Kung Fu Panda (2008)

 Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated Children’s film that is also an action and comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by John Wayne Stevenson and Mark Osborne and produced by Melissa Cobb. It stars the voice of Jack Black along with Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie, Ian McShane, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Randall Duk Kim, James Hong, Dan Fogler and Michael Clarke Duncan.  The only reason I decided to watch this film was because I wanted to hear the voices of some of my favorite actors and actress perform a children’s movie. They all did very well and i was more than impressed.Kung Fu Panda won 11 Annie Awards, including best picture, out of 16 nominations. I liked kung fu panda because it was both funny and touchy while a lot of children’s movies are just one or the other. I also liked seeing it in 3d animation instead of a 2d cartoon. This is a must see for any child who loves movies.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 Chinese martial arts film. The film was directed by Ang Lee and featured an international cast of ethnic Chinese actors. The film was based on the fourth novel in a pentalogy, known in China as the Crane Iron Pentalogy, by wuxia novelist Wang Dulu. The martial arts and action sequences were choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping. I had a challenge with this movie trying to keep up with the subtitles but the action was great. It was weird seeing some of the fighters just kind of glide around through the air but it was interesting none the less. The cinematography was up to par and the story line was decent. There was just too many Chinese terms that I had never heard and I had to Google what they meant. The movie won an academy award and I admit it was good movie I’m not sure why it was given an award. If you like Chinese films then this movie is for you.

Meet the spartans (2008)

Meet The Spartans is a 2008 parody film directed by Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. This film directs parodies at various films. Although it’s main reference is on the movie 300 which came out in 2007.  This movie was not funny or creative in any way, even if it is a parody. If it was the least bit entertaining it would have won at least 1 award. There is no theme to this film and there is no cultural significance because it was literally all random bits and pieces of segments thrown together. There was no continuity or any reason to the plot. Even for a parody this film made no sense. Even the physical components of this movie were a joke. There were so many bloopers on this movie that you could not tell if it was an actual blooper or if they were doing it on purpose. It turned out that these were actual bloopers according to numerous internet sources. I advise as many people as I can not to see this movie. 

Spiderman 3 (2007)

Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 superhero film  that was written and directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. It’s the third and final film of Sam Raimi's trilogy in the Spider-Man film franchise based on Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. The film begins with Peter Parker basking in his success as Spider-Man, while Mary Jane Watson continues her Broadway career. Harry Osborn still seeks vengeance for his father's death, and an escaped convict, Flint Marko, falls into a particle accelerator and is transformed into a shape-shifting sand manipulator. In terms of summarizing this film; basically a strange black entity from outer space ends up having a special bond with Peter Parker and causes emotional distress which terns him somewhat evil and he has to overcome his inner self. It’s a pretty cliché plot in my opinion and I was disappointed to find out my sole reason of wanting to see the film; spiderman antagonist Venom, would be barely in the movie. I thought this movie was stale and the only things I liked were the special effects and watching Spiderman swing from building to building. This movie had nothing on the first two spiderman movies which were great.

The Alamo (1960)

The Alamo (1960) is an American historical film. The film was directed by John Wayne, who starred as Davy Crockett as well. The move is about the 1836 Battle of the Alamo. This film has no true theme because it does little to explain the causes of the Texas Revolution or the battle itself. Alamo historian Timothy Todish stated that there was “not a single scene in The Alamo which corresponds to a historically verifiable incident". Historians J. Frank Dobie and Lon Tinkle demanded their names be removed as historical advisors.  This movie wan an Oscar and a Golden Globe and a Golden Laurel. The plot was kind of stale and I did not really enjoy watching this movie. It was probably because I already knew about the battle of the Alamo from my history classes when I was a kid and I generally do not like movies that I knew what was going to happen. I will see for a western that the picture quality, color, and sound of this film was pretty good.

