Ghostbusters Response

Bad Bad Acting: In the commercial for Ghostbusters, the three Ghostbusters have ridiculously bad acting. The actors exaggerate the lack of acting skills of the zany scientists, making them seem completely unable to do a good commercial. One can only assume that the writers drew their inspiration from real life, as local TV is rife with these examples of horrible acting. From small car dealerships, to local hardware stores, these overly staged commercials are ever present.

Adorable Abomination: Gozer as the Stay-Puft guy is a great example of this trope, which is an example of a visual joke. The idea of the most evil threat to humanity be a giant puffy man is pure comedy. One example that I can think of is Spongebob's DoodleBob, a hand drawn Spongebob who wreaks havoc on Bikini Bottom. He is cute and looks innocent, but he can cause extreme damage. One other example could be the bunny from the animated film Hoodwinked, who turns out to be the mastermind behind everything bad going on.

Funny Background Event: As described by TVTropes, the prisoners passing by get increasingly interested in Egon's description of Gozer and Zuul. This is observable in well-known non-comedies like Star Wars and Lord of the Rings, and gag-filled films like Airplane and Men in Black. A possible source for this could be Hitchcock's North by Northwest, which was created in 1959.

Erotic Dream: There's no need to go into detail on this one, other than Ray is enjoying himself with a ghost girl. This will be my "hidden grown-up gag": Because of the way the scene is shot, this joke will fly right over children's heads. They could simply imagine that Ray is seeing a peaceful ghost, yet the parents in the audience know that something a little dirtier is occurring. As for the Erotic Dream trope as a whole, Fast Times at Ridgemont High has an excellent example (Brad imagines his sister's hot friend). As for origin, The Bitter Tea of General Yen has an erotic dream, and it is from 1933.

When talking to the Mayor, the Ghostbusters interject a funny bit of comedy-
Ray: Everything was fine with our system until the power grid was shut off by Dickless here. 
Peck: They caused an explosion! 
Mayor: Is this true? 
Venkman: Yes, it's true. This man has no dick.

This little dialogue is simple wordplay, so it can't really be traced anywhere. It is representative of the creativity of film writers, and it shows the range of ways they can make a scene funny. While this relies on language, other scenes employ irony or visual gags.

Jurassic Park Response

The technique that immediately comes to mind is the close-up on the victim's face, as they realize the power of the massive animal they will face. For Jaws, this shot is perfectly portrayed in this clip from 2:00-2:04. IN Jurassic Park, this can be observed when the children realize that a T-Rex is after them. This suspense-building technique accomplishes 2 things: it leaves the audience in suspense as they can't see the beast, and it allows the audience to sympathize with the victim through pathos. By showing them wide-eyed in a close-up, Spielberg effectively portrays them as weak and scared. They tremble and are nothing compared to the animal, yet the viewer cannot yet see this terrible creature. The character of 'Cautious Expert' is established by Hooper in Jaws, and is repeated through Alan Grant in Jurassic Park. 

Jurassic Park conveys the fear of rapid development in technological and genetic fields at the time. The 90s is summarized by the .com boom, in which companies expanded and assaulted the public eye with almost-magical technologies. At the same time, people clashed over the role of human involvement in reproduction. 20 years after Roe v. Wade, abortion was still a very heated debate. To add to this, advancements in science and technology allowed modification of genetics to an unimaginable degree. Only a year later, genetically-modified food was introduced to the public. Jurassic Park presents the reality of technology going wrong. Ironically, it was human selfishness that caused the chaos of the film– both the selfishness of Hammond in creating the park, and the selfishness of the embryo thief.

Star Wars Response

Thematic elements of a space opera are: a sympathetic/relatable character (Luke Skywalker), elements of romance, elements of mysticism and mythology (the Force), elements of heroism (Skywalker blowing up the Death Star), an emphasis on drama (or even melodrama), plot elements of war and battle (Sith vs. Jedi), and an optimistic outlook and/or happy ending (Death Star destroyed).

Monomyth: a typical format in which a hero goes on an adventure, fights and wins in a crisis, and returns home to find they have changed. This image shows the stages:

I think Luke's journey is the "monomyth" of the film, as he leaves his home planet, battles for the rebels and Jedi, destroys the Death Star, and returns home very different.

The Force and technology use different means to accomplish a similar goal: control over the galaxy. The technology is highly advanced for the time, and it surpasses anything people in 1977 had seen. It is left unexplained, but people can infer that the development of technology over time could lead to these inventions. The Force differs from technology in essence- it taps into religious belief, and the power of faith, in order to be used. This is reminiscent of worldwide religious belief, in which religions demand that their followers believe without proof. It is heavily stated, through both point of view and dialogue, that the Force is the "right" choice. People who use technology are often evil, with the prime example being the Stormtroopers. People in the US were dealing with the rapid rise of technology, and at the same time, a New Conservatism which revived religious America. The two forces are represented by the Force and technology in the film.

