What I liked about this class was definitely the ability of learning simple components of a film – cinematography, lightning and color, themes, genres – and the chance to apply what I learned into a real actual film that I participated in the making of. I used certain techniques that I learned off which came off to be successful usage during the final editing of the film and the fact that I was also given the chance to prove what I knew and how I understood it within the film made it better. I enjoyed watching films during the class to review and discuss within class because I not only got to express my opinion of the film and to show what I knew, I also discovered what others thought and how others perceived certain things that I probably perceived differently. This has helped me to be more flexible with my classmates when working with them in the making of a film and to be patient too – I have grown to accept certain opinions of others and to even work and blend with my opinion with theirs.
Althought, I felt a little annoyed that throughout this whole year, I had merely learned and understood but had very few chances to apply those skills into film-making. I enjoyed the discussions we’ve had and lessons we’ve learned but I felt that we didn’t have many chances to show what we knew into film. Basically, I thought that this year mostly consisted of learning and understanding – which is reasonable because this is only the introduction to film - but I felt that we lacked the time or chance to apply more of the skills into film.
English is a second class that I’m sure I can apply my knowledge into because during English, we often have time to watch films related to literature such as Romeo and Juliet or certain public service announcements. With what I know of film and what I learned and understood, I have the chance to express and to show how certain parts of a film was done quite nicely and why, what techniques were used to make the film relate to literature. I also applied my knowledge of cinematography during the Public Service Announcements units to create a public service announcement of my own, using certain techniques of film which I learned both in English and in Film and with the advanced knowledge that I have from Film, I was able to perceive a message perfectly with the skills I learned. I also perceived certain films we watched and how the film-maker used certain techniques to send a certain message.
“Even now, I can’t claim to understand the measure of life but I can tell you this: I know that when he died, his eyes were closed and his heart was open, and I’m pretty sure he was happy with his final resting place because he was buried in a mountain…and that was against the law.”
The most deeping and touching film I’ve seen yet – revolving around the relationship between two men, who gathered a list of things to do before they ‘kick the bucket’, escape the cancer ward after being diagnosed terminally ill. Edward Cole is a corporate wealthy man who maintains a list of problems with his own family and proves to be someone who is extremely enthusiastic and in some cases, troublesome even. Carter Chamber becomes the voice of reason for Edward Cole in the film as he works as a mechanic and maintains a healthy relationship with the members of his family. Both who harbour a need to fulfil certain deeds of their own develops an understanding with one another – one that cannot be understood unless you were in their shoes.
Characters
Developing characters
Edward Cole; a wealthy businessman who has been divorced more than once and hides a deep scar left by his daughter whom he had fought long before. Despite the disputes he faced in life, he chooses to be selfish and happy, a little wild and troublesome but nevertheless, a good man. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, he stays in the hospital and rests in a room which he shares with a second person. At first, he seems to dislike the thought of sharing a room with another but eventually, he begins to grow comfortable. He is the one to discover the list and seems more eager to complete list. Throughout the film, he tends to show a very mean and selfish side of him before a certain incident ignites the kind-hearted portion of his personality. The events within the film aided him in opening his heart.
Carter Chamber; a mechanic who seems happy with his family and his current status. Before he met Edward Cole, he worked at a local store as a mechanic before the hospital had called him and told him he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. He doesn’t make much contact with Edward Cole in the beginning of the film when he starts sharing a room with him but Carter Chamber is polite and easy-going towards Edward Cole. During certain parts of the film, we see that Carter Chamber releases a wild side of him in the duration of fulfilling certain deeds. We see that he was once supressed from his urges, his needs which he threw away to waste when he married his wife. The list has aided him to open himself and to even show what he wanted and what he needed, to express himself freely.
Static Characters
Thomas; Edward Cole’s right hand man in business and first and foremost assistant, the one who arranges most of the things needed or wanted to be done for the list. His relationship with Edward Cole is quite a comedic one as they tend to be sardonic and somewhat sarcastic to one another. The assistant’s real name is Matthew but Edward Cole assigned the name Thomas, feeling that the name was too ‘biblical’.
Cinematography
Handheld Camera was used in certain scenes to perceive a feeling of being a human through the natural shaking of the camera. The scene which included the use of the handheld camera was when they were parachuting off the plane.
