Journal #3

Finding Nemo was released in 2003 by Walt Disney Pictures. It was an instantious hit with the public and became a box-office smash. Its total domestic gross was $339.7 million, making it the highest of the time until it was surpassed by Shrek the Third. Although children worshipped it, even adults found Finding Nemo entertaining and a great movie. According to the review from Premiere.com, Nemo "entertains both kids and adults...the laughs are hip and well-earned and the colors are deep and utterly entrancing." People of all ages immediately loved the movie with its original and easy-to-follow story line and all the good laughs. Anyone can quote a line from Finding Nemo..."just keep swimming, just keep swimming!" The movie was also a must-see because of the actors that lended their voices to it. Ellen DeGeneres played Dory, the short-term memory losing, lovable, happy-go-lucky fish. She accompanies Marlin on his journey to find and rescue his son, Nemo. She gives the audience much to laugh about, especially with her memory loss. She is constantly forgetting things until she remembers the vital address to retrieving Nemo. This is the turning point in the film. Finding Nemo won the Academy Award from Best Animated Film in 2004, securing its place in history as one of the best animated films of all time.

Information taken from

http://www.premiere.com/dvdreviews/1300/finding-nemo.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finding_Nemo#Legal_challenges

article on westerns

I think the article on westerns was very interesting because I think it's sometimes hard for our generation of teenagers to identify with that type of movie genre and really leave a lasting effect on them. With leading men like Brad Pitt and Christian Bale, it definently helps with drawing the people's attention and creating a desire to see the movie.

philadelphia

(sorry Ms. Tholen! I know this is really late and I don't know if you'll give me credit.. but I think you should! :) please!)

In Philadelphia, there are many different shots. When Beckett takes his hat and jacket off, Miller's attention immediately is directed at the scars on his face and neck. The camera follows this and the audience is experiencing the same wonder and confusion. There is also a high-angle shot, making the characters look small and doomed. After Miller dismisses Beckett, he stands outside the office and there is a close-up of his face where you can almost see a tear. It's heartbreaking and very emotional.

Journal #2

For my second journal assignment, I chose to watch the movie Casablanca. Made in 1942, the movie is about Rick Blaine (played by Humphrey Bogart), an American stranded in Casablanca, a city in Morocco filled with French refugees during World War II, who reunites with his lost love Ilsa Lund (played by Ingrid Bergman) and her rebel husband Victor Lazlo (played by Paul Henreid), and how Rick must deal with the desicion of either letting them escape or holding them both in the town of misery. The film was directed by Michael Curtiz and was written by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. The basic plot of the movie is that the Germans have occupied the French city of Casablanca and have one mission-- to capture Victor Lazlo and not allow him to leave Casablanca. There is, however, one flaw to this plan. There are two visas availible to allow the owners to get back to their home country, which in Casablanca, would be like a free-pass to heaven. When the government officials reach well-known and appreciated club owner Rick. they ask him for his help. Rick agrees to try to extend Lazlo's visit as long as possible but what the officials do not know is that Rick is the one with the visas. Things become complicated when Lazlo arrives with Rick's estranged lover, Ilsa Lund. The viewer learns that Rick and Ilsa fell in love in Paris before the war started and we planned to get married but Ilsa had never showed up at the train station, leaving Rick wondering if she really did love him. The main conflict is whether or not Rick should give the visas to Ilsa and Victor or escape from Casablanca himself. The dialogue is very entertaining, especially between Bogart and Bergman. Their chemistry is present and catches the audience's attention. All the actors potray their roles well. Bogart clearly is the powerhouse. Low-key lighting is constant throughout the movie, making the characters and their shadows look depressed and lonely. There are also many close-ups on Bogart and Bergman. Their emotion is evident and clear to see on the screen. One scene that stuck out to me was in Rick's flashback of his affair with Ilsa. The two were planning their get-away from Paris and Ilsa had dropped and broken a glass. It's a symbol that the plan was flawed and Ilsa couldn't make that promise to Rick. The costumes are from the 1940's. There are a lot of suits for men and dresses for women. Sounds are very diagetic. The beginning has a narrative of the war. Overall, Casablanca is a good movie and I'd recommend it for its storyline and entertainment.