Class Review

Some people might think that in a class about watching movies you wouldn’t learn much of anything, but I think that you can learn a lot from this class. I liked how we watched movies from the past, and worked our way to more modern films. At first I didn’t like the sound of watching some older movies, but I actually enjoyed some of those movies. I think it taught us about the history of film and what film has turned into. You showed us some of the pictures from the Simpsons of them poking fun at some older movie I looked at it and never knew the message behind it until I watched the original movie. I also liked that we did get to pick some of the films that we watched, even though not all of them were the best choice. It was nice that we got to watch different genres because some of them I’ve never seen before.

I liked that we had some different options when discussing the movies. Whether it was the socratic discussion, a chat on moodle, or a podcast; I thought that it was nice that there were different options rather than just having a discussion every time. A lot of the time when we discussed the movies, we talked about virtue. I think that it is a good discussion topic to start out with. I also like that you made the students lead the Socratic discussions. It liked how we had to say something pertaining to the movie at the beginning of the day for role. It made me pay more attention to the movie and look for symbols and quotes.

I couldn't find your email so I just made it a new post.

Main Stream film vs Independent film

I would have to give Donnie Darko a 1 out of 5, and that is being nice. I thought that it had absolutely not point to the movie and that it was weird. There were some funny parts, but not enough to make me like the movie. I also like that Jake Gyllenhaal was in the movie, because he’s a really good actor. I would not recommend this movie to anyone because it is just a waste of time. On the other hand, Shawshank Redemption is a great movie. I would give it 4.5 out of 5. I thought that Tim Robbins did a great job in that movie. I loved the storyline of it, and I didn’t see the ending coming at all, which I liked.

There are many differences in an independent film and a main stream film. For one, I think that in an independent film, you have to think about the story line and plot a little more. For example, in the movie Donnie Darko, an independent film, you had to actually think about what was going on. They made you think about it more. In Shawshank Redemption, a main stream film, for the most part they told you what was going on and you didn’t have to think as hard to what was actually going on. Another difference that I notice was that in independent films, they use a lot more music than in main stream films. In Donnie Darko, they played music through most of the movie. Where in Shawshank Redemption, they played less music.

Movies

1. Shawshank Redemption
2. The Simpsons Movie
3. The Graduate
4. Wall-E
5. The Great Debaters
6. Psycho
7. Cimema Paridiso
8. Ben-Hur
9. Gone with the Wind
10. V for Vendetta
11. Citizen Kane
12. Donnie Darko

The Great Debaters Podcast

http://www.box.net/shared/28dpri4ae8

http://www.box.net/shared/h5gpe2ua95

http://www.box.net/shared/me25qkqujk

http://www.box.net/shared/oqby29 cxuwq

Wall-E

Most people would not be interested in watching a movie with barley any talking. The two main words that are spoken are “Wall-e”, and “Eve”. I would rate this movie 4 out of 5. Wall-e, directed by Andrew Stanton, I thought was very well done. The majority of the movie was told through the voices of the robots and their actions. At the beginning of the movie I was working on other work. I heard people start to laugh, and when I looked up I didn’t know what was so funny. After awhile I was glued to the movie and wasn’t doing other work.

I thought it was funny the way the made fun of the weight problem of people and the way that some people are no t eco friendly. They showed that in the future when people are living in space that they are all overweight, they have chairs that move them around so they don’t have to walk, and that they have computers and technology to do everything for them. I would defiantly recommend this movie to others, it is really cute and has a fun storyline to it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WALL-E

http://www.the-reel-mccoy.com/movies/2008/images/Wall-E_poster.jpg

V for Vendetta

“People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.” This was said by V, played by Hugo Weaving. That’s exactly how V felt about the government. He was defiantly not afraid of the government. I would give this movie 2.5 out of 5. I didn’t enjoy this movie very much because it was very hard to understand right from the beginning. Also the genre, sci-fi/thriller, is not a genre that I particularly like.

Evey Hammond, played by Natalie Portman, has been captured by V, after V blows up the Old Bailey. He takes her to his lair where she is supposed to stay there till the 5^th of November, which is one year later. V then broadcasts himself on TV all over Britain, revealing his plan to destroy the Houses of Parliament on the fifth of November. When the police raid the building, Evey is there to help V escape. Evey has already been recognized as being at the scene of the Old Baileys destruction.

I really don’t think that most of the movie was very realistic. Having someone that did a horrible crime, and who said when he will do another crime, is somehow never caught when the government had plenty of chances to get him. Although I did not like the movie I would recommend the movie to others. I thought that it was very creative how they incorporated the number 5 and the letter V into the movie. The storyline was pretty good and I thought the Natalie Portman did a great job in the movie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta_(film)

http://img4.sidereel.com/_icon/204.jpg

The Simpsons Movie

“We have a great life here in Alaska, and we're never going back to America again!” This was said by Homer Simpson. I like this quote because its funny and it shows how Homer is somewhat of an idiot. I would give this movie 4.5 out of 5 stars because it is really funny. It was really funny to me because it was making fun of a lot of things that were happening at the time and that where current. The director, David Silverman, did make sure that he did not offend anyone with any of the jokes he was making.

After Homer destroys the entire town of Springfield, President Schwarzenegger randomly picks a solution to the problem, put a dome over the town of Springfield. When the town of Springfield find out that this whole mess is Homers fault they create a mob and attack Homers house. The family escapes through the sinkhole in their backyard and run away to Alaska. Marge, Lisa, and Bart have a change of mind and go to try to save Springfield but are captured by the EPA. After some thinking, Homer decides to also help out Springfield. When he returns back to the dome he notices that there is a bomb hanging from a rope attached to a helicopter ready to blow Springfield up. Will Homer have the brains or the ability to save Springfield? Overall I think that this a great movie to watch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons_Movie#Casting

http://brokenman.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/the_simpsons_movie_poster_2.jpg