High Noon/ Singin in the Rain

December 1, 2009

After watching High Noon and Singin in the Rain, please answer the following questions in one paragraph each.

1. What did you think of High Noon? What parts did you like? What parts didn't you like?
2. Why do you think westerns were so popular among men in the 1930s, 40s and 50s? What messages about masculinity does High Noon (and all Westerns) proclaim?
3. What did you think of Singin in the Rain? What parts did you like? What parts didn't you like?
4. Why do some people really love musicals? Besides the fact that people sing and dance, what are some characteristics of musicals that are different than other genres of film?

This is due by Friday Dec. 4.

Sunset Blvd.

November 13, 2009

Sunset Blvd.

Read the Great Movies article by the film critic Roger Ebert and answer FOUR of the following questions in at least one paragraph each (a paragraph is AT LEAST six sentences).

ROGER EBERT'S GREAT MOVIES ARTICLE ON SUNSET BLVD.

1. What did you think of Sunset Blvd? What were its strengths? What (if any) were its weaknesses? (you do not need the article to answer this question)
2. After watching Sunset Blvd, which is a "film noir," what do you think are some of the characteristics of a film noir? Do you think you would enjoy other film noir movies or is this a genre that doesn't interest you at all? (you do not need the article to answer this question)
3. What do you think about black and white films as a whole? What are some of the advantages of black and white over color? What are some of the disadvantages? Were there scenes in Sunset Blvd that would have been better had they been in color? Which ones and why? (you do not need the article to answer this question)
4. Which performance does Ebert think holds the film together? Why? What are some of the parallels between this actor's real life and the character he plays?
5. Ebert states, "In one of the greatest of all film performances, Swanson's Norma Desmond skates close to the edge of parody." What does he mean by this? Do you think Gloria Swanson's performance went too far (or not far enough) or did she strike the right balance? Why?
6. Ebert discusses Joe's issues of self-loathing. What does he mean, and what are some examples of why Joe ought to hate himself? Did Joe deserve to die? Why or why not?
7. Describe the ending of Sunset Blvd. How is it sadly ironic?

This post is due by Thursday November 19th by midnight.

Titanic

October 25, 2009

This blog post is due Thursday October 29th by midnight.

Titanic (1997) is the most financially successful film of all time. It grossed over 600 million dollars in the United States alone. No other film has done this.

Here is the recipe for Titanic's success (made by me):
1. Extremely well-executed action scenes in its final hour
2. Tender and intelligent love story holding everything together
3. Great young actors giving solid performances
4. A lead that turned into one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of all time (DiCaprio)
5. Amazing special effects that never drew attention to themselves
6. Attention and respect to historical details
7. Tender, heartbreaking moments showing victims who chose to go down with the ship

Your assignment:
Come up with a film that you think will make more money than Titanic.

Give it a name.
Give a 1-2 sentence description of its plot.
Finally, give a list of at least seven details about the film which will help make it such a box-office draw (similar to what I did above)

Please e-mail me at dunnb@bishopireton.org if you do not understand or if you have any questions.

NOTE: Please have fun with this, but keep in mind that R-rated films don't make as much money as G, PG and PG-13 rated films so your film can't be rated R. Don't include R-rated details.

Don't forget to include your first name and your last initial in your comment.

Once/Paranoid Park

Thursday October 15, 2009

Once/Paranoid Park

Note: This blog post is due by Thursday October 22nd, which is my birthday! :)

Don't forget to include your first name and last initial on the comment. Each question should be answered in 1-2 paragraphs each and paragraphs must be AT LEAST 4 sentences.

DIRECTIONS: ANSWER ANY FOUR NUMBERED QUESTIONS.

1. What did you think of Once? Did you like it? Why or why not?
2. What did you think of Paranoid Park? Did you like it? Why or why not?
3. What are some of your favorite "buried treasure" films? In other words, are there films that you love that most other people your age have never even heard of? Describe what they are about.
4. Why do you think the main characters in Once didn't have names other than He or She? What about the film can be considered universal to all people? In other words, what is the film saying about everyone's life, not just the lives of the characters in the film?
5. Be creative. What happens to the characters in Once after the film ends? Please keep everything congruous to what we know about the characters from the film?
6. What were some of the extreme circumstances that Alex had to deal with? I argue that the experimental style of film making was appropriate for Alex's situation. Why do you think this argument makes sense?
7. Describe some of the experimental elements within Paranoid Park. (things you don't normally see in a straightforward narrative in a film)
8. Be creative. What happens to Alex after the film ends? Please keep everything congruous to what we know about the characters from the film.

Note: If you missed either film in class, please get a copy of the film and watch it as soon as possible. You will be allowed an extra week to turn in the blog assignment.

Jaws Blog Post

Due Monday Sept. 21 at 11pm

Please choose ANY FOUR questions and answer them in AT LEAST one paragraph each. Please include the corresponding question numbers next to your answers.

Again, please include your first name and last initial along with your answer.

1. What makes the opening scene so scary?
2. Why do the suspense and tension work so well in some scenes?
3. What did you think of the story Quint tells on the ship?
4. Do you agree that Jaws in an entertaining horror film? Is it possible for a horror film to go too far and be too bloody/scary/demented?
5. Why do you think Jaws was so successful? In other words, what's great about this film?
6. What didn't you like about Jaws? Do you feel the film is overhyped and overrated or do you think the film deserves the praise it has received over the years?
7. What's the scariest film you've ever seen and why?

Introduction Letter

Hello Film Students!

In the comments section, I'd like you to write me a letter telling me about your experience with cinema. You can talk about anything you'd like. Here are some SUGGESTIONS of things you can talk about. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION! THESE ARE SIMPLY GUIDES.

How many movies do you usually see in a year?
What are your favorite movies?
What are your least favorite movies?
How has your taste in film changed from when you were younger?
Do you like foreign films with subtitles? Why or why not?
Do you like black and white films? Why or why not?
Do you like horror movies?
Do you like romantic comedies?
Do you like war films?
Do you like action films?
Do you like cartoon/animated movies?
Do you like anime (Japanese animation)?
Do you like movies that make you cry?
Who is your favorite actor and why?
Who is your least favorite actor and why?
Who is your favorite director and why?
Do you watch movies with your parents/family? If so what kinds of movies do you watch with them?
Do you regularly read any film critics? If so, who?
Do you watch the Academy Awards or the Golden Globes? Do you remember what won Best Picture last year?
Do you ever use imdb.com (the Internet Movie Database) or rottentomatoes.com or metacritic.com?

Please write me a letter that's at least three paragraphs long. Make sure your sentence structure, grammar and spelling are correct. Just because this is a blog doesn't mean that you can use internet shorthand.

This is due on Tuesday Sept. 8th by 11pm. Please type your first name and your last initial either in the letter or as your name for the comment itself.