Monday, February 10, 2014
My Top Ten Favorite Movies of 2013 ( I know it is late)
I know that this might be late to released my top ten favorite movie of 2013. I wanted to make sure I seen most of the movies i really wanted to see. There has been so many good movies that came out this year. It was hard to come up with a list of ten. I know it has been pretty much a bad year for big blockbuster movies. They mostly have been crap. Here goes with my list:
1. 12 Years a Slave- I really loved this movie. I feel like this was the most powerful film all year. I don't know if I will say that this was my favorite per say, but it was the movie that affected me the most emotionally.
2. Her/Before Midnight (tie) - I know that this is a cheat, but whatever. I feel like these movies complimented each other. They are about relationships. One is showing a day in a life of commited relationship. The other movie is great movie about connecting with people and love in the 21st century. They were amazing films that not enough people seen.
3.Upstream Color - Another movie about connection with people and how we touch each other.I know that a lot of people probably haven't even heard of this movie. I had to watch multiple times to truly appriciate the movie. People do really need to see this movie whenever you can. I would recommend to watch it when you are not tired.
4.Short Term 12 - This was another movie was heartwrenching and heartwarming all at the same. It is about this young woman who works at a foster-care facility for at risk teenager.The young woman also have some tough issues to deal with on top of the problems at the facility. She is played by young actress by the name of Brie Larsen. She was just amazing in the film. Her range of emotions that she portrayed throughout the movie just amaze me coming from her. I don't think it got enough reconigtion from the award season because it came out to soon and too limited.
5. Mud - Another good movie that didn't get much recognition on anybody top ten list or award season. The movie was the victim of coming out too early in the year. People tends to forget about movies that comes in the beginning of the year. Not only that it has a great performance from Matthew McConaughey, it also has them coming fromthe two child actors. It was a great coming of age film from Jeff Nichols about expectations.
6.The Wolf of Wall Street- This was a polarizing film about what was the movie actually saying to it viewer. I feel like the movie was trying to join in the conversation on the American Dream and the evils of capitalism. Is showing too much excess for three hours. I personally was disgusted that all of that was going on.i think that was the point. it isn't a perfect movie, but it was necessary to show all of it. The fact that all you get is a slap on the wrist and so little jail time for it sickens me. I don't think a perfectly sane person can walk out of this movie thinking that is exactly what they want to do with their life. I read that you didn't get to see the victims in this movie. So what? The movie is based on a memoir of Jordan Belfort who didn't write about the victims in his book either. I feel bad for the victims that they got con out of their money. I know that this timeline was set in the 90's, but the sad thing is that thias is still happening on Wall Street today.Leo Dicaprio Gave probably one of his best performance in a long time.
7. Gravity - It was a amazing movie for it technical acheivement and a directing acheivement. It had some script issues, but it was a visual feast. I haven't had much enjoyment out of a film in awhile.
8.Fruitvale Station - It was a emotional and powerful film that I loved. I turned on the waterworks in this film with a powerhouse performance from Michael B. Jordan.
9. Side Effects - The movie was good. It wasn't the movie I was expecting to see. I thought it was just going to be a movie about the wrongs of pharmaceutical companies. Boy, was I wrong. It is another good movie with a good performance from Rooney Mara.
10. Springbreakers - I can't even believe that this movie made it to my top ten list. It was a really fun movie that I keep thinking about and not what you guys are thinking (pervs). It was a movie about the illusion of the American Dream. James Franco was great and hilarious as the characters of Alien.
Honorable mentions: Drinking Buddies, Ain't Them Bodie Saints, All is Lost, Blue Jasmine, Don Jon, The Kings of Summer,Stoker, and The World's End.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Cinema is Art ( Despite what Others Might Say)
People tends to forget that cinema is an art form. There was something that James Cameron say about smaller movies that rub me the wrong way. What he say was smaller movies get forgotten and the movies he makes are for audience and for entertainment and will basically be remembered. Smaller movies do sometimes get forgotten but if the movie is great it is not forgotten. Avatar is suppose to be the future of cinema on how movies are made. Before Avatar was made and at least in the past 35+ years ago cinema still was an art. Those movies made money then Spielberg and Lucas decides to make these popcorn films which don't get me wrong are good movies. It is just that every big blockbuster take something from those movies and copy them. It is hard for an original movie to get made because they don't rip off Star Wars and any Spielberg movie. If it don't have those elements in those movies it don't get made. All I want is originality. The smaller movie tends to be original to say the least or told a different way.
I don't want people to think I hate mainstream movies or special effects ladden films. I love them. It is just that there is more to film than just that. People forget that film need story and complex characters. A lot of movies these days don't have story or characters that you don't care about. like horror movies for example, there is your five basic charcters, the slut, the nerd, the jerk, the virgin girl, and the one guy who is believes to know what they are talking about. They are mostly one dimesional characters. The characters in horror movies should be more complex and the there should be more character development before they are killed off. Why do the killer have to be one dimensional? Why do they just have be drones without a solid purpose? Jason is what a retarded kid who drown? Freddy is a pedopilewho get killed by angry parents? Didn't he derserve that? That was just justice coming from the parents instead of the justice system that fail from time to time. I would probably do the same if I had a kid. I take that back I don't have to have a kid to kill a child killer. Anybody that kill a child is a piece of shit that don"t derserve to be walking on this planet. I know i got a little sidetracked there. Micheal Myers is just a psycho. Chucky is just a joke to me. I like those movies, but they have many flaws. I love the kills in those movies,but I tend to have an issue with the story.
