Dr. Jones

The Indiana Jones trilogy (yes, I said trilogy because I’m refusing to remember the attempt at part 4) is an adventure packed and thrilling series that I have loved ever since I was little. It made everyone think they wanted to become an archeologist… only to figure out that archeology is really not an exhilarating search for the Holy Grail but consists more of dusting off rocks you found in the backyard.

However, Indiana Jones made it look like the adventure of a lifetime. Professor by day and the most kick-butt dude at night, Indy went on many harrowing quests like the search for the Ark of the Covenant, and he always managed to get the girl.

I think part of what draws audiences to this movie series so much is the extravagance of it. Indy travels to many exotic places in pursuit of treasure and races against Nazis, sheiks, and the mob. It stems from stories that have been told for thousands of years. Those about gold and silver and riches and a man who goes up against almost impossible odds but always overcomes. Audiences love a classic hero, and that’s what Indiana Jones is to us: a whip brandishing explorer with just the right amount of stubble.

Indiana Jones is one of the movies that made me love the action genre. I’m one of those people who can’t watch a movie if it doesn’t at least have a small action sequence in it. For example, The Vow (2012) almost put me to sleep. Much to my disappointment, it didn’t have any swinging from the ceiling on a whip or a brutish fist fight under a moving airplane like Indiana Jones has.

I remember watching Indiana Jones over and over, and pretending to be him on the playground while my sidekick was Short Round. Jump rope in hand as my whip, Indiana Jones really sparked my creativity and imagination. However, this film extends beyond the imaginations of elementary school kids, but also inspires adults. We all imagine what it would be like to walk through a Cairo bazaar with a monkey on your shoulder on the search for a long lost artifact. I think it’s really neat that this movie has the ability to ignite the adventurous side in all of us.

1981’s highest grossing film was an action masterpiece. One that tied to the roots of storytelling and one that inspires others to live life more adventurously, Indiana Jones is a classic film that will go on for generations. From the jungles of the Amazon to the face melt of the Nazis, Indy was and still is the best explorer to hit the screen.

Here’s Johnny!

As promised, I’m dedicated a whole blog post to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. I’ve watched this film many times and it’s never lost its creepiness to me. I feel like what makes it so creepy is that the film preys on many of our primal fears: the fear of being alone, the fear of going insane, and the fear of the supernatural. Something as simple as the shot of the two twin girls standing at the end of the hallway sends chills up our spines. That’s what I love about this horror film. It proves that a bunch of blood and grisly gore is not always needed to make something scary. Instead, it strikes you psychologically, and the brain is a much more powerful weapon than anything else.

Not only did The Shining set the bar for following horror films story wise, but it also changed the way horror movies are shot. Kubrick experimented with many different angles that had never been done before. Each shot was carefully planned to add to the psychological distortion of the film.

One shot in particular that I really liked was a low angled shot of Jack beating on the door as he tries to escape the pantry he’s been locked in. Going against the norm, Kubrick took the camera off of the tripod and actually got down on the floor beneath Jack Nicholson to get the shot. I felt like this really supported the overall feel of mania and made Jack seem even more evil.  I took inspiration from this when I used the same shot in one of my horror movies.

No matter how good the director and the crew is, the film is still not complete without good actors. I feel that the casting directors nailed the actors for The Shining. Jack Nicholson who played Jack Torrance was able to convince the viewers that he really was crazy. He had down the smile, the mannerisms, and the tone of his voice. He was able to immerse himself into the insane character. Nicholson is half of what makes the movie so incredible.

I can’t forget about little Danny Torrance either. Being only six years old at the time of filming, Danny Lloyd’s performance was also a key role to the success of the film. For being so young, I feel that he did a phenomenal job at playing the part. I know it can be very difficult to work with young actors, but Lloyd owned the camera like he was an adult.

In my book, The Shining is one of the best horror films yet to be made. Not following the same path as other horror films set this one apart, and it is still set aside as a horror movie classic today. Each detail was carefully planned and all of it together makes it an incredible piece of filmmaking. But they do want you to remember that, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

 

My Top Ten Classic Films Part 2

Check out Part 1: My Top Ten Classic Films Part 1

Continuing my top ten classic movies list (again in no particular order)….

