Mythological Criticism of “Lake Mungo” by Anderson

Introduction One can say that myths are both a product of culture and its cornerstone. They are a manifestation of the past and current experiences of a particular society and a determining factor in subsequent works of art. It is why people, attentive and erudite readers and viewers especially, notice...

“Why We Need to Talk About Suicide”: Lessons Learnt

Introduction Suicidal contemplations and actions remain taboo topics, which might hinder suicide prevention efforts. In his speech titled “Why We Need to Talk about Suicide,” Mark Henick exposes, criticizes, and explains the ongoing avoidance of this issue. This response paper’s purpose involves summarizing new learning from the video and remaining...

“Hotel Rwanda” Directed by Terry George: An Analysis of the Film

The British film “Hotel Rwanda” is one of the most emotional historical dramas of this millennium, which is not a big box office movie but still conveys deep authorial meaning. Released in 2004 by Terry George, Hotel Rwanda raises many of the most pressing topics for today’s social agenda, from...

Documentary Movies Review

From the award-winning “Miss Representation” film, Jenifer Siebel has excelled in her career in documentary films that portray both genders’ life in society. “The Mask You Live In” is yet another documentary film with some of its cast being experts in various fields like neuroscience, psychology, education, and sports. A...

Symbolism in the “Queen of the South” Series

Introduction Symbolism is vastly used in cinematography for a variety of purposes. Symbols can give additional background to the story, work as a warning, or draw parallels between the events on screen and the events in the past. In movies, like in any art, almost anything can be symbolic, including...

The “Freaky Friday” by Mark Waters

Relationships with parents, their attachment, care and love significantly affect the child’s entire life. This paper analyzes the relationship between fictional parent and child from the Freaky Friday film directed by Mark Waters (2003). The movie’s plot centered around the relationship between their mother, Tess Coleman, played by Jamie Lee...

“A Class Divided” Film on Discrimination

Introduction This journal is a reflection on the film “A Class Divided”. The movie describes an experiment performed by Jane Elliot, a grade three teacher concerned by discrimination that existed at the time of Martin Luther King. Through the experiment, Elliot hoped to explore the nature of discrimination. In this...

“Better Brain Health, DW Documentary”

The primary reason people have limited access to healthy foods is the fact that humans’ food choice is influenced by business models that promote unhealthy products in their check-out. Most stores have candy bars and junk foods that contribute to obesity. Currently, sugar is being added to almost all products,...

“Get Out” Horror Film by Jordan Peele

Get Out is a satirical horror directed by Jordan Peele in 2017. Get Out premiered on January 23, 2017, and was described as “a movie that plunges into white insecurities about black sexuality and the lingering toxicity of slavery on the national psyche” (Johnston 2). The film was a success...

Theme of Grief in “The Secret Life of Bees”

The Secret Life of Bees is a novel by Sue Monk Kidd that explores themes of loss, grief, acceptance, and forgiveness. Furthermore, in her book, Kidd raises the topics of race and color. In fact, in 2004, the novel received The Indies Choice Book Award and was nominated for The...

Stealing Africa: How Rich Companies Benefit from the Developing Countries

Stealing Africa is the documentary movie directed by C. Guldbrandsen, and filmed in 2012. It shows how Glencore, the Swiss company, operates with Zambian copper mining and manipulates its taxes, which are the primary way of getting revenue from copper for Zambia. The movie’s thesis is that multinational companies like...

The Films That Used as a Tool to Reimagine Africa and Africans

Africa has suffered a double tragedy – that of colonization and having the colonizer dominate and shape the underlying narrative of the African story. However, telling other people’s stories is subject to personal biases and prejudices based on long-standing stereotypes. The representation of Africa in films has been characterized by...

Film Production: Camera, Lighting and Sound

There is no universally accepted definition of mise-en-scene. People engaged in film production do not agree on different concepts the term might hold. In the most general sense, it denotes the design aspects of film production. The term was first used by Les Cahiers du Cinéma, an influential French film...

The Pursuit of Happyness by Gabriele Muccino Review

The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical film directed by Gabriele Muccino. It is a classic rags-to-riches story that is based on the true life story of Christopher Gardner, a self-made millionaire who rose from poverty and homelessness to achieve great success in life. Gardner catapulted himself from...

“The Miracle of Bern” Sports Film

The title of the movie, directed by Sönke Wortmann, refers to the final match at the 1954 World Cup, which went down in history under the name “Bern miracle.” It is a legendary historical event that became the first stone in the foundation of the new German national identity. Moreover,...

Women’s Fates in Japanese Films

Introduction The Japanese society could be classified as patriarchal whereby women are seen as weak and their place is at home to take care of their families. This entrenched belief that women are subordinate and submissive has infiltrated the film-making industry where such themes continue to the perpetuated. The societal...

American Noir Tradition in the “Oldboy” Film

Introduction It could be hardly doubted that the borderline between genres of horror and thriller in contemporary cinema is a subject to continuous merging. The primary reason for this phenomenon is that both genres appeal to the same core human emotion of fear, and they both use quite similar techniques...

The Godfather: Management Style Analysis

Introduction Lessons one can learn about leadership or styles of management are in wide availability within the modern media. The different ways in which organizations are now led have been subjects to multiple movies or TV series that depict main characters dealing with important business issues. The Godfather (1972) is...

“The Reflecting Pool” Video Art by Bill Viola

Throughout his career as a video artist, Bill Viola has created numerous single-channel videos and installations focused on exploring viewers’ inner spirituality and influencing deep levels of consciousness. His work has been deeply affected by the scholarly studies of Western and Eastern art, religion, and philosophy. While Viola’s current use...

