This week I watched a movie called 'To Save a Life'. It's a Christian directed film and I have to say I was nervous because 1) the acting in Christian films is usually awkward and 2) the shots are usually choppy and editing features are simple. Coming into the viewing with this bias... Probably not the best decision... but I was impressed! The acting - though corny at some points - was pretty good.
There were some parts where the scenes were too dramatic and made the acting look extra corny. One scene in particular, showed an "awkward moment" between two of the characters on a date. It was the end of the shot and it went on a lot longer than needed, as viewers would certainly grasp the concept awhile before. Though the story was very predictable, the shots were all sequenced in an appropriate way in which the story flowed. For the most part, the shots all were appropriate to what they were showing. A couple shots jumped around too much. A couple of times, the shots would start with a side shot and would zoom on jump shots. Those are the types of shots that are typical for an action sequence where we want to see the overall picture and from there get closer to the initial action, where in this movie, it didn't add any effect to the story or shot.
Now, the story was fitting and was in many ways motivating. It begins at the funeral of a boy and our main character, Jake Taylor, is there, though he looks somewhat out of place and confused as to why he is there. Throughout the film, we find out why he was at the funeral. The basis of the story is teenage suicides and the transformation of Jake as he comes to change into this Christian character and looks to help others who specifically seem to be "outsiders."
Overall, much better than what I expected.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
I know this is the movie I talked about in class on Monday but, like my brain, things just aren't moving as fast as they should be...
Drama. The genre. This movie was every aching part of a drama. It was inspirational, moving, emotional, suspenseful... like I said, all of it. Being the first time I have seen it, I was interested in the story and didn't want to look at it with such a critical eye. However it wasn't exactly hard. The shots and the way that the story was put together just flowed so well that there wasn't too much that had to be critiqued. There is a scene where Ben comes home from school sobbing and holding his Bible asking God to take away his anger issues confused me some only because the idea that he even developed these anger issues. When Ben realizes that he wants to become a doctor, it has a little bit of humor added as he seems like a goofy kid. But his mother always tells him, "Ben you can do anything anyone else can do. Only you can do it better."
This is a movie I would definitely recommend. It's a moving story and is shot very well. All of the shots flow together in a way that the viewer is intrigued and captured in the story.
Drama. The genre. This movie was every aching part of a drama. It was inspirational, moving, emotional, suspenseful... like I said, all of it. Being the first time I have seen it, I was interested in the story and didn't want to look at it with such a critical eye. However it wasn't exactly hard. The shots and the way that the story was put together just flowed so well that there wasn't too much that had to be critiqued. There is a scene where Ben comes home from school sobbing and holding his Bible asking God to take away his anger issues confused me some only because the idea that he even developed these anger issues. When Ben realizes that he wants to become a doctor, it has a little bit of humor added as he seems like a goofy kid. But his mother always tells him, "Ben you can do anything anyone else can do. Only you can do it better."
This is a movie I would definitely recommend. It's a moving story and is shot very well. All of the shots flow together in a way that the viewer is intrigued and captured in the story.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
dark night?... nite?.. knight. dark knight.
Decided to watch Dark Knight last night... And likewise I'm going to tell you all about it! It's definitely a movie that I have seen before. I actually really like the movie as a whole but watching it this time with a more critical eye made me ALMOST reconsider. The only complaints that I had about this originally were: 1) Christian Bale's Batman voice... it's so irritating. And 2) I didn't think it was Maggie Gyllenhaal's strongest performance, after watching so many times, and I usually love her (love Nanny McPhee).
But here's the new critique: When I was watching this time there were a couple angles that particularly stuck out to me. One was a rooftop shot when Mr. Lao (Chinese accountant theif person) is getting into the helicopter and the shot is circling the top of the building. For some reason this time I just found this particular shot to be slightly dizzying. Another shot I found having this same effect was when the Joker crashes Bruce Wayne's party for Harvey Dent and the Joker is confronting Rachel (Gyllenhaal) and they are circling the encounter. The shot does have the right effect where it becomes the intimate experience between the Joker harassing Rachel and the party guests are surrounding them. I think maybe they just circled a little fast and it sort of became to spinny. In the scene when Lt. Gordon dies protecting the mayor, I really like the shots that are taken. I don't believe that they are hand held but the angles definitely well portray the chaos that is taking place. Most all of the shots deliver the feeling of the scene and I think there is plenty of variety throughout to have created a good film like this one.
But here's the new critique: When I was watching this time there were a couple angles that particularly stuck out to me. One was a rooftop shot when Mr. Lao (Chinese accountant theif person) is getting into the helicopter and the shot is circling the top of the building. For some reason this time I just found this particular shot to be slightly dizzying. Another shot I found having this same effect was when the Joker crashes Bruce Wayne's party for Harvey Dent and the Joker is confronting Rachel (Gyllenhaal) and they are circling the encounter. The shot does have the right effect where it becomes the intimate experience between the Joker harassing Rachel and the party guests are surrounding them. I think maybe they just circled a little fast and it sort of became to spinny. In the scene when Lt. Gordon dies protecting the mayor, I really like the shots that are taken. I don't believe that they are hand held but the angles definitely well portray the chaos that is taking place. Most all of the shots deliver the feeling of the scene and I think there is plenty of variety throughout to have created a good film like this one.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Well, I WAS caught up...
