Casablanca

Casablanca is a movie about a troubled man who meets a love from his past during the early days of WWII and has to decide what the right thing to do for his life. 
I enjoy this movie because I think that it is very ahead of its time with the directing and can still be compared to films today. Just about everything in this movie was done right and the feeling that the film brings is very intimate and enjoyable. 
The feeling of the movie was very romantic and personal and I enjoyed the tone and feeling that the movie had to it. The dialogue in the film was very interesting and quotable. All of the actor's performances were fantastic and the camera shots and angles used to capture the different moods and settings in the film. The film's setting was very believable and it felt as if you were almost there watching the events happening in person. 

I think that Casablanca is a great representation of the drama/love genre because of its boldness and confidence in everything that it does right. It provides a memorable film experience and I would recommend it to anybody who loves movies. 

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Pulp Fiction is a movie about three men's intertwining tales of redemption, revenge, and love. I love Pulp Fiction because of the way that this movie is directed, its great soundtrack, the interesting dialogue, and the glorification of violence. The movie for the most part is very fun and humorous and doesn't take itself too seriously like a lot of other action movies. It has a very retro, 90's theme to it that I find very attractive. The style and tone to the film was just very appealing to me. The events in the film do not play in chronological order but rather played the most important scenes at the end that pushed the film full circle. As the film went on, you would learn different things about characters that would not make sense until later on when the showed the event that was being talked about. 

I think this movie is a great representation of the action/drama genre because of the many plot points it covers. The feel to it is very light for the most part and it is very fun to watch because of the fun and interesting characters and the fast paced conflict. Overall I would say that this movie would be loved my any film lover. 

Star Wars (Episodes IV-VI)

The Original Star Wars Trilogy is the tale of good overcoming evil against all odds. It finds the beauty in the most lost people and teaches us that we do not need to be a star to prove that you are important. It is an epic like no other and they are my favorite films.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

The film was directed like a sci-fi/western because of the large, wide shots that it uses in the film. The tone in this film is more of an exploratory than the others. It creates a sense of awe at the large, beautiful world it creates with all kinds of wonderful places and people and casts the shadow of the Empire on it. This film has a childish, fun feel to it that makes the viewer want to see more. The lighting in the film is bright where it is free from the Empire's grasp where it contrasts with a darker haze to everything. The movie explores what destiny is and what the difference between fighting and surviving is. The movie is very symbolic and is a lot more than what it looks like on the surface. The editing in the movie makes for some very beautiful shots of the different environments explored in their vast, expansive, beautiful world. 

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strike Back has a more sinister, dark tone than the other installments of the saga and it is my absolute favorite movie. This movie takes place a number of years after the first and it is definitely apparent because the themes explored in the first films are dissected in this film. Everything about this movie is darker than the first, from the settings to the plot points. This movie is edited better than the first and uses lighting to create different moods and tones for each scene. For example, if something is clouded in mystery, the director would use fog to add intrigue and suspense. The colors in this film were subtle so that the vibrant colors stood out against the background. The harsher, more dramatic tone of this film was refreshing and added new depth to a series that I already enjoyed. 

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi

Return of the Jedi combines what the previous two movies had, and makes a pretty solid piece of cinema. It combines the dark tones from the first installment and the fun, exploratory journey throughout the galaxy. It finalizes the themes of destiny and the question that just because you come from a certain family does not decide how you will turn out. This movie ties up most loose ends in the franchise and does a pretty good job with it. This final movie uses a lot of the same techniques as it did in the first two. It used a lot of long extended shots to make a scene seem more dramatic. this movie moved significantly faster than the previous two and had a good balance of rising action and climax. The movie used a ton of vibrant colors and fun moments to keep the mood light and overall the movie was very well done. 

I would say that compared to other sci-fi/fantasy films, Star Wars in the best out of all of them. It takes the viewer into a different world where anything can happen where hope lives and a great, bright, beautiful world lies and I think that it was great that the creator was able to create such a magical place. I would recommend this movie to anybody who loves movies because this film series is my absolute favorite. 

