Big Fish (Tim Burton, 2003)
Summary/Questions:
Since he was a child, Will Bloom has been hearing the same story from his father, Edward Bloom, about how he caught a big, uncatchable fish, using his wedding ring as bait as Edward was telling the story at Will's wedding party. Will then gets fed up with the stories of his father because they were very fictional and he doesn't feel he has trust in his father and he has no idea how he can live with himself with his family thinking that his dad is a liar and knows nothing about him. After an argument with his dad, the two haven't talked in years. But as his dad starts getting very ill, Will heads back home with his pregnant wife Josephine to see him. He recalls his father's story about how his father met a witch when he was a boy, as he bravely knocked on her house. The witch showed him his fate through her glass eye.
When they see Edward, Edward tells his story to Josephine (Will is hidden listening) such as his when he meets and befriends a giant named Karl to find a place to settle. He discovered a hidden town of Spectre where everyone is nice but didn't want it there but promised to come back. Then Ed and Karl get a job at the circus where Ed sees a beautiful girl who Ed claims that she will be his soul mate. Edward then has been getting information about her from his ringmaster, Amos, for three years instead of getting paid. Then after Ed finds out that Amos is a werewolf, Amos tells her exactly who she is and her name is Sandra Templeton. Ed visits her and tries to court. Though she's engaged he never gave up getting her which eventually happened after her fiance was mean and died making poop. Next, Ed was listed to the army to fight during the Korean War. He meets two conjoined women to help him get back to the U.S. and he will make them become stars there. The military then declares him dead. As Ed gets back home he got different jobs. He meets Norther from Spectre again at a bank but Norther robs it as Ed helps but it was already bankrupt. Ed suggested to him to work at Wall Street. Norther then gives him $10,000 which he uses to buy a house.
Will then finds Spectre as he still doesn't believe his fathers stories to know the truth. He finds Jenny, a girl Ed knew and she tells him that Ed had saven the town from bankruptcy buy buying it. When will returns home, he finds out that his dad was rushed to the hospital. As Will stayed with him all night, Ed asked Will to tell him how the story all ends. Will then tells his father the ending and that he took him out of the hospital and drove him to the forest where everyone in the story were there including present Sandra and Josephine. Then Will carried him along to the lake and Ed said goodbye to everyone especially to Sandra. Will laid his body in the water and he became a big fish. As the story was done, Ed dies happily knowing the "best story ever told" and that his son finally understands him.
At Edward's funeral, Will sees Norther, Karl, and Amos, and finds out that they are real but normal which means the stories were just exaggerated to make it sound entertaining. Then when his own son is born, he passes on Edward's story.
1. What upsets Will about his dad at the beginning of the film?
2. What was he first story told by Edward?
3. How long have Edward and Will talked after theire argument?
4. What is the name of the city Edward discovered?
5. Waht is the name of the giant?
6. What war did Edward fight in?
7. Who did Edward marry?
8. How does Edward die?
9. What was the ending of Will's story?
10. What does Will do when he has a family?
by William Butiu
Film Analysis of Image and Sound:
Big fish is a magical heartwarming movie about the astounding storyteller Edward Bloom who is now dying, his only son Will tries to find out the facts in his father’s tales by reliving the stories and myths he told concerning his life. The movie opens with sunlight beaming onto a lake, then slowly fades while it pans downward deep into Lake Floor, with fishing hooks dangling freely above. Throughout the first scene there is mellow calm music playing. While harmonious the beginning it switched from scene, to scene of Will growing older and Edward telling the same story all the way through. A lot of the movie was narration to match a scene, giving the feel of the certain character telling the story their way. When they first show the legendary big fish, it is a very gloomy dark looking lake surrounded by forest. When Will is on the plane he focuses on a young boy, the over head light shining down on his hands making shadow animals. The camera pans back and forth zooms in each time a little more until it faded into a flashback of him and his father making shadows on his bedroom wall ,then Edward begging a story about the old lady with the eye . That scene had very dramatic and suspenseful music, with very dark lighting.
There are several instances within the film where director Tim Burton uses interesting editing to add an unusual, unrealistic twist to some scenes as he tends to do. One example of that was within the story Edward began to tell about the old lady with the eye. When Edward went toward the old lady’s house, very suspenseful music was playing with every little step he took toward the house. When the old ladies showed her, the young boys could see the way they would die within her left eye. It was scene a scene within a scene very supernatural. Another moment was right before he returned to Specter, the perfect little town and “Alabama's best keep secret” for the second time. While driving home from selling his mechanical hands there was a mind-boggling thunder storm. The heavy thunder storm, faded into bubbles under water, eventually clearing up and revealing he had ended up at the bottom of the water, on a lake floor one just like the one in the opening scene of the movie. Soothing piano music played in the scene while the naked girl had seen the first time in Specter swam around his car. Tim Burton's use of image and sound within this motion picture made it unforgettable, and incredible, and it has been nominated for many awards based on those two parts of cinematography throughout the years.
by Sarah Emmett
Film Analysis of Mise-en-Scene, Cinematography, and Editing:
The 2003 film Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, was a dramatic fantasy filled with countless astonishing mise-en-scene, magnificent cinematography, as well as flawless editing. Usually, most of these three categories go unnoticed by the common audience. Yet, these huge aspects are what make this movie a great film.
Mise-en-scene is a big feature in this film. The image, acting, lighting of the scene, sets, and music is what ties most of the scene together. During one of the many flashbacks, Edward was walking through a terrifying part of a forest. The set was placed perfectly. Not a branch or spider web looked out of proportion. As for the acting, Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) did a fine job by conquering his fears in the supposedly haunted forest. He goes courageously goes through massive spider webs trying to get to the other side of this horrid forest.
The cinematography of Big Fish showed the emotions of each character very well. The camera angles in the flower scene were phenomenal. When Sandra Templeton, the girl Edward Bloom is supposed to marry, opens her window revealing Edward standing in a field of her favorite flowers, the camera angle of her back and Edward holding flowers shows loving and flattering emotion to the audience. As she confronts him about all the flowers, the shot shows the two of them staring at each other with massive smiles on their faces which also gives the audience a sense of happiness.
Big Fish’s editing was very well thought out and clean cut. It would smoothly move from one shot to another with no malfunctions. There were many long shots and some close-ups throughout the film that makes this so delightful. Big Fish by Tim Burton was surely extraordinary. Not only because of the acting, but also the mise-en-scene, cinematography, and editing.
by Angelika Bumgarner
Literary Analysis of Story, Symbolism, and Genre:
The movie Big Fish (2003) by Tim Burton is a fantasy, comedy drama that includes symbolism in its title. The character Edward Bloom says that he is a big fish in a little pond. This means that if he wanted to grow and to move on to bigger things in life, he would have to leave that small pond to something bigger. This is shown throughout the story, first as in one of his stories saying that his bones were growing too big for his body. Another time this was shown was when he found the town in the wood after leaving his home town. He stays there for a night but then leaves because he wants to go somewhere else so he can experience more events in his life.
The story structure of this film is a little different. It tells the story of a guy whose father has cancer and is dying soon. His father is also telling exaggerated stories to other characters in the story of his life from birth to when his son was born. The story progresses with his son slowly becoming closer with his father through understanding his life more.
by Cameron Estrada
Film Comparison:
Big Fish was made in 2004 and was known to be one of the most famous family films during its time. As the famous, Tim Burton, directed the movie, it really gives the audience a great meaning to life. Within the film, there were many great qualities and camera techniques that created the fame of the film today. Along with its great techniques and qualities, the film showed a great story line and resolution from the characters in the story including famous actors like Ewan McGregor and Helena Bonham Carter. However, there is also another film that was very similar to the film Big Fish shown in class. As one of films best classics, Forest Gump presented a common narrative style that creates a similar appearance towards the film Big Fish. Forest Gump was directed in July 6, 1994 and was a star hit for the actor Tom Hanks. As similarities, the two films are shown to be similar as Edward Bloom and Forest Gump both are young southern boys who have extraordinary lives, full of strange coincidences, surreal situations, and uniquely bizarre characters, and somehow, amidst all of the things weird and wonderful, a heartwarming tale emerges. As a result, there qualities between each other are similar in a way to remember while watching the two films.
The key differences between the two films (Big Fish and Forest Gump) were the different meanings and theatrical key points that divided the films from imagination and reality. In Big Fish, the film covers an entirely different thematic ground than Forrest Gump, lending a more cynical eye to the tale. For instance, in Big Fish, the character Edward Bloom would create different, imaginative stories within the film that differentiated from the reality shown in the film Forest Gump. Forrest Gump was a simple man who encountered amazing events and didn't understand the enormity of what he was experiencing. This illustrated the reality part that was shown within the film. Overall, the two famous film covered many similarities and difference to recognize the two films together. As well in Forrest Gump, Forrest had done many things during the film that were almost irrelevant in his life time. While Forrest joins the army for service in Vietnam, finding new friends called Dan and Bubba, he wins medals, creates a famous shrimp fishing fleet, inspires people to jog and more, this is all still irrelevant. This is a difference but similarities at the same time between Big Fish. These things are all irrelevant in the movie because Forrest his still in love with his childhood love and he is not taking any action to win her love. At the same time, these irrelevant situations also come along with the irrelevant stories that Edward told to his son in the film.
by Esteban Almanza
Essay:
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Batman Returns, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie. What is the commonality of all these movies? They were directed by none other than Tim Burton. As a devoted Burton fan who has seen all the films listed above, it was only natural, when viewing Big Fish, to compare such a fantastical film to Burton’s style and tendencies. Before continuing, note that it is with all my power to remain unbiased and strictly present some facts and observations from the movie. Therefore, the main intention of this writing piece is to present insight of Burton films in order to determine whether or not his works will be enjoyed by prospective viewers.
To have the name “Edward Bloom” in this Burton film is an instant reminder of Edward Scissorhands. And of course, if poor listening occurs, it is possible to believe the first time “Edward” is said that the name “Ed Wood” was pronounced in reference to Burton’s other film about one of Hollywood’s worst directors of all time. This error transpired when I viewed Big Fish. But what can a simple name reveal to a viewer about Burton? Continuing the film leads to other reminders of Burton’s style. The suburban homes in Bloom’s hometown are quite a resemblance to the suburban homes in Edward Scissorhands. The perfectly cut front lawns and perfectly symmetrical houses are exaggerated by brightly colored paint yet reveal a mundane tone by a conforming redundancy of an American theme. And the traditional 50’s theme is later accompanied by a creepy forrest which is also an instant reminder of the film, Corpse Bride in which the character, Victor, travels through a depressing death of foliage just like Edward Bloom. Therefore, if an exaggeration of reality combined with a hauntingly beautiful fantasy is an enjoyable sight to a viewer, then Tim Burton’s films will be considered masterpieces.
