Three Kings: Neocolonial Arab Representation

This critical essay of the movie the Three Kings was written by Lila Kitaeff, who is a writer for Jump Cut. Kitaeff discusses how David O. Russell's film represents Arabs in his movie. In the article, Kitaeff first talks about how Arabs are stereotyped in America through the media, military, politics, and even through our economy. Here is an excerpt from her article dealing with this:

In both popular culture and government policy, anit-Arab stereotypes since the 1970's have affixed a stigma on Arab ethnicity in America...The Arab as villain has been a favorite scape-goat of American culture.

Kitaeff then goes on to discuss how Arabs are looked at in this was in the Three Kings by showing the movie through the American soldiers eyes, and by having the American soldiers be the heroes. However, in the next part of the essay, Kitaeff does show the other side to this argument as well. Here's another sample quote:

This same reviewer even suggested that the film addressed 'the amorality and lack of consistent principles in American foreign policy. No Hollywood film in memory has addressed such an issue.'"

I think everyone should read this essay not only because it is interesting, but because it is great to look at to get ideas for our final project.

A Critical Essay *Three Kings

This critical essay comes from the journal Jumpcut, and is by the author, Lila Kitaeff. This article talks about the different Arab stereotypes portrayed in the movie Three Kings. It also shows us how the movie relates to the history of the Gulf War. Finally on the left side of the article are photos from the movie, and under these photos we see short expanations and themes."In the 1980s and 90s the stereotype of Arab terrorists as generic “bad guys” rose to prominence... Many people in the United States have had only this kind of Arabic image readily at hand."

Nazi Propoganda Films

I have linked to an essay titled Propoganda or Romance? Unfortunately the name of the author who wrote this short ideological criticism of Nazi films was not given. However, the article says brought to you by TermPaperEdge.com. The author tells about the basic goal of many Nazi films such as, La Habanera and Madeleine in Romance in a Minor Key and The Golden City. The goal of the German filmakers was to give the films audience an the illusion of a desirable situation like love or romance being attainable while the films background stays strongly committed to the Nazi ways. Many consider these films to be the best films Germany has ever made.

A Critical Essay

The author, Bill Van Wert, of the critical essay, The Exorcist, Radical Therapy, goes into complete depth in describing this movies contents. In this essay the author gives a brief overview of plot and elaborates more on scenes in the movie, while also giving his different opinions. Bill begins the essay negative by decribing a flawed scene. "The film opens with a flaw. I am speaking of the northern Iraq sequence, beautifully photographed by Billy Williams...."

This link is a good example of a critical essay....Check it out http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC01folder/exorcist.html

Is Braveheart Homophobic???

According to James R. Keller homophobia is a central theme in Mel Gibson's Braveheart. "The juxtaposition of competing masculinities" between Gibson's rugged manly character William Wallace, and the effeminate Prince Edward conveys stereotypical perceptions of the negativity of homosexuality Keller argues. For example, evidence for his claimed is backed by the scene in which "his father and William Wallace are busy attending to the affairs of war, the prince is shown vainly posing and modeling his new clothes in front of the mirror, surrounded by an entourage of courtly butterflies..." Prince Edwards disinterest in political affairs implicates the notion "that gays have no place in the serious affairs of men," states Keller. Whether Gibson purposely conveys homophobic notions such as this example intentionally, or is basing these scenes on historical evidence is not outlined in Keller's essay he argues"...the image of Edward preening himself before a mirror contrasted to the image of Wallace, covered in the blood of battle, shouting "Freedom"" does hold its own implications.

Rocky: The Story of an American Dream

Ira Shor gives his critical insight in this article by explaining the film's demonstration of the rise of a working-class hero by gaining dignity and recognition. Rocky is a a dim-witted but good-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the grimy streets of Philadelphia. He is given the chance to fight in a huge boxing match where he ultimately gains recognition and respect. Shor discusses how Rocky demonstrates every man's will to rise to the top; from rags-to-riches. Shor states that, "Rocky has no choice but to either rise above his class or sink below it. He’s offered no chance to rise with his class, and can't fit into the respectable routines familiar to the working world." Since Rocky has been living with a dead-end job that deals with crime, he will never be able to fit in with the higher class; he can only rise above his own class by proving himself in the fight. This is where the viewers experience an "opportunity" for a lower working-class man. Shor explains that "Rocky emerges as a working-class hero who answers the sudden call of the American Dream, going from disgrace to dignity in a magical moment. His bruised but handsome face mirrors the two faces of the American Dream." Rocky needed fight with others, and himself as well in order to succeed. Ira Shor outlines the film's idea that working class people must fight in order to overcome depravity.

