Trailer Park Boys Critique

Ben Straits

Period 2

Ms. Lyons

Trailer Park Boys Film Essay

Many people haven’t heard of the movie Trailer Park Boys, but I believe it’s one of the best comedies around. It hasn’t been found all that popular yet because it’s a Canadian film through and through. I chose to write my paper on this movie only because it’s one of my favorites and I believe it’ll be a challenging feat to write an essay that incorporates three elements of movie making. This movie is not for everyone… With crude humor, references to drugs, sex, and alcohol, strong language, this movie is clearly not for young audiences. I love this movie, and so does a majority of people, because this movie was based off of a seven season long television program, which then went on to have a second movie made on it. I think this movie is a movie that everyone should see just for the shear stupidity of it. Trailer Park Boys is a mockumentary that follows three best friends Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles around their trailer park always trying to scheme there next big money making opportunity which usually leaves them in jail for a few months. As the boys try to make money, usually not legally, their drunken ex-cop trailer park supervisor tries to foil their plans in efforts to better the trailer park. Every time the boys come up with a “flawless” plan… and every time someone, usually Ricky or their friends, messes up putting them in sticky situations, in which their low education can’t get them out of. This movie is purely for comedic relief, but still uses elements of film same as a blockbuster hit.

Though sound is not a huge part of this film due to it being a mockumentary, there are still elements of sound that are portrayed in this movie. The biggest element that they use is the use of diegetic sound, the sound in which the characters and the audience can hear. The most apparent example of this is the sirens of the cop cars that are always threatening the boys because of their illegal shenanigans. Some of the police sirens are not always on screen; many of them actually come from off screen scaring off the boys.

Many of the time this movie uses many edited clips to suggest certain things in the movie. The editors of this film tend to use the action of jump cutting. This is often used to change to story or memories of another character. The biggest example of this is when the drunken trailer park supervisor has a different memory or story than the boys have. The Trailer Park Boys movie tends to use re-establishing shots a lot in the movie because even though half the movie is shot in the trailer park itself, there are many different scenes in different areas of the park. They use the re-establishing shots to show you what park of the trailer park of to show you that the characters have gone back to the park.

Movement is a big part of this movie, because they want the audience to feel like they are there with the characters performing their stupid acts. So the most common shot used in this movie is the hand-held shot. The hand-held shot is when the cameraman is holding the camera, many times running or movie with the characters. It really makes it feel as though you are with Julian, Ricky and Bubbles. The second most apparent shot is the crane shot. They use this in this film to help show the dirty, cheap trailer park in which they live. It helps to show the characters and the places they live, just to give you a glimpse into their life.

Trailer Park Boys is one of my favorite films, almost for the sheer stupidity. This movie makes you laugh and laugh throughout the entire movie. You can tell that this show/movie is a low budget film, but yet you don’t care, because if they had more than one camera guy, and one microphone guy, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable. It only adds to the low cost of their pathetic lives. I don’t believe that this film can be compared to anything else, it is like nothing I’ve seen, the best way to compare it is just too any other low budget stupid movie. My favorite part to the film is the characters, without them the movie wouldn’t be as funny as it is. Every time Ricky speaks, you can rely on it being one of the stupidest things you’ve ever heard, and for Bubbles you feel bad for because you know he just wants to be with his friends. Overall this film is one of my favorites, if you don’t enjoy stupid comedies… you’ve been warned, this movie may not be for you, actually I just don’t suggest watching it because that’s what it is, stupid, but none the less awesome. I would give this five stars, I only wish there were more movies that were like this, because I haven’t found any…

Ben Straits

Period 2

Ms. Lyons

Hero Movement Film Critique

Hero is one of the best movies to study for the element of movement. The outstanding use of lyrical movement is abundant in this movie. Hero, directed by Yimou Zhang, is one of those movies that specialize in movement of the characters. Though during times the movements seem cheesy, or fake, it seems to work perfectly for this movie. During the intense sword fighting scenes, the actors would twist and turn about the screen, representing the effortless fighting styles of pre-modern battle. This movie is definitely for a more mature audience, merely for the violence. I believe this movie lives up to what it meant to do, a dramatic Asian inspired warrior fighting that uses lyrical movement to show the style of the fighters. Overall this movie wasn’t exactly for me, nevertheless this movie came out with what it meant too, and I would watch it strictly for that.

In Hero, the main actor is a pre-modern warfare Chinese warrior, who shows through flashbacks how he fought through three assassins who sought to defeat the most powerful war-lord in pre-unified China. Through his stories it shows how he fought the assassins, which uses the element of lyrical movement to show simplicity. One of the most apparent moving shots that I noticed throughout the film was the Dolly shot (The use of camera moving on a track). During almost all the fighting scenes, especially the one versus Sky, the use of a dolly was very noticeable. The dolly shot helped the scene move flawlessly to add extra finesse to the warriors fight.