Analysis of “Night of the Living Dead” by George Romero: Film and Impact

After having been released in 1968, it did not take too long for the low-budget horror flick Night of the Living Dead (directed by George Romero) to prove an utter commercial success. The concerned movie was also able to attain nothing short of a cult following – the actual reason...

The Film “Dead Man’s Letters” by Konstantin Lopushansky

Introduction Dead Man’s Letters is a 1986 apocalyptic film by a Soviet director Konstantin Lopushanskiy. The story depicts events of a war that has recently become nuclear. The story is a cautionary tale, and its historical context is especially important. It also utilizes a variety of film techniques to create...

“Frankie & Alice” Motion Picture: Race and Mental Care

Frankie & Alice is a Canadian motion picture by Berry, Cirrincione, DeKaric, Zaidi, and Sax (2010). It is based on a real story of an Afro-American woman with a Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). Frankie is the protagonist, a go-go dancer who begins to experience violent episodes and blackouts. However, it...

“The Wizard of Oz”: Movie Analysis

Analysis The Scarecrow is a character that shows his optimism even in situations with minimum available information about possible outcomes. For example, he is optimistic about two roads that he has never put his foot on and believes that “it’s pleasant down that way, too” (The Wizard of Oz, 1939)....

Stereotypes in “Moonlight” Film by Barry Jenkins

Introduction Moonlight chronicles the life of a queer black boy singled out for being too soft and feminine, but eventually transformations himself to a menacingly muscular drug dealer with gold teeth grills accentuating his maleness. The movie segregates the journey of an adolescent boy into manhood into three chapters. Initially,...

Political Drama in Mecha Anime: Gurren Lagann

Introduction Anime is a very significant part of the Japanese popular culture that is now known and loved all around the world. There exists a wide variety of different kinds and directions of anime. One of them is known as mecha anime, represents one of the oldest genres in the...

The Role of Anthropomorphic Animals in “Zootopia” and “Finding Nemo” in Addressing Social Issues

Introduction Anthropomorphic animals have long been crucial elements in motion pictures, captivating the audience’s attention. Having human personalities, ambitions, and perspectives, such animals remain the main characters in many movies, connecting with the viewers. However, not every viewer understands the complexity of such a phenomenon, its history, and its roles...

Lighting, Horror, and Society in “Get Out” and “Parasite” Films

The Role of Lighting in the Get Out Film Lighting is a crucial element in creating the atmosphere and mood of a film. In “Get Out” (2017), director Jordan Peele skillfully uses lighting to enhance the tension and suspense throughout the movie. One specific way lighting is used is in...

Adolescent Love in Ten Things I Hate About You: A Cinematic Analysis

Introduction Numerous films have been screened about adolescent love and sexuality, and perhaps among the most prominent ones is Ten Things I Hate About You. The movie was released in 1999 under the direction of Gil Junger, and its genre can be categorized as a teen romantic comedy. Throughout 97...

The ‘Right to Fail’ Documentary and Mental Health Transition Policies in New York

Overview of the Documentary I watched “Right to Fail,” a documentary that discusses the outcomes of the transition of severe mental illness in New Yorkers from a tightly controlled setting to independent homes following a federal court order in 2014. According to the documentary, thousands of individuals with severe mental...

Kat Stratford from The 10 Things I Hate About You Film

Plot At the center of the film’s plot is Kat Stratford, whose last name is a reference to Shakespeare. Unlike her younger sister Bianca, she is not popular at school, so she has to protect herself from the increased attention of guys. She has to go on dates to control...

“The Power of Art” Documentary by Simon Schama

The documentary “The Power of Art”, produced by Simon Schama, tells the story of remarkable artists and how they transformed the world of art. Caravaggio’s unique usage of lighting was a significant visual piece, and his works marked a conversion to realism, making Caravaggio one of the most prominent and...

Interpersonal Conflict: Marvel Cinematic Universe

The conflict between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a classic example of interpersonal conflict. The conflict situation arises when their differing opinions on government oversight of the Avengers lead to a rift in their friendship and a physical confrontation between the two characters. Tony...

Children and Gender: Growing Up Trans by Frontline PBS Review

In today’s world, there is a distinct difference between gender and sex, the spread of which is especially important. Increasingly people are faced with the problem of identifying themselves as male or female. As a consequence of this fact, adults have an opportunity to make a transition to living a...

The American Gangster Film Analysis

The Film The film ‘American Gangster’ focuses on the criminal lifestyle of a gang leader, Frank Lucas. The film starts when Frank’s boss, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson, dies of a heart attack (Collins 12). Frank becomes the mob boss and specializes in smuggling heroin from Thailand directly from producers and selling...

The Documentary “The Redeem Team”

Introduction The Redeem Team is a documentary film about the story of the 2008 USA Olympic Basketball team, which one can view on the streaming service Netflix. The movie’s plot is the narrative focusing on uniting the greatest players to restore the country’s reputation after extended disappointments. Consequently, an exciting...

“It Must Be Heaven” Film Analysis

Women-Related Signs The first scene in this movie happens inside a restaurant and features both women and men in the entertainment joint. The society shown in the movie is a male-dominated one where men call the shots and women act at the mercy of their male counterparts. Men are free...

Discussion of the Podcast Series Alibi

Introduction In the first episode of the first season of the podcast series Alibi, Sarah Koenig talks about how she conducted questioning of students one day. Sarah needed to find out what the teenagers were doing on January 13, 1999. On that day, Hae Min Lee disappeared, and a month...

