-hunger30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TnxVa6eYGQg8eoNWYAsK1SFKA428iNT493UwSnIvLgAiOL1jfCW9CJ_2Hbt7lyPrQmIGwqRlZv29YM-Fz2h4ODmV1qKR5QgT78fyYIIb9mkHPrW-SnidBlcuizrAbS9rq5OFYYluUDqU/s320/large-hunger30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene:</span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> The main scene in ‘Hunger’ is a 15 minute conversation between Bobby Sands and a priest (Father Dominic Moran). In this scene, Sands tries to justify his decision to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>call a second hunger strike and the priest attempts to make him change his mind.</span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This entire scene is shot from one angle. We only see the two figures, but not their facial expressions. This makes the scene focus on the words of the characters, which I found interesting. Rather than watching them, I found myself listening to the words and making a mental picture instead. This was the one scene that actually explained the motivations behind the actions in the film.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Bobby Sands: (referring to When you’re hung from a cross you’re gonna say anything. Jesus offers him (the thief being crucified next to Jesus) a seat next to his daddy in a place called paradise, you’re always gonna put your hands up and have a piece of that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Father Dominic Moran: Aye. Even when it’s nailed to your cross.</span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadotR-kAHn46kUUFkRkB32jwHUwRgCMAgxvPHT8U1a_VEmWOe_9clD2CMbvHq9_-NMoc0JVT4FYSMNw12Ujzji0xdgcD81n3PT1E72-dycaTcsWUVw5UV8MVrp6LBkQaAbOAf3zq-7th8/s1600/hunger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgadotR-kAHn46kUUFkRkB32jwHUwRgCMAgxvPHT8U1a_VEmWOe_9clD2CMbvHq9_-NMoc0JVT4FYSMNw12Ujzji0xdgcD81n3PT1E72-dycaTcsWUVw5UV8MVrp6LBkQaAbOAf3zq-7th8/s320/hunger.jpg" width="320" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Father Dominic Moran: (In reference to smoking pages of the Bible as cigarettes) Anyone work out which book is the best smoke?</span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Bobby Sands: We only smoke the Lamentations. A right miserable cigarette.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div>
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<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having studied this period in history, I was interested to see how McQueen was going to present the IRA’s struggle. </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Watching ‘Hunger’ reminded me of the strife that took place but I also felt that it was quite lost as a film. I think unless one has some knowledge of the events in Northern Ireland, it would be quite difficult to understand what was happening!</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">‘Hunger’ raised the issue of prison conditions and the treatment of, debatably, prisoners of war. This problem is one that resurfaced recently with ‘Abu Graib’ prison in Iraq.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">This film only proves the words of documentary-maker Michael Moore: “Immoral behaviour breeds immoral behaviour”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">‘Hunger’ is most defiantly thought-provoking and shocking – with many scenes being extremely difficult to watch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_g18H4_qg2rAWBIB_niGgjPAFroSsjIfkq1yJs8KuWlN9f3O-1p_AiMS6dERv2SxhZ6XWCh7-6iluC0UYfQhnUIhl5u3tCbvCGlEnIHH_WYQSLLz2fxlNTwd4GC11uOcXFq3aVL_fZNm/s1600/hunger-bfi-00n-zj5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_g18H4_qg2rAWBIB_niGgjPAFroSsjIfkq1yJs8KuWlN9f3O-1p_AiMS6dERv2SxhZ6XWCh7-6iluC0UYfQhnUIhl5u3tCbvCGlEnIHH_WYQSLLz2fxlNTwd4GC11uOcXFq3aVL_fZNm/s320/hunger-bfi-00n-zj5.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">However I thought it lacked any sort of direction. With the exception of the 15 minute conversation between Bobby Sands and the priest, the film was more like an assortment of scenes with artistic angles. This did make the film interesting to watch and a change from the so many films that require no effort. However many scenes were far too long, and came across as pretentious. I spent much of the film wondering when the plot or structure was going to be made clear.</span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">‘Hunger’ reveals a gruesome struggle for Irish independence that resurfaced in the late 1960s and continued until the signing of the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ in 1998 . The film brought to light many issues and </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">provoked a debate amongst my family about hunger striking and Margaret Thatcher’s approach. Many of the scenes of how the prisoners were treated left me intrigued as to what the British government actually did. Although ‘Hunger’ was shocking and interesting,</span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I was left confused about what McQueen was actually trying to say.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">B- </span></div>
Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-49372450986377258442012-09-05T13:03:00.000-07:002012-09-05T13:08:45.145-07:00Breaking barriers in San Francisco<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSOiLYyOyu-9W7AbAfQUDPnn4hqC4VIPq7KGgj5sWqdGF5xWCpOToW52k031aL-5J4JwzBAM6yuDOaqOSI99YEgK_H1AtYClGevK-ujO1nMuVWPAIN0ISylGqS9b6uXaU8RJ_6qZQzzHD/s1600/milk_film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSOiLYyOyu-9W7AbAfQUDPnn4hqC4VIPq7KGgj5sWqdGF5xWCpOToW52k031aL-5J4JwzBAM6yuDOaqOSI99YEgK_H1AtYClGevK-ujO1nMuVWPAIN0ISylGqS9b6uXaU8RJ_6qZQzzHD/s400/milk_film.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSOiLYyOyu-9W7AbAfQUDPnn4hqC4VIPq7KGgj5sWqdGF5xWCpOToW52k031aL-5J4JwzBAM6yuDOaqOSI99YEgK_H1AtYClGevK-ujO1nMuVWPAIN0ISylGqS9b6uXaU8RJ_6qZQzzHD/s1600/milk_film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: #20124d; font-size: 36px;">Milk</span></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSOiLYyOyu-9W7AbAfQUDPnn4hqC4VIPq7KGgj5sWqdGF5xWCpOToW52k031aL-5J4JwzBAM6yuDOaqOSI99YEgK_H1AtYClGevK-ujO1nMuVWPAIN0ISylGqS9b6uXaU8RJ_6qZQzzHD/s1600/milk_film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Released: </span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 7.5px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">26 November, 2008</span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 7.5px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
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</span><span style="color: #061266; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Directed by </span></span></div>
<div style="color: #800404; font: 10.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Gus Van Sant</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Produced by:</span><span style="font: 7.5px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #660303; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dan Jinks</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bruce Cohen </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Written by: </span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 7.5px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Dustin Lance Black</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Starring: </span><span style="font: 7.5px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> <br />
</span><span style="color: #660303; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Sean Penn</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #660303; font: 10.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Emile Hirsch</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #660303; font: 10.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Josh Brolin</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Diegro Luna</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #660303; font: 10.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">James Franco</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Summary: </span><span style="color: #4b1130; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b>‘</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Milk’ tells the story of how Harvey Milk became the first openly gay elected official in the US. The film illustrates his journey as a gay rights activist through the 1970s, as well as his battles against political activist Anita Bryant and politician John Briggs. ‘Milk’ incorporates Harvey Milk’s political and personal relationships – including those with his partners Scott Smith, Jack Lira, and his murderer and fellow City Supervisor, Dan White.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis169SQr6o-CFYVOC0o_JKq8z3Hj_D5nDH0u8t84IfWT-_44_sNFZLL3u94tI0o1TIXQXL7575X6bFI_oCU0tvLZra7o46n6phxtwNaV2L_QCkvDffdHRwDGd0anWCRsDalC16u-yE2q0C/s1600/milk2_090130045515826_wideweb__300x270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis169SQr6o-CFYVOC0o_JKq8z3Hj_D5nDH0u8t84IfWT-_44_sNFZLL3u94tI0o1TIXQXL7575X6bFI_oCU0tvLZra7o46n6phxtwNaV2L_QCkvDffdHRwDGd0anWCRsDalC16u-yE2q0C/s1600/milk2_090130045515826_wideweb__300x270.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #20124d; font: 7.5px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b><br />
</b></span><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: #580a04; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A particularly thought-provoking scene in ‘Milk’ was the one in which Harvey is discussing the murder of a man he knew with a San Francisco police officer</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">. The officer shows complete disinterest and is not concerned with the murder. He also disrespectfully calls his partner a prostitute. The scene ends with Milk saying ‘There’d be a dozen witnesses if they thought you boys had any real interest in protecting them.’ </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />I felt that this scene illustrated the struggle gay men had to face at the time. The bigotry is actually seen in those who should be protecting them. The gay community in San Francisco face opposition from the police throughout the film. I thought this scene was very powerful in showing just how isolated many must have felt. The interesting camera angle added to this feeling, as the scene was shot in the reflection of a car wing-mirror.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My Favourite Quotes:<b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dan White: Society can’t exist without the family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harvey Milk: We’re not against that.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dan White: Can two men reproduce?</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harvey Milk: No, but God knows we keep trying.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Harvey Milk: Politics is theatre. It doesn’t matter if you win. You make a statement. You say, ‘I’m here, pay attention to me’.</span></span></div>
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</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Harvey Milk: Anita Bryant has already said that the Jews and the Muslims are going to hell, so you know she has a shopping list.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><b> </b>Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to work shadow with the San Francisco Chronicle for a week. While I was in the city I stayed with my uncle in the Castro area. It was here that I saw the Harvey Milk Plaza. I hadn’t actually known about Harvey Milk until then, and so decided to watch ‘Milk’. I found this film really interesting and enjoyable. Sometimes when one lives in a country where issues such as gay rights have progressed so much, it is easy to forget how different it once was. However it alsoreminds us we still have a way to go.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzhdwS_XkRO2KVJ1drFff_4972vYs7N9O9KvduGDj1wLvumfZnKjn2ZLB38-UdfYrFHUc4WiSHvq8MeelcDswQ_CibD7HyR1KaJaRPW776SO9gUjhkUPWJDLkgMsfNinfci_xTqAgh7Uw/s1600/milk300_090129021455497_wideweb__300x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzhdwS_XkRO2KVJ1drFff_4972vYs7N9O9KvduGDj1wLvumfZnKjn2ZLB38-UdfYrFHUc4WiSHvq8MeelcDswQ_CibD7HyR1KaJaRPW776SO9gUjhkUPWJDLkgMsfNinfci_xTqAgh7Uw/s1600/milk300_090129021455497_wideweb__300x300.jpg" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Something I really liked about ‘Milk’ was the incorporation of real footage, from police storming bars in the Castro to Anita Bryant talking about her beliefs. I think that the use of footage in this way reminds the watcher that these events actually took place. I did think that the film was slightly structurally confused. I find that it’s usually the case when the majority of a person’s life has to be squeezed into a film that it’s difficult for each part or character to be fully developed. I felt that Harvey and Scott’s relationship, as well as his and Jack’s, were lacking. However as Gus Van Sant chose to tackle both political and personal issues, this is to be expected.</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A thought-provoking element to the film was Milk’s relationship with his murderer Dan White. Throughout the film it is suggested that Milk believed White was gay himself. The film conveys White’s conflicting feelings of Dan’s friendship with Harvey but also of his jealousy at Harvey’s success and popularity. The film presented their relationship in a very interesting way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">‘Milk’ displays the fight of one man to change lives and portrays that, although the fight is not always easy, it is necessary. Despite not standing out in the way it portrays Harvey Milk’s life, the incredible story alone makes this film very watchable and reinforces the importance of standing up to make a difference, even if one is alone.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 36px;">B</span></div>
Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-15044520220346821572012-08-11T10:03:00.004-07:002012-08-11T10:12:09.528-07:00Batman Fights His Final Battle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 36px;">The Dark Knight Rises</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs16QhsPLMBrvvB354XCoqI3kFuIi4wvNzQU-Do567_Xh37wvq-ki_cM-SsSGeehoUbh_1Fs6HbJdCndKugndFJtgvNpy9LlejqNK798qIuF3yhDDzo5TdtBAg7T8mk1FQh8PSPPz2XlI/s1600/watch-the-new-the-dark-knight-rises-trailer-4-online-now-105858-470-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqs16QhsPLMBrvvB354XCoqI3kFuIi4wvNzQU-Do567_Xh37wvq-ki_cM-SsSGeehoUbh_1Fs6HbJdCndKugndFJtgvNpy9LlejqNK798qIuF3yhDDzo5TdtBAg7T8mk1FQh8PSPPz2XlI/s400/watch-the-new-the-dark-knight-rises-trailer-4-online-now-105858-470-75.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Release: </span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">16 July, 2012</span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
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</span><span style="color: #061266; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Directed by </span></div>
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Christopher Nolan</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Produced by:</span><span style="font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #660303; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Emma Thomas </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Christopher Nolan</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Charles Roven</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Written by: </span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Christopher Nolan</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Jonathan Nolan</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Starring: </span><span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> <br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Christian Bale</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Michael Caine</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gary Oldman</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Anne Hathaway</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Tom Hardy</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Marion Cotillard</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Joseph Gordon-Levitt</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Morgan Freeman</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Summary: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Gotham is being over-run by a group calling themselves the ‘League of Shadows’, headed by criminal Bane. Bruce Wayne goes against the advice of those around him and decides he must return as Batman to once again protect his city. With the help of Catwoman, he fights the terrorist group. However, his task is a far more difficult one this time. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdh0qgsu98MyG9SDeJHgGDUgJFWFho8m8E6nLvWgyzva7IhLx68nDwdx1Rot-SbbH9BbRW3LgKHS0Pskj0HrWAZUGAFDV6dUMOonOHp_stMFU8ZkG2uSFiq7nDftML5Zw4kUCmWUV7Rt7/s1600/Christian-Bale-and-Michael-Caine-in-The-Dark-Knight-Rises.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUdh0qgsu98MyG9SDeJHgGDUgJFWFho8m8E6nLvWgyzva7IhLx68nDwdx1Rot-SbbH9BbRW3LgKHS0Pskj0HrWAZUGAFDV6dUMOonOHp_stMFU8ZkG2uSFiq7nDftML5Zw4kUCmWUV7Rt7/s400/Christian-Bale-and-Michael-Caine-in-The-Dark-Knight-Rises.jpeg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="color: #4b1130; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I found one scene hilarious because it was just so ridiculous. Bane orders a scientist to turn an object which ensures sustainable-energy into a nuclear bomb. The guy walks up to it and after about two minutes of fiddling around with some equipment says something like ‘okay you now have a nuclear bomb’. I loved this scene but not because it was good, because it was so stupid. It highlights just how unrealistic this film was.</span></div>
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</span><span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span><span style="color: #660303; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br />
