Atomic Cafe speaks about the nature of human beings, and how we can be a little crazy sometimes. Last generation's crazy Cold War views are splattered across the screen fit with appropriate music, displaying just how ridiculous things can be. It uses black humor to amplify its anti-Cold War/Nuclear message.
"Duck and Cover" has to be one of the funniest things I have ever witnessed. I distinctly remember the narrator stating, "even a newspaper can hide you from a burn." Did people honestly believe that ten layers of thin paper would be their golden armor? Would a picnic blanket suddenly gain the power to reflect hazardous particles?
Humans are cast in a very bad light. Leaders are sending out soldiers to nuclear explosions, people unaffiliated with the war are forced away from their homes, and even the president is made to look bad. Is humanity truly like this? Can we be so stricken with paranoia that we succumb to sin?
Hopefully something like this will never happen again. Yet, we can never tell the future. Maybe someday a giant piece of alien technology lands on Earth and some jerk decides to make a weapon out of it.
All in all, Atomic Cafe was a great movie to end the class with.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Dr. Strangelove
I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into this, but was Dr. Strangelove supposed to be a Nazi? I remember several times throughout the film where he did the Nazi salute. Also, at the end, he stands up and says, "Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!" That's pretty much the most direct Nazi reference one can give, other than anti-Semetic shouting.
I'm not sure of the relevance of this, but I would guess that the Germans may be added on to the race for survival between America and Russia. It could also be another fear that Americans had during the Cold War. Maybe Germany would go and attack them again.
Also, why was Dr. Strangelove able to walk at the end? Is it just some kind of suprise? Did the actor just decide to do it for no reason? That part made no sense to me.
I'm not sure of the relevance of this, but I would guess that the Germans may be added on to the race for survival between America and Russia. It could also be another fear that Americans had during the Cold War. Maybe Germany would go and attack them again.
Also, why was Dr. Strangelove able to walk at the end? Is it just some kind of suprise? Did the actor just decide to do it for no reason? That part made no sense to me.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
A Simple Plan
Finding money out of nowhere and then having it backfire is a tired and overused plot. It has been used in fiction, movies, and even games. However, this movie took a strange twist. Usually during movies like this, whenever more than one person finds a bag of money, they fight to the death for it. The characters of Hank, Jacob, Sarah and Lou change this.
Although almost everyone dies over the money, the characters of Hank and Jacob are the point of interest. Hank and Jacob form an alliance, without Lou. They work together instead of the "every man for himself" concept that is usually portrayed in these plots. Brotherly love is also a new addition to this. Hank never betrays Jacob either, Hank is forced to shoot him.
A femme fatal is also something I have not seen in a rags to riches plot. Sarah, a strange addition, wants Hank to just take all of the money and run. I wonder if she was put in to force Hank to stay(the baby), or if she was just there to make him more evil.
Also, every plot like this usually has the idiot that they pin the blame on. Lou takes that position. Usually it backfires with the idiot getting all the money, or something ridiculous. However, Sam Raimi decides to kill him off, along with his wife.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Who is Sammy Jenkins?
Sammy Jenkins is a pivotal character in the movie, allowing for exposition and insight for Leonard's illness and character. But who is he really?
It is my belief that Sammy Jenkins is Leonard. After all, the movie has so many different possibilities. Leonard could be faking his own illness, Teddy could be lying, and Natalie could have even stolen the money.
Several times throughout the film, Nolan decides to interchange Leonard's character with Sammy. One instance was during a flashback where Sammy was in a hospital; Leonard was soon imprinted over him. This happens again at the end, in which Teddy tries to tell the truth, and Leonard replaces Sammy in a flashback. This leads me to believe that Leonard's brain safeguarded him by creating a new identity. He couldn't deal with the fact that he killed his wife, so why not put the blame on someone else?
Teddy also repeatedly states throughout the film that Leonard is not really Leonard. It's who he "used" to be. This suggests that Leonard has gone through several identity changes. Perhaps each time he remembers what he did to his wife, he repeatedly makes a new persona. This is also further proved by Leonard stealing John G's clothes. Leonard states, "I'd rather be mistaken for a dead man than a killer."