But moving past the evident re-use of actors and actresses in his films, such as Helena Bonham Carter who played Jenny in Big Fish as well as the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, as well as Danny Devito who played the ringmaster in this film yet a “penguin” in Burton’s Batman adaptations, Burton has a tendency to re-use styles of shots as well as legendary music composer, Danny Elfman. The first shot that establishes the town of Spectre is that of two rows of stores that end with a chapel as the center piece of the town. This setup and the angle of the shot is a perfect resemblance of the first shot that establishes the town of Sleepy Hollow in the movie, Sleepy Hollow. And in order to avoid obvious bias towards Danny Elfman, let there just be a description of his music: it is that of a haunting melody accompanied with beautiful despair and eerie darkness. In terms of history, Elfman was responsible for the brilliant music of A Nightmare Before Christmas and countless others.
In conclusion, in order to determine whether Burton films are suitable for a viewer, one must examine the dark yet beautiful styles in his films, as well as his consistencies with shots, settings, actors and music.
by Kimberly Diaz
Since he was a child, Will Bloom has been hearing the same story from his father, Edward Bloom, about how he caught a big, uncatchable fish, using his wedding ring as bait as Edward was telling the story at Will's wedding party. Will then gets fed up with the stories of his father because they were very fictional and he doesn't feel he has trust in his father and he has no idea how he can live with himself with his family thinking that his dad is a liar and knows nothing about him. After an argument with his dad, the two haven't talked in years. But as his dad starts getting very ill, Will heads back home with his pregnant wife Josephine to see him. He recalls his father's story about how his father met a witch when he was a boy, as he bravely knocked on her house. The witch showed him his fate through her glass eye.
When they see Edward, Edward tells his story to Josephine (Will is hidden listening) such as his when he meets and befriends a giant named Karl to find a place to settle. He discovered a hidden town of Spectre where everyone is nice but didn't want it there but promised to come back. Then Ed and Karl get a job at the circus where Ed sees a beautiful girl who Ed claims that she will be his soul mate. Edward then has been getting information about her from his ringmaster, Amos, for three years instead of getting paid. Then after Ed finds out that Amos is a werewolf, Amos tells her exactly who she is and her name is Sandra Templeton. Ed visits her and tries to court. Though she's engaged he never gave up getting her which eventually happened after her fiance was mean and died making poop. Next, Ed was listed to the army to fight during the Korean War. He meets two conjoined women to help him get back to the U.S. and he will make them become stars there. The military then declares him dead. As Ed gets back home he got different jobs. He meets Norther from Spectre again at a bank but Norther robs it as Ed helps but it was already bankrupt. Ed suggested to him to work at Wall Street. Norther then gives him $10,000 which he uses to buy a house.
Will then finds Spectre as he still doesn't believe his fathers stories to know the truth. He finds Jenny, a girl Ed knew and she tells him that Ed had saven the town from bankruptcy buy buying it. When will returns home, he finds out that his dad was rushed to the hospital. As Will stayed with him all night, Ed asked Will to tell him how the story all ends. Will then tells his father the ending and that he took him out of the hospital and drove him to the forest where everyone in the story were there including present Sandra and Josephine. Then Will carried him along to the lake and Ed said goodbye to everyone especially to Sandra. Will laid his body in the water and he became a big fish. As the story was done, Ed dies happily knowing the "best story ever told" and that his son finally understands him.
At Edward's funeral, Will sees Norther, Karl, and Amos, and finds out that they are real but normal which means the stories were just exaggerated to make it sound entertaining. Then when his own son is born, he passes on Edward's story.
1. What upsets Will about his dad at the beginning of the film?
2. What was he first story told by Edward?
3. How long have Edward and Will talked after theire argument?
4. What is the name of the city Edward discovered?
5. Waht is the name of the giant?
6. What war did Edward fight in?
7. Who did Edward marry?
8. How does Edward die?
9. What was the ending of Will's story?
10. What does Will do when he has a family?
by William Butiu
Film Analysis of Image and Sound:
Big fish is a magical heartwarming movie about the astounding storyteller Edward Bloom who is now dying, his only son Will tries to find out the facts in his father’s tales by reliving the stories and myths he told concerning his life. The movie opens with sunlight beaming onto a lake, then slowly fades while it pans downward deep into Lake Floor, with fishing hooks dangling freely above. Throughout the first scene there is mellow calm music playing. While harmonious the beginning it switched from scene, to scene of Will growing older and Edward telling the same story all the way through. A lot of the movie was narration to match a scene, giving the feel of the certain character telling the story their way. When they first show the legendary big fish, it is a very gloomy dark looking lake surrounded by forest. When Will is on the plane he focuses on a young boy, the over head light shining down on his hands making shadow animals. The camera pans back and forth zooms in each time a little more until it faded into a flashback of him and his father making shadows on his bedroom wall ,then Edward begging a story about the old lady with the eye . That scene had very dramatic and suspenseful music, with very dark lighting.
There are several instances within the film where director Tim Burton uses interesting editing to add an unusual, unrealistic twist to some scenes as he tends to do. One example of that was within the story Edward began to tell about the old lady with the eye. When Edward went toward the old lady’s house, very suspenseful music was playing with every little step he took toward the house. When the old ladies showed her, the young boys could see the way they would die within her left eye. It was scene a scene within a scene very supernatural. Another moment was right before he returned to Specter, the perfect little town and “Alabama's best keep secret” for the second time. While driving home from selling his mechanical hands there was a mind-boggling thunder storm. The heavy thunder storm, faded into bubbles under water, eventually clearing up and revealing he had ended up at the bottom of the water, on a lake floor one just like the one in the opening scene of the movie. Soothing piano music played in the scene while the naked girl had seen the first time in Specter swam around his car. Tim Burton's use of image and sound within this motion picture made it unforgettable, and incredible, and it has been nominated for many awards based on those two parts of cinematography throughout the years.
by Sarah Emmett
Film Analysis of Mise-en-Scene, Cinematography, and Editing:
The 2003 film Big Fish, directed by Tim Burton, was a dramatic fantasy filled with countless astonishing mise-en-scene, magnificent cinematography, as well as flawless editing. Usually, most of these three categories go unnoticed by the common audience. Yet, these huge aspects are what make this movie a great film.
Mise-en-scene is a big feature in this film. The image, acting, lighting of the scene, sets, and music is what ties most of the scene together. During one of the many flashbacks, Edward was walking through a terrifying part of a forest. The set was placed perfectly. Not a branch or spider web looked out of proportion. As for the acting, Edward Bloom (Ewan McGregor) did a fine job by conquering his fears in the supposedly haunted forest. He goes courageously goes through massive spider webs trying to get to the other side of this horrid forest.
The cinematography of Big Fish showed the emotions of each character very well. The camera angles in the flower scene were phenomenal. When Sandra Templeton, the girl Edward Bloom is supposed to marry, opens her window revealing Edward standing in a field of her favorite flowers, the camera angle of her back and Edward holding flowers shows loving and flattering emotion to the audience. As she confronts him about all the flowers, the shot shows the two of them staring at each other with massive smiles on their faces which also gives the audience a sense of happiness.
Big Fish’s editing was very well thought out and clean cut. It would smoothly move from one shot to another with no malfunctions. There were many long shots and some close-ups throughout the film that makes this so delightful. Big Fish by Tim Burton was surely extraordinary. Not only because of the acting, but also the mise-en-scene, cinematography, and editing.
by Angelika Bumgarner
Literary Analysis of Story, Symbolism, and Genre:
The movie Big Fish (2003) by Tim Burton is a fantasy, comedy drama that includes symbolism in its title. The character Edward Bloom says that he is a big fish in a little pond. This means that if he wanted to grow and to move on to bigger things in life, he would have to leave that small pond to something bigger. This is shown throughout the story, first as in one of his stories saying that his bones were growing too big for his body. Another time this was shown was when he found the town in the wood after leaving his home town. He stays there for a night but then leaves because he wants to go somewhere else so he can experience more events in his life.
The story structure of this film is a little different. It tells the story of a guy whose father has cancer and is dying soon. His father is also telling exaggerated stories to other characters in the story of his life from birth to when his son was born. The story progresses with his son slowly becoming closer with his father through understanding his life more.
by Cameron Estrada
Film Comparison:
Big Fish was made in 2004 and was known to be one of the most famous family films during its time. As the famous, Tim Burton, directed the movie, it really gives the audience a great meaning to life. Within the film, there were many great qualities and camera techniques that created the fame of the film today. Along with its great techniques and qualities, the film showed a great story line and resolution from the characters in the story including famous actors like Ewan McGregor and Helena Bonham Carter. However, there is also another film that was very similar to the film Big Fish shown in class. As one of films best classics, Forest Gump presented a common narrative style that creates a similar appearance towards the film Big Fish. Forest Gump was directed in July 6, 1994 and was a star hit for the actor Tom Hanks. As similarities, the two films are shown to be similar as Edward Bloom and Forest Gump both are young southern boys who have extraordinary lives, full of strange coincidences, surreal situations, and uniquely bizarre characters, and somehow, amidst all of the things weird and wonderful, a heartwarming tale emerges. As a result, there qualities between each other are similar in a way to remember while watching the two films.
The key differences between the two films (Big Fish and Forest Gump) were the different meanings and theatrical key points that divided the films from imagination and reality. In Big Fish, the film covers an entirely different thematic ground than Forrest Gump, lending a more cynical eye to the tale. For instance, in Big Fish, the character Edward Bloom would create different, imaginative stories within the film that differentiated from the reality shown in the film Forest Gump. Forrest Gump was a simple man who encountered amazing events and didn't understand the enormity of what he was experiencing. This illustrated the reality part that was shown within the film. Overall, the two famous film covered many similarities and difference to recognize the two films together. As well in Forrest Gump, Forrest had done many things during the film that were almost irrelevant in his life time. While Forrest joins the army for service in Vietnam, finding new friends called Dan and Bubba, he wins medals, creates a famous shrimp fishing fleet, inspires people to jog and more, this is all still irrelevant. This is a difference but similarities at the same time between Big Fish. These things are all irrelevant in the movie because Forrest his still in love with his childhood love and he is not taking any action to win her love. At the same time, these irrelevant situations also come along with the irrelevant stories that Edward told to his son in the film.
by Esteban Almanza
Essay:
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Batman Returns, Ed Wood, Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Alice in Wonderland, Dark Shadows and Frankenweenie. What is the commonality of all these movies? They were directed by none other than Tim Burton. As a devoted Burton fan who has seen all the films listed above, it was only natural, when viewing Big Fish, to compare such a fantastical film to Burton’s style and tendencies. Before continuing, note that it is with all my power to remain unbiased and strictly present some facts and observations from the movie. Therefore, the main intention of this writing piece is to present insight of Burton films in order to determine whether or not his works will be enjoyed by prospective viewers.
