Film History Screen Reports

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Screen Report 10: Apocalypse Now

1. Apocalypse Now made it's debut in 1979 and was directed by the superstar director Francis Ford Coppola. Apocalypse Now is based on the Vietnam war and has a vey dark feeling to it's theme. There are plenty of movies based on the Vietnam war but this one is one of a kind. Apocalypse Now is widely set apart from Coppola's previous movies, making himself a wide range movie director. This movie was bound to bring in Coppola fans but might have easily left them shocked from the uniqueness of the film.

2. GQ magazine interviews Coppola on his film Apocalypse Now and gets his opinion on the films. Coppola feels as if the film brings out a large element of risk. Creating the movie was a risk in itself. The film has a very unusual twist on war movies which seemed to shock the audience. It set itself apart from the other war films people have previously seen. The film was claimed to become a disaster but yet people kept coming to see the film. It gave the audience a bit of a shock factor which made it to be a film they couldn't stay away from.

3. Apocalypse Now was probably one of the earliest war movies I have seen. When Coppola compares it to movies previously made, I'm not quite sure how they differ from his film. But I can compare it to the war movies that have been made in the later years and can see that Apocalypse Now most certainly paved the way for many directors and their films on war. Coppola was brave enough to make a film he considered high risk but went for it anyway just to see how far he can take it.

4. Before watching this film, I have heard of it many times. I'm not quite sure if it has a large success rate because it was a worthy film or because the director Francis Ford Coppola is a favorite amongst millions. The fact that his name was behind the film definitely helped revenue the film while it made its first debut. I didn't enjoy the film for the simple fact that I usually don't enjoy films on war. But I did enjoy the fact that I can say I've seen another film directed by the wonderful Francis Ford Coppola.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM   1) ( x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.   2) (x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.   3) ( )x If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.   4) (x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.   5) ( )x I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.   6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.   7) ( x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.   8) (x ) I checked yessteps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.   Name:____Corin Pascual_________ Date: _____5/13/14_____________

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Screen Report 9: The Godfather

1. One of the most known movies of our time, The Godfather, was directed by Francis Ford Coppola and made its debut in 1972. The Godfather is a timeless movie that will be talked about for decades to come. After it's debut, the film one awards such as Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. Some of the themes of the movie consisted of family, violence, and murder. There was something in the movie that could appeal to all different types of audiences.

2. In it's day, The Godfather was the gangster movie everybody seemed to enjoy the most. Till this day, this is something that most people would agree on. The Godfather has influenced a large amount of movies but it is rather difficult to make a comparison to any. Thrilling scenes in the movie remind us over and over again why we have learned to continuously love this film. Not only did it set the bar high for gangster themed movies, but it also set the bar high for family themed movies.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/20/godfather-solozzo-scene-Michael

3. After watching The Godfather for the first time, I can see where many modern day gangster films and television shows get their inspiration from. The Godfather is the stomping grounds for all gangster films and to say that it is comparably the best one would be an understatement. The strong sense of family inspired many films and shows as well. The Sopranos has the same feel of family that is represented throughout The Godfather.

4.Watching The Godfather was definitely a different experience for me. I usually don't watch gangster movies so at times it was a bit hard to get through. Although, I feel like if I were to watch it in the 70s when it first came out, I may have been more fascinated. I am happy enough now that I can engage in The Godfather quotes and understand directly where they came from and its background.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM   1) ( x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.   2) (x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.   3) ( )x If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.   4) (x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.   5) ( )x I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.   6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.   7) ( x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.   8) (x ) I checked yessteps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.   Name:____Corin Pascual_________ Date: _____4/28/14_____________

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Screen Report 8: The Graduate

1. The Graduate as directed by Nike Nichols and debuted in 1967. It was instantly a hit after uniquely setting itself apart from other comedies with it's awkward sense of humor. After Nichols won Best Director from The Graduate, he was the biggest director in the industry at that time. Some of the themes in the movie were the generation gap, true youth rebellion, values of society, and not knowing what to do after graduation. The assortment of different themes made it easy for any type of audience member to enjoy the film. The only flaws the movie had was the camera movement and the sound/ dialogue overlap. If these were topics that weren't brought up in class, then I may not have noticed them. But since I was on the look out for these issues, they were blatantly obvious. Although these issues were present, it did not effect my interpretation and reaction towards the film.

