Do The Right Thing

Do The Right Thing was quite an interesting movie in that it used weird camera angles. Especially noticeable throughout the movie with the awkward angles and oblique shifts. Such as during the several scenes in Sal's pizza shop. Many of the scenes in the pizza shop when Buggin Out came in to make some trouble. Several camera angles were shown to be as though the camera was set at a tilt or was turned onto its side a bit. This gave the scene quite an odd feeling. Showing several parts of the little pizza shop as well as a few characters at this angle gives the scene a different purpose as though the shot that was shown was meant to have given those specific people or parts a certain meaning. This camera angling wasn't in the pizza shop. It was also quite significant each time Radio Raheem was in a scene. When the camera had shown him, it was also at an angle which gave him the look as though he was very important and quite powerful with his radio and persona. The movie overall was quite a different experience compared to films of today and films of the 1900s. Seeing this new use of camera angles gave me the idea of how just simply turning the camera could give a whole new aspect as to the meaning of the objects and people that are shown in the scene.

Battle of Algiers

I had read the Washington Post review for the Battle of Algiers. The review had many good points that I had agreed with especially how the director, Pontecorvo, has portrayed the Algerians and the French. The way he had done it was not to make one side look specifically heroic or evil but instead he made both sides seem equal. There was no protagonist as well. We see both the wrong-doings of both sides and how each side retaliates. With such ways of portrayal in this film, there’s real no group or person to ‘root’ for and therefore removes the bias part of the typical film viewer and their tendency to take sides.

Momento

Momento was at first quite a confusing movie but as the movie picks up, it became much clearer as to what the premise was. The way the movie was made is very interesting because it isn't typical as what we see in today's movies as well as typical film noir movies. The movie had begun from the end and progressed towards the beginning. With confusing plot twists and a storyline that gave more emphasis to how insane the movie was already, it made the movie generate several characteristics of a film noir. Such as the mysteriousness that comes with a film noir. When the movie begins, we see the main character kill what we have thought was the 'villain' at the time. Just from seeing that scene alone, we wonder why did he kill him, who was he, and so forth. Not only that but the movie also had a very distinctive contrast. Half the scenes were in black and white while the other half were in color. Each colored scene corresponded to the movie timeline by going backwards from the end event and the black and white scenes were progressing from the very beginning and eventually the two meet. However, with a confusing storyline, the movie itself had given explanation as to what had happened but still available for subjective views of opinions. The movie overall was good because of its creative and innovative progression as well as the film noir aspects that it had contained.

Kiss Me Deadly

This movie was an interesting film and to be considered as film noir was just a fitting one. Because of the way the movie was made and the plot outline and such, this movie was a perfect fit for the film noir category. One example of this is how the movie is quite a mystery overall. In the beginning we meet a woman and is killed quite early and the only message she left behind was "remember me". With a beginning such as that, you can't help but think of questions as to who was she, what was she after or doing, why was she killed, and so forth. Such questions are driven because of the way film noir's are made, which is to be mysterious. Not only that but the movie was also shot in different contrasts of light. With many scenes being in daylight and such, the significant scenes all had lighting that focused on the main event and what was going on during the scene. The film was quite an interesting watch even though it was quite random with the main character being a scammer but takes on the role of a private investigator in order to find out who the woman in the beginning was and what was behind her death. The movie overall fit the typical film noir aspects as well as adding in its own theme of science fiction was wasn't typical for film noir's but nevertheless, the film overall had fit the noir themes.

Double Indemnity

The typical aspects of film noir's are low key lighting, pessemistic mood, and a bit of mystery to it. These exact things are found in the movie especially the low key lighting and the overall depressing aura. Throughout the movie, we see nearly every scene with low key lighting. Such a significant contrast in lighting and shadow makes certain scenes a little more emphasized when all you can see are the characters and nothing else. This makes each scene a little different from what is typical of other films with more lighting, a brighter atmosphere, and just the ability to see the settings and background of the scene. Instead, in the movie, with the inability to see the background of most scenes, it makes the viewer focus their attention only on the immediate action or characters in the scene making their importance even more significant.

