Early Feature Films and Ethical Considerations

The culture of the 1910s and early 1920s and, in particular, cinema underwent crucial changes that were initially perceived with apprehension and mistrust. The transition from the one-reel movies to the so-called feature films consisting of multiple reels was steady yet noticeable. Along with a new format, feature films brought...

Colors in “The Thief of Bagdad” Movie by A. Korda

“The Thief of Bagdad is a 1940 British Technicolor Arabian fantasy film produced by Alexander Korda and directed by Michael Powell, Ludwig Berger, and Tim Whelan, with contributions by Korda’s brothers Vincent and Zoltán, and William Cameron Menzies. The film stars child actor Sabu, along with Conrad Veidt, John Justin,...

The Breakfast Club: Stereotypes and Self-Discovery in High School

If any person of my age group is questioned what their preferred motion picture of all times is, many of them will name ‘The Breakfast Club’ one of the top three on the list without any hesitation. The movie is a faultless instance of patrician relations in the teenage culture....

The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street – Film Study

Introduction In the episode, The Monsters are due on Maple Street, Rob Sterling highlights some of the pertinent issues in the United States during the 1960s. In the film, the Maple Street is engulfed in darkness following the falling of a meteor. In the ensuing confusion, individuals turn on each...

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...

Director Portrays the Media’s Dark Side in La Dolce Vita

La Dolce Vita is a very interesting movie directed by Fellini which portrays issues as they are in the real world. The director (Fellini) captures certain characters in the movie to communicate occurrences in real life situations. It is interesting to watch how the director portrays the tabloid media and...

Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette Review

A historical film may be produced to entertain audiences, educate viewers about the past, evaluate the present through the lens of the past, or shed new light on the past as it is being recounted by dispelling misconceptions. Sofia Coppola’s intention in making Marie Antoinette was to depict France’s 18th-century...

Hollywood: The Cultural Influence

There is no doubt that Hollywood has a significant impact on society, particularly young people, in political and cultural ways. It has a remarkable power to transmit ideas, cultures, values, and even geopolitical influence. Thus, it is essential to examine how the studio mentioned above promotes American values, which factors...

”Comfort” Movies and Films With Greatest Impact

Introduction Following the advancement in technology, humans have taken the aspect of entertainment to another level. Currently, there are a large number of film producers that release many movies that suits the perspective of audience across the globe. Based on the variety of cinemas, I have developed a deep interest...

Bemis and Neufert’s Architectural Standardization

Alfred Farwell Bemis was an American architect and educator best known for pioneering work in developing modular systems to standardize building elements. Ernst Neufert was a German architect and educator best known for his work on architectural standardization. This essay analyses the theories suggested by the two architects, the response...

Show-Don’t-Tell in Mise-en-Scene of “Psycho”

Introduction Alfred Hitchcock is an undeniably unparalleled master of cinematography, with countless movies representing the techniques that were groundbreaking at the time. However, it is the perfection of the mise-en-scene that should be placed among the crowning achievements of Hitchcock’s mastery. His incredible skill and massive contribution to the development...

Documentary “The Corporation” by Abbott and Achbar

Introduction The Corporation is a long historical and documentary 2003 movie directed by Jennifer Abbott and Mark Achbar. The primary mission of this picture is to show the true, somewhat evil nature of major influential corporations, and the concept that inspired the movie-makers is the detail mentioned in the Fourteenth...

The Film “The Blind Side” by John Lee Hancock

The Blind Side is an inspiring film based on Michael Lewis’s novel of the same title. It centers on Michael Oher, an African American adolescent who struggles due to poverty but is later welcomed into the family by a wealthy family of the Touhys. With the help of Leigh Anne,...

Society Disconnectedness in “Captain Fantastic” Drama

The comedy-drama “Captain Fantastic,” which was directed by Matt Ross, has emerged as one of the most notable examples of the need for disconnection, which takes the form of a yearning for authenticity and societal autonomy. One of the acute societal issues is brought up in this movie. Many individuals...

The Roman Empire: Documentary About Ancient Rome

History is an exciting and incredibly fascinating topic for research. This is due to the fact that, based on the experience of past years, people at the present stage of development can isolate a lot of valuable things. Thus, this scientific paper aims to study a documentary called “The Roman...

Middle Childhood: The Impact of Television

Middle childhood is a child’s developmental stage that significantly influences the adolescent and adult they will become. Children move into expanding environments and roles in this stage. They begin to spend considerable time at school and various activities and devote less time to their family. This stage allows children to...

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,”...