2. " The Graduate" is one of the only films of its' time to have a distinct point of view. It is funny simply because it's point of view caters to the audience in hopes of knowing exactly what will get them laughing. In most films, the characters of the movie reacts to the specific situation the same way the actor would in real life. In a successful movie, this concept would be the complete opposite. The new style of movie directing focuses on the audience being the target of the joke, which sets up a high probability of success for the directors. The characters in The Graduate have such strong characteristics within the specific situations they are in, which forces us as an audience to feel as if we would respond the same way if we were in their shoes. It is very easy to relate to any of the characters at any given time. Although the movie was uniquely magnificent, the only flaws were the camera work between certain scenes and the selected music.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-graduate-1967

3. I chose this article because I thought it was entirely interesting to read work from the exact year the movie had made its debut. It was a delight to be able to compare my thoughts and the authors thoughts, and be able to conclude that our thoughts on the film were very similar. The film was a comedy which was thought out very strategically for the audience to enjoy no matter who the audience consisted of. The characters brought characteristics such as awkwardness and sexiness to the screen, making the film one hilarious piece of art. Although I do agree with the author on the camera work being a huge flaw, I have to disagree about the music. I thought the music brought a special touch to the film which made it unique and lively. The music gave the film it's own special touch which I think help made the film even more spectacular.

4. Thus far, The Graduate has been my favorite film during class presentations. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen just waiting to see what was going to happen next. The Graduate easily related to students my age who are going to be in the same stage of life after graduation. This made it easy to see yourself in the shoes of the main character. Although I loved the movie, I was slightly disappointed with the ending. The look on Elaine's' face after she runs out of the wedding seems upset and confused. Maybe this was the effect the director wanted to have on the audience? It left me curious and wanting to know how their lives continued! I suppose that when a movie leaves you wanting more, that means they did a successful job! I thoroughly enjoyed The Graduate and was actually very upset that this was only my first time watching the film.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM   1) ( x) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.   2) (x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.   3) ( )x If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.   4) (x ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.   5) ( )x I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.   6) ( x ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.   7) ( x) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.   8) (x ) I checked yessteps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.   Name:____Corin Pascual_________ Date: _____4/15/14_____________

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Screen Report 7: North by Northwest

1. This week's movie pick was North by Northwest, created by the brilliant Alfred Hitchcock. When you watch his films, without even knowing it is his you can tell it has been touched by his brilliance. North by Northwest was debuted in 1959 during the post war period. Since the film was post war, Hitchcock was given a much larger budget. According to Early Film History, directors that made movies after the war, enjoyed displaying their name largely throughout the advertisement of the film and that is exactly what Hitchcock did with North by Northwest.

2. Since he enjoys traveling, Hitchcock shoots the masterpiece North by Northwest in some of the most photogenic spots in the USA. This adds a special touch to the film that brings out an eccentric aspect of the movie. Every scene, script and costume was done in a sophisticated style just as Hitchcock has portrayed within his previous films. Hitchcock doesn't forget to throw a funny scene here and there whenever he felt it was needed. The scenes jump from suspenseful, to romance, and then to funny, keeping the audience at the edge of their seat throughout the entire film.

http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9404E7D91631EE3BBC4F53DFBE668382649EDE

3. Although I have not seen any of Hitchcock's' films before ( at least unknowingly if so), I can see how the author of this may have felt the same connection to the film as myself. Hitchcock created a movie that indeed may have started a trend amongst other directors. Movies nowadays do not stick to just one theme. Even if the movie is considered a suspense, there is usually always a love story connected to it as well. This idea makes it much more enjoyable to the audience so they can be entertained by multiple tools.

4. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. It is always a treat for me to watch movies I have heard things about but never got the opportunity to watch. North by Northwest was a great suspense while keeping it romantic for the lady audience. A movie made for many interests will have a successful outcome since it will attract many different types of people to the theaters. I would gladly recommend the movie to anybody who enjoys a good film.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Screen Report 6 : Casablanca

1. The cult classic Casablanca was directed by Michael Curtiz in 1942. If you watch Casablanca at this day in a, it is not far into the movie once you realize why this film is considered classic material. Humphrey Bogart who plays Rick, was carefully chosen to play such a splendid character. In Bogarts career, he was mainly casted as the typical gangster and this swagger is also present in Casablanca. Some of the themes present in the film are lost love, self sacrifice and honor.