Sleepy Hollow

Tim Burton added another dark, creepy film to his list of successes in 1999 with his adaption of Sleepy Hollow. Starring a young Johnny Depp, Ichabod Crane ventures to the little town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a string of murders and comes face to face with evil itself.

I saw this movie for the first time when I was in 7th grade. I was obsessed with it and made all of my friends watch it at sleepovers, despite their wishes to watch Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or some other chick flick.  It was one of the first Tim Burton films I had seen, and I loved the way he stylized his films with everything having a grayish tone. I found Tim Burton’s version of the Headless Horseman to be a nice blend of horror and dry humor.

Back to the Future

In 1985, Back to the Future became one of the biggest 80s classics. Marty McFly and an eccentric scientist, Doc Brown, travel back in time to the 1950s in their DeLorean time machine. Getting stuck in the past, Marty has to figure out how to get back without changing anything that could crucially alter the future.

This is another movie that I had on VHS tape and completely wore it out. Not only did I have the VHS tape, but I had the whole boxed set and a t shirt to show my love for the series. I found the premise of the film to be very original. Who would have thought to have a DeLorean as a time machine? Now the car is known for the role in Back to the Future. The film also had many other influences on culture and inventions with the creation of “hover boards” and new self-lacing shoes.

Dead Poets Society

In one of Robin Williams’ more serious roles, Dead Poets Society was one of the most inspirational and touching films of the year 1989. When a new teacher comes to a prestigious boy’s boarding school with new teaching methods, he reaches out to the students and helps them live life with more joy.

Dead Poets Society is one of those movies that kept me thinking about it after the credits rolled. It’s a movie that most everyone can relate to and one that touches you on an emotional level. I don’t want to spoil anything, but one scene in particular really struck me and got me to think more about the lives of those around me. For those of you who have seen the movie, I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.I think that’s a sign of a really well made movie. If it sticks with you after you go about your everyday life, it’s done its job. Carpe diem!

Kiss the Girls

A kidnapping, a mystery, and a chase make up this thriller film released in 1997. A woman is kidnapped a held captive in an underground lair with other victims of kidnapping, but she is able to escape. With the help of a detective, she seeks out her captor and the other missing women who were left behind.

This film is a great thriller. I was flipping through channels one day when I saw Kiss the Girls on, and it immediately caught my attention. It’s a fast paced movie that keeps you guessing the entire time. The story is very interesting as viewers get to follow the events from the victim’s perspective. If you enjoy shows like Criminal Minds, Kiss the Girls is definitely a movie that you should check out.

The Green Mile

Stephen King’s story came to life with the creation of The Green Mile in 1999. Following the life of a prison warden, Paul Edgecomb, who works on death row, encounters many interesting characters. None of them are as interesting as a gentle giant named John Coffey who was excused of murdering two little girls. The prisoner possesses a unique healing power and makes Paul wonder who John really is.

This movie is one of my top favorites on this whole list. It’s another one that kept me thinking after the movie was over. Being a story about the lives of people who work around death, made the story that much more powerful. Not only is Stephen King the master of horror, but he’s also extremely talented in creating dramatic stories. This one won’t make you cry out of terror but will pull your heartstrings. Make sure to bring a tissue box to this one.

My Top Ten Classic Films Part 1

“What’s your favorite movie?” I get asked this question a lot, and I never have an answer. There are so many movies that I love that I can’t possibly narrow it down to one favorite. So I decided to put a little thought into narrowing my list to a top ten favorite. This list is only for my favorite older movies. There are many recent movies that would definitely make my top 10 list, but I’m going to keep this list to pre-2000s movies. Surprisingly this list was much harder to make than I thought.

These are in no particular order….I couldn’t possibly bring myself to number them.

The Sound of Music

Made in 1965, The Sound of Music was the incredible retelling of the Von Trapp Family and the life of governess Maria (Julie Andrews) as she brings the joy of music into the home of a hardened naval captain and his seven children.

Normally I’m not a huge fan of musicals, but I absolutely love this one. I think it’s a nice blend of drama and story with musical numbers at the right moments. This was one of the very first movies that I owned. I wore the VHS tape out as I played it over and over again, all 2 hours and 54 minutes of it. I was intrigued by the story of the family and their lives in Austria in the midst of World War II. It’s a heartwarming tale and I still watch it every time it’s on.