The Animation “Night is Short, Walk on Girl” by Masaaki Yuasa

The animation “Night is Short, Walk on Girl” is as unique as its title suggests. The film is a Japanese movie by Masaaki Yuasa that sends the audience on a psychedelic voyage focused on a single carefree night out in the city, portrayed from the views of two individuals as...

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...

“Disney’s Dolls” by Kathi Maio

In the article by a professional feminist film critic, Kathi Maio, which is called Disney’s Dolls, the author discusses the history of Disney cartoons in the twentieth century. In the very beginning, Kathi Maio argues that the cartoon about the Chinese female warrior who protects the dignity of her country...

Criticism of the Netflix Series “The Squid Game”

As is often the case, literary works, or any other form of “text” with broad appeal cannot be evaluated from only one perspective. There are a considerable number of people living on the planet, and each of them has its own cultural and ethnic background. The presence and quality of...

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 Pruitt-Igoe Myth” Documentary by Chad Freidrichs

Introduction The Housing Act of 1949 had a serious impact on the mid-twentieth century American cities; the public regards this Act as a controversial project, which turned into success for some and failure for others. The Pruitt-Igoe Myth is a documentary shot by Chad Freidrichs that analyzes the history of...

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...

“Carrie” by Stephen king in 1976

Summary The film Carrie is an American horror movie that premiered in 1976 by Stephen King. The movie revolves around a young girl called Carrie White; she is a teenager with no friends; in the beginning, she is shy and rarely interacts with others. Her domineering and religious mother shelters...

Historical Analysis of “12 Years a Slave” Film

Introduction Pictured in 2013, a period-drama film “12 Years a Slave” shows how quickly a free man’s life can be destroyed, depicting enslaved people’s lives in 1841 and the following 12 years. This biographical film was directed by Steve McQueen, a British filmmaker, who was working on such films as...

Surrealism in the Meshes of the Afternoon Film

Maya Deren’s film Meshes of the Afternoon belongs to the artistic direction of surrealism. It concentrates on the subconscious aspects of mental activity and paints a dreamlike, paradoxical, in its way threatening picture of the world. The image of noon in the title emphasizes the dual nature of reality in...

Anti-Capitalist Satire in “American Psycho” and “A Modest Proposal”

Satire is an ingenious method of ridiculing the most resentful traits of human beings through any artistic expression available. As such, with enough cunning introduced, Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” presents an example of satirical text in the English language. Fortunately, more recent authors of more innovative artistic solutions can produce...

Animals and Plants in “What Darwin Never Knew” Film

What Did You Learn? I enjoyed watching the video What Darwin Never Knew, as it profoundly explains and accounts for the relationship between the various animal and plant species. It is well organized and explains the history of Charles Darwin chronologically, stating how he gained his interest in knowing the...

Themes in The Corporation Documentary Film

The Corporation is a documentary movie revolving around giant companies becoming increasingly influential in the current world. Cogitating on the functioning and development of these entities, the authors attempt to compare them to specific psychological patterns found in people (Encore+, n.d.). For instance, modern corporations focus on earning money as...

Racial Exclusion in the “Higher Learning” Film

Introduction Higher Learning shows students from different social backgrounds facing interracial tensions, violence, responsibility, and the meaning of “learning” at the university campus. The film has three storylines demonstrating three key characters: Malik, Kristen, and Remy (Singleton, 1995). The first storyline introduces African American Malik, an athlete trying to become...

Discussion of Gender and Society Themes in Films

“The Power of Categories”: the episode on Paige’s story Summary Gender is a socially constructed concept that guides interactions within society. The “Power of Categories” describes several instances of categorization and links them to gender. From the choosing of either puppies or kittens to describing a child as either male...

Billy Wilder’s Movies Overview

Billy Wilder is a prominent director and producer who made a great contribution to the development of American cinematography. He is the outstanding filmmaker who managed to give more than 50 years to the film industry. It should be stressed that Billy Wilder won six Academy Awards recognized as one...

Themes in the Movie “The Physician”

Speaking about the movie The Physician, it is essential to note that its plot is more educational than entertaining. It tells the story of a young man, Robert Cole, who wants to study medicine after his mother dies of appendicitis. The audience can see a similar plot in the movie...

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...

The First Episode of Grey’s Anatomy

The first episode of the series reveals the characters in all their versatility and at the same time remains within the archetypes of plotline design for further development. There are many main characters, and they are for every taste. This paper will focus only on the interns, however, there are...

The Depiction of Culture in Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma”

Introduction Roma is a 2018 film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, who based the story upon his childhood memories. The semi-autobiographical narrative focuses on Cleo, a servant woman working for a middle-class family, whose character is inspired by Cuarón’s caregiver. The movie is set in the 1970s in the neighborhood of...

