Film Critique: The Red Violin Essay

Most songs represent the sun as its protagonist and the moon as antagonistic. In the song "The Moon" the composer ,Andy Beck, sets the moon as the protagonist. Using a different prospective for the moon, Beck uses the moon as a symbol of beauty. The moon becomes a sense of clarity and relaxation to the singer and its listener. Near the end of the song the moon begins to set, while the sun

Since the beginning of the Industrial Age, Americans have idealized the journey towards economic success. One thing people do not realize, however, is that that journey is not the same for every individual. For Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles), the main character of Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles, the path towards riches and a fulfilled life is being well liked. He serves to please others. He strives for that attention. This view cost him his happiness in the end. In this man’s rise and fall through prosperity, Welles shows the futility of striving solely for likeability.

Since 1968, there have been at least 25 films made that portray the events of the Vietnam War. Historians have to ask themselves when watching these films, "Did the fictional character represent historical figures accurately? Is this how a soldier would react in this situation?" The point of view of the director of the film can change with simple alterations in camera angles. For example, a view from the ground of a battle seen can show how the innocent people had the war in their own backyards. The view from a helicopter can show Viet Cong firing rounds at American troops and the troops can't tell the difference between the innocent and the enemy. The audience feels empathy and sympathy for the person from whose point of view the

In the artist’s palate, the color red is very relevant to the subject of Quetzalcóatl. This color covers the whole plate showing how significant red is to this piece of artwork. Correspondingly this red isn’t a normal bright red, but more of a mahogany red to represent the symbolism of blood within the story of Quetzalcóatl. The Indianapolis Musuem of Art explains, “Quetzalcóatl was an important Mesoamerican hero-god who created humanity from his own blood.”1 The red symbolizes blood because of the connection of the color red, blood is red and also this piece is mostly red, so we can speculate that the artist chose the color red to connect the story of Quetzalcóatl making humanity from his own blood. Similarly the brown on the serpent, even has a reddish tint to it. It is evident

Moonstruck is about an Italian family living in Brooklyn, New York. Throughout the movie an image of the moon shows up in a lot of scenes. This image becomes symbolic as the movies goes on. The moon is known for many things, but two things that the moon is known for in this movie that it can be a feminine symbol and it can control love. The symbolism behind the play ties in with the themes of the movie very well.

In subsequent years following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China came a revolutionary new approach to not only producing films, but also film’s very role in communist society. During this period the state gained complete control of the filmmaking industry, decreeing that the utilitarian functions of art and literature were to become a powerful weapon in serving the revolutionary struggle. In an otherwise artistically stifling period in which socialist realism pervaded all creative outlets, Xie Jin managed to retain some autonomy and emerged as one of the cleverest Chinese directors in the early 1960s. In his 1961 film Red Detachment of Women, Jin provides a classic revolutionary melodrama, yet also displays elements of formalism so that the viewer becomes conscious of the manipulations of his film technique. To analyze this film, I will use Mao Zedong’s 1942 “Talks at the Yan 'an Forum on Literature and Art,” clip #10 “Landmark 2,” and clip #6 “We are joining the red army” to elaborate on the major themes and cinematic style that distinguish Xie Jin’s work from his contemporaries.

In Michael Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), the connections between people and memories become the focal point of a very unique romance. Through the use of new technology, the possibility of erasing memories makes painful relationships disappear like they never happened. The tale of Joel and Clementine allows the audience to rethink and question the process they undergo as beneficial or destructive. Though the process might be helpful in eliminating the pain caused from another person, four key scenes show how the lessons learned through relationship experiences are important.