Selina Kyle:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“There’s a storm coming, Mr. Wayne. You and your friends better batten down the hatches, because when it hits, you’re all gonna wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font: 10.0px Georgia; letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Alfred (to Batman/ Bruce Wayne): “I always knew there was nothing here for you, expect pain and tragedy. And I wanted something more for you than that. I still do.”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Nv4rnLD8JYNWpx-0WVo9s9_L-i3H29Vr1-ZlCab9yqQo_or0AgssG4htby2gkux9Ro32hWXzLAtnGrR7IWh7a3Tv9J8LrZv1EZmRwCIQeFbjb9KRPcXAdNLuBq5RAtt1ohQEpqmdi6qP/s1600/Film_Review_Dark_Knight_Rises-031da-4541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Nv4rnLD8JYNWpx-0WVo9s9_L-i3H29Vr1-ZlCab9yqQo_or0AgssG4htby2gkux9Ro32hWXzLAtnGrR7IWh7a3Tv9J8LrZv1EZmRwCIQeFbjb9KRPcXAdNLuBq5RAtt1ohQEpqmdi6qP/s320/Film_Review_Dark_Knight_Rises-031da-4541.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Something I didn’t like about this film was Catwoman’s character. It’s probably to be expected with a film like Batman that the female character, Selina Kyle (Catwoman) is going to be over-sexualised. It seems we haven’t come that far in terms of feminism in these sorts of films... It reminded me of a 1960s James Bond film. In some ways it’s good to have a strong, powerful female, in the same league as Batman, but I don’t understand why it’s necessary for Anne Hathaway to be walking and posing seductively in almost every scene she’s in. It may sound over-the-top but I feel like it sends out the message that in order to have any chance of success, women have to be overly-sexual.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Another issue with the film was Bane. His just seemed a ridiculous, almost stupid character. The mask made his voice sound hilarious. Unfortunately when following a brilliant character like Heath Ledger’s Joker, requires being really impressive and Bane just didn’t hit the mark.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWQqXvAR_1-eayUyXXh5HQ9yU6HsGghvcgZ0Qbsp06BC5YQzxrQb-y2TdSD-FLqhGiRxuak3WaFylZVyVlREteB-b4rKq8-2Iss2oscJkh-NvH7uZ2GHFQmHrhd_kDyd9dUrVlVG1cSuW/s1600/batmanjoseph18f-2-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWQqXvAR_1-eayUyXXh5HQ9yU6HsGghvcgZ0Qbsp06BC5YQzxrQb-y2TdSD-FLqhGiRxuak3WaFylZVyVlREteB-b4rKq8-2Iss2oscJkh-NvH7uZ2GHFQmHrhd_kDyd9dUrVlVG1cSuW/s320/batmanjoseph18f-2-web.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Another problem for The Dark Knight Rises was their attempt to incorporate political issues. The ideas of corruption and revolution were apparent throughout, which did help to make the film interesting to an extent. However, when a city is threatened with a nuclear attack it’s surprising that no other countries attempt to intervene and prevent it. If a film is trying to say something about revolution, the rest of the world would need to be involved in the film - rather than a simple video from the US President (which seemed like a bit of a cop-out)!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Overall, while The Dark Knight Rises was interesting and exciting in parts, I found it rather tedious to watch. It was over-long, over-complicated and actually quite ridiculous. When a film becomes completely separate from anything that could happen in reality, it just seems silly. This film just couldn’t compete with its predecessor, The Dark Knight, and for me, failed to stand up to its expectations. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">C-</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-64354355719339641992012-07-08T08:56:00.004-07:002012-07-08T08:58:35.656-07:00War through words.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbe7-ADyqNHejrUn_OptxIxo3sf9kno_y-AbqI677L_HwbqzQppgjCABJLorhRG4dn3vW-OAP5RMWSXt9gXjNJ7b8wLqsPBNNN2lgcL_TKzuAIanPTOjz5O89avStkR8l5Fw7SWYuVmXd/s1600/help_movie_poster_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbe7-ADyqNHejrUn_OptxIxo3sf9kno_y-AbqI677L_HwbqzQppgjCABJLorhRG4dn3vW-OAP5RMWSXt9gXjNJ7b8wLqsPBNNN2lgcL_TKzuAIanPTOjz5O89avStkR8l5Fw7SWYuVmXd/s400/help_movie_poster_01.jpg" width="270" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The Help</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Released: </span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351002; font-family: Georgia;">August 10, 2011 </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Directed by: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Tate Taylor</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Produced by:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Chris Columbus</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Michael Barnathan</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Brunson Green</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Written by: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Tate Taylor</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Based on the book ‘The Help’ by Kathryn Stockett)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Starring: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Emma Stone</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Viola Davis</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Octavia Spencer</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Bryce Dallas Howard</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Allison Janney</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Jessica Chastain</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iV0cChkQ9C2aYA0WSSs_NOdwcoMUIFPtlRlCCVyf1yTzGH7Rm08o-t_eUDnnWJLsiRHAHHjadTBZdzvfC4_bxAETPkRKp2KADoh_wWy7csjnB9ZKzktcMkAa6qxeTZyx-8RntoKXFGs_/s1600/thehelp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iV0cChkQ9C2aYA0WSSs_NOdwcoMUIFPtlRlCCVyf1yTzGH7Rm08o-t_eUDnnWJLsiRHAHHjadTBZdzvfC4_bxAETPkRKp2KADoh_wWy7csjnB9ZKzktcMkAa6qxeTZyx-8RntoKXFGs_/s320/thehelp2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #110430; letter-spacing: 0px;">Summary: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Set during the time of the African-American Civil Rights movement in the deep South, ‘The Help’ tells the story of an aspiring journalist (Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan’) who becomes isolated from the group of superficial women in her community. Skeeter is affected by the injustices she sees within lives of black people, especially in terms of maids raising white children. With the help of two maids, she starts to compile stories of their experiences in a hope to expose the racism in society. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #110430; letter-spacing: 0px;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> I really liked the scene in which Minny visits Celia Foot regarding a position as a maid. Celia is clearly out of her depth in the kitchen, saying ‘I guess I got some learning to do’, to which Minny replies ‘you sure do’. Their introduction shows the beginning of a friendship between the fiery Minny and ditzy Celia. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Although I’m not sure Minny would have been quite so forward and impolite to her future employer... I still think this scene is very good. The character of Celia is an isolated and fragile one. We already know that the white, female community do not accept her and she is hiring a maid without her husband’s knowing, to make him think she can ‘do it on [her] own’. Celia is excluded from her community, in the same way that black people were excluded from white society. Their friendship conveys that even with society’s boundaries, unions can form and people rely on each other regardless of race. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mypHMMcvQuVGVyXJUltfnp3wdar3cAURJxQZgy4RCM9QPzUR8xfbCdAEPkZifYn8hVjIMt36B9ALOKHcUGSNB4ZfiVyfPiwl494MQqn2ig9XQy32VhZLEYL6rt7v2wElKGNQprqlCPg1/s1600/the_help_a_p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mypHMMcvQuVGVyXJUltfnp3wdar3cAURJxQZgy4RCM9QPzUR8xfbCdAEPkZifYn8hVjIMt36B9ALOKHcUGSNB4ZfiVyfPiwl494MQqn2ig9XQy32VhZLEYL6rt7v2wElKGNQprqlCPg1/s320/the_help_a_p.jpg" width="239" /></a><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Aibileen Clark: 18 people were killed in Jackson that night. 10 white and 8 black. I don’t think God has colour in mind when he sets a tornado loose.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7iV0cChkQ9C2aYA0WSSs_NOdwcoMUIFPtlRlCCVyf1yTzGH7Rm08o-t_eUDnnWJLsiRHAHHjadTBZdzvfC4_bxAETPkRKp2KADoh_wWy7csjnB9ZKzktcMkAa6qxeTZyx-8RntoKXFGs_/s1600/thehelp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mypHMMcvQuVGVyXJUltfnp3wdar3cAURJxQZgy4RCM9QPzUR8xfbCdAEPkZifYn8hVjIMt36B9ALOKHcUGSNB4ZfiVyfPiwl494MQqn2ig9XQy32VhZLEYL6rt7v2wElKGNQprqlCPg1/s1600/the_help_a_p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></a><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Aibileen Clark: (to Elizabeth’s daughter Mae Mobley Leefolt) You is kind. You is smart. You is important. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan: (referring to her mother’s earlier comments) You know, last time I had an almond, I stopped likin' men.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Rebecca: Oh, my lord!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan: Oh no! Rebecca, it's fine. There's a special root tea for that now.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #110430; letter-spacing: 0px;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> A theme which I found particularly powerful in ‘The Help’, was the meaning of family. The film illustrates that family, rather than being connected to blood ties, is whoever loves, understands and raises you. The white children see their maids as their true mothers, rather than their mothers by blood. </span><span style="color: #2d0515; letter-spacing: 0px;">Mae Mobley Leefolt tells </span><span style="color: #310818; letter-spacing: 0px;">Aibileen Clark ‘you my real mama, Aibi’. Although I do not think such a young child would be able to understand what a ‘real mama’ means, this shows that children recognise who truly care for them.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIzBYh0eZASKcuRAssWCopuRKyGXVVO4nopOY47Jut8yfqHhmF5b1hlU3UMWALY7W8o7bkdHGIcNpflEy2FVtzvyMSjh0Ppwu0Ow2bcdHuMuqSEd4faovi2vsIfT0albuP330cOdcWXD1/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIzBYh0eZASKcuRAssWCopuRKyGXVVO4nopOY47Jut8yfqHhmF5b1hlU3UMWALY7W8o7bkdHGIcNpflEy2FVtzvyMSjh0Ppwu0Ow2bcdHuMuqSEd4faovi2vsIfT0albuP330cOdcWXD1/s1600/images-1.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I also felt that ‘The Help’ was a good film because it used comedy in a clever way. Considering the subject matter, comedy was avoided when it would have been inappropriate. However there were some serious moments which used comedy, and still managed to be hard-hitting. Such as when Minny Jackson (believing Celia’s Foot’s husband was going to attack her) threw her shopping everywhere and grabbed a long branch to defend herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">The only criticism I would have of this film is that it all seemed a little polished and unrealistic. It would probably have been more of a struggle and with perhaps more violent consequences for some. ‘The Help’ is a feel-good film, which slightly undermined the profundity. However it is still a very entertaining and thought-provoking film.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I really enjoyed ‘The Help’ because it intertwined so many important issues. Of course there is the theme of race, but also friendship, loyalty and courage in the face of opposition. It proves that the smallest idea can form something extremely important, and that the power of words should never be underestimated. The maids in this film could not physically rebel, but through telling their stories in a book, managed to change their community’s thinking and break down the control of those employing them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px;">A</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-26537466799660522792012-07-03T12:14:00.001-07:002012-07-03T12:17:45.066-07:00Three lives, changed by one woman.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cklh8oiHlx3pURF4rig9FpBESlJKL8P1ZEsM2xcFLtIHS-hgRNNc2O5F5gI_-8JEUpzmS6xRL34E3h_tyIGEwWtG7orZcUKEZ2NmBVtoFFazLO8coc2XFyA27m9QlR5iQiGcdlFWeoEv/s1600/hours.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_cklh8oiHlx3pURF4rig9FpBESlJKL8P1ZEsM2xcFLtIHS-hgRNNc2O5F5gI_-8JEUpzmS6xRL34E3h_tyIGEwWtG7orZcUKEZ2NmBVtoFFazLO8coc2XFyA27m9QlR5iQiGcdlFWeoEv/s400/hours.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large; letter-spacing: 0px;">The Hours</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Released: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">25 December, 2002</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Directed by: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Stephen Daldry </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Produced by: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Robert Fox</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Scott Rudin</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Written by: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">David Hare </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">(Based on ‘The Hours’ by Michael Cunningham)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Starring: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Meryl Streep</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Julianne Moore</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Nicole Kidman</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #16093e; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Summary: </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">‘The Hours’ focuses around the lives of three women and the significance of Virginia Woolf’s ‘Mrs Dalloway’. The first woman is Woolf herself, who is attempting to write a first draft of the novel, while battling her feelings of depression. The second is a housewife, Laura Brown, living in 1940s Los Angeles – who believes she is far from adequate. ‘Mrs Dalloway’ drives Brown to reconsider the life she is leading. Finally, Clarissa Vaughan is living in modern-day New York, caring for her former lover who is dying of Aids – Richard Brown. Vaughan is throwing a party for Brown in recognition of his recent poetry prize, echoing the character of Clarissa Dalloway. All three women must confront their inner demons and deal with a form of suicide in their lives.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #16093e; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>My Favourite Scene: </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A particularly memorable scene for me, was when Virginia’s sister’s children find a dead bird and decide to make it a grave for fun. Angelica is left behind and stays talking with Virginia. She questions her on death and what follows it. Virginia seems to recognise a similarity between her niece and herself - with Angelica saying ‘I don’t remember where I came from’ and Virginia replying ‘Nor do I’. After Angelica leaves with the others, Virginia remains a little while longer, laying down on the earth next to the bird.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">The pair, although many years apart, seem to share a similar outlook on life in the moments they spend together with the dead bird. Angelica concludes that it looks very peaceful, and this portrays a side to the child, absent from her siblings. Although it would just be curiosity to ask the innocent questions Angelica does about death, she seems to reflect upon the event differently to the others. The connection between the two is rather touching and is clarified when Virginia’s sister says ‘Are we finished? Is the bird funeral complete?’. She simply does not reflect on issues in the same way her sister and daughter do. Although it isolates the pair, their world also appears a calm and interesting one - in comparison to those around them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Clarissa Vaughan</b>: You don’t have to go to the party, you don’t have to go to the ceremony, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. You can do as you like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Richard Brown</b>: but I still have to face the hours, don’t I? I mean, the hours after the party, and the hours after that…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Virginia Woolf</b> (to her sister who has arrived early): Leonard thinks it’s the end of civilization: People who are invited at 4 and arrive at 2:30.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Virginia Woolf</b>: You cannot find peace by avoiding life, Leonard.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #16093e; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>My Thoughts:</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> I liked the way Daldry interweaved the three lives, showing the connections between them. The film reflected, not only the importance of Woolf’s work, but that the feelings of isolation are apparent in every time period and generation.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4T1fldOENR3SwAT2ZtSAaFOBNkPgIjjJDH9kKySmaWFRPX9LAb8nCBoCJTII4UuZ1oWVJh59A3u3cAf3cRWPJBhqoTvk_Yy3cS6BSTgXKIafSiXi0PkPr_qTLsFBdNMa3uk84QKp-Wya/s1600/th-fp-1787-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4T1fldOENR3SwAT2ZtSAaFOBNkPgIjjJDH9kKySmaWFRPX9LAb8nCBoCJTII4UuZ1oWVJh59A3u3cAf3cRWPJBhqoTvk_Yy3cS6BSTgXKIafSiXi0PkPr_qTLsFBdNMa3uk84QKp-Wya/s400/th-fp-1787-13.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">A criticism I would have of the film was of the relationship between Laura Brown and her young son. There were a couple of moments in their scenes when he seemed to be understanding of her suicidal state of mind – violently screaming when she leaves him to drive away alone, and proving her with comfort when she seems upset. While this made for a seemingly strong relationship in the film, I do not think that a boy of his age would have been able to notice the subtleties of her behaviour. I thought this element to the film was quite unrealistic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">I felt that overall ‘The Hours’ was a moving and interesting film. I was especially impressed with the script, which offered some very memorable thoughts and provided a powerful insight into the mind of Virginia Woolf. The film has been criticised for its being dark and depressing. However depression and suicide are the important, recurring themes in the film - and it is difficult to see how it could be changed. In some ways, there is a comforting message in the similarities in the three separate lives because it illustrates a connection between them - although they are alone in their own lives, they are together in their emotional state. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-49399564381775869472012-03-15T15:15:00.001-07:002012-03-15T15:19:56.012-07:00Gil discovers himself, with a little help from Ernest Hemingway...<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Midnight in Paris</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 21pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 107.25pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">10 June, 2011</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Directed by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Woody Allen<span style="text-transform: uppercase;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqANapHQUB96rlIgycGu8aq388fNNuUpIKSHMCM_nmeN08-5vKo1R8bJmXUEVZAgeAefYVbjOHHVZ03to_IG6o8Sb6jgi1Y5Y09gRRANCWT9iX3ZKhKi0eweWbIqsCUW5VWsaaT59nkMm/s1600/Midnight-in-Paris+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnqANapHQUB96rlIgycGu8aq388fNNuUpIKSHMCM_nmeN08-5vKo1R8bJmXUEVZAgeAefYVbjOHHVZ03to_IG6o8Sb6jgi1Y5Y09gRRANCWT9iX3ZKhKi0eweWbIqsCUW5VWsaaT59nkMm/s400/Midnight-in-Paris+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Letty Aronson</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Stephen Lenenbaun</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Jaume Roures</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Woody Allen</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Owen Wilson</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Rachel McAdams</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Marion Cotillard</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Kathy Bates</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Adrien Brody</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Carla Bruni</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Michael Sheen</span><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Gil and his fiancée, Inez, are in Paris with Inez’s parents. Gil, a successful Hollywood scriptwriter, is attempting to write his first novel – where his passion lies – and is completely taken up with the city. Inez on the other hand, cannot understand what is so beautiful or amazing about it. The couple bump into her old friends Paul, who happens to be pretentious and his partner Carole. While Inez is taken up with Paul’s ideas, Gil begins to discover just how amazing Paris is - when, at midnight, he finds himself going on adventure after adventure with the writers and artists from the past whom he most admires. Things begin to make sense for Gil, as his novel develops with help from the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0VM_FsBZmXa3x8lmq29Ovr5QgKE9RssgL6yyk6fum6ZxQekLAWwSbTjwIAVrkZxoAMA3hjS-7oPOYuC5SfZ1fePP2japc3xsGwV6p_ZIb-A_DSzz_S_Ylb7qWhNQVrv5qgjEbF0Ly8vf/s1600/midnight+in+paris+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0VM_FsBZmXa3x8lmq29Ovr5QgKE9RssgL6yyk6fum6ZxQekLAWwSbTjwIAVrkZxoAMA3hjS-7oPOYuC5SfZ1fePP2japc3xsGwV6p_ZIb-A_DSzz_S_Ylb7qWhNQVrv5qgjEbF0Ly8vf/s400/midnight+in+paris+2.jpg" width="318" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I think a particularly good scene was the one in which the two couples visited an art gallery and a painting by Pablo Picasso, which turns out to be the same one him and Gertrude Stein were discussing the night before – with Gil present at the conservation. So, when Paul beings to expound his knowledge of the painting and artist, Gil jumps in with an incredible understanding of it – causing Inez to ask: “what have you been smoking?”