Groundhog Day, over and over and over

A great presentation of a film featuring comedy and romance together. Bill Murray playing the role of the main character is stuck in the same day, repeating it to no end. How long did he repeat the day for? Nobody knows but what we do know is that the movie had a lot of comical scenes making it very enjoyable. Such as when Murray's character Phil, is shown repeatedly suiciding in various ways. Such as jumping off a high building, getting smashed by an oncoming bus, and even driving off a cliff with the groundhog in a hillarious attempt to end his cycle. However, to no avail he is still stuck in that same day and furthermore, we find out that he's even tried to poison himself and other simple ways of suicide. The interesting thing about the movie is progression. It seems as though Phil never manages to escape the endless cycle and at this point, he decides to make use of his 'curse'. At first, he decides to use this as an advantage to gain what he wants but eventually he becomes a changed person and his 'curse' is now an epiphany to him. He changes his ways and ultimately he finally escapes the cycle a whole different person. What began as a curse changed to be in his favor once he realized the opportunity that was presented to him. Overall the movie was interesting and funny as we watch how Phil deals with his obstacles.

Baby and Bringing It Up

An interesting combination of two characters played by Catherine Hepburn and Cary Grant. One being the manipulative, arrogant, ditzy rich girl, the other an under-spoken, belittled scientist. These two characters play the main parts within the movie and quite frankly, it's one heck of a pair. Throughout the movie, much physical humor or slapstick comedy is used in order to show an example as to what comedies were back in the day. Of course back then the comedy wasn't as explicit as it is today, there are certain references as to how comedy was hidden. Certain parts of the film were quite interesting as to what the characters went through in order to resolve several conflicts. One of such would be how the original leopard, the tame oned named Baby, had gotten lost and thus the characters had to search for it. In doing so however, they release an untamed vicious leopard and mistaken it for Baby causing such an uproar within the movie when they finally find out. In their search, the two characters go through many situations together so perfectly it'd seem as though they were fit for eachother but that is not the case. Instead, they are both nearly complete opposites of each other and when they are working together, chaos erupts. Susan, played by Hepburn, causes such ruckesses that David (Grant) has no other option but to accept it and move on. Throughout the movie, these pair of opposites get into a numerous amount of errors mainly being caused by Susan's mistakes and careless attitude resulting in a terrible misunderstanding at the end of the movie. Overall the movie was quite an interesting ruckus that really makes the viewer think about differences of movies from back then and today.

Once upon a time in the west...

An important and very crucial scene in the movie was when a harmonica was put into a boys mouth. This scene was a defining moment and gave explanation to why harmonica was even after frank so diligently. It turns out that frank had killed harmonica's brother. Doing so was what caused harmonica to seek vengeance for frank's evil deed. Throughout the movie it wasn't exactly sure as to why harmonica was even after frank. From the other scenes in the movie, when harmonica had bought the house, he didn't even care about the money nor the house itself, he did it to aggrevate frank.

While watching the movie, it was quite puzzling how harmonica could be so devoted into killing frank without knowing his initial reason. After having seen the scene with harmonica and his brother being hung, it gave meaning to the rest of the actions that took place beforehand. Such as when frank was being shot at in the town and harmonica was inside the inn where jill was taking a bath. Harmonica was assisting frank in taking out all the people who were after him and it now makes sense as to why he did it, in order to kill frank himself. Witch such a motive and the determination that harmonica had, it was all only pieces of a bigger puzzle that the audience had to try to figure out until the scene with the death of his brother that allowed viewers to understand why harmonica does what he does.

NemoOoOoOoOoOo

A delicate little film about a fish directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich, Finding Nemo is about a father, Marlin, desperately in search of his lost or so he believes, kidnapped son named Nemo. Throughout the movie we see the different obstacles that he must face and the trials he must overcome in order to be reunited with his one and only son.

After losing his wife, Coral, and every single egg except for one, Marlin has decided to follow Coral's wishes and name it Nemo being that she is now dead and he's the one and only surviving children he has left. The movie then skips to several years later and we then begin the journey. It starts with a simple fatherly embarrassment that drives Nemo to go against his father's wishes by swimming out away from the reef into the open ocean and is then caught and swept up by a net into a boat and sent off to Sydney, Australia.

Finding Nemo was one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. The movie was easily acknowledged as the highest grossing movie for opening weekend notably for being an animated film. The movie had made a little over $70,000,000 in its opening week alone according to this site. Furthermore, total sales as of date sums to a staggering number of $860mil. With such a high number of gross, it easily makes Finding Nemo one of the top ten best selling movies.