I think that all movie with special effects of mainstream movies should have story and character development in it. That would make a great film. Maybe the Academy would nominate more movie beside dramas if there was movie with story and complex characters. It is not like the Academy matters anyway since the nexWhat made Lord of the Rings work was character development and patience. Most of the main characters had a backstory or at least you had a sense of there is more to the characters what is on the surface. I like the slow moving horror movies that the first 45 minutes there is no kills or scares just yet. They sort of just happen to comes to a place or someone that just happens to be extraordinary than they are expected to come across. The characters would just have to deal with the situation. From Dusk til Dawn did this and it was good even if it did just turn into tits and guns fest fest. It added depth to the characters. That is all I am trying to trying to say. Cinema is going to continue to died if we do nothing about it.
I know my taste in film might be different then most people. I am into more into foreign films than almost any other genre. I love drama. I love art house films. Federico Fellini is like one of my favorite director. My favorite directors are: Martin Scorsese, Christopther Nolan, Steven Soderbergh, Stanley Kubrick, Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman, and Federico Fellini. That list is in no particular order. I love Zhang Yimou's movies they are so touching and moving unlike any movie that is made in America. America tend to have short attention spans so it wouldn't appeal to most movie goers. Americans tends to go for guns, nudity, explosions and no story like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I know I have mention that I hate Avatar. iI would I don't hate it, but it is not a great movie like people like to give credit to. The main reason is because it is a story that been told hundreds of times. It just happen to be in space. Avatar is the combination of Dances with Wolves and Ferngully. I don't mind movies that take ideas from other movie,but don't make it out to an original idea. Its not. People are saying that it is original must never seen those movies I have mention before. Cinema is art that people tend to not appreciate. I hope nobody take this wrong way by reading this blog and think I am bashing mainstream Hollywood movies. I love most of them except remakes and Michael Bay movies.
I don't want people to think I hate mainstream movies or special effects ladden films. I love them. It is just that there is more to film than just that. People forget that film need story and complex characters. A lot of movies these days don't have story or characters that you don't care about. like horror movies for example, there is your five basic charcters, the slut, the nerd, the jerk, the virgin girl, and the one guy who is believes to know what they are talking about. They are mostly one dimesional characters. The characters in horror movies should be more complex and the there should be more character development before they are killed off. Why do the killer have to be one dimensional? Why do they just have be drones without a solid purpose? Jason is what a retarded kid who drown? Freddy is a pedopilewho get killed by angry parents? Didn't he derserve that? That was just justice coming from the parents instead of the justice system that fail from time to time. I would probably do the same if I had a kid. I take that back I don't have to have a kid to kill a child killer. Anybody that kill a child is a piece of shit that don"t derserve to be walking on this planet. I know i got a little sidetracked there. Micheal Myers is just a psycho. Chucky is just a joke to me. I like those movies, but they have many flaws. I love the kills in those movies,but I tend to have an issue with the story.
I think that all movie with special effects of mainstream movies should have story and character development in it. That would make a great film. Maybe the Academy would nominate more movie beside dramas if there was movie with story and complex characters. It is not like the Academy matters anyway since the nexWhat made Lord of the Rings work was character development and patience. Most of the main characters had a backstory or at least you had a sense of there is more to the characters what is on the surface. I like the slow moving horror movies that the first 45 minutes there is no kills or scares just yet. They sort of just happen to comes to a place or someone that just happens to be extraordinary than they are expected to come across. The characters would just have to deal with the situation. From Dusk til Dawn did this and it was good even if it did just turn into tits and guns fest fest. It added depth to the characters. That is all I am trying to trying to say. Cinema is going to continue to died if we do nothing about it.
I know my taste in film might be different then most people. I am into more into foreign films than almost any other genre. I love drama. I love art house films. Federico Fellini is like one of my favorite director. My favorite directors are: Martin Scorsese, Christopther Nolan, Steven Soderbergh, Stanley Kubrick, Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman, and Federico Fellini. That list is in no particular order. I love Zhang Yimou's movies they are so touching and moving unlike any movie that is made in America. America tend to have short attention spans so it wouldn't appeal to most movie goers. Americans tends to go for guns, nudity, explosions and no story like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. I know I have mention that I hate Avatar. iI would I don't hate it, but it is not a great movie like people like to give credit to. The main reason is because it is a story that been told hundreds of times. It just happen to be in space. Avatar is the combination of Dances with Wolves and Ferngully. I don't mind movies that take ideas from other movie,but don't make it out to an original idea. Its not. People are saying that it is original must never seen those movies I have mention before. Cinema is art that people tend to not appreciate. I hope nobody take this wrong way by reading this blog and think I am bashing mainstream Hollywood movies. I love most of them except remakes and Michael Bay movies.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Terrell's Favorite Movies of All Time.
Here is a list of movies that are favorite movies of all time. If you were wondering what type of movies Terrell like. I love quite a few different movies. Here is the list:
- Ace in the Hole ( Billy Wilder)
- Treasure of the Sierra Madre ( John Huston )
- Citizen Kane ( Orson Welles )
- Raging Bull ( Martin Scorsese )
- Lord of the Rings Trilogy ( Peter Jackson )
- 8 1/2 ( Fernando Fellini )
- The Godfather Part II ( Francis Ford Coppola )
- Taxi Driver ( Martin Scorsese )
- Casablanca ( Michael Curtiz )
- Before Sunrise/Before Sunset (tie) (Richard Linklater )
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Your Favorite Movie Suck ( But it doesn't Matters)
This has been a long time since I wrote a blog. Everytime I say I will try to keep it more updated. I would guess maybe I don"t have nothing to say. Maybe if I got pay writing I would make sure I will keep updated. I have seen a lot of movies since the last time I wrote in this blog. I think I have a new favorite movie of all time. I will get back to that in a second.
