Film Review #3

This horror film offers more than meets the eye

               The Cabin in the Woods left me amused and surprised.  Based on random hearsay from my friends I was expecting a horror movie that was so incredibly bad it unintentionally earns the label comedy. Thankfully that didn’t happen. Although I’m not quite sure what genre this movie belongs in. Fantasy-thriller, perhaps? The film was directed by acclaimed screenwriter Drew Goddard. The key actors are Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth , Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchison, and Jesse Williams.

                The plot of the film starts off like any run of the mill horror movie would but quickly transforms into something much better. Five close friends decide to holiday at a relative’s cabin that’s situated in the isolated woods. Unbeknownst to them, their every move is being followed and manipulated by a collection of highly sophisticated ‘technicians’.  After an hour into the film the manipulation backfires big time! Two of the survivors manage to infiltrate the facility that the technicians are working in. Through pure happenstance the survivors find out that they are a part of a ‘ritual’ that is meant to placate the Ancient Ones and prevent an armageddon. In the end, one of the characters has to decide whether to kill himself or wait to die as the world will surely be destroyed.

                Every actor played their role as best they could. The horror genre doesn’t generally allow time for the victims to convey their exterior or interior lives. Usually the murdering psychopath, demon, ghost, etc. gets the majority of the attention. With that said, the zombie family living in the cabin during 1902 had more backstory than the main actors. Moreover, each character was meant to portray a certain archetype: the whore, the athlete, the scholar, the fool, and the virgin. Going into the roles the actors knew they were going to be portraying stereotypes. Were my expectations fulfilled? I’d vote yes.

Archetype Central

                During the cabin scenes the director definitely used the absence of light to create an intense atmosphere. A lot of classic camera techniques were also used. From looking in my Master Shots textbook I see very similar techniques that were used in the film. Some of them are out of the shadows, the unseen, steps to suspense, fearing a place, shielding the attacker, and window of fear (C. Kenworthy, 2009). The music was crucial during certain scenes as well. Those quick slasher and surprise movements are not as effective without music- not to mention the right tone. To be honest, there was never a truly startling moment. Half the time the characters were making jokes. The ending of the film is great example.

Personally, I would recommend this film to people. My selling point would be that it goes beyond the horror genre. The film offers more than just fear, screaming, and running. It has comedy, countless monsters, mild drama, and an interesting plot (at least once the victims leave the woods). As well, I thought it was very cool how the film ‘tipped its hat’ to a variety of horror movies from the past. The director doesn’t copy any certain style but he certainly finds a way incorporate countless monsters- and in quick fashion too!

7.5 out of 10

Film Review #2

                Dhoom 2: Back In Action is a highly successful Bollywood action movie that was released in 2006. It was directed by Sanjay Gadhvi. Abhishek Bachchan and Hrithik Roshan have ‘top billing’ in the film. Uday Chopra, Bipasha Basu, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also have very prominent roles. The action sequences are over the top and offer nothing new but the acting is on par and the song and dance numbers are catchy. Dhoom 2 reminds me of films like Die Hard and The Expendables. The plot is almost meaningless and you won’t leave the theater having seen something special. However, you do have the satisfaction of knowing you have seen worse movies. At its core the film is disposable entertainment- meant to be seen once and enjoyed. If you accept the movie for what it is then you will not have any grievances after two-and-a-half hours.

Dhoom’s plot is unpretentious. Detective Jai Dixit (Abhishek Bachchan) is seeking to capture and arrest the elusive Mr. A (Hrithik Roshan) – a master thief with a knack for disguise. Along the way Jai has to deal with the shenanigans of his inept partner Ali (Uday Chopra) as well as old feelings for Shonali (Bipasha Basu), a former classmate who is now the assistant commissioner of the investigation. Oh and by the way, I should mention one thing: Jai is a married man with a baby on the way. Jai, Ali, and Shonali play a game of cat-and-mouse with Mr. A that spans the globe from Mumbai, India to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To aid his search Jai also ‘acquires’ the services of a beautiful thief. Her name is Sunehri (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) and she has no choice but to help Jai. If she refuses he’ll send her to prison for the previous crimes she has committed. During the game of cat-and-mouse Mr. A and Sunehri develop a relationship. Things don’t stay pleasant for long however. Sunehri has a decision to make. She can set up Mr. A and go back to India ‘scot-free’ or run away and make a new life with the master thief.