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

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is one of the most captivating movies that touch upon numerous themes about people, their crimes, and their actions’ outcomes that lead to the greatest scandals in the business world ever. This documentary movie tells a story of how executives of the company...

Sargent’s “Miss Evers’ Boys” in the Context of the Duty-Based Ethics

Abstract One of the most powerful movies of the 20th century, Miss Evers’ Boys can be viewed from both the artistic perspective and the nursing one. More to the point, the movie can be interpreted from the viewpoint of several theories of ethics. Viewing the film through the lens of...

“Erin Brockovich” by S. Soderberg: Conflict in a Film

Introduction Conflict is one of the most common challenges that appear in interpersonal relationships. Every day humans engage in communication with relatives, friends, and strangers, and these interactions often require dealing with various issues and finding a compromise. While every individual has their view of the world and possesses different...

Cultural Significance of Woody Allen’s “Annie Hall”

Annie Hall is a romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen in 1977. The movie tells a story of Alvy Singer, who is reflecting upon the reason why his relationship with Annie Hall ended. The film uses retrospection to return to unconscious decisions made in the past to understand the present,...

“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...

Ray’s “The Secret in Their Eyes”: Morality, Justice, and Love

Art is one of the popular forms of expression of human thoughts and deep feelings. In particular, cinema is one of the areas of art that allows people to raise and reveal eternal questions. The Secret in Their Eyes is a good example of a work that addresses critical human...

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...

Family Relations in “Love Actually” Movie

Introduction Love Actually is a popular motion picture watched by millions on Christmas Eve all around the world. The entire plot of the film is a compilation of short life stories that many viewers can easily relate to. Despite being labeled as overly melodramatic and, at times, boring by numerous...

TED Talk by Any Cuddy “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are”

The Ted talk by Any Cuddy named “Your body language may shape who you are” touches the topical theme important for many people in society. The majority of worthy individuals fail because of the wrong attitude or lack of self-confidence. The speaker refutes the belief unmerited achievements and honors by...

“Lord of the Rings”. A Masterpiece by Peter Jackson

Lord of the Rings film is a captivating trilogy filmed in New Zealand. The novel was written by J.R.R. Tolkien and the film was directed and produced by Peter Jackson. The entire production lasted for eight years! The trilogy parts are The Fellowship of the Ring released in 2001, The...

Marie Antoinette by Sofia Coppola Review

The movie Marie Antoinette was screened and directed by Sofia Coppola. The uniqueness of the movie is that it depicts the early years of Marie Antoinette and her relations with her husband, Louis XVI. The movie portrays that it was a chance that bound Louis, whilst still only half a...

Progress Traps in the “Surviving Progress” Film

Introduction Progress – the biggest and primary ambition of human civilization throughout history. To achieve progress in technology, science, arts, philosophy and other fields is a means of driving forward and improving the very aspect of human existence. While there are obvious benefits to technological advancement, there are also complicated...

“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,...

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...

“Goodfellas” Crime Drama Film by Martin Scorsese

Introduction Goodfellas is an iconic crime drama film released in 1990. It was directed by Martin Scorsese, also written by him and Nicholas Pileggi. The film achieved unarguable financial and critical success, as it was deemed culturally impactful, and preserved among other classics in the National Film Registry by the...

Standpoint Feminist Theory

The feminist standpoint theory is a politically modeled theory that tends to lean towards social epistemology. The central premise of the feminist standpoint theory is that the people who are subjected to marginalization are more advantaged when it comes to possessing information than those people who are not subjected to...

Horror Movie Analysis and Its Approaches

Refraining from discussing the merits of horror as a genre, the choice of the most optimal analysis method appears complicated. To regard horror movies analytically, it is worth considering that they are, at large, a projection of fear or anxiety, which are the main target of their appeal. Adult audience...

Nazi Germany in “Swing Kids” by Kang Hyeong-Cheol

Why were the Nazis opposed to the swing music? In the movie, swing music is forbidden in Germany. This was because, according to Nazi ideology, all jazz music was regarded as offensive because its origins had links with African-Americans. Since it had linkages with blacks commonly called “negroes” and a...

The Film “We Bought a Zoo” and Single Parenting Issues

We Bought a Zoo is a 2011 comedy-drama film that follows the life of a single-parent family aiming to start a new life after the passing of the mother. The father, Benjamin Mee, faces many sociological issues throughout the film, including dealing with his loss and the pressure from the...

John Wick: Defying Stereotypical Action Men

While there are dozens of new action films that reach movie theater screens each year, none of the recent pieces of cinematography has gotten as much praise as John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2 starring Keanu Reeves as the protagonist. For the sake of a detailed analysis, this paper...