Django Unchained (2012)

Django Unchained is a redemption story about a free slave who will do anything he needs to to get his wife back from the people who bought her. 
This is one of my favorite films because of the effort put into it by director Quentin Tarantino and all of the actors onscreen. The plot of the movie is clear (even if it become a bit confusing sometimes), the acting is very good, and the directing in it is fantastic. I also enjoy the tones and themes in the movie of revenge, love, and loss and how the main character tries to overcome all of the obstacles in his way for the purpose of reuniting himself with his wife and to avenge his friend's death. 
The movie is directed like a spaghetti western because it contains many of the key plot elements and themes that are included with it. Many of the shots in the film are wide shots that show the main actin of the scene but also show off the setting. The movie used a good technique of strong, heavy build up, to a satisfying release. The structure of the film resembles many other revenge stories but still comes off fresh. 

I think that Django is a great addition to the western genre because it breathes new life into a dying series. This movie did a good job of balancing the action with the dialogue and the setting was new and fresh and I think that it is a strong film overall. I would recommend Django to anybody who loves western films or action films. 

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Napoleon Dynamite tells the story of an awkward sixteen year-old in a rural town in Idaho whose awkward social tendencies have the habit of causing a series of social catastrophes. I enjoyed this film because the moral was that friendship is the best thing that you can have. Napoleon in the movie is very disliked by most people and often bullied but he was happy because he had friends who cared about him. 
The director used a series of extended shots to show how slowly the life in this town was.  It used a variety of bright colors to add some personality to the drab little town. The music that it used in the movie was reminiscent of the 80's but still had a modern twist. The movie overall didn't have that intense of a conflict but it was cool to see normal happenings escalating as opposed to very dramatic events escalating even more. The movie was just a snip bit of an awkward teenager's life and I liked that. 

The lighting in the movie was pretty bright because it took place in a bright, cute, rural town. I would say that this movie stands out over other comedy movies because it is not over the top and doesn't try to be anything it knows it's not. I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys laid back movies and doesn't want to invest too much attention  to what they are watching. 

Up (2009)

Up is the story of an old man who refuses to let go of his wife's death and decides to pursue her dream of adventure with a local boy scout. Throughout the film, we see the old man open up and soften up and become more of a person as he accepts and moves on from his wife's passing. 
I love this movie because of the moral of opening up can help you heal your past wounds. It was also a very fun movie that included comedy and substance and it was impressive to watch the animation. 
The movie was directed in a very nice way and the bright colors covered and lightened up the sadness and underlying theme of loss throughout the movie. 
I think that this movie worked out best being a 3D animated film rather than being live action or being 2D animation.

The movie was generally very bright and most of the movie took place in a jungle or in the flying house. I think that this movie is a great representation of the dramadey genre because while it is a very funny nice movie, it does have a lot of sad, dramatic elements in it. I love this movie and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fun animated films. 

Singing in the Rain (1952)

Singing in the Rain is an upbeat musical about a silent film production company trying to make the bumpy transition into sound films. 
I very much enjoyed this musical because it is all very upbeat and energetic and it was very fun to watch. The story was not over complicated by unnecessary, tedious subplots that slowed it don and the characters were all very colorful and likable. 
The director used medium, extended shot so you could see the actors actually dance as opposed to having the camera jump to different shots of their faces and feet. The movie was very bright and colorful and well paced and never had a slow moment in which I got bored. 

The film is a fantastic representation of the musical genre because it a). is a musical, and b). uses methods of making everything look very nice and pretty and elegant to add tot he "wow" effect that the movie gives. I would say that Singing In The Rain is a must see for all musical lovers. 

