Movies: What have you seen lately - part 2
12-12-2010
, 03:46 PM
Quote:
Ran- This movie directed by Akira Kurosawa, is The Godfather like meditation in size and scope on the power in warlord Japan. Kurosawa presents the subject of this epic right of the bat, as an aging father, his three sons and some allies are on a hunt. All the gracefulness, richness and tradition of this activity are captured by Kurosawa to highlight the status and place of those participating in it. After the old patriarch announces his decision to step down, what follows is nonstop backstabbing, treachery, sinister plots and murder, as the inevitable power struggle breaks out to fill in the vacuum that is left. Presented in rather conservative color pallet, it is nevertheless so colorful and soaking with light, it is breathtakingly beautiful to watch. I wished i could have seen this on a big screen, when it was showing some months ago. As always, Kurosawa's dramas are filled with feeling, amplifying very ordinary emotions of loyalty, love, kinship, friendship and beautifully projecting them onto the grand characters in the story. The central theme of this movie is the ruthlessness and coldness of the world where power is acquired and secured by bloodshed. The old man's inability to see that even family bonds are not immune from this struggle, is the central conflict that drives the entire story. The touching relationship of the old man and his jester is very beautifully developed, and is just another instance of Kurosawa's prowess of showcasing humanity. There is not a ton of action, but all the field maneuvers and movements in general are captured with graceful elegance. All the matching colors, horse riding, nature, sky, clouds are amazingly photographed. This movie is also pretty good at capturing the stillness, the moment right before the big moment. It features very strong characters, evil villains and a moving story that is told with style. The old man in particular was very interesting. Watching him wrestle and come to terms with all the demons of the people he has destroyed was very potent. The scene where he encounters a person he blinded, whose parents he killed, playing the flute was very haunting. Overall this movie is a universal story of power, or life in general. Kurosawa presents a world where you either impose your own will on others, or someone else will impose theirs on you, and probably slice your throat soon after. A
Ran- This movie directed by Akira Kurosawa, is The Godfather like meditation in size and scope on the power in warlord Japan. Kurosawa presents the subject of this epic right of the bat, as an aging father, his three sons and some allies are on a hunt. All the gracefulness, richness and tradition of this activity are captured by Kurosawa to highlight the status and place of those participating in it. After the old patriarch announces his decision to step down, what follows is nonstop backstabbing, treachery, sinister plots and murder, as the inevitable power struggle breaks out to fill in the vacuum that is left. Presented in rather conservative color pallet, it is nevertheless so colorful and soaking with light, it is breathtakingly beautiful to watch. I wished i could have seen this on a big screen, when it was showing some months ago. As always, Kurosawa's dramas are filled with feeling, amplifying very ordinary emotions of loyalty, love, kinship, friendship and beautifully projecting them onto the grand characters in the story. The central theme of this movie is the ruthlessness and coldness of the world where power is acquired and secured by bloodshed. The old man's inability to see that even family bonds are not immune from this struggle, is the central conflict that drives the entire story. The touching relationship of the old man and his jester is very beautifully developed, and is just another instance of Kurosawa's prowess of showcasing humanity. There is not a ton of action, but all the field maneuvers and movements in general are captured with graceful elegance. All the matching colors, horse riding, nature, sky, clouds are amazingly photographed. This movie is also pretty good at capturing the stillness, the moment right before the big moment. It features very strong characters, evil villains and a moving story that is told with style. The old man in particular was very interesting. Watching him wrestle and come to terms with all the demons of the people he has destroyed was very potent. The scene where he encounters a person he blinded, whose parents he killed, playing the flute was very haunting. Overall this movie is a universal story of power, or life in general. Kurosawa presents a world where you either impose your own will on others, or someone else will impose theirs on you, and probably slice your throat soon after. A
. missed the woman in the dunesthough ):
12-12-2010
, 05:29 PM
12-12-2010
, 06:38 PM
Persona (1966) Dir. Ingmar Bergman
Rarely do I get the chance to watch a film that is art in every sense of the word. Simply put, this is one of the best films I have ever seen. Apparently Bergman originally wanted to call his film, A Bit of Cinematography, and while apt that title would have been far too small for such a large film.
In many ways it is futile to summarize the plot as plot is the least important, and interesting, aspect of the film. With Persona, Bergman created one of the best Lynchian films ever made (coincidently in the same year Lynch filmed his own first short film, Six Men Getting Sick). In fact, it is pretty clear that Lynch was heavily influenced by Persona when he made his own masterpiece, Mulholland Drive.
I am honestly not really clear what the film is about in the traditional sense, but it's main theme is clearly the search for identity and psychoanalytic struggle we all must go through. Bergman begins the film with a young boy trying to make sense of a blurred image of woman.
Several times in the film he literally overlaps and fades the two protagonists together causing us to question the real identity of each.
Bergman is not happy simply psychoanalyzing these two women as he clearly wants his film to reflect the collective psyche of the 60's when he flashes images of the Vietnam war on screen.
With Persona, Bergman uses his medium to it's absolute fullest extent. He twists it, bends, and breaks it many times. At one point the main characters are having an existential crisis and the film itself simply breaks.
I will not ruin it, but Bergman also uses one of the most interesting 4th wall breaks I have ever seen on film.
I have not fully digested Persona as it clearly will take several viewings to fully understand it. I am, however, confident it is among the most beautiful and interesting films I have ever seen. It may make my next top 100 all time list.
Grade: A+
Rarely do I get the chance to watch a film that is art in every sense of the word. Simply put, this is one of the best films I have ever seen. Apparently Bergman originally wanted to call his film, A Bit of Cinematography, and while apt that title would have been far too small for such a large film.
In many ways it is futile to summarize the plot as plot is the least important, and interesting, aspect of the film. With Persona, Bergman created one of the best Lynchian films ever made (coincidently in the same year Lynch filmed his own first short film, Six Men Getting Sick). In fact, it is pretty clear that Lynch was heavily influenced by Persona when he made his own masterpiece, Mulholland Drive.
I am honestly not really clear what the film is about in the traditional sense, but it's main theme is clearly the search for identity and psychoanalytic struggle we all must go through. Bergman begins the film with a young boy trying to make sense of a blurred image of woman.
Several times in the film he literally overlaps and fades the two protagonists together causing us to question the real identity of each.
Bergman is not happy simply psychoanalyzing these two women as he clearly wants his film to reflect the collective psyche of the 60's when he flashes images of the Vietnam war on screen.
With Persona, Bergman uses his medium to it's absolute fullest extent. He twists it, bends, and breaks it many times. At one point the main characters are having an existential crisis and the film itself simply breaks.
I will not ruin it, but Bergman also uses one of the most interesting 4th wall breaks I have ever seen on film.
I have not fully digested Persona as it clearly will take several viewings to fully understand it. I am, however, confident it is among the most beautiful and interesting films I have ever seen. It may make my next top 100 all time list.
Grade: A+
12-12-2010
, 09:34 PM
12-13-2010
, 02:27 AM
12-13-2010
, 04:04 AM
12-13-2010
, 07:45 AM
12-13-2010
, 08:01 AM
12-13-2010
, 07:47 PM
12-13-2010
, 07:59 PM
12-13-2010
, 08:24 PM
+1
12-13-2010
, 11:08 PM
12-14-2010
, 12:24 AM
