Hey, you hosers, take to look deeper into the movies we watched from the Great White North, you knobs! Answer all the questions you see below. Give me some thoughtful answers, and may the force be with you.
STRANGE BREW (1983)
Well, you know how I feel about this movie. I gave you my entire life story about why I love it so much. And, in my mind, as silly as it is, it is secretly brilliant. But, that's my opinion. Maybe you hated every second of this, and, it being a re-telling of Shakespeare's Hamlet or not, maybe you thought it was dumb. So the first question:- Did you like this movie? Why or why not (again, I want thoughtful answers here, you rink rats)?
- Did the film follow any of the things the National Film Board of Canada asked films to fulfill?
- What lessons did you learn from this film about life and the world?
LARS AND THE REAL GIRL (2007)
Yes! This movie is so good! And, I tell you, a quirky, cute, cathartic movie as unique as this would have a hard time getting made in the U.S. of A., but that's to the National Film Board of Canada, it had the help it needed to come to pass up north.
It is stories like this that we can have the wonderful opportunity of experiencing thanks to the whole wide world of cinema being out there!
Ok, answer the following questions about Lars and the Real Girl:
- Did you like this movie? Why or why not?
- What was the message of this film, in your opinion?
- Which purpose or purposes of the Canadian Film Board do you think this fulfills?
- How is this film different from typical Hollywood movies? How is it different?
THE GATE (1987)
"You've got demons."
- What did you think of The Gate?
- And, how does this Canadian horror film differ from Hollywood horror films? How is it similar?
Hey all, this is Will!
ReplyDeleteI'm commenting here, and I'm excited to see you comment, too.
This is Isaac. This comment is about strange brew. I like this movie for some of the same reasons as will. I like how it seems really stupid funny like something like family guy; but if you start to look at it it is a good story. And as the national film board of Canada go's. It does show Canadian colter in a kinda mocking way. I don't really know what els to say about that. And about life lessons the lesson i found was just enjoy life and be happy. (:
ReplyDeleteLily
ReplyDeleteStrange Brew:
I love this movie. Silly 80's Canadian humour at it's finest. Much of it's humour comes from the small snippets of bicker-ey dialogue that comes from the main characters, not necessarily the situations they're placed in or how they react. Despite them saying 'take off ya hoser' probably a hundred times throughout the film, them saying it to the side always seemed to make me laugh more than anything else. Other bits of Canadian slang like 'beauty' to show appreciation for something (like how Americans say 'cool') were always a very strong point for me.
To an extent, it could be keeping to Canadian culture, as it's like a take on Hamlet from a Canadian layman's perspective. I could also see it promoting social causes of respecting the potential of abusing corporate power. When it comes to film, I learned that non-sequitous flying dogs are a fantastic deus ex machina. This film always makes me think of how valuable a good buddy can be, and makes me appreciate my friendship with Jacob Haskell a lot.
Lars and the Real Girl:
Yes, I think this is a stellar film. It gives a good perspective on social anxiety (and potentially autism) that many people aren't familiar with. Which is promoting a social cause; good job Canadia. I think a strong message of this film is selflessness, and how to respond to it. The entire town comes together to agree upon not looking down on a 'violation'; for lack of a better word, of a social norm for the good of a member of said town. Lars' character arc shows a lot of growth, not knowing how to be grateful for what these people are doing for him. But then taking it upon himself to appreciate how selfless his community has been acting, and through that finds that they really care about him, helping him overcome his delusion.
My thoughts on The Gate soon to come, as soon as I watch it. On a side note, I've been spending a lot of time recently watching a Canadian sketch comedy series called Loading Ready Run that I really like, and exhibits a lot of the same humour traits that I love in Strange Brew. (And they have really cool script transitions and beautiful cinematography, which is always nice to see in the Indie scene!) http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/loadingreadyrun/6116-Occupied
Lily again
DeleteI watched The Gate, and I'm not super sure what I think of it as a film. I didn't take into account that the target audience was children, so I originally felt that it was purposefully a bad B-rate horror film that people like because it's so awesomely bad. (Army of Darkness, anyone?)