Soap Operas’ History, Features, and Effects

Summary of Argument Stern, Russell, and Russell (2007) explore the negative effects of character images in soap operas on audiences, which are mostly comprised of women. To support their perspective, the authors refer to the history of soap operas as a genre by analyzing its specific characteristics inherited from its...

The “Lions for Lambs” Film Analysis

Introduction When it comes to defining the discursive significance of a particular movie, it often becomes rather indispensable subjecting it to a textual analysis. In my paper, I will explore the validity of this suggestion at length, in regards to the 2007 film Lions for Lambs, directed by Robert Redford....

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...

Interpretation of the “Shattered Glass” Film

The goals of journalism include highlighting current news, informing citizens, and covering recent events. People want to believe that they access interesting and, what is more important, credible material in the local media. In their turn, writers, editors, and other experts create institutions that study the world and decide on...

The Politics of the “Get Out” Film by Jordan Peele

Introduction Few topics confronting society today generate as much discussion and debate as racism. Often, the definition of racism is a crucial component of the argument. To know how to operate morally in a society, a precise understanding of racism is necessary. Jordan Peele’s 2017 psychological thriller Get Out analyzes...

The Pleasantville (1998) Film by Gary Ross

Examining the film Pleasantville (1998) through the lenses of the writings of Cornelius Plantinga Jr. and Bruce Epperly, their discussion reveals the Christian’s understanding of God. This is expressed in their daily lives and how the perfection of this world compares to God’s standards. Plantinga encourages his readers to accept...

The “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” Documentary

The documentary True Justice tells about the inferiority of the judicial system in the United States. The US criminal justice system is far from perfect and is often seen as unfair to poor people and people of color. Justice should be concerned with the protection of citizens and not lawlessness,...

Human Experience in the “Purple Hearts” Film

Introduction One of the most important elements of human experience addressed and explored in Purple Hearts by Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum is love. The latter perspective is critical because it serves as a driving force throughout the film, especially for the character Cassie Salazar. The film addresses the character’s evolution from...

The Documentary “The Life of the Buddha”

Introduction At midnight, Siddhartha left the palace and was never heard from again. His young wife, son, and father all survived him. Giving up his cushy and comfortable life was Siddhartha’s first move toward enlightenment. Siddhartha gave up his material possessions and transformed into an ascetic (“The Life of the...

Themes and Characters of the “Annie Hall” Movie

Introduction The movie “Annie Hall” references thematic elements like pop culture and intellectual wit more than any other film that has won Best Picture, Oscar. The character of Allen, stand-up comedian, and joke writer Alvy Singer in the film, serves as a model for several other performances. Allen plays this...

Analysis of a Scene in the Film “Vertigo”

Released in 1958, the film Vertigo by director Alfred Hitchcock never fails to captivate its audience with its haunting motives and intriguing, tragic story of the main protagonist. It tells the story of the former detective John Ferguson, nicknamed Scottie, who retires from his duty due to his struggles with...

Criteria for Referring a Film to the “Great Works of Cinema”

Cinema canon is understood as a place untouched by human critique, malice, and displeasure where some films belong. Indeed, there are some acknowledged masterpieces of the film industry with thousands of fans ready to silence anyone speaking against their favorite movies. However, the criteria to include a film in the...

Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and Its Film Adaptations

Introduction Dune by Frank Herbert was one of the most expected film adaptations for decades. It is an epic science fiction franchise that consists of six novels and a short story written over twenty-two years starting in 1963. The fandom that Dune earned over the years is huge, even though...

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...

“The Boy in Striped Pyjamas” and “The Kite Runner” Films

Introduction The film shows the story of two boys from different worlds: one is rich and well-read; the other is poor and illiterate. The boys have been living together since childhood, they are best friends. The war in Afghanistan will force Amin and his father to leave their home and...

“Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied”: The Generation Z and Gender Roles

The documentary “Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied” by Debra Chasnoff explores the lives of teens through the lens of gender roles. The author gives students from California high schools an opportunity to openly speak their minds about gender diversity and speak about the sexual orientation pressures they experience...

Movie Review: Life as We Know It

“Life As We Know It” is a 2010 American comedy movie starring Holly and Eric. Their best friend couple, Peter and Alison, were crushed and died in a road accident leaving behind a small child called Sophie. Shortly after the crash, Eric and Holly learned that their friends had appointed...

The Documentary “F for Fake” by George Orson Welles

The film titled F for Fake is a documentary movie that focuses on the topics of lies, deception, and fakery with real-world implications. The main reason is rooted in the fact that it provides examples that are not fictitious in their nature. In other words, direct observations and assessments are...