Hollywood and Bollywood in Today’s Globalized World

The modern globalized space is filled with diversity, contradictions that have developed historically through wars, seizures of power, colonization, and the discovery of new lands. Modern society thrives in industrial and material consumption and informational consumption, which is much more critical. The cultural characteristics of different peoples and territories constantly...

Discussion of the Movie “Alex Haley’s Queen”

Introduction “Alex Haley’s Queen,” which is frequently referred to as “Queen,” is a movie by John Erman that comprises three parts, actually being a miniseries. This is an adaptation of the novel by Alex Haley, where the author traces his paternal family history four generations back. The writing serves to...

The Film “Good Will Hunting” by Gus Van Sant

My definition of a soulmate identifies a soulmate as a person who understands you, supports you both physically and emotionally, and is willing to share life with you for as long as you are alive. The triad concept in Good Will Hunting is applied in the form of defense mechanisms,...

The Film “Fruitvale Station” by Ryan Coogler

Fruitvale Station is a 2013 film made by debut director Ryan Coogler, starring Michael B. Jordan. The movie is based on the real story of Oscar Grant III, a 22-year-old African-American who the BART officer shot on a crowded platform of the Fruitvale station. The story was not Hollywoodized, and...

Silent Films and Foley Artists

A silent film is a black-and-white movie without sound. From the invention of film technology to the advent of modern sound films, silent films were the most popular entertainment. At first, there was no sound in the films, then they were with musical accompaniment, and then the help of Foley...

Pulp Fiction as Iconic Gangster Cinema

Introduction Several movies throughout history have tremendously impacted the film industry, forming examples for specific genres. Understanding such works’ properties and analyzing the unique qualities that shape their overall appeal is essential for film studies investigations. An instance of such iconic creation is Pulp Fiction, a remarkably famous motion picture...

Themes in Films by Spike Lee

Introduction Spike Lee is an American film actor, writer, producer, and director known for films dealing with controversial political and social issues. Films that have been directed by Lee are known as “Spike Lee Joints,” and their closing credits always end with the phrases “By Any Means Necessary,” “Ya Dig,”...

Narrative Campaign of “The Hunger Games” Film

The Hunger Games films narrative campaigns include many elements such as setting, genre, flashbacks, allusions, protagonist Katniss Everdeen, theme and conflict. The storyline begins with the main character Katniss Everdeen getting into a deadly game in which the character survives and becomes the leader of the struggle for freedom and...

The Cinematic Possibilities of the Book “Outlaw Platoon” by Parnell and Bruning

Introduction The film adaptation of a book can be viewed as a sociocultural phenomenon that heavily influences the formation of reading fashion in any culture. This is especially true today, when visual information prevails in society, partly reducing the reading activity of the population. Therefore, it is important to find...

“I, The Worst of All” Film by María Luisa Bemberg

“I, The Worst of All” showed the seventeenth century as a period in Mexico when women were extremely oppressed. There was no place for those of them who were interested in knowledge and philosophy. Moreover, patriarchal and ecclesiastical tyranny prevented women from realizing themselves. It remains a mystery to many...

“The King’s Speech” Movie and Anxiety Disorder

Although several movies depict persons with social anxiety disorder, The king’s speech tends to do it particularly well. This film chronicles the narrative of Prince Albert, as well as his ascension to the throne of the United Kingdom as King George VI. With the aid of a speech therapist who...

“Supplements and Safety” Documentary by Frontline

The Principal Points The documentary on Supplements and Safety by Frontline, New York Times, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation presents an insightful description of the hidden dangers of supplements and vitamins. These organizations analyzed the marketing and control of supplements, as well as their serious health problems. According to the...

Michel Goldry’s Talent and Approach to Cinematography

Introduction Michel Gondry is a contemporary filmmaker from France, famous for his works Science of Sleep, Mood Indigo, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The spectacular cinema approach was inspired by the pioneers of this genre, Georges Méliès, and Busby Berkeley. Gold has received several awards as an appraisal...

Analysis of Goodfellas by Martin Scorsese

Introduction Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas is a legendary gangster movie that is loved by many people even today. The plot narrates the life of Henry Hill, starting with his childhood when he was a poor child living in New York to his adult life as a gangster. This movie is an...

Review of “Anxiety” Short Film

The short film Anxiety introduces the viewers to the life of a young and beautiful girl, Madeleine, who is suffering from anxiety. It is essential to say that every person has experienced anxiety and tension at least once in their life before an exam or an important meeting. Anxiety is...

“Harvest of Empire”: Immigration in the United States

Introduction Most Americans have never understood the challenging history lying behind the increased Latino population growth in the United States. Nevertheless, after watching the documentary, I realized that it is of great help in making a person know why America has many immigrants. Thus, this essay aims to provide a...

A Good Scary Movie and Key Requirements

Sometimes it seems odd that a movie that was shot over half a century ago remains scary for contemporary viewers. In contrast, modern scary films are simply irritating and do not possess the former quality. Indeed, filmmaking is one of the most popular mediums that thrive today, with horror movies...

“Go Carolina” by David Sedaris Review

David Sedaris describes several challenges which he faces during his life, starting from the first story, “Go Carolina,” about his childhood. Classism theme influences him from the very beginning at school due to external judgments and separation of himself from the majority of the surrounding community. A sense of belonging...

