Fantastic Mr Fox: Wes Anderson Film Review

This is part of the Christian Devita board which shows Wes Anderson's focus for keeping shots flat and focused into the centre.

The Universe: Wes Anderson has showed his vision on what he see's rural England to be and that is urbane, Urbane means refined in it's manner. It is Fantasy Britain. There is an American angst which means fear or anxiety. But the clothe's and everything are unmistakenly British and so this quirk actually works due to being able to have a world for him to play in. He doesen't ignore the Britishness or the Author's 'look'.

The Production: The animation was made with highly detailed animatronic's miniature character's in stop motion hence the jerky movements and full of texture. Wes Anderson see's this as more of a feature than a problem. Video's were sent via Quick Time and if not acting out his vision he would act it out and send it back asking for a fix, when an animation is so focused on a vision everyone need's to commun icate to make sure it follow's through. The recording's Wes did with the actor's like Bill Murray were done in a Conneticut farmhouse to get more of a "rustic" effect. There was also 30 unit's made and things were recorded in a live setting this is so he is welcome to any suprises or otherwise things that wouldnt be expected to happen,happen causing more realism and atmosphere. Puppeteer's also used different heights for the miniature's for distance reason's. Wes aslo handpicked the suits and wristwatch prop's for the character's depending on whether the character's were outside or indoor's Wes would make sure to capture noise's of floorboards or echoes off walls even. The production artist's also had to make duplicate's of the character's incase any issues would arise and this took hours for them to do.

Bill Murray-Badger

The Core Premise: This stop motion is a adaption of Roald Dahl's Mr Fantastic Fox.

Auteur Theory ( Wes Anderson ): Auteur theory means that the director has a distinct style, this style is consistent and becomes recognisable. It is said that the most cinematically and most succesful films have this undeniable style and so the audeince recognise it instantly as the director being Wes Anderson. for example the board above shows the specific camera angle choices that Wes would have used similarly in for example The Grand Budapest Hotel, He can be known as a meticulous maker as he is so symmetrical and specific in design to which you can see thier fingerprints over it. The other camera shot that Wes like's to show importance to is close up's of all these specific character's and thier identity. Part of the charm would be effect's of boiling or even fluttering that was also not intended.

Bibliography
Filmekibi.net. (2019). Wes Anderson'un "Fantastik Bay Fox" filminin storyboard çalışmaları | filmekibi.net. [online] Available at: http://www.filmekibi.net/inceliyoruz/wes-andersonun-fantastik-bay-fox-filminin-storyboard-calismalari
Russell, T. (2019). Wes Anderson Directs The Fantastic Mr. Fox From Afar. [online] WIRED. Available at: https://www.wired.com/2009/10/pl_screen_wesanderson/ 
Barnes, H. (2019). Wes Anderson's urbane Mr Fox is truer to Roald Dahl than most. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/oct/20/wes-anderson-fantastic-mr-fox

Ethel and Ernest :Film Behind the Scenes and main info. Review

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Core Premise: Ethel and Ernest focuses on the progression from 1928 to 1971 which is the meeting and death of Briggs's parents. Ethel is the housemaid and then later becomes a clerk for the second world war and Ernest is a milkman with social and economic ideas and is very interested in technology. And the son Raymond living here. There is also shown the Great Depression and arrivals of things such as television.

Animation: Ethel and Ernest is a graphic novel and an animated film and is subtitled a true story. The animation was hand drawn.

Reception:The animation is a biographical one and was received very well and was Broadcasted on BBC One.

Author: The author is an author and illustrator called Raymond Briggs. And the animation director is called Roger Mainwood. 

Fig2. Behind the Scenes.

Over 100 animators worked on this ten year project. Roughly 12 drawings equate to a second of film. So there was 61,200 drawings.They used vowel sheets which give a framework to the animators which helped keep the style the same throughout. The animator's also had to talk to Briggs's regularly to get the characters as realistic as possible. The animators used Tv paint and this was the first to be animated in comparison to the other films like The Snowman which were done on paper. 

Fig3. Behind the Scenes.

The bar underneath is the vowel sounds so they can match up to what is on screen. Although the characters were animated digitally the backdrop locations were scanned in and were done in pencil and ink and paint.

Raymond Brigg's was in tears and was addicted to it as it was like having his parents be brought back to life.

Bibliography

Anon, (2019). [image] Available at: https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2016/10/26/12/ethel-and-ernest.jpg

Gill, J. (2019). Behind the scenes of Ethel & Ernest. [online] Radio Times. Available at: https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-12-28/behind-the-scenes-of-ethel-ernest/

Ponyo Film Review

Core Premise: Hayao Miyazaki used the core concept of the original Little Mermaid, there is the themes of family bonds, power of friendship and also this idea of appreciating the natural world in which we live. This animation is darker for example the tsunami due to Ponyo creating ecological changes and also more weirder than Finding Nemo. This is a Studio Ghibli film and he is seen as the Disney of Japan. Ponyo's father is worried about nature's balance due to the evident damage and debris of our civilization.
Animation: There is 170,000 hand drawn frames and is very fluid and organic questioning the effieciency of CGI. The character artist that worked with Miyazaki, Katsuya Kondo says that the title is similar to other previous titles except this one is more aimed at younger children.
There was 50 in house key animators. Each staffs individuality needs to be taken into consideration with the animation for variation but Miyazaki is the base for everything.Its also described that the hardest part of the animation is to make things look like they are actually there this is through either bold movements or less noticeable but alive. The character designer thinks that 2d or 3d depends on whats suitable most for the naimation not one superior.
Reception: Ponyo did very well in a variety of countries.
This could be due to collaboration and the core concept being taken from something that was as popular as The Little Mermaid but also just the artistic style and story of Ponyo in general.



