Schindler's List - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: Schindler's List is a biographical drama made in 1993 about a German man named Oskar Schindler. It is 195 minutes long and by Steven Spielberg. In Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.

Question #1: What is the effect of black-and-white film in Schindler’s list?

The black-and-white presentation effectively evokes the World War II era and deepens the impact of the story. Black and white also gives the director the opportunity to use color to highlight key scenes and show a contrast in time. For example, the opening scene of the movie, which is one of the few scenes in color, fades into the next scene, in black and white. The black and white film also heightens the impact of the film’s violence and highlights the dual between good and evil.

Question #2: 

How does the editing contrast the difference between the Jews and the Nazis? 

Spielberg uses crosscutting to show the harsh difference between the hardship of the Jews and the comfort of the Nazis. It demonstrates the powerful contrast between happiness and sadness. In one particular scene, three scenes are interwoven: Schindler celebrates his birthday, a wedding takes place in the Plaszów labor camp, and Goeth beats Helen Hirsch. These crosscuts show a clear contrast between the lives of different people at the time.

 

Wizard of Oz - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: The Wizard of Oz is an American musical fantasy film directed in 1939 by Victor Fleming. It is based off of a 1900 novel. It is 103 minutes long and is about a girl who gets trapped in a tornado and can not find her way home. She meets friends along the way and they try to find a wizard so that they can get Dorothy home.

Question #1:  How does the color and sepia tone make this film so much more successful than without color?

The movie opens with Dorothy in Kansas and with a sepia tone. This shows that her life is somewhat simple and boring and nothing different from the ordinary (sort of how films without color were during that time). After Dorothy steps into her new world, everything changes and everything is in color. There is so much color that get the viewer excited and in awe, just as Dorothy is. The color change shows the change from her old home to the place she is now and how different her life will be. The new place she is in is filled with color and adventure. She must follow the yellow brick road to get where she has to go and the color of the road is actually yellow. This was a huge advancement for movies at the time. The Wizard of Oz lives in a shiny green castle to show that he is supposed to be wealthy. 

Question #2: The music in the Wizard of Oz is still famous to this day and used in theater plays. Why was the music such a great choice for this film?

The music is very upbeat and happy and gives off a similar vibe to the one of the film having color. When Dorothy is in Kansas, the music played is different and more slow. While those songs have become famous as well, they are not as upbeat and fun as the ones while Dorothy is in the Emerald City. Music was also used to make the film more excited to explain what was going on rather than just speaking. The songs were very catchy and informative at the same time. For example, the Scarecrow sings, “If I Only Had a Brain.” He sings to inform the viewer that he wishes he had a brain and would like to join Dorothy to find the Wizard of Oz to get a brain. Doing so through song is much more entertaining and makes the viewer more intrigued and the movie becomes more enjoyable.

Toy Story- Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: Toy Story is computer-animated film released in 1995 by Walt Disney Pictures. It is 81 minutes long and tells the story of toys who come to life when humans are around. The toys’ owner gets a new toy to play with and some of the others feel replaced but they work as a team to save each other and stay with their owner.

Question #1: How does the director, John Lasseter, effectively transition form one scene to the next with a certain purpose?

There are many scenes in which the transition from one scene to the next to explain to the viewer what is going on. Woody and Buzz look through a telescope toy to look out of the window. The shot shows them looking through the toy and this shot transitions to what they are viewing outside. This puts the viewer into the movie and from the perspective of the two characters. In another scene just a house is being shown until a few moments later toy monkey appear in the scene. The shot of the house does not move but more monkeys appear. As too many monkeys appear in the shot, there is a transition to a long shot and low angle. This allows more monkeys to be shown and exactly what they are doing as well as makes them look dominant and powerful. Animated movies must be made extremely similar to films that are created with a camera.

Question #2: Why do the colors of the characters show what type of personality they possess?

One of the characters, Bo Peep, is dressed in a white dress with pink- polka dots. She looks very classy and this is the girl that Woody likes. Polka dots symbolize being fun and flirtatious. However, innocent at the same time. The color pink I used to show compassion, love, and beauty. This is exactly the way that Bo Peep is showed in the film. She is rather quiet and innocent but she is the most beautiful woman to Woody. She is fun and flirtatious towards Woody and very compassionate. Her and Woody share a love for each other. The new character introduced, Buzz is the colors green and purple. The purple symbolizes his creativity, wisdom, magic, and royalty. He comes up with creative ways to save his friends using his wisdom and eh believes he has magical powers before he realizes he is just a toy. He is one of the most expensive toys and becomes one of Andy’s favorites. The green symbolizes the hope that he has and the hope that he can save the rest of his friends. Green can also symbolize wealth.

American Graffiti - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: American Graffiti is a George Lucas film from 1973. It is 108 minutes long and it is a study of the cruising and rock and roll cultures popular among the post–World War II baby boom generation. This film tells the stories of a group of teenagers throughout the night.

Question #1: Why was the orchestra that Universal hired such a great fit for this movie? Give examples.