Another shot used in this film to help show the outstanding surroundings that help the movie seem even more graceful, was the crane shot. This shot is used by suspending a camera from a height to show the actor/actors as well as a lot of the surrounding area. One scene that reminded me of a crane shot was when they were fighting in the water. Almost ever clip in that scene was from a high height, either in the open or through the trees, to help show the fighters and where exactly they are fighting.

One of the movement elements used in this film is the Hand-held shot. This shot is used whenever the photographer isn’t using a device to steady the camera. The one scene that I thought of was the scene when Snow was chasing Broken Sword through the home. The camera man was holding the camera as he followed Snow, and when she eventually stabbed him in the back through the door out of jealousy. This shot helps the viewer feel as though they are in the movie and are right there with the actors.

This movie is for sure a great film to view in order to study the habits of lyrical effortless movement. I personally am not a fan of the movie. I don’t enjoy the fake fighting and use of “flying”. To say I don’t like a film for this reason is unfair but I don’t think I would rate it that highly. It reminds me of every other Asian mythical fighting schemed movies, intense sword fights with very strong fighters, and the use of magical abilities, especially in this movie being the power to float around will fighting. I did enjoy the fighting scenes for what they were. Putting my dislikes aside, it was fun to watch the intense fighting scenes. It is hard for me to critique the dialogue only because it was all in subtitles and sometimes I was captivated by the fighting and battles. Overall I would say that this movie gets about a three out of five stars on my scale, only because I would say it really isn’t my type of film. If you enjoy this movie I would suggest many of the other mystical Chinese fighting styled movies.

Oscar Film Critique

Benjamin Straits

Period 2

Film class

Oscar Film Analysis

The Oscars is its own type of film critic that uses the ideas and opinions of bored, over paid critics. The Academy Awards have given now over eighty-three best picture awards, along with many other different awards, but who has a say in this? Not the millions of viewers and fans of these movies. But this is where we have a say, and this is mine. No I cannot say that I am a prestige’s movie critic, nor do I have a degree in film analysis, but I am a movie fan, just like the rest of the world. Three of my most favorite movies this year were, The Social Network, Inception, and Toy Story 3. And this years best picture award goes to…. Inception! I don’t believe that I need to fight for this movie but I will. Every one of these movies has its ups and downs. Even with that said, its hard to judge these movies against themselves due to their wide variety of genera’s that they cover.

My choice for Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, to win the academy award for best picture isn’t only because of its incredible use of CG and amazing cast, but it did play a role in my decision. The incredible use of angles and lighting to portray emotion, suspense and drama, truly blew all the other movies out of the water. The most outstanding part to this movie was the scene when they have to get the “sleeping” bodies out of the hotel, in order to “kick” them back to save them. The dark lit lights and outstanding use of angles make the scene so memorable. The dark lighting makes the scene feel full of suspense and dramatic drama. The curious use of oblique angles gives the sensation of constant confusion and angst. As you watch eh scene unravel in Real D 3D, you feel as though you are being rushed out of the room as well with the characters. The constant illusion of reality sucks you into the formalistic world. At the end you search for closure in one of the most blood pumping cliffhangers, but its nowhere to be found. These are just a few reasons for my opinion to choose Inception. But what about the competitors?

As I said above some of my more favorite movies this year were, Toy Story 3, and The Social Network. As I watched The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, for the first time this weekend, the reality of the movie struck me even more when I opened my computer and hit the Internet application and Facebook opened up. That was when the true impact of the movie hit me. All six hundred million people in the world, including the two hundred and twenty two countries that are a part of the Facebook obsession, can feel some sort of connection to this movie due to the impact that this website has made in our everyday lives. One of the most memorable scenes for me was when the CFO Eduardo, finds his stock has been diminished, goes into a rage at CEO Mark, as he screams at mark the low-angle shot gives Eduardo the power in the shot as he threatens Mark for tons of money. Toy Story 3, directed by Lee Unkrich, also delivers a great fight for best picture. In the end it couldn’t compare to the other two movies. The bright upbeat lighting in Toy Story offers a great picture for everyone to see. This movie was an excellent way to add to the great series of Toy Story movies. The great Formalistic CGI movie takes the gang of lively toys on an excellent adventure as their beloved own heads out to college, and its time for the toys to go. On their adventure they are donated to a local children’s school where at night the toys rule. The leader of the toys, Lotso, seems to be friendly but turns out to be the villain, in one epic scene with Lotso, and Woody. The dark lighting and low angle shots involved in this scene show Lotso as the dominant, larger toy. But n the end Lotso ends up attached to a truck. Overall, all three movies are great nominations for best motion picture.