Bibliography
Anon, (2019). [image] Available at: https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/Ponyo?file=Ponyowater.png 

Triplets of Belleville film Review

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The Core Premise: There is a possible hidden moral or political meaning regarding commercialization of the entertainment industry and how profit is in charge. The Commercialism being shown by the Mafia characters which are so exaggerated they are like iconography in their shapes. There is parody seen and messages on Hollywood's cliche and industry standard for example the chase scene and also the sign' "Holly food". The triplets however connote individual artists with good skill but poor budget. The narrative includes a Tour De France cyclist and how thy started off with passion then the competition pushes them so far that they start to not be walking in the correct way and then they get kidnapped by this corporate mafia and are instead replacing their means of travel with machinery. There is connections like the train which symbolism a possible progress then there is a means of corporate reasons which causes going round and round in circles and not achieving all that much as the passion is not a part of it.In turn the whole Hollywood criticism is kind of all the same without creativity and also food representing greed and having a connection with money possibly. Like the Mafia can be seen as elitists and this French bonded family are trying to make it with these problems. The film is very Pro-France as the signs of the beret the colours white red and blue in the fireworks and is kind of depicting what could be lost by different nationalities due to them having this need to increase their marketing more like for example exploiting things like the cyclists for mere entertainment and if one loses they get shot.
Authors: The film is directed by Sylvain Chomet who decided to make this animation set in the 1960's. A french man who was working for Walt Disney who described it as a good thing but also a bad thing.he describes what he is showing is imposition of american culture on foreign cultures. So what is being imposed by them. He was influenced by people like Charlie Chaplain and other works in silence movie's and describes his style as a possible reaction to Disney trying to make characters look perfect and also because he loathed the formulatic approach and cliche that he saw in the movies they were doing he also liked having full control over the creative progress.
The Animation: There is hand drawn animation and water colour backgrounds and also there is a surreal french style without much language and more focused on the music as being a primary language instead. The film did well and got a lot of awards after finding his own path.

Bibliography
Anon, (2019). [image] Available at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-triplets-of-belleville/id530478386 

Waltz of Bashir film Review

The Waltz of Bashir directed by Ari Folman focuses on the story of Folman, a soldier that was in the Israeli Defence Force's in Lebanon. It is a documentary film where Foleman visits old war veterans to try and find out the reasoning for his hallucinations and missing memories that he is trying to recollect. The style of the animation is like a Graphic Novel to have the atmosphere and nostalgic feel it requires, its also quite real and emotional without being real. Folman did not want to use rotoscoping as he thinks it distracts from any emotions that the characters could provide and so they stuck with After Effects without rotoscoping. 

The veteran says Folman can draw but not film and then they talk about the past. 

The Last scene is contrasting the animation by uncovering the real life footage which shows the massacre of the Sabra and Shatila Refugee Camp showing that the animation isn't much unreal from the reality the animation makes it seem almost unbelievable then its in front of you. Because of the impact this showed of the war and it was considered negative it was banned in Lebanon specifically but it still did well getting awards like Best Language Foreign Film.

The Drawings were done by people like David Polonsky who was the illustrator and Art Director using 3,500 key frames. The Small group of animators only had 1.7mil as a budget compared to big studios.

Bibliography

Anon, (2019). [image] Available at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC7dQ1rwmfTEWsbZxR5VZ5Yjg62Rb2Cw569Bxb4EBwCabPx9p29Nc-jWJJO97i-5Occ5it1yZl05ExdCgM2Ak8iLqWIL0XZGdLyUQrvkE5rUghkG9qIrBffff3fqKb-s1UDtKWyP0FUM/s1600/waltz-with-bashir-2008_poster.jpg 
Anon, (2019). [image] Available at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6Dgesk7YMIo2LH4hbsxj4EhRd10TCc0ASN0fYBTU8MvjZu3BtzhmIq032bRX9OJ93MeJ8T71O8NA8VM7pxLDuLxgzXtxblFy3jc_sxYyooN646hkXO6MqKngdTyslRtwExlIL3pPxJYk/s1600/Holland+-+Waltz+With+Bashir+%25282008%2529.png 

Film Review: Mary and Max (2009)

The Core Premise: There is more than one theme in this film including issues such as child neglect,friendships,alcoholism, forms of addiction and recovery and the obscurity of life which means the unimportant or state of unknown around it. Bullying is another theme shown and loneliness and even mental illnesses and the possible backlashes from the illnesses for example Max is Autistic, specifically diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and his problems from his complications with how he understands other people leads him into anxiety and isolation. There is also other problematic repercussions from some of these negative themes like obesity,suicide,depression, isolating ones self and anxiety around social situations and also past traumatic memories.

The Animation: Animation was used instead of live footage because it is easier to exploit the medium and explain emotions,problems and difficult experiences through storytelling and keep it interesting and not too upsetting or uncomfortable this also allows the style and exaggeration to fortify these difficulties and also express them.