The Shining

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a true horror movie classic. Originally a book by Stephen King, Kubrick turned it into a huge hit when the movie was released in 1980. The Shining is the story about a family who takes care of a closed down hotel during winter, but something is not quite right about the hotel and being cooped up for the whole winter is dangerous for them.

This movie is remarkable from a filmmaker’s stand point. Kubrick did many new things with this film and set the standard for the horror genre after it. (Stay tuned for an extended blog post about The Shining). I don’t really like a bunch of blood and gore in my horror movies. The Shining was able to send the creepy factor off of the scale without using a bunch of blood. Not to mention Jack Nicholson (Jack Torrance) was phenomenal in the movie and was able to play a very convincing mad man.

Rain Man

In 1988, Rain Man was a huge hit. When a man’s father passes away, he leaves his fortune to the man’s autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman) that he (Tom Cruise) never knew he had. Wanting the money from the brother, he takes him from the mental institution and they embark on a road trip journey that changes their lives.

I only saw this movie about a year ago. I had heard of it but had never watched it until I saw it on Netflix. I’m so glad I watched it because it has become one of my favorites. The acting from Dustin Hoffman blew me away as he played the character of the autistic brother, Raymond. The progression of the story and characters show great screenwriting. I hope one day I can write a story as good as this one.

Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation is the best Christmas movie, in my opinion. National Lampoon sealed his comedy prominence when this film hit theaters in 1989. Just wanting a normal family Christmas, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) tries to keep things in line for the family, but everything quickly goes awry as the other eccentric members of the family show up.

This movie has been a tradition in my family ever since I was young. Every Christmas Eve, we would all sit down and laugh together at the silly mishaps of the Griswold family. Not only does the experience that I have with the movie make it so good, but also Christmas Vacation is one of the funniest movies that I have ever seen. There are so many great one-liners, and it remains hilarious even to generations born after the movie.

Air Force One

Starring Harrison Ford, Air Force One is an incredible action movie that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The President (Harrison Ford) is traveling on his plane when a group of Russian terrorists hijack the plane with the objective to kill the President.

Like I said, this movie kept me tense the whole time. This proves that the story and editing were perfectly paced as I never lost interest and was literally biting my nails as the President tried to outsmart the hijackers. I’m also a huge fan of Gary Oldman who played Ivan Korshunov, the leader of the hijackers, so of course I was immediately intrigued. Air Force One is definitely one of my favorite action movies ever.

Stay tuned for part 2 of my top ten list! In the meantime, share with me some of your favorite movies!

 

What Happened to 2D Animation?

I know I can’t be the only one who misses 2D animation. 2D animation used to rule the cartoon world before computerized animation. Most of the cartoons I grew up on were 2D drawings like The Lion King, El Dorado, and The Prince of Egypt. I found these films and others like them to have good story lines and also be aesthetically pleasing.

When Pixar began producing computer animated films, I thought they were really neat because they were something new and technological, but I found myself not liking and connecting to them as much as I would with the 2D cartoons. I don’t really have an explanation as to why that was the case for me. I suppose it all depends on your preference and what is most aesthetically pleasing to you, and for me, it was 2D animation. I was lucky enough to grow up in a time where there was a mixture of animation types, and I was able to choose between them. Now it seems as though the computer animated type of cartoons have almost completely taken over and have just about eliminated 2D.

Even though Pixar and other computerized films have made some great contributions lately, I feel like viewers should have some sort of option on what style they want to watch. Both kinds of animation are different types of art forms and translate their stories in different ways which is why I feel there should be screen space for both.

Just a few days ago, I was talking to my friend who is an animation major at my school, and she completely agreed with me that the cartoon industry should bring back 2D. She also said that she prefers 2D over computerized animation. Although 2D takes much longer to do, with it mostly being hand drawn, I feel like the outcome is that much more impressive and everyone will take notice.

