Kiss Me Deadly

I am not sure whether or not I liked Robert Aldrich's film, Kiss Me Deadly. While Kiss Me Deadly held my attention throughout most of the film, the end really threw me off. I am not a big sci-fi finatic, and I just didn't really understand the glowing box of death, or fire, or spirits, or whatever the heck it was that was in the box. I also didn't really understand the reason for having two different endings, because they seemed too similar to me. I just think that they could've improved the film a lot if they just changed that one aspect. Or if they had introduced the idea of sci-fi earlier in the film, then it may have made a little bit more sense, because it just seemed so out of the blue at the end.

Groundhog Day

I thouroughly enjoyed Harold Ramis' Groundhog Day. Although getting stuck in a time loop seems basically impossible at this time, I think that many of the ideas of Groundhog day are very realistic. We may not be reliving the same day over and over again, but we do lead very controlled and pre-planned lives. We go to school five out of the seven days of the week, nine out of the twelve months of the year, for 12 to 16 years of our lives. We go to the same classes at the same time every day, with the exception of the switches at semester. Once we graduate from high school and college, we find a job, and then, from there, we continue to attend that job 5 out of 7 days of the week, every month of the year, until we are either fired or retire. We might wonder if such a repetitive life is worth it. In Groundhog Day, Bill Murray's character, Phil, shows us that, yes, it is worth it. It's worth it to help others as best you can, and do what you can to enrich their lives.

Bringing Up Crap

As many of the other students from the class would agree with me, I did not enjoy Howard Hawks film, Bringing Up Baby. I am not sure whether it was the plot of the story, the script or Katharine Hepburn that made the film so unbearable. If it was indeed the script, then Hepburn did an amazing job conforming into the obnoxious character that she played! No matter the case, it is never a good idea to frustrate the audience that way, because it is extremely distracting from the film.

I would not reccomend this film.

Once Upon a Time in the West

I enjoyed Sergio Leone's film, Once Upon a Time in the West, very much. I liked how you never really knew what was going on, but you were still able to follow along with the story.

The use of sound throughout this film was incredible. The introduction was confusing, but interesting how each character was described using their body language and music. When Harmonica was first introduced, the sound of the harmonica that was associated with him sounded very eerie. As Harmonica continued to appear throughout the film, the harmonica always sounded nondiegetic, as if he were not there. Sometimes, we really weren't aware of his presence. For example, toward the beginning, when Jill and Cheyenne were in the shop, Cheyenne swung the lantern across the room, eventually revealing Harmonica's presence.

Casablanca

Michael Curitz’s film Casablanca first premiered in New York City at the Hollywood Theater on November 26, 1942. Casablanca’s general release occurred on January 23, 1943. James Berardinelli states that “Unlike many films that later became classics, Casablanca was popular in its day, although a cadre of officials at Warner Brothers were convinced that it would be a box-office failure.” The film was a noteworthy, yet not outstanding box-office success. On its initial U.S. release, Casablanca made $3.7 million, and became the seventh best-selling film of 1943.

James Berardinelli says “It's probably no stretch to say that Casablanca, arguably America's best-loved movie, has had more words written about it than any other motion picture.” Reviews of Casablanca were mostly positive as the film won three awards at the Oscars of 1944. Those awards included Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director, and Best Picture. Eventually, by the year 1977, Casablanca became the most frequently broadcast film on American television.

In the film My Darling Clementine, the character Wyatt Earp is portrayed as a typical western hero at the beginning of the film when he comes out of nowhere and shows up the town sheriff by taking care of the drunk Indian with no problem at all. Also, during the scene when we are first introduced to Doc. Holiday, Wyatt just walks right up to Doc. after he has made a big scene, and knowing that he is a trouble maker, and doesn't even pull out a gun when Doc. threatens him.

At the end of the film, during the gunfight at the O.K. corral, Wyatt is shown as a hero by giving the Clanton's a chance to surrender before he begins to shoot. It is only after they refuse that he opens fire. He gives Mr. Clanton yet another chance to leave town after the gunfight has died down some, but Mr. Clanton chooses not to take this opportunity and when he reaches for his gun, he is shot.

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane uses diegetic and nondiegetic sounds simultaneously throughout the film. For example, diegetic sounds are used during Kane's celebration with his song. At the point of the celebration his song has an upbeat and major sound, while later on in the film his song has a more minor sound when Kane's accomplishments begin to fall apart. An example of the use of nondiegetic sounds would be montage sequence at the breakfast table scene with Mr. and Mrs. Kane. The beginning of the scene, when they are getting along and happy, the background music is lighthearted and major tones, as the sequence continues, and the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Kane becomes more distant, the music adjusts to this and becomes darker and almost sinister.