The Shawshank Redemption has many great actors showing in the film. Directed by Frank Darabont and released in September of 1994, the film includes such great actors as Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne, Morgan Freeman as Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding, Bob Gunton as Warden Norton, and Clancy Brown as Captain Hadley. Tim Robbins has been in several films such as Twister (1989), War of the Worlds (2005), and will appear in the upcomming film City of Ember (2008).
Darabont said in an interview that Tim Robbins was the actor he wanted to play the role of Andy because of his dry humor, serious intellect, and flawless acting skills. Morgan Freeman, who has appeard in a countless number of great films over the years appeard in Daragont's film. With an authoritative voice, and calm demeanour, the ever popular African American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. Bob Gunton and Clancy Brown are also both great actors, and both appearing in many great american and forign films. Both Freeman and Robbins have both appeard in many different genres of films. The Shawshank Redemption is a crime drama. Both Freeman and Robbins have been in several comedys, romances, thrillers, sci-fi films, and everything in between. As said by Darabont, both actors had a great sense of humor, and each were able to keep the set light, or serious while shooting.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Pans Labyrinth Review
Director Guillermo del Toro's Spanish film Pans Labyrinth is a movie that can be called scary, beautiful, horrifying, imaginitive, magical, grotesque, sweet, bloody, hopefull, and utterly bizarre. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pans Labyrinth is a film that can fullful most anyones expectations. Del Toro's film manages to create a mature, adult movie and mix it with a child's bed time story.
Pans Labyrinth is set in 1940's Spain against the postwar repression of Franco's Spain, starring young Ivana Baquero as captain Vidal's [Sergi Lopez] daughter Ofelia. Ofelia, wishing for an escape from the vicious war being fought around her, is drawn into a fantasy world that is just as dangerous as the one she wants to leave. Ofelia pours herself into one of her most treasured possesions, a book of fairy tales that she keeps close to her at all times. Ofelia's adventure begins when she befriends Mercedes [Maribel Verdu], the housekeeper. Mercedes shows Ofelia the labyrinth, where she explores, and finds a Faun [Doug Jones] who gaurds the passage between her world and the fantasy world.
The Faun sends Ofelia on increasingly difficult chalenges to prove that she is the one he is looking for, a lost and forgotten princess, and a chance to pass over to the fantasy world she desperatly wants to live in. In her journey, she will come to terms with the fears of the world she wants to leave and the fears and dangers of her own imagination.
Edited by Bernat Vilaplana, the film will scare and intrige you with its fairytale nature and gruesome scenes. Pans labyrinth could be compared to Alice in Wonderland, though this version is not ment for children, due to most of its grafic nature. Del Toro's film shows the darker side of human nature through a childs eyes in a fantasy world. He crafts the best of human nature and the worst of it in one explosive film. Although the film Spanish, produced with English subtitles, the viewers have no problem understanding what is going on, with Del Toro's exelent use of photography and his filming styles.
Pans Labyrinth was a relatable film; you could put yourself in any of the characters shoes and the film seems to put you in their place. Besides its fairytale nature, the movie seemed to be spot on in protraying the viciousness war, the love one person can give to another, and what it would be like to have a war fought on your doorstep.
Filming locations included Bariloche, Argentina, Madrid, and Spain. The directer used mostly quick shots during action sequences, but switched to longer shots whenever the characters were in an open space. During some of the more grotesqe scenes in the film, the shots were longer, as if to make the viewer unconfortable, and to let us relate to the character in that moment of terror, or violence. The film used classical music, although letting all sounds be heard, especially during the fighting, and war scenes.
Pans Labyrinth is set in 1940's Spain against the postwar repression of Franco's Spain, starring young Ivana Baquero as captain Vidal's [Sergi Lopez] daughter Ofelia. Ofelia, wishing for an escape from the vicious war being fought around her, is drawn into a fantasy world that is just as dangerous as the one she wants to leave. Ofelia pours herself into one of her most treasured possesions, a book of fairy tales that she keeps close to her at all times. Ofelia's adventure begins when she befriends Mercedes [Maribel Verdu], the housekeeper. Mercedes shows Ofelia the labyrinth, where she explores, and finds a Faun [Doug Jones] who gaurds the passage between her world and the fantasy world.