To have the name “Edward Bloom” in this Burton film is an instant reminder of Edward Scissorhands. And of course, if poor listening occurs, it is possible to believe the first time “Edward” is said that the name “Ed Wood” was pronounced in reference to Burton’s other film about one of Hollywood’s worst directors of all time. This error transpired when I viewed Big Fish. But what can a simple name reveal to a viewer about Burton? Continuing the film leads to other reminders of Burton’s style. The suburban homes in Bloom’s hometown are quite a resemblance to the suburban homes in Edward Scissorhands. The perfectly cut front lawns and perfectly symmetrical houses are exaggerated by brightly colored paint yet reveal a mundane tone by a conforming redundancy of an American theme. And the traditional 50’s theme is later accompanied by a creepy forrest which is also an instant reminder of the film, Corpse Bride in which the character, Victor, travels through a depressing death of foliage just like Edward Bloom. Therefore, if an exaggeration of reality combined with a hauntingly beautiful fantasy is an enjoyable sight to a viewer, then Tim Burton’s films will be considered masterpieces.
But moving past the evident re-use of actors and actresses in his films, such as Helena Bonham Carter who played Jenny in Big Fish as well as the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, as well as Danny Devito who played the ringmaster in this film yet a “penguin” in Burton’s Batman adaptations, Burton has a tendency to re-use styles of shots as well as legendary music composer, Danny Elfman. The first shot that establishes the town of Spectre is that of two rows of stores that end with a chapel as the center piece of the town. This setup and the angle of the shot is a perfect resemblance of the first shot that establishes the town of Sleepy Hollow in the movie, Sleepy Hollow. And in order to avoid obvious bias towards Danny Elfman, let there just be a description of his music: it is that of a haunting melody accompanied with beautiful despair and eerie darkness. In terms of history, Elfman was responsible for the brilliant music of A Nightmare Before Christmas and countless others.
In conclusion, in order to determine whether Burton films are suitable for a viewer, one must examine the dark yet beautiful styles in his films, as well as his consistencies with shots, settings, actors and music.
by Kimberly Diaz
Serenity (Joss Whedon, 2005)
Summary/Questions:
The 2005 film Serenity can be described in many different ways. From the film’s plot to effects, the result is incredible. The film follows a group of people who travel in a spaceship known as Serenity through a newly-populated solar system that the human race has began to populate after using up Earth’s main resources. The colonists consist of the main characters who have recently lost a civil war with a hostile group known as the Alliances. The Alliances mentally and physically train advanced humans against their will to be conditioned to fight for their side. One of these humans is named River, who has the highest potential out of the group.
After River is rescued by her brother Simon, they board the ship Serenity along with the main colonist group in order to escape their refuge. A hired operative on the enemy side is ordered to find and kill River, as she poses a big threat the Alliances. The film follows the Colonists, along with River, as they attempt to escape the operative who is after River. In the end of the film, the colonists succeed at the task, and River is spared.
Questions:
Film Review:
In the film Serenity, Directed by Joss Whedon would be enjoyable for anyone into any types of sci-fi films, but for everyone else who is not so interested into sci-fi genres this movie would be terrible to see. A crew in a ship named Serenity left of Earth and moved into a new galaxy which has other planets that can support human life. This film seems like it was trying to copy the movie series Star Wars to try and make a great accomplishment as the film Star Wars did but failed to do so. The film was not the only thing that was terrible but also the actors in the film were bad actors which made the film boring and non-interesting to the audience. The only good thing that the Whedon did right was the special effects. Whedon was able to make the film so that it would not look like they were on planet Earth and actually make it look like they were in outer space and on other planets. The fight scenes were also great but then the camera during the fight scene was moving around way to much which made the audience dizzy and was hard to watch the film during the fight scenes. This film went back and forth from being a great film and a bad film. Serenity starts off with a great beginning but ends terrible and non- interesting for the viewers. Therefore this film does not deserve to get the film of the year award.
by Aaron Fronda
Analysis of Literary Elements
Serenity, known as a space western film, made in 2005 was written and directed by Joss Whedon. This film was a continuation from the final scene of the television series, “Firefly” that was aired in 2002; it also cast the same characters from the series. Serenity is set in the era of war in 2517; it focuses on a crew and their spaceship. They are veterans from the Unification war that they ultimately lost. Since then, they have lived their lives filled with cheap and petty crimes living day by day until their Robin Hood acts are interrupted by a supernatural psychosomatic girl who contains a dangerous secret that could change their world forever.
The characters in this film have very important roles in and throughout the entire story. Nathan Fillion as Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds was a recent sergeant who is now caption of the crew and ship Serenity. He has constant struggle to keep his crew and himself safe, demanding freedom and independence. Then there is Zoe Washburne who is played by Gina Torres, she is a past corporal who also fought in the war for freedom. She is extremely loyal to her crew and caption. Her husband Hoban Wasburne, played by Alan Tudyk, is the pilot of the ship. He is the relentless “voice of reason” throughout the film. Next is Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb, a acquisitive trained with weaponries, he is known as the “main gun” for jobs and is extremely capable of defending himself. Jayne plays the role of a dumb jock ninety- nine percent of the time but he is smarter than he appears, stating the things that need to be said. Finally, Jewel Staite as Kaywinnet Lee Frye is the ship's mechanic. She has a very instinctive a relationship with machines. She has a persistent bubbly personality, always keeping the crew light and filled with positivity. The crew balances each other out in incredible ways but with the interference of Siman Tam (played by Sean Maher) and River Tam (played by Summer Glau) they tip the balance over and create an unstable environment. River is 17-year old psychic prodigy who was saved by the Alliances experimental torture by her brother Siman. They are being chased now and nothing can stop the Alliance.
The film portrays the Alliance as an authoritarian government, the director is cautious to point out that it is more complicated than what you see. "The Alliance isn't some evil empire," he continued to explain that it simply cares too much. They try to rule anything and everyone regardless if they are desired to or not. The crew of Serenity epitomize that people should be able to make their own choices even if those choices will ultimately fail.
by Kaitlyn Ellison
Film Comparison:
Serenity is a science fiction movie that takes place in the future and in different colonized planets; the setting of the film is mostly in the spaceship called “Serenity” that roams itself in space. Serenity compares best to the 2009 science fiction movie called Star Trek. Both movies are based on a show that they originated from and the actors and actresses in both movies also acted in the shows that their movie originated from. Star Trek and Serenity mostly compare in the fact that they are both science fiction, and both take place in the future. While Serenity takes place in the year of 2517, Star Trek takes place in 2233. Both movies also compare in the fact that the ships have a captain who is trying to accomplish a certain mission. In the movie Serenity, Captain Reynolds has a girl on his ship with a deadly secret and tries his best to keep the girl safe going through many battles including against the army who wants the girl back. In Star Trek, in the space ship USS Enterprise James Kirk and Spock are in combat with their enemy Nero who threatens the federation of the planets.
Star Trek and Serenity both have the same idea of space and spaceships; watching both movies is like the same but with a different meaning behind each plot. They both have obstacles to face in the plot of the movie and have a certain mission to do. For a science fiction movie, Serenity and Star Trek are two famous movies that you can’t miss on watching.
by Araz Merguerian
The 2005 film Serenity can be described in many different ways. From the film’s plot to effects, the result is incredible. The film follows a group of people who travel in a spaceship known as Serenity through a newly-populated solar system that the human race has began to populate after using up Earth’s main resources. The colonists consist of the main characters who have recently lost a civil war with a hostile group known as the Alliances. The Alliances mentally and physically train advanced humans against their will to be conditioned to fight for their side. One of these humans is named River, who has the highest potential out of the group.
After River is rescued by her brother Simon, they board the ship Serenity along with the main colonist group in order to escape their refuge. A hired operative on the enemy side is ordered to find and kill River, as she poses a big threat the Alliances. The film follows the Colonists, along with River, as they attempt to escape the operative who is after River. In the end of the film, the colonists succeed at the task, and River is spared.
Questions:
- How relevant is the background story to this film’s plot?
- Why is River special, and why did her brother have to rescue her?
- Why did Malcolm and his crew want to protect river?
- What sci-fi elements are present in the film?
- What are reavers and how do they pose a threat?
- What was the significance of River’s previous training?
- Why did the Alliances clash with the Colonists?
- Why did the Alliances want River?
- Why did the operative let River and Malcolm’s crew live at the end?
- What similarities were there between Serenity and other science fiction films?
Film Review:
In the film Serenity, Directed by Joss Whedon would be enjoyable for anyone into any types of sci-fi films, but for everyone else who is not so interested into sci-fi genres this movie would be terrible to see. A crew in a ship named Serenity left of Earth and moved into a new galaxy which has other planets that can support human life. This film seems like it was trying to copy the movie series Star Wars to try and make a great accomplishment as the film Star Wars did but failed to do so. The film was not the only thing that was terrible but also the actors in the film were bad actors which made the film boring and non-interesting to the audience. The only good thing that the Whedon did right was the special effects. Whedon was able to make the film so that it would not look like they were on planet Earth and actually make it look like they were in outer space and on other planets. The fight scenes were also great but then the camera during the fight scene was moving around way to much which made the audience dizzy and was hard to watch the film during the fight scenes. This film went back and forth from being a great film and a bad film. Serenity starts off with a great beginning but ends terrible and non- interesting for the viewers. Therefore this film does not deserve to get the film of the year award.
by Aaron Fronda
Analysis of Literary Elements
Serenity, known as a space western film, made in 2005 was written and directed by Joss Whedon. This film was a continuation from the final scene of the television series, “Firefly” that was aired in 2002; it also cast the same characters from the series. Serenity is set in the era of war in 2517; it focuses on a crew and their spaceship. They are veterans from the Unification war that they ultimately lost. Since then, they have lived their lives filled with cheap and petty crimes living day by day until their Robin Hood acts are interrupted by a supernatural psychosomatic girl who contains a dangerous secret that could change their world forever.