The History and Implementation of Rotoscoping

The period from the 1870s and the late 1890s is regarded as the time when contemporary animation and film technologies started to develop. It originated when photographer Eadweard Muybridge discovered a method to capture the movement of a horse. Muybridge’s creative approach was tightly connected to Phenakistoscope technology. His innovation...

Personal Response About the Documentary “Food Inc.”

The documentary, Food Inc., argues that the production of today’s food choices are solely profit based, and that there is insufficient government regulation on agriculture. There is little regard to the health and safety of the consumer, or the health and treatment of the animals. The movie is based upon...

Lessons From the Hardball Film Applied to Real Life

The film is based on the book, ‘Hardball: A Season in the Projects’, by Daniel Coyle, and although the film is not an exact replica of the book by Coyle, it is an account similar to the Near North Little League’s 1992 season. The film features Keanu Reeves portraying a...

Romantic Comedies: Friends with Benefits, No Strings Attached

Frankly speaking, I am not a real fan of romantic comedies, but I have seen a few at the movie theatre with my friends. Friends with Benefits appealed to me as it seems to differ from the other films of this genre. However, soon No Strings Attached appeared on the...

Movie Review: Miss Evers’ Boys

The Tuskegee experiment that took place in America over a period of four decades was an ethical catastrophe. The movie, “Miss Evers’ Boys”, captures the emotional and physical effects of the experiment on the participants, most of who succumbed to the disease. The experiment was a violation of most, if...

The Butler by Lee Daniels: Movie Review

The Butler is a historical drama by Lee Daniels about racial discrimination, based on the life of Eugene Allen. The protagonist Cecil Gaines, played by Forest Whitaker, spent most of his childhood on a cotton plantation. After the rape of his mother and his father’s death, the plantation caretaker, Annabeth,...

“Meeting With a Killer” by Linda and Amy White

Meeting with a Killer is a documentary showing the severe tensions and emotions that Linda and Amy White experience when preparing to meet a murderer of their daughter and mother, Gary Brown. In religious tradition, the advice on responses to respond to evil and suffering vary. In the Christian framework,...

“Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” by Alex Gibney

Overview Crime has been part of society for a long time. History reveals various forms of crimes from time to time and in different societies. The reason why people commit a crime has been a difficult puzzle. Various theories try to explain various forms of crime, why they occur and...

“Miss Evers’ Boys” by Feldshuh

Introduction “Miss Evers’s Boys” is a film that is based on a true story known as a Tuskegee Syphilis study. This study was conducted between 1932 and 1972 to explore the natural course of syphilis among African-American males in the US. Miss Evers, the nurse, was instructed to tell men...

Talent Scouting for Online Streamers

Introduction Modern society cannot imagine life without sharing their experiences, ideas, and thoughts, therefore people always create and consume content. Multiple platforms exist to spread the information in different formats, and the most engaging one is, undoubtedly, video. Over one billion people watch YouTube at least one time a day,...

“Psycho”: A Psychological Thriller by Alfred Hitchcock

Psycho is a 1960 American psychological thriller directed by the legendary Alfred Hitchcock. The film is universally considered to be iconic for film culture and a staple of the thriller or horror genre, introducing many elements of filmmaking that are utilized to this day. With Psycho, Hitchcock broke both social...

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” by Verbinski

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” represents a unique piece of work with an outstanding actor play, immaculate special effects and tricks, breathtaking scenes, and numerous aspects to consider. The movie is one of my favorites since it is an excellent combination of different genres and, in addition to...

“Freedom Song”: Movie Review

Freedom Song is one of the most interesting movies that enlist in the dramatic genre of movies. Watching Freedom Song had been a great experience as it managed to provide a great deal of knowledge regarding the consequences of the civil rights war during the 1960s. The main theme of...

“Last One Picked…First One Picked On” Documentary

When most people reflect on their child hood, they will always think about pleasurable memories that tend to describe those relatively untroubled stage of their life e.g. field trip, award presentation etc. but for this children it is a different world, all they reflect on is a life of loneliness...

“Maurice” by James Ivory: Film Outline and Symbols

Introduction Maurice was written by E.M. Forster during 1913/1914. But the novel was published posthumously only in 1971. It calls for emotional and sexual sincerity in the time of moralizing and repressions in British society. The protagonist comes to age as a homosexual, subtle and rich person, looking ordinary, but...

Deciphering the Meaning of Animals in Films

Introduction In looking at the use of animals in film, with the possible exception of family type, feel-good animal stories, animals are usually symbolic when they are seen in anything more than a cameo type appearance as pets and other casual uses which simply give realism to the film. Most...

“When They See Us” TV Mini-Series’ Analysis

The mini-series titled “When They See Us,” directed by Ava DuVernay, released in 2019, tells the story of five young men falsely convicted of rape and assault of a young woman in Central Park. The collision of genuine desire to support a friend with the cruel and unjust reality of...

“O Brother, Where Art Thou?” the Film by Joel Coen

Introduction Following its release to theaters in 2000, it did not take long for the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? (directed by Joel Coen) to attain a critically acclaimed status. As of today, it is often referred to in terms of a “cult movie”. This implies that there is...

“Sense and Sensibility” and “Pride and Prejudice” Films

Watching movies based on Jane Austen’s novels is always exciting for many people. In addition to a properly developed plot with interesting characters and lines, the director and the rest of the film crew make their contributions and choose beautiful landscapes and views. The role of the cast cannot be...

