Film Final Documentary

                                                          http://youtu.be/EGcapL_vJWM

{Concepts of Continuity}

{Advanced Editing Infographic}

Location is Character

Commentary!

Realism, Formalism, and Classicism...

The film Titanic is a great example of classicism. The scene in which Jack Dawson dies, specifically, has many factors that relate back to this specific editing genre. This scene uses many close ups to display the emotions of Rose throughout the course of Jack's dying. Dramatic emotions are easily made apparent and evoked within the view through the repetition of the shots being shown at different angles, close ups, and cuts. The blue tint given over the course of the film was an idealistic choice on the director's part to probably convey grief, melancholy, but also heaviness to the entirety of the films romance to sadness vibes. As the realization of Jack's death occurs to Rose, the cuts become even more dramatic and close. This method is applied here to almost give the viewer a feeling of overwhelming emotion, just as the main character is feeling herself. Titanic itself does a well job forming the story and events that lead to the sinking of the ship in an easy understood manner. Even though the sinking (to anyone who lives under a rock and doesn't know the story of Titanic) is a shocking surprise of climax, the way the film progresses after that is also very well sequenced. It courses us to Rose's old age, her main decisions after exiting the ship, her death, and even her spirit reuniting with those she had met in the sunken ship. It's depicted from Rose's point of view completely, considering we follow her mainly throughout the whole piece.

Bridge to Terabithia falls under the category of formalism due to the director depicting it through an otherworldly spectrum as decided in he/she's own eyes. Because this movie is based off a novel, it makes the film all the more applicable to this category because of everyone's different views of the children's world and the creatures that are supposed to come to life from the trees and rocks. The ending scene where Jess recreates a bridge to enter into his imaginary world of Terabithia with his younger sister is the best exemplification of this type of film. It gives dimension to how the world looks to everyone who does not have the child's imagination to a spectacular Kingdom where they are kings and queens with thrones as seen by the kids. This particular scene uses panoramic views of the whole area to display the transformation slowly. It allows the viewer to gander at everything and take it in with a mystic, grandeur feeling. Even though this scene of the movie is supposed to convey a liberating feel from the previous grievance (a means of moving on and continuing life after his best friend died) it still has a sense of interpretation for the way each of the creatures are come to life. There are close ups to give a better feel of what each thing is, and the director did not alter everything to be changed through the effects. Simply, one is left to interpret what other things the children may see if they envision the world even further detailed once they leave they finish the film.




Grease is an example of a film that depicts realism for its 'slice of life' genre. Grease used a variety of panning shots, quick cut shots, and close ups to keep a connotation of everyday life fluid. The main plot of Sandy and Danny's relationship is paired with several subplots (the dance, the race, and impressing Danny to win him back) all to display how, just in like life itself, there is no main 'plot' we are conducting. There is a sort of stroyline foreshadowing in the beginning of the movie where Danny relays to Sandy that he believes they will see each other soon enough; Even though neither of them could have known they'd attend the same high school. It's simply a film that conducts the director's idea of what school and relationships were in his opinion, creating a romance suited for most people to wish they had for themselves despite the conflicts Sandy and Danny pass through during their meeting, dating, and school life. The film includes very little special effects or video filters on any of the clips because they aren't necessary to get his/her point across. There is no sense of surrealism either, making it easy to be transported back to this time period and envision it being reality without the aid of any special editing or costume. The sequence of the film is also easy to follow due to this steady chain of events that lead us from start to end. The entire movie flows in a chronological format, no detours to the past. It begins in the past and ends without returning to past events. Yet, with a film that's under this category, it is hard to see where the actual storyline is going due to it being a seemingly open plot just like life itself is. However, Grease's romance additive makes this plot easier to find through the challenges and the small struggles they encounter. The film is basically shown from a third person's onlooking view into the life of these teenagers and the events important to them and how they skid on by.

Media Analysis!

The media is the exemplification of what we, ourselves, and what other nations look at to perceive our society. We are a society that looks at things in Dichotomy yet tries to stave away from that, but we do not always succeed. If what you see isn't exactly realistic, which most of what our media displays isn't, then it simply shows our aspirations and desires. The media shows us, the people, what we want to see. Or, what they think we want to see anyway. From what sorts of foods are advertised on our TVs' to the books that make Bestseller and finally, down to film and general entertainment, our society is a mash of longing for romance, gore surplus horror, and of course full of many different kinds of heroes and compromisable villains.

Now, we don't exactly have all three of these things in our regular everyday lives; However, it does not mean that we do not want them. People typically watch horror films for the adrenaline rush it brings. Those of us who enjoy said films want to feel that skin crawling fear that comes with the sheer possibility of such events taking place towards us.  It shows that we're a world looking for anything shocking, anything different, anything surreal. Romance  though, is a common interest amongst the general audience because society finds it desirable. Society is a capitalistic venture and supplies on demand. If the public is lonely, they supplement a movie or television show that fills that void-That depicts something that feeds our woes or quenches it for the mere viewing. Then there's of course the ever common hero films. Whether you want to be the hero or the villain, these movies supply both, and usually take us to a world that we can relate to with the exception of the occurring fantastical events and deeds. Our society takes heroism and turns it upside down, making us question which side is better, the rational between both ends. Harvey Dent said, “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain."