A Conversation with Koko Directed by Barbet Schroeder

A documentary film A Conversation with Koko, which was shot in 1999, tells a story of a gorilla named Koko, who demonstrates profound intellectual ability and a sensitive emotional character. The film evokes mixed feelings, as it explores the areas which humankind is not yet at ease with, such as...

Factors of “The Shawshank Redemption” Production

Introduction The Shawshank Redemption is one of the most iconic films produced in the nineties. Considering that it was a time where anti-prisoner sentiment in the US was on the rise, the film, which humanizes prisoners, would inevitably become controversial. However, controversies aside, the movie is also famous due to...

Anthropomorphism: Dumbo and Other Examples

Introduction The situation when different objects in art, literature, or cultural rites, are depicted as having human-like traits, called anthropomorphism, is typical for humanity. The film Dumbo and the book on which it is based are examples of using anthropomorphic elements in art. Throughout the action, they depict animal-sentient traits...

2008 Economic Crisis in Inside Job Documentary

The Inside Job film elaborates on the economic crises witnessed globally in 2008 because of the unsteady systems. The economic instability affected the atmosphere adversely, triggering the loss of jobs and properties. All the institutions that triggered the crises and the people involved, as well as their deeds, are explicitly...

“Why We Fight?” American Documentary’s Review

Cinematography is a very diverse and multi-genre art, one of which is documentary cinema. A documentary is a film based on filming real people and events. Documentaries also have their dramaturgy and director’s idea, so it is difficult to establish a boundary between documentaries and a game picture in some...

Comparison of the Books and the Movies

Comparing books to movies might not be easy because both are not entirely but drastically different. There is an opinion that books are much better because they can provide people with a fuller picture of the story. This essay will aim to contrast both ways of representing the story and...

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...

Television Impact on Children’s Development

The mental and physical development of children is dependent on their exposure to television. Before starting school, the majority of children immerse themselves in the world of television. According to Kaiser Family Foundation, the first two years of growth are critical for brain development. Exploring and communicating with people can...

Time and Space in “Memento” by Christopher Nolan

Memento is a captivating film noir directed by Christopher Nolan that has received worldwide acclaim. Complex and confusing in both structure and subject matter, the film still attracts considerable attention and many interpretations twenty years after its release. The film explores various topics such as personality, moral responsibility, time and...

Capitalism and Class Division in the “Parasite” Film

Introduction Directed by Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite (2019) creatively represents social issues connected with capitalism, class division, and unemployment in modern society. Capitalism dominates most of the world’s developed and developing countries, including South Korea. Bong’s explanation of capitalism applies to any country since the topic of inequality resonates everywhere...

Gender and Family in “Gone With the Wind” Film

Introduction “Gone with the Wind” is a cult film based on the novel by Margarett Mitchell, an absolute ageless classic for all times and epochs. Love is depicted here against the background of a big story. It is not only a narrative about romantic, as many people usually perceive, but...

“The Godfather” as Traditional and Untraditional Gangster Film

The film “The Godfather”, directed by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola, is a wonderful conjecture that invites us to contemplate the Mafia fully on its terms. That is why we have sympathy for characters who are inherently evil. Don Vito Corleone is a sympathetic and rather adorable character; throughout...

The “Finding Your Roots” Documentary

Introduction The documentary Finding Your Roots addresses a problematic matter of the American past – its slavery times. The film does not violate the ethics of the research done with people’s engagement outside the social sciences. Finding Your Roots brings to the surface the truth about black American ancestry without...

Polanski’s and Kurzel’s Film Adaptations of Macbeth

Introduction Film adaptations of plays have been common throughout the existence of the movie industry. However, even more so than book adaptations, plays are notoriously hard to get right as they were specifically created to be played out on stage. This is even more applicable to Shakespeare’s work, which has...

The Whale Rider Film Directed by Niki Caro

The Whale Rider is a dramatic movie based on the Witi Ihimaera’s 1987 book with the same title, which describes the adventurous events of a girl’s life in a New Zealand tribe. The film includes various settings of the ancient lands of the continent and represents the lives, culture, and...

“The Iron Lady” Movie Review

The 2011 motion picture by Phyllida Lloyd titled The Iron Lady is a biographical film showing the life and career path of one of the most famous politicians in the history of Great Britain. In the opening sequence of the film, Margaret Thatcher is shown as an elderly lady at...

La Jetee by Chris Marker

La Jetee (from French – “Jetty”) is a featurette by a French director Chris Marker. This is the only story film by the famous documentary maker who decided not to stand back from the genre of science fiction that was gaining popularity overnight in early 1960s. However, the film’s specialties...