Without a doubt, Hrithik Roshan is the heart and soul of the film. I credit so much of the film’s charm to his performance. He plays the antagonist perfectly. Roshan’s character has many layers. As the movie progresses Roshan shows us that Mr. A is more than a handsome, smart thief. The longtime loner opens his heart to Sunehri. Speaking of Sunehri, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has sizzling chemistry with Roshan. The romance portrayed between the two appears authentic. Abhishek Bachchan’s depiction of Jai is nothing new. He’s a rough-around-the-edges detective who seems to always be scowling. Bipasha Basu’s character is regretfully forgettable. Uday Chopra is hilarious as Jai’s partner Ali. Chopra’s comic relief adds balance to Jai’s hardened demeanor, the sensational action sequences, and the romance angle. Overall, my expectations were met.

Dhoom 2 makes good use of special effects and makeup. The thieving Mr. A dons countless disguises that make him appear almost unrecognizable. The director does an amazing job of capturing the beauty of every city they locale during the introductory phases. Music is a huge part of this Bollywood blockbuster. The song and dance sequences alone equate to 30 minutes of film. With this being my first Bollywood experience I must confess that I enjoyed the majority of the songs! In my opinion, the timing for each scene of song and dance was seamless.

If I could only offer my reader’s one decisive factor that would convince them to attend this film I would say, “See it for the style!” Simply put, Dhoom 2 is a guilty pleasure. The entire movie has a swagger to it that cannot be denied. It looks you in the eye and says, “Yeah the storyline is filled with holes. So what? Sit back, relax, and have some fun!” The trailer for the film does the same thing. Have a look to see what I mean.

7 out of 10

Media Log

8/17/2012

• NFL: Lions vs Ravens 3.5 hrs
• Facebook 1 hr
• Email 30 mins
• ESPN 102.1 (radio) 1.5 hrs
• Sex Tourism (textbook) 3 hrs
• Skype 1 hr

8/18/2012

• Facebook 1 Hr
• Email 30 mins
• Sex Tourism in Thailand (documentary) 1 hr
• Sex Tourism in Venezuela (documentary) 1 hr
• Sex Tourism (textbook) 2 hrs
• Skype 1 hr

8/19/2012

• NFL: Eagles vs Patriots 3.5 hrs
• Facebook 1 hr
• Email 30 mins
• Skype 1 hr

8/20/2012

• Facebook 30 mins
• Email 30 mins
• Skype 1 hr
• Piratebay        30 mins
• Sex Tourism (textbook) 2 hrs

8/21/2012

• In Bruges (film) 2 hrs
• YouTube         1.5 hrs
• Blogger 2 hrs
• CNN 1 hrs
• Facebook 30 mins
• Email 30 mins
• Skype 1 hr

8/22/2012

• US Weekly 30 mins
• The Avengers 2.5 hrs
• WiX.com         1 hr
• LasikPlus.com 1 hr
• Blogger 1.5 hrs
• Email 30 mins

8/23/2012

• Sex Tourism (textbook) 2 hrs
• Directing Fiction (textbook) 1 hr
• NFL: Titans vs Cardinals 3.5 hrs
• Email 30 mins
• Skype 1 hr

Media Literacy Topic #1

As I view my media log I’m noticing that I use several types of media. For entertainment I rely on the internet and television most frequently. Like most people I use Facebook & Skype and I enjoy YouTube. I spend my time doing other things too. This week I spent an hour checking out WiX.com- a website that allows you to build a website for free (and for pay). I admit that I use Pirate Bay. This week I managed to obtain a copy of The Avengers, In Bruges, episode three of HBO’s Hard Knocks, and sex tourism documentaries. I also googled LasikPlus to prepare for my visit to the doctor in Jacksonville. The one thing I am surprised I have not done is listening to music. It just hasn't happened this week.

In regards to television my mainstays seem to be ESPN, Comedy Central, and CNN. SportsCenter, half-hour discussion sports shows (Pardon the Interruption, Around the Horn, etc.), and several NFL preseason games were watched. When I’m in the car I have my station tuned to ESPN 102.1. Needless to say I enjoy my sports! A weekly subscription of US Weekly comes to my house as well. I spent about 30 minutes reading celeb news on Wednesday. As trashy and pointless as these types of magazines are a few of the articles do catch my eye and keep me in tune with popular culture.

The majority of my time is spent buried in textbooks however. Due to my independent study course on sex tourism a considerable amount of my time is spent reading, highlighting, outlining, writing chapter summaries, and preparing PowerPoint slides. Did I mention I’m also taking 21 hours this semester? I stay busy between my part-time job and academics. I’ll be taking my Justice Administration book to work tonight. Obviously, I’m using the internet for academics as well. I learned to use Blogger this week. It’s pretty simple and awesome!