This differs from Hollywood horror films because Hollywood horror films are dumb while trying to be cool. Canadian horror movies are cool while trying to be dumb. Boom.
hey guys this is Maddi! First I am going to talk about Strange Brew .I liked this movie because I love comedy and i couldn't stop laughing. Im surprised I laughed so much because I usually do not like that kind of humor but maybe because my Canadian background I thought it was funny. I think it showed Canadian culture for the Canadian Film board. Even though it was making fun of Canadians i still think it showed Canada's culture. I learned from this movie that you should drink responsibly and goof around with your friends whenever you can.
ReplyDeleteNow its time to talk about Lars and the Real girl.I liked this movie because Ryan Gosling is gorgeous and how the movie wasn't in a rush, the movie was slow and steady. I think it fulfilled promoting tourism in Canada for the Canadian film board, because it showed alot of nature . I think this was different from typical hollywood movie because it wasn't afraid to be sad, and it did not rush the plot, you had to sit with the characters and its surroundings.
Last but not Least is The Gate. I thought this movie is awesome! I thought this movie was awesome because it was so 80's and cheesy. I think it was different from hollywood films by not having a lot of blood and it was a slow burn. I thought it was similar to american horror movies by having the parents go and have bad stuff happen while they were gone. I also thought it was similar to hollywood by having the teenage girl throwing a party and the two younger best friends getting into trouble then saving the day.
This is an answer to STRANGE BREW.
ReplyDelete- This movie is awesome! I loved it with all my heart. I thought it was very similar to a lot of the Saturday Night Live movies Because they just have you thrown in a wacky story with characters that you are already know and love, and they are just really smart with their jokes.
. I think that the movie definitely preserves Canadian culture, and does it by almost making fun of it. and i kinda think that I promoted tourism, It definitely showed off how good the beer is there.
- learned to always help out a friend in need. and being persistent and nice will get you places.
As for LARS AND THE REAL GIRL, I was on the field trip, and i haven't seen it in a while. so I don't think I can answer the question properly with out revisiting it. Sowwy Will, :(
Answers to THE GATE.
-This movie was awesomer!! It was a great example of the high notes of 80's horror flicks, i was just a great nostalgia trip for me. it was really scary at some moments, and is was just really well paced, i never got bored with the story, and the characters felt real, I felt like this was actually happening to these kids. Plus, I grew up with these movies, so that makes me like it that much more.
. the only difference I see in Canadian and American horror films is that it seem like the put a little more work into the script than American movie. America seem more focused on the movie looking more presentable than Canada.
This is Isaac. This one is about lars and the real girl. I like this movie a lot. it was meaningful in a funny and wired way. It was about a man how gets lonely and makes up a fake person to help him out. And I just like that a lot. I think the message was to just not judge people no matter what. And with the Canadian film board. I think it is supporting a good cause. And showing Canadian culture. I think it was different from hollywood movies for the reason that. I don't think hollywood could make a movie like that and have it be as clean and meaningful as it was. But i don't know.
ReplyDeleteThis is Isaac. The Gate yay. I liked it it was good. I like how they all cared for each other. I haven't seen a lot of horrors. But i feel you don't see that a lot. How its deferent from hollywood horrors is it's not just blood demons and scary its a good story. And just happens to be about scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteHI, BILLY MAYS HERE, SHOWING YOU THE NEW OXICLEAN PRODUCT!
ReplyDeleteHey guys my name is Kat
ReplyDeleteI will be answering the Canada Week Movie Questions.
Strange Brew:
1. Yes I did like this movie, but it's more of mixed feelings really. I mean it was really funny and it really showed a lot of Canadian stereotypes, but personally it didn't really strike my interest that much. But that's just my personal opinion. The idea for the movie was great and it was really creative in a lot of ways.