The characters in this film have very important roles in and throughout the entire story. Nathan Fillion as Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds was a recent sergeant who is now caption of the crew and ship Serenity. He has constant struggle to keep his crew and himself safe, demanding freedom and independence. Then there is Zoe Washburne who is played by Gina Torres, she is a past corporal who also fought in the war for freedom. She is extremely loyal to her crew and caption. Her husband Hoban Wasburne, played by Alan Tudyk, is the pilot of the ship. He is the relentless “voice of reason” throughout the film. Next is Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb, a acquisitive trained with weaponries, he is known as the “main gun” for jobs and is extremely capable of defending himself. Jayne plays the role of a dumb jock ninety- nine percent of the time but he is smarter than he appears, stating the things that need to be said. Finally, Jewel Staite as Kaywinnet Lee Frye is the ship's mechanic. She has a very instinctive a relationship with machines. She has a persistent bubbly personality, always keeping the crew light and filled with positivity. The crew balances each other out in incredible ways but with the interference of Siman Tam (played by Sean Maher) and River Tam (played by Summer Glau) they tip the balance over and create an unstable environment. River is 17-year old psychic prodigy who was saved by the Alliances experimental torture by her brother Siman. They are being chased now and nothing can stop the Alliance.
The film portrays the Alliance as an authoritarian government, the director is cautious to point out that it is more complicated than what you see. "The Alliance isn't some evil empire," he continued to explain that it simply cares too much. They try to rule anything and everyone regardless if they are desired to or not. The crew of Serenity epitomize that people should be able to make their own choices even if those choices will ultimately fail.
by Kaitlyn Ellison
Film Comparison:
Serenity is a science fiction movie that takes place in the future and in different colonized planets; the setting of the film is mostly in the spaceship called “Serenity” that roams itself in space. Serenity compares best to the 2009 science fiction movie called Star Trek. Both movies are based on a show that they originated from and the actors and actresses in both movies also acted in the shows that their movie originated from. Star Trek and Serenity mostly compare in the fact that they are both science fiction, and both take place in the future. While Serenity takes place in the year of 2517, Star Trek takes place in 2233. Both movies also compare in the fact that the ships have a captain who is trying to accomplish a certain mission. In the movie Serenity, Captain Reynolds has a girl on his ship with a deadly secret and tries his best to keep the girl safe going through many battles including against the army who wants the girl back. In Star Trek, in the space ship USS Enterprise James Kirk and Spock are in combat with their enemy Nero who threatens the federation of the planets.
Star Trek and Serenity both have the same idea of space and spaceships; watching both movies is like the same but with a different meaning behind each plot. They both have obstacles to face in the plot of the movie and have a certain mission to do. For a science fiction movie, Serenity and Star Trek are two famous movies that you can’t miss on watching.
by Araz Merguerian
Hugo (2011) - Scorcese
Summary:
The movie starts with this boy named Hugo who lives in Paris, France. He lives in a clock tower in a train station all by himself. His father died in a fire at the museum he worked in. Hugo’s uncle taught him how to turn the clocks at the train station. So he does that for his uncle that passed away. The only thing Hugo has left of his father is a robot that he found in the basement of the museum. They were fixing it together. Now Hugo desperately wants to fix it because he thinks his father has a hidden message for him. Hugo steals parts he needs from a toy store in the train station. The person running the store caught him trying to steal a toy mouse. He makes Hugo empty his pockets. He sees Hugo has a notebook and takes it and he says he is going to burn it, but the notebook is very important so that Hugo can fix the robot. He follows the old man home to get his notebook back. There he meets the man’s granddaughter whose name is Isabelle. He asks her if she can get his notebook back from her godfather. Isabelle says she can’t but she will make sure he does not burn the notebook. The next day Hugo goes back to the toy store to get his notebook back but the old man burned it. Then Isabelle told Hugo that he did not burn the notebook it was a fake. So Hugo goes back to the toy store to get his notebook the old man said he can get it back if he worked in the shop to pay off the things he stole.
Eventually Hugo gets all the parts he needs to fix the robot, but the only thing he needs now is a key shaped as a heart to activate the robot. The girl Isabelle has a key that could start the robot. He takes the girl to see the robot and they start it. The robot starts to draw a picture from an old movie “A Trip to the Moon” by Georges Méliès. Then they go to the library to the film history section to get more information about it. The book said that Georges Méliès is dead, but his not. The author of the book over heard them talking and came to talk to them. He takes the kids to be studio where he has a lot of stuff on Georges Méliès and he shows the kids the last know movie of Georges Méliès. The kids take the man to the house to show the movie to Isabelle’s godfather to remand him of the good old days, but for him it brings nothing but dad memories. Their godfather told them his life story and how he came to film and he mentions a robot that he made that can draw pictures and he gave it to the museum but they never put it on display.
Then Hugo realize that the robot his talking about is the one he has. So Hugo run back to the train station to get the robot and show it to George and maybe it will remind him of happy memories. On the way he got caught by the security guard that is going to send him to the orphanages. Hugo escapes from the security guard but now he is running from his though the train station. He goes up the latter to the clock and he climbs out on the ledge of the clock so the sectary guard won’t get him. He is on his way back to the house but the security guard finds him. He drops the robot on the train track and he jumps down there to get it and a train is coming. The security grade grabs him before the train can run him over. Then Georges Méliès comes to save the boy from the security guard. This organization goes searching for old Méliès films that could have possibly survived. They have 80 Méliès films for far and they are at a theater to show the films. Everybody ends up happy Georges Méliès got a reward for his films, Hugo has a family, the security guard gets a girlfriend and the robot all fixed.
By Makayla Rowe
The movie starts with this boy named Hugo who lives in Paris, France. He lives in a clock tower in a train station all by himself. His father died in a fire at the museum he worked in. Hugo’s uncle taught him how to turn the clocks at the train station. So he does that for his uncle that passed away. The only thing Hugo has left of his father is a robot that he found in the basement of the museum. They were fixing it together. Now Hugo desperately wants to fix it because he thinks his father has a hidden message for him. Hugo steals parts he needs from a toy store in the train station. The person running the store caught him trying to steal a toy mouse. He makes Hugo empty his pockets. He sees Hugo has a notebook and takes it and he says he is going to burn it, but the notebook is very important so that Hugo can fix the robot. He follows the old man home to get his notebook back. There he meets the man’s granddaughter whose name is Isabelle. He asks her if she can get his notebook back from her godfather. Isabelle says she can’t but she will make sure he does not burn the notebook. The next day Hugo goes back to the toy store to get his notebook back but the old man burned it. Then Isabelle told Hugo that he did not burn the notebook it was a fake. So Hugo goes back to the toy store to get his notebook the old man said he can get it back if he worked in the shop to pay off the things he stole.
Eventually Hugo gets all the parts he needs to fix the robot, but the only thing he needs now is a key shaped as a heart to activate the robot. The girl Isabelle has a key that could start the robot. He takes the girl to see the robot and they start it. The robot starts to draw a picture from an old movie “A Trip to the Moon” by Georges Méliès. Then they go to the library to the film history section to get more information about it. The book said that Georges Méliès is dead, but his not. The author of the book over heard them talking and came to talk to them. He takes the kids to be studio where he has a lot of stuff on Georges Méliès and he shows the kids the last know movie of Georges Méliès. The kids take the man to the house to show the movie to Isabelle’s godfather to remand him of the good old days, but for him it brings nothing but dad memories. Their godfather told them his life story and how he came to film and he mentions a robot that he made that can draw pictures and he gave it to the museum but they never put it on display.
Then Hugo realize that the robot his talking about is the one he has. So Hugo run back to the train station to get the robot and show it to George and maybe it will remind him of happy memories. On the way he got caught by the security guard that is going to send him to the orphanages. Hugo escapes from the security guard but now he is running from his though the train station. He goes up the latter to the clock and he climbs out on the ledge of the clock so the sectary guard won’t get him. He is on his way back to the house but the security guard finds him. He drops the robot on the train track and he jumps down there to get it and a train is coming. The security grade grabs him before the train can run him over. Then Georges Méliès comes to save the boy from the security guard. This organization goes searching for old Méliès films that could have possibly survived. They have 80 Méliès films for far and they are at a theater to show the films. Everybody ends up happy Georges Méliès got a reward for his films, Hugo has a family, the security guard gets a girlfriend and the robot all fixed.
By Makayla Rowe
Film Review:
Martin Scorsese brings a fascinating mystical film to the modern cinema. Hugo is a tough young man who will do anything to solve his last memory of his father. With the movie featuring, Asa Butterfield as Hugo, Ben Kingsley as Georges Melies, Sacha Baron Cohen, and more; you will stay on your toes up to the end.
As Hugo believes he can solve a mystery on his last memory with his father, he meets a famous movie creator, Georges Melies which is also joined by his god daughter Isabelle to solve the mystery that all leads up to Melies; an incredible movie maker and magician.
This film is very entertaining with all of its history behind it and by its very good cast. Martin Scorsese uses actors and actresses that we have all seen before including the very famous Sacha Baron Cohen. This enjoyable film brings you many surprises by its many suspense moments and by its many happy moments.
This fairly long movie will keep you on the edge of your feet the whole time. To understand the movie better, you might want to know the history behind it more, including the history of a respected man, Georges Melies. This movie is an old fashioned modern day movie that is good for a family to sit and watch. With the very good music and costumes you will never get bored. Also with its plot, you will always want to know what will happen next.
Hugo, with its amazing characters and plot, is a film that is worth the time to stop and watch.
By Araz Merguerian
Martin Scorsese brings a fascinating mystical film to the modern cinema. Hugo is a tough young man who will do anything to solve his last memory of his father. With the movie featuring, Asa Butterfield as Hugo, Ben Kingsley as Georges Melies, Sacha Baron Cohen, and more; you will stay on your toes up to the end.
As Hugo believes he can solve a mystery on his last memory with his father, he meets a famous movie creator, Georges Melies which is also joined by his god daughter Isabelle to solve the mystery that all leads up to Melies; an incredible movie maker and magician.
This film is very entertaining with all of its history behind it and by its very good cast. Martin Scorsese uses actors and actresses that we have all seen before including the very famous Sacha Baron Cohen. This enjoyable film brings you many surprises by its many suspense moments and by its many happy moments.
