Film, cinema 102

Film criticism
Film criticism is not just the way how you like the movie, it's not just like "I like the movie," "the movie was great" like that. But it is how well the film has been.
Film critics or film reviewers focus on the main topic, how the story goes, how the editing has been or how good the execution.

Feminist Theory
Feminist theory aims to understand the nature of gender inequality and the promotion of women's interest.

According to wikipedia, Film theory is often dominated by feminism being played a major antagonist side of the film or made fun of. Feminists have taken many different approaches to the analysis of cinema.  These include discussions of the function of women characters in particular film narratives or in particular genres, such as film noir, where a female character can often be seen to embody a subversive exuality that is dangerous to males and is ultimately punished with death.

Last semester, we took the subject cinema101 wherein we watched a lot classic films such as film noir that has the feminist theory. The movie "Body Heat" is one of the examples of a feminist film.

Gender Studies
Gender studies, as what I have learned is about sexuality, obviously. All different types of gender, boy, girl, gay or lesbian. In film, it is not a problem, it can actually  be a big help.
Different kinds of gender, different kind of film.

Performance Theory
This theory deals with how the actors and actresses do their job, acting. They have to execute their role without disappointing people, they have to give their audience the satisfaction. Good actors, more audiences.

Spectatorship Theory
When we watch a film or a movie, sometimes we can't avoid thinking that the story relates to us. It's like we are part of the story in that film. Because that is what Spectatorship Theory is about. They want to make films that relate people so that they can make a lot of audiences.

Ethnic Theory
Ethnic theory is about racism. It deals with the people to unite and stop racism. Because all of us are equal. Even when you're black or white, all of us should be treated right and equal and respect others.

Auteur Theory
In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur" (the French word for "author"). In spite of—and sometimes even because of—the production of the film as part of an industrial process, the auteur's creative voice is distinct enough to shine through all kinds of studio interference and through the collective process.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auteur_theory  

Serbis (film)

Some people are desperate just to live. Some people do not have other choices but to sell whatever they have. Even if it's your dignity.

Serbis is a film which some people can relate to, especially those who are in need and desperate and willing to sell their body and their dignity.

This movie is about a family who runs a prostitute service in a theater in Pampanga. All their family members are involved. And each of them has their own problems. So they are doing what they need to do, to become desperate.

Mowelfund is Fun.

September 27, 2013 we went to Mowellfund Museum in Cubao, Quezon City. The place is great and there is a lot of unique and interesting stuff about the film industry then and now.

We had a lot of fun going there since we are mass communication students, we are much aware of what we were seeing in the museum and became more interested about film.

Philippine film history is very interesting. I liked the settings of the stuff in the museum because it is very legit and some of them are the actual things that some of the movies in Philippine history used.

We enjoyed it.

Also, there is a room for Fernando Poe, Jr. I think it's amazing because they collected and kept it in one room for FPJ and they really made it good. 

Outside the museum or the garden, it's great beca

use all of the artists pictures are there and we really enjoyed it because it's fun to take pictures with actors and actresses and made fun with it. Also, some of the tv shows and films were also there and it's amazing.

The Time Traveler's Wife

I just love this movie. It actually made me cry.

Let me just tell you a short summary about this movie. Well, it is based in a novel that was written by Audrey Niffenegger..

Well, there is Henry, a librarian who has a genetic disorder that make him travel into different years. Time travel as what we say. As he tries to have a romantic relationship with Clare. Well, you can really tell they're having a hard relationship. One moment you are together, then he will suddenly disappear.

But love conquers all.  In spite of their situation, they fought for it. They still continue their relationship even though one moment Henry will just disappear and get back out of nowhere, they don't know when or where. Until they got married. 

But someone has to go and never get back.. Who do you think would that one be? Well, yes, the time traveler himself. Henry will suddenly go to the future and sadly sees himself lying on the floor with a shot and will eventually die. 

I recommend you to watch this awesome movie, you will not regret it. Nothing will bore and you will really focus in the story once you have started watching.

Its a combination science fiction and romance.

So here's the trailer! )

Film Noir

Film Noir is a genre involved into violence, danger, grudge, crimes and things like that. It is always in Black and White. It is the main thing of Film Noir.

We have watched this film entitled "Body Heat" and it totally is a Film Noir. I have posted a reflection about this movie in my previous posts and I hope you make some time reading it so you would understand my opinion.
 As what I have said, Film Noir is more of tragedic, deadly and grudge in scenes. It is more of effects like the fog (like in the movie "Body Heat"), Night effects, and so they shoot and make their films usually in night time.

German Expressionism

German Expressionism opposing the reality. Which is likely to fiction that the generation has now. Except, we are more technological and more improved. The actors and the actresses are exaggerated in acting and in make-up. 

Some example of German Expressionism are:

The  Student of Prague

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Nosferatu

Femme Fatale

Femme Fatale, as what I have learned, is a woman who attracts men, seducing and mysterious and leads to danger or deadly situations.
They always use their beauty and attractive body for men to be obsessed with them and when they got to use the boys, they will use their ability to seduct and attract men to be able to get what they want even if its for a good cause but usually for danger and deadly situations. They are described as selfish human being for they are using their ability to seduct and use boys for the things they want for themselves.

One example of a femme fatale is Mary Ann, the lead in the movie we have watched in our cinema class entitled "Body Heat" directed by Lawrence Kasdan. (You can read my reflection for this movie at my previous posts) The picture shown in the right corner is "Matty" or Mary Ann who is one great example of Femme Fatale.