Director’s Inerpretive Point of View shots were used in the movie to focus on certain portions of the film wherein whatever the shots focused upon became immensely important later. The scene which included the use of the Director’s Interpretive Point of View shot was when Edward Cole first discovers the list which Carter Chamber throws out. At first, it becomes a mere piece of paper with a list of things to do which eventually becomes a list of things to do before they kick the bucket!
Voice-over; Carter Chamber introduces the movie and carries the plotline but rarely with his voice-over’s. The voice over always includes something deep and true.
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Lighting and Color
The lighting was usually high key lighting, soft and diffused, all natural. It created a calm and serene mood within the film in most of the scenes. When Edward Cole and Carter Chambers were either conversing or fulfilling their deeds on the list, it was always a moment that was quite touching and deep, showing the clear development and traits of their friendship.
Most of the lightning was natural since most of the film was outside and during the day. It created a natural feeling to it, not fake or unrealistic but natural, causing the film to be quite realistic with the lightning.
Colors that were quite frequent within the film were red and yellow which offered support to the bright and happy aura within the film. It also relates to the weather which was often in the sunny daylight.
Linear Structure
Linear Structure; No certain flashbacks and no random events related to the past popping up during the middle of the movie and the beginning was quite the starting of a certain plotline, not starting at the middle of it.
Exposition; Carter Chamber is introduced, working in a store as a mechanic before receiving a call about being diagnosed of the terminal illness. He ventures into the hospital where he discovers he is sharing a room with a wealthy billionare businessman named Edward Cole.
Complication; 1) When Carter Chamber rests at Edward Cole’s house, Edward Cole receives a call from Carter Chamber’s wife who indirectly scolres Edward Cole for taking away her husband. Feeling guilty, Edward Cole discusses the idea of cutting the trip short with Carter Chamber who refuses and pushes Edward Cole to continue and finish the list. 2) When Carter Chamber brings Edward Cole back to Edward Cole’s daughter’s house to reunite the two. Edward Cole, infuriated by how nosy Carter Chamber has become, rips the list into pieces and avoids contact with Carter Chamber.
Climax; Something to definitely look forward to. It is something that will drive you, yourself, to make a bucket list of your own with a friend or two.
Honest to God, I cried in this film. Not simply because I witnessed a friendship that involved so much devotion and love in such a short time but because I witnessed a story that just influences you to make something more of your life. I felt that this film lacked nothing to reach its goal because it did - it affected the audience deeply and emotionally and what was amazing about this film is that it did not have to go beyond certain special effects to capture the audience into its plot. Certain techniques were used to make a feeling of simplicity for this film and the simplicity has made the audience easily understand and fall into a trap of touched and amazed emotions.
I say, watch this movie. It’s a popular film, no doubt. Here’s a trailer:
Mise-en-Scene is a term described to the production and design of the film or everything in sight that appears within the camera and in the midst of a scene, usually including lighting, costumes, props, actors and settings.
Focus on a central character/actor. How would you describe his or her acting style in the film? Does the style seem compatible with the story? With the genre?
Throughout the film, Reese Witherspoon played as an overachieving, bright, eager and childish student. Her acting style was somewhat fake, exaggerated and unrealistic but despite that, her acting style was compatible with the story and the genre since with her over-the-top acting, it increased the comedic affect within the film.
2)Elements of Cinematography
Examine one or two shots in which camera movements – tracks, pans, zooms, or others – are important. Why is a moving frame of a single shot used here instead a series of shots? How does that movement comment on what is happening in the shot?
I noticed two camera movements which were constantly used throughout the film. Firstly, zooms were important within this film since it increased the importance of the object that was being zoomed on and it caused the audience to focus upon the object. Secondly, pans were important because the audience easily followed the object, focusing on the object, knowing what was occuring within the scenes. I believe that a moving frame of a single shot is used more often compared to a series of shots because it increases the simplicity of the film, not causing confusion for the audience. It also increases the attention and importance of the object. We can also see the object in one single perspective instead of multiple perspectives, thus, not confusing where the object is going, why and etcetera.
Look for a pattern of compositional distances int he film or sequence. Do there seem to be a large number of long shots? Close-up? Some other pattern? Describe one such pattern and explain how it reinforces one or more themes of the film.
There seemed to be a large number of still shots and freezes. In each still shot, it was stopped/frozen at one character and the film would revolve around the character for a short period of time as the character would narrarate with voice-overs. It was a pattern which was maintained and constant throughout the film. It had somehow kept the story of each character, the personal emotions and thoughts of each character, clear within the film and the narraration would always belong to one of the four main characters in the film.