If Leonard wasn't Sammy Jenkins, then what is the point of his inclusion? The only thing I can think of would be to remember his illness, yet Leonard remembers the incident, which is what gave him his illness in the first place.
It is my belief that Sammy Jenkins is Leonard. After all, the movie has so many different possibilities. Leonard could be faking his own illness, Teddy could be lying, and Natalie could have even stolen the money.
Several times throughout the film, Nolan decides to interchange Leonard's character with Sammy. One instance was during a flashback where Sammy was in a hospital; Leonard was soon imprinted over him. This happens again at the end, in which Teddy tries to tell the truth, and Leonard replaces Sammy in a flashback. This leads me to believe that Leonard's brain safeguarded him by creating a new identity. He couldn't deal with the fact that he killed his wife, so why not put the blame on someone else?
Teddy also repeatedly states throughout the film that Leonard is not really Leonard. It's who he "used" to be. This suggests that Leonard has gone through several identity changes. Perhaps each time he remembers what he did to his wife, he repeatedly makes a new persona. This is also further proved by Leonard stealing John G's clothes. Leonard states, "I'd rather be mistaken for a dead man than a killer."
If Leonard wasn't Sammy Jenkins, then what is the point of his inclusion? The only thing I can think of would be to remember his illness, yet Leonard remembers the incident, which is what gave him his illness in the first place.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Sway
As I was watching Dark City, I noticed some parts that seemed to have no actual significance to the plot. One of these scenes was Jennifer Connelly singing. At first, it seemed to just introduce the character; just showing that she's a singer. However, after thinking for awhile, I realized it held much more significance.
Connelly's first rendition is the song, "Sway". This song tells of a dance between two people, swaying along to the music. Connelly's lyrics are, "Bend with me, sway with ease. When we dance you have a way with me. Sway with me." This alludes to the relationship between the Strangers and the denizens of the dark city. The Strangers have the city in their grasp, swaying and playing around with it. The people are their playthings without them really knowing it. People are just swaying along with the Stranger's needs.
Next, Connelly sings, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes." This one is a lot more obvious. Its an allusion to whats actually going on in the city. The "thousand eyes" refer to the Strangers and how they are watching everything going on. Since the city is always dark, people are watching constantly. Every move, every action, all are recorded and studied.
Connelly's first rendition is the song, "Sway". This song tells of a dance between two people, swaying along to the music. Connelly's lyrics are, "Bend with me, sway with ease. When we dance you have a way with me. Sway with me." This alludes to the relationship between the Strangers and the denizens of the dark city. The Strangers have the city in their grasp, swaying and playing around with it. The people are their playthings without them really knowing it. People are just swaying along with the Stranger's needs.
Next, Connelly sings, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes." This one is a lot more obvious. Its an allusion to whats actually going on in the city. The "thousand eyes" refer to the Strangers and how they are watching everything going on. Since the city is always dark, people are watching constantly. Every move, every action, all are recorded and studied.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Film Noir
While I have heard of the genre before, film noir is something I have never experienced. I've know its themes and how it usually deals with gangsters. However, I've never watched any film noir.
The Asphalt Jungle is my first venture into the genre. Honestly, I like it. The characters are likable, and its black and white nature adds to its grittiness. Although the acting is a little strange and I can't understand anything the Doc says, I think it has its own niche.
The characters are among my favorites from any film we have watched so far. Emmerich, though a bad guy who double-crosses the Doc and Dix, is given sympathy at the final moments before his arrest. He knows he's going to get whisked off to jail, yet plays cards with his wife. He could easily leave her behind and escape, yet doesn't. Also when the police come to his escort's house to arrest him, he tells her to tell them the truth. He's letting her off even though a statement from her could have helped his case.
The Doc is given a sympathetic moment as well. Right before he gets arrested, he gives a teenage girl several nickels. While it could be argued that he did it for his own perversion, I'd like to think that he did it to do something good before he got caught.