The Faun sends Ofelia on increasingly difficult chalenges to prove that she is the one he is looking for, a lost and forgotten princess, and a chance to pass over to the fantasy world she desperatly wants to live in. In her journey, she will come to terms with the fears of the world she wants to leave and the fears and dangers of her own imagination.
Edited by Bernat Vilaplana, the film will scare and intrige you with its fairytale nature and gruesome scenes. Pans labyrinth could be compared to Alice in Wonderland, though this version is not ment for children, due to most of its grafic nature. Del Toro's film shows the darker side of human nature through a childs eyes in a fantasy world. He crafts the best of human nature and the worst of it in one explosive film. Although the film Spanish, produced with English subtitles, the viewers have no problem understanding what is going on, with Del Toro's exelent use of photography and his filming styles.
Pans Labyrinth was a relatable film; you could put yourself in any of the characters shoes and the film seems to put you in their place. Besides its fairytale nature, the movie seemed to be spot on in protraying the viciousness war, the love one person can give to another, and what it would be like to have a war fought on your doorstep.
Filming locations included Bariloche, Argentina, Madrid, and Spain. The directer used mostly quick shots during action sequences, but switched to longer shots whenever the characters were in an open space. During some of the more grotesqe scenes in the film, the shots were longer, as if to make the viewer unconfortable, and to let us relate to the character in that moment of terror, or violence. The film used classical music, although letting all sounds be heard, especially during the fighting, and war scenes.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Philadelphia
soooo
Editing...good stuff.
Most shots in the clip were cut from scene to scene. There was a high angle shot when Tom Hanks tells Denzel Washington that he has AIDs, to show how he backs away and his obvious distaste for him. Most movement was done with tracking, and paning. Close shots were used to show the reactions, and to intensify a scene or emotion.
Editing...good stuff.
Most shots in the clip were cut from scene to scene. There was a high angle shot when Tom Hanks tells Denzel Washington that he has AIDs, to show how he backs away and his obvious distaste for him. Most movement was done with tracking, and paning. Close shots were used to show the reactions, and to intensify a scene or emotion.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Critique the critic [Serenity]
For Critique the critic, i have chosen a review written by Kevin Crust, Times Staff writer. Crust did a review on the film Serenity.Serenity is a film that mixes an action film, western film, and sci-fi movie all in one. Serenity is about a cocky space captain Malcolm Reynolds [Nathan Fillion] and his crew of their ship Serenity on the run from the Alliance and their operatives, trying to get their hands on their younger passenger, a gifted telapath, or 'reader', River [Summer Glau]. Also tracking the Serenity team is a terrifying group of Reavers, space cannibals who raid settlements and attack ships in search of human flesh. As Reynolds tries to stay a few steps ahead of his enemies, he and his friends begin to realize there's more to River than meets the eye, especially after she turns into a butt-kicking fighter after catching a glimpse of a seemingly innocent candy commercial.
To the uninitiated, "Serenity" may seem like just another "Star Trek" knockoff,
but to so easily dismiss writer Joss Whedon's feature directing debut, a
continuation of his short-lived 2002 sci-fi western TV series "Firefly,"
would
be to miss out on a highly entertaining piece of genre-blending fun.
Crest begins by addressing the most obvious assumption challenging this movie. To thoughs who have not seen 'FireFly', the shortlived mini-series in which this movie based, the film may seem like another 'StarWars' and 'StarTrek' film. However, this is not the case. Serenity manages to mix in several types of films into one incredible film. The film industry has seen enough space oddessey movies for this generation, but Serenity appears to be more than just your avarage Sci-fi.
Crest also addresses the aspects of the film that are out of the Sci-fi realm. The movie is much more that you would originally expect. He also lets the readers know that yes, to truely begin to understand the characters and get an image of their lives before the film, you might want to catch up on your 'FireFly' lore, although it is easy enough to catch up, and soon new readers and viewers will be enjoying themselfs.