What does my media use say about me? I think my media use says a few things. It signifies that I’m an avid sports fan. The news I read shows that I have liberal political views and in interest in pop culture. The social media I use shows that I like to communicate with my friends and family. My use of Pirate Bay does show that I am participating in an illegal activity. While I know my actions are wrong the ease of access makes me take the dumb risk. My educational textbooks show that I’m an average college student that is working towards a degree. It says that I’ll live a repetitive and mundane existence until the beginning of December.

In regards to the media I trust I’d say the most reliable source has to be my news media. If I’m looking for factual reports I know SportsCenter and CNN are reliable. In regards to CNN, much like Fox News, you have to learn to read between biased agendas. Anything referring to our government is always questionable. While the internet has brought greater transparency there are still internal events that are kept from us. Not to mention certain news events get more exposure than others (unequal distribution). As we know exposure does not necessarily dictate importance however. The documentaries are not a bad source either but you also have to remember that these can also be one-sided.

I have no doubt that I enjoy the movies and sports programs that I watch. They are a good way to unwind and forget about work and academics- even if it’s only for a few hours. Skype is definitely important because it keeps me in contact with my girlfriend. At the very least I try to give her an hour of my time a day. Facebook and YouTube are great as well. While making a YouTube video this week I had fun filming myself and connecting scenes from In Bruges.

I’m open to broadening my exposure to different media- with an exception. I have to, at the very least, be interested in the subject or theme. For example, I doubt you’ll ever spot me reading a magazine from the National Rifle Association. Although I have nothing against the Second Amendment I am not a gun enthusiast. Nor do I want to read the political mudslinging. I will admit that I do display favoritism…. but doesn’t everybody? Don’t we realize what we like by subjecting ourselves to what we don’t like? I’m willing to open myself up to new things but at some point our personalities take over. Music is a great example. I like rap and rock. I’ve listened to country. I’ve listened to a lot of songs and I have never enjoyed the genre. I was hesitant about classical music. I gave it a try. I now like it. I don’t love it but it’s perfect to study to or blog. 

Film Review #1

In Bruges is a black comedy that allows the audience to approach serious issues like murder and prostitution with a smile. The film is so engrossing that it’s hard to believe that this is Martin McDonagh’s first full-length feature. Furthermore, the dialogue is so spot on that it needs to be noted that McDonagh also wrote the screenplay. The 2008 film stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes. As great as the film is it’s not surprising that Farrell nabbed the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.

Let’s talk storyline- after all what is a good movie without a riveting plot? After an assassination gone terribly wrong Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson) are instructed to leave London.  Their boss Harry (Fiennes) sends them to Bruges where they are to remain until he calls them. Once in Bruges two things are obvious. Ken loves the place. Ray hates it. They take in the sights of the city while waiting for the call from Harry. When the call is finally received Ken is given a reluctant task: Kill Ray and get back to London. Ken refuses to cater to Harry’s request. Ken’s refusal sets off a series of events that can only be described as chaos: Harry flies to Bruges and the chase for Ray and Ken ensues! From the beginning to the end you can’t quite guess what it going to happen next. It kept my interest the entire time.

In my opinion, all of the key actors in the film give amazing performances. Farrell is perfect as the pessimistic hitman who hates everything about Bruges. Gleeson’s portrayal as an enthusiastic optimist perfectly balances Ray’s personality. Don’t believe me? Perhaps the 3 minute montage I created on YouTube will change your mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLVdCYxu9v0. Although we do not see much of Ralph Fiennes until the second-half of the film he certainly plays a memorable character. Harry is everything you would expect a brutal English gangster to be and then some. My expectations were more than fulfilled. The two minute trailer for this movie does not do it justice. 

I thought the composer of In Bruges did a wonderful job. The piano was perfect for those very dark moments in the film. The music combined with the quiet views of medieval Bruges at night was aesthetically pleasing. With the help of the night sky McDonagh successfully preserves the dark tone that hangs over the film. Whether it’s on the streets of Bruges or in a dimly lit church the absence of light makes for a compelling atmosphere. Narration is also used in the film. It’s quite effective in opening and closing Ray’s ‘story’ of Bruges.

If you were to ask me, “Why should I watch this film?” my selling point (hands down) would be the dialogue. The humorous one-liners are numerous and the banter between the two main characters is memorable- if not priceless. McDonagh carefully crafted a story that speaks about crime, violence, penance, guilt, retribution, family, art, and a host of other topics. The actors deliver every word, every line convincingly. I can promise the audience that you will be seeing a film that feels real and speaks to the human experience in several ways.

9 out of 10