Mr. Vampire (1995)

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, react to it below. Please answer two of the following questions:

• What do you like and dislike about the film? Why?
• What did the film help you understand about Hong Kong cinema and culture?
• Who would win in a fight: American vampires or Asian vampires? Why?

Life is Beautiful (1997)

I was editing while you guys were watching this one. When I heard the audio of the moment when the American soldier in the talk talks to Joshua, I knew that the end of the film was nigh so I poked my head out to see your guys' reactions. I saw that many a face was tearing up. That's OK. It's hard not to respond that way to this film.

I just learned something interesting from the internet: the horse that Guido rides off with Dora on in the middle of the film is decorated in a particular way. These decorations have a very important meaning that ties into the subject matter of the film. I recommend looking this up yourself.

Also, here is a most choice video of the actor who plays Guido accepting the Academy Award that this film won.

As you respond to this film in writing, please answer two of the following questions:

• What is it about this film that causes people to cry? This is a chance to really think about story, particularly the idea of set-up and pay-off. Write IN DETAIL about all the set-up's throughout the script that make the end pay-off so strongly. Really thinking hard about this question can help you become a much better screenwriter.
• This film has two distinct parts: the first is about Guido trying to win Dora's heart and the second is about the experience in the concentration camp. How does the first half of the film strengthen the second half? What do the filmmakers do to help the two halves to go together in spite of them being almost two different stories?
• What did you learn about history or about Italy by watching this film? What questions about history or about Italy did it raise?

Children of Heaven (1997)

Majid Majidi's Children of Heaven is one of many great neorealist films coming out of Iran and other Middle-eastern countries right now. If you liked this film, I recommend checking out more of Majidi's work and also other films from that part of the world.

This film is also a good example of how knowing a bit about the culture can help you appreciate an international film much more. A lot of people I know who watch Children of Paradise hate the ending because they say it is anti-climatic. But, the end means more when you consider the Iranian traditions surrounding gold fish:

"Nowrooz, or “new day,” is a highlight of the year marked by spring cleaning, visiting friends and family, and setting a table with seven symbols of life, health and beauty. These include candles, colored eggs and goldfish in a bowl, which are considered a symbol of a happy life" (http://www.jpost.com/Features/Front-Lines/Goldfish-endangered-as-Iran-marks-New-Year)

Another interesting but mostly unrelated little fact: the article I quoted above advocates for Iranians to stop using goldfish in their New Years traditions because it results in the death of so many fish.

Anyway, for this response, please answer two of the following questions:

• This film is definitely quiet. Did you ever have trouble getting into it for that reason? If so, at what parts? Which parts were the most engaging? Why?
• What did you learn about Iran by watching this film? What questions about Iran did this film raise for you?
• How would this film be different if it were produced in Hollywood?
• What do you feel are this film's strongest qualities? What are its greatest weaknesses? Please explain your answer in great detail.

International Cinema Extra Credit / Makeup Work

If you would like to watch an extra international film (not made in Hollywood) to makeup an assignment or earn some extra credit then, by all means, please do so. After you watch the film, answer all of the following questions:

• What is the name of the film?
• What country was the film made in?
• Did you like or dislike the movie? Why? Would you recommend that other students in our class watch it?
• What did you learn about the country of origin by watching the film?
• What questions do you have about the country of origin after watching the film?
• What did you notice that the film did artistically? (I.e. how did it use filmic elements like shot choice, color, editing, cinematography, lighting, production design, symbolism, narrative structure, theme, etc. in unique ways?) Why do you feel that the filmmakers made these decisions?

First Term Project Deadline: Dec 13 (deadline changed to Dec 14 at midnight)

UPDATE: RATHER THAN REPORT ON THIS HERE, REPORT ON ALL FIVE PARTS OF THE TERM PROJECT BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK.

The deadline was changed because I personally failed to post my comment by midnight on December 13 and I will not hold you to an expectation I cannot meet.

By December 13 December 14 at midnight, you need to have completed two of the following:

• Watch the 1st movie from your chosen country.
• Watch the 2nd movie from your chosen country.
• Watch the 3rd movie from your chosen country.
• Do at least 2 hours of research about your chosen country and its films using books or the internet.
• Interview someone for 30 minutes or more who lived in your chosen country.

After doing two of the above, post a comment below where you answer all of the following questions:

1. Which two tasks did you do?
2. If you watched a movie / movies, what were the titles? If you interviewed someone, who was it? If you did research, how long did you spend researching and what sources did you read?
3. What did you learn about your chosen country by doing these tasks? Please be detailed. Answer this question with at least a paragraph.

Om Shanti Om (2007)

Welcome to Bollywood! It's a wild world, that Bollywood. I hope you enjoyed it (but if you didn't, this blog response will be your chance to rant!). In the comments below, please respond to this film by answering at least two of the following questions:

• What characteristics of Bollywood film did you notice in this movie? After seeing this film, do you want to watch more Bollywood? Why or why not?
• Did you like or dislike this film? Why or why not? Be very specific?
• What is the theme of this film? Please give at least three specific examples to back up your theme statement.
• What did you notice about how the film used color, shot choice, symbolism, editing, and/or production design to communicate meaning? Please explain thoroughly.
• How do you feel about the film's depiction of women? Please explain thoroughly.

Hero (2002)

When we watched Hero in class today, it was my second time seeing the film. The first time I watched it, I, of course, noticed all of the vivid use of color and had all kinds of thoughts about what each color might symbolize.

This time I watched the film, I noticed the shot choice and editing. In the first half of the film, during the flashbacks, the filmmakers frequently cross the line, use jump cuts, or present long stretches of action using only close-up's.

This makes these parts of the film feel very disorienting and sometimes even leaves the viewer feeling a little confused. During many of the moments when one character kills another, we don't even see it happen because the camera is stuck on the characters' faces or on a cut away. If the cinematography weren't so freaking amazing, I might assume that the filmmakers were amateurs and were making mistakes. In addition, these disorienting shots and edits were not used in the second half of the film's flashbacks (the sequences when the characters wore white). Also, the second half of the film featured wide shots where we clear saw characters deal each other the final blow. I am convinced that these unconventional shot choices and editing decisions were intentional. I have theories as to why they did this but I won't share those with you quite yet because I want to read your untainted opinions.

Please reply to this post with your response to the film. Your response needs to answer, in detail, at least two of the following questions:

• What did you make of the use of color in this film? What do you think the colors symbolize?
• Why do you think the filmmakers used such disorienting shot choice and editing in the flashbacks at the beginning of the film?
• Why did the Chinese government choose to finance this film? How does it advance their agenda?
• Write a theme statement for this film. Give at least three specific examples from the film that back up this theme statement.
• In what ways was the style of this film very different from the style of Hollywood cinema?
• What did you learn from the film about Chinese culture? What questions did the film raise about Chinese culture for you?

Also, bonus points for doing extra research about the film or about Chinese culture and including that research in your response.

And now, you may respond below.