Plot of “Dope” Film by Rick Famuyiwa

The film Dope, directed by Rick Famuyiwa, focuses on the lives of three teenage friends who live in an unfavorable neighborhood and attend a public school, dreaming about a better future. The movie plays with stereotypes, portraying its main character Malcolm (Shameik Moore) and his two comrades, Diggy (Kiersey Clemons)...

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...

The Urban Space Depiction in the Cinema

Introduction The city and cinema have been inextricably connected to each other since the emergence of films. Gradually, the urban space begins to influence the movies so much that it is impossible to imagine one without the other. “The street in the extended sense of the word is not only...

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,...

“The Journey Through and Into Darkness”

The Journey into Darkness – Who is in charge? The Do Lung Bridge scene is particularly archetypal in the context of the movie Apocalypse Now and cinematography in general. The scene begins with the boat approaching the bridge, as it is the last military post on the Nung River. Meanwhile,...

“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...

Split Personality in the Frankie and Alice Film

The film Frankie and Alice follow the life of a dancer (Frankie) who suffers from an identity disorder. The story reveals that she had experienced several traumas that led to a split personality. Her mind harbored three personalities: Frankie, the real her, Alice, a racist white woman, and Genius, who...

“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,...

A Review of Agnes Varda’s Cleo from 5 to 7

Agnes Varda’s Cleo from 5 to 7 portrays the experience of a “real-time” movie, following the life of a protagonist, waiting for biopsy results. The picture explores many themes, including a unique exploration of accepting a life with a severe illness and a mortality concept. Directed by the only female...

“Boyz n the Hood” by Steve Nicolaides: A Movie Review

The phenomenon of human development can be accessed from several theoretical perspectives, one of which is Piaget’s theory. Offering four stages of development as the foundational milestones in gaining essential cognitive skills, Piaget’s approach outlines the following developmental points: the sensorimotor object permanence), preoperational ((egocentric), concrete operational (conversational), formal operational...

“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...

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...

“District 9” by Neill Blomkamp – Movie Review

District 9 is a science fiction film directed by Neill Blomkamp and written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell. Three countries collaborated on directing and shooting the film: New Zealand, the United States, and South Africa. Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James are starring as main characters. The film’s...

“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...

Character Analysis in the Mean Girls Movie

Character Analysis The movie Mean Girls explains how gifted students act. One of the myths and stereotypes of a gifted person states the person can solve the average class problem faster than the normal student. Some myths and stereotypes of gifted persons are correct. Mean Girls Summary The Mean Girls...

“Casablanca”: Creating a Plot with the Help of Sound

Introduction Casablanca – the greatest film of all times ironically has long been just another ordinary film. Adopting the unstaged play, the screenwriters barely made it profitable to keep the production on. However, the movie has ultimately won Academy Awards and Best Picture awards. Undoubtedly, it is now known as...

“Pearl Harbor” by Michael Bay

Pearl Harbor is a war film made in 2001 by Michael Bay, who is an American film producer and director. Bay is well known for making big budget films such as Bad Boys, Bad Boys II, The Rock, Armageddon, Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Bay was much motivated...

Law and Order: Episode “Melting Pot” Analysis

Introduction The commonly used term ‘mass media’ encompasses numerous institutions and individuals that differ in method and purpose. In general usage, the term has been considered to define groups who make up the communications profession in both the entertainment and news industries. The specific role of the media in society...

The Analysis of the Rhetoric in Film “Henry V”

Rhetoric – originally a science about oratory, subsequently sometimes was understood more widely, as the theory of prose or the argument theory in general. The rhetoric is the scientific discipline studying the laws of origination, the transfer and the perception of good speech and the qualitative text. The rhetoric in...

Short Movie “Darkness/Light/Darkness” by Jan Svankmajer

The author of this movie is Jan Svankmajer, the clip is called “Darkness/Light/Darkness”; it was produced in 1989. This clip can be easily found on the World Wide Web. From the first point of view, the main character of this short movie is a hand made of plasticine, it looks...

Satire Usage in Film as a Tool for Social Change

Satire is a corrective form of humor but it can take different forms; in fact, the five films analyzed in this essay are all satires but belong in various sub-categories. The first one, Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times, creates a lasting image of the industrialized world’s dehumanization, while Stanley Kubrick’s Dr....

“Dragonheart” by Rob Cohen Review Movie

The story about courageous knight and a dragon is a particular representation of how dreams come true. In this respect the vivid details of the story which leads everyone to the field of fairy tale are depicted with the purpose to show the reality of things. The paper is devoted...