When someone normally asks me what is my favorite movie of all time. iI normally give out a stock answer depending who. If an average movie watcher asks me, I would say "Lord of the Rings trilogy". Why do you ask? Mostly because it is an easy answer and those people know what it is and is fine when. When a cinepile ask me what is my favorite movie of all time, I would say "Citizen Kane". I know it is so cliche'. I have always thought it was a movie tht every person should see. It shows an American with a lot of ambition and how they change as they get more successful. Now I am going between two movies that is fighting for the top spot: John Huston's "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and Billy Wilder's "Ace in the Hole". These movies show what men are willing to do to get or keep what they want. "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" is about three men mining for gold and someone get greedy. The usual plot points that you see in these type of movie. This movie is the best that deal with all of those plot points"Ace in the Hole" was not well received when it was first released critically or commercially. Maybe it hit too close to home for a lot of people. The original title was "The Big Carnival". It is about a cynical, disgraced reporter who stops at nothing to try to regain a job on a major newspaper. It is a biting examination of the seedy relationship between the press, the news it reports and the manner in which it is reported. It is still relevent in today society.
When i say it was "Citizen Kane" as my favorite movie of all time, people would argued against my choice. Why get in an arguement about it? What is that going to solve? I will tell you what it will solve. Nothing. Movies speaks to the individual differently than the next person. If somebody sy their favorite movie is "Donnie Darko" for example, it didn't speak to me on any level. I think it is a terrible movie with some moments of good. It was just not the movie for me. It seems like there are people who want to be the one who is right. they normally think that everybody else is wrong with their choices. They are the same ones who hate things that everybody else loves. They think that they would be like everybody else if they like the same things. The truth is that you can like those same things for different reasons. Those people just want to feel superior. It is ridiculous if you asks me. When people are praising the movie, they just bash the movie. The reasoning on why the movie didn't work for them doesn't even make sense. I know this just turned into a rant. Sorry. Forgive me please.
The movie that you normally sticks with you are the ones that is important to you. My point is that no matter what your favorite movies are, it really just matters to yourself. Can we just let that person like that particular film. I don't see why we need to persuade that person to have a different opinion about that movie. We can have different opinions in this world. I know I love movies that a lot of people doesn't like. Maybe we should just keep it to ourselves for now on. Why do cinepiles make list for everything anyway? Maybe it is just to show people a list of things that we like.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Good Movies are Still being Made.
I haven't written a blog on here for like a couple of years. I don't know why I still have this blog. I wuld have to guess that whenever I feel like writing anything about movies I can write and show to people that probably not going to read this anyway. Maybe there hasn't been any good movies to write about. Maybe I'm just too lazy. I know I have seen some good movies since I last wrote on here. What have I seen........? Let me think about that.
From two years ago, I have seen "The Dark Knight Rises", which was not the masterpiece that everybody was hoping it would. It was a great ending for the whole Nolan's Batman trilogy, but it was a movie with so many plothole thatyou can drive through it. I can get into it, but I am not a film critic. If I know you, I have already talk about it with my friends. I know people that think it is the greatest movie of all time. Its whatever. Everybody have different opinion, but anybody think that Michael Bay"s "Transformers" movie is great filmmaking have some serious issues.
"Beast of the Southern Wild" is one of those movies that surprises you. It was a small movie that nobody haven't seen because there wasn't any explosions or gunfights in it. It was just great drama in a form of a fable. I happy to see that there are movies still being made that is what make me know that film is an art and not just a product like most movies nowadays. I don't mind watching mindless action film every once in a while, but I love my substance in my films. I would watch a Bergman's film before a watch a mindless action film.
I want everybody to go check out "Beast of the Southern Wild" whenever it comes out on Dvd or BluRay. It is one of the those film that would make you fall in love with film if before you one of those people who says that there are no good movies being made. If you look for movies besides the mainstream movies you will find them. So what I am saying is that you need to look harder for look movies.
Monday, January 3, 2011
My Top Ten Movies of 2010
Sorry i know it has been a long time since I last posted a blog. I have been dealing with computer issues. Still is by the way. I am here today to post my top ten movies list. They are in order of my favorites. Post your comments below if you have a favorite.
1. Black Swan - This movie is beyond words to describe the acheivement Darren Aronofsky's film. He did the impossible: making me actual enjoy ballet. Natalie Portman gave an incredible performance in this psychological thriller. If Natalie Portman don't get an Oscar for this film, it will be the biggest mistake the Academy will make. The movie is about this ballet dancer who is trying to be perfect and dealing with a lot of pressure from the ballet director, a new ballet dancer, and her mother. It is Darren Aronofsky's masterpiece.
2. Inception - This movie would have been number one but i seen Black Swan. It would have stay but that would mean a tie. Inception and Black Swan are amazing movies but everything about Black Swan was great. Let be honest with ourselves, "Inception" were more of a showcase for Christopher Nolan. The movie was great visually and story, but the acting wasn't the best. It was good but not the best I seen the actors. Inception is a movie of ideas and dreams. It was Christopher Nolan's masterpiece. It was the best film of the summer. There is no more I can say that hasn't been say already.
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 1 - this was a movie event of the year. I have been waiting for the end for a decade. the main characters were great. It was epic and emotional. You felt the journey Harry is going. It was the best Harry Potter movie so far. Can't wait for the part two.
4. Kick Ass - It is just a kick ass movie. it was funny, action pack and just a fun movie.
5. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - This was a great movie that been getting a lot of praise for the lead actress performance which was great. The movie itself was great. The pacing was great. Everthing about the movie was just amazing. It sucks that it is getting remade already.
6. The Kids Are All Right - This was a good movie. The screenplay was great and Annette Bening's performance was great. I thought that she played her character realistically. I thought overall the movie was realistic toward gay couples. it wasn't over the top like most movies that show a gay marriage. Gays are normal people. They should be portray that way.
7. Shutter Island - i wish this movie was more higher up on my list but it really wasn't that great. It looks great and the performances was great. The fact remains is that the story wasn't that great. Martin Scorsese I feel did the best he can with the story. I have personally knew the ending midway through the movie and the book.
8.Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - It is one of those movies that you either loved or hated. I loved it. i thought it was musical with battles instead of songs. It was amazing. It was a story about love and becoming a better person. That is what i took from the movie.