Media Review 34: Naruto Season 1

Naruto is a Japanese anime, based on a manga which was released periodically, about young ninjas who are learning the ninja way of life. They participate in intense battles and are often pawns of greater political struggles. Netflix just ruined my productivity by adding 3 seasons. The first season is the only one I had seen before, so it was nostalgic rewatching the epic story again. Though I'm ambivalent about the animation style, I really enjoy how an emphasis is placed on striking images, and the endless range of effects which can be created. One thing hugely hinders the viewing experience, and that is the pacing. This show never hesitates to give 10 minutes of backstory. It's great, creating a huge Naruto world, but it can ruin intense situations. The show pauses right in the middle of battle to explain old rivalries. Anyway, its interesting character relationships and intense fight scenes make this show a treat to watch.

Media Review 33: Reebok Insta Pump Fury

Reebok has been really stepping up their shoe game (catch that pun?), and I really love this design. From heel to toe, it exudes futuristic style with some 'techwear' themes. The heel and toe separation makes for a unique sillhouette, and I can't help loving it due to my newfound love for Naruto's fashion. These seriously look like modern ninja shoes. As for the main upper, it is a singular pump unit, which can be inflated to fit the wearer perfectly. This high tech design is something I can really admire.

Media Review 32: Terminator 2

This film combines different elements: Fast-paced action, family issues, and an emphasis on teenage individuality. These elements have been seen before: Family issues in ET, fast-paced action in Star Wars, and teenage individuality in Back to the Future. Terminator presents a much darker vision, however, making all of these elements much less family friendly. This violent film makes the earlier films (all with serious content) look like kids movies. In terms of characters, this film relies heavily on modern archetypes (and some stereotypes) like the Badass Biker, the Dirty Cop, and the Teen Rebel. I think these fairly static characters make room for the intense plot. Overall, this film is an excellently crafted sci-fi with some great special effects.

Back To The Future Responses

1. What was the "New New Hollywood?" 

A generation of filmmakers who graduated from USC, and grew up with TV.

1. Which filmmaker came up with the concept for Back To The Future (1985) by visiting his parents' house?

Bob Gale

1. What does "turnaround" mean for a screenplay being considered for production?

Selling the film to another studio for the cost of development up to that point.

1. What was the production cost of Back To The Future (1985), and how much did it make in the first week? Was this a good or bad sign for the production and distribution companies?

It cost 19 million to produce, and made 18.48 million in 7 days. This was considered an ok sign, as a film was supposed to make back its cost of production in the 1st week.

1. What techniques did film production and distribution companies being to employ in the 80s to ensure a "blockbuster?" What were blockbusters expected to achieve in their opening weeks? What was the technique called that intended to accomplish this?

Companies launched huge advertising campaigns, making sure everyone knew about the film, and about who was behind it. Also, filmmakers included popular culture in films (like Power of Love in Back To The Future) to ensure success and notoriety. Blockbusters were supposed to make back production costs in the first week. The technique used was called front-loading.

1. Who chased Marty McFly around the parking lot before his time jump, and what did this character represent in the film? What is the trope, and how does it relate to the time this film was created? 

Libyan terrorists chased Marty around, trying to kill him. This is the "Anti-Anerican Enemy" trope, and it represents the xenophobia of the U.S. at the time, under Ronald Reagan.

1. What is the significance of the new/first television set in the dining room in 1955? Why do you think Zemeckis and Gale wrote that scene into the script?

That generation was the first to grow up with TV, and it was also the generation of the New New Hollywood filmmakers who created Back to the Future and Star Wars. I think the filmmakers wanted to reveal the heavy influence television had on their lives, and their choices in film.

1. What changed among major Hollywood studios in the 1970s that brought about the need for a new production and funding model? What was that new model? In your own words, explain in detail.

First, studios shifted towards creating single films, rather than multi-part productions. Also, many of the entertainment companies were then owned by large corporations without entertainment experience- and they demanded profit. This meant that films could not occasionally flop and make less than they costed. This caused a shift towards tried-and-true methods of making big money. The new model focused on high production value and spectacular events, and generating enough hype to sell enough tickets before the flaws in the film were discovered.

1. What company created the visual effects shots for Back To The Future (1985)?

Industrial Light & Magic

1. How was auteurism created and maintained in the "New New Hollywood," and why was it important to the filmmakers?

Auteurism was truly established by Spielberg in his efforts at his new company named Amblin. This company had its hand in a huge number of films, imprinting them with signature of their directors. In addition, studios began to include the names of the filmmakers in all of the advertising and branding of films.