3)Voices, Music, And SOund Effects
To what extent do sound effects add to the film’s sense of realism? Can you locate an example which sound effects are rpimarily responsible for creating a particular impression of location, action or mood?
Sound effects add to the film’s sense of realism by supporting the mood or the vibe of the films and to support certain effects of the scenes. Sound effects were especially important during the scene in which Tracy Flick was on the floor and glaring at the posters because the sound effects, the background music, supported the wild and crazy mood the actress/character felt and it supported the actions she did, which clarified the wildness of her actions. Also, the wildness of her actions were supported by the song since the melody was somewhat the song of wilderness.
Over the years, many of the horror movies emerging from Korea and Japan continue to overwhelm the audiences into shocking and disturbed states! So much so, many of these films have been remade into American versions although never quite meeting the standards the Asian films had. The horror genre has grown into more than just being a genre in Korea and Japan, it has shaped certain aspects of the cultures! Korea and Japan are no longer known for their beautiful and romantic films or their outstanding animation but for much of the reknown horror films!
The term, K-Horror, is a term used to describe the horror films in Korea. Since these type of films have grown increasingly popular, they have captured the attention of thousands of people from a variety of places. These films emerging from Korea are not known for causing a disturbance amongst their audiance but are mostly known for their heart-stopping scenes and shocking storylines involving mostly ghosts and revenge. There are at least two major characters within these films–the protaganist, usually a young female and sometimes, a student and the ghost, mostly a female, bent on revenge and brought back from a curse she laid upon on a certain object. Most of the K-Horror films are usually based on myths and fairytales although twisted in certain aspects to show the audience the scary and frightening perspective of these stories. Compared to Japanese horror films, K-Horror centers around the suffering and torment of the ghosts and the spirits upon the protaganists but with the lack of gory elements.
Amongst the the films, the top five films of K-Horror:
A Tale of Two Sisters
A film based on a Korean folklore of two sisters. This film follows the story of two sisters and their life with their father and their new cruel and harsh stepmother and with the new beginning of their life, frightening events with the sisters and their new stepmother unravel to reveal a secret within the family. I just recently discovered a way to watch this film and I’m simply excited to see what this has in store for me!
The Phone
A film based on a popular myth in Korea about a student who committed suicide and haunts her school by playing the piano. This film revolves around a journalist who purchases a new phone with an unregistered number and beginst to recieve disturbing and strange calls. A young girl is suddenly involved as she answers one of the calls and begins to act in a strage and perturbing manner.
The Quiet Family
A film that is both comedic and frightning! The story revolving around a family who owns a hunting lodge up in the mountains with customers disappearing and dying one after another!
Whispering Corridors
The story revolves around three girls and their relationship with a student who recently killed herself in the school and was said to haunt the school. Just as a teacher discovered a shocking secret, the teacher was found hanging and dead on the courtyard of the school.
Wishing Stairs
I watched this film already. Beautiful. A film based on a myth that if you count twenty eight steps aloud and a twenty ninth appear, a spirit will grant you a wish. Within this film, two students studying ballet are suddenly found battling one another to attend an academy of the arts overseas. When one student is no longer able to continue ballet after an accident with the other student, she commits suicide, leaving a scandal behind to her companion. One strange event after another leaves the student perplexed about her friend and the wish she made on the day she counted up the stairs
The term, J-Horror, is to decribe horror films from Japan. Storylines are usually based on Japanese folklore and urban myths, involving ghosts, demons and the paranormal world. Compared to K-Horror, J-Horror tends to lean more on the violent side as most horror films in Japan tend to revolve around gory themes. At times, the films tend to reveal more blood and body parts as to, not frighten the audience, but make the audience shudder and cringe in disgust. Sometimes, frightening but Japanese horror films usually shock and disturb their audience with psychological twists and perturbing revelations.
Amongst the films, the top five films of J-Horror
Ringu
The infamous movie which was remade into an American version which never caught the audience in such a fear the way the Japanese version did. A film that revolves around a cursed videotape which causes the person who watches the video to die within seven days. A reporter, Reiko, begins to investigate the videotape and the story behind it, only to discover secrets. This movie was especially known for the intense scene in which Sadako crawls out of the television–which did not cause fear but caused quite a nervous stir amongst the audience.
Ju-On: The Grudge
Another famous J-Horror film which was remade into an American version! Although similiary frightening and intense, Ju-on: The Grudge definitely scared the audiece more compared to the American remake. A film revolving around six different people as they encounter the ghosts which haunt the house they live in–a curse which comes from dying within intense sorrow and rage causing the spirits to wander and haunt those who touch the places where the spirits lurk.