9. Winter's Bone - Another good movie but it didn't quite had me. Like Shutter Island, everything was great except the story. it had too many plot holes. It was a new take on the film noir genre set in a rural cummunity. The performance was great and the direction was good but story was just average.
10. Predators- it was a fun movie. It didn't have a concrete plot but it was fun. It is the closest sequel that came close to the feeling the original. Hopefully the next round is fully realized.
There goes my list. Hate it or love. It is my opinion. I am guessing you are wondering why "Toy Story 3" is not on here. It wasn't as good as i hope for or at least not as hype up as it was. I thought the ending was good but you knew it was coming a long time ago. I was disappointed with the movie. this overall year was disppointing to me. i am hoping for better movies in 2011.
1. Black Swan - This movie is beyond words to describe the acheivement Darren Aronofsky's film. He did the impossible: making me actual enjoy ballet. Natalie Portman gave an incredible performance in this psychological thriller. If Natalie Portman don't get an Oscar for this film, it will be the biggest mistake the Academy will make. The movie is about this ballet dancer who is trying to be perfect and dealing with a lot of pressure from the ballet director, a new ballet dancer, and her mother. It is Darren Aronofsky's masterpiece.
2. Inception - This movie would have been number one but i seen Black Swan. It would have stay but that would mean a tie. Inception and Black Swan are amazing movies but everything about Black Swan was great. Let be honest with ourselves, "Inception" were more of a showcase for Christopher Nolan. The movie was great visually and story, but the acting wasn't the best. It was good but not the best I seen the actors. Inception is a movie of ideas and dreams. It was Christopher Nolan's masterpiece. It was the best film of the summer. There is no more I can say that hasn't been say already.
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 1 - this was a movie event of the year. I have been waiting for the end for a decade. the main characters were great. It was epic and emotional. You felt the journey Harry is going. It was the best Harry Potter movie so far. Can't wait for the part two.
4. Kick Ass - It is just a kick ass movie. it was funny, action pack and just a fun movie.
5. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - This was a great movie that been getting a lot of praise for the lead actress performance which was great. The movie itself was great. The pacing was great. Everthing about the movie was just amazing. It sucks that it is getting remade already.
6. The Kids Are All Right - This was a good movie. The screenplay was great and Annette Bening's performance was great. I thought that she played her character realistically. I thought overall the movie was realistic toward gay couples. it wasn't over the top like most movies that show a gay marriage. Gays are normal people. They should be portray that way.
7. Shutter Island - i wish this movie was more higher up on my list but it really wasn't that great. It looks great and the performances was great. The fact remains is that the story wasn't that great. Martin Scorsese I feel did the best he can with the story. I have personally knew the ending midway through the movie and the book.
8.Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - It is one of those movies that you either loved or hated. I loved it. i thought it was musical with battles instead of songs. It was amazing. It was a story about love and becoming a better person. That is what i took from the movie.
9. Winter's Bone - Another good movie but it didn't quite had me. Like Shutter Island, everything was great except the story. it had too many plot holes. It was a new take on the film noir genre set in a rural cummunity. The performance was great and the direction was good but story was just average.
10. Predators- it was a fun movie. It didn't have a concrete plot but it was fun. It is the closest sequel that came close to the feeling the original. Hopefully the next round is fully realized.
There goes my list. Hate it or love. It is my opinion. I am guessing you are wondering why "Toy Story 3" is not on here. It wasn't as good as i hope for or at least not as hype up as it was. I thought the ending was good but you knew it was coming a long time ago. I was disappointed with the movie. this overall year was disppointing to me. i am hoping for better movies in 2011.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Pros and Cons of Robert Rodriguez
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This is the pros and cons of Robert Rodriguez as a film maker. He is one of the film directors I respect. I might not loved every film he does, but i do appreciates what tries to do. It's the behind the scenes information that love about him. He sets up shop in Austin,TX and have a studio in his backyard. He is living the dreams like very few filmmakers actually do: making movies without Hollywood studios involvement. He has a lot of things that love what he doing. There is just this little thing that I really hate what he doing.
Pros:
Robert Rodriguez is unappreciated for what he does for film making. He is most aspiring filmmaker hero. He been in that position since he released "El Mariachi". That movie was made for $7,000 if nobody didn't know that little fact. I feel if you don't love his movies but you have to admired ambition of his movies. Rodriguez have proven from time after time that he can make an entertaining movie with half the budget of most filmmakers.
He does cuts out a lot of potential position in his film crew by doing it himself. He did "Desperado" for seven million. That is peanuts for an action movie. He tries to use new technology to his advantage. He does his effects cheap and does it without looking fake unlike some movies that have bigger budgets . i think everybody should really watch his movies and sees that they really are better than most popcorn action movies you see today.
I am not saying that he is the best filmmaker that does it, but he is definitely the least laziest one in the bunch. He is able to shoot movies really fast and please everybody on set. I don't think none of the cast he normally use complains about how he works. Selma Hayek comes back to him from time after time. You would think she would be too good to make movies with after she does some more dramas and serious stuff. It obviously says that she enjoys her time working with him.
If none of that impressed you, he directed "Sin City". Enough said. If there was no "Sin City", there wouldn't have been "300", or at least it wouldn't have been as good.
Cons:
I do think that Robert Rodriguez is the most annoying filmmakers in the world. I am getting tired of all these projects he says he want to do. Just do them already then. He has like ten projects that he always want to do. He says he want to do another "Sin City" movies. He talks about his ideas for them, but it never comes to fruition. He gives us teases like a hot girl who flirts with you, but leave it at that. What ever happen to the remake of "Barbarella". i been waiting for that for who knows how long. How about the live action remake of "Fire and Ice"? Where are those movies? Instead of making those movies you make "Shorts". Really? What's the deal? Don't announce to the whole world that you are making this movie or that movie, but don't make them. Quentin Tarantino does the same thing, but at least he just take a long time actually getting them done. When you do decide to direct a movie that you don't say you are making please do not release a crappy movie like "Shorts". Don't do any more kids movies. It is not your strong suit. Until you start to make movies that actually entertains, then I am refusing to watch any of your movies.
