Star Wars

The Star Wars trilogy (the original!) is something that everybody should be required to see- simply fantastic. First, the opening is classic in iteslf with the background story written up there. Then the actual story itself is riveting- it is funny, enjoyable, interesting, these movies have it all. I don't want to give any spoilers, because I think the movie is so much better when you don't know what is going to happen (hint hint ya know that famous line, "luke I am your father," yeah it's from star wars :)

Can we also just address the fact that these movies might have the catchiest theme song ever? Because it is true. After hearing that song, it was stuck in my head for days.

One thing that I found surprising about the films is that even though they were done a long time ago, and it doesn't always look real (the costumes and the graphics were not as advanced as they are now), it felt real. There was never a point in the movie when I was like, "ugh cheesy, that is so fake." It felt legit, and I felt like I knew the characters. When watching these movies, I sometimes thought that this really could be in a galaxy far, far, away.

The characters themselves had a lot of depth- even R2D2 who only spoke in beeps, boops, and bops. I was sad when he was eaten in the degoba system (thank god he was spit back out!). C3PO was annoying, but at the same time, I didn't like seeing him get blown up.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Did you know that there were people in both R2D2 and C3PO? 
Chubakka was a personal favorite. I never understood what he was saying but he just always said the right thing in my mind. At the end of the first movie, when Luke is trying to destroy the death star, I found myself cheering when Han Solo came back. When Lando tricks Solo, Leia, and Chubakka and turns them over to Darth Vader, I loved it when Luke came in to save them. The relationships between these characters are so strong and apparent throughout the entire movie, you just have to root for them. And finally, Yoda. Not at all what I was expecting was he. When I heard of Yoda, I thought he was just a small old Jedi master- I had no idea he could be so absurd and funny! When Luke first met Yoda in the Degoba system, I thought it was the funniest thing. Yoda was just so weird! I loved it.

Overall, the characters along with the creative story and surprisingly good cinematography made these movies a complete joy to watch. Some of the movies in this project I found myself glancing at the clock, wondering how much time was left. But for these, I just couldn't wait to put the next disc in.

Star Wars Triology: A New Hope (1977), The 

Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the 

Jedi (1983)

            I’m relieved to say after all these years I have finally seen the Star Wars movies-episodes four, five and six. Luckily for me, I watched them with an absolute fanatic of the series which made it all the more fun. Before watching, I already knew what the characters looked like and so I saw familiar faces and it was fun to see what the different creatures and characters did. The fact that this movie came out while my mom was in seventh grade is surprising because the tech work is pretty good. It can’t be compared to sci-fi movies of today because there has been forty years of technological advancements. However, I was expecting a lot worse and was pleasantly surprised. Han Solo, as portrayed by Harrison Ford is absolutely perfect. The lines in this movie are unbelievably cheesy at times but overall it’s an interesting story to watch. The animals and robots that are played by people are incredible. Who would guess that Chewbacca is played by Peter Mayhew-a 7’2” man!

            Luke Skywalker, as played by Mark Hamill, is a young naïve boy who finds himself in the battle against the evil Empire alongside criminal Han Solo, assistant Chewbacca, robots R2D2 and C3PO, and Princess Leia. This grouping of characters is lovable and captivating despite the weak acting of the first movie.

            In episode four, we are introduced to Luke living a normal life in this galaxy before being drafted into this war of good and evil. He learns of Princess Leia’s distress and wants to help her. Han Solo is on this expedition for money. We find out towards the end that Darth Vader is Luke’s long lost father-who could’ve guessed that? This thrilling journey sets the base for the next movie to propel off of.

            At the start of episode 5, Han Solo saves Luke’s life on a frozen planet they’re all taking refuge on. The Empire attacks this base and the group splits up to fight-or for Solo and Leia, to escape. Luke begins Jedi training in this film only to be interrupted by his friend’s peril. Unfortunately, it’s a trap set up by Darth Vader and in the end Han Solo ends up trapped in carbonite to be shipped to Jabadahut.

