FRANCE: Extra Credit!!!

As the school year comes to its end, I hope you are all focusing on your final presentations.  That being the dealio, I'm putting our French week's blog posts out there as Extra Credit as well.  Even if you just write about one or two of the movies we watched, you'll get some partial extra credit.



Now, some of you haven't turned any posts in yet.  It would likely behoove you to do these blogs.  And/or if you've missed any movies from past countries we've watched, writing about these films would be a great way to make up those missing points.

ALSO, remember: you need to comment on at least three blogs from other students, so if you haven't done that yet, it'd be a good time to start!


Cool beans.  Now, my international film watching friends, for extra credit this week answer the following questions:


We watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg - a musical of shorts... but a different kind of one.  Nobody breaks out into a dance number, there are no grandiose set, and, in a way, because everyone is always singing, it is almost as if it is the way people talk in that universe, so breaking out into song isn't out of the ordinary (think about how crazy it would be if people just busted out into song in real life!).

• Did you like Umbrellas, why or why not?  
• What was different about how the French handled this musical from what you typically see in America?

Next, we watched EYES WITHOUT A FACE!

A full on French New Wave horror film from the '50s!

• What'd you think?  Did you like it?  Why or why not?
• Was it scary to you (when it came out, it terrified people out of their wits!), or do you consider it tame by today's standards?

And, then we watched another horror film, one that inspired Hitchcock's classic Psycho.   Diabolique (which translated means devilish!) came out before so many of the horror movies like it today.  Unprecedented with its narrative twists and terrifying images, this film left an impression in the horror genre for generations to come.

• Did you like this movie?  Why or why not?
• Can you see how it has influenced the horror genre today?  What specific elements did you notice that have inspired horror films since this film's release?

EXTRA CREDIT

Watch any movie at home that ain't American made?

Well, write about it here, and get yerself a few extra credit points, why don't ya?


Just write a few sentences in the comment section below, answering:

• What is the name of the movie?
• What country is it from?
• What did you think of the movie?

That's it!  Remember, so many rad films come from other countries!!!

(Example: Mad Max: Fury Road?  Yup, that's a movie from another country.)

Australia/New Zealand: EXTRA CREDIT!!!

G'day mates!  This week's blog is pure extra credit.  You answer the question 'ere, and you get yourself some extra points.  Brilliant!


Here's the question:  We watched three films and a short from Australia/New Zealand.


Short Film: Cargo

Gallipoli!

Mad Max

Bad Taste


First:  What did you think of a short Australian take on Zombies?  Did you like cargo, why or why not?


Second:  Of the other three, which film was your favorite - and why?  Give me a good thoughtful paragraph of why you liked it!


Thanks mates!

RUSSIA!!!

This week we had the privilege of watching four fine pieces of Russian cinema.

Operation Y and Shurik's Other Adventures!  Here you go.  Some of Russia's most famous and beloved comedy.

Answer the all the following:

• FIRST:  What movie at home will you be watching from your country?
• SECOND:  When is your interview scheduled to happen?

And, answer these, too:

• Did you like Shurik?  Why or why not?  
• What were some of the Russianistic things you noticed that differed from what we commonly see in American Comedy?

Then, we watched the Academy Award Nominated Russian drama: 12.  A Russian remake of the American classic from the '50s, 12 Angry Men.

• Did you like 12?  Why or why not?
• It was nominated for Best Foreign Film by our Academy Awards.  Why do you think it was nominated?  Do you agree, personally, it should've been nominated?  Why or why not?

Then, we watched the most interesting silent film classic, Man with a Movie Camera.  

• This is considered an experimental film and a documentary.  One that is visually poetic.  Did you like it?  Why or why not?
• What kind of experience was it "stepping" back in time, so to speak, and seeing Russia in the 1920s? 

And, finally, we watched Russian Ark.  This a film like no other.  It was my first experience seeing it, and it was definitely an experience.  Poetic, quite often eery, and a first of it's kind.

• What did ya'll think - did you like it?  Why or why not?
• Would you recommend this movie to someone else?