NCIS TV Series: Narrative Structure and Characters

Although NCIS cannot be considered the longest running show in the U.S. primetime broadcast, it has definitely cemented its position as one of the most popular TV series. Started in 2003, NCIS centers around a group of people belonging to the titular department and solving crimes, which might seem as...

Episode Analysis: “The Entire History of You”

Introduction The Entire History of You is an episode of series Black Mirror. The creators incorporated various symbols in this show. One of the most significant moments is a scene where the advertisement of a new device is shown. This innovative technology allows watching any moment that a person has...

“Dragon Ball Z” by Andrew Kincaid

Reading Response The article written by Andrew Kincaid analyzes the role of Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) in the development of anime culture. Kincaid believes that the series has established an attractive anime format that has since been adopted by other anime makers. The author supports his thesis by examining the...

Analyzing Kelly Reichardt’s “Meek’s Cutoff”: A Cinematic Perspective

Abstract This paper primarily delves into an examination of the film “Meek’s Cutoff” and examines is thematic elements, cinematography and how certain scenes can be interpreted and how they help to influence the entire film. Aside from this, paper delves deeply into the concept of the western shootout scene, its...

Disney Animation’s Society Reflection & Influence

Contemporary American values are reflected in movies. Signs and symbols of the changing values get into all the aspects of individual lives in the United States. A quintessential example is offered by the entertainment sector where animated characters are depicted as possessing a powerful impact on our culture and its...

2012′ by Roland Emmerich Film Analysis

One of the reasons why, along with representing an aesthetic value, some movies can also be considered as such that represent an unmistakably philosophical one, is that it is in the cinematography’s very nature to reflect what happened to be the essence of the affiliated socio-cultural discourse. That is, while...

Investing in the Film “Escape from Rio Japuni”

Project Proposal 1: My Life with Dalai Lama When it comes to identifying the viability of the movie, one must mention the fact that it is bound to have rather low production values as it will focus mostly on the life story of the main character, which, though admittedly having...

The Morality of the Movie “Gone Baby Gone”

The Gone Baby Gone movie represents one of those pieces of art which leave the audience with contradictory opinions about the ending. While the whole film is full of dramatic moments, its final part is the most powerful as it brings about the crucial question: should the character’s decision be...

“The Great Debaters”

Good communicators are successful leaders and businessmen. In the movie entitled The Great Debaters, one of the characters is Samantha Booke. She had to go up against great odds in order to secure her inclusion into the debate team. Her mentor told her that a female debater was unheard of...

Garcia’s Family in the Film “Real Women Have Curves”

In order for us to be able to choose in favor of the methodologically sound intervention-strategy, in regards to the family of Garcias (as seen in the 2002 film Real women have curves), we will need to identify the qualitative aspects of the relationship between the members of this family....

Chinese cinema: Two Stage Sisters and Yellow Earth

The film, “Two Stage Sisters” is a 1964 Chinese production by Xie Jin, staring Cao Yindi and Xie Fang (Connolly). It is a production made shortly before Chinese Cultural Revolution. “Two Stage Sisters” tell of feminine story, “Yue Opera” practitioners, who happened to be from the same cast, but who...

Comparing Film Adaptations of Hamlet: Doran vs. Zeffirelli

Introduction In movies based on Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” directors have taken different approaches to how closely they stick to the original text and how they interpret the themes, characters, and settings. This essay reviews two film versions of “Hamlet” directed by Franco Zeffirelli and Gregory Doran and prefers the latter....

The Film “The Notebook” by Nick Cassavetes

Brief Summary of the Film The Notebook is a romance drama film adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ novel. In the movie, Allie Hamilton and Noah Calhoun’s romance unfolds throughout the summer of 1940. Noah is a local worker raised in the region, while Allie is on holiday in Seabrook Island, South...

“Eyes of the Rainbow”: A Documentary Review

The story of Assata Shakur’s journey is long and complicated, some viewing her as a dangerous criminal, and some considering her a martyr to racism. The 1997 documentary about Shakur titled “Eyes of the Rainbow,’ while possibly being skewed toward a more positive perception of the notorious figure in the...

Cannibalism and Female Desire in Horror Films

Introduction Horror films comprise video casts with frightening scenes that infringe fear, anxiety, and mayhem to the viewers for many reasons. Cannibalism refers to the aspect where the eating of animal flesh, more so that of human beings, is embraced. Many movies nowadays have cherished the idea of many female...

“Anatomy of a Murder” by Preminger: A Critical Analysis

Anatomy of a Murder is more than simply a courtroom drama: it is a realistic and comprehensive examination of American life at the period. The film’s goal was to examine and portray the judicial system in a scientific and realistic manner. Characters in the narrative perceive one another, and they...

Leadership Styles in the Forrest Gump Film

Introduction Forrest managed to inspire Elvis Presley, who imitated Forrest’s dance moves. As such, he received a football scholarship and became a top running back and was awarded by John F. Kennedy. After graduation, Forrest was drafted into the US Army and fought the Vietnam War, where he saved almost...

“The Mission” Directed by Roland Joffe Reflection

The Mission is a historical movie that is based on real events and depicts colonized Latin America in the 18th century. Its main idea is to show how people struggled to save others and set them free. The Mission is related to Open Veins of Latin America and A Short...

The “Food Inc.” Documentary by Robert Kenner

Introduction Global food production processes are essential for the world community and population due to the fact that people cannot survive without a well-developed food supply system. At the same time, various drawbacks and issues can occur during the procedures related to animal food factories, food production distribution, as well...