“The Doctor” the Film by Randa Haines

Introduction Jack MacKee is one of those doctors, who regard his work as “Get in, fix it and get out”. On the one hand this is the most correct approach to surgery, as there is no place for emotions and feelings in curing patients. As another fictional doctor (Gregory House)...

Analysing Films “The Great Debaters” and “Crash”

Introduction The two films “The Great Debaters” and “Crash” both depict a story that points out to various but relatively the same general perspectives in a given society. Each movie attempts to visualize the racial attitudes, negative stereotypes, and discriminations among smaller groups involved. To begin with, the first film...

Aliens, Motherhood, and the Nuclear Family

Introduction James Cameron’s 1986 film Aliens is the subject of much critical praise and a prominent part of modern popular culture. Its protagonist Ellen Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver, is often seen as one of the best examples of a capable action heroine in cinematography. She challenges the tradition of...

Time Travel in “Steins;Gate” and Other Sci-Fi Novels

“Steins;Gate” is an anime series based on the video game, which showcases Rintaro Okabe, a mad scientist who discovered a way to connect with the past. The proposed research aims to examine the concepts of time travel in relation to other works of science fiction that offer their outlook on...

Scott Pilgim vs. The World: Is It a Good Movie?

Introduction Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a 2010 action-comedy movie directed by Edgar Wright, based on a graphic novel series by Bryan Lee O’Malley. It stars Michael Cera as the eponymous Scott Pilgrim, a 22-year old slacker from Toronto, who falls in love with Ramona Flowers and must battle...

“How Big Is the Dark Web?” Documentary Analysis

Film Summary The documentary focuses on exploring the foundations and concepts of the construct known as the Dark Web, a large portion of the internet that is hidden and requires special tools to access. The director attempts to uncover many mysteries, disprove strong opinions, and examine the potential utility of...

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s”: Movie of Contrasts

Introduction Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of the most famous and provocative movies in American cinematography during the 1960s. This work attracts much attention at different epochs due to its possibility to introduce several really iconic characters, prove the influence of fashion in society, and identify the inequalities that can...

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...

Misrepresentations of Arab Women in Hollywood

Misrepresentation of various ethnic and religious backgrounds in Hollywood movies is not a new phenomenon: indeed, the only culture that Hollywood filmmakers can represent without bias or mistreatment is the modern American culture. Characters of other national, ethnic or religious backgrounds, such as Latino, Muslims, and even Europeans, are often...

“Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope” by George Lucas

Lead Actors Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, and Peter Cushing. Plot “It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire” (Lucas, 1977). Imperial forces, commanded by Darth Vader, capture on the rebel ships with...

Film Studies: “Dr. Strangelove” and A Clockwork Orange

Introduction Ever since the appearance of television, films have become one of the most influential and powerful ways of communication of various messages to the masses. That is why most films are made specifically as the presentations of the most relevant and important subjects that bother society. In other words,...

The Godfather Movie: Scoring and Visual Style

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather always gets included in many critics’ top 100 best films list. It is hard to argue against its inclusion in a list that talks about the greatest achievements in cinematic history. It is not a good idea to ignore this film, because writers, journalists, and...

Masculinity in the Film “Saturday Night Fever”

Introduction Saturday Night Fever is a movie that revolves around a young man, Tony Manero, who acts as John Travolta. John works as a clerk at a hardware that is in the heart of the New York City. He regularly breaks his routine activities of the week on the weekends...

Moral Behaviours in the Movie “Inside Job”

Moral Reasons behind Salary Differences The essay centers on the movie “Inside Job” directed by Charles Ferguson whose key message is the portrayal of moral behaviours, as presented by the director, in relation to the real-life job scenario. The movie exposes the economic flaws that the US government had perpetrated...

“In Pot We Trust” by Star Price: A Critical Film Study on Cannabis Culture

Legalization of cannabis remains one of the most disputable issues in contemporary American society. Some people claim that the use of cannabis in medicine can help thousands of people, suffering from terminal diseases, endure their pain. At the same time, others argue that legalization of cannabis can lead to corruption...

“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...

The Our Time Is Up Film Analysis

“Our Time Is Up” is a short film made in 2006. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 2006-2006. This film depicts several days in the life of a successful psychiatrist, Leonard Stern. However, he finds a new way to communicate with his patients after receiving unexpected news. Thus,...

Colangelo’s “Worth”: Drama Movie Review

Introduction Worth is a biographical drama based on events perfectly captured by Sara Colangelo. The 9-11 terror consequences horrified the national systems since stability and protection were no longer valid guarantees. Lawyers, insurers, and bankers had to suffer as well: they were forced to perform a humiliating job – assess...