In this film we were so graced by getting able to first hand hear this so diverse instrument it was almost like candy for the ear. So many unfamiliar sounds played in so many different patterns was absolutely astounding to hear. The Jew’s harp had such special qualities

Music has the power to portray the emotions someone feels. It has the power to bring different people together; it allows to empathy and sympathy among other strong emotions. Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chenier is a beautiful opera because of the fact that many who watch and listen to it can relate to its story in some way. In on scene of the 1993 film directed by Jonathan Demme, Philadelphia, Andy Beckett, the protagonist listens to the opera’s aria, “La mamma mortal,” with his lawyer, Joe Miller. Andy identifies greatly with Maddalena, the character who this aria in the opera. His passion for the piece is obvious as he talks throughout the piece about what he hears. As a non-musician, he does not use the correct terminology to describe the

Night Drum is a Japanese film directed by Tadashi Imai and was released April 15, 1958. This movie was produced by the Shôchiku Eiga company. This film was based on a Chikamatsu play released in 1706, named Horikawa Nami no Tsuzumi. The plot of the film and play revolves around a samurai named Hikokurô, whom just came back from his long journey working at the capital serving his lord. He comes back home and starts hearing rumors of his wife, Otane, having an affair with a musician. Because of these rumors a family council had to be held by the clan. They call on the other female members of the family to gather information. In the end they decided that they have enough to prove Otane is innocent. Yet, after that meeting Hikokurô learns from his sister-in-law that Otane was almost raped by an old suiter. So Hikokurô confronts this man and attacks him with a sword, However, he finds out from this man that he saw

Two films, both alike in content, set in fair Verona, where the directors laid out their scene, one created by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968 and the other by Baz Luhbrmann in 1996. Both cinematic, both staying true to the plot and dialogue, each one radically different than the other, Zeffirelli sets his film within historical actuality, while Luhbrmann presents his with a modern twist. A story of love, revenge and death, revolving around a pair of star-crossed lovers, interpreted differently, but presented in the same form.

Everyone possesses passion inside of them from the time they are born. Some find it difficult expressing this personal deep feeling while others easily find life partners that return the same mutual love and affection, getting through any difficulties that may come in the way of their unity. This theme is expressed in Jane Campion’s movie The Piano. This films main character is Ada (Holly Hunter), who comes closely to experiencing this fulfillment. Ada is mute but very articulate through her piano. She chose to not speak by the age of six years old. She uses the black and white keys of her piano to express her emotions but she also develops a hand language with her illegitimate daughter, Flora (Anna Paquin). Ada’s father chooses to send her to New Zealand to marry a man she has never met. His name is Stewart, but he unfortunately doesn’t seem to understand Ada as do Baines, and English born Maori. Baines is Stewart’s aid in negotiations with the Maori people who own most of New Zealand’s rainforest, where he lives. In the 19th century the Catholic religion was a great influence on everyone’s life. Catholicism strongly influenced honoring ones parents so Ada never objected to going away to New Zealand but she did throw all of that out the window when she fell in love with Baines. Ada’s movement away from her religion is shown in the opening scene of this film.

While the movie contains complex twists and storyline, the plot contains all the hallmarks of a powerful tragedy. Told from the perspective of Salieri, the film gives his perspective on the life and death of Mozart. It shows how Mozart rises from a child prodigy to one of the top composers in Vienna, despite his childishness and

The film Little Miss Sunshine, Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Farris, explores the lives of a regular American family and how they change their lives in front of us in the ‘Combie’ van on the road to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The film examines the issues of winning and losing, and what it means to be a winner, throughout many sequences in the film as well as exploring the value of family. The directors and the cinematic team use an extreme range of camera techniques, costuming, and sound techniques to reshape our understanding of winning and losing in the world we live in today.

The Minority Report is a film that tries to stop crimes before they happen, with the enlistment of 3 teen pre-cogs. These pre-cogs predict future murders and the authorities swoop in and arrest the would-be murders, before they have the chance of committing the crime. Even thing goes great until Anderton, a cop played by Tom Cruise, is suspected. Written by Philip K. Dick and then turned to film by Steven Spielberg in 2002, the short story to film became a success. Though there are many differences between the book and the movie, one would think Steven Spielberg would not be able to grab audience’s attention, but with his skills, Spielberg went above and beyond all measures. Many times, novels to films end up being either a great hit