Production: The Animation was made with clay and is a stop motion which was made using 133 sets and 212 puppets and also 475 miniature props and there was a Underwood typewriter so it could be fully functional this took nine weeks to build and also design.


Reception: The humor is more aimed at and understood by Australian's and the offers Elliot received were from computer animators and he exclaimed that he does not have the interest or knowledge for that and that his work is quite odd and just wants people to watch it, however the film was received rather well outside of his area. And he has visited Pixar and Dream works and says he thinks it is an advantage to not fit in. And he has done well internationally people thought it was funny and had important themes.

Authors: This animation is based on a true story as writer and director Elliot claimed that the character Max was inspired by a pen pal he had been talking to for twenty years who also lived in the same location of New York. This is Adam Elliot. Where Mary grows up is also based on where Elliot grew up as he grew up in a place with the same place e.g. Mount Waverly.

B Movie Review-Battle Beyond the Stars

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This film came out in 1980 and is inspired by Seven Samurai in 1977, George Lucas creator of Star Wars was influenced by. There is knowledge of film history because the planet Kira is tribute to the director Akira Kurasawa. Also films such as Magnificent Seven because the story follows the same plot of a army being built to defend farms. Roger Corman is a huge exploitation film maker and wanted to keep the budget low, It is arguable that the fact it is a b movie is what makes is because of this and anything that at the time is popular cult film is taken on and mix matched to try and get credit for a similar story or movie. But when its on a budget it doesn't quite always end up as good as anticipated. For example the script was originally 160 pages long and Roger Corman literally fired and ripped pages out he deemed as unnecessary. 

The film is regarded as quite the rip-off due to its unmistakable similarities to very specific themes like Star Trek 2 The Wrath of Khan and the effects. 

" Wonderfully campy sci-fi version of 'The Magnificent Seven'.It even features Robert Vaughn as the same lost-his-nerve gunslinger he played in the original!." (IMDb,2018) 

Fig2.

A redeeming quality would be that despite the limitations the crew who made the sets and miniatures were very talented, in fact James Cameron was even involved. The set included cheap materials that only great artists could make look good with spray paint and imagination that has got to be a good quality.

Fig3.

A redeeming quality of this film is definitely the miniatures and variety of ships like Star Trek they used this method. This is a redeeming quality as there was creativity despite the amount of tributes to things like Galaxy Quest. The main ship is personified as female breasts and takes science fiction a step further for example in Star Trek and Star Wars the ship is always referred to as a she but this ship is a literal she. Nell talks. Its also not all that strange to see something of sexual explicitness either as science fiction has been in that area. The Crew were friends based on similar interests. There was Seven Main Ships then there was all the other less important ships. 

Fig4.

The Live Action Sets were done very well and just like the Matte Painting/Environments had a lot of atmosphere Despite some of the sets looking very old sci-fi some props and parts of the set actually look quite modern and like they would hold up well.

Fig6.

The Acting was terrible however some of the designs for the characters/costumes are also quite modern or an interesting choice. The mix of genre shows and the detail is actually quite spectacular. For example the Machinery on the Doctor. Although this is quite dramatic the other robots are actually rather simple not much detail is shown alternatively unless you see the mannequins insides but it still gets enough across to recognise. The Costumes achieve the look of a hybrid genre and Star Wars is hybrid.

Fig7.

Another redeeming quality would be the Art in for example the use of the Matte Painting. The atmosphere and landscapes are good. The techniques used to show more with less. They have a surreal yet science fiction, fantasy feeling it almost has a nostalgic feeling for all the people who have watched Films of similarity.

Bibliography

IMDb. (2018). Battle Beyond the Stars (1980). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080421 

YouTube. (2018). BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS miniature effects. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWmaUmNgWqM 

Definitions and The Truman Show Postmodernism

Definitions:
HyperRealism- This is when something is exaggerated in comparison to reality. This can be an artistic representation. This is also a genre of painting and sculpture resembling a high resolution photograph and is an advancement of Photorealism.
Simulation- This is an imitation of a situation or a process or the act of pretending also known as deception. The simulation could be imitating an operation of a real world process or system, a Computer model of something is an example.
Simulacra/Simulacrum- This was first used in the 16th century to describe a representation, such as a statue or a painting especially of God but by the 19th century it had gathered a secondary association of inferiority for example an image without the qualities of the original. Arts like Photorealism, Pop Art and Italian Neo realism do this also things like caricature, Recreation, Iconography, Philosophy.
Simulacra is an image or representation of someone or something that could be unsatisfactory substitute or a slight unreal or superficial likeness.
Fake News- This is a type of journalism or propaganda that is deliberately sharing misinformation or hoaxes this can be spread through many of the media forms such as social media, broadcasting or traditional print.