The media depictsour woes, our hopes and dreams, and our innermost demons on the big screen for all to see.

I find the best of media is the sheer concept of villains and heroes are ntertwined. Perhaps thats simply because those are the films that appeal to me most. They sculpt us, you can tell what a person's interests are from their film choices and it truly is interesting to see that the person you thought would love comedies absolutely despises them. The media rounds out the people, the people simply demand more in return, its truly a viscous circle and I find self image to be the worst of it. One of the powerpoints brought up a Korean film, 200 Pounds of Beauty, that displayed a parallel to what we intially believe. Our society tells us that for things to work in a favorable manner, for us to be heroes, for us to find that beautiful romance, for us to survive the horrors found in horror flicks...That looks or weight will ensure that. However, this film they said showed the opposite. She lost her weight and still did not have the man, albeit, she gained self confidence and was able to sing on stage comfortably. The media defines us as a society that does things to impress others be it from a heroistic act, for a love interest, or to escape a murderer...But, in reality, we should be doing these things for ourselves and that is what I find to be the worst of the media.

A common theme I find portrayed in the showing of media was something I mentioned prior; Dichotomy. Dichotomy is the concept of black and white and that everything must relate to an opposite for it to exist. In romance films we see a repetitive story that can revolve around a girl who is witty and a guy who is slow, the surprise is supposed to be that they will end up together. But, we know they will, otherwise they wouldn't be in the damn movie to begin with. In terror flicks we see a commonolity of revenge. The killer may be too jacked up to know that who he is killing is not the person he's looking for, but to him that doesn't exactly matter. Hero movies are the greatest example for this theme and thats because you truly cannot have  hero without a villain. I mean honestly, we like that sense of accomplishment and fine border. It makes us feel safe. Therefore, no matter what genre we are looking at, I say media has a common depitction of Dichotomy. Yet, it is up to the people to decide if everything is truly black or white in the end.

~Favourite Five Movies~

Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton is certainly one of my favourite movies. It utilized something known as the Alice in Wonderland Syndrome which is a neurological distortion of image perception. The movie itself uses digital effects and design to portray this as is seen in the scene above where Alice walks through to talking roses that, in comparison to her, are much larger. I find this to be one of the coolest things of the movie because it makes the viewer feel almost as if they are in the scene with Alice. Being apart of the movie and connecting with the adventures of the characters has always been a must-have for me to enjoy a movie and this certainly makes that possible.

I'm a sucker for movies that show people dying, it sounds terrible, but I really love it when a movie kills off characters in unusual ways. So, it goes without saying that the Final Destination movies directed by various different people would have to be on here. Even though some of the deaths may be ridiculous or not exactly plausible, they still cause me to cringe and I find that those are the best parts. The small amount of supernatural undertone in the films is great. My favourite scene out of all these movies is how they show the X-Ray of the people dying by collision with the truck. Not only are the effects awesome but, the sound affects are absolutely disgusting. It's so cool. 

Okay, so I love adventure movies too. Pirates of the Carribean (honestly all of them) are films that I can watch anytime. I enjoy the aspect of pirate lore and all the special affects with the ships. The makeup and costume designs that are always achingly well done never seem like too much or too gaudy for such a movie, and overall, I just love Johnny Depp. Even outside the spectrum of all the effects and specialties, the plot and lore, I'd say what draws me to these films is Jack Sparrow. He's a manipulative, conceited, and narcissistic guy that just gives these movies a distinct air to them. I mean, he's even got a jar of dirt. Who doesn't want a jar of dirt?

Now I think every movie list should have some freaky, psychological thriller on it and my favourite is Hannibal directed by Ridley Scott. I really liked how Lecter doesn't stay simply in the United States for the film. My favourite scene that really sold the movie for me is the one when they are in Italy and he hangs the man in such a way that all the passerby's think it is in memory for the people who had been hanged there in the past. The way Lecter insinuates and manipulates his victim's minds was interesting to watch-Not to mention his odd relationship with Agent Clarice Starling. Its a movie that makes you question what makes killers the way they are and also gives a sense of how the concept of dichotomy is very much questionable.

Now, to conclude my favourites list, I've chosen Mean Girls directed by Mark Waters. The way its easy to connect with each character (at least once throughout the movie) is amusing and creates a familiar feel to the film that just sucks you into Cady's life. Its really funny and not in such a way where its simply ridiculous and...Well, who hasn't compared someone at school to an African animal prowling about before? I can think of several people now off the top of my head.

What Makes a Good Film

The aspects that make a good film include: Character development, entertaining plot twists, and several different settings to keep audience attention. The movie Karate Kid details on character development by displaying Dre Parker's reactions to his being bullied once moving to China. However, he soon becomes adamant on learning how to properly defend himself so he can be admirable and face up to his bullies. A creative plot twist was found in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when Harry's name is drawn from the goblet signifying that he is to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. Finally, World War Z utilized several different settings such as Israel, the vessels off of New York, and Nova Scotia. By applying these characteristics within films, I feel that it will keep audiences entertained for an entire viewing.