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">This scene was entertaining because for the first time in the film the pompous, irritating Paul has been silenced by an impossible knowledge of the background of the painting from Gil. Of course, what is so amusing is that it is only the audience who know why Gil knows so much. It almost seems as if he must have spoken to those who painted and influenced it, which he obviously had. His final line: “She was an absolute volcano in the sack”, before causally walking off, leaves the others looking clearly perplexed. It was nice to see the annoying Paul and Inez, who is extremely impressed with him, silenced for once!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Inez:</span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> You always take the side of the help. That’s why Daddy says you’re a communist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7hVDJbjJGEXe3ij2fI6zEBEKKnJSse7-7UMQmJ18ZdSDH-39tSLsvDbvXLkS_tw_Yv3pTwUQn5ctaBPoZei7-LaQQ-P85lhnx4y6Ze8FfmnLpmjEmQySPbU24bx5toxxqfCQYwBvQ7qU/s1600/midnight+in+paris+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7hVDJbjJGEXe3ij2fI6zEBEKKnJSse7-7UMQmJ18ZdSDH-39tSLsvDbvXLkS_tw_Yv3pTwUQn5ctaBPoZei7-LaQQ-P85lhnx4y6Ze8FfmnLpmjEmQySPbU24bx5toxxqfCQYwBvQ7qU/s400/midnight+in+paris+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Gil</span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">: Can you picture how drop dead gorgeous this city is in the rain? Imagine this town in the ‘20s. Paris in the ‘20s, in the rain. The artists and writers!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Inez: Why does every city have to be in the rain? What’s wonderful about getting wet?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Gil: It’s understated but elegant. That’s what you always say.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Helen: Cheap is cheap. That’s what I always say.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">As a bit of a Woody Allen fan, I was looking forward to what he would do with ‘Midnight in Paris’ and it has to be said that it was a little disappointing. Firstly, the characters all appeared to be cameos – and so were predictable in their behaviour. Overall, it seemed the film itself was not so original. The idea of a couple, not fit for each other, visiting a romantic city and one of them finding themselves, rings every much of ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’. I very much enjoyed that film, but was expecting Woody Allen to do something different with his next.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3ooBuipRxe9sGnBcjjmCgKFstegfrsQQ3Bfff6d3JWZ2SYJw9lxKqgXzc69CBdbhdm_Z8whgGifYf_Yn4SwVexpIeZwxMp8FufPEFKzSj45OT7wmwY4AVbmWjsl-4xTFYvmfpt83UVI0/s1600/midnight+in+paris+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3ooBuipRxe9sGnBcjjmCgKFstegfrsQQ3Bfff6d3JWZ2SYJw9lxKqgXzc69CBdbhdm_Z8whgGifYf_Yn4SwVexpIeZwxMp8FufPEFKzSj45OT7wmwY4AVbmWjsl-4xTFYvmfpt83UVI0/s400/midnight+in+paris+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">As ever, he delivered a very intelligently witty script. If there was something not so predictable about the film, it was the script. I also think that there were so profound-(ish!) moments. Gil’s realisation that we will always be thinking another time period is better than the one we are currently in, was quite interesting and I liked the overall idea of the film, that by the end Gil had found what he needed – in Paris and the writers who inspired him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">However, the almost Cinderella-style idea of escaping in a carriage to a past time seemed a bit… well, naff. There were parts which seemed quite shallow and for a director like Woody Allen, I would have expected something deeper. It appears that he is moving closer and closer to the mainstream rom-com style of film that he managed to brilliantly miss with ‘Annie Hall’. The neat dénouement ending was something I like ‘Vicky Christian Barcelona’ not having!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Overall, there were some humourous moment and the film was well-scripted. However it seemed a little shallow with one-dimensional characters. I enjoyed it, but felt that it lacked the depth Woody Allen is so good at producing. The film was pretty much a copy of ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’ and has only helped in convincing me that I preferred his older work. <span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">B </span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-34413540761345447762012-03-09T12:06:00.000-08:002012-03-09T12:06:27.038-08:00It will get you.<!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexu8L0r6RJV1maiKyIpjG1JgUrea-MyizQ4PM9jnHUUoumZ2t9pS-z3bqvUVaHvDEGa4gSauYnznQxEFadQWXE3G1x9A9km1G8_QAD6mMARbL6DRL2_sDIL8cClcdmgrs4O4XtBl0No3k/s1600/contagion+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexu8L0r6RJV1maiKyIpjG1JgUrea-MyizQ4PM9jnHUUoumZ2t9pS-z3bqvUVaHvDEGa4gSauYnznQxEFadQWXE3G1x9A9km1G8_QAD6mMARbL6DRL2_sDIL8cClcdmgrs4O4XtBl0No3k/s400/contagion+5.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="height: 61593px; margin-left: -1px; margin-top: 111px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 35px; z-index: 1;"></span><span style="height: 141px; margin-left: 27px; margin-top: 61563px; mso-ignore: vglayout; position: absolute; width: 3217px; z-index: 2;"></span><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout; position: relative; z-index: 3;"><span style="height: 61582px; left: 3211px; position: absolute; top: -3px; width: 33px;"><img height="61582" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/User/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" width="33" /></span></span><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout; position: relative; z-index: 4;"><span style="height: 141px; left: -2px; position: absolute; top: -1px; width: 3218px;"></span></span><a href="" name="695357998561094441"></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Contagion </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Released: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">September 9<sup>th</sup>, 2011</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Directed by: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Stephen Soderbergh</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Produced by: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Michael Shamberg</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Stacey Sher</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Gregory Jacobs</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Written by: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Scott Z. Burns</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Starring: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Marion Cotillard</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Matt Damon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Laurence Fishburne</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Jude Laq</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Gwyneth Paltrow</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Kate Winslet</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpPUzXA5Zn0lnvJnrza1K648eFfBSgmdlokch263xrZhXIOGZmhyw-Emv4XwHTRHX4oa0-YeC5X4z6h-ADuGaIQ32PjLrDj3Nms8mG458p2HgzeZgZvB0hd4Exxr_WOsWBndBmcNBC9Xx/s1600/contagion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpPUzXA5Zn0lnvJnrza1K648eFfBSgmdlokch263xrZhXIOGZmhyw-Emv4XwHTRHX4oa0-YeC5X4z6h-ADuGaIQ32PjLrDj3Nms8mG458p2HgzeZgZvB0hd4Exxr_WOsWBndBmcNBC9Xx/s320/contagion.jpg" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Summary: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">When Beth Emhoff feels ill at the airport, she puts it down to jet-lag. However within hours of returning home from her trip, she’s dead. But the highly-infectious disease she was carrying has already passed onto others. Before the infection can be controlled, it has turned into an epidemic. No-one knows if they have it until it’s too late, and medical experts have no clue how to start finding a cure or vaccine. Soon millions are infected with the deadly disease and, as panic sets in, society starts to break down – with people prepared to do anything for some sort of cure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Contagion follows the desperate attempt to save humanity. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> A scene which I found particularly interesting was when an Epidemic Intelligence Officer, Dr. Erin Mears (Winslet) gathered with a group of government experts debating what action to take. Mears was attempting to show the danger of not doing enough to stop the disease, while others were cautious of the risk of over-exaggerating the issue. The scene demonstrated the problem of whether to frighten people (ensuring they would attempt to protect themselves) or to deal with the issue calmly, but risk it spreading by keeping it quiet. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This scene highlights the theme of conspiracy in the film and poses the ethical question of whether it is ever right for governments to keep information from the people. Throughout the film, blogger Alan Krumwiede fights for the truth to be known – swearing that there is a cure that the government are keeping a secret. However in the end, Krumwiede’s claimed cure ‘Forsythia’ does more harm than good. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">My Favourite Quotes: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #73540e; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.5pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Mindy Macready</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Blogging is not writing. It’s just graffiti with punctuation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Dr. Ally</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Hextall It’s figuring us out faster than we’re figuring it out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Erin Mears: Don’t talk to anyone! Don’t touch anyone!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiqcuI3mOKsQxlqCOE1bAenaku27iijWbD4xVqHl3PFkMRTdv6lOOrrfqTSy6k67qX2lor6OpR8P_cTHCcMIIge6MgAB0Klxwt7SGYAVtAmtf2jA7O0qyh0XpvG0dj7PI17pCSXv7Twfo/s1600/contagion+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiqcuI3mOKsQxlqCOE1bAenaku27iijWbD4xVqHl3PFkMRTdv6lOOrrfqTSy6k67qX2lor6OpR8P_cTHCcMIIge6MgAB0Klxwt7SGYAVtAmtf2jA7O0qyh0XpvG0dj7PI17pCSXv7Twfo/s400/contagion+4.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Thoughts: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This film really captures the power of fear and panic in a society. Medical experts, including those from the Epidemic Intelligence Service and World Health Organisation, are alarmed at the rate of which the infection is spreading. However the government is afraid of unnecessarily worrying the public. This conflict is interesting, especially as it relates to the real-life situation of Swine Flu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a difficulty which would inevitably result if we found ourselves having to deal with a similar infection – is it worth severely panicking people? And might that have disastrous consequences? The film was praised among the scientific community for its accurate portrayal of medical practices, which I think is important as it adds to the realism of the circumstances – making the film more interesting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4au4Iz7VDavgp_1-hGsN_2oWMuZ6Dd8BlAreaiWQ8if-ZqXW4_iQ0zbe-peozM2pOtUxiaFC5WrCXd2YCHkCehw3EFPT2n90HAhLoIdUwMjDkqXAL3UilEkHjobssPxWVnD5YacwoNSus/s1600/contagion+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4au4Iz7VDavgp_1-hGsN_2oWMuZ6Dd8BlAreaiWQ8if-ZqXW4_iQ0zbe-peozM2pOtUxiaFC5WrCXd2YCHkCehw3EFPT2n90HAhLoIdUwMjDkqXAL3UilEkHjobssPxWVnD5YacwoNSus/s320/contagion+2.jpg" width="288" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I thought that the film, as a whole, lacked the emotional repercussions that such a wide-spread disease would cause. ‘Contagion’ was focused on the medical experts and the issues of vaccines, food distribution, civil unrest, coping with large numbers of dead bodies and where to keep the sick. While of course being important matters to consider, this meant that no spotlight was cast on the millions of people affected, in terms of death. In this sort of film I think that it is necessary to consider the impact of an epidemic such as this on ordinary people. Another criticism I would have of the film is, that it was very much a copy of other disease - leading to the end of humanity – films. The ‘edge of the seat’ effect is lost when it’s clear what is going to happen – people becoming crazed and destroying shop windows, for example. It’s difficult to be really affected by a film which seems to be similar to many other films of this type. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite these criticisms, the film is still interesting and quite frightening at points. It demonstrates the power of an idea which terrifies people and I think presents an accurate picture of the action a government might take in this sort of situation. Overall, I enjoyed the film and the situation definitely grabbed me. However, I felt disappointed that it did not really offer anything different and lacked an emotions depth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27.0pt;">B</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-6953579985610944412012-02-27T13:41:00.000-08:002012-02-27T13:41:58.802-08:00Not Your Ordinary Superhero.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyldVzJkpfm_7Zob5AZkQVE7CDvrgzceE5ObAJJp44LlzCAss6w0ifQIbnvvfUrXyhAAT0Oya7xt646_OZoCz830pkPWargCWriUi2gDWbkOzO6lzyMWGCYWWfqJn-H3U4P0TzkQykSqBV/s1600/kickass5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyldVzJkpfm_7Zob5AZkQVE7CDvrgzceE5ObAJJp44LlzCAss6w0ifQIbnvvfUrXyhAAT0Oya7xt646_OZoCz830pkPWargCWriUi2gDWbkOzO6lzyMWGCYWWfqJn-H3U4P0TzkQykSqBV/s400/kickass5.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30.0pt;">Kickass</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 21.0pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Released: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">16 April, 2010</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Directed by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthew Vaughn</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Produced by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthew Vaughn</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Brad Pitt</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Kris Thykier</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Adam Bohling</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Tarquin Pack</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">David Reid</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Written by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Matthew Vaughn</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Jane Goldman</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Starring: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Aaron Johnson</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Chloe Moretz</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Lyndsy Fonseca</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Christopher Mintz-Plasse</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mark Strong</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="DE" style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Nicolas Cage</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE6avUcX1HM2o5jgNvWcYmaKKVNzOgHn_yv71FmXDd0tW_eZto11Pte96D5IMsKqJPLZhEZGday3Ited48Zr3Iv2LGukJ9ZPJpES3sLKBRkgWfwJC7BRTLOdGwJOnHpZ2qratDkK6-_s1/s1600/kickass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE6avUcX1HM2o5jgNvWcYmaKKVNzOgHn_yv71FmXDd0tW_eZto11Pte96D5IMsKqJPLZhEZGday3Ited48Zr3Iv2LGukJ9ZPJpES3sLKBRkgWfwJC7BRTLOdGwJOnHpZ2qratDkK6-_s1/s400/kickass2.jpg" width="186" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Summary: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Dave Lizewski is a slightly geeky student, with few friends and a crush on his English teacher. Dave does not understand why, with all the ‘evil’ in the world, no-one has attempted to be a super-hero. As he sees it, there is nothing too difficult about putting on a costume and fighting crime. So he decides to become ‘Kickass’. Dave then meets fellow super-heroes, ‘Hit Girl’ and ‘Big Daddy’ – a former police officer with a grudge (after he was framed as a drug dealer) and his 11-year-old daughter, who he is training using rather extreme methods. Things start to spiral out of control, when crime boss Frank D’Amico sees Kickass as a real threat. Before he knows it, Dave is out of his depth in the crime world…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Near to the beginning of the film a scene takes place, which for the first minute or so seems to be a father about to shoot his daughter, Mindy. As it develops, it is revealed that the girl is wearing a bullet-proof jacket and in fact they are simply practicing so Mindy will not be afraid when ‘some junkie asshole pulls a glock’. Mindy begins to get bored, so they make a compromise, two more rounds and they will go bowling and get some ice cream afterwards. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I thought this scene was hilarious because of how casually the event of a father shooting his daughter was taking place. What made it so brilliant was the fact that it appeared to just be a normal everyday occurrence for Mindy! They were discussing a treat for her afterwards, like it was similar to a chore. This scene represents what makes ‘Kickass’ such a good film: it takes a situation which would normally horrify people and turns it on its head. The idea of a father shooting his 11-year-old daughter seems appalling, but somehow this scene makes it incredibly entertaining. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXorKuuXSQtx3qzYgA0zDRkJPni1zkfB88xfLgBynUOF1Yd5XUU_8wOl8VQQ2pXtJCk6B61-wSD4hjwx2yi9W-GWxyWKuzTDwGy_w3hAY-SXadM6sQx6SF3tKsRslhtQiK6YHcE-5VMb7/s1600/kickass3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgXorKuuXSQtx3qzYgA0zDRkJPni1zkfB88xfLgBynUOF1Yd5XUU_8wOl8VQQ2pXtJCk6B61-wSD4hjwx2yi9W-GWxyWKuzTDwGy_w3hAY-SXadM6sQx6SF3tKsRslhtQiK6YHcE-5VMb7/s320/kickass3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mindy</span> Macready</span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">: (after telling her horrified dad she would like a puppy for her birthday) I’m just f***ing with you Daddy! Look, I’d love a Benchmade model 42 butterfly knife.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Hit Girl</span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">: Okay you c***s… now let’s see what you can do now!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">Dave Lizewski: In the world I lived in, heroes only existed in comic books. And I guess that’d be okay, if bad guys were make-believe, but they’re not.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">My Thoughts: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, the main reason this film is so good is that it turns the idea of a superhero on its head. It shows realistically (to a certain extent!) what would actually happen if a normal teenager decided they wanted to be one. And while Dave attempts to adjust to being Kickass, he is also battling with teenage problems – such as the girl he worships believing he is gay. This adds to the realistic feel of the film. </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt;">The character of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Mindy</span> Macready, who plays Hit Girl, was another aspect of the film I loved. Finally a young girl is doing something in an action film, other than needing to be rescued. Mindy was just so ridiculously and outrageously over the top – every scene with her was brilliant. I thought the script generally was great, but her dialogue was particularly good. Such a large amount of swearing is just not expected from a young girl (with the exception of ‘The Exorcist’)!