P.S I heard "Predators" was really good. It sad that it is just a movie that He produced, but not written or directed by Robert Rodriguez. I hope he can get off his ass and direct a movie.
Friday, July 2, 2010
My Thoughts on Peter Jackson Returning to Middle Earth
My thoughts on Peter Jackson return to Middle Earth is that that he was the only director for "The Hobbit" movies. There is no other directors that can come close to making the movie as good as it can be. Peter Jackson is not the best director in the world, but he is the right man for the job. Is there really any pther person. Guillermo Del Toro was always would have been a distant second choice. There is a lot of people that wants Peter Jackson to direct "The Hobbit" movies besides fans. The studios and other entertainment people. Was that the reason that most top directors turn it down because they wanted Peter Jackson to direct them? Who really knows? I am going to lay out Peter Jackson's history to proves that he is the best man for the job.
When Peter Jackson was a child in New Zealand, he seen King Kong (the original 1933 version of course) on the tube is when he decided he may want to be a filmmaker. Peter Jackson was given a Super 8 from a family friend. He started to make remake of "King Kong" with his stop motion models. He was making other shorts with it too. When Jackson became a teenage, is when he first discovered J.R.R Tolkien after watching Ralph Bakshi version of "The Lord of the Rings". He did eventually came around reading the books. He was passionate about Middle Earth even then. I know I made be boring everybody with early childhood crap, so I am going to jump start this to his film career.
Peter Jackson's first film "Bad Taste" was film in a span of four years on the weekends. He was still working a full time time at the time. He had some friends that acted in the movie that didn't got paid. It was when he had to edit the movie his when he need finances outside of his finances. His full time job couldn't afford him to paid for the post production stage. It is when the New Zealand Film Commission came on board to finance post production. It was mostly Jim Booth appreciation of Jackson's talent that really got the finances for the project. "Bad Taste" was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival which then it was sold to 12 countries around the world.
Peter Jackson starts to writes other film projects like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" sequel which never hit the movie screen, and the proposed film "Braindead" which went thorugh a ton of rewrites. The next movie to get released was " Meet the Feebles", an ensemble musical comedy starring Muppets-style puppets. "Feebles" had originally began as a short film intended for television, but was quickly expanded into a full-length script after unexpected enthusiasm from Japanese investors, and the collapse of "Braindead" , six weeks before filming. "Meet the Feebles" marked Jackson's first collaboration with special effects team Tania Rodger and Richard Taylor, who would later work on all Jackson's movies.
Jackson's next release was the horror comedy, "Braindead". It was released in North America as "Dead Alive". It is now seen as a landmark in splatter movies. Originally planned as a Spanish co-production, the film was different from the usual zombie plot. Rather than keeping the zombies out of his place of living, the hero attempts to keep them inside, while trying maintain life of normality. The film features extensive special effects including miniature trams, stop motion and a plethora of gory make-up effects. Special was always something that Jackson has always had in his films which also made a good choice for "LOTR"(okay maybe not entirely, but it sounded good).
"Heavenly Creatures" is what made me think that he was the right choice is because it is the first time he dealt with a fantasy world. "Heavenly Creatures", Jackson blended reality and fantasy together perfectly. " Heavenly Creatures" marked a major change for Jackson in terms of both style and tone. The film is based on real-life events: namely the "The Parker-Hulme Case", in which two teenage girls in 1950's Christchurch became close friends, some would say lovers, and later murdered the mother of one of the girls. Jackson's partner Fran Walsh helped persuade him that the events had the makings of a movie. Many New Zealanders were a little worry about how Jackson would treat the material, a concern that would later turn in many cases to relief. It was when Jackson got his first Academy award nomination for Best Original Screenplay with his partner Fran Walsh. The success of "Heavenly Creatures" won Jackson attention from US companyMiramax, who promoted the film in America and signed the director to a first-look deal.
In collaboration with Wellington filmmaker Costa Botes, Jackson co-directed the mockumentary "Forgotten Silver". This made-for tv film told the story of New Zealand film pioneer Colin McKenzie, who has supposedly invented color film and attempted an epic film of "Salome" before being forgotten by the world. Though the programme played in a slot normally reserved for drama, no other warning was given that it was fictionalized. Many were outraged when they discovered that Colin McKenzie wasn't real. Some have argued that the number of people who believed the increasingly unbelieveable story provides testimony to Jackson and Botes' skill at playing on New Zealand's national myth of a nation of innovators and forgotten trail-blazers.
Jackson's first big budget Hollywood film, "The Frighteners", thanks to the success of "Heavenly Creatures" Jackson was given permission to make this comedy/horror film entirely in New Zealand despite being set in a North American town. This period was a key one of change for both Jackson and Weta Workshop, the special effects company born from the one man contributions of George Port to "Heavenly Creatures" with which Jackson is often associated. Weta, initiated by Jackson and key collaborators, grew quickly during this period to incorporate both digital and physical effects, make-up and costumes, the first two areas normally commanded by Jackson's collaborator Richard Taylor. "The Frightners" was concerned as a commercial failure. Around the same time Jackson was working on "King Kong" remake which got shelved becuase of "The Frighteners"failure.
Now we can get to where this was all getting to. Can I get a drumroll? The next project that Peter Jackson decide to take on is "The Lord of The Rings". It was suppose to be the book that was unfilmable. Tolkien himself says there is no way that a film adapted from his books can be made into a film. He really just sold the film rights to " Lord of the Rings" as a joke knowing that nobody can film it. It took one oddball filmmaker to bring it to the screen. When it was announced that Peter Jackson, the king of the spattlerfest horror movies, was going to direct the "Lord of the Rings trilogy", most were surprised. There had been several suggestions for the movie running around Hollywood, including one suggestion to condense all three books into one film, another to film two of the three parts of Tolkien's classic work; which was Miramax suggestion. Finally New Line Cinema came onboard and decided to film three movies back-to-back, one per book, and release the films over a three-year span. Peter Jackson decided to go with New Line Cinema.