The “Haiti and The Dominican Republic” Documentary

Introduction The Caribbean Island of Hispaniola has a unique history as the transitioning point for enslaved people to the American coasts, Spanish colonization, occupation by the French army, and the United States. Today, Haiti and The Dominican Republic share the land, and the difference in their cultural, social, and economic...

The Importance of Theological Study of Film

Introduction Films are most likely the dominant art form of the 21st century. It is not only accessible, but it also represents a collective effort and is the outcome of a varied community joining together in the endeavor to build something beautiful. The urge to create tales stems from people’s...

Greek Mythology in the “Inception” Film by Nolan

Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller Inception does not use many of the building blocks of ancient Greek mythology, but they are present nonetheless. The film’s plot takes place in the modern time, where the main character Dominic Cobb is engaged in industrial espionage by introducing other people into the dreams of...

Violence in Movies: Adverse Effects on the Adolescents

Introduction The technological advancements that led to the establishment of television and movie production significantly impacted society. Through it, the general population got ways in which entertainment could be practiced through watching films or television programs. Since these advancements were made, the youth have been constantly exposed. Television and movies...

Review of “Out of Many, One” – Netflix

Out of Many, One is a 34 minutes film that addresses a complicated subject regarding immigration to the United States for many individuals worldwide. According to a preview posted on Netflix soon before the film’s premiere, one in every five immigrants chooses the country presently governed by Donald Trump to...

The Film “The Post” by Steven Spielberg

Press freedom is an important phenomenon in ensuring non-biased reporting and news. This paper analyzes The Post, a film where Washington Post was in dilemma of publishing leaked documents on the United States’ failures in Vietnam. Although the government knew that the war in Vietnam was taking a wrong path,...

“Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”: Book and Movie Comparison

Introduction It is almost universally agreed that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is Joanne Rowling’s best story. It introduces more new characters than its predecessors and dramatically changes the tone, making it much darker. That said, there is a big difference between the film version and its source...

The Movie “Pursuit of Happyness” by Gabriele Muccino

Perseverance; the desire to keep going when things seem impossible. It is a measure of success, or at least how much one is willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of success. It is difficult to achieve a goal without a plan or direction, but the end goal and path that...

Chinese vs. Taiwanese Film Production

Background Film production in China and Taiwan has evolved over the years because of the changes in socio-economic and political forces. According to Poujol (2019), the evolution of the film industry in the two countries can be traced back to the period when the region was under Japanese rule. The...

Invictus, the Real-life Story by Bolman & Deal

Introduction The real-life story of a leader called Nelson Mandela, together with his efforts to unite South Africans, is the overall inspiration for the film Invictus. Mandela’s new role as president presents several challenges for Mandela’s aim of eradicating racial prejudice and trying to unite his country. As the nation...

“The Bear Came Over the Mountain”: True Love and Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction Severe illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, often appear in various literary works, movies, and other art forms. An example of such a work is the short story “The bear came over the mountain” written by Alice Munro and published in The New Yorker journal. The story is about a...

Silver Linings Playbook Film Studies

The movie Silver Linings Playbook (2012) is about a man who is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Following the movie “The Fighter,” about the grueling journey of a boxer and his drug-addicted sibling, David O. Russell took up the adaptation of Matthew Quick’s tragicomic novel. The subject of the book is...

Evaluation of the Symptoms of Schizophrenia in “A Beautiful Mind”

Introduction The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, text revision (DSM-IV-TR) is a collection of mental disorders. It includes the definitions, classifications, and organization of the disorders. Also, the manual contains a list of criteria that is used to make a diagnosis. The DSM-IV-TR is...

Amélie Film Directed by J. P. Jeunet

Editing plays a critical role in the film Amélie because the producer uses editing techniques to express the personalities and emotions of the characters. For example, the editor adds animations aspects such as stuffed animals and a pounding heart to emphasize character feelings in a scene (Jeunet, 2001). It is...

Citizen Kane: Mise-en-Scene and Aspects

According to the French translation, the arrangement of stage and scenery characteristics or components in a drama is known as mise-en-scene. Although the word mise-en-scene may be translated to “stage setup,” in cinema analysis, it focuses on everything that occurs or is performed in front of the camera, including the...

The Movie “Alien” Overview and Analysis

The movie Alien, a science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Dan O’Bannon, revolves around the concept of putting humanity first and views everything from a human viewpoint, which is, in retrospect, a wrong mindset. However, the issue of alien life should be reviewed from a...

Real and Escapist Life in the Film “The Slumdog Millionaire”

The film, Slumdog Millionaire is an exciting and breathtaking story of an orphaned boy (Jamal) in Mumbai who uses his impeccable intelligence and strength to rise from rags to riches. The events of Jamal’s life are narrated in the movie through flash-forwards and flashbacks. Set in the slum, the movie...

Review of “Kung Fu Panda” Movie: Educational Psychology

In every classroom setting or learning space, each student is unique in their particular way. Each student has a special way through which they learn and master information. Therefore, every student should be understood, and the one shoe fits all ideology should be ignored. There are different modalities of learning...

Why the People Crave Horror Movies

Introduction According to Stephen King, everyone is insane to some degree though the level of insanity differs from one individual to another. Stephen King’s ethos in horror films is the key reason why many people like movies. “Why we crave horror movies” forms an outstanding argument written in his essay...

Comparison Paper on the Character Malvolio

Many would not dispute the fact that people nowadays tend to recreate literary classics. The movie “She’s the Man,” a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night,” exemplifies this the best. At first glance, the film and the play appear to have apparent congruities. However, the differences and alterations that...