The Fed Up Documentary Analysis

Introduction It is important to note that one of the core objectives of kinesiology is to promote health. Therefore, it is in current and future kinesiologists’ best interest to engage in the battle against the obesity epidemic plaguing Americans and even the world. The documentary titled ‘Fed Up’ by Stephanie...

Master of Deceit in “Othello”: Iago in the Film Adaptation

Introduction Shakespeare’s drama Othello revolves around love, deception, jealousy, and eventually tragedy, which is a story of star-crossed lovers. In the play, Iago forces Othello, Desdemona, and Emilia to indulge in obscene acts to further his cunning scheme, crippling their emotional awareness as they fail to recognize the consequences of...

“The Truman Show” Film by Peter Weir

Thinking about how philosophy started, there are parallels in The Truman Show between myth and reason. The rationale for the similarities in the film is evident in how Christof has allowed Truman to have a “normal life.” Truman’s reality, the myth in the film, is created, and Christof makes him...

“If Beale Street Could Talk” and “Moonlight”: Directors and Auteur Theory

Introduction It is hard to disagree that the role of a director in filmmaking is of extreme importance and probably even the most significant one. Numerous talented directors have their styles and techniques, and the audience can see common traits in all their movies, which allows distinguishing the work of...

The Social Dilemma by Jeff Orlowski Review

With the advent of modern technology and social media networks, communication has become much easier. However, as Sophocles, a Greek tragedian, once said: “Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse” (The Social Dilemma 00:00:17). The Social Dilemma, a documentary released in 2020 by Netflix, examines the expansion...

“The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” Film Adaptation

Many folktales, particularly the account of “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter,” contain one of the only surviving elements of Jase folklore. In 2013, producer Yoshiaki Nishimura adapted the story into “The Tale of The Princess Kaguya,” retelling the myth of a princess who was banished by the moon to...

Themes of Terminator, RoboCop, and Terminator 2

Introduction Nowadays, the use of technology seems a normal part of society’s life that continues to permeate all spheres of life. While several decades ago, it was hard to imagine cars that would use chargers instead of traditional gasoline and vacuum cleaners that would clean the house on their own....

The Role of Semiotics in Shaping the Feminist Discourse in Palestinian Cinema

Film studies became an essential way of rethinking feminist theory in the late 1960s. Earlier film studies developed within the framework of cultural studies. The latter made its intellectual debut in the early 1960s with the founding of the Center for Contemporary Cultural Studies in Birmingham. Feminism is the most...

The “Shameless” TV Series by John Wells

The topic of poverty and the portrayal of people living in low social and economic conditions are not so popular among TV series creators and producers. Although the number of people who lives beyond the level of poverty and suffers from social inequalities is rising annually, they are either underrepresented...

Psychoanalytic Criticism of “The Wall” Film by Alan Parker

Among the theories of literary criticism, psychoanalytic criticism is one of the most interesting and complicated methods. It can be used for analysing the artwork to both decipher the message of the author and investigate the way the audience perceives this message. In this paper, the film The Wall (1982)...

“When Worlds Collide” Directed by Rudolph Mate

“When Worlds Collide” takes the audience on a dramatic journey through the first couple of centuries after the Old World collided with the New World. The voyage opens in the city of Los Angeles and proceeds to Spain and Latin America, in which Spanish conquistadors first made contact with local...

The Film “A Welcome Guest in the House” by Jones

Introduction A Welcome Guest in the House is the 1957 Cold War propaganda film directed by Cal Jones and sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). It is a 24 minutes long, black-and-white movie dedicated to the Cold War and the role of television and journalism. The film simultaneously...

Mise-En-Scene: “Cops” Directed by Edward F. Cline

Mise-en-scene can be defined as an arrangement of actors and elements of the film throughout the production. Everything that is in front of the camera and, therefore, will be seen by the viewer is a part of the mise-en-scene, making it the most important element of the filmmaking process. This...

The Chinatown Film Directed by Roman Polanski

Introduction The movie, Chinatown, tells the story of unacceptable levels of betrayals and corruption that leave a trail of destruction in their wake. The degree of betrayal is extensive that even relatives do not respect the blood relationships enough to avoid treachery toward their kin. A father rapes his daughter,...

The Film “My Sister’s Keeper” by Nick Cassavetes

My Sister’s Keeper is an American drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes and released on June 26th, 2009. The film revolves around a young girl named Anna Fitzgerald, who was genetically matched with her sister Kate through in vitro fertilization. Anna, who sued her parents, Brian and Sara, was conceived...

“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...