I know for a fact that I took notice when Disney brought back 2D in 2009 for the film Princess and the Frog. Right before its release, I had almost given up hope on 2D returning to the screen. When I saw Princess and the Frog was going to be 2D, I was ecstatic, and I could tell most people were happy as well that Disney went back to its roots for the film. Being that it was 2D made it feel much more like the classic Disney films that are hailed as some of the best cartoons of all time. I really enjoyed Princess and the Frog and found it to be a top notch animated Disney film.

My favorite cartoon of all time is Balto, a film about an outcast dog/wolf hybrid who saves the town of Nome, Alaska by retrieving the much needed medicine that was lost in the wilderness. I absolutely loved the animation style in this film as the artists tried to make it look real but also still kept the cartoon feel. Every time I watch that film, I’m amazed by how intricate the drawings are and how much effort the artists put into bringing the film to the viewers. Not only is the animation stunning, but the story is truly inspirational.

There are so many great 2D animations that have been drowned out by computerized animations. I feel as though 2D animation is not dead yet and still has the potential to go far. As viewers, I say we need to fight for 2D to come back. There’s so much more we can do with 2D. It’s not time for it to go away.

You Are One Of Us, Michael

Since I love the 80’s, I have seen several films from that decade. So many great movies came out of the 80’s and continue to be super popular today, even with my generation. While I love The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and even Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, my favorite is Joel Schumacher’s The Lost Boys.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, I love films that involve monsters and mystery. The Lost Boys involves a classic monster, the vampire. Basically, it’s the story of a family that moves to a new town, the kids get mixed up in a strange biker gang who turn out to be a group of vampires, one of the boys gets turned into a vampire, and the brother has to figure out a way to turn him back into a normal human….so just a regular routine for the new kid, right?

I think one of the reasons why I love this movie so much, besides the vampires, is because of how 80’s it really is. I mean, it’s got the hair-dos, the fashion, the music, and some iconic 80’s actors including Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, and Keifer Sutherland….what else could you want?

From a filmmakers perspective, not only do I appreciate the 80’s-ness (if that’s a word), but I also enjoy how stylized the film is. It’s got a very contrasting image with the dark subject matter, the dark clothing, and many scenes that take place at night, but all of that is combined with light and things normally associated to happy things.

For example, the town they live in is the beach town of Santa Carla, and beaches are normally associated with happy memories. When I think of the beach, I do not normally think of vampires. I usually imagine vampires living in the woods or in a castle, not in a beach town where there is tons of sun. But in this film, the vampires roam the beautiful beaches looking for their next prey.

One scene in particular that I really love for the stylistic aspect is when the vampire biker gang makes their first appearance at the amusement park on the boardwalk. I loved how the director had the vampires riding the carousel. Again, this is an example of the contrast of the film. Something considered evil is having “fun” on the carousel. This also gives the audience a new spin on the vampire. Normally they’re portrayed as a creature of the night with long fangs and bat wings. Schumacher was able to create his own version of the vampire.

The Lost Boys is often overlooked as a great 80’s film, but I think it deserves to be near the top of the list. If you haven’t seen The Lost Boys I highly suggest checking it out! Thanks for reading!

Bond, James Bond.

Some movies have such an impact that they set the bar for an entire genre, and many films that follow try to copycat it. The James Bond franchise is one of the biggest (and arguably the one and only) series to set today’s standard for the “spy/action” genre.

I know when I think of spy movies, my mind immediately goes to James Bond. There were plenty of spy movies before, but as soon as the first James Bond film, Dr. No, premiered, audiences never saw spies in the same way. This new spy overflowed with charisma and charm but also wasn’t afraid to get dirty. Being one of the top agents from England’s MI6, James Bond attended lavish parties where his martini was “shaken, not stirred” and hung around beautiful women while simultaneously infiltrating secret headquarters to gather information on the enemies of MI6.

So, it’s obvious everyone wanted to be James Bond. He lived the life of the wealthy and embarked on exciting adventures that most of us can only dream about….not to mention his unlimited supply of spy gadgets and cars.

But you may wonder how the James Bond series has lasted as long as it has, being that it started in 1962 and is still continuing today. I think one of the reasons why is that the public has always had a fascination with lives that are different than their’s. The life of a spy is filled with mystery and when the rich and famous are thrown into the mix, it makes the concept that much more intriguing.