This fairly long movie will keep you on the edge of your feet the whole time. To understand the movie better, you might want to know the history behind it more, including the history of a respected man, Georges Melies. This movie is an old fashioned modern day movie that is good for a family to sit and watch. With the very good music and costumes you will never get bored. Also with its plot, you will always want to know what will happen next.
Hugo, with its amazing characters and plot, is a film that is worth the time to stop and watch.
By Araz Merguerian
Film Elements: Image and Sound
In film, there are many elements and characteristics that make a film great and enjoyable. Two elements in a film that bring great effect into a movie is both image and sound. When watching film, many viewers might not pay attention to the meaning of a film or what it is trying to portray. However, many focus on how the movie brought the viewers to the edge of their seats with big pictures and amazing sound effects. In the film Hugo, image and sound played a big role to make the film better than what it real was. As a result, this two elements were shown to be particularly different when coming to detail.
During the movie Hugo, Image played a big part on creating the movie. Every scene was very meaningful or really exciting to watch. There were some very good transitioning’s from a scene to another scene or there were good lighting and musical scenes that matched the story well. However, there were a couple of scenes that were off a little or were very strange to understand. One scene that was confusing was in the beginning when they had showed the setting of Paris and it was snowy and dark but when it showed the train station, it had perfect sun shining through the windows of train station. This killed the picture of the setting as it confused some viewers in the beginning. Although it was also a defect that the director had used a lot of green screening to show a better picture of things in the movie. This was probably to show a better picture on the past life of Paris but the director needed to show some live effects. Even though the movie had its cons, there were also some pros to the picture of the movie. There were a lot of perfect shots on the close ups of the characters, background settings, or even special effects to the motion of the picture during the film. One scene that was thought to be great was the motion of the papers flying around when the chest box opened up. Each one of the papers had shown to have a scene of meaning to one of the characters. The transitioning from new to old scenes or flashbacks were shown to be great as well in the movie. Those scenes had brought a great meaning to the film as it had explained how the age of film began. Overall, the pictures or images that Hugo portrayed had effected the audience as they connected emotionally to many scenes.
Another element that had shown great importance to the film Hugo was the element of sound. Sound was used a lot during the movie to show a sense of emotion towards the audience. In some scenes, there were a couple of times were the music tempo would increase to show suspension in the movie. Other times, the music would refer to the emotion that the character was going through during that scene. It could either have been emotionally or exciting in some parts of music but the music had always fit the scene that it was portrayed in. When watching the movie, there had been no sign of music that did not fit the scene, every scene had at least a perfect music tempo. As well, music did not also just catch the eye of the viewer, but also the sound-effects that were used in the movie as well. Many scenes had their own original sound-effect that made the scene livelier to the viewers of the movie. An example was in the beginning were the clocks were going off and you could hear all the special sound effects with the “Ticking” a fixing of the gears as they all went into place in chronological order. As a result, the director played a lot of attention towards the effects to make the movie seem more real. Overall, the sound of music and effects had made a big effect and played a big role in the movie to be able to make the film look and sound great.
In conclusion, image and sound were highly important to this movie. Many would not notice the importance of film but if the subject would be looked further into detail, many would understand the concept. Image and sound is what makes a movie so emotional or exciting with all the close ups or action scenes. Overall, the movie showed to almost perfect these two elements with many of detailed scenes they had presented.
by Esteban Almanza
In film, there are many elements and characteristics that make a film great and enjoyable. Two elements in a film that bring great effect into a movie is both image and sound. When watching film, many viewers might not pay attention to the meaning of a film or what it is trying to portray. However, many focus on how the movie brought the viewers to the edge of their seats with big pictures and amazing sound effects. In the film Hugo, image and sound played a big role to make the film better than what it real was. As a result, this two elements were shown to be particularly different when coming to detail.
During the movie Hugo, Image played a big part on creating the movie. Every scene was very meaningful or really exciting to watch. There were some very good transitioning’s from a scene to another scene or there were good lighting and musical scenes that matched the story well. However, there were a couple of scenes that were off a little or were very strange to understand. One scene that was confusing was in the beginning when they had showed the setting of Paris and it was snowy and dark but when it showed the train station, it had perfect sun shining through the windows of train station. This killed the picture of the setting as it confused some viewers in the beginning. Although it was also a defect that the director had used a lot of green screening to show a better picture of things in the movie. This was probably to show a better picture on the past life of Paris but the director needed to show some live effects. Even though the movie had its cons, there were also some pros to the picture of the movie. There were a lot of perfect shots on the close ups of the characters, background settings, or even special effects to the motion of the picture during the film. One scene that was thought to be great was the motion of the papers flying around when the chest box opened up. Each one of the papers had shown to have a scene of meaning to one of the characters. The transitioning from new to old scenes or flashbacks were shown to be great as well in the movie. Those scenes had brought a great meaning to the film as it had explained how the age of film began. Overall, the pictures or images that Hugo portrayed had effected the audience as they connected emotionally to many scenes.
Another element that had shown great importance to the film Hugo was the element of sound. Sound was used a lot during the movie to show a sense of emotion towards the audience. In some scenes, there were a couple of times were the music tempo would increase to show suspension in the movie. Other times, the music would refer to the emotion that the character was going through during that scene. It could either have been emotionally or exciting in some parts of music but the music had always fit the scene that it was portrayed in. When watching the movie, there had been no sign of music that did not fit the scene, every scene had at least a perfect music tempo. As well, music did not also just catch the eye of the viewer, but also the sound-effects that were used in the movie as well. Many scenes had their own original sound-effect that made the scene livelier to the viewers of the movie. An example was in the beginning were the clocks were going off and you could hear all the special sound effects with the “Ticking” a fixing of the gears as they all went into place in chronological order. As a result, the director played a lot of attention towards the effects to make the movie seem more real. Overall, the sound of music and effects had made a big effect and played a big role in the movie to be able to make the film look and sound great.
In conclusion, image and sound were highly important to this movie. Many would not notice the importance of film but if the subject would be looked further into detail, many would understand the concept. Image and sound is what makes a movie so emotional or exciting with all the close ups or action scenes. Overall, the movie showed to almost perfect these two elements with many of detailed scenes they had presented.
by Esteban Almanza
Film Elements: Cinematography, mise-en-scène, and editing
Before getting into my concept I got to say Hugo is a good movie and I received some knowledge of film history. My concept is on the acting and the sets. There was many types of camera shots and they were all applied in this movie. The acting was pretty impressive and believable.
At the beginning of the film there’s a lot of camera shots about the setting which was Paris, France. The camera shot starts at the sky in then it goes all the way to the bottom. Also they filmed from a person’s point of view which gave the audience the vision of the actor. Camera shots were pretty good in this movie.
Something that I noticed was that it was mostly snowy and the clouds were dark.
Also there was flash backs about his past and that’s a special effect of the producers. In conclusion there was many camera shots in every aspect and the acting was good.
By Octavio Murillo
Mise-en-Scene, Cinematography, and Editing
Serenity is a sci-fi film directed by Joss Wehdon and is about a space adventure. Because this film had a quite small budget they had to be wise with the money they had to spend. They tried to use practical special effects as often as possible. Visual effects supervisor Loni Peristere had to use as many tangible sets and props as possible were constructed to minimize the use of computer effects.
There was a lot of futuristic props all around in every scene and the actors made use of everything very well. In the editing, there didn’t appear to be any noticeable continuation errors, which is good and also often a mistake film makers make in films.
The actor’s costumes all matched the time and story and what was happening perfectly. When they would fight they would look somewhat sweaty and their hair would get a little messy which all made the scene more believable.
by Elizabeth Tait
Before getting into my concept I got to say Hugo is a good movie and I received some knowledge of film history. My concept is on the acting and the sets. There was many types of camera shots and they were all applied in this movie. The acting was pretty impressive and believable.
At the beginning of the film there’s a lot of camera shots about the setting which was Paris, France. The camera shot starts at the sky in then it goes all the way to the bottom. Also they filmed from a person’s point of view which gave the audience the vision of the actor. Camera shots were pretty good in this movie.
Something that I noticed was that it was mostly snowy and the clouds were dark.
Also there was flash backs about his past and that’s a special effect of the producers. In conclusion there was many camera shots in every aspect and the acting was good.
By Octavio Murillo
Mise-en-Scene, Cinematography, and Editing
Serenity is a sci-fi film directed by Joss Wehdon and is about a space adventure. Because this film had a quite small budget they had to be wise with the money they had to spend. They tried to use practical special effects as often as possible. Visual effects supervisor Loni Peristere had to use as many tangible sets and props as possible were constructed to minimize the use of computer effects.
There was a lot of futuristic props all around in every scene and the actors made use of everything very well. In the editing, there didn’t appear to be any noticeable continuation errors, which is good and also often a mistake film makers make in films.
The actor’s costumes all matched the time and story and what was happening perfectly. When they would fight they would look somewhat sweaty and their hair would get a little messy which all made the scene more believable.
by Elizabeth Tait
Literary Elements:
While watching the film Hugo, the audience observes the breathtaking view of 1920’s Paris in the winter time as well as countless other remarkable point of views, empathizes with each character and finishes the movie with a heartwarming feeling. Throughout this movie, various camera angles are utilized which switches from third person to first person. Although such a review of point of view is seen as tedious, in reality it is extremely vital in any film. Imagine a movie in which the camera does not move, rather only the actors themselves. In any film that has no camera movement loses interest value very quickly. In the movie Hugo, the director does not conform to a few camera angles. Rather, he infuses his style with various points of views. At the very beginning, the audience overlooks the entire city of Paris during the beautiful, starry-sky, winter atmosphere. Such exquisite beauty begins to escape the frame as the camera zooms into an impressive, 20’s theme train station. The zooming begins to move even closer with the audience facing a giant clock tower from the train station. And such zooming ultimately leads to the audience’s confrontation with the protagonist, Hugo. This is just one example of the director’s utilization of large zoom-ins. An amazing and usually unnoticed (by the audience) point of view that creates a very close relationship between the viewers and the characters is the behind the character point of view. For instance, when Hugo sneaks towards Melies toy store, the camera view is behind him. Such a camera angle makes each viewer feel like he/she is behind Hugo like he/she is joining him in his mischievous act. Such point of view is crucial with character development and movie viewing. The camera angles in Hugo proves that it is not simply about watching but experiencing the movie.