Jarhead (2005)

Jarhead is a 2005 film based on U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford's 2003 Gulf War memoir of the which is of same name. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Swofford. This film won the San Diego Film Critics Society Special Award. The title is derived from the slang term used to refer to U.S. Marines. The film was directed Sam Mendes, and co stars Jamie Foxx, Peter Sarsgaard, and Chris Cooper. The most interesting thing about this move to me is that it actually is  is full of controversey because It has been said that parts of the Jarheads plot were taken from Joel Turnipseed's 2002 gulf war memoir,  which is called Baghdad Express without the author's consent.William Broyles Jr the screen writer has come out and stated that "any likenesses arise from the retelling of common Marine experiences". The action in this movie where great but i did not like how the soldiers swore alot. I understand i am 22 and this is a grown up movie but it just seemed like every other word was a harsh swear word. I don't really mind swear words but when every other line has a swear word in it then it kind of becomes annoying.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming from a script mostly by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf, with uncredited contributions by others. This movie recieved mostly positive reviews, and won three Academy Awards, and also was nominated for Best Picture of the Year when it first came out. Judy Garland who plays Dorothy Gale  is swept away to a magical land in a tornado and ends up on a quest to see the Wizard who can help her return home. Mostly anyone who is up in their ages have seen this movie. At the time this was one of the first colored movie the world had ever seen. At the time this movie was culturally significant because it was the first fantasy movie for children. For its time the singing and the color made this movies physically component outstanding although in todays day in age it would be mediocre.

The Naughty Nineties (1945)

The Naughty Nineties is a 1945 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. It is best known for its  "Who's on First?" remake of the original skit. This particular skit from this movie is also shown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It was filmed from January 15, 1945 through March 1, 1945. The story follows the comedians in their efforts to help the captain of the ship, Travers, keep from losing his boat to some shady gamblers. Most of the comic material seems stale but this is one of the better 1945 films i have watched and it is also the first Abbot and Costello movie that i watched. The acting in this movie is great as i really loved the acting from Costello. I never laughed as much as i did in my life like i was during the "whose on first" skit. Abbot himself didnt particular do anything for me in terms of making me laugh. All in all this is a good 1940's film and the acting from Costello himself make it a must see for any comedy fan and also the Who's on first skit makes it a must see for baseball fans as well.

South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut is a 1999 animated musical comedy film based on the animated television series South Park. It was created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker. The film was directed by Trey Parker, who also stars along with the rest of the regular voice cast from the series, including Stone, Mary Kay Bergman, and Isaac Hayes as Chef. This movie has no theme other than to mock everything and anything it possibly can. This is apparent when certian songs such as "blame canada" and "uncle f*cka" are debuted in the film. The film itself has poor quality, after all its just 2d cartoon figures. I did find it interesting that this movie was not afraid to offend anyone or anything for example: in the movie sad-am Hussein is having a love affair with Satan. In my opinion it is interesting in a bad way not a good way. All in all i am i wasn't to thrilled with this movie and it was too "over the line" for me.

Sex and the City (2008)

Sex and the City is a 2008 romance movie directed by Michael Patrick King. It won 1 award and had another 10 nominations. What was most interesting to me is the fact that I actually enjoyed the movie, my girlfriend forced me to see it with her and I thought I was going to hate it, but it wasn’t that bad. The beginning give the viewer a recap of the characters lives so that it’s not necessary to have watched the TV series. It falls perfectly into the romance genre but has a little bit of a sad dramatic side in it. The themes are love and forgiveness. I found the music, dialogue and scenery to be well done. It really did a good job of portraying New York City. I felt that the movie is culturally significant because of the success of the TV series. The demographic is aimed and women and date night movie goers.

Godzilla (1998)

 Godzilla is a 1998 American action science fiction film directed and co-written by Roland Emmerich and starring Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo and Hank Azaria. It is loosely based on the Japanese Godzilla franchise and is a re-imagining of the 1954 Japanese film of the same name. The primary target group for this film is teenagers. The most interesting aspects of the film was seeing a large monster roam through the city of New York. The only I ever time I saw anything like this was in Jurassic park 2 when the T-Rex got lose in San Diego. The plot was kind of dull in my opinion. The only time the intensity seemed to rise was when the taxi cab was getting chased by Godzilla and through the city and onto the bridge. The original Godzilla was a metaphor for nuclear destruction but no one is sure what this new America Godzilla film is about. If I had to guess it’s about Animal vs. Technology and the movie makes it looks like technology wins.

Limitless (2011)

Limitless is a 2011 American techno thriller directed by Neil Burger. It stars Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. It is new to theaters and has not been awarded any awards yet. What I found most interesting is how one tiny pill can allow a person to be able to use all of their brain and thus change a person’s life. It falls well into the genre of a techno thriller.The theme is endless knowledge and power. The camera angles and special effects are great, especially at the beginning of the movie when it zooms the audience through New York City. It is culturally significant because it poses the question into the audience: what would you do if you had no limits? It’s aimed at adults, due to language, violence and sexual images.