The movies took over 15 months to film, the cast moving to New Zealand for the length of filming and becoming as close as their characters were. Jackson wanted to film all three installments of the story together so that the actors and everyone else working on the films would feel that these movies were one story. . Moviemakers appreciated the passion that went into it and depth of his commitment. Moviegoers reacted in amazement. Studio execs will learned that once in a while it's a safebet to trust a director's passion and vision which sadly only comes around after so many years. The last time somebody had complete control over their film was when Orson Welles directed "Citizen Kane". The end of the hard work paid off in the end movies was extremely successful. Fans of the books and movies went wild. After each installment there has been anticipation for the next one.
"The Lord of the Rings" won tons of Oscars for the acheivement that it was. It was the first fantasy to ever win a Best Picture Oscar. It was the first movie since "Ben Hur" to win all 11 nominations that it was nominated for. It was a testimony to what Peter Jackson to acheive. He made those stuffy Academy voters get it pass their mindframe that it was movie with passion in every detail of the film that pour out of the screen. It was the movie that say that give inspiration to any future filmmaker that maybe only making B- movies that they can make a movie of that magnitude.
Everybody know the success of "King Kong" remake and the mixed reaction of "The Lovely Bones". Those movies tdo not add to what he can do on film. "King Kong" was the movie that he was happy to make since it was the one that inspired him to become a filmmaker. "The Lovely Bones" to me was an okay movie at best , but I personally think that he cover this territory in "Heavenly Creatures". I think the bad reaction of "The Lovely Bones" is from that people expected better from Peter Jackson. I think no matter what movie he did after "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "King Kong" was going to get trashed by critics just to bring him back to Earth. I do think that Peter Jackson just needed a break from everything. spend like seven years on "Lord of the Rings" then worked another two years or more on "King Kong just tire him out. The light just went out. Peter Jackson do need a break from directing which I thought he did between King Kong and " The Lovely Bones", but I guessed not.
Now i can finish my thoughts on Peter Jackson returning to Middle Earth. I know this may have been a long read. I hope somebody learned something new about Peter Jackson. If none of you didn't, I am sorry. I do hope that you can see why Peter Jackson was the only director for the job. He is the only one that can bring "The Hobbit" alive. He can put the detail and passion in the film that no one else can. I was getting a little worried about the movie to get made. There was rumors on the Net that Brett Ratner wanted to directs "The Hobbit", which would have been the worst thing in the movie industry. He couldn't even handle "X-Men: The Last Stand" for Christ sakes. There was early talks about Sam Raimi to direct it. His style doesn't even fix with tone that has been set with " The Lord of the Rings". His style fix the horror comedy and the "Spider-man" movies which he stumble with the third installment. David Yates was rumor to be in talks , but I don't think he would do it and be good enough. I do love what he did with the "Harry Potter"movie except the sixth installment. It was great as a film on it own, but it didn't follow the sixth book as closely as the other installments have done. peter Jackson is the only director for the job. It is not becuase he is the best director in the world, but he is the right choice for job. Thanks for reading. Give me your thoughts on it in the comments section.
When Peter Jackson was a child in New Zealand, he seen King Kong (the original 1933 version of course) on the tube is when he decided he may want to be a filmmaker. Peter Jackson was given a Super 8 from a family friend. He started to make remake of "King Kong" with his stop motion models. He was making other shorts with it too. When Jackson became a teenage, is when he first discovered J.R.R Tolkien after watching Ralph Bakshi version of "The Lord of the Rings". He did eventually came around reading the books. He was passionate about Middle Earth even then. I know I made be boring everybody with early childhood crap, so I am going to jump start this to his film career.
Peter Jackson's first film "Bad Taste" was film in a span of four years on the weekends. He was still working a full time time at the time. He had some friends that acted in the movie that didn't got paid. It was when he had to edit the movie his when he need finances outside of his finances. His full time job couldn't afford him to paid for the post production stage. It is when the New Zealand Film Commission came on board to finance post production. It was mostly Jim Booth appreciation of Jackson's talent that really got the finances for the project. "Bad Taste" was unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival which then it was sold to 12 countries around the world.
Peter Jackson starts to writes other film projects like "A Nightmare on Elm Street" sequel which never hit the movie screen, and the proposed film "Braindead" which went thorugh a ton of rewrites. The next movie to get released was " Meet the Feebles", an ensemble musical comedy starring Muppets-style puppets. "Feebles" had originally began as a short film intended for television, but was quickly expanded into a full-length script after unexpected enthusiasm from Japanese investors, and the collapse of "Braindead" , six weeks before filming. "Meet the Feebles" marked Jackson's first collaboration with special effects team Tania Rodger and Richard Taylor, who would later work on all Jackson's movies.
Jackson's next release was the horror comedy, "Braindead". It was released in North America as "Dead Alive". It is now seen as a landmark in splatter movies. Originally planned as a Spanish co-production, the film was different from the usual zombie plot. Rather than keeping the zombies out of his place of living, the hero attempts to keep them inside, while trying maintain life of normality. The film features extensive special effects including miniature trams, stop motion and a plethora of gory make-up effects. Special was always something that Jackson has always had in his films which also made a good choice for "LOTR"(okay maybe not entirely, but it sounded good).