Each choice of background music is essential to each scene in American Graffiti. Most of the music gives off a fun vibe and tries to really show the viewer the time period in which the story takes place. It shows that the kids are just teenagers who just want to have a good time. During romantic scenes, the music still sounds like it is rather old but it is now slowed down to make the scene slower and more romantic. The music makes the viewer feel as if they are a part of the film and the time period in which the director is trying to portray.

Question #2: How does wardrobe and choice of where to film the movie reflect the time period of the film?

One of the characters, Terry, is dressed up in a geeky fashion. He wears big glasses from the 60’s and is wearing typical nerdy button down shirts. His hair is extremely neat and this already tells the viewer what type of character he is before we eve hear him speak. All of the cars look very old and contribute too the time period in which the film was supposed to take place. The city in which they drive around is filled with very bright lights and is exactly what people picture the 1960s to look it. George Lucas did a great job at setting the scene perfectly and everything fits the time period perfectly as well. The hats and suits that they were give off a fun and out of the ordinary vibe. The slicked back hair that many characters have was also popular in the 1960s.

Mr. Smith goes to Washington - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: Mr. Smith goes to Washington is an American film made in 1939 directed by Frank Carpa. It is 129 minutes long and display’s one man’s effect on American politics. This movie is about a naïve man who is appointed to the U.S. Senate.  His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down.

Question #1: How is Carpa able to use lighting to his advantage to portray emotions and feelings?

He explains to people the way he feels about politics through the lighting as it reflects emotions from the characters. When a character is sweating, the lighting shines on them more differently to truly exaggerate their fear. The lighting shines more brightly where the action happens or is about to happen. A character stumbles and the lighting is slightly more extravagant in that area or papers appear to be a brighter color because the focus should be on the papers. Lighting is used to downplay some characters too or to show a shadow in the scene. Lighting plays a key role in who the viewer must watch and it is very helpful to this film.

Question #2: What type of shots are used in this film and how do they affect the film?

Focus is directed directly on a man’s face and therefore the shot is an extreme close up on the man’s face. This is extremely effective because the viewer is able to see the exact facial expression and texture of the man’s face. The viewer can not miss a thing. Parallelism is used and this keeps the focus on the object between the parallel sides. It is very pleasing to the human eye. In most of the scenes, there is always something going on in the background. The focus is still nearest tot eh camera but the background is never boring and it always contributes to the film whether people or objects are properly placed there. A certain scene is an over-the-shoulder shot and love angle to show Hubert looking down to the man he is speaking to as he gains control in the conversation.

The Matrix - Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: North by Northwest is a 1959 American thriller film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock. This is a 136 minute film about a man who is mistaken as a spy and is chased and escapes form people attempting to kill him. He avoids danger the whole movie and is in love with a girl who works for the men trying to kill him.

Question #1: How does clothing attribute to the character’s personality and portray the way they act?

To begin, visual effects immediately attract people’s attention but visual effects are pointless without a good story and reason for the effects. The focus was on moving objects, like bullets, rather than people. Slow motion was used to make the scene more dramatic and keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. Acton movies usually require visual effects but this movie added visual effects that were mainly used to create “bullet time.” This was relatively new to the film industry and intrigued all who watched the movie. The effects added all kept the fluidity of the movie and made the story easier to believe. While special effects are fake, they made this story seem more real.

Question #2: What type of music was used during the film and why did or didn’t it serve its purpose?

When Morpheus offers Neo the pills there is no music playing. All attention should be focused exactly on what Morpheus is saying and the decision Neo will make. No musical distractions are necessary. When Neo enters the lobby where is about to engage in an epic battle, loud but slow pumping music is playing in the background as if it could resemble the beating of a heart. During fun battle scenes the music becomes louder and faster. The music dictates the way that the viewer feels and allows what is going on in the scene to have a specific effect.

North by Northwest- Semester 2

Justin Noddle Period 6

Summary: North by Northwest is a 1959 American thriller film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock. This is a 136 minute film about a man who is mistaken as a spy and is chased and escapes form people attempting to kill him. He avoids danger the whole movie and is in love with a girl who works for the men trying to kill him.

Question #1: How does clothing attribute to the character’s personality and portray the way they act?

The main character, Cary Grant wears a gray suit throughout the entire movie. It is now known as one of the best suits in films history the most influential. His suit gives him a sort of iconic status. The fact that he always wears the suit makes it seem durable just like he is. Surviving through everything and so is his suit. The woman who is supposed to be very attractive is always wearing vibrant colors to attract attention to herself and is wearing jewelry to symbolize both wealth and beauty. The costume of each character shows who they truly are and helps give the viewer an idea of who the character really is.

Question #2: What type of camera movement does Hitchcock use and when? Why is this effective in getting his point across?

Hitchcock uses an extreme long shot early in the film to establish the scene and shows one character alone, assume to be the protagonist, entering a door. It is followed by a long shot form inside the building, which implies that he walked into this certain building. This long shot allows the viewer to analyze the costume of Thornhill and see what he looks like. Thornhill meets a man and a medium shot is used to keep the focus on the two men and the dialogue that they are having. The camera pans effectively when action takes place.