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg2n-aQMkMsAgCjEIDF6Q-Dq2gxU7jEvJTCcGaO4PeeIiegV6Mtt9Ne4P17NkVtyy_Q03Yrp7mmCRD1YFFHbf2Jq8ZNW1SQuEOAVggC4ip9qqLqR7Wy0Z6Z8ww2DwofT-Xh7Q0wcjBH6h/s1600/kickass4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPg2n-aQMkMsAgCjEIDF6Q-Dq2gxU7jEvJTCcGaO4PeeIiegV6Mtt9Ne4P17NkVtyy_Q03Yrp7mmCRD1YFFHbf2Jq8ZNW1SQuEOAVggC4ip9qqLqR7Wy0Z6Z8ww2DwofT-Xh7Q0wcjBH6h/s400/kickass4.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Another interesting element of the film was that it conveyed the power of the internet. Kickass’ fame is built around him becoming a YouTube phenomenon and popular on MySpace. Instead of appearing in traditional forms of media, like newspapers, Kickass becomes well-known through the internet – again adding to the realism of the film because that is actually how a modern, teenage superhero would rise to fame.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Of course there are many, many unrealistic scenes in Kickass - from an 11-year-old girl being able to defeat a mob of criminals using mainly karate, to Kickass using a jetpack. However the ridiculousness of some parts, is what makes the film so hilarious. So if you’ve read the Daily Mail review*, just ignore the idea that the film is ‘evil’ and watch it. Kickass is a combination of a realistic situation and absolute absurdity – making it a great watch. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27.0pt;">A</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">*and if you haven’t, please do - just to make yourself laugh.</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-9079222489895199192012-01-31T07:41:00.000-08:002012-01-31T07:45:24.689-08:00Four Deadly Terrorists, Half a Brain each.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9ff0WjjNXNCiOP0eLOpj1RQKiKhZKbdsvuuVS73vZGLznWTJLSb39xl5nfnKwY8YIkLe12PRPWzQTni_N0wss1dSxHedzMm7wD4vB3TVxyukXia6eayw9yuaeoMp7kc4tamUusPrBkmr/s1600/four+lions1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9ff0WjjNXNCiOP0eLOpj1RQKiKhZKbdsvuuVS73vZGLznWTJLSb39xl5nfnKwY8YIkLe12PRPWzQTni_N0wss1dSxHedzMm7wD4vB3TVxyukXia6eayw9yuaeoMp7kc4tamUusPrBkmr/s400/four+lions1.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Four Lions</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">7 May, 2010</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Directed by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Chris Morris</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Mark Herbert</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Derrin Schlesigner</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Chris Morris</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Jesse Armstrong</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Sam Bain</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Simon Blackwell</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Riz Ahmed</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Kayvan Novak</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Nigel Lindsay</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Adeel Akhtar</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Arsher Ali</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Four Lions is a comedy which follows the lives of five jihadists as they attempt to prove themselves - in the name of their religion - by plotting to commit an act of terrorism. The film focuses on their clueless ideas as they struggle to agree on even what building to target (with one recommending the mosque and another, a Boots store). The would-be terrorists attempt to plan an attack, while dealing with family issues and the police trying to track them down – after some badly-executed trials-runs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I found it very difficult to pick a favourite scene in ‘Four Lions’ because so many were brilliant. However I particularly liked a scene towards the end of the film, in which Waj has a hostage in a kebab shop – while on the phone to Omar, asking what he should do. Eventually the police storm the shop and Waj is sat with his hands up. He says: “Sorry lads. I don’t really know what I’m doing!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizEOI2gjudh0v9FlLZMj91xvxVt6uil2pRGiKse0nzSAtNW_-TwJ8ObnVNhQtQW9hG_VO05mNGo1CNbxMjUjY7-TuZeWzHS2ZMrUjCXUkt6mB0HC73xyMBl58jAwrrqLwBddJ3ikDhCWY/s1600/fourlions+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizEOI2gjudh0v9FlLZMj91xvxVt6uil2pRGiKse0nzSAtNW_-TwJ8ObnVNhQtQW9hG_VO05mNGo1CNbxMjUjY7-TuZeWzHS2ZMrUjCXUkt6mB0HC73xyMBl58jAwrrqLwBddJ3ikDhCWY/s400/fourlions+3.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I found this scene extremely humorous but also hard-hitting because it makes the point that Waj is in a situation, of which he does not understand the implications. While playing the fool, Waj also portrays how a person can become sucked into a way of life – believing that they are doing something for the right reason. Omar’s explanation of why they are doing it is along the lines of: it’s like being in the lines for the rides at Alton Towers. He poses the question to Waj, do you want to be in line or on the rides? I find this scene poignant because it highlights how easy it is to manipulate people in the name of religion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Omar: </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I'm taking my team up to the top floor now. I'll see you up there.<span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Barry</span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">: It's the parts... they're Jewish. <br />
<span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Omar</span>: What parts in a car are Jewish?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Malcolm Storge MP</span>: </span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">The report makes crystal clear that the police shot the right man, but as far as I'm aware, the wrong man exploded. Is that clear?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUEEIBJU68zaiEAay_W6MU4rYdGJ__Pws4ivsZfhaBjE8tk13UFy9EWCRa-TKGRHOYGQW5GxwDsqz_OF_UsrKTIGhQgjkmwFQb892gqP4y8R8n75BfYQ-wXPA8c-rOO6fLhVdqT6WyKxo/s1600/four+lions+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUEEIBJU68zaiEAay_W6MU4rYdGJ__Pws4ivsZfhaBjE8tk13UFy9EWCRa-TKGRHOYGQW5GxwDsqz_OF_UsrKTIGhQgjkmwFQb892gqP4y8R8n75BfYQ-wXPA8c-rOO6fLhVdqT6WyKxo/s400/four+lions+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Apart from the hilarious script, I reason I really enjoyed this film and thought it was actually quite profound was because it gave a humanising affect to the idea of a ‘terrorist’. We currently have a view of suicide bombers being ‘evil’ and I’m definitely not justifying their actions, but this film conveys that terrorists are just people. They have jobs, partners and children, just like everybody else. I think when it comes to a subject, such as terrorism, we cannot just dismiss the people as ‘evil’ or whatever. To stop anything, it has to be prevented and that requires understanding. Four Lions displays the emotions of men who are prepared to sacrifice their lives in the name of their religion. There are comical scenes in the film, which are moving as well - such as Omar explaining to his son how his and Waj’s experience at a training camp went wrong, through a bedtime story based on The Lion King. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Another element in the film which I found interesting was that not only were the terrorists incompetent, but so were the police officers and politicians. From shooting down the wrong person in fancy-dress and claiming that actually the wrong person exploded, to a politician hiding underneath his desk when thinking a member of the public was a suicide bomber. It portrays a stupidity surrounding the issue, which was another refreshing angle to the film.</span><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I think that Four Lions, like some of the funniest films, is comical because it takes a completely serious situation and twists it around. One would expect a film directed by Chris Morris (a satirist) to be just like this. Even the death of Faisal (who accidentally blows himself up while running with explosives) is rather hilarious – seeing the five ‘lions’ going down to four.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzsyiei-kQ7t9ew3YbYX89qfmEdt2BNJngxNM5Fq4TDpwvSt5JHARh5cKStjToUEgvJ94cg1QnP_5_ZMt-sU_HPjAsm2bFacBZC_ixiqGoxv9ijGpUtGmJSWx9gtu1BjACjKBZTjU2LRK/s1600/Four+Lions+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzsyiei-kQ7t9ew3YbYX89qfmEdt2BNJngxNM5Fq4TDpwvSt5JHARh5cKStjToUEgvJ94cg1QnP_5_ZMt-sU_HPjAsm2bFacBZC_ixiqGoxv9ijGpUtGmJSWx9gtu1BjACjKBZTjU2LRK/s400/Four+Lions+4.png" width="400" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">The only thing I’d have against the film is that it lacked the necessary one or two serious scenes, in which the ‘lions’ justified their actions. There was no proper explanation of why their religion asked them to do this, no mention of the Iraq war and no real questioning from their families – Omar’s wife smiled proudly when Omar told her he would ‘see you up there’. Despite this, overall I think that Four Lions is an excellent film. It is entertaining, original and thought-provoking. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">A</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-78741947320722733702012-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:002012-01-03T14:20:11.822-08:00Mind where you put your feet...<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7Lv0F73vdYAGH1KDpAM8jert6niL87e4Kop86xSfgoP8z_VE5mEnuX5IQsXR2AFzGlzajR9BsQ3rrOvN8GajmcjRxut8OwcfQlsvFL9iTU9UpmO5eq8IpeLEk4Lk9U11IVitK5WZAGlC/s1600/exorcist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7Lv0F73vdYAGH1KDpAM8jert6niL87e4Kop86xSfgoP8z_VE5mEnuX5IQsXR2AFzGlzajR9BsQ3rrOvN8GajmcjRxut8OwcfQlsvFL9iTU9UpmO5eq8IpeLEk4Lk9U11IVitK5WZAGlC/s400/exorcist.jpg" width="270" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">The Exorcist<span id="goog_1007934782"></span><span id="goog_1007934783"></span></span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 21pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">26 December, 1973</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Directed by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">William Friedkin</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">William Peter Blatty</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Noel Marshall</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">William Peter Blatty (based on his novel)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Ellen Burstyn</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Max von Sydow</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Lee J Cobb</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Kitty Winn</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Jack MacGowran</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Jason miller</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Linda Blair </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Mercedes McCambridge (voice)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Something is not right with Regan. Over time, she has dramatically changed - both in her behaviour and her appearance. It becomes apparent to her mother (Chris) that she needs help. The efforts of the medical professionals are useless, and in a desperate effort to save her daughter, Chris begs a priest (Father Karras) for his help – who then contacts Father Merrin. Convinced that Regan is possessed by the devil himself, the two begin exorcising Regan to cast out the demon and return her to her former self- however this is not an easy process…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhN1vMPt7G2ojJ81utodwakFOPgiWmxnN37kVWwoQf2lFwMlPw8nhSuJ4Ts0md_z6B87ATLDpH1uQBDHe8zmbfl9iLp3HUIy2ob3CURZsWNnFULUfkKpMATohDRYaKB9Dfrx2YHNEnkm-/s1600/exorcist+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhN1vMPt7G2ojJ81utodwakFOPgiWmxnN37kVWwoQf2lFwMlPw8nhSuJ4Ts0md_z6B87ATLDpH1uQBDHe8zmbfl9iLp3HUIy2ob3CURZsWNnFULUfkKpMATohDRYaKB9Dfrx2YHNEnkm-/s400/exorcist+2.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">In the final exorcism scene, the possessed Regan breaks free of her straps and begins to levitate, while her eyes turn a glassy white. Chilling as this part of the scene is, it is actually the dialogue before, which I find most scary. Regan says: “You killed your mother. You left her alone to die.” The fact that the devil inside Regan is preying on Father Damien Karras’ guilt about his mother’s death, conveys not only the strength of the being – to be able to get inside his head and know what his darkest emotions and thoughts are – but also how twisted and cruel it is to make him suffer. I think something that makes the film particularly interesting is this combination of physical and mental power. The devil is able to not only perform incredible things (the levitation and spider-walk) but also somewhat infect people’s minds to gain control. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBlWTcNcpUTw-HIw93NPUFrqsqsshSiN7H3vVq0gQ1VmAffnI6dssVoQuclvRFE2gCNKAMRrfRJkvYo7tYZAPZgzhjRxVSSMTGceibvdbEtTqAOGf1unk-FI7Y-RtA2ypnXtwbWuhFDud/s1600/exorcist3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBlWTcNcpUTw-HIw93NPUFrqsqsshSiN7H3vVq0gQ1VmAffnI6dssVoQuclvRFE2gCNKAMRrfRJkvYo7tYZAPZgzhjRxVSSMTGceibvdbEtTqAOGf1unk-FI7Y-RtA2ypnXtwbWuhFDud/s400/exorcist3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Father Damien Karras: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I think it might be helpful if I gave you some background on the different personalities Regan has manifested. So far, I’d say there seem to be three.”</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Father Merrin: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“There is only one.”</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Father Damien Karras:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> “Why her? Why this girl?”</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Father Merrin: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I think the point is to make us despair. To see ourselves as… animal and ugly. To make us reject the possibility that God could love us.”</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Demon: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I’m not Regan.”</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts:</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> I have to admit, I found The Exorcist more disturbing than scary – but I think this is mainly because I was told from the age of about ten, that this film is the scariest of all time and I should probably wait until I’m in my twenties to watch it. So with my expectations extremely high, I was slightly let down in that it didn’t give me any sleepless nights! However I was not disappointed – in fact the opposite! This film really is quite chilling, I think because it takes a perfectly normal, innocent child and turns her into something very, very strange.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg263M4ojoObGwZaD0SBpbwnWGeM-dV5u1-1LY_2-ih6KgnyihHErIk7SYA4ihBmNnfur2EZLKYZ7SMOyyKKA-BraE1Q_6laOuYDfY1UGcigBy1b1c2L4cqWJE6HVol_WARc-wy83mp0c/s1600/exorcist4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcg263M4ojoObGwZaD0SBpbwnWGeM-dV5u1-1LY_2-ih6KgnyihHErIk7SYA4ihBmNnfur2EZLKYZ7SMOyyKKA-BraE1Q_6laOuYDfY1UGcigBy1b1c2L4cqWJE6HVol_WARc-wy83mp0c/s400/exorcist4.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Something I really like about the film was the pace and how the plot was gradually built up. I think this was important in showing the contrast of Regan’s character from when she was a sweet young girl, to when she was completely possessed – projectile vomiting and levitating! The process of her going through doctor analysis after doctor analysis, test after test, gave a strangely realistic feel to the film. Regan’s mother was desperately trying to explain what was happening to her daughter. This portrayed the film to not simply be all ‘blood and guts’, but about a mother just wanting her daughter returned – even after the possessed Regan attacked her, she does not give up – going to the extreme of finding an exorcist to save her child. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">The Exorcist was groundbreaking and since there have been various devil-possession films. At the time it caused outrage and protests among some religious groups for obvious reasons surrounding the subject matter! What I found particularly frightening about the film is the idea that possession is something we cannot control. In other films, psychopaths can be ‘caught’ and kept away from people, but this film shows that ‘demons’ are totally out of our control and do horrific things to people, with them having no means of escape.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">A*</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-22859383823307096352011-10-10T12:43:00.000-07:002011-10-10T12:44:11.929-07:00Percecution, Paranoia and Motherhood... with Satan<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Rosemary’s Baby</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 21pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">12 June, 1968</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZskpyrpp62X_YvoF5h2Ef1wrIhkQNj0fLAAMqIY8jwWg1KQQ1DXRd7Dsds_KwNTysCEkA-222mCnuaYgrAFeZvyTYEtXRvM0Y1uXybS_zXIvuc6Osa9LyKhFSRlbshkaEX6w4hZmfE_bd/s1600/rosemarys_baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZskpyrpp62X_YvoF5h2Ef1wrIhkQNj0fLAAMqIY8jwWg1KQQ1DXRd7Dsds_KwNTysCEkA-222mCnuaYgrAFeZvyTYEtXRvM0Y1uXybS_zXIvuc6Osa9LyKhFSRlbshkaEX6w4hZmfE_bd/s320/rosemarys_baby.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Directed by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Roman Polanski </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">William Castle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Roman Polanski, based on the novel “Rosemary’s Baby” by Ira Levin.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Mia Farrow</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">John Cassavetes</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Ruth Gordon</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Sidney Blackmer</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Maurice Evans</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Ralph Bellamy</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Rosemary and Guy have only recently moved into their New York City apartment, when strange events begin to happen – particularly involving their neighbours Minnie and Roman. Rosemary is a somewhat naïve housewife and Guy is a struggling actor. Unknown to Rosemary, with the promise of his career improving, Guy makes a pact with the Devil for Rosemary to carry his baby – with the encouragement of Minnie and Roman. Rosemary does not think that things are right, and begins to feel like people do not want what is best for her baby. As she becomes more and more isolated and confused, Rosemary attempts to uncover what is actually happening before it is too late.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSjFYhGyI6_bGKDHUGW_nuwrLsPMgLzSEV30tj1zpKXYcIGLE0T1zmGh1Tp43yxqjFsRaOKv_xvtj_A3uGtqEjzs8hWHVrG7vYRGFDODTn2KcuPSCQ0jGF4eeFl77Uz4DOBOyOExPGlyj/s1600/rosemarys-baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSjFYhGyI6_bGKDHUGW_nuwrLsPMgLzSEV30tj1zpKXYcIGLE0T1zmGh1Tp43yxqjFsRaOKv_xvtj_A3uGtqEjzs8hWHVrG7vYRGFDODTn2KcuPSCQ0jGF4eeFl77Uz4DOBOyOExPGlyj/s320/rosemarys-baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">For me, the most poignant scene and the one which remained with me afterwards, was when Rosemary visits her doctor (not the devil worshipping Abe Saperstein, but a different one!) and confides in him everything she has discovered about the ‘witches’ and expresses her worries for herself and the baby. The doctor sympathises and tells her that she will be okay. After the conversation Rosemary is shown to a room where she can rest. It is clear that she feels a huge sense of relief and tells her baby that everything is going to be fine. However, just when we think that Rosemary is protected from them, the husband and Doctor Saperstein come and collect her, saying: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">“</span></i></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">if you say anything more about witches or witchcraft, we're gonna be forced to take you to a mental hospital. You don't want that, do you?”