Greedy (1994)

Greedy is a 1994 comedy directed by Jonathan Lynn. I really found the story line interesting. It’s the first movie I’ve ever seen dealing with the issue of inheriting money. The themes are money, deception and finally real love, as displayed by the ailing man’s desire to have someone love him for him and not his money. With the witty dialogue and goofy scenes it is a perfect fit for a comedy. The acting is great and includes a fun cast including Kirk Douglas, Michael J. Fox and the late Phil Hartman. It is culturally significant because it gives the viewer an inside look at what money can really make people do. It addresses a broad demographic, but not intended for younger children, due to the bad language.

The Battleship Potempkin (1925)

The Battleship Potempkin is a 1925 Russian silent, revolutionary propaganda film, directed by Sergei Eisenstein. It was interesting to me because of the dramatic scenes, such as the soldiers marching down the steps and shooting at people. It was one of the most dramatic movies I’ve ever seen. Even more so considering it is a silent film. I thought that being silent would make the movie lack in depth but it surely did not.Although I've never seen another propaganda movie like this one I feel as though it is a good candidate for it's genre. I believe the theme is war. The formal components were ok and it was refreshing to watch a film with no sound. The viewer never knows what to expect without the sound of foreshadowing music. I felt as a propagandist piece it was very culturally significant. It is aimed at an adult demographic.

Rashomon (1950)

Rashomon is a 1950 Japanese crime mystery film directed by Akira Kurosawa. It was nominated for an Academy Award and won another 7 awards, and 2 nominations. I was most interested in what the correct story was, the film left it up to the viewers personal interpretation. I really found that to be appealing. The theme is the unreliability of eyewitness accounts. The movie was very low grade. It wasn’t anything special. Which is to be expected for a movie made that long ago. It was significant because once again it introduced the Japanese director Akira Kurosawa to western audiences. It was aimed at a mature demographic due to the amount of violence. 

All About My Mother (1999)

All About My Mother is a 1999 Spanish drama film directed by Pedro Almodovar. It won 1 Academy Award as well as another 47 wins and 31 nominations. I found the untraditional characters and their escapades in the story to be the most interesting part of the movie. Even though it is interesting it still can be viewed as raunchy and disturbing with all of the transvestite talk in it. I was wrong to see a nun use such foul language also. It falls well within the genre of a drama and I enjoyed the Spanish culture depicted in the film. The scenery and dialogue stayed true to the Spanish roots. The acting was exceptional; I especially enjoyed the part of Rosa, played by Penelope Cruz. It was culturally significant in the fact that it made Almodovar a well-known director. It is aimed at an older demographic due to the obvious sexual tones.

The Seventh Seal (1957)

The Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It falls into the fantasy genre. It won 7 awards and had 1 other nomination. The most interesting thing to me was the storyline; it was very interesting and really made me think. As far as being a good fit for the fantasy genre, it does very well. Only in a fantasy movie can a man play chess against the figure of Death. The theme of the film is that no matter how hard you try you can’t outdo death and it also shows a theme of the silence of God. The formal components were well done; it had a somber tone, which fit perfectly for the film. It is culturally significant because it helped Bergman establish himself in the world of cinema. It is aimed at an older demographic.

High Noon (1952)

High Noon is a 1952 western directed by Fred Zinnemann. It won 4 Academy Awards another 11 wins and 8 nominations. The most interesting thing about this movie is its classic western style, which I really enjoyed. It is a perfect fit for a western complete with tumble weeds and ten-gallon hats. The main themes of the movie are courage and cowardice. The best formal component is how the movie went along with real time to get to the show down at noon. The rest of the film was average, but I’m sure would seem more cutting edge if I were watching it back in the 50’s. It was deemed culturally significant by the Library of Congress. It meets the criteria for an older demographic due to violence.

The 400 Blows (1959)

The 400 Blows is a 1959 French film directed by Francois Truffaut. It falls into the French new wave genre. It was nominated for 1 Academy Award, as well as 6 other awards and 3 nominations. The most interesting thing about this movie to me again was the plot, I was amazed at how misunderstood the main character was. One of the main themes of the film is punishment. It falls very well into the genre of French new wave, in fact it can be seen as a groundbreaker for this genre. The best part of all of the formal components to me, was the last shot where the camera zooms in on Antoine’s face. It also does a great job of capturing the essence of France at that time. It is culturally significant; especially in France due to it being one of the first films of it’s kind. It is aimed at an older demographic due to some violence.