Another reason I believe James Bond has remained so popular all of these years is because the actor who portrays Bond changes out every few movies. This keeps the franchise in the headlines because it is a big deal when a new actor takes the face of James Bond. I remember when Daniel Craig was cast as the new James Bond in 2005 and how big of a deal it was. Instantly the new actor becomes a household name and everyone is anxious to see whether or not he will live up to the James Bond standard.

Some of the best known actors of James Bond are Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and more recently, Daniel Craig. Everyone has their own opinion of who played the character best. My favorite is Roger Moore but Daniel Craig is in a close second. (Let me know who your favorite James Bond actor is in the comments!)

Resulting in the popularity of the franchise, many series tried to follow in its footsteps. We have many spy films now like Jason Bourne, the Ocean’s Trilogy, and Mission Impossible who have been immensely successful but none has quite reached the popularity and following of James Bond.

Entertaining many different generations, James Bond has stood the test of time. It has served as the touchstone for spy films and increased the interest in the world of MI6 and other spy organizations. James Bond continues to go strong and influence the realm of entertainment, one martini at a time.

Say Hello To My Little Friend

I’m a huge fan of gangster/mobster films, from The Godfather to Black Mass. These kinds of films are fairly common with stories about an Italian mafia family or a group of Irish gangsters who have a stronghold over a city. It’s something about the life of the bad guys that sparks our curiosity. It’s the fact that these kinds of organized crimes actually exist that keeps us wanting more.

One of the biggest and most influential mobster films yet to be made is Brian De Palma’s Scarface. It isn’t based off of a true story, but it was inspired by the intense drug wars that were happening in Miami in the 80’s, when the film was made.

Tensions were high in Miami during the 80’s as cocaine smuggling was bigger and more dangerous than ever. Many people saw this as an opportunity to get rich from the public’s demand for drugs. Out of this came the fictional life of “Scarface” himself, Tony Montana. Starting out as a poor Cuban refugee, he quickly becomes involved in Miami’s drug scene and murders his way to the top.

One of the main aspects that Scarface brought to the cinema world was that of violence. Never before had audiences seen so much blood and ruthlessness in one movie. The first cut of the film was said to be so graphic that the MPAA originally gave it an X rating. The producers and director cut out a few of the more graphic scenes and sent it back to the MPAA, hoping for a better rating, but it was still given an X. Knowing that would keep viewers away, the producers begged the MPAA to give them an R. After much debate, the R rating was finally given to them, and they were allowed to show the film in public theaters.

Having seen the film, I know the movie is excessively violent, even for today’s standards. I’m sure Scarface had that much more of an impact on audiences in the 80’s who were not used to seeing gritty violence like that at all. Originally, the film didn’t do very well at the box office and was graded harshly by critics, mainly because of all of the violence. However, audiences began to catch onto it and it has gained a massive following. Now the movie is seen as one of the best films of all time.

(Warning: There’s a bit of violence in this scene, but it is by far not the most graphic one in the film)

One of the main reasons for the enormous following the movie has gained is that it is seen by some as inspirational. Of course, the killing isn’t inspirational but the “rags to riches” story is. Tony is a guy who came to America with nothing but ended up becoming rich. Most people would say the way he became rich was not morally correct, but the film is still a twist on the “American dream”. Audiences can’t help but root for the underdog and Tony is exactly that among the drug cartels.

Personally, Scarface ranks as one of my top favorite films as well. Like I said earlier, I think the fact that this kind of stuff actually exists is what fascinates me. Yeah, the movie could do without some of the violence and the cussing but that is how their world really is. Movies are a mirror of the real world and that’s what the creators of Scarface sought out to do, to expose the atrocities that were going on in Miami.

You Just Gotta Keep Livin’, Man

Recently I introduced some of my friends to a cult classic from the 90’s called Dazed and Confused. The movie is set in the 1970’s and follows a group of high school students on their last day of high school and some upcoming freshman as they endure the annual hazing.

Like I said in my introduction blog, I think older movies give a unique insight into what life was like in decades before. Even though this film was made in the 90’s, I think the filmmakers did an awesome job making it resemble the 70’s. From what I’ve seen and heard about that decade, Dazed and Confused seems to get everything right from the clothes to the slang to the cars.