"Heavenly Creatures" is what made me think that he was the right choice is because it is the first time he dealt with a fantasy world. "Heavenly Creatures", Jackson blended reality and fantasy together perfectly. " Heavenly Creatures" marked a major change for Jackson in terms of both style and tone. The film is based on real-life events: namely the "The Parker-Hulme Case", in which two teenage girls in 1950's Christchurch became close friends, some would say lovers, and later murdered the mother of one of the girls. Jackson's partner Fran Walsh helped persuade him that the events had the makings of a movie. Many New Zealanders were a little worry about how Jackson would treat the material, a concern that would later turn in many cases to relief. It was when Jackson got his first Academy award nomination for Best Original Screenplay with his partner Fran Walsh. The success of "Heavenly Creatures" won Jackson attention from US companyMiramax, who promoted the film in America and signed the director to a first-look deal.
In collaboration with Wellington filmmaker Costa Botes, Jackson co-directed the mockumentary "Forgotten Silver". This made-for tv film told the story of New Zealand film pioneer Colin McKenzie, who has supposedly invented color film and attempted an epic film of "Salome" before being forgotten by the world. Though the programme played in a slot normally reserved for drama, no other warning was given that it was fictionalized. Many were outraged when they discovered that Colin McKenzie wasn't real. Some have argued that the number of people who believed the increasingly unbelieveable story provides testimony to Jackson and Botes' skill at playing on New Zealand's national myth of a nation of innovators and forgotten trail-blazers.
Jackson's first big budget Hollywood film, "The Frighteners", thanks to the success of "Heavenly Creatures" Jackson was given permission to make this comedy/horror film entirely in New Zealand despite being set in a North American town. This period was a key one of change for both Jackson and Weta Workshop, the special effects company born from the one man contributions of George Port to "Heavenly Creatures" with which Jackson is often associated. Weta, initiated by Jackson and key collaborators, grew quickly during this period to incorporate both digital and physical effects, make-up and costumes, the first two areas normally commanded by Jackson's collaborator Richard Taylor. "The Frightners" was concerned as a commercial failure. Around the same time Jackson was working on "King Kong" remake which got shelved becuase of "The Frighteners"failure.
Now we can get to where this was all getting to. Can I get a drumroll? The next project that Peter Jackson decide to take on is "The Lord of The Rings". It was suppose to be the book that was unfilmable. Tolkien himself says there is no way that a film adapted from his books can be made into a film. He really just sold the film rights to " Lord of the Rings" as a joke knowing that nobody can film it. It took one oddball filmmaker to bring it to the screen. When it was announced that Peter Jackson, the king of the spattlerfest horror movies, was going to direct the "Lord of the Rings trilogy", most were surprised. There had been several suggestions for the movie running around Hollywood, including one suggestion to condense all three books into one film, another to film two of the three parts of Tolkien's classic work; which was Miramax suggestion. Finally New Line Cinema came onboard and decided to film three movies back-to-back, one per book, and release the films over a three-year span. Peter Jackson decided to go with New Line Cinema.
The movies took over 15 months to film, the cast moving to New Zealand for the length of filming and becoming as close as their characters were. Jackson wanted to film all three installments of the story together so that the actors and everyone else working on the films would feel that these movies were one story. . Moviemakers appreciated the passion that went into it and depth of his commitment. Moviegoers reacted in amazement. Studio execs will learned that once in a while it's a safebet to trust a director's passion and vision which sadly only comes around after so many years. The last time somebody had complete control over their film was when Orson Welles directed "Citizen Kane". The end of the hard work paid off in the end movies was extremely successful. Fans of the books and movies went wild. After each installment there has been anticipation for the next one.
"The Lord of the Rings" won tons of Oscars for the acheivement that it was. It was the first fantasy to ever win a Best Picture Oscar. It was the first movie since "Ben Hur" to win all 11 nominations that it was nominated for. It was a testimony to what Peter Jackson to acheive. He made those stuffy Academy voters get it pass their mindframe that it was movie with passion in every detail of the film that pour out of the screen. It was the movie that say that give inspiration to any future filmmaker that maybe only making B- movies that they can make a movie of that magnitude.
Everybody know the success of "King Kong" remake and the mixed reaction of "The Lovely Bones". Those movies tdo not add to what he can do on film. "King Kong" was the movie that he was happy to make since it was the one that inspired him to become a filmmaker. "The Lovely Bones" to me was an okay movie at best , but I personally think that he cover this territory in "Heavenly Creatures". I think the bad reaction of "The Lovely Bones" is from that people expected better from Peter Jackson. I think no matter what movie he did after "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "King Kong" was going to get trashed by critics just to bring him back to Earth. I do think that Peter Jackson just needed a break from everything. spend like seven years on "Lord of the Rings" then worked another two years or more on "King Kong just tire him out. The light just went out. Peter Jackson do need a break from directing which I thought he did between King Kong and " The Lovely Bones", but I guessed not.
Now i can finish my thoughts on Peter Jackson returning to Middle Earth. I know this may have been a long read. I hope somebody learned something new about Peter Jackson. If none of you didn't, I am sorry. I do hope that you can see why Peter Jackson was the only director for the job. He is the only one that can bring "The Hobbit" alive. He can put the detail and passion in the film that no one else can. I was getting a little worried about the movie to get made. There was rumors on the Net that Brett Ratner wanted to directs "The Hobbit", which would have been the worst thing in the movie industry. He couldn't even handle "X-Men: The Last Stand" for Christ sakes. There was early talks about Sam Raimi to direct it. His style doesn't even fix with tone that has been set with " The Lord of the Rings". His style fix the horror comedy and the "Spider-man" movies which he stumble with the third installment. David Yates was rumor to be in talks , but I don't think he would do it and be good enough. I do love what he did with the "Harry Potter"movie except the sixth installment. It was great as a film on it own, but it didn't follow the sixth book as closely as the other installments have done. peter Jackson is the only director for the job. It is not becuase he is the best director in the world, but he is the right choice for job. Thanks for reading. Give me your thoughts on it in the comments section.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Auteurs
This is my first blog on here. I have written blogs on myspace and notes on Facebook, but I wasn't really quite feeling it. I am only going to used this to talk about what I love talking which is films. It will consist of just talking maybe film history or just about films in general.This is my first one and will be about the term: Auteurs. It is something that some of us film nerds talk about. If you don't know about the term read on. It will be a little lesson on film. Have a good read.