In terms of characterization, each character is very distinctive and memorable. To begin with, Hugo is a very observant, sneaky, adventurous, young boy who is very intelligent. His mechanical skills are constantly shown throughout the movie. It is also very important to note that Hugo is not very social and would much rather go unnoticed by the general public. Such an anti-social trait develops within the protagonist because he endured years of lonely nights, with only the memories of his father to keep him company. That is why it was very hard for him to be friends with Isabelle. It was not very surprising that he did not desire sharing his adventure with her at first. In contrast to Hugo, Isabelle is very outgoing, eccentric, excellent at improvising and book smart because of her fondness of literature. She is important in the film because she is the first human being to show interest and kindness to Hugo ever since his father died. Her godparent, Melies, in the beginning of Hugo is portrayed as the typical bitter old man with a terrible attitude. But as the film unravels, the audience learns he was once as adventurous as Hugo and as devoted to a skill just like Hugo. Viewers learn that it is not bitterness that consumes him, but heartache. Towards the end of the movie, Melies is once again enthusiastic and thrilled as the filmmaker he once was. Melies no longer reminisces about the past with terrible attitude but as a nostalgia that comforts him.
The number of themes within a single movie are many, especially in Hugo. But the most illuminated and greatly shown theme is the idea of never regretting pursuing a wish the heart makes. In other words, when attempting to achieve a dream or viewing such accomplishment, it should never be done in regret but with pride. Such an idea is highlighted especially with Hugo and Melies. When Hugo and Isabelle are observing the automaton writing, it stops and Hugo becomes frustrated. Such frustration even leads to him crying and kicking items of his. Nevertheless he continued to unravel the mystery of the automaton and his father.
by Kimberly Diaz
While watching the film Hugo, the audience observes the breathtaking view of 1920’s Paris in the winter time as well as countless other remarkable point of views, empathizes with each character and finishes the movie with a heartwarming feeling. Throughout this movie, various camera angles are utilized which switches from third person to first person. Although such a review of point of view is seen as tedious, in reality it is extremely vital in any film. Imagine a movie in which the camera does not move, rather only the actors themselves. In any film that has no camera movement loses interest value very quickly. In the movie Hugo, the director does not conform to a few camera angles. Rather, he infuses his style with various points of views. At the very beginning, the audience overlooks the entire city of Paris during the beautiful, starry-sky, winter atmosphere. Such exquisite beauty begins to escape the frame as the camera zooms into an impressive, 20’s theme train station. The zooming begins to move even closer with the audience facing a giant clock tower from the train station. And such zooming ultimately leads to the audience’s confrontation with the protagonist, Hugo. This is just one example of the director’s utilization of large zoom-ins. An amazing and usually unnoticed (by the audience) point of view that creates a very close relationship between the viewers and the characters is the behind the character point of view. For instance, when Hugo sneaks towards Melies toy store, the camera view is behind him. Such a camera angle makes each viewer feel like he/she is behind Hugo like he/she is joining him in his mischievous act. Such point of view is crucial with character development and movie viewing. The camera angles in Hugo proves that it is not simply about watching but experiencing the movie.
In terms of characterization, each character is very distinctive and memorable. To begin with, Hugo is a very observant, sneaky, adventurous, young boy who is very intelligent. His mechanical skills are constantly shown throughout the movie. It is also very important to note that Hugo is not very social and would much rather go unnoticed by the general public. Such an anti-social trait develops within the protagonist because he endured years of lonely nights, with only the memories of his father to keep him company. That is why it was very hard for him to be friends with Isabelle. It was not very surprising that he did not desire sharing his adventure with her at first. In contrast to Hugo, Isabelle is very outgoing, eccentric, excellent at improvising and book smart because of her fondness of literature. She is important in the film because she is the first human being to show interest and kindness to Hugo ever since his father died. Her godparent, Melies, in the beginning of Hugo is portrayed as the typical bitter old man with a terrible attitude. But as the film unravels, the audience learns he was once as adventurous as Hugo and as devoted to a skill just like Hugo. Viewers learn that it is not bitterness that consumes him, but heartache. Towards the end of the movie, Melies is once again enthusiastic and thrilled as the filmmaker he once was. Melies no longer reminisces about the past with terrible attitude but as a nostalgia that comforts him.
The number of themes within a single movie are many, especially in Hugo. But the most illuminated and greatly shown theme is the idea of never regretting pursuing a wish the heart makes. In other words, when attempting to achieve a dream or viewing such accomplishment, it should never be done in regret but with pride. Such an idea is highlighted especially with Hugo and Melies. When Hugo and Isabelle are observing the automaton writing, it stops and Hugo becomes frustrated. Such frustration even leads to him crying and kicking items of his. Nevertheless he continued to unravel the mystery of the automaton and his father.
by Kimberly Diaz
Literary Elements: Symbolism, Genre, and Story
Hugo, is a story of a young boy that lives in a clock tower of a train station working to discover the uses of the machine his dad has discovered in a museum, called an Automaton. This Automaton belongs to George Melies and is one of his earlier creations according to the film. This film included great amounts of symbolism. Just to label a few there was a scene very early in the film where clock gears turned into a busy bustling city. This also relates to Hugo's quote, " I'd imagine the world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts." The Automaton was also a symbol, it represented Hugo's longing for a message from his deceased father he believed he would receive from the Automaton's scripture. He also wanted to complete the project he and his father worked hard to complete, but never happened to complete it together because his father died before they could finish it. The continuous references to Melies film, "A Trip to the Moon" is a symbolic foreshadowing to the revealing of the character we were introduced to as a toy maker, but concluded to being George Melies the famous French illusionist and film maker we have learned about.
On to genre we can easily notice the movie Hugo falls greatly into Adventure and Drama. This is due to all the conflicts Isabelle and Hugo fall into, such as when Isabelle used her key to start up the Automaton. This was a big turning point into the film because it gave the plot a huge push forward bringing us, the audience, into an immense amount of the story's detail. Thus the story moves forward into us realizing the true use and origins of the Automaton and its owner Melies. The conflicts were resolved when the children became fascinated by films and realized that the toy maker was actually George Melies after all. he conflicts were resolved when the children became fascinated by films and realized that the toy maker was actually George Melies after all.
by Samantha Craig
Hugo, is a story of a young boy that lives in a clock tower of a train station working to discover the uses of the machine his dad has discovered in a museum, called an Automaton. This Automaton belongs to George Melies and is one of his earlier creations according to the film. This film included great amounts of symbolism. Just to label a few there was a scene very early in the film where clock gears turned into a busy bustling city. This also relates to Hugo's quote, " I'd imagine the world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts." The Automaton was also a symbol, it represented Hugo's longing for a message from his deceased father he believed he would receive from the Automaton's scripture. He also wanted to complete the project he and his father worked hard to complete, but never happened to complete it together because his father died before they could finish it. The continuous references to Melies film, "A Trip to the Moon" is a symbolic foreshadowing to the revealing of the character we were introduced to as a toy maker, but concluded to being George Melies the famous French illusionist and film maker we have learned about.
On to genre we can easily notice the movie Hugo falls greatly into Adventure and Drama. This is due to all the conflicts Isabelle and Hugo fall into, such as when Isabelle used her key to start up the Automaton. This was a big turning point into the film because it gave the plot a huge push forward bringing us, the audience, into an immense amount of the story's detail. Thus the story moves forward into us realizing the true use and origins of the Automaton and its owner Melies. The conflicts were resolved when the children became fascinated by films and realized that the toy maker was actually George Melies after all. he conflicts were resolved when the children became fascinated by films and realized that the toy maker was actually George Melies after all.
by Samantha Craig
Comparison:
In the movie "Hugo" there was a lot of used of CGI in the film like many films today. Films like Alice in Wonderland used CGI in the background aswell as the characters. In movie the polar express it was usually dark when they went outside and snowy like in Hugo however Hugo was not colorful in the movie for it was more mechanical and dark. The CGI mechanics reminded me of transformers when they show a close up of them transforming. The CGI in the movie Hugo was very impressive because sometimes u could barely tell it was CGI.
The mood of the film Hugo was created in many ways. One of the ways they did this was with music. Music plays huge parts in the mood of a movie and this movie was definitely one of them. the music is like in any adventure movie like in Jurrasic Park. When danger approaches the music gets intense but when there are happy moment the music becomes more friendlier tone. the atmosphere definitely played a huge part as well . The atmosphere of the film was mostly dark and a bit historical because the dark lit rooms and how most people were pale in the movie.
The film did an excellent job in showing flash backs and was one of the films strong points. The transitions in the flash backs were very well done because they were smooth and not to sudden. The flash backs were somewhat similar to Forrest Gumps flash backs. In how they narrate there flash backs as it progresses. Flashbacks played an important part in the film because it portrayed the history that the film was trying to show.
by Richie Gov
In the movie "Hugo" there was a lot of used of CGI in the film like many films today. Films like Alice in Wonderland used CGI in the background aswell as the characters. In movie the polar express it was usually dark when they went outside and snowy like in Hugo however Hugo was not colorful in the movie for it was more mechanical and dark. The CGI mechanics reminded me of transformers when they show a close up of them transforming. The CGI in the movie Hugo was very impressive because sometimes u could barely tell it was CGI.
The mood of the film Hugo was created in many ways. One of the ways they did this was with music. Music plays huge parts in the mood of a movie and this movie was definitely one of them. the music is like in any adventure movie like in Jurrasic Park. When danger approaches the music gets intense but when there are happy moment the music becomes more friendlier tone. the atmosphere definitely played a huge part as well . The atmosphere of the film was mostly dark and a bit historical because the dark lit rooms and how most people were pale in the movie.
The film did an excellent job in showing flash backs and was one of the films strong points. The transitions in the flash backs were very well done because they were smooth and not to sudden. The flash backs were somewhat similar to Forrest Gumps flash backs. In how they narrate there flash backs as it progresses. Flashbacks played an important part in the film because it portrayed the history that the film was trying to show.
by Richie Gov
Questions:
What is the significance of the number four?
How does the effect of stop motion enhance the film?
What emotional appeal do the camera angles create through the film?
Why would the lighting and camera angles be the same in flashbacks and present time?
How does Hugo’s background and life play into the theme of the movie?
by Darius Muir
What is the significance of the number four?
How does the effect of stop motion enhance the film?
What emotional appeal do the camera angles create through the film?
Why would the lighting and camera angles be the same in flashbacks and present time?