5 Reasons why the Truman Show is Postmodern:
1. The setting is hyper real, it uses false images for the set like the clouds and sky.
2.Hyper-Realism: The protagonist Truman played by Jim Carrey starts to get the inability to tell the difference between what is real and what is not, everything he thinks is real is actually a lie. And brings the idea that whatever you perceive to be reality is reality.
3. There is a distrust in ideologies and the problematic relationship when it comes to ideas of art itself. Truman you could argue is a form of art in a hyper real art world seen as entertainment by its viewers suggesting we live not inside reality but inside our representations of it. This is a postmodern idea in the very concept of the film.
4. Truman's world is deconstructing and questions whether his life being commercialised is moral or not and this idea of things going too far. Deconstruction is classic of Postmodernism.
5. Follows Simulacra: The first stage is recognising an illusion and the second stage is the distinction between the image and representation breaking down and threatens to replace the real world. And the final stage is there is no longer a distinction between reality and its representation. For example Truman recognises this illusion stage of his life then is threatened with not being able to leave this place.

Definitions and Dancing in the Dark Postmodern

Definitions
Meta-fiction: Fiction is where the author self consciously calls attention to the artificial nature of a work by parodying or by somehow differentiating from otherwise known traditional narrative techniques and conventions.
Intertextuality: Intertextuality is the relationship between texts. It is the way in which texts are similar or relate to each other ,influence or differ.
Mise-en-abyme: This is a French pronunciation and its meaning is placed into abyss. This term has a few senses when it comes to modern criticism since it was picked up from heraldry from Andre Gide who is a French author.
The 4th wall: This is a performance convention where there is an invisible imaginable wall which separates the actors from the audience. The audience can see through this wall and the convention suggests the actors cannot. The 16th century onwards provided a lot of illusionary practices and these stages influenced realism and naturalism of the theatre in the 19th century.
E.g. Proscenium Arch has the wise en scene hidden behind it and dividing the auditorium's this staging is also known as a box set.
e.g. a theatre may have a play about a play or drawing attention to that aspect becoming meta metatheatrical.

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5 Reasons why Dancer in the Dark is Postmodern
1. Selma's Daydreams are helping her escape from the horrible reality she is facing causing the fantasy and reality to conflict. Because of this the daydreams are seen as more brightly lit and nearly oversaturated this is done on purpose to show its artificiality.
2. Artificiality of the music numbers becomes postmodern critique of escapist cinema and not only that but also but the verisimilitude we are use to seeing is not seen, in other words they are breaking the reality that is represented to us on screen making us aware of being a spectator, an audience watching.
3. Cinema and musical escapism and the false reality. The ending where Selma is being hanged being like the Great Depression as she is interrupted during her last song, also Artificial Hollywood Cinema having an overly idealised image of that of the real world, which creates something more fantastical in terms of the worlds depiction that conflicts the reality of dark human nature that people face or have faced.
4. 180 degree rule being broken, Von Trier purposefully gets Selma to lie during the court thus breaking her moral code and what you expect then goes back etc. This is contrast to the traditional narrative techniques.
5. Controversies and The Illusion of a so called  "American Dream' and Cry against Capital punishment. This is shown by wealth favoured citizens systems like Selma's next door neighbour's.
How all of this is shot is non traditional creating an awkwardness, it looks like home video and is using heavy jump cuts and is handheld and maybe also contributing to her being low on the favoured citizens scale by showing her foreignness compared to her fellow co workers.

Bibliography

En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Fourth wall. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall

IMDb. (2018). Dancer in the Dark (2000). [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0168629/mediaviewer/rm2533562368 

Mad Max Fury Road Review-Exploitation

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"Mad Max Fury Road is like the Handmaids Tale its a dystopia that imagines white women in the future suffering from the oppression visited on women of colour." (Berlatsky,2018)

Mad Max Fury Road is a film that is a women in prison exploitation. This sub genre is usually one of the most despised in terms of B-movies past era's but in this case has proven its influence on what is still out there today. 

Feminist heroism and Patriarchy is shown when Charlize Theron who plays Furiosa is freeing women from sex slavery, these women look like supermodels dressed in lingerie and these are mainly white except from two women of colour. This shy's away from the roots of exploitation possibly because the borrowed 40 year old exploitation films and representations of these women and male heroes is still apparent as being far too radical for the mainstream.

For example Men in a WIP (Women in Prison film) are seen as sometimes villains in this case we have the evil patriarch Joe ( Hugh Keays-Bryne), love interests, or sympathetic characters as an example but not really as heroes which brings us to the characters Nux (Nicolas Hault) who was originally one of the villain Joe's war boys becomes a protagonist because of his transformation of love for the character Capable ( Riley Keogh.) It is true that the women are heroically saving each other but the white man or men are still the ones who sacrifice or help save the white women and even women of colour. This straightens out the dynamics for WIP films. As the film is not saying all men are that way and women are superior which means there is not an inequality in terms of the Binary Opposites and it is more balanced.

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The Male Saviour max who is exiled from society due to his madness is seen similar to that of a western hero. The cast of characters share this in-equality because of the evil patriarch. 

In the shot above you can see not only the cinematography which focuses on the centre of the screen at all times but also the white protagonist at the end of the film being Furiosa as she is accepted by society and being raised up helping the other citizens without the Evil patriarch alive anymore in this shot there is a mutual respect and change and around him are women of colour all around him going towards her. Rather than Max being the one in dominion after the saviour the one who is now empowered is Furiosa (Charlize Theron.) Mad Max and Rux have been supporting the women who are continuing to progressing their battle-hardened resourcefulness and commitment to the feminist revolution of both genders being an equal. However there are people which disagree with this equality of male and female for example their are Mens Rights Activists that do not like this film. " Fury Road was not going to be a film made for men. It was going to be a Feminist piece of propaganda posing as a guys flick."-Clarey 

He says that the trailers focused way more Furiosa than Max who seemed like he had cameo appearances, and not many lines form Tom Hardy. "Nobody barks orders to Mad Max." 