Inception gets my vote for best picture for the 83^rd annual Academy Awards. The overall drama and suspense, mixed with the awesome use of film elements makes this the best movie of the year. Inception gets an overwhelming five stars from me. It does need a little bit of a warning for the use of violence and language. All three of these movies are a must watch. Though I am not a film critique, I truly believe Inception is the best film. I believe that the best film award should go to the viewers, not the critics, and this is one viewer’s bid.

My Apocalypto Review

Benjamin Straits

Film class

Period. 2

Apocalypto Film Critique

Without a doubt Apocalypto is a great film to assess. Film classes all over study this film to analyze the key styles to creating a film. This movie is a prime example of the lighting, angles, and shots that are incorporated in all films. Apocalypto is a movie generated for an audience above the age of seventeen. This movie does have intense violence and gore and shouldn’t be viewed by views under the age seventeen. Apocalypto lives up to all the hype it has gotten. A film in which shows the struggles and downfalls of the Mayan empire, is exactly what it is. In spite of the language barrier, you can tell the characters emotions and everything from only the use of cinematography, and the great acting. This movie is a great example that depicts the use of cinematography, and is even a great movie just to watch, to understand the struggles of the Mayan culture.

In Apocalypto, directed by Mel Gibson, is a great movie that shows the struggles of living in a failing Mayan culture, that is being consumed by the more powerful cultures, and ever more advanced societies. Apocalypto runs threw the fall of a tribe, which has been overtaken by the more powerful large Mayan culture. The main character Jaguar Paw, taken from his culture and family, is forced to prove himself and escape the clutches of the sacrificial Mayan tribe. Running for his life, Jaguar Paw finds power in the only things he has left, his wife and kids. In the end Jaguar Paws’ tribe isn’t the only tribe being threatened, the fate of the entire Mayan culture is being diminished with the arrival of their new visitors. Apocalypto explores the hardships of living in South America, especially as an undeveloped tribe, when the rest of the word is changing. It shows the internal struggles of the different tribes, and the new external influences that ultimately over run the Mayan culture. This movie, and the end of the Mayan rule, has an essence of the fall of the Native Americans with arrival of the pilgrims, and the growth of America. Just like the Native Americans, being overrun by more advanced and powerful influences eventually pushed the Jaguar Paws tribe, and eventually the Mayans.

I very much enjoyed this movie. The depth and detail incorporated in the film, portrayed by director Mel Gibson, was immaculate. Everything was put to great consideration, from setting, all the way to the costumes. This film makes you feel as though you are in the movie. The struggles portrayed from the main character Jaguar Paw, makes you antsy and anxious to see what he will do next. With every frame you are amazed by the detail and time taken to make the scene look as though you lived in that time frame. The main character has you on your feet every time he does something. All of his struggles make you want to get up and cheer for him to keep going. His fight to get back to his family is one of legendary proportions, nothing he does is repetitive, and you will for sure not lose focus. From the beginning, Jaguar Paws humor and jokes makes you instantly like him, and when things get serious, you constantly cheer for him to succeed and overcome his hardships. Mel Gibson’s use of low angles to show dominance and strength was a crucial part to this film. The most memorable part for me was when Jaguar Paw was faced with the strong enemy warrior; the camera was low on the obviously stronger enemy, ever more portraying his dominance. But in the end of the scuffle, Jaguar Paws wits overcame the enemy, and he ended up using a trap to kill him. One of the most apparent cinematography elements was the use of low-contrast lighting. The director used great lighting in the jungle to show certain importance of people and less on others. The shadows created by this use made the film seem more dark and evil. As with the large fight scene when Jaguar Paws tribe was being ravaged, the use of low-contrast lighting showed the anger and evil in the enemies, while they savagely destroyed their peaceful tribe.

Overall this action/adventure movie was a great pick. Now I’m not a historical buff, but I would say that its spot on with historical accuracy. The costumes, the actors, the set, and especially the tribes make it seem as though you are in the jungles with them. I would give this movie four stars. Everything about this movie adds up perfectly, the one concern I have is that I wasn’t completely satisfied with the ending. I would have liked to see what happens to the main character and his family. I enjoyed this movie, but it’s not for everybody. The use of blood, and gore, along with the extreme use of violence. A slight bit of harsh language and all things considered persons should only view this movie over the age of seventeen. This is a must see for everyone and is a great way to see how cinematic elements are used.