</span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">It is obvious that the doctor Rosemary thought would help her, did not believe her - and thinking that she was mentally unwell, contacted her husband and doctor to take her home.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">This scene really made me feel for Rosemary. When she found someone she could talk to, it seemed that she was no longer alone and someone was going to help her. However, it turned out that the story was so ridiculous, it was not credible. Perhaps the most distressing element of the scene is the knowledge that now the ‘witches’ know Rosemary is aware of everything, they will trap her to make sure nothing more could possibly go wrong. This scene in the film really highlights the sense of Rosemary being defenseless and isolated, with nothing and no one to help her. </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-8f4QXbyZNMj4plqonqo1zigC-DrgS-A63DoUtdDFodqNQCOSPEtRCwQ7ynoMuXXsH1rmYKRRYouVq2tr7_YbzOtXN2FMi22yBUWbDfzU-lhct9Hd786YfO7Sp_ZGeXeMBLuGiOhsq4X/s1600/RosemarysBaby43%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-8f4QXbyZNMj4plqonqo1zigC-DrgS-A63DoUtdDFodqNQCOSPEtRCwQ7ynoMuXXsH1rmYKRRYouVq2tr7_YbzOtXN2FMi22yBUWbDfzU-lhct9Hd786YfO7Sp_ZGeXeMBLuGiOhsq4X/s1600/RosemarysBaby43%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Rosemary Woodhouse: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Witches… All of them witches! </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Minnie Castevet: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">He chose you, honey! From all the women in the world to be the mother of his only living son!</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Rosemary Woodhouse: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What have you done to him? What have you done to his eyes, you maniacs!</i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts:</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> I found ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ really very gripping as a ‘scary film’ because as the plot progressed and more of Rosemary’s character was revealed, the audience connect with her and empathise with her situation – as anyone would! This makes what happens to her more hard-hitting and has a strong emotional effect on the viewer, I believe. The brilliant element of the plot, is the way in which it is slowly revealed. Rosemary’s sense of a lack of security and trust as a result of what is happening to her - is felt by the audience also and therefore, it is difficult to know whether someone is helping Rosemary or not. This gives the film a very frightening feel.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I cannot imagine Rosemary being portrayed more perfectly than by Mia Farrow. I think she really captured the weak, fragile and vulnerable character. She also depicted the paranoid element to Rosemary’s character excellently, as the film developed – in such a way that it almost appears to be her that is insane, not the ‘witches’. The characters of Minnie and Roman Castevet (Ruth Gordon and Sydney Blackmer) were also portrayed brilliantly. The pushiness of Minnie and slight delusionary aspect of Roman, create an element of their characters being slightly loveable – as in some aspects, they present a realism which is not usually portrayed in the ‘baddie’ role in scary films. They, and the other Satan ‘worshippers’ also question the idea and existence of evil, as they are presented as just normal neighbours. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1-g7YEaLXpnR7ZTIJcD76-qN2sgLlDTXr9ZPBi2dedPcICCuxYrcxxt6QBjIEM-TRtvQPuBmoy5nqNIRY-ozOGBecZeI1-ldsJWHoqVdz-OZDKNSNw3KKb6ZLzRkmv42MfJdclUV8oU2/s1600/rosemarys-baby-p03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1-g7YEaLXpnR7ZTIJcD76-qN2sgLlDTXr9ZPBi2dedPcICCuxYrcxxt6QBjIEM-TRtvQPuBmoy5nqNIRY-ozOGBecZeI1-ldsJWHoqVdz-OZDKNSNw3KKb6ZLzRkmv42MfJdclUV8oU2/s320/rosemarys-baby-p03.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Something I found fascinating about ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ is that it is believed the isolation and persecution of Rosemary, is a reflection of director Roman Polanski’s own experience growing up as a Jewish person in Nazi-occupied Poland. I found this parallel very interesting and think that for a director to incorporate their own experiences in a film, really shows strong commitment and passion.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">A powerful theme in ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ is the idea of the bond between mother and child – although in this case, the child happens to be satanic! The end scene of the film really conveys that that bond is unbreakable because despite knowing that the child is evil (spawn of the Devil probably would be!) Rosemary still decides to rock the baby’s cot – portraying an element of her accepting the baby. I thought this film was really excellent. It was incredibly gripping and presented the strength of Rosemary attempting to protect her baby against everything. While the film revolves around Rosemary being surrounded by evil – there seems to be an underlying message of love.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 365.25pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">A*</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-42281055659210573972011-09-29T09:57:00.000-07:002011-09-29T09:59:50.333-07:00You are not in control<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Paranormal Activity</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 21pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #5b1a04; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">14 October 2007</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Directed by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #632523; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Oren Peli</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH1HqUUIm_2Mt96C-08mltcTMA_JERbiPqLxJ8tPh9n8grCTy3d8DmRsD-aPafZxRRUEUxPrrWh5kH4Nmk6Kdg_ZAyBCFM5FU6jTr65PA0u51VRPIn7DS90BIUNhsk2hKd1iVlMR_G59-/s1600/paranormal-activity-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH1HqUUIm_2Mt96C-08mltcTMA_JERbiPqLxJ8tPh9n8grCTy3d8DmRsD-aPafZxRRUEUxPrrWh5kH4Nmk6Kdg_ZAyBCFM5FU6jTr65PA0u51VRPIn7DS90BIUNhsk2hKd1iVlMR_G59-/s400/paranormal-activity-poster.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Steven Schneider</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Jason Blum</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Oren Peli</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Katie Featherston</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Micah Sloat </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Katie and Micah have been living together for three years, but recently they do not feel that they are alone in their house. Strange things start to occur – especially at night. To attempt to find out what is happening, Micah starts to film them all day, every day, in hope of discovering what it is. However, while he sees it as a fun project, Katie (who we discover has been ‘haunted’ since she was eight years old) knows that the situation is dangerous. They call a ghost specialist to help them with the inexplicable presence they feel, however he tells them that their problem is far beyond his expertise. Katie becomes more and more disturbed by the ‘hauntings’ – which are followed by Micah’s video camera.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">One scene I found particularly unnerving was the one in which Katie wakes up and gets out of her bed. She then stands by the bed and watches Micah sleeping. Katie appears to be possessed as she hardly moves, with the camera showing hours and hours passing by. In the morning she has no recollection of waking up during the night at all. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho58lEzr1UsOxukg1_DrVPh_da9toiJFykRIBft-5LMKszeJa5jQ4GmZyaNMuZ4IgQz2S1vRN61WaPY1jM5x-1FvgBEwfKQGda4esou9neg0JH32u4yiIZ9hMD_pH1Yolvu9JwjWOIRIQs/s1600/paranormal_activity_7f42f2bee34a094eb966175b14bfa0b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho58lEzr1UsOxukg1_DrVPh_da9toiJFykRIBft-5LMKszeJa5jQ4GmZyaNMuZ4IgQz2S1vRN61WaPY1jM5x-1FvgBEwfKQGda4esou9neg0JH32u4yiIZ9hMD_pH1Yolvu9JwjWOIRIQs/s320/paranormal_activity_7f42f2bee34a094eb966175b14bfa0b5.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">I found this rather freaky as it conveys the idea of someone not being in control of themselves and the fact that Katie couldn’t remember anything makes it even more frightening. In the film, I believe it highlights that the ‘presence’ terrifying them had all the power, and that Katie and Micah were completely defenceless. I think it is interesting to have a ‘scary film’ in which the most chilling scenes are not all blood and guts, but are simpler - and arguably more realistic because of it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Physic: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">If you do try to play games with it, that’s inviting it in.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0brxfsXmXYIEQUPoWUJORmuolyE5n64tIlbfHOqapUo6KKNp44G5VKCaHcUt5m6gG2xGs49zdFdg0UkBBhHOi23FoOEpE3ZVADVupTTKoPf1IBZ463K9y48vyuCjGixQnzN65FTr6c4eF/s1600/paranormal-activity-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0brxfsXmXYIEQUPoWUJORmuolyE5n64tIlbfHOqapUo6KKNp44G5VKCaHcUt5m6gG2xGs49zdFdg0UkBBhHOi23FoOEpE3ZVADVupTTKoPf1IBZ463K9y48vyuCjGixQnzN65FTr6c4eF/s320/paranormal-activity-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></u><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Micah : <i>No I promise you I wasn’t going to buy a Ouija board. I didn’t buy a Ouija board. I borrowed a Ouija board. </i></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Katie: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I feel it. I feel it breathing on me. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts: </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">It is really refreshing to see a scary film, which stays clear of the blood and guts. Of course, what is really terrifying about Paranormal Activity is the element of realism (if you actually believe that you could be ‘haunted’ by some sort of spirit). The idea of being trapped in this never-ending nightmare is so much more powerful than someone running around with a knife, killing people.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Filming a scary film with the effect of a hand-held camera is such genius, you wonder why more films have not used the idea! It really gives the audience a sense of living the experience with Katie and Micah. Especially the scene in their bedroom where Katie is dragged from her bed and Micah is desperately trying to help her. The fact that the camera stays where it is and only the screams can be heard is really quite chilling and it lets the most terrifying thing happen - one imagining what is happening to her.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTstVdaSFAFOf-dRPUwlgSmPUh09aWpJfPU5i2k8krAHMmx8_C-BwFW8gEPGK5zgyOOgzCNchABJsIFWoai28rwl2ieWvn-zbPh9Q0-7Q5By1Wfi-U6BGFhIEAIXdNyTkC2FJF2WzpufAC/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTstVdaSFAFOf-dRPUwlgSmPUh09aWpJfPU5i2k8krAHMmx8_C-BwFW8gEPGK5zgyOOgzCNchABJsIFWoai28rwl2ieWvn-zbPh9Q0-7Q5By1Wfi-U6BGFhIEAIXdNyTkC2FJF2WzpufAC/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Something I found particularly interesting about the film was the fact that it was filmed only in one location – their home. This really elucidated the feel of being in the house with them, scared and confused as they were. The one location was also significant in giving the sense of being trapped. I was really impressed by Sloat’s and Featherston’s performances. They were not over the top and ridiculous like in many scary films, but instead portrayed real characters – especially Katie. As the film progressed there was a sense that she was just becoming more and more weak, giving up as she realised she could not fight this ‘spirit’. It was also interesting to try and perceive when Katie was just Katie, and when she did not seem like her but instead, possessed in some way.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Having finally seen one of the most talked about films of 2009, and I have to say I was slightly disappointed. The film had been built up so much - I thought I was going to be terrified! I found it quite scary, but I think the Blair Witch Project idea is nothing new – and I definitely found that film more frightening. However it will definitely freak you out and if you wake up in the middle of the night, it is best not to imagine being invisibly pulled out of your bed screaming, by a spirit – try counting sheep instead.</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #033076; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">B-</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-53071269666645406322011-03-27T10:09:00.000-07:002011-03-31T09:53:58.133-07:00The Birth of Facebook<div style="color: #20124d; font: 28px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k2cD3SrjL3f30F1_baRjsHPDZZZSfEaZePxfvHWvQQxLAqzPeBY171L7ZnjmNtjIW4KzuPt8jJszFi0furC31i5EHxPObQQTh0zU-MkFZ5oDZSX5qbSZU-9i9VPYbOYP1dkMi2YVwj0E/s1600/the-social-network-dvd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k2cD3SrjL3f30F1_baRjsHPDZZZSfEaZePxfvHWvQQxLAqzPeBY171L7ZnjmNtjIW4KzuPt8jJszFi0furC31i5EHxPObQQTh0zU-MkFZ5oDZSX5qbSZU-9i9VPYbOYP1dkMi2YVwj0E/s400/the-social-network-dvd.jpg" width="270" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 40px;">The Social Network</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Released: </span></div><div style="color: #5b1a04; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">4 October 2010</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Directed by: </span></div><div style="color: #632523; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">David Fincher</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Produced by:</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Scott Rubi</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Dana Brunetti</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Michael De Lunca</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Seán Chaffin </span></div><div style="font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Written by: </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Aaron Sorkin</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Based on the book ‘The Accidental Billionaires’ by Ben Mezrich </span></div><div style="font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Starring: </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Jesse Eisenberg</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Andrew Garfield</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Justin Timberlake</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Armie Hammer </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Max Minghella </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e0202;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Summary: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e0202; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Mark Zuckerburg (Jesse Eisenberg) is a computer geek with next to no friends. Aiming to get revenge on his girlfriend for breaking up with him, he creates a website, involving comparison of girls - which then leads to the idea of ‘The Facebook’ (later known as ‘Facebook’). Originally just for university students, the site becomes a huge success across the world, with the help of Sean Parker - creator of ‘Napster’. However, there are legal complications as </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e0202; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra argue that Mark stole the idea from them. If one legal case was not bad enough, Mark’s former best friend and co-founder of Facebook is also suing him, after his shares were massively diluted. ‘The Social Network’ follows the lawsuits and the amazing story of how Facebook was created. </span></span></div><div style="color: #5e0202; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Without a doubt my favourite scene is when Mark’s best friend (not so much at the time, but before the success of Facebook) Eduardo travels to California ready for an exciting meeting and a party for reaching one million Facebook users. However neither of these events happen. Instead he arrives and is told that, due to new share holders, his shares have been diluted down to .03 %. None of the other co-founders of Facebook had their shares diluted - shown in the scene where his lawyer asks four consecutive times how much the other founders’ shares were decreased by. My favourite moment in this scene is when Sean Parker tells Eduardo that Mark is ‘wired in’, meaning that he is too involved in Facebook to talk to him. But, in anger, Eduardo picks up the laptop and smashes it against the desk saying ‘</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">What about now? Are you wired in now?’ Implying that he will finally have Mark’s attention. </span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO0kZFu0WsjPpbF3XkE25eOIKnRK5d01MSOOaqVBIUmoiYwwFBBECaso2Br17NHgucO1-GFOtu2Ri28IX8crUizO-ZdW06ZcuPMDnCxzaWqGaD6MXD9kt-oxc9SvyYFOOkh1nDXV_RfQu/s1600/the-social-network-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgO0kZFu0WsjPpbF3XkE25eOIKnRK5d01MSOOaqVBIUmoiYwwFBBECaso2Br17NHgucO1-GFOtu2Ri28IX8crUizO-ZdW06ZcuPMDnCxzaWqGaD6MXD9kt-oxc9SvyYFOOkh1nDXV_RfQu/s320/the-social-network-16.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">The discussion leads to Eduardo realising everything was about his success in the Phoenix and he believes that Mark was even behind the animal cruelty story involving him. Sean Parker also tells Eduardo that he should ‘check again’ about his name being on the masthead - conveying how he and Mark were attempting to permanently disregard his involvement with the creation of Facebook. I felt this argument was excruciating because it showed just how easily Mark had abandoned his friendship with Eduardo - who had been loyal to him from the beginning. </span></span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Erica Albright: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">The Internet's not written in pencil, Mark. It's written in ink. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Sean Parker: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">We lived on farms, then we lived in cities, and now we're going to live on the internet! </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><i></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 13.5px/17px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Marylin Delpy: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Bolivia. They don't have roads, but they have Facebook. </span></i></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><div style="font: 12px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hij255xGaKse35JSIvlj6diN-VA9Sl2cxo1jltG5fElEq1mJ3wGd1-TT-AeRxsY7HGIS0YEDFpNoOMXhyphenhyphenrs6fwGikPQg15B_t0KDgfRwZu-diG05sXWvOUoCBACVPKO7u3JVrD8TxllN/s1600/the-social-network-movie+Court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hij255xGaKse35JSIvlj6diN-VA9Sl2cxo1jltG5fElEq1mJ3wGd1-TT-AeRxsY7HGIS0YEDFpNoOMXhyphenhyphenrs6fwGikPQg15B_t0KDgfRwZu-diG05sXWvOUoCBACVPKO7u3JVrD8TxllN/s320/the-social-network-movie+Court.