2. Yes, the movie portrayed the ''culture'' of Canada. More like the stereotypical culture of Canada.
3. With this movie it's really hard to find a life lesson, because it's strictly a comedy.
But if I had to come up with some sort of life lesson that would be that the world may be full of challenges and bad people, but if you cherish the little things, you might just make it through. Also ignorance is bliss :p
Lars and the Real Girl:
This movie is one of my all time favorite movies now. It is so cute and very down to earth and heart warming, with additional ignorant humor here and there which made it perfect. I love the whole plot of the movie and the characters grow on you so much. Its an amazing movie and this is a movie i could watch over and over again and get touched even more almost every time.
2. The messages I think that goes along with this movie is that, family will always support you, some people maybe awkward and different, but if you get to know them, they can be some of the most loving and wonderful people, love takes time, everyone needs someone, life isn't all hard ships it can be beautiful and amazing, some people need time to show their feelings, opening up can be scary be heartwarming, and patience.
3. I think this movie shows a lot of the landscape in Canada, but is also showed a lot of family priorities.
4. This movie is defiantly different from most Hollywood films. Yes this film is eye catching and defiantly draws the audience in, but there's something a little more to it. It really catches you by surprise the plot and the messages to the movie make this one of those movies you want to never end.
The Gate:
1. To be completely honest, I didn't really like The Gate all that much.
2. This movie is similar to Hollywood horror films in the animation and the dramatic effect and especially in the suspense and scary aspect. But it is also different in a lot of ways too. It shows more of a realistic everyday family setting, instead of the Hollywood everyday family setting which is, a big fancy expensive house, a family that either hates or loves each other, and a predictable horror film. So in my opinion, Canadian movies are usually more realistic than Hollywood movies.
-- STRANGE BREW --
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this film. It was a really fun comedy film with a surprisingly well written story. Usually when comedy films are made, they quickly slap a thin story onto the jokes, and it usually is really boring. But they actually tried with this film and I respect that.
I think this film encourages tourism to Canada. It definitely is a warm welcome to Canadian culture. It basically says "If you come to Canada, you just might find people that are just like Bob and Doug."
It also promotes friendship and acceptance. Bob and Doug never give up on each other throughout the entire film, and I really respect the message of never leaving a friend behind.
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-- LARS AND THE REAL GIRL --
I really enjoyed this film. It was a great character drama with just enough quirky-ness to make me laugh, but not too much that the film was overpowered by silliness. It was a slow, steady look into how Lars copes with the real world.
I really liked Ryan Gosling's performance as Lars. He was able to play a kind, shy, and introverted man. He had a real grasp on his character and it was great to watch him perform.
I feel like the message of this film overall is acceptance. Lars lives in a tiny town where everybody knows each other. When he gets the doll, there are many people who want to cast him out and reject him. Slowly but surely, a few people in the town show compassion and help him feel welcomed. I feel like the scene where Lars' sister-in-law is giving the doll a bath is a really powerful scene. It shows her dedication and kindness and really packs an emotional punch.
This film definitely promotes a social cause. It teaches people to become more accepting of people and to have a positive attitude when others do things that are not normal to you. It also shows the beauty of Canada's forests.
This film's pace is very slow and careful. It drops hints in the beginning as to what kind of person Lars is and gently transitions to the call to adventure. It really explores human emotion, and the process of falling in love, and relationships.
If this was an American made film, it wouldn't be subtle at all. It would basically tell you how feel.
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-- THE GATE --
I really liked this movie. It is a really fun horror film. It has a great slow burn, which has a very satisfying climax.
This film wasn't afraid to show some troubling situations near the end. If it was an American film, the runtime would be much shorter. It would have ended just before the actually scary things begin to happen. I really respect the decision to still include that content in the film, especially because it is meant for kids as well as adults.
-- Taylor Stoddard
~Elizabeth
ReplyDelete-Strange Brew
So, I really liked this movie. I found it really funny and entertaining. I think it was showing Canadian culture. Obviously it does this by showing very stereotypical Canadians. As for life lessons i guess you could say that it showed that no matter what you shouldn't give up on your friends.