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 documentary directed by Michael Moore. It won 1 Academy Award and had another 28 wins and 7 nominations. I found the actual footage of the shootings at Columbine High School to be the most interesting.I also found the clip of the news reporter who covered the Columbine story and how stated that one of the shooters wanted to hijack a plane and crash it into New York City, which the reporter then dismissed as a “fantasy.” It was just so ironic. As far as fitting into a documentary, obviously it does very well. The narraration and other clips put into the film made it interesting to watch, I must admit when I head the word “documentary” I assumed it would be bland and boring, but this one was definitely not. I feel that this film is culturally significant so that people can learn what is really going on in our world, and uncovers interesting things that some may never have known. Due to graphic images it is aimed at an adult audience.

The Bicycle Thief (1948)

The Bicycle Thief, or Bicycle Thieves as it has also become know as, is a 1948 Italian neo-realist film directed by Vittorio De Sica. It won 16 awards and was nominated for an Academy Award. I found the relationship between the boy and his father to be the most interesting. I really appreciated how the boy would go to his fathers aid whenever he needed him. I felt it fit well into the neo-realist genre. The themes are present in the ideas of post war and poverty as well as the inclination that not everything has a happy ending. The movie was either too bright or too dark in certain scenes. I felt as though it was lacking when it comes to the formal components, but that can be expected for an older film. It was culturally significant to show the true poverty and despair in Italy in that time. It is also one of the best-known Italian films. It was aimed at a demographic of all ages, in my opinion. 

The Big Sleep (1946)

The Big Sleep is a 1946 film noir directed by Howard Hawks. It won 1 award. What I found the most interesting about this movie is that the actual culprits for each murder are never fully revealed. As far as fitting into a genre I felt as though this was a perfect fit for a film noir. The movie was black and white. It was obvious that the background was moving in order to make the car look as though it were moving through the streets. This is a vintage Hollywood trick. The dialogue was well done and helped to keep the plot flowing consistently. This movie is culturally significant because it is such a well know example of the film noir genre. It was definitely aimed at an older demographic due to the many sexual undertones and drug usage.

Metropolis (1927)

Metropolis is a 1927 German science fiction film directed by Fritz Lang. It won 3 awards and was nominated for another 3. I found this movie interesting because it is so different, it is very science fiction and while I’m not really into that kind of stuff I still enjoyed this movie, the plot is interesting as well. The theme, in my opinion is unity among all. I feel that this is the epitome of a science fiction movie; it has machines and a futuristic feel.  The movie itself is very basic, the lighting and effects are somber, probably to reflect the overall tone of the movie. It was another black and white movie, which I also enjoyed. It is significant in sending the message of unity. It is aimed at an older demographic. 

Citizen Kane (1941)

Citizen Kane is a 1941 mystery drama directed by Orson Welles. It won 1 Academy Award as well as 4 other wins and 9 nominations. I found it interesting how a guy who had everything he could ever want held a simple object like his childhood sled so dear that its name was the last thing he said before he died. The is interpreting a persons life from the outside looking in. The cinematography is cutting edge and is easily the reason why this movie is said to be the greatest movie of all time. The acting is also amazing and so was the plot. It was one of the best plots I’ve ever seen. The film is culturally significant because of its mass success. As I have previously stated, many movie websites as well as film critics believe it to be the best movie ever. Its demographic is aimed at adults, mainly due to the sophistication of the plot. All in all I must say, “It’s terrific!”

Dorian Gray (2009)

Dorian Gray is an English drama fantasy. It was filmed in 2009 and directed by Oliver Parker. It was nominated for 1 award. I found it most interesting was how close the plot stayed to the actual book. Oscar Wilde wrote the book The Picture of Dorian Gray. I feel that it falls very well within the conventions of both the drama and fantasy genre. Espeially the idea that a man’s painting can age in his place. I feel that the theme is the idea of superficiality and how even the most beautiful people can be evil. The camera angles were cool and I really enjoyed the acting, especially the role of Lord Henry Wotton, played by Collin Firth. The special effects were well done and the production and stage props were very realistic and I felt like it was what Victorian England really looked like. I felt it was culturally significant because of the significance of the novel. It was aimed at an older audience, due to nudity, violence and drug use.