And goes on to conclude that when Charlize Theron states " Im not a fan of scrawny little girls trying to kick butt". And Clarey is saying that they are forcing a feminism lecture down our throats. And that the film proves women and feminists in general are dysfunctional by nature and cannot be trusted with anything. 

Bibliography

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://cdn.traileraddict.com/content/warner-bros-pictures/mad_max_fury_road-12.jpg 
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://elipunto.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/mad-max-fury-road-cast.jpg 
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://fannypack.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/hardy-miller-mad-max-furyroad-road-warrior.jpg
Berlatsky, N. (2018). Mad Max: Fury Road is less radical than its B-movie influences. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/26/mad-max-fury-road-less-radical-exploitation-influences 
Vincent, A. (2018). Why men's rights activists hate Mad Max: Fury Road. [online] The Telegraph. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/mad-max-fury-road/mens-rights-activists-angered-feminist-movie/ 

Scream Postmodernism Film Review

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Postmodern films attempt to subvert from narrative structure and characterisations that are mainstream conventions. This is so the text can test the audience disbelief. Usually postmodern films aim for something that isn't abiding by traditional narrative and this is done by breaking the divide in culture of high and low art and typical representations are inverted of things like , gender, race, class and genre and even time. Postmodernism is a reaction to the meta and is more interested In instability and fragmentation and contradiction. And this was seen as saving the type of genre of film after being postmodernised. This 1996 film was doing things differently from films like Halloween and Friday the 13th and that made it stand out as it had the following qualities.
"It's not where you take things from it's where you take them to."-Jean Luc Godard.
This quote describes this postmodernist film well as the film relies on everybody already understanding the codes and conventions of a slasher and the rigid formula within for example a group of teenagers doing things they shouldn't resulting in consequences i.e. getting drunk ,having sex and being killed off one by one. But usually these characters are not aware of this. In the film Scream the characters are aware of this formula and it is purposefully done because it is aware that the audience will have knowledge of this and also provide a sense of satisfaction and parody and therefore taking it into a different direction by using these satires and cliche's.

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An example of this could be when the teenagers use a famous one liner being ill be right back..but they get killed. And the other teenager Randy Meeks who himself as a character is a film fanatic being aware of the various consequences of what not to do to survive a horror film This. They even go as far to the teenagers watching a horror film in the film itself making it a postmodern film Because it uses its awareness of The ideology of slasher. It also relies on the audiences exploitation themes to that genre as a meta This characters representation is relating to people already know the systematic way this genre of film is played out and people who are not aware as he speaks them out loud which in the film can be quite fourth wall breaking from the fictional images on screen and the real inclining us to feel like they're being more direct to us as the consumer.

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Contradictiveness is used in Scream when there is the phone call and main protagonist and the character Ghost face which asks "do you like scary movies?" and Sidney Prescott Replies "Whats the Point they're all the same some stupid killer stalking some big-breasted girl who cant act and is always running up the stairs when she be running out the front doormats insulting." This Quote shows that the character knows what is expected of the film and is poking fun at it but further she contradicts this by running up the stairs.  

Bibliography

Upload.wikimedia.org. (2018). [online] Available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Scream_movie_poster.jpg 

Goodreads.com. (2018). Postmodernism Quotes (159 quotes). [online] Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/postmodernism 

Images5.fanpop.com. (2018). [online] Available at: http://images5.fanpop.com/image/polls/1005000/1005238_1334707912106_full.jpg

Bankerstoolbox.com. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.bankerstoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/Rules-to-follow.png 

Definitions from today and Funny Games.

Normativity-  This means deriving from the standard or norm. e.g. behaviour.

Binary Opposition-Is when a pair of concepts or related terms have an opposite meaning. It is a system in language and thought and these two opposites are strictly defined and set off against one another. Its a contrast between on and off, an exclusive term. Binary opposition is a concept of structuralism which is trying to distinguish a fundamental to all language and all thought in which it is seen as a organiser of human philosophy, culture and language.
For example:
Male/Female
Straight/Gay
One more dominant (unfair than the other etc..)

Cognitive disonance- In Psychology cognitive dissonance is described as mental discomfort which is experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas or values. This is cognitive discomfort is caused by a situation when confronted with the facts that contradict personal beliefs in order to reduce their own discomfort because of this clash.

Reinscribe- Means to Re-name or Re-establish in a new and especially stronger form or context.

Diff'ence- A French term by Jacques Derrida it is a concept that is central with Derrida's Deconstruction it means difference or deferral meaning.

Deconstruction- Deconstruction is Critical Analysis, this method is Philosophical and literary language or even conceptual systems,The Quality of meaning relational wise and the assumptions implicit in forms of expression.

Judith butler-Is a gender theorist who discusses gender performativity. How we act consolidates an impression of being a male or a female. Nobody is a gender from the start these are cultural norms etc..