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Thoughts: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">I really enjoyed this film. It was very interesting to see how the idea of Facebook had evolved from comparing the ‘hotness’ of girls online. I found myself having mixed feelings for many of the characters - especially Mark. He was easily dislikable due to his selfishness and the way he treated the girl who broke up with him in the first scene. However, it was difficult not to laugh at his quick-witted comments, like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">“The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. Did I adequately answer your condescending question?”</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"> It was also impossible not to appreciate him creating such a hugely successful website, but also, how he knew what was necessary for its success.</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">A reason why I particularly enjoyed ‘The Social Network’ was because it is a true story. The idea that a young man could invent a website which now has over 300 milli0n members is quite incredible. I use Facebook nearly everyday, and it occurred to me as I was watching the film how big a part it plays in some people’s lives - whether that be a good or bad thing. The phrase ‘Facebook me’ has become commonplace, and as shown in the film, people can live their lives on the internet.</span></span></div><div style="font: 12px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf1T-IYKyf-7cXqdYqvawSvrcAvq_Va62CzaW7Y33he-sI6nrS60K8jRYslkGR2g5uYKWvFnDbbqyB8GGqizOXZfZiCKjCc4G9CU-KDgLAinwRrIqFIus283EWB5DtAedRSWPOAEYwOfB/s1600/The-Social-Network-RM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQf1T-IYKyf-7cXqdYqvawSvrcAvq_Va62CzaW7Y33he-sI6nrS60K8jRYslkGR2g5uYKWvFnDbbqyB8GGqizOXZfZiCKjCc4G9CU-KDgLAinwRrIqFIus283EWB5DtAedRSWPOAEYwOfB/s320/The-Social-Network-RM.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">I loved the ending of the film. Instead of anything too dramatic, it ends with a woman who was present at the hearings, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Marylin Delpy, telling Mark that he’s not an asshole, but </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">‘just trying so hard to be’. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">He then goes onto Facebook and adds her as a friend. He keeps refreshing the page just to check if she has accepted, despite only seeing her a few minutes ago. I think this is a nice ending because it shows that despite the success of Facebook, he is still a loser - searching for a friend.</span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Although I really enjoyed this film, I was slightly confused as to why it gained 8 oscar nominations. It was very watchable, the characters were good and the script was relatively entertaining, but I do not think it was oscar-worthy - which is probably why it did not win any! I am also, after doing some research, doubtful as to how much of the film is factually correct. However, this is an excellent film for a easy watch and definitely a must-see for Facebook-addicts, but nothing profound or oscar-worthy. </span></span></div><div style="color: #033076; font: 36px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A-</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-81133499598052220222011-01-19T12:54:00.000-08:002011-01-19T12:55:20.394-08:00One choice. A lifetime of consequences.<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Sophie’s Choice</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuqxEPiNTmsMkb6Fi4iWKiCJfbP3P_WBxxMsqFs-ss05jLVOorHkuNU9D3q7RYDIwXMwTwV8ncGFT3f49SPV6ODRWLaaKDyxGYsIycadDQG1WI52sR5DFo3XkHZ1h9D_iOgIAX9sXgsVv/s1600/dvd+cover+SC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvuqxEPiNTmsMkb6Fi4iWKiCJfbP3P_WBxxMsqFs-ss05jLVOorHkuNU9D3q7RYDIwXMwTwV8ncGFT3f49SPV6ODRWLaaKDyxGYsIycadDQG1WI52sR5DFo3XkHZ1h9D_iOgIAX9sXgsVv/s400/dvd+cover+SC.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Released:</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">December 8, 1982</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Directed by:</span></span><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;"><br />
</span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Alan J. Pakula</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Produced by: </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Alan J. Pakula</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Keith Barish</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">William C. Gerrity</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Martin Starger</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.75pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Written by: </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10.5pt;">Alan J. Pakula</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Based on the novel by William Styron</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Starring: </span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Meryl Streep</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Kevin Kline</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Peter MacNicol</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Summary</span></span><b><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">: </span></b><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Sophie is a Polish Nazi concentration camp survivor, who is saved and falls in love with unpredictable Biologist Nathan – who is obsessed with the holocaust. They becomes friends with Stingo (the narrator), a young American writer who moves into the apartment below them. As the film progresses, Sophie begins to trust Stingo by opening up to him about the past which haunts her. The film follows Sophie, Nathan and Stingo’s relationships, as well as the traumatic repercussions of experiencing the horrors of a concentration camp. The film sees the consequences of a choice Sophie was forced to make, to keep one of her children and let the other die. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pvmqi4nqhVUaK5fpEVEtyrc9avHMbhvg-K0rM8PQb6AwVN0-fehzcbNwLhumICjX3T7uc3CyUKPHx0JYVIzdyA38IMr0P9Kf6f5EmJLBmvu5bfe1gClvObbQIJC81qrBcMYZgs7dUOg-/s1600/final+scene+SC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pvmqi4nqhVUaK5fpEVEtyrc9avHMbhvg-K0rM8PQb6AwVN0-fehzcbNwLhumICjX3T7uc3CyUKPHx0JYVIzdyA38IMr0P9Kf6f5EmJLBmvu5bfe1gClvObbQIJC81qrBcMYZgs7dUOg-/s320/final+scene+SC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Scene:</span></span><b><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">One of the scenes I found particularly powerful, was at the end when Stingo returns to the house and realises what has happened. When he walks into the bedroom he sees Sophie and Nathan, two tortured souls, lying in each other’s arms, dead. It is a peaceful end with He then takes the Emily Dickinson book and reads the poem “Ample make this bed” to them. This moment sees Stingo crushed by the death of the two most important people in his life. The hope that Stingo had of him and Sophie having any future together is gone. In the end, everything that Stingo offered Sophie was not enough, as she could not escape the horrors of her past, and so made the choice of going to Nathan – which she knew would result in her death. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Favourite Quotes:</span></span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Sophie: (In reply Stingo asking ‘you were sent to Auschwitz for stealing ham?’) <i>No, I was sent to Auschwitz because they saw that I was afraid. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Nathan Laudau: <i>Don’t you see, Sophie? We’re dying.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Stingo:<i> I saw the first rays of daylight reflected in the murky river. This was not judgment day. Only morning: excellent and fair. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpWHgHihyphenhyphen68plNdZiCF8S0yLyl8_oYJkdQlxgud53pNvdikrD_rfQ-sIN9rjsJuZ8XjfZZy5kMJuvAtV-ouzZwqk69FyPEekCRRJKmEmJpCrvUvGEWYpO7sOegc6AgzT-VnNeoLkq4oP1/s1600/window+SC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpWHgHihyphenhyphen68plNdZiCF8S0yLyl8_oYJkdQlxgud53pNvdikrD_rfQ-sIN9rjsJuZ8XjfZZy5kMJuvAtV-ouzZwqk69FyPEekCRRJKmEmJpCrvUvGEWYpO7sOegc6AgzT-VnNeoLkq4oP1/s320/window+SC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">My Thoughts:</span></span><b><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">I was really impressed by Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Sophie – which earned her an Oscar. The Polish accent was very good and I felt that she really put everything into Sophie’s story and her feelings. The scene where Sophie was sat by the window recalling her memories and sharing them with Stingo was really moving and I think Streep deeply connected with the role. I don’t think that it is necessary to explain how powerful her performance was in the ‘choice’ scene. This was the unthinkable choice that every person would find impossible: choosing which of her children should live, and which should die. This dreadful moment in Sophie’s past led to her issues about having a family with Stingo. She was a very complicated and delicate character. The film sees pieces of her past unfolding as she shares them with Stingo.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">There was an interesting theme of trust and lies in ‘Sophie’s Choice’. Sophie trusting Stingo with her secrets, Nathan’s paranoia meaning he does not trust Stingo and also Sophie’s trust for Nathan – she had no idea who he really was. If trust is important in the film, so is lying. Firstly, Sophie lies about her father being an anti-Semite. This was a lie that led to the pivotal moment in the film when Stingo confronts Sophie and she reveals the truth about her time at the Nazi concentration camp. At the end of the scene she falls into his arms crying. The audience is given the possibility, since the film is seen those Stingo’s eyes, that he will save her and they will be together. However, she cannot bring herself to leave Nathan – who I think she felt completed her in some way and she was not strong enough without him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNMrqPXIXQTdGt9wkryM62C1gds_rYKvnqI7pT6kCZY6rysGqiP8a8pCyRFIxCwbBAcNRlPFxgeJA63sQJMtIT1g-ApcIAbgBRuYsm-TkfY7JPsgM1Yw7LiYxwmB4nGQbm2DTPtR5uI7a/s1600/roof+scene+SC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNNMrqPXIXQTdGt9wkryM62C1gds_rYKvnqI7pT6kCZY6rysGqiP8a8pCyRFIxCwbBAcNRlPFxgeJA63sQJMtIT1g-ApcIAbgBRuYsm-TkfY7JPsgM1Yw7LiYxwmB4nGQbm2DTPtR5uI7a/s320/roof+scene+SC.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Another lie was Nathan’s life as a biologist. There is a scene where Sophie and Nathan were sitting by the river and Nathan ran up to them excitedly saying that he and his team were close to a breakthrough at work. At this point I realised something was not quite right with Nathan. One moment, he was extremely happy and dressing up in ridiculous outfits, the next he was shouting at Sophie saying “I need you like death!” This was sad because Sophie trusted him and he had led a completely different life than she had thought. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">Sophie’s Choice is beyond through-provoking. The audience can feel Sophie’s pain in the scenes where she is talking about her past. After everything that had happened, I was hoping for some happiness for her and, on reflection, I think her death portrayed that she was finally at peace with herself and her memories. ‘Sophie’s Choice’ is incredibly moving and powerful, but I will not be watching it again for a while – it was far too emotionally draining!</span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 9pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 27pt;">A</span></span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 9pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-90677945210827816682010-12-22T03:10:00.000-08:002010-12-22T03:12:49.511-08:00My Top 5 Christmas Films<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia;">Christmas is fast approaching. The lights and decorations are up, every shop seems to be filled with gifts and the famous Coca-cola advert is constantly on TV. So I decided it was time to do a Christmas-related post. These are my five favourite family films to watch at Christmas time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61rnWNqSUrGdYgnymowxjbnOw7yhOO9yH45Byy-rtsMHXrzTpF45lm1X0RlH93aplAtU3fYzDUclLI6eK2iNTarB9ntqT6fPWXpyi98dtkBJWonzKf36A-xbkSBSeWG7TGijczM9YsUvt/s1600/HomeAlone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61rnWNqSUrGdYgnymowxjbnOw7yhOO9yH45Byy-rtsMHXrzTpF45lm1X0RlH93aplAtU3fYzDUclLI6eK2iNTarB9ntqT6fPWXpyi98dtkBJWonzKf36A-xbkSBSeWG7TGijczM9YsUvt/s200/HomeAlone.jpg" width="142" /></a><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">1. </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Home Alone</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia;">How can anyone not love this film? The story of a young boy called Kevin who is accidently abandoned when his family goes on holiday. When he realises his home is going to be targeted by burglars, he sets a number of traps to catch them. Home Alone is, without a doubt, <b><i>the</i></b> Christmas film. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">2. </span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">Miracle on 34<sup>th</sup> Street (1994)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7KpGtBhl_dEqf4UIamncgmSw0FOJ90mS97sEH8BmSQbciGgaDV4drA3IE91GciY-ITiNn5QiSvJiZPkXBBT5ISq0RwMzRYIgJ77qXVu0A4T9sa4xRalVrimVmOvpB9et4BTUWqEifiqH/s1600/miracle+on+34th+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7KpGtBhl_dEqf4UIamncgmSw0FOJ90mS97sEH8BmSQbciGgaDV4drA3IE91GciY-ITiNn5QiSvJiZPkXBBT5ISq0RwMzRYIgJ77qXVu0A4T9sa4xRalVrimVmOvpB9et4BTUWqEifiqH/s200/miracle+on+34th+street.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia;">I have to say that I enjoyed this film more when I believed in Father Christmas (which was about 10 years ago!). Six-year-old Susan does not believe in Father Christmas but when her mother employs Kris Kringle to work as Santa Claus in a department store, Susan starts to reconsider the possibility that the myth is real. This is a very enjoyable family film. <span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CuPBK9X2cd73s2i_wBPwL6ks2mGPqtDOHyVyrGVNeZFJWA4lFt_bpAWa63JbT5amDvYidz5Plm5jPDgbSS3fCWb-g0DlCJEdS-x298NutaU2CRqYsGh3uo1SfNFGuLdKwlQhGoBo70J-/s1600/A-Christmas-Carol-1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CuPBK9X2cd73s2i_wBPwL6ks2mGPqtDOHyVyrGVNeZFJWA4lFt_bpAWa63JbT5amDvYidz5Plm5jPDgbSS3fCWb-g0DlCJEdS-x298NutaU2CRqYsGh3uo1SfNFGuLdKwlQhGoBo70J-/s200/A-Christmas-Carol-1999.jpg" width="140" /></a><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">3. A Christmas Carol (1999)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia;">This is the perfect film to watch and reflect upon. Charles Dickens’ messages about the way we behave, the consequences of our actions and, most importantly, helping those who are less fortunate, are definitely things to think about over Christmas. I love this film, as it is both entertaining and thought-provoking. <span class="apple-style-span"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">4. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVV4QWcxF1pElF8rHFXi0JWo7i9YP75xsmNgbGlPZdAjqgZbE2agw3UaqBrjJWKxE3k0iSwMZh8t5AEFjFF71xLr2mOhNqI_5LAsOPBXxAqLAabBjyiMdgpXyvu3sVlC7FIgrgvmqS16h/s1600/reindeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVV4QWcxF1pElF8rHFXi0JWo7i9YP75xsmNgbGlPZdAjqgZbE2agw3UaqBrjJWKxE3k0iSwMZh8t5AEFjFF71xLr2mOhNqI_5LAsOPBXxAqLAabBjyiMdgpXyvu3sVlC7FIgrgvmqS16h/s200/reindeer.jpg" width="146" /></a><span style="color: maroon; font-family: Georgia;">I watched this film every Christmas for about 5 years. Rudolf is not like other reindeers, he has a red nose. Rudolf is bullied by his peers for being different. But this film shows him becoming Santa’s most famous Reindeer! It’s obviously one for younger children, but I still love it because it’s just so humorous and holds so many memoires for me. </span></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14pt;">5. Planes, Trains and Automobiles</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9hJvun6ST7onxH7b3t2k1Aj7hpwYdVspiMJNjI1n6fRnGP3CDNZGt1GiIv8LyD6NVoPCAXT_X7lF-4mzdYP4VVnP5MkzmxuOlqetw4WHuT4JRb7tPmajtArXUn5iTUJTWyiYcYHpVK7i/s1600/planes+trains+and+automobiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9hJvun6ST7onxH7b3t2k1Aj7hpwYdVspiMJNjI1n6fRnGP3CDNZGt1GiIv8LyD6NVoPCAXT_X7lF-4mzdYP4VVnP5MkzmxuOlqetw4WHuT4JRb7tPmajtArXUn5iTUJTWyiYcYHpVK7i/s200/planes+trains+and+automobiles.jpg" width="136" /></a><span style="color: #000066; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="color: #990000;">Although this is not actually about Christmas itself (it’s about Thanksgiving), it still has that Christmassy feel to it. It’s about the importance of family being together and the lengths that people will go to, to make that happen. The film has one of my favourite film moments of all time. The scene where the two are trying to sleep in the hotel room and Neal finally cracks. This leads to Del’s “You wanna hurt me?” speech – which always brings tears to my eyes. </span></span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-32153982833781286412010-11-07T13:08:00.000-08:002010-11-07T13:10:10.673-08:00Two days, one family, half a van<div style="font: 22.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7d2709; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: 40px; line-height: 56px;">Little Miss Sunshine</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7d2709; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 40px; line-height: 56px;"> </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HH24RLpA6ys0DwXzsYLiFSnvqn3a9N2qHWg2S9nQuJjvAtZxaPrAQTaGDp9Gf5-Ewlg8Ll2FG3PGX_o45WpFJl3z_qslxmF38Ma_YlLzkxVuOhpFCDDM4AsNZTXqUejGTDBh50pigL7Q/s1600/505409little-miss-sunshine-posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HH24RLpA6ys0DwXzsYLiFSnvqn3a9N2qHWg2S9nQuJjvAtZxaPrAQTaGDp9Gf5-Ewlg8Ll2FG3PGX_o45WpFJl3z_qslxmF38Ma_YlLzkxVuOhpFCDDM4AsNZTXqUejGTDBh50pigL7Q/s400/505409little-miss-sunshine-posters.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="270" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Released:</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">July 26, 2006</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 14.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Directed by:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Jonathan Dayton</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Valerie Faris</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Produced by:</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Albert Berger</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">David T. Friendly</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Peter Saraf</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Marc Turtletaub</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 1px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Ron Yerxa</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Written by: </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Michael Arndt</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Starring: </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Grey Kinnear</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Toni Collette</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Abigail Breslin</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Steve Carell</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Paul Dano</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13.5px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Alan Arkin</span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; line-height: 17.0px; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 1.0px 0.0px; min-height: 15.