The comic exchanges among the crew initially seem like mere banter until
you
realize that Whedon is presenting well-developed relationships involving
rejuvenated archetypes — something that will not surprise Whedon fans, who
will be the ones in the theater laughing the loudest. Don't worry, the rest
of us soon catch up.
There's no need to have seen a single episode of "Firefly" to digest any of this
as Whedon craftily weaves the complex exposition into the main story.
In this review, Crest lets the reader know that in the movie, the characters will speak small forays of Chinese, which he finds unsettling at first, but will soon become part of the movies charm. Crest goes on to comment on how the directer of the film manages to explicitly connect the western and space genres.
I like the way that Crest understands that this movie is not the first of its kind, but it is winding down a different read than most others before it. He seems to appriciate the boundries that Serenity takes down seperating the western, sci-fi, and action genras, and appriciates the strong acting and great cast and plot.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Moulin Rouge, and elements of film
[Clip from the Moulin Rouge]
Earlier in this scene, Ewan Mcgregor's character Christian, tells Nicole Kidman's character Satine, that they will move away together as to escape from the Duke, who currently holds power over both the Moulin Rouge and Satine as the lead preformer. The Duke, who is insane with jealousy, has orderd that if Christian should be seen again near the Moulin Rouge, he is to be killed.
In the beginning of the clip, when Satine finds out that the Duke is going to have Christian killed, the extreme close-up of Satine's face shows the effect that the new is having on her (tears).
When Satine is told that she is going to die, the short slow motion, as well as the fading in and out, gives the viewer an idea of how she might feel, and shows how the world might slow down or stop.
Also, when she is standing in front of the mirror, when she pulls down her viel, the slight slow-motion there might give the viewer an idea of what she is about to do, and how she will cover her feelings with a viel, to save the one she loves.
The intensity of the characters, low key lighting, and the flickering of the firelight gives the room a desprate, mourning feel about it, keeping the characters in shadow, and not fully lighting their faces.
The Singing throught the scene also sets the tone for the clip, giving off an impression of sadness, but also giving a level of determination in doing what must be done. In example; The song "The Show Must Go On"
Earlier in this scene, Ewan Mcgregor's character Christian, tells Nicole Kidman's character Satine, that they will move away together as to escape from the Duke, who currently holds power over both the Moulin Rouge and Satine as the lead preformer. The Duke, who is insane with jealousy, has orderd that if Christian should be seen again near the Moulin Rouge, he is to be killed.
In the beginning of the clip, when Satine finds out that the Duke is going to have Christian killed, the extreme close-up of Satine's face shows the effect that the new is having on her (tears).
When Satine is told that she is going to die, the short slow motion, as well as the fading in and out, gives the viewer an idea of how she might feel, and shows how the world might slow down or stop.
Also, when she is standing in front of the mirror, when she pulls down her viel, the slight slow-motion there might give the viewer an idea of what she is about to do, and how she will cover her feelings with a viel, to save the one she loves.
The intensity of the characters, low key lighting, and the flickering of the firelight gives the room a desprate, mourning feel about it, keeping the characters in shadow, and not fully lighting their faces.
The Singing throught the scene also sets the tone for the clip, giving off an impression of sadness, but also giving a level of determination in doing what must be done. In example; The song "The Show Must Go On"
Monday, September 10, 2007
the Labyrinth of Pan
Pan's Labyrinth is a very cool, thoughtful, action packed, insightful, and interesting film. I chose this as my favorite movie because it invites the viewer into the story with its vivid images and storyline, while also giving the viewer room for their imagination. I believe that this movie goes above and beyond in letting the viewer feel the emotions the characters feel, and the struggles each one faces. Pan's Labyrinth is about a lonly girl Ofelia, who, after her father gets ingaged in war in 1944, appears to create her own fantasy world in order to deal with her envirnment, but all too soon she finds that the lines dividing fantasy and reality is becoming blurred, and Ofelia soons finds herself inside a nightmare.
Courtesy of iskv.com films and images
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