Suicide Circle
A perturbing and complex J-Horror film. I watched this movie during the summer and left me completely shivering and shuddering in utter disgust and disturbance. It didn’t leave me frightened, it left me shocked and somewhat disturbed and completely puzzled. The storyline does not deal with ghosts and spirits but it deals with dark cults, secret messages and psychology. The film revolves around a detective investigating the deaths of multiple people after a group of students commited suicide, jumping in front of a train. Intense gore, somewhat fake but it still tends to get you cringing.
One Missed Call
I watched this film too. It tends to let the storyline flow in a slightly boring manner before it totally gets you off-guard which tends to freak you out then it pulls out another one on you and you begin to feel like you want to quit watching the movie. The film is about a cursed call which mimicks your last few words before your demise. When recieving the call, a certain ringtone plays out. We follow two girls, Yumi and Yoko, in a desperate attempt to live after recieving their calls and discovering dark secrets behind the calls.
Ichi, the Killer
A film that does not deal with ghosts but deals with psychological pain and a tinge of mentality is thrown in here too. A J-Horror film which caused such controversy due to the gore and the psychological and physical pain sighted upon the characters throughout the whole story. The film involves Ichi, a sadomasochist yakuza, and his story with his gang after a scandal caused a bit of money to disappear. I’ve never watched this film but knowing it caused such a controversy, I don’t think I ever will.
I’m not quite sure what makes these films make the audience somewhat more uneasy and uncomfortable in their seats compared to the American horror films. I mean, you see Saw or Texas Chainsaw Massacre and they’re popular films but compared to Ringu or Ju-On: The Grudge or even the Suicide Circle, you can see that these films are somewhat more mind-twisting, psychologically disturbing and simply body-shuddering films. I think it’s the storyline and the characters that truly make these films different compared to the American films. The characters within these films tend to involve females and females in Korea and Japan always maintained expressions of innocence and purity. It is the typical Asian face to look innocent and seeing the innocence to be more than what we see, it creates an ironic image against what we believe, what we grew up with. Seeing an innocent Japanese high school student or a young Korean lady, a childlike Asian face, either dying or killing–it creates an intense impression on us. The storylines are usually paranormal or strange. These are stories are stories which we battle to believe are true or not, these are stories which are believable and yet, out of this world. It is the possibility that these stories can be true, can be real, that makes us more disturbed than ever, more frightened of the things around. Thus, my perspective on these films tend to have more affect on the audience for those factors–the innocent female Asian image and the hesitance we have upon the belief of these stories.
What do you think? Check these films out yourself!
What’s better than watching a couple of horror movies in the middle of the night on the beach during the December holidays?
Nothing, that’s my answer.
I watched a hefty amount of horror movies during the holidays. Few involving the Hannibal Lecture series such as Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon with two stories revolving around Agent Clarice Starling and one plot revolving around Agent Will Graham, both characters developing a relationship with the infamous doctor, Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter. As each story developes and progresses throughout the movie, the audience discovers more and more of who Hannibal Lecter is, what he does and why he does it.
The first movie of the series was the Silence of the Lambs.
Silence of the Lambs poster
The story revolves around the unraveling case of Buffalo Bill and Agent Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, who seeks the help of Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins. Throughout the story, inexchange of the information of Buffalo Bill, she reveals a little more of her unhappy childhood to the doctor, only to let their relationship progress.
I personally enjoyed this movie since we see the developing relationship between Hannibal and Clarice. It’s really interesting how two opposing sides can easily blend into one blossomg connection, only to see unconfine the mysteriousness Hannibal maintains. Although Hannibal’s appearance throughout the movie is not quite frequent, he definitely comes as a major character, being an important source of information.
The second movie of the series is Hannibal.
Hannibal Poster
This story still revolves around the life of Agent Clarice Starling, played by Julianne Moore. At this time, after solving the case of Buffalo Bill, she becomes only more known and popular amongst the people for her work but only to gradually decrease her popularity due to the multiple deaths of cops in the midst of a public shoot-out during an arrest. It is then her life is threatened and haunted constantly by appearances of Hannibal Lecter and it becomes a race against time to discover his whereabouts before a much evil opponent with a grudge kills the doctor.