5 Reasons why Funny Games U. S is postmodern.
1. Postmodern take of the real illusion of film. For example the discussion at the end which brings up the illusory sense of reality caused by this representational nature of these images that are fictional.
e.g. meta fiction, violence as entertainment, breaking the fourth wall etc.
2. Hanneke's use of music only increases the idea of realism and avoids attracting to the film for example music out of the narrative.
3. The really long shots that are real time and would be cut shorter in an expected film of this genre but this is done on purpose questioning if the rules should be a certain 'time on screen.'
4. The use of a statement-The controller and the power of cinema.
5. Funny Games is trying to put people in discomfort by not abiding by the rules making it very postmodern for example the tease of the hero killing the villain but gets rewinded and stopped. As its seen as breaking the rules. And not showing violence pornography of mass media.

Modernity and Post-Modernity and more

The unreliable narrator-is a narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised. 1961 Wayne C. Booth The Reality of Fiction. For example reading from one man's perspective may not be true for all men What's on a man's mind-Freud.

Ahystorical- Means lacking historical perspective or context and inaccurate. Then there is Ahistoricism.

The Enlightenment Project-is the attempt to define and explain the human predicament through science as well as to achieve mastery over it through the use of social technology. This originated in France in the eighteenth century with the philosophies.

Post Structuralism- is associated with the works of a series of mid 20th century French, continental philosophies and critical theorists who came to be known internationally in the 1960's and 1970's. Movement. Concepts such as linguistics, psychology and other fields to inpret those structures. An Extension and critique of structuralism, and used in critical textual analysis. For example objectivity is impossible, Science is ultimately impossible. Different position.

Irreducible-not able to be reduced or simplified.

Structuralism-is a method of interpretation and analysis of aspects of human cognition, behaviour, culture, and experience which focuses on relationships of contrast between elements in a conceptual system.

Inception has an ambiguous ending, It also has scenes that are from the perspectives of different individuals and these ideas in the settings e.g. fact or fiction is brought up a lot etc...

Modernity-or the Morden Age-is typically defined as a post-traditional and Post medieval historical period. For example the emancipation from religion which is being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions specifically the hegemony of Christianity.

Secularization- is the transformation of a society from close identification and affiliation with religious values and institutions toward non religious values and secular institutions. E. G theory and historical.

Today we learnt about 'one size fits all' 'the international style"which focuses more on form follows function and is not ornamental its argued that this is more transparent,more pure etc.. Villa Sarge 1928-1931. These buildings were demolished.

We also looked at Micrographia which relates to not accepting what we see and trying to look beneath the surface for an awnser and if there is something as humans we all share. It also goes more scientific rather than religious.

We also learnt about mysteries of the brain and the oedipus complex and the problems with elitist, which is basically this idea that Levi Strauss got to comment on the way other people behave in a different country but his position is seen as elitist due to him being a white European man creating other ideals and who has the authority to set a rule to everyone? Postmodernism is reflecting your own positions.

The Hero's Journey: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

(Fig1)-Ordinary world

• Ordinary world: Roman Gallery Trip.
• Call to adventure: Percy accused of stealing lightning bolt, Mr Brumer and Grover say they need him.
• Refusal of the call: Percy starts trying to refuse following Grover.
• Supernatural aid: Grover half mythological goat says he is Percy's protector.
• Crossing the first threshold: Going through the gate and killing the minotaur.
• Road of trials: The demigod camp training
• Meeting with the Goddess: Meeting Annabeth daughter of Athena
• Woman as temptress: Grover and Haydes mistress or this could relate to Medusa who tries to tempt you to look at her. Or could be said that the Las Vegas lotus flower givers are temptresses too.
• Atonement with father: Zeus
• Apotheosis (God-like): When Percy gets his lightning bolt and becomes the 'big shot of Olympus.'
• Ultimate boon (reward):
• Refusal of return: Although Percy has visited home he prefers to stay primarily with his new life.
• Magic Flight: Fighting using the winged converses 'literal' Retrieving items.
• Rescues from without: Percy Rescues his mother from Haydes who wants the Lightning bolt from Percy.
• The Crossing of the return threshold: Percy Helps mother and Puts Medusa's Head in the fridge for his abusive step dad to rid of him for him and her.
• Master of two worlds: Percy masters both worlds by becoming a hero in one and helping his mum in ordinary.
• Freedom to Live: Percy is granted the freedom to live how he wants not by his step dad's restrictions and abuse.

(Fig2)-Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell did the hero with a thousand faces, it is basically this idea that in a lot of films like this the hero is still the same its just different in there own universe for example Harry Potter and the The Hobbit. And this image relates to the bullet point list above.

(Fig3)

Bibliography

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17200000/at-the-museum-pjo-the-lightning-thief-movie-17283316-1262-548.jpg 

 Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://www.veronicasicoe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Heros-Journey.png [Accessed 30 Sep. 2018].