-Lars and the Real Girl
I liked this movie, it was a little weird but still really cute and enjoyable. I think the message of this film is to not judge others and to not give up on the people you care about. They show that with Gus' wife and how hard she is trying to help Lars get better. Gus was ready to give up on him and send him to a mental institution but Karin refused to let him. I think that for the film board the requirement they were meeting with this movie was to try to promote a social cause, of not being rude and judgmental because someone is a little odd. I think it's different than a hollywood film because just the way they went about covering this topic. If someone in hollywood wanted to make a movie with the same message they wouldn't have made the person that different. like they would have been off a little but i don't feel like they would show someone to that extent.
-The Gate
I really enjoyed The Gate. It was better than I remember as a little kid. How I think it differs from a hollywood film is that in a hollywood horror they would have ended it much sooner and typically they would have had the problem come up much sooner rather than having you get to know the charters and see how the issue came about. Also things would have fixed themselves sooner, so instead of the big demon coming and wrecking the place I feel like that demon might not have even been needed.
Hey, this is Taran.
ReplyDeleteStrange Brew
This movie was quite entertaining in my opinion, Though it had a few problems, I thought it was pretty well written. Some of the plot points I thought didn't work all that well with a comedy such as this, but that's just my opinion. I think when people decide to make films based on existing characters, they tend to make the story too big. If it had a smaller story, I'd have liked it more. The movie definitely promotes Canadian culture with all the crazy stereotypes. It's a little hard for me to pinpoint a lesson in this movie.
Lars and the Real Girl
I'm so glad I was able to see this movie. It was extremely entertaining and quite heartwarming. I really liked the pacing in the film, because it took its time, and made you feel attached to the characters. Ryan Gosling gave a really stellar performance, and I really loved watching him play such an awkward character. There was a good balance between comedy, drama and depressing scenes. I think that this film did good in promoting tourism, because of all the forest and outdoor scenes. The theme of this movie, I think, is accepting everyone for who they are, and they played on this theme very powerfully.
Hey, Sorry this is so late, kept forgetting to do it.
ReplyDeleteStrange Brew:
I honestly loved this film a lot. I thought it was funny and quirky. But most of all, I felt is was ORIGINAL. Like the intro for instance. The lion burping, to them poking at it until it got mad, to them surrounded by beer. It was just funny!
I don't remember the fulfilments of the National Film Board of Canada, but if comedy is one of them, or whole-hearted fun, this definitely did!
I think a life lesson I learned was don't let bullies (or in this case an evil brewery person trying to control people) stand in your way. If they do, stop them and make the world a better place. And drink lots of beer and call a lion a hoser (on my bucket list now).
Lars and the Real Girl:
I liked this movie quite a bit. It teaches you about sympathy and loving someone for who they are, even if they seem a bit weird. I find that to be a golden lesson.
I think the message of the film was to love someone for who they are, and try to understand what they are going through before you make assumptions of what they are like.
Again I don't remember what the National Film Board of Canada's things are, and I'm not gonna steal someone else's answer, that's not my style.
I think this movie is similar to hollywood movies in the fact that it has good quality recordings. That's about where it ends. It differs from them a lot because it tells the story without using action, silly comedy, and explosions. When I laugh, I genuinely can relate. when I cried during this (and yes I cried during a part, because I'm that cool) it was REAL. This movie made me think, and it really touched me in ways films haven't done in a long time.
The Gate:
I really liked this movie. It reminded me of goosebumps, except there was actually a good ending to it. It brought back nostalgia, because of the shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark I watched as a kid. It's very similar and I loved it.
As far as Hollywood goes, definitely a lot different. I don't think I count this as a horror. It's more a mix of Goosebumps and The Goonies, but I loved it all the same!
hi its kat :3
ReplyDeletei totally agree with ben on Lars and the real girl. this movie had so many weird and touching elements that you just grew to fall i love with the characters so much. I was even surprised at myself for crying over the death of a doll :p another thing i liked so much about this movie was that it was so crazy and strange in some ways that even i could relate to :p