The term auteurs is used to describe film directors who has a distinct style. They normally return to the same subject matter, or moral theme. The film director would have a recurring visuals and aesthetic style. You can normally recognize a film director style regardless of genres they choose. The film directors who from this point on will just says auteurs is the author of their work. No matter what studio interference their visual style still shows. The autuers puts their stamps on the film. It is familar to the average filmgoers. Some filmgoers goes to the movies just the see that auteurs work, no matter what the film is about. It is the visual style of that autuers that the viewer loves. Most directors are autuers even to the crappy filmmakers like Michael Bay to the best filmmakers like Martin Scorsese. I can really goes on with the list of crappy and good filmmakers, but that is for another day. In theory or at least in law, the autuer is the creater of a film as a work of art is the copyright holder to it, but since studios pretty much rape the directors it is not that way anymore.
The auteurs theory was mostly used by the directors of the New wave in French cinema in the 60's to describe their intensely personal and what some people would call weird films. Around the same time that francos Truffaut was writing the essay, " A certain tendency in French Cinema", the Hollywood studio systems was falling apart. It is was around the same time more of the sort of films that Truffaut admired started to get made. the actual term the auteur theory came from an essay by Andrew Sarris. According to Sarris to be considered as an auteur you must show the technical competence in their technique, personal style in terms on how the film feels, looks, and the interior meaning. Sarris had later in the decade published "The Americam Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968 which in so many words became the bible of auteurism.
There was some critcism of the auteur theory from screenwriters to critcs. They didn't believe that the film directors have more authorial than screenwriters. People would say that it is a group effort to make films which it is. I believe that the film director do get the people to help realize his or her c=vison to the screen, but isn't it the directors who sometimes get blame if the movie fails at the box office. They don't blame the D.P or camera operator. They blame the director. When the film have a vision of how the film should be made, isn't they are the ones who are responsible for the look and feel of the film. What if the director is the screenwriter? the director in him is probably going to change what on the page from the screen. The director works with the director of photography to make sure he get the look of the film right on how the director evisioned the film. The screenplay is always worked on to fix the director sensibilities. Imagine if Quentin Tarantino directed "Transformers", it probably would have been ten times better. it would have been more character driven and story. i think as an film director who the auteur have to make the film his no matter if it isn't the project he started from the beginning of the scriptwirting stage. there is still a lot film directors who truly are auteurs to the accurate sense of the word. The list goes as follows: Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, David Gordan Green, Terrance Malik, Steven Soderbergh, Tim Burton and etc. You will recognize their work when you sees their films.
I just wanted to write about something I love talking about which is films. Filmmaking is something that I am wanting to do as a career. I hope I can reach my goal one day. Until then, watch some good movies. I know I am going to watch the Seventh Seal after I am off of here. Take care and thank you for reading.
The term auteurs is used to describe film directors who has a distinct style. They normally return to the same subject matter, or moral theme. The film director would have a recurring visuals and aesthetic style. You can normally recognize a film director style regardless of genres they choose. The film directors who from this point on will just says auteurs is the author of their work. No matter what studio interference their visual style still shows. The autuers puts their stamps on the film. It is familar to the average filmgoers. Some filmgoers goes to the movies just the see that auteurs work, no matter what the film is about. It is the visual style of that autuers that the viewer loves. Most directors are autuers even to the crappy filmmakers like Michael Bay to the best filmmakers like Martin Scorsese. I can really goes on with the list of crappy and good filmmakers, but that is for another day. In theory or at least in law, the autuer is the creater of a film as a work of art is the copyright holder to it, but since studios pretty much rape the directors it is not that way anymore.
The auteurs theory was mostly used by the directors of the New wave in French cinema in the 60's to describe their intensely personal and what some people would call weird films. Around the same time that francos Truffaut was writing the essay, " A certain tendency in French Cinema", the Hollywood studio systems was falling apart. It is was around the same time more of the sort of films that Truffaut admired started to get made. the actual term the auteur theory came from an essay by Andrew Sarris. According to Sarris to be considered as an auteur you must show the technical competence in their technique, personal style in terms on how the film feels, looks, and the interior meaning. Sarris had later in the decade published "The Americam Cinema: Directors and Directions 1929-1968 which in so many words became the bible of auteurism.
There was some critcism of the auteur theory from screenwriters to critcs. They didn't believe that the film directors have more authorial than screenwriters. People would say that it is a group effort to make films which it is. I believe that the film director do get the people to help realize his or her c=vison to the screen, but isn't it the directors who sometimes get blame if the movie fails at the box office. They don't blame the D.P or camera operator. They blame the director. When the film have a vision of how the film should be made, isn't they are the ones who are responsible for the look and feel of the film. What if the director is the screenwriter? the director in him is probably going to change what on the page from the screen. The director works with the director of photography to make sure he get the look of the film right on how the director evisioned the film. The screenplay is always worked on to fix the director sensibilities. Imagine if Quentin Tarantino directed "Transformers", it probably would have been ten times better. it would have been more character driven and story. i think as an film director who the auteur have to make the film his no matter if it isn't the project he started from the beginning of the scriptwirting stage. there is still a lot film directors who truly are auteurs to the accurate sense of the word. The list goes as follows: Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Wes Anderson, David Gordan Green, Terrance Malik, Steven Soderbergh, Tim Burton and etc. You will recognize their work when you sees their films.
I just wanted to write about something I love talking about which is films. Filmmaking is something that I am wanting to do as a career. I hope I can reach my goal one day. Until then, watch some good movies. I know I am going to watch the Seventh Seal after I am off of here. Take care and thank you for reading.
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