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91F9l37QbzL._SL1500_.jpg 

Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Review

Postmodernism etc...look at previous and the peoples reviews ebooks

Fig.1

Today we learnt about the Hermeneutic circle which is the bigger picture and the smaller details and the need to understand reference. To understand the text as a whole we must also learn the text in its smaller details that add up to the bigger picture.
The Era of the old Star Wars being 1977 and how the special effects and visual effects have changed from history to now e.g. the remastered Star Wars 2011.
We spoke about Death of the Author and whether the text is still theirs or not? And public conscience like existence after death..who owns the conceptual rights? Are they aloud to be brought back to life? What is the differences between George Lucas and new creators that are recreating the film and what did it mean to people and the legacy.
Should that be replaced or not?.
We saw that a lot of CGI scenes had been added to fill un shown gaps and more of the background through the buildings and better sound and more detailed effects and quality.
In the text 'Postmodernism and Film' there is a quote that states "The term 'Postmodernism' and Cinema, links together a particular historical period and a distinctive aesthetic style." (Constable,2015,Pg3) This could relate to how the backdrop of the environment is used more in the remaster and therefore provides a more colourful aesthetic as the corridors now have more artistic flair and sense of the surroundings which provides a reminder of the atmosphere and mood. Figure 2 shows the Cloud city Background.

Fig.2

The other argument is that the audience actually own the film in a sense and that provides a lot of different opinions on the original and remaster for example this quote "however the changes to Empire are less obvious than those to Star Wars, which were subtle enough in their own right. There's nothing in the special edition that changes the scope or quality, or intent of the film, its a little bigger, and a little louder." (Berardinelli.J, 2018) This could then go on further to pronounce that it is an ancient relic now and that the movies are now dead.

Fig.3

Others would argue that George Lucas use of splicing is why it became to be Hollywoods first conquering collage of genre. I realise that Star Wars is really a part of culture and thats why I looked to see what a culture editor had to say "Star Wars is a Western. Star Wars is a Samurai Movie. Star Wars is a war film. Star Wars is a fairy tail." (Wickerman,Slate Magazine,2018) This could be why Star Wars is living on now and hasn't ended and has been remastered e.t.c because of the culture aspect also and is perhaps why this is allowed also allowing the fans to see more details but really it is but its hard to know for sure as there will be a lot of opinions and therefore its hard to know what could be correctly tor bias allowing the individual to decide themselves.

Bibliography

Constable, C. (n.d.). Postmodernism and film.

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://thequantumcretin.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/star-wars-empire-strikes-back.jpg [Accessed 21 Sep. 2018].

Anon, (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=618&v=FmWjPoqEhzg [Accessed 21 Sep. 2018].

Berardinelli, J. (2018). Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back | Reelviews Movie Reviews. [online] Reelviews Movie Reviews. 

 Slate.com. (2018). [online] Available at: http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/arts/culturebox/2015/12/star_wars/151212_CBOX_Star-Wars-02.jpg.CROP.promovar-mediumlarge.jpg

Psycho Film Review

The Shower Scene

Fig1

This famous scene of Hitchcock's psycho works so well, its montage of cuts, its metamorphosis with the plug and the eye, the close up of the mouth, the sway from side to side each time there is a slash of the knife and the minimal gore to what we are used to seeing. Also how the eye line in which she is dead is still looking towards the money. The linguistic of the knife itself goes well to create tension. Which was made up of 78/52. The Black and White allowed for some rather odd but believable uses when it came to things like blood in the scene for example "Hershey's chocolate syrup for the blood which swirled down the plughole, because it looked just right in black and white. He blocked the shower head's central holes so that the camera could point straight up at it without getting drenched." ( Economist.com,2018 )

Fig 2

The storyboard which shows very well the code of enigma of the killer by how anonymous the shadow is who we believe to be the mother. The choice of marks adds to the struggle and quickness and goes artistically with the slasher genre. This storyboard was drawn out by Saul Bass.

"To witness the sequence broken down in forensic detail is to appreciate its economy of storytelling anew, and to see its influence on subsequent popular culture." ( Hans,2018 ) You could argue that the reasons for its influence was from its shattering of 1950's conformity or because it was one of the earliest of graphic violence or at least the illusion of this...as the knife doesn't actually touch the flesh except for two split seconds and the cuts help show this in in the newly born slasher genre or you could argue that it made previous horror films obsolete for example the old British classics as this avant grade film maker has a commentary on how the modern world could be a place in which passions and these emotions are being ignored or in this case flushed down the drain.

Fig3

This seen is not quite an Auteur directive motive as there was lots of involvements in this scene.

For example Robert Blochs novel which was the basis and then theres Joseph Stephanos detailed screenplay, The storyboards by Saul Bass although there is camera angles that wasn't included and Bernard Hermanns Violin and of course the actors of Marli Renfro and Jamie Lee Curtis. 

It was the detail and collaboration that made this such a successful scene. "One of "78/52's most fascinating digressions is speculation about why, aside from personal psychology, Hitchcock indulged in what one observer calls"an act of aggression against fans, critics, actors." (Turan,2018) 

Bibliography

Hans, S. (2018). 78/52 review – misfiring documentary on Hitchcock’s Psycho. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/nov/05/78-52-misfiring-documentary-hitchcock-psycho-shower-scene [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018].

Economist.com. (2018). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at: https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2017/11/78-52 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018]. 

Turan, K. (2018). '78/52' brilliantly, obsessively breaks down shower scene in 'Psycho'. [online] latimes.com. Available at: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-78-52-hitchcock-review-20171019-story.html [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018].

Figure List

 Divyasharma06.files.wordpress.com. (2018). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at: https://divyasharma06.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/psycho_shower_scene_frames.jpg [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018].

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://i1.wp.com/vashivisuals.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WhoPsycho.jpg [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018].