Even Dix has our sympathy. Throughout the film, Dix repeatedly refuses to even casually converse with Doll(?). By the end, he lets her join him in his escape. I also suspect that the director will work in a romantic scene right before Dix dies or gets caught.
The Asphalt Jungle is my first venture into the genre. Honestly, I like it. The characters are likable, and its black and white nature adds to its grittiness. Although the acting is a little strange and I can't understand anything the Doc says, I think it has its own niche.
The characters are among my favorites from any film we have watched so far. Emmerich, though a bad guy who double-crosses the Doc and Dix, is given sympathy at the final moments before his arrest. He knows he's going to get whisked off to jail, yet plays cards with his wife. He could easily leave her behind and escape, yet doesn't. Also when the police come to his escort's house to arrest him, he tells her to tell them the truth. He's letting her off even though a statement from her could have helped his case.
The Doc is given a sympathetic moment as well. Right before he gets arrested, he gives a teenage girl several nickels. While it could be argued that he did it for his own perversion, I'd like to think that he did it to do something good before he got caught.
Even Dix has our sympathy. Throughout the film, Dix repeatedly refuses to even casually converse with Doll(?). By the end, he lets her join him in his escape. I also suspect that the director will work in a romantic scene right before Dix dies or gets caught.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Unforgiven
Now that we have finished the film, I believe I finally know why its called Unforgiven.
Some characters have a certain aspect about themselves that they despise. Munny hates his talent for killing, the Schofield Kid hates that he can't kill, the whores hate that they are powerless, etc. They obviously try to change, yet cannot change that which is impossible. After the Schofield Kid kills the guy who cut up the whore, he decides to stop adventuring. Munny recedes back to his angry killing ways after Ned is tortured and killed. The whores run away from Munny when he goes on his shooting spree, unable to help or stop him. These characters cannot forgive their personalities. Hence why the kid always tries to seem more badass and Munny tries to lessen the nature of his kills.
Other characters, like Little Bill and English Bob hate the world around them. Little Bill dislikes this Western world, attacking assassins and killing Ned. Being the sheriff, Bill believes that he must protect the world from rotten scumbags who come to collect money for kills. English Bob hates America in general. He believes that his mother country of England is better. Numerous times throughout the film, he is seen mocking America. For example, when first introduced, he scoffs at the assassination of the president, saying that if he were a king this would not happen. These characters cannot forgive human society; how they act, the people in it, even their morals.
Essentially all of the characters think something around them is unforgivable. At the start of the film, Munny and Ned think that the guy who cut the whore up was a scumbag. Munny cannot forgive Bill for killing the innocent Ned. Bill hates every assassin on the planet. The whores believe that the man who cut up one of theirs should die. In this movie all of their morals and beliefs clash, ultimately resulting in death and chaos.
Some characters have a certain aspect about themselves that they despise. Munny hates his talent for killing, the Schofield Kid hates that he can't kill, the whores hate that they are powerless, etc. They obviously try to change, yet cannot change that which is impossible. After the Schofield Kid kills the guy who cut up the whore, he decides to stop adventuring. Munny recedes back to his angry killing ways after Ned is tortured and killed. The whores run away from Munny when he goes on his shooting spree, unable to help or stop him. These characters cannot forgive their personalities. Hence why the kid always tries to seem more badass and Munny tries to lessen the nature of his kills.
Other characters, like Little Bill and English Bob hate the world around them. Little Bill dislikes this Western world, attacking assassins and killing Ned. Being the sheriff, Bill believes that he must protect the world from rotten scumbags who come to collect money for kills. English Bob hates America in general. He believes that his mother country of England is better. Numerous times throughout the film, he is seen mocking America. For example, when first introduced, he scoffs at the assassination of the president, saying that if he were a king this would not happen. These characters cannot forgive human society; how they act, the people in it, even their morals.
Essentially all of the characters think something around them is unforgivable. At the start of the film, Munny and Ned think that the guy who cut the whore up was a scumbag. Munny cannot forgive Bill for killing the innocent Ned. Bill hates every assassin on the planet. The whores believe that the man who cut up one of theirs should die. In this movie all of their morals and beliefs clash, ultimately resulting in death and chaos.
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