Movie Review: “Rebel Without a Cause”

“Rebel Without a Cause” is one of the most thrilling movies that I have watched so far, and I want to provide a review. The American drama film focuses on middle-class teenagers and the emotional challenges that they face. The film title implies a person who has no clear goal...

“Armageddon” Film: American Culture of Patriotism

The movie Armageddon by Michael Bay depicts the American culture of patriotism. In the film, a group of deep core drillers is commissioned by NASA to help stop a humanity-threatening asteroid before it collides with earth. Patriotism can be defined as a feeling of devotion, love, and attachment to a...

Analysis of “The Corporation” Movie

The movie The Corporation focused on the rise of the notion of a corporation as a legal entity and its equivalence to a person in regards to its rights and capabilities in society. The main message of the film can be found in the fact that corporate entities do not...

Gender Representation in American Pop Culture

The selected excerpt of the book called “The Pop Culture Freaks” focuses on the representation of gender in American pop culture that is a powerful tool capable of impacting social tendencies and relations or creating particular attitudes. The objectification of women (or female bodies, to be more precise, since their...

“The Notebook” Film by Nick Cassavetes

The Notebook is a 2004 American romantic movie directed by Nick Cassavetes. The film is based on the biographical novel of the same name by Nicholas Sparks, which was published in 1996 and became a bestseller in the first week of its release. The actors performing the roles of the...

The LEGO Movie Promotion Video in Accordance With the AIDA Model

The LEGO Movie promotion video features a computer-animated Lego figure who assembles a home cinema, finds a disk with The LEGO Movie, and invites other Lego characters to watch it with him. The video ends with the shots from the movie and a packshot with the information that the film...

Cinematic and Literary Narrative and Narration

Introduction Literary and cinematic narration structures have always been compared to define whether they are symmetrical or asymmetrical. Although there are many analogies between film and literature, mostly their narrative methods differ. The crucial distinction lies in the idea of the narrator and its role in storytelling. Wilson defines a...

Disney Films: Projector of Our Society’s Values

Disney Company is the most significant entertainment empire in the world, thanks to the creator Walt Disney and his brother. Since the inception of Disney, the society has experienced a change of influence in both gender roles and characters. Disney movies have shaped the skills, attitudes, behaviors, and morals of...

Touch of Hitchcock: Psycho and Vertigo

There are movies with an interesting plot and a strong cast, after watching which people change their lives. Some movies influence the way of how the whole filmmaking industry is developed, and the work of Alfred Hitchcock is one of such significant contributions. In the 20th century, this director demonstrated...

The Magical World of Sherlock Jr.

Between the years 1920 and 1923 Buster Keaton managed to create 19 short films. His short films are characterized with comic situations that are interconnected with movement and imagery, without putting any weight on the dramatic effect. The comedy and the metaphoric background lie in the imagery, not in the...

“Raise the Red Lantern”: Gender Roles and Hierarchy Issues

Summary Given her exposure to the wider world, Songlian feels betrayed that she must become the fourth wife in a cheerless homestead of a wealthy landowner. The wives’ living quarters are along both sides of the courtyard. Traditionally, the Master requires the lighting of a red lantern outside the apartment...

Islam in America: Movie Reflection

Today, Islam is one of the largest religions in America. More than 400,000 Muslims live in Chicago alone (Islam in America, 2015). Still, many people are ignorant about the main Muslim traditions, and Islamophobia is widespread. The movie Islam in America introduces Islam to the audience and carries the message...

Hyper-Reality in Television

Hyper-reality in television: an introduction The concept of hyper-reality is defined as the blurring of the distinction between what is real and what is unreal, made possible through the process of simulation (Baudrillard & Glaser 1994, p.1). Baudrillard and Glaser (1994, p.1) define simulation as “the generation by models of...

Rain Man: Movie Characteristic

Introduction The title of the movie is Rain Man. It was the winner of the 1988 Best Picture Award from the Academy of Motion Picture. There are two major characters. The first one is Raymond Babbitt who suffers from autism and for most of his life lived in a mental...

History of World Cinema. “A Tale of Two Cities” Film

Abstract Whereas Hollywood is now recognized as the biggest film industry in the world, initially, other countries had equally large and influential cinemas. Films from France, Japan and even Germany have secured a spot in some of the very first and most influential movies of all time. During World War...

Communication & Alienation in “The Rules of the Game” Film

Introduction Out of the variety of art types, cinema is probably the most controversial. As well as theatrical performances, films encourage the audience to react to the scenes they observe. However, unlike during the observation of theatrical plays, one cannot be present directly at the movie-making process. The contradictory ideas...

The “Battle Royale” Film’s Main Ideas

Readings: Summary The notion of dystopia has been a popular setting for thrillers since the 20th century. The specified environment allows expressing some of the greatest concerns about social tensions, thus prompting ideas for resolving ongoing conflicts. Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale is one of the movies that mask its social...

Neorealism Elements in “The Color of Paradise” Film

Filmmakers all around the world try to convey their messages by using different techniques and choosing various topics. The era of Neo Realism is characterized by highlighting the problems of ordinary people, shooting scenes in genuine surroundings, using non-professional actors, and improvisation (Konewko 25). The movie The Color of Paradise...

“A Doll’s House” the Movie by Patrick Garland

Introduction The main themes of the movie A Doll’s House are institutionalized sexism, misogyny, and women’s role in patriarchal systems. The story’s main character Nora was living a seemingly perfect life, but throughout the storyline, she came to the realization that she was a mere “doll” in her husband’s eyes....