2. The year 1943 was quite the amazing year for the Warner Brothers. They had two movies up for best picture. Although Casablanca did not win best picture and best actor. Best actor was announced to be Paul Lukas giving the audience what they expected. And then Best picture was announced. Casablanca took the win shocking the entire audience. The audience was stunned. But not only was the audience stunned, the cast couldn't believe their ears as well. The win was a win well earned and has forever gone done in history.

http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/71614%7C0/The-Critics-Corner.html

3. Prior to reading this article, I had known from class that the film won best picture but I did not know it won a year after its release. In order to be eligible for an Academy Award, your film needs to be played in Los Angeles that year. Casablanca was released in 1942 but not in Los Angeles until 1943, the year it won best picture. Since the film won best picture for 1943, many people often confuse its release date from 42 to 43.

4. I found it to be very unfortunate that this was only my first tie watching Casablanca. While watching this movie, a million modern day movies were popping in my head that had similar themes as Casablanca. It is a wonderful thing to know where writers, directors, and producers get their inspiration from for the films they are making at this day in age. I feel as if Casablanca is the type of movie that won' be leaving peoples shelves anytime soon. It is a classic that will be praised for many years to come.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

screen report 5: citizen Kane

1. Citizen Kane was brought to the screens in 1941 by Orson Welles. When Orson Welles made Citizen Kane, he was only 24 years old and it was the first movie he had ever made. If you know this bit of information before watching the movie, you can’t help but think throughout its entirety how unbelievably talented Orson Welles must be. Throughout Welles’s early childhood and teenage years, he studied organizing dramatic productions which could explain why at the ripe age of 24 he was able to make what is known to be the most notorious film known to man.

2. Although this film is considered the best of all time, critics still ask why? Citizen Kane is almost 75 years old and is still being watched every day by millions. In the world of film making, hearing the your film is “ the citizen kane of its genre” may be the biggest compliment ever received. Citizen Kane had an amazing team of artists to help create this masterpiece. Welles’s co-wrote, producued, starred and directed his first film ever. Even if this movie wasn’t absolutely brilliant, it would still have a special place in film making history because of its’ talented crew and actors.

( decentfilms.com/articles/citizenkane)

3. Nowadays, it isn’t rare for one person to have many titles when it comes to film making. It is much more common that those people don’t want to have just one title and feel it is best if they have their say in many different aspects of the movie. But most of the time, these people cannot be 100% successful in every role they take on in the production of their film. This doesn’t apply to Orson Welles. Orson achieved greatness throughout every aspect of the movie he was apart of.

4. Before watching Citizen Kane in class, it was my first time ever watching it. I was pleasantly impressed on how unbelievably structured the film was. Citizen Kane set the bar extremely high for films and is still doing so until this day. It is no surprise that it was named best movie of all time decades later in 1998. I would recommend Citizen Kane to absolutely anybody who has never seen it so they can watch an amazing piece of art in the film history world.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Screen Report 4: Stagecoach

1. In regards to the film Stagecoach, the text “Early Film History” written by William R. Foster states, “Ford presented Wayne in such a flattering manner that he instantly became a star.” Anyone who has seen this film would most likely agree with this complimentary statement. Wayne is made out to be a hero of the film and that is soon how all of Hollywood sees his true character as well. John Wayne never forgot the tremendous deed John Ford had done for his career and was never hesitant to star in any other of Ford’s masterpieces.

2. The review on rogerbert.com goes into great depth on how wonderful the dynamic of john wayne and john ford actually was. Before Stagecoach, John Wayne had some experience in his back pocket, but nothing that compared to the stardom that would soon derive from this particular classic. The work wayne had done was impressive but nothing good enough to make him a household name. That was all soon to change. John Ford had his eye on John Wayne for awhile and knew exactly how he was going to use his talents to his advantage. Although the studio was against hiring wayne as a lead role ( since that didn’t want a no name ), Ford insisted that use Wayne for the film he knew would one day make him the best director known to man.

http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-stagecoach-1939

3. The article supports what I was taught in class about John Wayne and John Ford. John Ford was already a success made into an even bigger deal, while creating a star out of John Wayne without even realizing. The article also states something was brought up in class about some of the notorious scenes in Stagecoach. If you are watching Stagecoach for the first time like I was, you may think that it is ripping off numerous movies that have the same scenes. In all actuality, those movies are ripping off Stagecoach. Stagecoach is an original piece that has inspired a large amount of action films throughout the decades.

4. Being able to have a class discussion dedicated to John Wayne and John Ford was very captivating. I learned interesting facts on two of the biggest film pioneers known to film history. It is always great to know about the hard work and effort put into a film before getting to watch it. Although I appreciate both Wayne and Fords work, I didn’t enjoy Stagecoach as much as I thought I would. The genre of the film is not my favorite kind but I enjoyed being able to watch a classic from a very important time period in film history.