Within this movie, we discover moer of a human side to Hannibal. We see most of how he feels towards other people and his reasons for those feelings he has. There are multiple secrets we discover throughout the film and I feel like this movie is a vital episode to the series since it uncovers so much of what Hannibal is like.
The third movie of the series is Red Dragon.
Red Dragon Poster
This film is set before Agent Clarice Starling was involved and begins before Hannibal Lecter was arrested. Edward Norton, who plays as Agent Will Graham, is suddenly forced to get back to work in an attempt to solve a deadly case after a traumatizing attack from the doctor. Desperate to solve the case, he returns to the one source he can imagine and his one nightmare, Hannibal Lecter, who assists Will Graham.
I thought this movie was really interesting, seeing how one can face his nightmare, only to save himself and others around him. The uses of symbolism was constant and frequent and important too, as it becomes more meaningful throughout the movie. We also sight moments of a softer side to an evil figure within the movie, seeing that there is more reason to the actions he takes.
Developing Characters
Agent Clarice Starling; A rookie FBI agent with an unhappy childhood to boot, she comes across as a rather stoic and determined character. At first, she is unfazed by Hannibal and his background and has trouble figuring out the confusing riddles he says and seem to think rather inside of the box. As we continue watching the two movies, we discover she developed into a famous FBI agent, still maintaining her courage and determination for work. With the work she’s done with Hannibal, she has the ability to think outside of the box, aiding her solving multiple cases. Although Hannibal and her had developed their friendship, the appearances and hints of Hannibal’s existance within the world does not scare her but rather worries her.
Hannibal Lecter; With an unhappy background, he has grown to be a famous doctor at first, secretly killing those he finds disrespectful to the community and eats them thus his nickname, Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter. To discover more of his past, you’d have to watch the fourth movie of the series-Hannibal, The Rising. Known as a genius, he constantly torments his victims emotionally and psychologically.
Will Graham; Married with two children and a loving wife, he is an FBI agent who has similar traits to Agent Clarice Starling herself. Smart and with the ability to think outside of the box, he solves multiple cases with the help of Hannibal Lecter, someone who Will finds as a companion. In the midst of solving the cases behind the mysterious deaths, Hannibal, the killer himself, attacks Will who successfully wounds Hannibal and arrests the doctor.
Genre
Horror
Psychological Thriller
Narrative Structure
(According to the order of the FILMS, not the stories within the films.)
Non-Linear Structure
-The overall stories amongst the films are constantly switching back and forth.
-In the beginning, Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal are movies that involve Hannibal and Agent Clarice Starling after he is arrested.
-The Red Dragon involves Hannibal and Agent Will Graham, a little before Agent Clarice Starling was introduced and slightly before Hannibal was arrested.
-The fourth movie, Hannibal, The Rising, revolves more around Hannibal and his background, his past and unravels more of his family.
-The story of the films overall start along the beginning.
Watch the trailers of all three movies! You got to watch these movies.
I loved all these three movies and I’m hoping to watch the fourth movie of the series soon, seeing that Hannibal, The Rising, is posted up on YouTube. Silence of the Lambs was not disappointing, that’s for sure, having to see the overall complexity of Clarice’s relationship with Hannibal. It was clear what kind of person Hannibal was, despite the fact that his appearances were not quite frequent throughout the movie. Hannibal was a satisfying movie since we saw more of Hannibal and his life after Silence of the Lambs, we see more of his humanly and soft side towards Clarice, even noticing hints of his romantic feelings to her. I honestly think Clarice and Hannibal make quite a beautiful couple within the movie even though the ending to Hannibal is altered and different compared to the novel. What I loved about the Red Dragon was how you can notice the romantic side of even the darkest person in the world and seeing that romantic side, you know there are places for mutual feelings within one’s self. I hope to enjoy the fourth movie and discover more of what Hannibal hides because yet, I’m slightly confused of how he came to be.
From a wide range of movies that I have watched over the years of my young age to the present (or more likely, the movies I remember that I have watched over the years), I have chosen at least three films which I have found my most favorite.
Ten Things I Hate About You(March 31, 1991) The urban and modernized location within the city, sweet and soft rock music and freshly unique characters helped create a bright and funky mood of Ten Things I Hate About You.
The Notebook(June 25. 2004)
Using a non-linear structure for the film with the uses of flashbacks with the reading of the notebook was certainly effective to show the difference between past and present.
Running With Scissors(October 27, 2006) The idea of the protagonist narrating a depressing story in a comical fashion is nice from how it clearly defines an issue involving certain relationships and hardships in life.