Of course however, with such high numbers, it wouldn't have been possible with the millions of fans around the world. Many critics such as Richard Roeper from Ebert & Roeper said "Finding Nemo is terrific entertainment." and Jeff Strickler from Minneapolis Star Tribune contributed with "...even when Pixar is not at the top of its game, it still produces better animation than some of its competitors on their best days." Numerous of other critics all gave Finding Nemo a fairly good review let alone the general public. The movie being an animated film gives audiences the preconceived notion that it's a children’s film but not necessarily. The movie was enjoyed by not only kids but of people of various ages. A fun filled family comedy animated to please our attention was easily shown by how many people enjoyed the movie. Positive reviews from not only critics but also from families throughout the world can explain how this movie hit the screens and became such a big hit.

Although the movie was released in 2003, the amount of money the movie had grossed wasn't just based on the time and date it was released. In 2003, the movie was seen as ahead of its time in technology and detail. Being the first of its kind, an animated motion picture based on aquatic life, was just what audiences, namely kids, were unconsciously desiring. With such a different and unique movie just released during the summer of 03', audiences were delighted as to see what this new motion picture could captivate them with. However that was the response it got back then. In today's day and age, although it would still be a pretty darn good movie, reactions about it would be different. With such a huge time interval between 03 and 07, a numerous amount of animated movies have been made and presented to the public with many different styles with innovated plot lines making Finding Nemo a not so much anticipated movie. Thus for it being released when it was, made it into what millions believe to be one of the best animated movies ever made to date.

My Thoughts on My Darling Clementine

My Darling Clementine was an interesting movie none the less. To me it was much better and more endurable than Kane was. However in Clementine, there was quite a bit of confusion as to how the middle part of the movie connected to the initial plot of Wyatt getting revenge. There were numerous scenes where what was happening didn't seem to contribute to the overall plot of the movie. Scenes such as Wyatt dancing with Clem or other times where the Clantons didn't even have a single appearance in the scenes or was even spoken of. The movie beginning with the death of his younger brother, we'd expect the middle parts of the movie to either pursue or continue what the beginning scenes had introduced. However, that wasn't the case and instead the scenes were evolving the characters' relationship with each other. At least with the character development we can understand what the characters are like and how they play their role in the movie. Overall however, the inconsistent plot movement somewhat threw me off as I was watching the movie but all in all a decent movie.

Citizen Kane!

Something that I really noticed while watching this movie was that of the low-key lighting used so much throughout the film. The importance of the low-key lighting could be to stress importance on certain characters such as Kane himself. At certain points in the movie, the lighting makes it seem as though he's a mysterious person or a character that has such huge power or influence yet remains in the shadow pulling the strings on the puppet dolls at his will. With the low-key lighting throughout the movie, it gives some scenes a certain significance as to what is going on. For example, when Kane, Leland, and Bernstien sign the declaration of principles, the shadows in the back where Kane sits gives us the feeling as though he's invisibly controlling their actions. Such scenes tell us the importance of how low-key lighting can affect the movies and the different meanings that can be interpretted by the viewers.

Drinking and Fighting, what a pair!

Fighting off bad guys and at the same time getting drunk is an odd way to engage into combat. However, in Drunken Master 2 or Jui Kuen II directed by Chia-Liang Liu, Jackie Chan plays as Wong Fei-Hung, is apparently the best way for him to defeat the bad guys and once again save the day. Swift attacks, unpredictable movement, amazing stunts, and action sequences all combine into a movie that many devoted Jackie Chan fans have come to enjoy.

It may seem simple to just simply fight off the bad guys and defeat the enemy once and for all, but Chan or Fei-hung, must go through many obstacles in order to accomplish what others are afraid to do. Although he is skilled in martial arts, he father has forbid him from using his skill in harming others or putting on a show, let alone use the unique style of Drunken Boxing. Regardless of what his father has said, his step-mother (Anita Mui) encourages him to do what he believes is right and stand up for his country and retrieve the stolen ancient Chinese artifacts that others want to have transported out of China and sold for money.

As you watch the movie, many different scenes were made and put together with precision. From the fast kicks and punches, the quick movement, the somewhat painful stunts and acrobatics, it was all done thanks to Jackie Chan’s ingenuity in martial arts and stunt choreography. By using specific camera angles throughout the movie, we can truly observe how the characters not only react and express emotion but also to put emphasis on the movement and action when it happens. Such as a low angles in order to show how strong Fei-Hung’s Drunken Boxing style truly is and close-ups during the action sequences to allow the audience to observe what is happening with clear detail of how the characters react to the situations that arise.