Lost Kingdoms of Africa: Great Zimbabwe Documentary

The ancient history of Africa, the original location of human civilization, has been preserved through remnants of ruins, statues, and artifacts. In 1871, the ruins of the Great Zimbabwe stone city were discovered by a German geologist. Although it was first assumed that the structures were too complex to be...

Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver” Film by Scorsese

Introduction Taxi Driver is an iconic noir film written by Paul Schrader and directed by Martin Scorsese in 1976. It featured Robert De Niro as the main character, named Travis Bickle. The movie focuses on the story of a mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran, who is struggling between his sense...

Roots Miniseries and The Saga of an American Family

Introduction Roots are the miniseries based on the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family written by Alex Haley. They describe the history of the United States starting with the colonial times and ending with the Civil War and postwar period. The first two episodes are connected with Kunta...

“Sleepers” a Film by Barry Levinson

Introduction In every society, there are certain values and conditions that are usually established, and it is expected that they are naturally followed by every member of the society and passed through generations without active questioning or suggestions of radical changes. In assessing Immanuel Kant’s theory on morality, we shall...

Analysis of “12 Angry Men”: Themes and Dramatic Techniques

Introduction This is an American drama movie where a group of 12 men is involved in discussing the judgment for a murder case involving a slum boy. The twelve jurors argue about the evidence presented in this case where an 18-year-old young man is claimed to have killed his father...

“The Constant Gardener” a Film by Fernando Meirelles

Introduction The film The Constant Gardener is a political thriller (“The Constant Gardener,” 2005); the story is about a married couple who witness dramatically unethical human experimentation in Africa and face a series of difficult ethical decisions. The main character, Justin Quayle, is a British diplomat sent to Kenya to...

“Erin Brockovich” a Film by Steven Soderbergh

Abstract Introducing the key principles of qualitative research to the general audience via traditional media is not an easy task; however, despite the fact that Erin Brockovich featured a range of elements that are typical for qualitative research, it still became extremely popular among the general audience and was received...

Apple’s Broken Promises: BBC Documentary

Introduction The documentary Apple’s Broken Promises dwells upon operations of Apple’s suppliers and violations of people’s rights. The main issue is Apple’s attitude towards these violations and the gap between things proclaimed by the company’s top management and the actual conditions some people have to work in (BBC Panorama –...

Fireproof by Stephen Kendrick – Film Study

Fireproof is a 2008 chef-d’oeuvre film directed by Stephen Kendrick. The movie explores different family attributes, but the overriding theme is on marriage and divorce. The contemporary marriage institution is constantly faced with numerous challenges, which ultimately lead to divorce. In the movie, Fireproof, Caleb’s marriage is replete with conflict...

Grizzly Man by Werner Herzog Documentary

Introduction Werner Herzog’s movie Grizzly Man (2005) was one of the best films during its period. In fact, it got much acclamation in the way it presented the life and subsequent death of Timothy Treadwell. As clearly demonstrated in the film, he was assumed to have lived among Grizzlies before...

The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring Film Analysis

The lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is an adventure, adaptation, action or a fantasy film directed by Peter Jackson and released in the year two thousand and one. It is an epic adventure in prehistoric times that contrasts the moral vs. malicious forces and role of...

“Akeelah and the Bee” by Doug Atchison

Introduction “Akeelah and the Bee” is a movie that transcends the limitations of its average plot and linear storyline to reveal valuable and intrinsic lessons that have been forgotten by people at present in their pursuit to be “winners.” In a sense, it is a critique of the current predilection...

The Functions of Film Music: Essay Example

Introduction Music plays an important role in films. Music helps the audience to be able to capture the atmosphere of various scenes, and this enables the audience to understand the plot better. By incorporating music in film, it is possible to arouse emotions through the characters in the movie or...

Telling Amy’s Story Reveals the Harsh Reality of Domestic Violence

Introduction The film “Telling Amy’s Story” is a powerful and impactful documentary that sheds light on the issue of domestic violence and its devastating effects. As I watched the film, several moments seemed familiar and spoke to me meaningfully. The portrayal of Amy’s journey from a loving marriage to a...

Neo-Noir Aesthetics and Color Symbolism in Dark City

Neo Noir and Commonalities with Classic Noir Films Dark City (1998) shares several common elements with classic Noir films, extending beyond the shift from black-and-white to color. Like traditional Noir, it delves into moral ambiguity, a complex narrative, and a visual style characterized by low-key lighting and shadowy atmospheres (Boillat,...

Cinematic Techniques in Hitchcock’s Rear Window: Lighting, Sound, and Framing

Introduction Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” is a cinematic classic that effectively employs formal film aspects to engage the spectator in a suspenseful story. Hitchcock directed the film. As a result of using a wheelchair, the main character of the movie, L. B. Jeffries, finds himself in the position of an...

Cultural Intersection and Portrayal of Native Americans in Dances with Wolves and The Searchers

Introduction The realm of cinema is a treasure trove of narratives that explore the human condition, often delving into critical socio-cultural discourses. Two films that navigate the terrain of cultural intersections and the complex dynamics of racial tension are Kevin Costner’s Dances with Wolves (1990) and John Ford’s The Searchers...

Comparing Adaptations of Othello: Film vs. Stage in Modern Contexts

Introduction It is always an enriching experience when a literature student has the chance to find different versions of the classics of world literature, such as a film or a stage version. However, it is also an opportunity for a classic to become even more popular among contemporary viewers. This...