I sadly couldn’t find a decent trailer for this film. How strange!
Well, a small interview, I would say. I asked him a few questions and he took the time to answer them! Here, we discover an insight of how Ien, the Korean, thinks.
He is a senior, graduating this June from Seoul Foreign School.
“So what is Seoul Foreign School like?”
Ien: “Our school: Personally I feel it can get kind of bureaucratic at times, and we’re really really busy at the moment because of applications and whatnot but that’s ok. I’ve found that doing things and then asking for permission later is much better than trying to ask for permission and then doing them. Like in the film club promo video we just taped a bunch of green paper to the parking lot walls to make a green screen and never asked permission to do it but we never got in trouble so it turned out all good.”
“Why do you make films?”
Ien: “I make films simply because I love filmmaking. It’s something I can totally release my creativity into and in return, filmmaking teaches me a lot about many things, not only techniques but working with other people, dealing with money problems, and a lot of other stuff.”
“What inspires you?”
Ien: “I can’t really pinpoint what I’m inspired by, but I think overall I want to serve others through my films.”
“What is your goal?”
Ien: “My eventual goal is to become a film director who can influence people in positive ways. A lot of media has become somewhat bad, but I think that can be changed to make people good.”
After the release of the first book of its series, the film based on the first book is now released! The Twilight series has been popular ever since the first book came out! Now, due to its popularity, Twilight, the film, has been released and so much of the readers and fans of the series are excited! Does the film perfect the beauty of the book itself?
Although I’m not a fan of the Twilightseries, I enjoyed the film itself even if the plot, the whole story, seemed predictable. I watched this film for my best friend’s birthday and it seemed most of the female companions I watched the film with seemed to love the series, the movie and of course, Edward Cullen and Robert Pattinson who plays Edward Cullen in the movie.
Twilight, the movie!
If you ever read the book, then you probably don’t have to read what I have to write about this film. This film and book is about a seventeen year old girl named Bella Swan, played by Kristen Stewart, who moves in with her father to avoid moving around with her mother and her second husband. While attending her new school, she bumps into a group of welcoming students and a classmate who seems to be moody in her presence, Edward Cullen, played by Robert Pattinson.
Days pass by as her friendship with Edward develops and a string of deaths follow, seemingly caused by animals. A dark secret is unravels and she discovers Edward is not only one hundred and eight years old but a vampire who appears seventeen and feeds upon the blood of animals to resist the blood of humans.
Unfazed by the secret, Bella yearns for this friendship and the pair conspires a love for one another, one that can endanger Bella. It is not long before a group of dangerous vampires are introduced who are willing to fight and even kill for the taste of Bella’s blood.
Characters
Developing Characters
Bella Swan; a seventeen year old who, at first, seems to dislike Edward Cullen and maintains an awkward relationship with her father, unable to seem comfortable in his presence. Later on, she is begins to develop a small liking to Edward and discovers a happiness within herself to maintain a good relationship with her father.
Edward Cullen; a one hundred and eight year old vampire who appears seventeen. At first, he dislikes Bella’s presence due to how much he feels to drink her blood whenever she is around him and with such powers, being a vampire, he has the ability to read minds except Bella’s, making him feel slightly insecure. He begins to develop into a brighter and happier character, a romantic towards Bella who he feels like he can share his secret with.
Static Character
Note: There are multiple minor characters. I will mention the antagonist, Edward’s parents and three of Bella’s companions.
James; the leader of his group of vampires consisting only three including himself. He hunts down certain humans and kills them after drinking their blood. He is the cause of the string of deaths in the town. Throughout the film, he carries the love of bloodshed and the blood of humans and discovers an unusual need to drink Bella’s blood despite the trouble he has to go through to drink her blood.
Carlisle Cullen; a handsome blond vampire who appears to be around his twenties and works as a physician. He is the one who turned Edward into a vampire and took care of Edward and four other vampires appearing as teenagers along with his wife. Compassionate and warm, he is quite welcoming to Bella and feels that she is apart of the family despite being human.
Esme Cullen; Carlisle’s wife and a vampire. At first, she was a human before Carlisle bit her after she became his wife and apparently came down with a sickness. She is the most composed person throughout the film and appears as a motherly figure, not only to the five vampires she sees as her children but to Bella who Esme seems to like and welcomes Bella into the family.