The End (An Elijah DeVries Film)

Indiana Jones Tropes

1. The helpless assistant: Jones helps his assistant over and over again, saving him easily from death
2. Ally turned Enemy: Despite Jones helping him over and over, he abandons Jones and acts selfishly in Jones' time of need
3. Evil Nazis!: The Nazis can always be blamed as the antagonists.
4. Fear of Snakes: Indiana is scared of snakes like everyone else, even though he is super heroic
5. Evil Monkey: The monkey who secretly plots with the pirate
6. Car flies off cliff: Ever present 
7. Muscular guy fight:
8. Car chase: An epic car chase is a staple in any action movie
9. Bad guy: "We're not so different"
10. Super Villain: The Nazi boss emulates all evil - repeated with Darth Sidius or Darth Vader in Star Wars much later, and the Nazis resemble the evil Stormtroopers
11. Distressed Princess: Marion needs rescuing by Indy, despite her skill most of the time
12. Nazi Screaming: The Nazi boss screams like a girl before his death
13. Rival: Belloq is a rival of Jones despite his similarities
14. Poison Darts: Natives shooting darts at Jones as he runs to the airplane
15. Idol: A precious idol, that has meaning to natives of a country, is stolen by foreigners

Media Review 31: Mr. Nobody

This movie popped up on Netflix a couple months ago and I decided to watch it, but we're watching it in Psychology now. This movie is about the last mortal on Earth, and it progresses through his life story as he recounts it. However, he can't remember any of the choices he made. Instead, he recounts all of his possible lives- unsure of which neighborhood girl he married, or whether he crashed his motorcycle. The film has high production value, yet it lacks cohesion and real substance. Each "life" changes visual style, and they do not fit well together. Also, the film relies heavily on music instead of sound design. It's like a compilation of montages, but the idea is still interesting. 6/10

Media Review 30: Nike Socfly Triple Black

Nike is continuing their current thin sole runner trend with the Socfly, yet this show seems unique as it is geared toward the casual market. Though Nike's Roshe Run was also a casual only shoe, it did not resemble Nike's other runners (like the Free Flyknit 3.0). This shoe seems to be a casual re-envisioning of the free Flyknit 3.0, replacing the laces with a strap and a slightly thicker sole. This shoe has an incredible, futuristic design, yet the color scheme keeps it simple and refined. They will probably be my summer shoe pickup.

Media Review 29: Fight Club

Fight Club is a well known movie from the late 90s, and two actors, Edward Norton and Brad Pitt, star as the mayhem-causing duo. This movie is excellently crafted in a cinematic sense- it uses color casts and interesting camera movement to convey the intensity of the film. Especially interesting were the settings used- the film was shot almost entirely at night and covered grungy, urban landscapes. These accurately conveyed the intense decay of Tyler Durden's mind. 

Another interesting tidbit: Marla seems to be the only female in the entire film. The testosterone is definitely showing through.

ET Analysis

• Describe the frog dissection class scene, and what is inter-cut with it. What does the teacher ask the students to look at to "observe the similarities," and what two things would the students be comparing? What does this tell us about what is being inter-cut? What is the metaphor here?

The students are shown in a lab, preparing for a dissection. The lesson and teaching is very dry, and the kids are disinterested. The teacher compares the frog hearts to human hearts, stating that they will still be beating during dissection. Meanwhile, the scene is intercut with ET watching a classic American romance film, and responding emotionally. I think that the intention is to show that despite the differences in species, ET, the frogs, and humans are all similar. We share similar emotions, and deserve to be treated fairly and equally.

• What allusions exist in E.T. that cause critics to believe that the film is a religious story? This is a common critique. Discuss at least five things (at least two of which are visuals, and two are plot points) in paragraph form, research, and post an article on this topic.

Et very blatantly references religion through imagery and plot. ET embodies a "holy spirit" or savior figure, clearly observable in 3 plot points: His mixed relationship with those on Earth (captivating to the young and threatening to the old), his resurrection after death, and the miracles and mysterious power he possesses. ET is comparable to Jesus; he arrives mysteriously and immediately captures the attention of the people. In this case, children play the role of the common people, while the adults could be the Romans. The adults are immediately threatened when they discover ET, and they disapprove of his influence over children. Visually, the film references aspects of religion very clearly. Two images which immediately come to mind are ET's glowing fingertip (conveying his hidden power) and the glowing lights as the children look upwards toward heaven.

• What allusions exist in E.T. that cause critics to consider this film a critique of America's comfort or discomfort with immigration? Discuss three things in paragraph form.
• An important quote: Scientist: "So Elliott thinks its thoughts?" Michael: "No, Elliott feels his feelings." Why is this quote important, and how does it relate to the contrast between how the children receive E.T. and how the adults do? How does it connect to "otherness," issues surrounding immigration, and foreign relations in the 1980s?

Media Review: OSA Vocal's Caravan

First of all, I want to acknowledge the incredible talent and amount of work put into this show. Hella good performers! I think my favorite performance came from Barbara, a freshman with an amazing voice who stunned the crowd with a Nigerian song. She received a well deserved standing ovation.

The only issues I had with the show were not vocal-related. First, it seemed like the microphones were very unbalanced for the first half, and it took away from the performance. Second, the show had an odd relationship with race. It was amazing to share and perform songs from around the world, but it seemed like the singers were casted because of their physical appearance. Also, during Barbara's Nigerian melody, images of stained glass church windows were used, seemingly celebrating colonialism.

Lastly, Jada Banks-Mace closed out the show with an incredible performance of Into the Moon. In 8th grade, her performance at the vocal show convinced me to stay at OSA rather than leave for Oakland Tech. Tonight she reminded me why I stuck around so long.