How does Hugo’s background and life play into the theme of the movie?
by Darius Muir
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius, 2011)
Summary and Questions:
The Artist is a silent film about the film careers and romance of George Valentin and Peppy Miller. George Valentin is a famous silent film actor in the roaring 20’s, alongside his trusty dog. One night, Peppy Miller, a nobody at the time, bumps into Valentin in front of the cameras. They share a connection at that moment, and Peppy confidently poses alongside him. With this newfound confidence, Peppy auditions as a dancer. At the set, George Valentin has a dance with a mysterious girl behind the board, who happens to be Peppy Miller. They fall more in love as they film a dancing scene. After shooting, Valentin helps out Peppy by drawing a beauty spot on her face, advising her to stand out among others. Valentin’s life is turned upside down when he is shown a sound test by his boss. Valentin is too prideful to convert to filming with sound, so he quits Kinograph Studios to make his own silent film with his own expenses. Meanwhile, Peppy is hired by Kinograph, and her film is to premiere on the same day as Valentin’s film. His silent film is not successful, he goes bust, and his wife kicks him out of her house. It is 1931 at this point, and Valentin lives in a small house with Cilfton, his loyal butler. Valentin cannot afford him, so he fires Clifton. He also auctions off his belongings. The following year, Valentin gets so angry he sets his own film rolls on fire. Luckily, his dog saves him by calling over the police. Peppy takes him to her mansion. However, Valentin discovers that Peppy bought all his belongings at the auction and angrily tries to commit suicide. Peppy races down the roads, and finds him just in time. Peppy successfully gets the Kinograph boss to film their dancing movie together, and for the first time, Valentin speaks.
1. What does George Valentin represent?
2. What does Peppy Miller represent?
3. In the beginning, would you define George Valentin as arrogant or simply confident? Why?
4. If you were George Valentin, would you have been as adamant on keeping films silent or would you have adapted with the coming of
sound? Why?
5. Why do you think the director decided to make The Artist a silent film?
6. What makes this silent film different from all other silent films?
7. What aspects of the film do you think made it beat all the other colored, sound films in the 2011 Academy Awards?
8. Why do you think the director chose the ending to have such ordinary sounds and voices be added in the final scene?
9. What are the themes in The Artist?
10. Why was this film simply called The Artist?
by Michelle Yang
Film Review: Silent films may not have been the most interesting films out there, but they sure jump-started the film industry and made it into what it is today. There have been many memories of early cinema in today’s world. “The Artist” brings those memories to life with an incredible love story, mixed with today’s film ideas and inventions, but yesterday’s influence. The emotions showed throughout the film are definitely those of the early cinema era, but with a modernized twist on things. This is honestly rarely done, and if it is done, it is not pulled off as brilliantly as “The Artist” is.
The film tells the story of one of the biggest changes in film history: the coming of sound, or as these films were called back in the day, “Talkies”. Looking closer, the story follows a successful silent film actor, George Valentin. The movie showcases George’s life as his career is negatively affected by the fact that he is not able to adjust to the new invention of sound in film. The film also follows the life of hopeful, future actress- turned film sensation Peppy Miller as she catches the attention of many film producers and is accepted into film for her skill in making successful attempts in “talkie” films.
As the two main characters become the opposite of each other, with George falling out of success, and with Peppy falling into it, the story keeps the film rich and vivid with many realistic complications to the plot that each character in the film has to deal with or go through. The film is very successful at targeting the early era of cinema, and how many once successful stars felt as their careers were thrown out the window as new stars moved into the spotlight.
“The Artist” is not only one of the greatest silent films ever made, but might be one of the best movies ever made. It is remarkable in the fact that it is so accurate at portraying the real life issues that thousands of stars went through in the late 1920s, and leading into the 1930s. I would definitely recommend this film to someone who appreciates early cinema and who wants an outstanding film with mixed elements that make the characters in the film so realistic along with the things they are going through in the plot. “The Artist” will be remembered for years to come… an amazing film.
by Kyle Filter
Literary Element Analysis:
This recent film revitalizes the traits of a silent film movie while simultaneously presenting various characteristics of a modern film. Director Michel Hazanavicius does such wonderful infusion through excellent development of characters, structure and style, point of view, mode and genre, theme as well as symbolism.
George Valentin, Peppy Miller and Clifton are the most vital characters. The silent film star, George can be described as a passionate film maker with a bit of an arrogant side. His smugness can be due to his success in the silent film industry but as viewers know, his arrogance transforms into selfish recklessness because the input of sound in films nearly ends his career. The fire that George begins in his own home exemplifies his childish rage. Nevertheless, his negative traits do not dominate the movie. Rather his charm and love for Peppy is the main highlight of his character. Peppy Miller is very much like George yet opposite at the same time. She is very young and enthusiastic about sound in film, unlike George. But she is still charismatic and extremely passionate about a form of film like actor Valentin. At a certain point in the film, Peppy reaches the same level of cockiness as George when she is being interviewed for her upcoming movie debut. But her character should not be described with negative traits but by her motivating ambition, confidence, empathy and faith in true love. The final character that is absolutely necessary in this motion picture is Clifton. Although, some viewers may see him as insignificant, in reality, he is very important. Such necessity of his character is because he is virtually the closest relation to family for George and Peppy. When the Great Depression left George with very little and he had very little support in life, Clifton remained loyal to him and aided the legendary silent film star knowing he would not be paid.
The structure and style of this cinematic work is very well done. The director is able to provide the embodiment of what a silent film is to the audience while retaining the present aspect of current films. To begin with, the movie contains many silent film elements such as the omission of sound, black and white color, music that captures the emotional side of The Artist yet can be classified as a modern film due to its excellent quality, utilizing sound at certain times, no need of exaggerated facial expressions, relatable story, excellent shots and various visual effects like the “mini George. “The most astounding styles and structures involved with this Oscar winning film is the usage of “a movie within a movie” as well as the revelation of how a silent film and early sound film are created. Showing the works of early creation of film such as the sets, cameras and acting also extends the subject of love for film, movie accuracy as well as credibility and reveals appreciation for both silent and early films with sound. This style connects the viewers with the motion pictures of the 20’s and 30’s.
Various point of views such as first person and third person are utilized well throughout the film which raises interest for audiences. There are many examples of both point of views, such as the beginning of the film in which there is view of the entire classy theater and shows from side to side a film involving George being featured on a large screen. Such view reveals setting, level of class and most importantly the foundation of the main character. Another instance also achieves similar significances. In the restaurant scene in which Peppy is being interviewed and George is sitting right behind her, the point of view is excellent. It is in third person in which a zoom out reveals how close the two of them are, where they are and what is occurring. This point of view creates a comedic effect as well as a deeper meaning of their relationship. The final technique in point of view that must be discussed is the reflection. Constantly over the shoulder of characters views are shown in which they are looking at a puddle or mirror and the audience can see them at a third person point of view yet over the shoulder first person is seen. Such paradox is very effective in viewership and expresses much self-reflection within the characters, specifically George.
Although mode and genre is usually overlooked, it is significant to label this film due to much variety in this aspect. But there are a few that can be easily labeled. Drama is a type of mode/genre that is illuminated various times such as when George burns his film strips, he contemplates whether to live or die and Peppy’s search for the former silent film star. It can also be considered a romance. For example, when Peppy approaches George’s coat rack and pretends its him. Another instance that highlights the romance genre is the first time George acts with Peppy in which they connect in a very personal and romantic level.
Many themes can be drawn from this movie but a majority relates to love, aid and change in one’s life. One theme explains all three. Through love and support, inevitable change may no longer seem negative and drastic but hopeful and optimistic. This specifically relates to George and his transition from silent film to film with sound. Another theme explains George’s need to dismiss his pride because it is irrational to uphold such egotism simply to continue his disappearing legacy and ego. Rather he should embrace his love for Peppy and support from his surroundings in order to change, adapt and be happy. In the end, he completes such theme.
The amount of symbolism in the movie seems infinite because much can be created if justified with proof. The newspaper shown with Peppy and George represents gossip and the spread of it. The advertisement of Coca-Cola represents the fever of the commercial industry in 20’s America. George’s dog is a symbol of ultimate loyalty because he always stands by George’s side and never abandons him. The cigars smoked by profiteers and investors of George’s film represent greed and when George smokes his cigarettes, such smoking represents stress.
This film’s diverse characters, structure and style, point of view, mode and genre, theme as well as symbolism intertwine together to form a simple story about a legendary film star and a rising movie actress and their love for each other and cinema.
by Kimberly Diaz
Film Element Analysis:
What I think about the editing in The Artist was good because it showed good details in the scenes and shots the director did. The pictures (scenes) showed good details in The Artist especially when George Valentine burnt his films in his apartment; then his whole apartment caught on fire and you can see all the ashes on the furniture, kitchen counters, tables, walls, windows broken, chairs burnt, all his famous films all melted and ruined except for one he kept which was when Peppy Miller first became an actress.
In The Artist itself was made to look like it was an actual silent film from back then but it was originally made in 2011. There was no color, no talking, no sounds; it was just all black and white with no sounds (not even talking.) The actors and actresses were only mugging and lip talking to each other. You would think on how they can hear what each other are saying and how they can understand them without hearing each other’s voices. At the end of the movie he [the director] let the actors talk when they were all done filming. They made you think that you’re actually watching the film on a movie disc at home or in theaters until they showed the whole movie set.
The editing in The Artist was good; you can see the all the actors and actresses’, settings, movement, and the sounds. The sounds they added were funny when the scene showed George’s dream when he hears strange sounds he never heard of before he picks up an object and puts it down, tries screaming loud, and then he starts freaking out. The setting where Peppy auditioned looked like a new movie theater that just opened. The audtioners were practicing before they actually start so when they did they had to stand in a row and dance to the judge and if they made it they go to one side if they didn’t they had to go to the other side.
by Destiny Martin Del Campo
Comparison
Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese and The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius are compared a lot because they both show the 20s. Though Hugo has color, it still reflects the revolutionaire of film, Georges Melles based in the 20s like The Artist also shows the 20s revolutionary coming of sound in films. They both are compared and contrasted so much because they make up appreciate how much film has evolved and people really like to appreciate this. Both these movies were released in 2012 and that year they were one of the biggest box office competitions because of their remarkable showing of the early film era.
Hugo has received Academy Award for Best Cinematography,Academy Award for Visual Effects,Academy Award for Best Sound Editing,Academy Award for Best Art Direction,Academy Award for Sound Mixing.