Mike Newton; a jock in the school and one of the first male classmates Bella befriends. He met Bella after she accidentally hit a volleyball against his head. While Bella and Edward develops their friendship throughout the film, Mike develops a liking to Bella and asks her to the prom before he turns to ask one of Bella’s female friends, rejected by Bella.
Tyler Crowley; one of Bella’s friends and a male classmate of Bella who happens to flirt with her constantly and even kisses her on the cheek teasingly. Despite developing a liking to Bella, he does not show much of the liking except when he nearly crushed her with his van and continuously apologized.
Eric Yorkie; a Chinese friend of Bella who attempted to ask her to the prom before he was interrupted by Mike. After being rejected, he asks one of Bella’s other female companion but continues to maintain a liking towards Bella. He is the first one who befriends Bella and takes her around the school, touring her when she first arrives to the school.
Cinematography
Handheld Camera was used in a few scenes. The camera was shaking so it seemed to create a humanly affect to the scene and created an increasing anxiety within the scene. One scene which included the use of Handheld Camera was when Bella and Edward were talking to one another after Edward confessed of his secret.
Uses of Fast Motion was used throughout the film to add realism to the scenes when Edward happens to be running at an amazing speed, one of his powers as a vampire. One of the scenes is when Edward and the Cullens decided to play baseball and Edward decided to chase after a ball.
Uses of Slow Motion was used but rare. It was to create a melancholic and intense feel to the scenes and to create a somewhat unrealistic but mysterious vibe to the scenes. One of the scenes included when Edward and Bella were speaking to one another of what occurred before Edward was turned into a vampire before he jumped down the edge of a cliff.
Uses of Subjecte Point of View Shots. Some scenes included the uses of the shots but were carried out by the uses of Handheld Cameras. One of the scenes included when Bella dropped the apple and Edward caught it by rolling it up his feet though seen through Bella’s perspective.
Uses of Special Affects seemed relevant throughout the film since most of the vampires had used powers of their own and these scenes where the vampires used their powers were important to create a realism and magical feel to the movie. One of the scenes included when Edward was rapidly running up the mountain, his figure seemingly vast as he ran up.
Genre
Romance
Fantasy
Lighting and Color
The lighting was often soft and diffused to create a calming effect in most of the scenes.
The lighting was natural since most of the scenes included daylight and somtimes, if not daylight, then late afternoon. A feeling of realism and naturality was carried out throughout the film with the use of natural light.
The color often included a light blue. It created a melancholic effect to the film and even intensified the intensity in the romance of the film. It also somehow gave a feeling of softness and coldness through out the film, supporting the theme of vampires and the dreary feeling through the film.
The color supported the weather which was often rainy, windy and cold during most of the film and rarely any sun was shown from what I remember.
Narrative Structure
Linear Structure
-One event after another was carried out without any flashbacks to interrupt the story.
Exposition
-The narrator, Bella Swan, introduces herself and moves to a new town and a new school where she is seated beside Edward Cullen in her Biology class and seem uneasy in his presence but develops a friendship with him gradaully.
Complication
-When Bella suspects Edward of being more than a simple human and begins to research deeply.
-When Edward confesses of what he is after Bella tells Edward of her suspicions.
-When Edward hesitates to maintain a relationship with Bella but nevertheless, accepts her feelings and his own.
-When James attempts to kill Bella for her blood and begins to hunt her down continuously.
Climax
-A little troubling and unsettling, somewhat questionable but without a doubt, it is something that I’m sure fans of the Twilight series would understand.
In my opinion, I believe the plot and the story of the film and the series seem a little too predictable to me because the theme of Romeo and Juliet and the forbidden affair is overused a lot nowadays that it’s becoming an old trend. Although, I feel the movie was quite amazing itself for how it carried out the plot. The music was quite perfect for most of the scenes and at the perfect moments too! I do believe that what I enjoyed most of all was how the romance of the movie was carried out perfectly. The romantic theme of the movie seemed quite heartbreaking and almost melancholic that it squeezed the screams out of the girls that I even seemed a little amused by the romance of the movie.
Overall, the movie was good and I expect a better film of the sequel of Twilight for the second book of the Twilight series, New Moon.
Trying watching the movie yourself! See the trailer:
A movie called Passengers starring Anne Hathaway revolves around the stories of four remaining passengers and a therapist after a plane crash as they unravel the story and truth upon the accident. Gradually, one by one, the survivors disappear and the therapist is desperate for the truth and the story behind the accident but to only stumble upon a shocking secret.