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

2001: A Space Odyssey is a film about human creativity and their ability to conquer any obstacle. This movie represents the journey and evolution of mankind. 
I appreciate this movie and recognize it as a work of art but I would not say that it is one of my favorite movies. It's general lack of a clear plot and action makes it difficult for me to watch. I do still though enjoy watching the movie every once and a while. 

This movie is filmed similarly to a western film because it uses an abundance of wide shots of space and the music is a very important part of the movie. The movie balances itself out between dialogue and suspense. It moves very slowly but that does not detract from the suspense and buildup in the film. There are parts in the movie that are hard to understand because the director leaves so much of the film up to interpretation. 
I think that 2001: A Space Odyssey is a good example of the sci-fi/western genre because of its themes of exploration and its creation of another world. I would recommend this film as a work of art to any film lovers interested in the sci-fi or western genres. 

Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane is a film about a tycoon whose mysterious last words send people scrambling for answers in order to find out what they mean. The story is filmed through a series of interviews and flashbacks recounting the life of Charles Foster Kane and how he got to where he was. The transformation that Kane goes through is horrific and it is one of the reasons why this movie is regarded as one of the best films ever made. 
I enjoyed this movie because the viewer is able to witness the birth of a man who had shaped his world. Kane is very difficult to understand until the movie's conclusion where he is explained and you are able to empathize for him. 
The film was directed as a series of interviews and flashbacks skipping through the life of Charles and asking people who knew him what they knew about him. The movie is shot very well with precision and great attention to detail. The movie used space as a great way to express feeling and attitude throughout the film. For example, Kane buys a large mansion with extra space everywhere. Perhaps the emptiness of his home reflected to the emptiness he felt

inside. This movie was years ahead of its time and is still considered a masterpiece by today's standards. 
Citizen Kane is a wonderful example of the dramatic genre because it focuses on themes like the American Dream, isolation, and materialism all while delving into the life of a deeply troubled man. I would recommend this film to anyone who loves movies and who views the films as art as well as entertainment. 

Nightcrawler (2014)

Nightcrawler is about a ambitious, sociopath named Lou Bloom who finds himself working as a news cameraman in Los Angeles who is heart-bent on capturing the perfect story. Seeking only to improve himself, he will let nothing and no one get in the way of his goal of being the best. 

I very much enjoyed this film because of how it kept me on my toes and Jake Gyllenhaal's ability to play a sociopath. The movie has a very clean but realistic feeling to it. The lighting used in the movie was darker but the colors used were very vibrant. For example, Lou drives a bright red camaro down a dark street in LA and also the lights in downtown show up in very pretty colors against the dark backdrop giving the film a clean, crisp look. Many of the shots used were used with a wide lense which made the movie look very nice and gave the director room to show off the setting as well as the main action going on in the scene.

The movie is filmed from the point of view of Lou so it uses a lot of medium shots and close ups. I think that Nightcrawler is an exemplary example of the thriller genre because the movie is always taking different turns from how it appears and it throws surprises until the end. I would recommend Nightcrawler to any lover of the thriller genre. 

Birdman (2014)

Birdman is a movie about an actor named Riggan Thompson (Michael Keaton) who used to play a superhero in a movie series in the 90's and is now trying to find something different that gives him meaning to his life. Trying to adapt, direct, and star in his own show to prove that he is more than just a man in a mask proves more difficult than he could have imagined. 
I absolutely love the way that this film was shot because the way that the film was edited, the movie looked like the movie was filmed in one shot. This gave the movie a better flow and while watching it, it felt like you were actually there and I think that that is really cool. The lighting in the movie was used to tell what time of day it was. Because the entire movie takes place in one shot, they needed to use different lighting in order to distinguish between different times. The movie for the most part took place in a theater and the streets surrounding the theater. 
I think that Birdman is a good example of the drama genre because it uses minimalist lighting and the themes it touches like disappointment, failure, and the revenant. It delves into the mind of someone who is losing everything because of his inability to accept that he is wrong. I would highly recommend this film to people who love dramatic cinema.