Not only are the action scenes emphasized on, we also see the props and the costumes that each character is wearing or around. For example the characters’ clothes, this is proper because of the time setting that the movie was made. Other examples include the relative setting, the houses, the streets, the music and sounds, the overall surrounding unifies the individual characters and the movie setting together. Thus allowing the audience to experience what it was like and how life was back then for Fei-Hung and what he had to go through.

Although an old movie made in 1994, it is regarded as a classic and very well known to many martial arts and Jackie Chan fanatics worldwide. All in all Drunken Master 2 is a movie worth watching whether you are a Jackie Chan fan or just want a movie to enjoy that not only contains action but also humor and the special talents that Jackie Chan has to offer.

Prime fights, Wheels on Meals

A movie that I will never forget is an old classic known to all true Jackie Chan fans, the legendary movie known as Wheels on Meals. It was an enjoyable movie with humor, action, and some insane acrobatic stunts. Something that I'll never forget however is the final fight scene where Jackie Chan fights Benny Urquidez. Both fighters are prime and skilled and when put together they show just how good they can be. To see what I'm talking about, here's the clip:



Note: The kick Benny uses at 4:20 to take out the candles is actual footage, not a fake.

Critique the Critic: Ocean's 13

Critique the Critic: Ocean’s 13

Owen Gleiberman, a critic from Entertainment Weekly expresses his own opinion on how Ocean’s 13 is a brilliantly schemed “delectably elaborate and savory soufflé of a mother-of-all-scams sequel.” His review of the movie not only goes in depth enough to explain why he gave it an A- but also to give reason to those who have not seen it a reason to.

With a third installment of the series, Gleiberman reveals his knowledge of not only this sequel but of ones of the past as well and how they’re each unique in their own way. He describes how the movie continues the Ocean’s trilogy saying:

The sheer complexity of the engineering is a delight, and also an ornate riff on what 'the workplace'' has become. Ocean's Eleven winked at the armor of male camaraderie, with the heist used as a deadpan illustration of how men, out of the fear that they might end up looking a little too, you know, friendly, now bond exclusively through mutual tasks. Ocean's Twelve just winked at itself, but Ocean's Thirteen returns to the first film's frictionless comedy of attitude. The movie is a witty celebration of process, using Danny's casino scam to make a comment on the world he's out to defeat — the world of technology, of systems, that now rules us all.

His review of a good rating is that alike my own, concurring with his ideas and thoughts as to why Ocean’s 13 is as good as it is. The casting of characters although may seem quite random, but when looked altogether are the perfect type of loonies that would be able to pull such a thing as scamming the casino boss and even further so, defeat an AI system smarter than themselves. Gleiberman expresses his opinions on not only the grand scams but the plentiful cons throughout the movie as well stating:

There's a scam in every corner. How do you fake a lie-detector test to get the shrimpy electronics ace Livingston Dell (Eddie Jemison) certified as a shuffle-machine technician? How do you sneak weighted dice into a casino that's guarded like Dick Cheney's bunker? And what about that bogus earthquake? Nothing to it: Have Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle) operate a tunnel drill that will rock the casino to its foundations, even if buying that drill requires $36 million.

With Gleiberman’s previous statement, it shows just how intricately designed this movie was. Faking a lie-detector test, bringing weighted dice into a casino, bringing a casino security system to a halt, are all examples of just how easy ‘impossible’ things are to beat as long as you’re crazy and motivated enough to do it as demonstrated by the cast. Each character pulling off their respective duties and skillful cunningness gives the movie a dash of fun and comedy for the audience to absorb and sink in. Overcoming obstacles that they run into and eventually even requiring the aid of an old nemesis show how devoted these bunch of misfits are in order to exploit the casino boss (Al Pacino) into losing not only millions upon millions of dollars but also preventing him from getting a 5-diamond rating.

Gleiberman puts examples of no matter how difficult the con, the more the boys are willing to not only attempt but to succeed in defeating it by saying:

That the movie is beyond sly — it's a blizzard of blissed-out chicanery. There are enough interlocking ruses to fill a dozen heist thrillers, and a few leftover James Bond films besides. Here, however, as in Ocean's Eleven (though not in the overly-pleased-with-itself Ocean's Twelve), the polarities of complication and ease of execution are neatly reversed: The more impossible the trick, the more that Danny and his boys bring it off with a casual, no-sweat, who cares? insouciance. It's grace under pressure turned into unfettered masculine style.

Asiantastic!

Hi, I'm The Asian!