Characters
Developing Characters
Claire Summers; she is one of the main characters of the film. She is a therapist who begins to hold group therapy sessions for the ffour survivors of the crash. At first, she is unaffected by the actions of one of her patients. It is at one point of the story, she accepts the series of odd behavior of her patient and somehow becomes infatuated with him.
Eric; he is one of the main characters of the film. He is one of the five patients who survived the crash and at first, he appears completely fine, somewhat undisturbed by the event. He is a charming character who often attempts to woo Claire and feels a deep connection to her, feeling drawn and intrigued by her. It is later on, he discovers a disturbing secret and becomes perturbed and isolated from her to only accept the secret.
Static Characters
Dean; one of the four patients. He is the first to disappear during the film.
Shannon; she is one of the four patients who is the fourth to disappear and the last. It is known that her parents died when she was young and the event impacted her negatively and deeply.
Norman; he is one of the four patients who disappears after Dean. He is the one who introduces a theory upon the truth behind the accident.
Perry; he is Claire’s boss in her job. He appears as a fatherly figure throughout the film.
Toni; she is a woman living in the same apartment building as Claire. She shows a liking towards Claire. It seems to run beyond a friendly liking and a motherly liking but it doesn’t cross the line of a liking involving love.
Cinematography
Multiple uses of Subject Point of View shots such as when Claire’s sister was looking at a note and then, the scene cut to show what was said on the note.
Uses of Slow Motion such as when there is a flashback of the crash, everything begins to slow down to add a dramatic and emotional affect.
Genre
Thriller
Horror
Romance
Drama
Lighting and Color
Multiple uses of Low Key Lighting.
The lighting is rarely soft and diffused to add a soft emotional affect to the characters such as when Eric was looking outside the window and staring at a dog on the sidewalk.
The lighting most of the time was harsh which added a dramatic affect in the intense scenes when Claire began to scream for Eric, thinking he drowned when he jumped into the water for a swim.
The color tended to be blue which gave off a melancholic aura, adding emotional affect.
The weather was often rainy and cold and somewhat dark which added to the affect of the color.
Narrative Structure
Linear, Chronological
-The story is not constanly switching back and forth in flashbacks. It does not start in the middle of a plot. It is organized.
Exposition
-Claire is introduced, waking up to a call.
-The four survivors are introduced, one by one, as Claire stumbles into their rooms in the hospital.
Complication
-When Eric stumbles onto a secret and isolates himself away from Claire
-When Claire begins to conflict against Arkin, the owner of the airline with the airplane that exploded
Climax
-This is something you REALLY need to find out on your own. Just like the previous review.
This film was absolutely amazing. It was somewhat confusing because characters just randomly popped in and out and you, as apart of the audience, would have no idea what happened or why. But events unraveled gradually and the thing about how the director wanted to unravel the events was interesting because it was unique in it’s own way. The film revolved around a small hint of horror but most of it seemed to consist of romance and drama and thriller, especially. With each event unraveling, a small truth was revealed and with each piece of the truth revealed, a bigger truth was waiting behind the wall.
As those pieces built up, the thrill of discovering the secret and the truth behind the accident and the disappearing survivors just keep you waiting. Along that thrill, you discover romance during the film which is a good thing from my perspective because it seemed that the film lacked a certain shock to it so involving romance really filled the empty space where the shock was supposed to be. But the director slipped the romance in the film quite well and in the end of the film, when the truth just comes together, the romance and the thrill just fits perfectly together.
The romance was quite enjoyable because the scenes were quite romantic and cute since Claire and Eric showed an interest in one another but Claire maintained that infatuation for her work so she often rejected him in multiple comedic ways. Overall, this film was a great thing to watch and I personally liked it although there were a lot of scenes which showed some errors in editing. One scene, a character would have her arm raised then when the angle was shot, her arm was no longer raised so the editing had mistakes.
Ien, a student from Seoul Foreign School in South Korea, is a student who has been working on many film projects which he posted up on YouTube under the name of IentheKorean. One of the projects he has posted was used as an introduction to our Autobiography Video project.
I stumbled across his video and immediately left a message on his profile and began looking through most of his posted videos. One of them was the Who Am I? video which completely sparked an inspiration in me and one of his projects was called Infinity which I found the best video so far. It is his third project and his editing skills are absolutely amazing and beyond comprehension.
If you have a YouTube account yourself, please, drop a comment. He is surely someone you would want to talk to if you ever want to major in Film in the future because he has done so many amazing projects which completely inspire you and spark an interest in Film in many students.