The Artist has won Academy Award for Best Picture,Academy Award for Best Actor,Academy Award for Best Director,Academy Award for Original Music Score,Academy Award for Costume Design.
by Mustafa Sarwar
The Artist is a silent film about the film careers and romance of George Valentin and Peppy Miller. George Valentin is a famous silent film actor in the roaring 20’s, alongside his trusty dog. One night, Peppy Miller, a nobody at the time, bumps into Valentin in front of the cameras. They share a connection at that moment, and Peppy confidently poses alongside him. With this newfound confidence, Peppy auditions as a dancer. At the set, George Valentin has a dance with a mysterious girl behind the board, who happens to be Peppy Miller. They fall more in love as they film a dancing scene. After shooting, Valentin helps out Peppy by drawing a beauty spot on her face, advising her to stand out among others. Valentin’s life is turned upside down when he is shown a sound test by his boss. Valentin is too prideful to convert to filming with sound, so he quits Kinograph Studios to make his own silent film with his own expenses. Meanwhile, Peppy is hired by Kinograph, and her film is to premiere on the same day as Valentin’s film. His silent film is not successful, he goes bust, and his wife kicks him out of her house. It is 1931 at this point, and Valentin lives in a small house with Cilfton, his loyal butler. Valentin cannot afford him, so he fires Clifton. He also auctions off his belongings. The following year, Valentin gets so angry he sets his own film rolls on fire. Luckily, his dog saves him by calling over the police. Peppy takes him to her mansion. However, Valentin discovers that Peppy bought all his belongings at the auction and angrily tries to commit suicide. Peppy races down the roads, and finds him just in time. Peppy successfully gets the Kinograph boss to film their dancing movie together, and for the first time, Valentin speaks.
1. What does George Valentin represent?
2. What does Peppy Miller represent?
3. In the beginning, would you define George Valentin as arrogant or simply confident? Why?
4. If you were George Valentin, would you have been as adamant on keeping films silent or would you have adapted with the coming of
sound? Why?
5. Why do you think the director decided to make The Artist a silent film?
6. What makes this silent film different from all other silent films?
7. What aspects of the film do you think made it beat all the other colored, sound films in the 2011 Academy Awards?
8. Why do you think the director chose the ending to have such ordinary sounds and voices be added in the final scene?
9. What are the themes in The Artist?
10. Why was this film simply called The Artist?
by Michelle Yang
Film Review: Silent films may not have been the most interesting films out there, but they sure jump-started the film industry and made it into what it is today. There have been many memories of early cinema in today’s world. “The Artist” brings those memories to life with an incredible love story, mixed with today’s film ideas and inventions, but yesterday’s influence. The emotions showed throughout the film are definitely those of the early cinema era, but with a modernized twist on things. This is honestly rarely done, and if it is done, it is not pulled off as brilliantly as “The Artist” is.
The film tells the story of one of the biggest changes in film history: the coming of sound, or as these films were called back in the day, “Talkies”. Looking closer, the story follows a successful silent film actor, George Valentin. The movie showcases George’s life as his career is negatively affected by the fact that he is not able to adjust to the new invention of sound in film. The film also follows the life of hopeful, future actress- turned film sensation Peppy Miller as she catches the attention of many film producers and is accepted into film for her skill in making successful attempts in “talkie” films.
As the two main characters become the opposite of each other, with George falling out of success, and with Peppy falling into it, the story keeps the film rich and vivid with many realistic complications to the plot that each character in the film has to deal with or go through. The film is very successful at targeting the early era of cinema, and how many once successful stars felt as their careers were thrown out the window as new stars moved into the spotlight.
“The Artist” is not only one of the greatest silent films ever made, but might be one of the best movies ever made. It is remarkable in the fact that it is so accurate at portraying the real life issues that thousands of stars went through in the late 1920s, and leading into the 1930s. I would definitely recommend this film to someone who appreciates early cinema and who wants an outstanding film with mixed elements that make the characters in the film so realistic along with the things they are going through in the plot. “The Artist” will be remembered for years to come… an amazing film.
by Kyle Filter
Literary Element Analysis:
This recent film revitalizes the traits of a silent film movie while simultaneously presenting various characteristics of a modern film. Director Michel Hazanavicius does such wonderful infusion through excellent development of characters, structure and style, point of view, mode and genre, theme as well as symbolism.
George Valentin, Peppy Miller and Clifton are the most vital characters. The silent film star, George can be described as a passionate film maker with a bit of an arrogant side. His smugness can be due to his success in the silent film industry but as viewers know, his arrogance transforms into selfish recklessness because the input of sound in films nearly ends his career. The fire that George begins in his own home exemplifies his childish rage. Nevertheless, his negative traits do not dominate the movie. Rather his charm and love for Peppy is the main highlight of his character. Peppy Miller is very much like George yet opposite at the same time. She is very young and enthusiastic about sound in film, unlike George. But she is still charismatic and extremely passionate about a form of film like actor Valentin. At a certain point in the film, Peppy reaches the same level of cockiness as George when she is being interviewed for her upcoming movie debut. But her character should not be described with negative traits but by her motivating ambition, confidence, empathy and faith in true love. The final character that is absolutely necessary in this motion picture is Clifton. Although, some viewers may see him as insignificant, in reality, he is very important. Such necessity of his character is because he is virtually the closest relation to family for George and Peppy. When the Great Depression left George with very little and he had very little support in life, Clifton remained loyal to him and aided the legendary silent film star knowing he would not be paid.
The structure and style of this cinematic work is very well done. The director is able to provide the embodiment of what a silent film is to the audience while retaining the present aspect of current films. To begin with, the movie contains many silent film elements such as the omission of sound, black and white color, music that captures the emotional side of The Artist yet can be classified as a modern film due to its excellent quality, utilizing sound at certain times, no need of exaggerated facial expressions, relatable story, excellent shots and various visual effects like the “mini George. “The most astounding styles and structures involved with this Oscar winning film is the usage of “a movie within a movie” as well as the revelation of how a silent film and early sound film are created. Showing the works of early creation of film such as the sets, cameras and acting also extends the subject of love for film, movie accuracy as well as credibility and reveals appreciation for both silent and early films with sound. This style connects the viewers with the motion pictures of the 20’s and 30’s.
Various point of views such as first person and third person are utilized well throughout the film which raises interest for audiences. There are many examples of both point of views, such as the beginning of the film in which there is view of the entire classy theater and shows from side to side a film involving George being featured on a large screen. Such view reveals setting, level of class and most importantly the foundation of the main character. Another instance also achieves similar significances. In the restaurant scene in which Peppy is being interviewed and George is sitting right behind her, the point of view is excellent. It is in third person in which a zoom out reveals how close the two of them are, where they are and what is occurring. This point of view creates a comedic effect as well as a deeper meaning of their relationship. The final technique in point of view that must be discussed is the reflection. Constantly over the shoulder of characters views are shown in which they are looking at a puddle or mirror and the audience can see them at a third person point of view yet over the shoulder first person is seen. Such paradox is very effective in viewership and expresses much self-reflection within the characters, specifically George.
Although mode and genre is usually overlooked, it is significant to label this film due to much variety in this aspect. But there are a few that can be easily labeled. Drama is a type of mode/genre that is illuminated various times such as when George burns his film strips, he contemplates whether to live or die and Peppy’s search for the former silent film star. It can also be considered a romance. For example, when Peppy approaches George’s coat rack and pretends its him. Another instance that highlights the romance genre is the first time George acts with Peppy in which they connect in a very personal and romantic level.
Many themes can be drawn from this movie but a majority relates to love, aid and change in one’s life. One theme explains all three. Through love and support, inevitable change may no longer seem negative and drastic but hopeful and optimistic. This specifically relates to George and his transition from silent film to film with sound. Another theme explains George’s need to dismiss his pride because it is irrational to uphold such egotism simply to continue his disappearing legacy and ego. Rather he should embrace his love for Peppy and support from his surroundings in order to change, adapt and be happy. In the end, he completes such theme.
The amount of symbolism in the movie seems infinite because much can be created if justified with proof. The newspaper shown with Peppy and George represents gossip and the spread of it. The advertisement of Coca-Cola represents the fever of the commercial industry in 20’s America. George’s dog is a symbol of ultimate loyalty because he always stands by George’s side and never abandons him. The cigars smoked by profiteers and investors of George’s film represent greed and when George smokes his cigarettes, such smoking represents stress.
This film’s diverse characters, structure and style, point of view, mode and genre, theme as well as symbolism intertwine together to form a simple story about a legendary film star and a rising movie actress and their love for each other and cinema.
by Kimberly Diaz
Film Element Analysis:
What I think about the editing in The Artist was good because it showed good details in the scenes and shots the director did. The pictures (scenes) showed good details in The Artist especially when George Valentine burnt his films in his apartment; then his whole apartment caught on fire and you can see all the ashes on the furniture, kitchen counters, tables, walls, windows broken, chairs burnt, all his famous films all melted and ruined except for one he kept which was when Peppy Miller first became an actress.
In The Artist itself was made to look like it was an actual silent film from back then but it was originally made in 2011. There was no color, no talking, no sounds; it was just all black and white with no sounds (not even talking.) The actors and actresses were only mugging and lip talking to each other. You would think on how they can hear what each other are saying and how they can understand them without hearing each other’s voices. At the end of the movie he [the director] let the actors talk when they were all done filming. They made you think that you’re actually watching the film on a movie disc at home or in theaters until they showed the whole movie set.
The editing in The Artist was good; you can see the all the actors and actresses’, settings, movement, and the sounds. The sounds they added were funny when the scene showed George’s dream when he hears strange sounds he never heard of before he picks up an object and puts it down, tries screaming loud, and then he starts freaking out. The setting where Peppy auditioned looked like a new movie theater that just opened. The audtioners were practicing before they actually start so when they did they had to stand in a row and dance to the judge and if they made it they go to one side if they didn’t they had to go to the other side.
by Destiny Martin Del Campo
Comparison
Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese and The Artist by Michel Hazanavicius are compared a lot because they both show the 20s. Though Hugo has color, it still reflects the revolutionaire of film, Georges Melles based in the 20s like The Artist also shows the 20s revolutionary coming of sound in films. They both are compared and contrasted so much because they make up appreciate how much film has evolved and people really like to appreciate this. Both these movies were released in 2012 and that year they were one of the biggest box office competitions because of their remarkable showing of the early film era.
Hugo has received Academy Award for Best Cinematography,Academy Award for Visual Effects,Academy Award for Best Sound Editing,Academy Award for Best Art Direction,Academy Award for Sound Mixing.
The Artist has won Academy Award for Best Picture,Academy Award for Best Actor,Academy Award for Best Director,Academy Award for Original Music Score,Academy Award for Costume Design.
by Mustafa Sarwar