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Summary</span><b>: </b>Seven-year-old Olive Hooper dreams of winning the ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ beauty pageant. To achieve this, Richard and Sheryl Hooper, along with her suicidal brother, Richard’s cocaine-addicted father and their son Dwayne (who has taken a vow of silence) decide to travel from Albuquerque to California in their rundown Volkswagen. However, they encounter a few problems on the way, including the news that the family is going bankrupt. During the dysfunctional family’s journey, they learn actually how important they are to each other. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ432tRWOMy3o60DiVyC9VCnOxV3_FiCB5dHuupw6-iOmaHdXIFn7oiZHv-3JIeyXu9J9FAgBrqxCk9p5mutCHsfB50MYweYD7Qeh_vKm80naYB-woS2_s_MdnfRFnkVb0vnokjmKRvjUz/s1600/little-miss-sunshine-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ432tRWOMy3o60DiVyC9VCnOxV3_FiCB5dHuupw6-iOmaHdXIFn7oiZHv-3JIeyXu9J9FAgBrqxCk9p5mutCHsfB50MYweYD7Qeh_vKm80naYB-woS2_s_MdnfRFnkVb0vnokjmKRvjUz/s400/little-miss-sunshine-6.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Favourite Scene:</span><b> </b>During their journey, the Hoopers spend the night in a motel. The following morning they discover that Olive’s grandfather is dead. While in the mortuary, the Hoopers are told they cannot leave the body. Consequently, they decide to do something extremely unorthodox. They sneak the body through a window and put it in the boot of their car.</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">What I find so humourous about this scene is how the grandfather has not even been dead 24 hours and instead of grieving, they are carrying his body out of a window and placing it in the car! The underlying message in this scene is that regardless of the circumstances, the family would get Olive to the pageant on time. It demonstrates the ludicrous lengths that people would go to, to make their children happy. </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Favourite Quotes:</span></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Richard: Everyone, just... pretend to be normal. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Dwayne: You know what? F*** beauty contests. Life is one f****** beauty contest after another.</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMgNu9Ye3gQ1C1_bOj8MyIVAK4B6U1Xikni9Do1UXyXLOvBpDKeXQwvfDJbMZyhad1MWkRN6ei3Ouohd-qCYpUZSut3cstB-lm-yiOE3ceEgwEDUYHTQQPY7pvvzXdsKgJJlnR24wYMY0/s1600/abigail_breslin_image_little_miss_sunshine__1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMgNu9Ye3gQ1C1_bOj8MyIVAK4B6U1Xikni9Do1UXyXLOvBpDKeXQwvfDJbMZyhad1MWkRN6ei3Ouohd-qCYpUZSut3cstB-lm-yiOE3ceEgwEDUYHTQQPY7pvvzXdsKgJJlnR24wYMY0/s320/abigail_breslin_image_little_miss_sunshine__1_.jpg" width="284" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Thoughts:</span></span> </b>I love that this film is based around a classic American beauty pageant. At the end of the film, when they finally reach California, no-one (except for Sheryl) wants Olive to perform. I think this reflects how the family felt detached from society and its expectations. However, Olive performed anyway and her dance was not quite suitable. Eventually the whole Hooper family ended up on stage making fools of themselves - but it was a great scene, because it showed that they just did not care what anyone thought. Everything in the beauty pageant was so fake and the Hoopers realised that. Although they did not fit in with this world of glitter and makeup, they were happy. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Another element which I thought made this film very strong was the contrast in the family between the beginning and the end. At the start of the film, each member of the family lived a very separate life. They were not connected, but by the end they were all dancing around on the stage - to the audience’s horror! The journey of ups and downs had brought them closer together. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.0px Georgia; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6587yz8PjQq9EuMbcbzyFJXMqgDDnKggyv3-7aZgzrEKDzV4vTzLkbkPCDAF2QBPc5Ae1FCbNBd3E-Jhg3q1a8A2mh0ng6iaUK4zxxzk61wuurmregLIASnPNTGplYX6HPuzioDNb82m/s1600/Little-miss-sunsine-steve-carell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6587yz8PjQq9EuMbcbzyFJXMqgDDnKggyv3-7aZgzrEKDzV4vTzLkbkPCDAF2QBPc5Ae1FCbNBd3E-Jhg3q1a8A2mh0ng6iaUK4zxxzk61wuurmregLIASnPNTGplYX6HPuzioDNb82m/s320/Little-miss-sunsine-steve-carell.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I enjoyed all the performances, but particularly Dano’s (Dwyane) and Carell’s(Frank). I was surprised to watch Carell playing such a role. His character was suicidal and humiliated, but the family’s eventful trip put a smile back on his face - and I think Carell pulled it off well. There were plenty of cringe-worthy scenes. Calling Frank’s meeting in the petrol station uncomfortable would be something of an understatement...</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">I think by end I had felt every emotion under the sun. For each character, there were moments when I hated them, and moments when I loved them. This film is very original, which is something difficult to come by. The idea of a family taking a trip is so simple, but the clash in the characters’ personalities makes the film interesting and extremely funny. It is impossible for one to not have a smile on their face by the end of Little Miss Sunshine. It really is the ultimate feel-good film. </span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Lucida Grande'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 10.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 36px; line-height: 50px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;"></span>A</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-63106416891078963692010-10-18T10:02:00.000-07:002010-10-18T10:11:03.876-07:00Marley is no ordinary dog<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 30pt;">Marley and Me </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHp8-v2jd5x9mjwQ0sopTnYTRwQ7UhoPGlAaNwO7gaj2Z2RJK-xIBrHMX7e-Yy-xOlaTr9Bz55BlAjs7TWhzBNe9rs0D1BkQD2d_WEy4X7NA28AbTKFkbkPX7dsGLc4_kg0f9xlbyk80qo/s1600/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHp8-v2jd5x9mjwQ0sopTnYTRwQ7UhoPGlAaNwO7gaj2Z2RJK-xIBrHMX7e-Yy-xOlaTr9Bz55BlAjs7TWhzBNe9rs0D1BkQD2d_WEy4X7NA28AbTKFkbkPX7dsGLc4_kg0f9xlbyk80qo/s400/poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Released: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">December 25, 2008</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Directed by: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">David Frankel</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Produced by:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">Gil Netter<br />
Karen Rosenfelt</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Written by: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Scott Frank</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Don Roos</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br />
(based on the autobiography</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"> by </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">John Grogan</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Starring: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Owen Wilson</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Aniston</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Eric Dane</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Kathleen Turner</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Alan Arkin</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Summary: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #5e0202; font-size: small;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">After Jennifer and John Grogan get married, they decide to move to Florida. Worried about a baby being next on Jennifer’s ‘plan’, John attempts to stall this by buying her a puppy for her birthday. They choose to buy Marley – who is named while he and John are driving home listening to the reggae artist Bob Marley. However, Marley is no ordinary dog. When the Grogans are purchasing him, the owner says: “</span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-weight: normal;">Boys are 275</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">. Except for that little guy there. <span style="font-weight: normal;">Him you</span> could <span style="font-weight: normal;">have</span> for <span style="font-weight: normal;">200</span> even.” </span></i></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">At this point it is obvious Marley is somehow different to most dogs. Marley is crazy, full of energy and lacks any self-discipline. His antics provide John with plenty of humorous stories for his column. Both Jennifer and John are writers, and while Jennifer decides to give up her work to look after her children, John searches for his perfect job. The Grogans soon have three children: Patrick, Connor and Colleen. This film follows the story of their family, John’s work and life with <i>“the world’s worst dog.”</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9ClLs78JoQnKAC0mFi7UYLJalKsgXWco6vjjy1xNkq4bmcXLP_Ql0IqtKLcV1mk30IT-WUjCBxM8LNRoxHGlRXWNk4asIipUXhe-__kl_sTHTsGLK-kDwwR14nv9UO1UdXq7XS6cvm0K/s1600/gallery-3280811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9ClLs78JoQnKAC0mFi7UYLJalKsgXWco6vjjy1xNkq4bmcXLP_Ql0IqtKLcV1mk30IT-WUjCBxM8LNRoxHGlRXWNk4asIipUXhe-__kl_sTHTsGLK-kDwwR14nv9UO1UdXq7XS6cvm0K/s400/gallery-3280811.jpg" width="270" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;"> My Favourite Scene:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #4b1130; font-size: small;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;"> One of the scenes I thought was the most interesting was when Jennifer fell pregnant. At nearly 10 weeks, she and John visited the hospital to have a scan. While the doctor is looking at the baby she leaves the room and returns with another doctor who, after checking, answers Jennifer’s question <i>“Is there anything in there?” </i>with <i>“Not what you would expect to see at 10 weeks.”</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">I like this scene because I think in too many films that aim to reflect real life, couples easily have children. Jennifer suffers a miscarriage, which is a situation that many people will have experienced. The scenes that follow show the repercussions of the miscarriage. As they are driving home from the hospital, John says that they can try again in a few months, which is him trying to give her some form of comfort. However he later finds her stroking Marley in floods of tears. At this point he realised how much Jennifer was suffering. It was refreshing to see a real-life situation in this sort of film, which is why I chose it as my favourite scene. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WEQrKe0dPwx2C9BVhhZeVb98Bi7akHrXZyUdXe0bGIpiiv_iJeXGku1S6uacgdQexWlCc1tVZixaaLCXceugHABfHINsOl-N0AEimRIMvbrnr91G8tVFffXFW1Ri43MA30wW-c93BYX8/s1600/marleyspan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WEQrKe0dPwx2C9BVhhZeVb98Bi7akHrXZyUdXe0bGIpiiv_iJeXGku1S6uacgdQexWlCc1tVZixaaLCXceugHABfHINsOl-N0AEimRIMvbrnr91G8tVFffXFW1Ri43MA30wW-c93BYX8/s400/marleyspan.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">John Grogan</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">: <i>A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #5e0202;"><br />
</span></u></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Jennifer Grogan</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">: <i>Hi guys, alright, say hello to Colleen! </i><br />
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: maroon; text-decoration: none;">Connor</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: maroon; font-size: small;">: <i>Daddy says her name is whoops. </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">My Thoughts:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660303; font-size: small;"> The aim of this film is to make the audience both laugh and cry which, in my case, it did very successfully. An animal dying never fails to make me sob and there were numerous scenes where Marley’s insane behaviour had me in fits of laughter. I enjoyed both Wilson’s and Aniston’s performances, although I think Aniston has unfortunately reached the age where she cannot quite pull off being a 20-something newlywed!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj7m7V8DxqWbZYvGJ4rcGL1vJ91djmNT8NBVlZFwaeJ4moLB8xq1rh7950DNWK3OkhpX3NhlFtY4gp5XbnQbtpNahOLg1X-fRmI79hKrptmfqm-EbtFnqIPEHc2x0d6_WdjT0RKtcQerZ/s1600/marley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj7m7V8DxqWbZYvGJ4rcGL1vJ91djmNT8NBVlZFwaeJ4moLB8xq1rh7950DNWK3OkhpX3NhlFtY4gp5XbnQbtpNahOLg1X-fRmI79hKrptmfqm-EbtFnqIPEHc2x0d6_WdjT0RKtcQerZ/s400/marley.jpg" width="308" /></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660303; font-size: small;">The problem with this film is that everything was far too predicable. Once Jennifer suffered a miscarriage, it was only a matter of time before she became pregnant again. It was obvious once they agreed to have no more children, that another baby would soon come along and it was clear that John would end up becoming a columnist (despite him believing that he should be a reporter). There were no surprises, which I think is what makes a film interesting. To my disappointment, “Marley and Me” never made me think “wow. I did not expect that.” </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660303; font-size: small;">Something I found particularly strange was John’s relationship with his children. He had a full time job which, of course, would take up a lot of his time - but it seemed throughout the film John never bonded with his children. There were plenty of scenes with Jennifer holding her children, but next to none of John. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660303; font-size: small;">An element of his film which is quite worrying is how Marley ran wild around the house with three small children. It seemed very irresponsible, although Jennifer did mention once about Connor not sleeping and Patrick falling over due to Marley. I think that the safety issue of raising children with a dog like Marley was a subject that was not properly dealt with. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #660303; font-size: small;">“Marley and Me” seemed to drag on. Every time I thought the film was coming to an end, it carried on! I thought that the scene where the Gorgans buried Marley was probably necessary for the film to come to a close, but it was still too clichéd. The film was supposed to portray real-life, but it was completely unrealistic - particularly John’s ability to convince his bosses to give him any sort of job he wanted! Overall, I found “Marley and Me” to be another predicable comedy, but it is still an enjoyable family film. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #20124d; font-size: 27pt;">C+</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-16601161897847361582010-10-10T12:06:00.000-07:002010-10-16T02:09:26.525-07:00Love and death in Venice<div style="color: #20124d; font: 26px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdlbFADm_E2OlbZd2jnci-KEkRrOQVFwxMrr4incHsat-Odo9OtoPdnGD_9TflRoFGUCIFq0fUX875r3EQGEOCOPtbR7uDlbJL73fC8CPMzIUCsg56FC15LCGEZoaxj1rbo0Mr5Dw-2By/s1600/Martindrange-DontLookNow240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdlbFADm_E2OlbZd2jnci-KEkRrOQVFwxMrr4incHsat-Odo9OtoPdnGD_9TflRoFGUCIFq0fUX875r3EQGEOCOPtbR7uDlbJL73fC8CPMzIUCsg56FC15LCGEZoaxj1rbo0Mr5Dw-2By/s400/Martindrange-DontLookNow240.jpg" width="278" /></a><br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font: 40px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Don’t Look Now </span></div></div><div style="font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Released: </span></div><div style="color: #5b1a04; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">16 October 1973</span><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Directed by: </span></div><div style="color: #632523; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Nicholas Roeg</span><br />
</div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Produced by:</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Peter Katz</span><br />
</div><div style="font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Written by: </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Allan Scott</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Chris Bryant</span></div><div style="color: #5b1a04; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;">(story by <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Daphne du Maurier) </span><br />
</div><div style="font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 11px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Starring: </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Julie Christie</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Donald Sutherland</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #5e0202; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Summary: </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">After John and Laura Baxter’s daughter, Christine, dies tragically - they decide to take a break in Venice. While there, they meet Wendy and her sister Heather - who claims to be psychic. Heather tells Laura that her daughter is still with them. This intrigues Laura (who does not want to let go of Christine) but worries John - who is struggling to deal with Laura’s growing obsession of communicating with her daughter through Heather’s ‘powers’. John begins to see his dead daughter in Venice, wearing her red coat, but he never sees her face. He also sees things which don’t make sense and with a serial killer on the loose, John is unsure of who to trust. </span></div><div style="font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFri1_lDK9ZVGLh5YEDFnzu0ZKLvFNiLsIbG9CkwFtuY2lmLv8TR9Ftw-1n3Lfl5Ls2CDygoYr2tS4goai5NUU9qJYnRXL51-Gq775AZlbLyaG-rTiOq8zHv-F0JwXX4hpbpj87AtRjjxe/s1600/DontLookNow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFri1_lDK9ZVGLh5YEDFnzu0ZKLvFNiLsIbG9CkwFtuY2lmLv8TR9Ftw-1n3Lfl5Ls2CDygoYr2tS4goai5NUU9qJYnRXL51-Gq775AZlbLyaG-rTiOq8zHv-F0JwXX4hpbpj87AtRjjxe/s400/DontLookNow.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> At the beginning of the film, John is looking at a transparency with a magnifying glass, while Laura is reading. As this is happening, Christine is playing happily by the pond. The transparency shows the interior of a church with a seated figure wearing a red coat, like Christine’s. As he looks at it, he accidentally knocks a glass over the transparency. At that moment, Christine falls into the pond. A red shape (similar to blood) moves across the transparency from the red figure. John panics and, as if he knew what had happened, runs to the pond - only to find that Christine has drowned.</span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This is an excellent scene because both the figure in the photo and the real Christine are drowning. It also raises many questions, such as did John ‘kill’ Christine by knocking the glass over (causing the ‘blood’ to spread across the picture, representing Christine’s death)? Another thought is that John knew Christine was in danger the moment the glass hit the picture, even though she was playing outdoors, while he was indoors. It is hard to understand the scene at the time, but once the truth about John’s ability to foresee the future through his premonitions is revealed at the end of the film, everything makes sense. </span></div><div style="color: #4b1130; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></div><div style="color: #5b1a04; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AjGuoVQoyB17gb8T6J5dHAJDBvKLtek3MYB1rAskvXGYJN7wV7YBeeusVcD3PtTFOlcgOGAqoflfJquMyd5Blnb6sqMjehqRvtvJOYQ5wibPhW1CXbbAaNZWO6sRC8s-IElYPWyb0cBt/s1600/Dont-Look-Now-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AjGuoVQoyB17gb8T6J5dHAJDBvKLtek3MYB1rAskvXGYJN7wV7YBeeusVcD3PtTFOlcgOGAqoflfJquMyd5Blnb6sqMjehqRvtvJOYQ5wibPhW1CXbbAaNZWO6sRC8s-IElYPWyb0cBt/s400/Dont-Look-Now-002.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Laura Baxter: (talking to John about Heather) This one who's blind. She's the one that can see. </span></div><div style="color: #5e0202; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><u><br />