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://www.cctvcambridge.org/sites/default/files/styles/800x450/public/imagefield/editing%20concepts.jpg?itok=i4RxSWz5 [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018].

Film Review: Edward Scissor Hands

The Set Design in Edward Scissorhands

Fig 1

Edward Scissor hands setting is in a 1950's suburban setting called the Pasco County. That is very colourful in comparison to its polar opposite which is dark and Avante Garde castle that you could argue is like Burtons avatar. This could be a signifier for his alienation or difference working with Disney/ Beauty and the Beast. This specific set design really helps at telling the story just from the set. for example "Burton's modern fairytale has an almost palpably personal feel:it is told gently, subtly and with an infinite sympathy for an outsider."(Lee,2018)  This makes the set really vital for narrative purpose and understanding the main protagonist.

Fig2

The set design starts changing slightly when Edward becomes more 'accepted' and seen as special and this adds a contrasting sense of belonging to what we first see from the original appearance of the setting."Clipping Hedges, is to fashion hairdos that the women mark them self out as something special. (theguardian.com,2018)  The setting is very superficial and cosmetic and Edward brings out unorthodoxy as he is not a stereotype.

Fig 3

Its scenes like this you can see how important the set design was in this film, here you can see how it could resemble a beauty and the beast vibe and how after Edward becomes a threat he retreats back to his home and is seen sort of monstrous and very alone.

"(Winona Ryder) is like a living angel to the mesmerised Edward,his ongoing inspiration not only during the course of their initial encounter, but also after many decades of separation." (Honeybone,2018)

So in the conclusion the set design and interior was very vital because it emphasis his decision to stay alone in his fathers castle and his relationship with this women who he can't be with.

Figure List
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://www.revmodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Edward-Scissorhands-Mansion-Stairs.png [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018].
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://i.vimeocdn.com/video/263649121_1280x720.jpg [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018].
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/movie-locations-then-now-edward-scissorhands-suburb-pictures-voodrew-1.jpg [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018].

Bibliography

Lee, M. (2018). Edward Scissorhands, review: 'a true fairytale'. [online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/11298442/Edward-Scissorhands-review-a-true-fairytale.html [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018].
Theguardian.com. (2018). Edward Scissorhands | Reviews | guardian.co.uk Film. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,558617,00.html [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018].
Honeybone, N. (2018). Film Review: Edward Scissorhands (1990) - HNN | Horrornews.net 2018 - Official Horror News Site. [online] HNN | Horrornews.net 2018 - Official Horror News Site. Available at: http://horrornews.net/103055/film-review-edward-scissorhands-1990/ [Accessed 28 Jan. 2018

Rope Film Review

'Rope' film Review focusing on the Camera

(Fig.1)

Alfred Hitchcock's camera shots can make the film seem like one big take so he made their no visible cuts. It was choreographed with 10 minute takes and so was the screenplay so that the main focus is where the drama needed it. Because Hitchcock was basing the film on a play called the Leopard-Loeb Murder. He had to think about the space he was using even more and although he used such a space we never really questioned what was happening.
"the killing taking place inside obscured by drawn curtains shows not just the directors awareness of the small space separating life and death, but also how much of it he is allowed to show." (Croce et al.,2018 ) The camera positioning and usage plays a huge role on what we as an audience see and understand and the themes of brutality and sexuality. Which you could argue is another reason why he shows very little intimate scenes, he merely hints the context.

(Fig.2)

Here you can see the pull focus technique which is the switch between the domestic dinner party and the chest which holds the body inside. This is a classic thriller technique this can help Hitchcock's tension build until he is to release it when its more unexpected later. Also the use of the Foreground with the chest. He also used the things that were happening in this long take to change the film reel for example "These breaks he usually accomplishes by having the camera appear to pan across someone's back, during which dark close-ups the film reel is changed." (NYtimes.com,2018)

(Fig 3)

The theme of theatricality comes into play and even though Hitchcock went against his montage/cut editing in this film he managed to keep people on edge when the maid is ever so slowly taking book by book off the chest.

"Prop men constantly had to move the furniture and other props out of the way of the large camera, and then ensure they were replaced in the correct location. A team of sound men and camera operators kept the camera and microphones in constant motion." ( Horror Cult Films,2018 )

Bibliography:
Croce, F., Henderson, E., Bowen, C., Bowen, C., Camp, A., Seitz, M. and Henderson, E. (2018). Rope | Film Review | Slant Magazine. [online] Slant Magazine. Available at: https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/rope  
Horror Cult Films. (2018). HITCHCOCK MASTER OF SUSPENSE #34: ROPE [1948] | Horror Cult Films. [online] Available at: http://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/2014/05/hitchcock-master-or-suspense-34-rope-1948/ [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018]. 
Nytimes.com. (2018). 'Rope': A Stunt to Behold. [online] Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/library/film/060384hitch-rope-reflection.html [Accessed 27 Jan. 2018]. 
Figure List
[Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].   
Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: http://prettycleverfilms.com/files/2013/09/HItchcockRope-300x225.jpg [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].  

Anon, (2018). [image] Available at: https://incessantpadding.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/rope2.jpg [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].    
 Lisathatcher.files.wordpress.com. (2018). Cite a Website - Cite This For Me. [online] Available at: https://lisathatcher.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/rope-tense-chest-scene.jpg [Accessed 26 Jan. 2018].