Waking Ned Divine (1998)

Here the questions for Waking Ned Divine. Answer two of them:

• What is the theme of the film? Back up your opinion with three examples.
• What did you learn about Irish culture from the film?
• What about that moment when the minor drinks or the big reveal about who said minor's father is? The characters in the movie don't seem to have the same moral qualms with those moments as we do. Why do you think that is? Kudos to anyone who does some cultural research to find out how these actions would be seen in real rural Ireland.

Strange Brew (1983)

What do I say about Strange Brew? It's a strange brew of a movie. Answer two of the following questions:

- What is the theme of Strange Brew? Back up your opinion with three specific examples.
- What did you learn from Strange Brew about Canadian culture?
- Do you think this silly movie is good or bad for the world?

So, get to it, hosers!

First Movie at Home

Remember that you have a homework assignment to watch a movie at home by Tuesday, December 18, 2012. After you watch the film, comment below.

In your response, start by stating what film you watched and what country it is from. Do not write any plot summary but do answer all of the following questions:

• What is the theme of the film? Back up your response with at least three examples from the film.
• How did the film help you better understand the culture of the country in which the film was made?
• After seeing the film, what questions do you plan on asking the person from the country you will interview?

Extra Credit

So, you think you deserve extra credit?!

Well then, you better watch a film from another country above and beyond what is required in class and then write about it in a comment below.

And when you write about it, you gotta' answer at least two of the following questions:

- What is the theme of the film of the film? Back up your opinion with three examples.

- What did you learn from the film that helps you understand the culture of the country in which it was made?

- After watching the film, what questions do you have about the culture of the country in which it was made? (I'll give you even more extra credit if you do research, find answers to those questions, and report on it in your post.)

- What did you notice about how the film uses color? What do the colors symbolize?

Canadian Short Films

Visit the website www.nfb.ca and watch at least three movies. Only one of the movies can be from the home page. The other two must be found on the site but not on the home page. Pick the one short film that you find which you like best and post a link to it in the comments below. Then, also write why you liked this film, which purposes of Canadian film that you feel it fulfills, and what you learned about the style of Canadian films by visiting this site.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Lars and the Real Girl is the most clean movie about a man and his sex doll that you will ever see and that is the genius of it! I hope you all had a wonderful, cathartic experience with this beautiful awkward movie.

I hope you also were able to see it as an example of the kind of story that can be told within Canada's state sponsored film system which would never be produced by Hollywood.

I hope you also enjoyed the wonderful performances of Ryan Gosling and Bianca ;)

As always, please answer the following question:

• For you, what is the most prominent theme of this movie? Back up your opinion with three examples from the film.

Then, answer one of the following questions or respond to something someone else has already said:

• Which purpose(s) of the Canadian Film Board do you feel this film fulfills?
• How is this film different than typical Hollywood movies? How is it similar?

Iron Monkey (1993)

Iron Monkey was the flagship international film of our class. I hope you enjoyed it for all it's Hong Kong gender-blending and awesome fight scenes. I hope it was also a pleasurable adventure in other-culture explorational that helped you become a better world citizen.

In the comments below, first answer the following question:

• In your humble (or not so humble) opinion, what is the theme of Iron Monkey. Provide three examples from the film that illustrate this theme.

Now, answer one of the following questions or respond to something someone else has commented about the film:

• How did the cultural research we did in class prepare you to enjoy this film more?
• Since watching the film, what additional cultural research have you done that has helped you appreciate the film more? Please share it with us for the benefit of all.
• How did this film help you become a better world citizen?

Mr. Vampire (1985)

What if there were a movie where Hong Kong martial arts masters fought vampires?! And what if the vampires vamped people with their long, spine-like fingernails? And what if they were blind but could see your breath? And what if they hoped everywhere? Like a bunny. Yeah, they should definitely hop like a bunny. That would be awesome. Oh wait! That movie's already been made! It's called Mr. Vampire and it is awesome.

So, now it is time to write your awesome comments about this awesome movie. Be sure to answer this question:

• For you, what is the theme of Mr. Vampire. Provide three examples from the movie that illustrate this theme.

And then, answer one of the following questions or respond to something someone else has said:

• How did the cultural research we did in class prepare you to enjoy this movie more?
• How did this film help you to become a better world citizen?
• Who would win in a fight: a Chinese vampire, an classic Dracula-style American vampire, or a Twilight vampire?

Hero (2002)

Hero is an example of the newer style that is appearing more recently in Hong Kong. I hope you noticed how the production value was much higher and the tone was much more serious than older stuff like Iron Monkey. I hope you also saw element of good old Hong Kong weirdness as well.

Keep in mind that this film was partially financed by the Chinese communist government and they never finance any movies unless the movies promote their political agenda.

So, answer the following two questions:

• For you, what is the theme of Hero?
• What did you notice about how color was used in the film. Do you have any thoughts about how the use of color emphasizes or drives home the theme you wrote above?

Chungking Express (1994)

So, Will's roommate Blair (who we both usually trust as an amazing movie expert) said that this is one of the greatest movies ever made in the 1990's and that the kids in our class would totally love it! Hmmmmm... maybe... not so much ....

So, here are the question to answer about this movie. As always, you have to answer this question:

In your opinion, what is the theme of Chungking Express? Give three solid examples from the movie that show this is the theme.

Then, you may choose to either answer one of the following questions or respond to something someone else has said already in this post:

• Do you agree or disagree with what Blair said about this post? Provide a good reason why. Why do you think some people like Blair think this is such a great film?
• Why did you learn from the cultural research we discussed in class that helped you understand this film better?
• What did you see in this film that helped you understand Hong Kong culture better?
• What have you learned from your own research that you can share with us that will help us better understand unfamiliar cultural things that happened in this film?