</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">Inspector Longhi</span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">:</span></span> The skill of police artists is to make the living appear dead. </span></div><div style="font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Don’t look now is an abstract and brilliant film. I think something important that the film conveys are the repercussions from the loss of a child. After Christine dies, the strain on the relationship between John and Laura is shown, as well as the lengths that they (especially Laura) will go to, to bring back their child. Laura wants to believe that anything is possible, whereas John is trying to be more practical and face the fact that his daughter is dead - however the film still sees him becoming obsessed by the red figure who looks like his daughter. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Another important issue in the film is trust - at the beginning of the film, I felt that John and Laura’s relationship lacked any. However, as the film progressed, I saw that John was denying that his daughter was still alive to save Laura from any more pain - which I believe shows the love they have for each other. </span> Trust is also shown through Laura, when she visits the elderly women, knowing nothing about them but simply having the drive to see her daughter again. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Towards the end of the film, I think John has less and less trust in people. He starts not to believe anything anyone tells him. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiuNgvp-ECaJd0vmkwa0r8wSBnhdlU6ZQKYPz5h3pbQmj2Nia1UWaHtg9wJqd3MGwLBFfi42jkG1x1Dl8u4cyVMfSvZms9JHmWdWA50tRATQI6Cc5IWjFgCNKwRy3mMrIFzNo_atePAcI/s1600/protectedimage.php.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiuNgvp-ECaJd0vmkwa0r8wSBnhdlU6ZQKYPz5h3pbQmj2Nia1UWaHtg9wJqd3MGwLBFfi42jkG1x1Dl8u4cyVMfSvZms9JHmWdWA50tRATQI6Cc5IWjFgCNKwRy3mMrIFzNo_atePAcI/s400/protectedimage.php.jpeg" width="400" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The film’s plot was very interesting. Every time I thought I was sure of what was going to happen, something threw me off! There were so many twists and complications, it was difficult to piece it all together until the end, when John has his sudden realisation. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This film would be categorised as a psychological thriller - however, throughout most of the film I was more intrigued than scared. The only moment I felt utterly terrified was when the red figure finally revealed itself in the famous end sequence. The scenes throughout the film were like pieces of a jigsaw that were not fully explained until the final scene. The combination of this, and the buildup of tension made for an extremely powerful ending. </span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 36px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">A*</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-21360426597990268062010-10-04T09:11:00.001-07:002010-10-04T09:13:37.935-07:00Think again before you make fun of Carrie<div style="color: #20124d; font: 40px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Carrie (1976) </span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="color: #20124d; font: 40px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;">Released: </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaBlV-xE62SsIbK_VgZN_a-kt8IV_MAZku6jK54avanx2KKNiiHHtPkN4vuggjchN9S6VZaYTxH9PfsVqZEV7Shrzpa3ZhjfheUQuuOZFBh6F3hIQCfm-0yjohDfT1gxq-5uTMEmLC39a/s1600/carrie+1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaBlV-xE62SsIbK_VgZN_a-kt8IV_MAZku6jK54avanx2KKNiiHHtPkN4vuggjchN9S6VZaYTxH9PfsVqZEV7Shrzpa3ZhjfheUQuuOZFBh6F3hIQCfm-0yjohDfT1gxq-5uTMEmLC39a/s400/carrie+1.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">3 November, 1976 </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Directed by: </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Brian De Palma</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Produced by:</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Brian De Palma</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Written by: </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Lawrence D. Cohen</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">(based on a novel by</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Stephen King)</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Starring: </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Sissy Spacek</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Piper Laurie</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Betty Buckley</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Amy Irving</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">William Katt</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Nancy Allen</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">John Travolta </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Summary: </span><span style="color: #660000; letter-spacing: 0px;">Carrie White is an abused and bullied schoolgirl who discovers she has physic powers. When she realises she has the ability to move objects with her mind, she begins to use this against anyone making her angry. Her insane, god-fearing mother believes that everything Carrie does is a sin. Her punishment is being locked in a cupboard (with an extremely freaky Jesus ornament) and being made to pray for forgiveness. She is mistreated by her mother, teachers and friends (worst of all Chris) and this film witnesses her final revenge. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 10px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUdZiOGOsOTKxqrZS1erEtPLc5iamzufuVDFuJvtt4kXeyL9po8RTjWKjLq0PJikkNH75IqKoHZ5wjaRJA-h8QBQqpVnslTOdYR-W_coFxtQQsGeud3AmWawzUOYXno82I9KJj7cn8AbM/s1600/carrie+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUdZiOGOsOTKxqrZS1erEtPLc5iamzufuVDFuJvtt4kXeyL9po8RTjWKjLq0PJikkNH75IqKoHZ5wjaRJA-h8QBQqpVnslTOdYR-W_coFxtQQsGeud3AmWawzUOYXno82I9KJj7cn8AbM/s320/carrie+2.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="color: #660000;">I believe that the most effective scene in Carrie is at the end, where Sue (in a dream) visits the remains of Carrie’s house to lay some flowers. As she is laying the flowers on the ground, Carrie’s hand, covered in blood, reaches out and grabs Sue’s wrist. After this, Sue wakes up screaming and crying in her mother’s arms. </span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I think this is very powerful because it illustrates the effect of what Carrie did. The audience expects the scene to be Sue’s peaceful goodbye to Carrie</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><b> -</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> however the hand reaching out definitely changes that! I do not think I have ever been more scared in my life. I literally jumped out of my skin! The scene portrays that even though she is now dead, the bitterness of what Carrie did still lives on. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">My Favourite Quotes: </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Margaret White: Witch. Got Satan's power.<br />
Carrie White: It has nothing to do with Satan, Mama. It's me. Me. If I concentrate hard enough, I can move things.</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
Margaret White: These are godless times, Mrs. Snell.<br />
Mrs. Snell: I'll drink to that.</span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YtTwQEnx7Zy2D2Jr5amDFfzMQ_hrOHMQBR_du8rPERzhuIIx8pAISc-94N2XLO6LdmZ4v0ZvbI3ia0WVd2zrGl603w1sjAliPr1n1rDU51MTdKmLiAe1qSbuUFAA5hbYBOKqCMTsByCZ/s1600/carrie+3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YtTwQEnx7Zy2D2Jr5amDFfzMQ_hrOHMQBR_du8rPERzhuIIx8pAISc-94N2XLO6LdmZ4v0ZvbI3ia0WVd2zrGl603w1sjAliPr1n1rDU51MTdKmLiAe1qSbuUFAA5hbYBOKqCMTsByCZ/s400/carrie+3.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span style="color: #660000;">This is an interesting and weird film. When it was released, it was innovative and many films using the same ideas as Carrie, followed in its footsteps. The ‘pig blood prom scene’ was especially inventive. The combination of split screen, lighting, music and Sissy Spacek’s performance made this scene incredibly effective. </span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Brian De Palma originally wanted Sissy Spacek to play Chris (Carrie’s bully) but when she arrived for the final audition unwashed, wearing a dress her mother made her in the seventh grade and with vaseline rubbed into her hair - De Palma realised he had found his Carrie. Spacek’s performance in the film was brilliant. She really captured the confused and awkward role of Carrie. She had a unique look and, even when covered in pig’s blood, she was beautiful. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Carrie’s mother, Mrs. White, is insane. She is enormously religious and anything Carrie does ‘wrong’, results in her being placed in the cupboard. I think five minutes alone with that Jesus ornament is enough to make anyone seriously disturbed. For a while, I believed that Mrs. White did actually love her daughter, but was just hungry for control. However what she did when Carrie returned home from her prom made me change my mind! </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR1gAHXY4yOfFQAgFeEw5QsFQ0_5Dw5MmJgXLwbhf6u0hQn1GG8-Loa4OR7_r2bX-YlJ64t2V0zhxSDGGzEtVXPvxXfQzv2JJhADcGByS5DS_nDPRIB948ukZJHBJ2BOX-plJwczUANNj/s1600/carrie+4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQR1gAHXY4yOfFQAgFeEw5QsFQ0_5Dw5MmJgXLwbhf6u0hQn1GG8-Loa4OR7_r2bX-YlJ64t2V0zhxSDGGzEtVXPvxXfQzv2JJhADcGByS5DS_nDPRIB948ukZJHBJ2BOX-plJwczUANNj/s400/carrie+4.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">An element about this film I especially liked was the theme music. Instead of being dramatic like most classic horror films, it was simple and tranquil. I think this highlights the sadness about the film. Even after everything that Carrie had done, I still pitied her. She was just a misunderstood young girl. Moreover, I felt like (towards the end of the film) Carrie had hope. She was beginning to believe in herself. Tommy was being kind to her, as was Sue. Everyone was starting to accept Carrie, and that night, she was genuinely happy. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I think an underlying message in this film is the effect of bullying. Carrie was a sweet girl who had good intentions, but she could only take so much. The girls were horrible to her, and while most learnt their lesson, Chris did not (but she got her comeuppance in the end). I was glad that Sue survived, because it seemed that besides Miss<b> </b>Collins, she was the only one who cared for Carrie in the end. She sacrificed her prom date with Tommy to let Carrie be happy. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #660000; font: 14px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">This film has certainly left its mark on horror film history and I think anyone who has seen it will think twice before they insult someone else, just in case they happen to be like Carrie. </span></span></span></span></div></div><div style="color: #20124d; font: 7px Arial; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 48px;">A</span></span></span></span></div></div></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8391325104394483280.post-44601446909542935922010-09-26T09:28:00.000-07:002010-09-28T09:07:20.814-07:00A Lonely Man's Last Day<div style="color: #20124d; font: 36px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 40px;">A Single Man</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1i22DHcFRm_np_DrHEAYs3KvAJKKe2eeBZhHJUC8w3YGl7kggBS4gqpLc__b6UHHBMpMguE2KYgeEoW-VJfflfbxr6xP74mHyZNQgoq4L4uZCcFqPLVxZj0c5CiziD2PUEH8wSyVrnVn/s1600/single_man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ1i22DHcFRm_np_DrHEAYs3KvAJKKe2eeBZhHJUC8w3YGl7kggBS4gqpLc__b6UHHBMpMguE2KYgeEoW-VJfflfbxr6xP74mHyZNQgoq4L4uZCcFqPLVxZj0c5CiziD2PUEH8wSyVrnVn/s400/single_man.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div style="color: #660303; font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px;"><span style="font: 10px Georgia;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Release: </span><span style="font: small Georgia;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">11 December, 2009</span><span style="font: small Georgia;"><br />
<br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Directed by </span></div><div style="color: #800404; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tom Ford</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Produced by:</span><span style="font: small Georgia; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800404; font-size: small;">Tom Ford</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Robert Salerno </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Chris Weitz </span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Written by: </span><span style="font: small Georgia; letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800404; font-size: small;">Tom Ford</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">David Scearce </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Christopher Isherwood </span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Starring: </span><span style="font: small Georgia; letter-spacing: 0px;"> <br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Colin Firth</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Julianne Moore </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Matthew Goode</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Nicholas Hoult </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font: small Georgia;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">Summary:</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">A Single Man is the story of George Falconer, a gay English College Professor, living in 1960s Los Angeles. George is dealing with depression after his partner of 16 years, Jim, died in a car crash. George has decided that life is no longer worth living and is planning to commit suicide – however spending time with his best friend Charly (Julianne Moore) and student Kenny (Nicholas Hoult) he starts to reconsider. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LDoG6Smtk32890RVVFR7Q4TqxBWhdAVzDuFW4PWvpx3N5bTwjOFydFXzN2dtoGTev45r5wLPtybFGy9zn8SEqvh1wxV44wEmJxBsFnoFXf73uhkdKh7-0Ccy_JdZHDAJ49Q0GiBPVIPk/s1600/2009singlemanoscar1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-LDoG6Smtk32890RVVFR7Q4TqxBWhdAVzDuFW4PWvpx3N5bTwjOFydFXzN2dtoGTev45r5wLPtybFGy9zn8SEqvh1wxV44wEmJxBsFnoFXf73uhkdKh7-0Ccy_JdZHDAJ49Q0GiBPVIPk/s320/2009singlemanoscar1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">My Favourite Scene:</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Although it sounds strange, I really enjoyed the scene where George is planning to commit suicide. He is sat on his bed, with the gun pointed into his mouth, but he cannot get comfortable. He moves the pillows into every different position. He lies down, sits up and tries halfway but he just cannot feel at ease. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">He then decides that dying in the bathroom would be more practical, but then again he changes his mind. George goes back to his room, pulls out a sleeping bag and crawls into it. With the gun raised, the phone rings. He finally gives up and goes to Charly’s house. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">The suicide notes are written, and funeral clothes are ready, but it seems no matter how much preparation George does, he cannot bring himself to pull the trigger and end his life. George went through the day knowing that when he arrived home he was going to kill himself, but when the time came, he just could not do it. I like this scene because there is the contrast of the humour of George’s thinking behind how he wanted to be himself and the serious reality of what he is actually doing. </span></div><div style="color: #800404; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font: small Georgia;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">My Favourite Quotes: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">George: “Looking in the mirror staring back at me isn't so much a face as the expression of a predicament.”</span></div><div style="color: #800404; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font: small Georgia;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">George: “(to Kenny, after being asked why he did not want a shower) Oh, I'm fine. I'm English, we like to be cold and wet.”</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYnxTJK2aNusSQC5Mib-IjPh63x-uLjn1JmUsq-shwBpBhqwzvGzjkp7WMOV4zXAk2ibnREPlhRzZzOHZGmZG8Ao_E2jspPzo7bY5WvcfrR4CdrulFrSvIpSY80cwVzHD56hawo73QYkr/s1600/A-Single-Man-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYnxTJK2aNusSQC5Mib-IjPh63x-uLjn1JmUsq-shwBpBhqwzvGzjkp7WMOV4zXAk2ibnREPlhRzZzOHZGmZG8Ao_E2jspPzo7bY5WvcfrR4CdrulFrSvIpSY80cwVzHD56hawo73QYkr/s320/A-Single-Man-001.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-size: small;">My Thoughts:</span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"> I think Colin Firth is the sort of actor who suits one role. Unfortunately he has been typecast as the ‘Mr. Darcy heartthrob’ and because of this, I cannot imagine him playing any other part. Firth actually received an Oscar nomination for his performance in ‘A Single Man’ - however I felt that in some parts, his acting was poor and unconvincing.</span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">The other element of this film which I found disappointing was the development of the relationships. Excect for Charly, the roles of Kenny and Carlos felt like cameos. During the film flashbacks were shown of George’s memory with Jim. It was strange because it seemed either there should have been just one flashback or several more. The depth of the relationship between George and Jim was not properly explored. Besides the scene where they are reading together on the sofa, most of the flashbacks did not show how important they were to each other. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Kki3bIQqDDOO3q1muJJbtQl0o1AsWtAvtmj9ShE-gSDCa6-Pe0z2ncLqMeu3F4vle_hK38qwbQwf08GB59iH7hUAm85eaRULP5ErAiww1H0EGCiOt3yIecs4RuKrfnI2s-9KZHdbFStb/s1600/a_single_man_nicholas-hoult.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Kki3bIQqDDOO3q1muJJbtQl0o1AsWtAvtmj9ShE-gSDCa6-Pe0z2ncLqMeu3F4vle_hK38qwbQwf08GB59iH7hUAm85eaRULP5ErAiww1H0EGCiOt3yIecs4RuKrfnI2s-9KZHdbFStb/s320/a_single_man_nicholas-hoult.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"> I thought that the use of colour in the film was interesting. Tom Ford said that he wanted to use colour to reflect how George was feeling. I think he did this well. In some parts, everything was grey and bleak but in others things were colourful and bright. Through the film the audience saw the progression from the beginning, where everything is dull, to towards the end where colour was used more, to convey George’s changing emotions. </span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="color: #660303; font-family: Georgia; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Considering the media hype of this film and Colin Firth’s Oscar nomination, I have to say I was slightly disappointed. I enjoyed Julianne Moore’s performance and I think the script was impressive - but I felt the film as a whole, lacked substance. I think it would have been more powerful to have had no flashbacks and just had the audience feel George’s loss from how he was feeling rather than what he remembered. </span></div><div style="font: 13.5px Georgia; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 36px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 9px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 48px;">B</span></span></span></span></div>Cat Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17739543133858449251noreply@blogger.com0