You Can't Take it With You (1938)

You Can’t Take it With You is a 1938 romantic comedy directed by Frank Capra. It won 2 Academy Awards and was nominated for another 5. The most interesting aspect to me is that a rich person would be willing to give everything up for his love and her crazy family. The theme, in my opinion is that you shouldn’t people by what’s on the outside. I felt as thought this is a great example of a romance as well as a comedy. I felt that the plot and acting are the best things about this movie. It was filmed in black and which made it very interesting to watch. It is culturally significant because it is a classic. The film is aimed at a wide audience and can be appreciated by everyone.

Love and Other Drugs (2010)

Love and Other Drugs is a 2010 romance movie directed by Edward Zwick. It won 1 award and was nominated for 4 others including 2 Golden Globes. I feel that it does well as a ronamance, but also a contradiction between being a comedy and a drama. I found the plot and storyline the most interesting thing about this movie. It was heartwarming to watch this man devote his life to his dieing love. The theme is love. Like I said before the plot was very well done. The acting was also amazing and I was surprised that Anne Hathaway was not nominated for an Academy Award. The dialogue had some comedic undertones and was easy to follow. It was pretty well received by viewers and was aimed at an older demographic, especially considering the nudity.

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 religious historical drama directed by Mel Gibson. It won 17 awards and was nominated for another 13 including three Academy Awards. I found this movie to be interesting since it was so accurate when it comes to what the Bible says is the true story of Christ. The film can be described through many genres but I feel it’s best fit is a religious genre, because non-Christians may argue that the movie is not historical. The theme is biblical. The acting was superb and the camera angles were also well done. This film is extremely culturally significant to any person of the Christian faith. It is aimed at a more mature audience due to the graphic violence.

2012 (2009)

2012 is a 2009 disaster movie directed by Roland Emmerich. It won 2 awards and was nominated for another 13. The most interesting thing about this movie is the plot. It is based off of a series of events that lead up to the end of the world. I felt particularly intrigued by this film because of the speculation revolving around the theories that the world may end in 2012. Aside from the plot I was also intrigued to learn that this movie is the 35ht highest grossing film of all time. The film fits well into the genre of a disaster movie, but could also be classified as science fiction. Other than that, the theme of pulling together in times of desperation was well established. The special effects were amazing and the other formalities well done. Even though it was rated PG-13 I wouldn’t recommend letting a thirteen year old watch it, I feel it was aimed at an older audience.

Big Fat Liar (2002)

Big Fat Liar is a 2002 family comedy directed by Shawn Levy. It won 1 award and had another 3 nominations. The biggest aspects of this movie that I found interesting were the hilarious pranks that the protagonist played on the antagonist. As far as the genre of a comedy the movie fits the part very well. The theme of this movie, which is very apparent, is being truthful. The formal components are well done. Most of the movie takes place on the actual lot of Universal Studios, so the audience had a pretty cool insight over a movie set. Including how some special effects and camera angles are done. The most notable and culturally significant part of the film is when the antagonist played by Paul Giamatti dives into a swimming pool filled with blue dye which turns his skin blue. This movie was made for a wide demographic but probably more toward young teens.

Wild Wild West (1999)

Wild Wild West is a 1999 western, directed by Barry Sonnenfield. It won 10 awards and was nominated for another 11. I found this movie to be interesting because it was a comedic spin on the classic western. That being said I felt it is a good example of the western genre. However, it could also fall into the categories of comedy as wells as action. I found the acting to be well done. The plot was easy to follow and interesting. For a western film it was very advanced., especially with the special effects. The camera angles were average for a film. The time sequence was thorough. This movie was culturally significant due to it being a modern twist on a western. It was aimed at a younger demographic.  

The Replacements (2000)

The Replacements is a 2000 sport comedy directed by Howard Deutch. It did not receive any awards. I felt it interesting because it seems like a very good indication of what a strike looks like from a professional football player’s perspective, as well as from the perspective of those chosen to replace them. As far as fitting into the genre of a sports comedy I felt as if it was a very well suited design. The theme of this movie is something any sports enthusiast can relate to: you must have heart to be a champion. The sound effects and camera angles made the film seem very realistic. It was like watching a real football game. Some issues addressed in the film are greed (displayed by the striking players) and second chances (displayed by the replacements). I think the demographic would be sports fans of all ages and people that like a true underdog story. 