Critique on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

This critical essay from Images: Journal of film and popular culture touches on the outstanding usage of visual effects throughout Harry Potter and the Sorecer's Stone. This film is packed with creative eye-catching scenes that help to illustrate the many settings of Hogwarts. According to Images: Journal of film and popular culture, this particular essay comments on an important point for those who are interested in watching this film:

"...Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is somewhat rushed and reliant upon Harry Potter fans bringing prior knowledge along with them to the movie theater."

In order to get a full understanding of this film it is important to read the book because a lot of scenes from the book are left out due to time. Despite the time constraint, the use of art design and visual effects makes Harry Potter and the Sorecer's Stone a truly unique film that captures audiences under its spell.

The Rebirth of Frankestein

According to Robert E. Terrill of Taylor & Francis Group
"... no other narrative has been so often revisited by film as the Frankenstein myth." For example, Terrill supports this claim on
the basis that movies such as Young Frankenstein,
the Terminators films, Edward Sissorhands, and The Matrix resemble
and/or have been inspired by Mary Schelley's novel Frankenstein.
Terrill identifies the similarities are intertwined between these films
and the novel by its premier and final chapters. Throughout all of these
movies there is a character depicted in experiences of life and death.
Many would identify Edward Sissorhands to be based on this premise,
in regards to Schelley's novel Frankenstein, due to the similarities in birth,
struggle, and death of a man too disfigured to survive.
Terrill believes the plot of the book Frankenstein is prevalent in movies, because

“[It’s] a cautionary tale about dangerous powers that can accrue to someone skilled in the art of stitching together coherence out of chaos resonates particularly strongly with film audiences.”

Whether or not audiences agree that these relationships exist, Terrill insists audiences will
continue to be intrigued by this plot development due to its “thorough and provocative exploration of some of the questions regarding the relationships [of man and creature].”

Jackie Chan: Martial Artist or Dancer?

The article I have linked is from http://www.ejumpcut.org/, where there are many interesting critical essays that don't require a subscription. The author Aaron Anderson looks at choreographed scenes of violence as dance. Combat is something that is natural and is difficult to fake. Anderson emphasizes the work of martial arts filmmaker and actor Jackie Chan. Chan's films are particularly entertaining because of the high level of stylization he puts into each fight scene. Anderson states,

"I have been a practicing martial artist, stage and film fight director, and certified teacher of staged combat for a number of years, and Chan’s fight sequences are (almost universally) regarded among my colleagues as among the best in the business."

There are two reasons why Jackie is the best. First of all he practices each movement of each scene as many times as he needs to until he can put it all together perfectly, exactly like a ballerina would do for a ballet. The second factor is that nearly all of his stunts are real. The reality of Jackie Chan's action scenes is what makes his movies what they are.

Home Alone

Home Alone is Chris Columbus' comedy about a young boy who is left home alone for Christmas and realizes the importance of family to him.Throughout the course of the movie McCaulay Culkin's character, Kevin, has to fend off a pair of bungling robbers (Joe Peschi and Daniel Stern). The essay I am linking to describes the success of Christopher Columbus and John Hughes as well as contrasting Home alone with their other hits.

Criticizing Forrest Gump

The author of this article talks about Forrest Gump in a critical way. The reviewer claims that there are many contradictions in the movie. One major contradiction the author questions is "how does you make your own destiny, Forrest' reconcile with the serendipitous nature of 'Life is like a box of chocolates'?" She also argues that the movie does not accurately portray the value of a school education. Zinsser "[sees] the characters as stereotypes playing out a simplistic, anti-intellectual fantasy that mocks our educational, political and enterpreneurial processes and institutions." She believes that the audience is oblivious to what the movie is actual showing and that there is more to this heart-warming story. Clicking the link above should take you to the essay.

The Big Elephant in the Room

How many of you have done a 17 hour shift at work? In China Blue, directed by Micha Peled, hundreds of Chinese children work that shift every day.

Attached is a article by Beverly Berning, who explains how China Blue gives a personal face to what we only knew as a concept, child labor in sweatshops. Beverly later describes how Peled draws the problem of sweatshop labor on not the sweatshop laborer, but the multinational corporations (in this case, Wal-Mart), cold-shouldered American inspectors, and us, the consumers. Peled makes the viewer recognize this truth by avoiding the "sad sermon", and says just enough for us to recognize this national epidemic.

"It would be enough if China Blue simply worked as an exposé of the harsh lives these young girls live, but director Peled is too much of a leftwing activist to leave it at that. He has bigger fish to fry, namely the multinational retailers who set the agenda, the ones who pressure men like Lam (who comes off here less as a villain than an arriviste) to sell their blue jeans at ridiculously low prices. "

"Globalization is here to stay, and it presents us with yet another set of problems that we must address. China Blue does not offer solutions, but it might help get us to stop ignoring the problems. It is the little elephant that roared."