Mr Nobody

This movie has plagued me throughout this class. My final paper on this film can barely grasp the power of this film and the craziness of the plot. The plot of the film jumps around more than I've ever seen. The life and non life of the main character is confusing and fragmented. The meaning of this film truly comes from within. My watching and becoming frustrated by the film it is easy to see the frustration of actual choice. This film asks us the question of choice, and if we don't make one are all things possible. This existential philosophical film uses internal questions to explain an un-explainable film. The movie itself is not the artwork, the artwork is us, humanity. We make our lives from nothingness, our choices create us and we in turn help create others. Mr Nobody is a well made work that is not the type of film many will like, its confusing nature grasps at my soul to answer question not yet asked.  

The Incarnations of Immortality Series: Death

The series of books called "The Incarnations of Immortality" takes a deep look into the lives of the people who make up our existence. The first book is Riding a Pale Horse, this is Death. With his scythe  and hourglass he is an immortal human that takes up the role when he kills he predecessor. This book explores fantasy and religion by breaking down the wall between life and death. The liminality of the book allows the reader to explore their own feelings on religion. By accepting fantasy as a means for explaining life the reader can understand the deep workings of our religious infrastructure.

The Thin Red Line

This film was my absolute favorite. From the music to the disconnected narrative in the beginning It felt like there was this unique undertone which I had not felt in other movies we had watched. The power of war is portrayed so beautifully in this film. The use of character and cinematography to lay out the deep problems of this period allowed the film to ebb and flow. I was surprised to find this film was not just a war film, it was a piece of art. The emotions I felt from this film were like nothing I had ever felt before. The power of war and the power of human emotion created a fear and willingness within me. I wanted to participate in the situation with my mind and body. I was pulled from my chair and inserted into the film. It was amazing to watch and I finally need to watch all of it with no interruptions.  

Across the Universe

Like the film "The Wall" this movie uses music from The Beatles to tell a story of love, and life in the 60's. The hippy culture of the period becomes present through the acts of the Vietnam War and the lyrics of "All You Need is Love". The movie sets a tone of destruction and power in the scene "She's So Heavy" when the soldiers are metaphorically carrying the statue of liberty over the Vietnamese landscape. The contrasting scenes between war and drugs tell the vibe of rebellion against the institution. The power of love is written in the words and felt in the movement of the story. From start to finish this film tells a narrative of Jude and his quest for the holy power. His outsider status lets the viewer see his journey without the connection of American liability. His life is lost in the waves of disconnect, and the holy power of love brings him back.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

J.R.R. Tolken is the master of the fantastical. His book series The Lord of the Rings created a world of mystery that could only be deeply explored through his vastly expansive histories. The first movie made from his trilogy is The Fellowship of the Ring. This movie explores the life of Frodo Baggins as he is given a grave task, to return the one ring to the fires of Mount Doom. In his task he is aided by men, hobbits, elves, and dwarfs, the power of their diversity giving the fellowship a power. The power of the film is not only within the characters, but within the beauty of the landscape. New Zealand is home to these films, and Peter Jackson's direction created pieces of art. The special effects and cinematography make the film the powerhouse classic that it is.  

Ex Machina

The film "Ex Machina" explores the power of artificial intelligence and the willingness of human mortality. This film is unique because of the reliance on limited characters to drive the story. There are only three main characters in the film, a mad inventor, a young tester, and Ava the robot. The games played by all characters create a startling drama that asks the question of existence. The film is shot mainly in one location and uses the gorgeous landscape to play off the dramatic encapsulment of all characters. The beauty and fear the film provokes leaves the viewer wanting more, and the seemingly real possibility of AI makes it even scarier.

The Princess Bride

The film "The Princess Bride" reminds me of the movie "Big Fish" we watched in class. The use of story to convey a message beyond the exterior is prevalent in both movies. The use of fantasy scene design and special effects convey a mysterious story that tells the tale of real life actions via the subconscious. Tales are a method of escape from the bonds of reality. The story The Princess Bride gives the child a path of escape from his bedridden state. The story allows the grandfather and grandson to connect on the same level despite their age differences. The generational gap is nothing compared to the power of a story.