Avatar (2009)

Avatar is a 2009 science fiction movie directed by James Cameron. It won 3 Academy Awards as well as 41 other wins and 60 other nominations. I found the entire movie to be interesting, it was ground breaking and very fun to watch. It's also interesting to know that this i the highest grossing film of all time. This film perfectly depicts the science fiction genre, but it also falls into the action adventure genre. The film has many themes, including political themes, social and cultural themes, as well as religion and spiritual themes. The acting and plot were both well done. But the formal components really made this film great. The camera angles were excellent. The use of sound effects, the, the time-sequence, the dialogue, and the style of editing were all outstanding. What really stole the show was the special effects. The action sequences were superb. The movie was culturally significant, it was a huge hit and reached a very broad demographic. 

The Notebook (2004)

The Notebook is a 2004 romance directed by Nick Cassavetes. It won 11 various awards and was nominated for another 7. It is the film adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Nicholas Sparks. It works well within the genre of a romance film. The theme of the film is the timelessness of true love. The plot was fluent without contradictions; it kept the viewer on their toes. The camera angles were bland and generic, with the exception of the Ferris Wheel scene, in which the male lead climbed up to ask the female lead on a date. The acting was well done. It addresses the issues within relationships where each person is in a different social and economic class. I would say the demographic is aimed at women and couples. Overall it is a very well done film and is sure to be a tear jerker to any woman.

Due Date (2010)

Due Date is a comedy released in the US in 2010 and was directed by Todd Phillips. The most interesting thing about this movie to me was how it was even possible for these two men to get away with such stupid antics. Although it was funny and made me laugh quite a bit, it lacked in depth. The theme of friendship was obvious and lighthearted. The plot was a cliché for a comedy, but cliché enough for the film to be a good fit for it’s genre. I would guess that due to some of the crude humor and R rating this movie is aimed at young adults 18 and over. I did however find the acting to be very well done. I enjoyed Robert Downey Jr.’s cynicism and the naivety of Zach Galifianakis. By the end of the movie I was surprised Downey’s character had not killed that of Galifianakis. It was full of some pretty hilarious one-liners. The special effects were good and fun to watch. I would recommend it only to those with a perverse mind.

Grease (1978)

The movie Grease is a 1978 musical, directed by Randal Kleiser. It won both a People’s Choice Award and Germany’s Golden Screen Award. It was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. The thing I found most interesting about this movie is the singing. The songs are all catchy and I feel that this is the reason the movie is such a success, well that and the fact that it deals with one of the most used themes in movies: teen angst. Obviously being a movie based on teens in high school the movie is aimed at that demographic. The acting was believable and the characters were well rounded. As a musical I feel it perfectly represents its category. It could potentially fit into the romance and comedy genre as well. Since the movie was made in the 70’s the cinematics are somewhat obsolete. Overall it’s a fun watch.

Machete (2010)

Machete is a 2010 action film, written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. It won one award, a Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress for Jessica Alba’s performance. Even though it was criticized, there were a few things I found very interesting about this movie. One of which is the fact that the character of Machete was originated in the 2001 movie Spy Kids. I found it really cool that such a dark character came from a children’s movie. The other aspect I found to be compelling was the overall feel of the movie. It was full of action and some scenes were so cliché and gory I couldn’t figure out whether it was serious or a spoof. My final conclusion was that the events were sincere. The themes were justice and revenge. That being said I felt as if this movie was both a good and bad fit for an action film. The cinematics and special effects were really well done.

Happy Feet (2006)

Happy Feet is a 2006 animated movie directed by George Miller, Warren Coleman and Judy Morris. It won an Academy Award. It also won twelve other awards and was nominated for another sixteen. The movie is a portrayal of animated yet life like talking penguins. What I found to be the most interesting is how the writers incorporated realistic penguin behaviors into an animated movie with a human based plot. It is a very good example for the animated genre and doesn’t really fall into any other category. It is a light-hearted tale that revolves its themes around accepting differences and true love. Mainly directed to families, especially with younger children. The animation is very well done, and the music is catchy and upbeat.

Leprechaun (1993)

Leprechaun is a 1993 horror film directed by Mark Jones. The only thing interesting about this movie is to see if it could be anymore terrible. The plot is easy to follow and it does contain some jumpy parts. Although it’s a horror genre it isn’t exactly the epitome of scary but is however very entertaining. The idea of an evil Leprechaun is an original villain and it makes for a unique movie. The theme is overcoming fear. The cinematics are very generic and the acting is mediocre. Especially considering it was one of Jennifer Aniston’s first starring roles. I found the costume and makeup design to be well done. The Leprechaun is very life like and looks extremely creepy.

