In this classic story of hero vs villain, Batman takes on a slimy business man and sewer thriving penguin man who plot to corrupt and take over Gotham City. In Batman's quest to save the day, he meets his match in the form of an ex-secretary turned cat woman. As Batman fights false allegations against him set by these slimy villains, he attempts to clear his name to the people of Gotham while uncovering the mystery behind his newest mutant of the city, Catwoman.
Burton does a fantastic job in this film by creating Gotham City as a world of cheesy surface smiles and dark underground dwellings. The camera shots are professionally placed and exaggerated to create meaning with each of the different characters. The costumes are extravagant and over exaggerated to give the film an artsy and flamboyant feel. Music and scenery are used to build anticipation, suspense, and sadness throughout the film.
Out of all of the movies screened in this class, this was possibly my favorite. Having only seen it once as a kid, i was captivated by the feel and story of this film. Burton's dark visionary film making, paired with an all-star cast, and outrageous scenery and props, paint a perfect picture of dark and mysterious crime and a classic childhood hero story.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
FIL 3006 Review: Boyle's Trainspotting
In this dramatic yet dark film on the touchy subject of heroine abuse, director Danny Boyle paints a picture of crime and drug use in depressing Edinburgh, Scotland. A group of young boys and men ban together over a common interest in the use and lifestyle affiliated with heroine and other drugs and the pains that come with youth and boredom. Main character, Mark Renton (Ewan McGreggor) throws away the societal norms and chooses a life filled with adventure, thievery, and above all obtaining the high that comes with abusing a drug.
The scene and feel of the movie is what most attracts viewers to the film. It is set in a depressing town in Scotland that rarely sees sunshine and greenery. The characters live in longing to break free of the town restraints and its view of a perfect and ideal lifestyle. The camera angles, especially in the "detoxing" scenes are key in creating a feel of pain and agony as well as mental instability in order to force the audience to really feel what the characters are going through.
Boyle used camera movement as well as music and lighting to his advantage in this film to create the ideal setting of drug abuse and poverty. The dark scenes of haunting dead babies, filthy toilets, and the lengths these characters go through to get a heroine high makes the audience really feel the depression of drug use and creates the perfect feel to this grunge film. Boyle explains throughout the film why these character would be inclined to choose "heroine over life" and tells a captivating story while doing so.
The scene and feel of the movie is what most attracts viewers to the film. It is set in a depressing town in Scotland that rarely sees sunshine and greenery. The characters live in longing to break free of the town restraints and its view of a perfect and ideal lifestyle. The camera angles, especially in the "detoxing" scenes are key in creating a feel of pain and agony as well as mental instability in order to force the audience to really feel what the characters are going through.
Boyle used camera movement as well as music and lighting to his advantage in this film to create the ideal setting of drug abuse and poverty. The dark scenes of haunting dead babies, filthy toilets, and the lengths these characters go through to get a heroine high makes the audience really feel the depression of drug use and creates the perfect feel to this grunge film. Boyle explains throughout the film why these character would be inclined to choose "heroine over life" and tells a captivating story while doing so.
FIL 3006 Review: Spielberg's Jaws
In Spielberg's break through film Jaws, a small island town named Amity is plagued by fear of a great white shark that threatens the lively hood of the towns economic welfare and its citizens. A motley crew of three men including the towns newest police chief, a marine scientist, and a disgruntled town fisherman set out to tame the beast.
The combination of the characters of these three men, paired with the small town feel, and an aquatic setting provide for a perfect scene to tell a great story. The music really played a huge role in the feel of suspense and action in the film. Throughout the film suspense builds through the limited showing of the monster as well as the dramatic camera angles and musical scores.
There were also many instances where the camera angle or movement added to the feel of the film. In one scene, when police chief Brody was sitting on the beach, the shark began to show itself in the water and the suspense grew dramatically. Spielberg used Hitchcock's "Vertigo Effect" to dolly out and zoom in to create action in the shot. Spielberg did an exceptional job in demanding audience attention through suspense and humor, especially in a film that ran 124 minutes. This film will remain a timeless classic thanks to the great storyline, powerful production elements, and its ability to captivate and audience through suspense.
The combination of the characters of these three men, paired with the small town feel, and an aquatic setting provide for a perfect scene to tell a great story. The music really played a huge role in the feel of suspense and action in the film. Throughout the film suspense builds through the limited showing of the monster as well as the dramatic camera angles and musical scores.
There were also many instances where the camera angle or movement added to the feel of the film. In one scene, when police chief Brody was sitting on the beach, the shark began to show itself in the water and the suspense grew dramatically. Spielberg used Hitchcock's "Vertigo Effect" to dolly out and zoom in to create action in the shot. Spielberg did an exceptional job in demanding audience attention through suspense and humor, especially in a film that ran 124 minutes. This film will remain a timeless classic thanks to the great storyline, powerful production elements, and its ability to captivate and audience through suspense.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
FIL 3006 Review: Hitchcock's Rear Window
Alfred Hitchcock's film, Rear Window, stars James Stewart and Grace Kelly in a tale about an injured photographer ridden with boredom who watches his neighbors from his apartment window. When he becomes convinced that one of his neighbors has committed murder, he takes it upon himself to crack the case.
Upon studying "The Gaze" in class, it became apparent that this film was a model example of not only Laura Mulvey's idea of the feminine gaze seen in many Hitchcock films, but also intra-diegetic gaze as Stewart views his neighbors from a pair of binoculars and a camera lens. Like many other "Hitchcock actresses" Grace Kelly was put in the spotlight of the film while the caretaker, played by Thelma Ritter, was much more subservient as a womanly figure.
The movie overall was a psychological thriller filled with suspense and themes of fear and voyeurism. Overall, Hitchcock does a great job keeping the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats and the movie plays out to send a message that things arent always what they seem.
Upon studying "The Gaze" in class, it became apparent that this film was a model example of not only Laura Mulvey's idea of the feminine gaze seen in many Hitchcock films, but also intra-diegetic gaze as Stewart views his neighbors from a pair of binoculars and a camera lens. Like many other "Hitchcock actresses" Grace Kelly was put in the spotlight of the film while the caretaker, played by Thelma Ritter, was much more subservient as a womanly figure.
The movie overall was a psychological thriller filled with suspense and themes of fear and voyeurism. Overall, Hitchcock does a great job keeping the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats and the movie plays out to send a message that things arent always what they seem.
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