___________

Another one is Christine in the movie entitled "The Fourth Man" (I also have a reflection for that movie and you scan it in my previous posts)

The Fourth Man "De Vierde Man"

What is the relation of a spider crawling over a crucified sculpture to the movie "The Fourth Man?"
                The moment I have watched this film, I didn't really focus on the spider that was shown in the film. I just thought "oh it must just be an extra," until I understand what the spider stands there and why it was shown.
     




      It follows the life of a novelist, Gerard Reeve, who met girl named Christine and becomes sexuality involved with the woman. Christine is an attractive treasurer of the company that Gerard is working in.

                 

Eventually he found out, himself, that Christine is somewhat a lot like a devil, black widow or a witch. He found out that Christine had already been married three times. He found it out through the video tapes which he saw inside Christine's vault. All of the three were dead. Gerard became paranoid about it and thought he might be the fourth man.

                  Christine's other lover, Herman, was warned by Gerard that he has to be careful to Christine. He also might be the fourth man whose she's going to marry and also die eventually like what happened to her three previous husbands. Herman did not believe Gerard. Suddenly, he had a car accident and died. Gerard's suspicions to Christine were all true.

This film has to do with religion. Christianity is involved.

• Gerard sees a woman with a child and she peels an apple and shapes it into a halo and put it over her child's head. The mother and the child that he saw in the train somewhat symbolizes Mary and Jesus. 
• Another thing, a spider was shown over a figure of Jesus in crucifixion.
• Herman was crucified in a cross.

"Body Heat"

Watch the "Body Heat" Trailer

                       A secret Affair. What comes to your mind when you hear these words? Just not right. But it depends, yes, a secret affair can only be wrong if you are having an affair with someone you don't own and someone who is already married.

If there is such thing as secret affair, do you think the couple really love each other? Or must it be just after something?

Well, in the film "Body Heat," your mind will be blown. The story is intriguing and confusing. It's a combination of sexuality, trust, love and passion.

Ned Raccine is a lawyer that has an affair with Matty, a beautiful woman who has, unfortunately, a husband named Edmund Walker, a businessman. 
In spite of the heat wave in Florida, the two still go on lovemaking, and enjoy each other's body. Instead of cooling off the the heat, they still enjoy and continue love making, as if doing it could cool them off for body heat. Ned has eventually fell inlove with Matty and became obsessed with Matty's body and sexuality. 

Matty clears to Ned that she wants to leave his husband but also wants his husband's money. Ned, as a lawyer, told Matty what has to happen to get all of the money from her husband. Edmund has to die. So they planned to kill Edmund and Ned did the job. So Matty got the money through the new will of her husband and through the help of Ned, who trusted her.

The case must go on, the police had suspicions on Ned and Ned had suspicions to Matty that she only used him to get the money that she wants from his husband.

"Ned, whatever you think, I really do love you." ---- This line makes it so intriguing and confusing. We can't really tell if Matty is telling that truth to Ned and if she means it. Eventually, Matty died in an explosion of the boathouse.

Ned was caught and was guilty of killing Edmund. While in prison, Ned found out that Matty is not really Matty. She stole the identity of her friend for her name not to be recognized of her sins. Now, the body that were found dead in the explosion is the real Matty or Mary Ann whose her friend and "Matty" would have gone away clean with the money.

The last scene was at the island, "Matty sitting on a chair by the beach beside a youn man. (The one in the picture at the left corner)

Matty is having a comfortable life and a clean name while Ned is in prison.

Trainspotting

 If you think, you're free from doing anything, you can do anything you want. But will that really give you the satisfaction you really want?

Mark Rentonm who got addicted to different drugs. He thinks he would actually get good benefits taking illegal drugs. Taking it at first felt really good, he continues until he got addicted. But he doesn't know what the side effects of being addicted could be.

There were scenes that are emotional too. Mark has a group of friends and are staying in an apartment where they do drugs. One of her friends, Allison, has a  baby. They seem to have enjoyed taking illegal drugs and forgot that there was a baby and they just ignored the little one. Eventually, the baby died due to suffocation. Her mother saw her lying in her crib so pale and dead.

We all know that mother do best for their child. It's their responsibility. They take care of their children everyday, every hour, every minute, every second. Especially to their babies.

But that was the only thing that Allison seemed to forgot. She seemed to forgot that she has a baby that she should have been taking care of. 

I guess, that's the effect of illegal drugs. You feel good, but there is a consequence, something or someone has to go.

Going back to Mark, there was no good effects of him taking illegal drugs. You will feel great at first, you would think your life is wonderful, but hallucination will follow. 

The Classic Hollywood Style

The Classic Hollywood Style developed a style of story-teller that captured the whole world. American cinema is great with fairytales. It is always narrative. Most love stories were made to have unhappy endings, it usually has tragedies. The couples usually do not end up being together. Love stories depended over obstacles. A romance interwined with a more generic one such as business. One great example of a love story that was made in 1943 is "Casa Blanca" produced by Warner Brothers. The only permissible manipulation of time in this format is the flashback. It is mostly used to introduce a memory sequence of a character.

Love stories usually have the satisfying sadness that everyone feels and it was by influenced by the older love stories.

The key film is the emotion in custom drama which is the age of innocence. American film is story and narrative. Grand style of story-telling developed. The hollywood style became as a studio type. They had huge department, they never did it alone. The first thing they are looking at is how the actress act and how they look. The only difference in studio system is that they actually designed all and is much more efficient.
In cameras, if you choose the camera angle, it is the only camera angle. Style has broad. The style that they get what they want. he film should be of course interesting for the first hour so that the viewers will continue and focus what will happen at the end and falling in the ground.