He's Just Not That Into You (2009)

He’s Just Not That Into You is a 2009 romantic comedy directed by Ken Kwapis. It won one BMI Film Music Award and was nominated for a People’s Choice Award and a Teen Choice Award. The most interesting thing about this movie is how every character is connected to each other and their stories all intertwine. It is a very well done romantic comedy and a good representative of this genre. The theme of the movie is love and how there are no guidelines. It is culturally significant with a well-developed look into romance and dating. It is aimed at a younger demographic probably between 18 and 30 year olds. I found the formal components of the movie to be well done for its genre but average for a movie as a whole. Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, DrewBarry More, Jennifer Connelly, Justin Long, Gennifer Goodwin,  and Kevin Connolly stared in this movie making it a rare film to have a great number of stars in such a prominent role.

The Godfather (1972)

 The Godfather is a 1972 crime drama directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It won three Academy Awards as well as nineteen other awards and seventeen other nominations. The most interesting part of this movie to me was the amount of power this one man (Vito Corleone) possessed. The movie some deem to be the greatest movie ever, completely encompasses everything a “gangster drama” should contain, and paved the road for future mafia based movies. From my understanding there are two main themes in this movie: Power and Family. Considering the movie was made over thirty years ago the cinematics are well done. The plot, dialogue, acting, direction and musical composition make for a harmonious combination. This movie is the definition of a classic.One of the movie's most shocking moments involved the real severed head of a horse. Animal Rights groups protested the inclusion of the scene. Francis Ford Coppola later stated that the horse's head was delivered to him from a dog food company; a horse had not been killed specifically for the movie. This scene was shot in  Port Washington, New York.

The Kid (1921)

The Kid is a comedy and drama directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin in 1921. A few aspects of the film I enjoyed is the very short subtitles and the silence of the film. It was my first silent film I ever watched and I actually enjoyed it. It was actually funnier than most movies I watch. This move is both drama and comedy and I think this movie represented both of these genres well. The man was very humorous through out the movie and the mother who lost her child was dramatic. I felt for the mothers pain in the film.  Obviously the movie is not going to have updated camera angels and the picture is going to poor compared to today’s standards. I’m not sure what the standards where like in the early 20’s but I guess for the limited resources they had the movie did a good job making it as realistic of a movie as it could be.  The acting was pretty good as well. I was firmly convinced all the emotions the characters expressed throughout the film were genuine.

Public Enemies (2009)

Public Enemies is a gangster film directed by Michael Mann and released in the U.S in 2009. The aspects I found interesting is how the movie basically has two heroes, a bad and a good guy. There are not too many movies that have both a bad guy and good guy be the main character.  Most gangsters movies are from black and white days of films, so this is a gangster genres that Is somewhat updated than other gangster genres. Also this gangster drama tends to use more cursing and nudity that the gangster genres of the black and white days had. The theme of the movie is the history about John Dillinger. The movie is not a documentary necessarily of john Dillinger but Michael Mann wanted to show the world who john Dillinger was in a historical themed movie about gangsters. The action and camera angels in this movie are well done. It’s done in such a way to make it look realistic and the camera angles itself are easy on the eyes and are not hard to follow like some other films that have action and shooting. The cultural significance of the film is obviously the culture of gangsters and law enforcement back in the 1930’s. Public enemies is a very well put together movie that is a must watch for any gangster fan.

Vantage Point (2008)

Vantage Point is action thriller that was released in the U.S in 2008 and directed by Pete Travis. The movie won the Golden Trailer Award for best thriller in 2008. The aspects I found interesting about the movie is how the movie did not start in finish in one particular order. Just like the title, the movie is taken from several different vantage points. I found it interesting because it really made people think about what was really going on. This movie fits in with other action Genres because even though the movie was one that made people think it still had a lot of action like explosions and killings. The theme of the movie is that everyone had a different perspective and role about what was going on with the assassination attempt. The theme is fairly obvious in this movie. The plot was well organized for a movie that really made people think. The acting was smooth and realistic however some camera angles really seemed sloppy to me but maybe they wanted it to be that way to make it seem more realistic. The culture significance of the movie is that of what is going on in with the wars throughout the world. Assassination attempts happen all the time and are especially prevalent overseas. They are trying to make the assassination attempts seem realistic to the viewers and they try to relate on what is happening right now in our world.