• Which movie this week was your favorite, and why?

THANKS CLASS.  AND DON'T FORGET:  BRING YOUR MAD MAX PERMISSION FORM!!!!

They have to come Monday!  Monday!  Monday!

Okay, have a good weekend.

Yay!  Russia!!!

Hong Kong Cinema

Hong Kong cinema, what makes you so magical?  You fill me with joy!!!

All right, my international cinema friends, make sure you answer all the questions below for each movie, and really put thought and heart into your answers if you want full points.  I'm excited to see what you share!  Also, remember, you need to respond to three of your fellow classmates posts before the end of the term.  AND, it is a really good idea to write your response in a different location first - like in an e-mail or a google doc, make sure you've saved it, and then cut and paste it here.  Sometimes it doesn't send, and you may lose everything you wrote (which would be tragic!) unless you have your response backed up somewhere else.


Okay, question time!

I hope you've enjoyed this week we've spent enjoying Hong Kong and what it has to offer to the world of cinema!

I adore films from this part of the world.  They are so unique, so confident in what they are, and so enjoyable!  They made their movies for their people, and gave them all the emotion, humor, and action they could for the price of a ticket!  Because of that, we get some pretty cool, crazy, awesome stuff!



First we watched the comedic, wild, fun and frenetic Kung Fu Hustle (2004).  The movie is very funny, is full of "what the" moments, and has a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, a film critic website.  That means 9 out of 10 critics loved this movie.  So, the questions are:

• Did you like this movie?  Why or why not?
• Why do you think it got such good critical reviews, it was just a silly comedy, right (or is it more than that)?

Next, we watched some SWEET Jackie Chan action in one of his most legendary and favorite films among Kung Fu cinema fanatics,  Police Story (1985).  Different from King Fu Hustle, Chan did all his stunts cgi and wire-free, how did you:

• Enjoy this film in comparison to Kung Fu Hustle?  More, less, the same?  Why? 
• Did you like the wire-fu fighting or Jackie's no-wire fighting better?  Why?

Then we watched Ocean Heaven!!!  Wow.

• how was it watching a non-kunfu Hong Kong film?
• How was it watching Jet Li in a drama, not kicking butt?
• Did you like this movie, why or why not?

And, finally, we watched Iron Monkey!!!

• Do you see why Quentin Tarantino is so passionate about this film?  Do you agree with his passion for it?
• Of the four films we watched for our week in Hong Kong, which one did you like best?

Kurosawa Week 5 (Yojimbo, High and Low, and Red Beard)

Hello all you Kurosawa watchin', deep thinkin' students!

Essay time for week 5, and boy did we watch some good ones.  We really dived into Kurosawa's 1960s films:  Yojimbo (1961), High and Low (1963), and Red Beard (1965).

Now it is time for you to put on paper your amazing thoughts!  Remember, look back at the feedback you received last time, improve in the areas you were asked to, and you'll get a rockin' sweet good grade!

You need to write a 500 word essay that answers one of the following questions:

• How did what you learned about Kurosawa's life a few weeks ago impact how you view these movies? In your essay, write about how facts you've learned about Kurosawa as a person helped you better appreciate specific story elements or other aspects of the films. You can just talk about one of the films we've seen or more than one but, either way, be very specific about how the facts on Kurosawa helped you appreciate specific parts of the films. Do not be general. Be specific.
• We've seen a lot of his movies by now.  What common themes have you seen in all of Kurosawa's movies we've seen since the beginning of class?  Also, think about these three films he made in the '60s, are there any common themes in them?  Write about one or more theme that you feel has come up in all or most of the films we've watched and how each film addresses the theme(s). You might also make reference to what you learned about Kurosawa's life and how that helps you understand why he would deal with that theme.
• How has what we've seen in Yojimbo, High and Low, or Red Beard influenced you personally? Write an essay about the themes or other elements of the films (or of Kurosawa's life) that were important to you and why they matter to you so deeply. You will probably want to include a little bit of personal life story/experience if you do this one.
• Pick another essay topic you would like to write about that relates to the films Yojimbo, High and Low and/or Red Beard. It could also relate to what we learned about Kurosawa's life. Have Will or Josh approve the essay topic and then write the essay.
• How have these films treated violence?  You can talk about one of them specifically, or include examples from all of them.  Based on how violence is treated in these films, how do you think Kurosawa viewed violence.  Be specific with your examples in the films and your reasoning.
• These movies were all in widescreen.  As Kurosawa went from fullframe movies to the use of widescreen, how did that affect his composition of shots?  Do you still see his "painter" roots in these movies?  Did his painter instincts come through in these widescreen movies?  How?  Give specific examples of how his painter background may have affected the way he composed shots.  Feel free to use screen shots in your essay to express your points.
• In both Ikiru, which we watched before the break, and High and Low, do this interesting and non-conventional thing where half way through the movie we stop following the original protagonist, and the story focuses on a group of protagonists trying to solve a mystery (in Ikiru, what this old man did with his life, and why, and in High and Low, who is the kidnapper and how do we catch him!).  Why do you think Kurosawa makes this choice?  Do you see any similarities or parallels in the movies' messages?  How did you personally like this creative choice, or dislike it?  Explain in detail with specific examples... and...

Have fun!!!

Turn your essay in via email. Who you turn the essay in to depends on the first letter of your last name:

• A-H: email your essay to Josh: jwagner@ehhs.us.
• I-Z: email your essay to Will: wmcallister@ehhs.us.

Remember, this is the last week of the class.  Get this essay done, and start making up whatever work you may be behind on.  For, lo, the end is upon us!!!

At-Home Project (Due Friday, 12 Dec 2014)

Young Kurosawa thinking...
...about media maybe?

Remember that the first at-home project is due on Friday, 12 Dec 2014. You will get a little bit of class time for this but not much so be sure to get working on it at home right now. Here are the instructions for said assignment:

Thinking About Media Choice Assignment

(Completed At Home)

Twice per term, once at midterm and once at the end of the class, a choice assignment will become due. For this assignment, simply choose to do one of the following and turn it in:

• Additional Kurosawa Movie: Watch a Kurosawa film we will not be watching in class and watch it at home. Write a one page response to the film where you talk about what you thought of the film. Check with the instructors to see what Kurosawa films we will not be watching in class.
• Watch a John Ford Film: Kurosawa was heavily influenced by John Ford. So, watch a John Ford film at home and write a one-page paper about elements you saw in the movie that you feel are also present in Kurosawa’s films.
• Read 100 Pages of a Dostoyevsky Novel: Kurosawa was heavily influenced by the Russian author, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. He even adapted one of Dostoyevsky’s books into his film, The Idiot. So, read 100 pages of a Dostoyevsky novel and write a one page paper about elements you saw in Dostoyevsky’s writings that you also see in Kurosawa’s films.
• Read a Shakespeare Play: Kurosawa loved Shakespeare and even adapted a few Shakespeare plays into Samurai movies. So, read a Sheakespeare play and then do one of the following:
• Write a one-page paper about elements of the play that struck you as being similar to Kurosawa’s style.
• Adapt one scene of the play into a script that is set in Samurai times. Make it as Kurosawa-like as possible.
• Write a “Kurosawaian” Script: Write a script for a 5-20 page short film that feels like something Kurosawa could have written.
• Film a “Kurosawaian” Scene: Film and edit a scene that feels like it could have been in a Kurosawa movie. You can do this in groups if you like.
• Give a Presentation: Do some research on Kurosawa’s life, movies, or style and learn things that go above and beyond what we learned in class. Present what you learned to the class. Include clips from Kurosawa’s films.
• Interview Someone from Japan: Do a 30 minute (or more) interview with someone from Japan. Ask them questions that you feel will help you appreciate Kurosawa’s films more. Write up a one page summary of what you learned. Turn it in.
• Another Teacher Approved Project: Do another project which you feel ties into the objectives of the class. Make sure one of the instructors approves it.