I’ve always said that if I could go back in time and live in a decade it would be the 1980’s. Although, Dazed and Confused makes me want to also live the 1970’s. It was such a carefree time where people enjoyed the simple things in life. People used to go about their day without the gadgets that we have convinced ourselves we can’t live without. Dazed and Confused highlights the life of teenagers who were able to have just as much fun as teenagers nowadays.

I think it’s neat that the popular thing to do back then was go cruising. The film has many scenes of the kids cruising around in cars like the 1972 Plymouth Duster and 1969 Ford Bronco. It’s something so simple, but I think it’s a great way to hang out and have fun by just riding around town. Many people would probably say that’s boring, but I’m still hoping the trend comes back someday.

However, the kids had some other ideas of fun which usually involved drugs….Disclaimer: don’t do drugs. We aren’t in the 70’s anymore and trust me, it’s not cool.

Even though society in the 70’s and society today is different, I believe the teenagers have remained pretty similar. We may have different technology and trends but the way we act, for the most part, is the same. High schools still have their cliques just like they showed in Dazed and Confused. The popular football jocks are still around and the preppy girls who think they run the school. We still have the nerdy crew and even the pot heads.

I like that most people can recognize themselves in the movie whether you’re currently in high school or thinking back on the days that you were there. A wide array of characters are represented in the movie and everyone can find their place. When I introduced my friends to the film, one of the first things they wanted to do was figure out which character each person in our friend group was most like. In my friend group we have the quiet kind of guy who is like Mitch Kramer, the jock like Fred O’Bannion, the one who tries to be cool like Kevin Pickford (even including this guy’s girlfriend who is quiet like Michelle Burroughs), the popular blonde like Shavonne Wright, and it was decided that I was most like Jodi Kramer, Mitch’s older sister who tries to look out for the freshmen during the hazing process.

So even though, Dazed and Confused represented kids from the 70’s, I think the movie has a reach to people growing up in different time periods. It’s a movie that expands beyond the decade and unites all of us with a little adolescent tomfoolery.

 

 

Halloween!!

I know it isn’t anywhere near Halloween time, but I can always go for a little bit of Halloween in February!

Like I said in my previous blog post, creative and unique work is the best and has the most impact. Show people something they’ve never seen before and it’ll be an instant hit.

One of the biggest examples of this is John Carpenter’s Halloween. This was the first movie of the slasher film trend that was popular in the 80’s, inspiring the making of Friday The 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Halloween was the first movie to use some of the biggest themes in horror films today. For instance, a group of teenagers home alone, the final girl living till the end, and the use of a theme song when the killer is about to come on screen.

It was also one of the first horror movies to have it’s own distinguishable and recognizable killer. In the film, Michael Myers has escaped a sanitarium and returned to his hometown where he made his first kill when he was just a child. He begins to terrorize the town again in his unforgettable white mask. The mask gives the killer an identity. No longer is he synonymous with horror villains from the past because with his unique mask, he stands out. Even all these years later when you see that deranged white mask with the stringy brown hair, you instantly know that it’s the mask of Michael Myers.

The cinematography and the shot layouts also made this film stand out during the time. There are several shots in particular that resonate in my mind when I think of Halloween. One being when the little boy looks out the window across the street and sees the silhouette of Michael Myers watching him. Another is when three teenage girls are walking home from school and Michael comes out from behind a hedge. He stands very still in their path but doesn’t advance towards them. He just watches.

These shots seem so simple to us now but back then, they were one of a kind. When I watched the movie, I found these shots of Michael just standing and staring to be the creepiest. It makes you wonder what is going on in his brain at the moment right before he strikes.

A few years ago, some of my friends and I were into making our own horror films. My homemade horror films had direct influences from Halloween with many of them having a masked killer and the theme of being home alone.

One shot in particular that I did involved a person in a skeleton mask standing on the back porch looking in through the glass door. It was night so all of the person wasn’t visible but the light from the inside illuminated the eyes under the mask as they stared into the house.

It’s visionary films like Halloween that created the huge horror genre that exists today. It was full of new ideas which is part of what made it so successful and why it has maintained it’s popularity decades later.

I’m hoping for some fresh ideas coming from the horror genre soon. So please, Hollywood, give me something new *cough* quit doing the hand held camera thing.