I had been feeling caught up on school work then I remembered the blog. In all honesty, though I don't like to admit it, this is the last thing on my mind when it comes to homework. But I will let ya know bout what I've watched recently.
Dexter. For those of you unfamiliar, it's a show about a man (Dexter... duh) who leads a double life. His first as a forensics scientist for the police and the second as a mass murderer. He kills people who have committed murders themselves, bringing himself satisfaction and a feeling of social justice. Crazy. ANYHOW. To the filming aspect...
The intro to the show is made of close ups of Dexter's morning routine; each shot involving "blood" (ketchup, razor blade cut from shaving, etc.), and each shot getting the viewer into the sort of mood for the show. There are many varieties of wide, medium and close up shots throughout the show, each emphasizing some sort of the crime, usually. When it shows Dexter with his victim, there are many POV shots like when the victim wakes up from his drugging (Dexter's routine for every killing), and is looking at Dexter in desperate fear and confusion. And in the same manner, there are shots looking at the victim in Dexter's POV. In learning about audio a little bit last time, I focused on that some while watching. Dexter during the show also narrates parts showing the second side of his double life. Normally this happens when they arrive at the scene of a crime and he is inspecting a victim. The whole narration is helpful audio when getting to understand the double life that Dexter leads.
It's a crazy, sick and twisted show but very interesting. fo sho.
check out time for this traveler. see ya in class
Dexter. For those of you unfamiliar, it's a show about a man (Dexter... duh) who leads a double life. His first as a forensics scientist for the police and the second as a mass murderer. He kills people who have committed murders themselves, bringing himself satisfaction and a feeling of social justice. Crazy. ANYHOW. To the filming aspect...
The intro to the show is made of close ups of Dexter's morning routine; each shot involving "blood" (ketchup, razor blade cut from shaving, etc.), and each shot getting the viewer into the sort of mood for the show. There are many varieties of wide, medium and close up shots throughout the show, each emphasizing some sort of the crime, usually. When it shows Dexter with his victim, there are many POV shots like when the victim wakes up from his drugging (Dexter's routine for every killing), and is looking at Dexter in desperate fear and confusion. And in the same manner, there are shots looking at the victim in Dexter's POV. In learning about audio a little bit last time, I focused on that some while watching. Dexter during the show also narrates parts showing the second side of his double life. Normally this happens when they arrive at the scene of a crime and he is inspecting a victim. The whole narration is helpful audio when getting to understand the double life that Dexter leads.
It's a crazy, sick and twisted show but very interesting. fo sho.
check out time for this traveler. see ya in class
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Disclaimer: This is your typical inspiring sports film.
I decided to go to vimeo.com to look for a short film to watch. My cousin introduced me to it awhile back because it is the site he posts all his videos to. This documentary that I watched is called "Nothin' but a Grind" by Richard Cameron White. It's about a football program called 360 Football Academy. They take the top high school football players through 360 days of academics and tough training from the best of the best.
Other than the whole point of the documentary, being inspiring and all, it was different to watch it from a filmmakers perspective (or pretend to). The different angles that are taken from each point of view (coaches, players and spectators), give the viewer a little insight to what each part of the program was like. The many shots that are taken of each aspect of the camp as well like the classroom, training and playing really puts together the feeling and understanding that the football academy is there to train each part of the athlete. Having played a college sport (obviously not DI) could relate in knowing that training your body for your sport is just as important as training your brain in the academics because that, above anything will take you places.
Back to the film. Each part of the film that Richard created was done well in a way that the point is gotten across and in an interesting way. White combined the use of different angles, words, and audio to accurately portray what he was filming.
This will take you to the video if you're interested.
Other than the whole point of the documentary, being inspiring and all, it was different to watch it from a filmmakers perspective (or pretend to). The different angles that are taken from each point of view (coaches, players and spectators), give the viewer a little insight to what each part of the program was like. The many shots that are taken of each aspect of the camp as well like the classroom, training and playing really puts together the feeling and understanding that the football academy is there to train each part of the athlete. Having played a college sport (obviously not DI) could relate in knowing that training your body for your sport is just as important as training your brain in the academics because that, above anything will take you places.
Back to the film. Each part of the film that Richard created was done well in a way that the point is gotten across and in an interesting way. White combined the use of different angles, words, and audio to accurately portray what he was filming.
This will take you to the video if you're interested.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Feeling behind
I feel about this blog as I do my normal blog... behind and lacking. But I'm looking forward to a semester of film watching and in turn learning how to create some moving image myself. I'm a still photography person and it's what I love. Hopefully what I take from this class, I can turn into a hobby if not a love and passion as well. I enjoy blogging as a place where I can write essentially whatever I'm thinking. Links that I will get around to adding to my page will include some of the blogs I follow from tumblr (where there's a bunch of inspiration and creativity). I think it's a great idea to require a class to blog because knowing what other people are thinking is a great way to formulate new ideas. Plus, blogging is a fun pastime once you get into it :)
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