            In episode 6, return of the jedi, Han Solo is captured by Jabadahut, so Leia, Chewbacca and Landau go to save him and fail. Luke, finishes his training with Yoda before saving everyone. It is revealed in this movie that Leia and Luke are twins-a shocking twist. Luke willingly gets captured by Darth Vader who brings him to Darthsidius. They attempt to make him evil. Luke realizes Vader has some good in him before his death. Luke destroys another Death Star and good is restored to the galaxy.

            By the end of all this excitement, the movies really boil down to the fight of good vs. evil. The battle scenes and interesting creatures made this movie an instant classic. When people think of epic movies they think of Star Wars. I agree with this hype. I believe this film deserves all the popularity it has accumulated and continues to accumulate as the years go on. Now I have to see episodes one through three!

Star Wars (1977, 1980, 1983)

         George Lucas’ Star Wars series is iconic, legendary, and somehow worth all the hype. In the Fourth Movie (the first one made), Luke Skywalker has to team up with an unassuming crew to save the galaxy from the Death Star, the evil Empire’s massive battle-station. In he Fifth Movie Luke and his friends join the rebellion. Luke goes off to learn the ways of the Jedi warriors and learns his friends are in trouble when Darth Vader sets a trap for Luke. At the end of the movie we learn Darth Vader is Lukes father and Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca go to save Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt. The Sixth and final of the three original movies, they rescue Han from Jabba and attempt to destroy the second Death Star. Meanwhile Luke tries to get his father, Darth Vader to come back to the “light” side (as opposed to the dark).

        

Going in, I didn’t know what to expect. From everyone that had watched Star Wars since their childhood, there was so much hype. Yet was there a cult following for the sake of a cult following, or do the movies actually deserve all the build up. After watching the three original movies, I have to say they deserve the hype. Although looking at the special effects through a 2014 lens, it is not always seamlessly realistic, but it doesn’t need to be to put the audience in that galaxy far far away with Han and Luke. Somehow it sucks you in and you can’t help but be enraptured. It is the characters: as an audience, you route for them, you want them to win, you want Han and Leia to be together. The acting improved from the first movie to the second and as soon as the credits rolled on the second, I wanted to watch the third. There was something inexplicable in watching them and how I was instantly pulled neck deep in the story. I might have been the only one to feel that way, but I enjoyed the series immensely. Now the real question arrises: to watch the new movies, or to not.

Deer Hunter

Deer Hunter, directed by Michael Cimino, is a fantastic film. When I was told this was a movie about Vietnam, I was expecting long, drawn out battle scenes, blood, and death throughout the entire film. Instead, although the movie is definitely about Vietnam, the movie focused on how the war affected individuals, how it changed them and influenced them both directly and indirectly. The movie begins with Steven's marriage. Throughout these wedding scenes, which last about an hour, we really get to know the characters and understand their relationships between each other. Linda is with Nick, but Mike loves Linda. Nick, Steven, and Mike are best friends. In one of the early scenes, they are all out hunting, and everyone is a mess but Mike. He is the put-together one, the one witht he clear head and the ability to solve problems and move forward. This becomes critical when they are in Vietnam. Some people think this first hour of the wedding is too long, but I lean towards the side that says it is just right. We need that first hour to grow attached to the characters, to relate to them and understand them, and to see them as people and not just soldiers fighting in a war.

After the wedding scene,the three men go off to Vietnam. They get captured by the North Vietnamese, and they are forced to play Russian roulette against each other. This scene is powerful and stressful, and you find yourself at the edge of your seat praying they don't shoot themselves in the head. Throughout this, Steven is freaking out, but Mike is calm, and he thinks of a solution. He has them put 3 bullets in the gun before he plays. After 2 empty chambers, he shoots the Vietnamese with the remaining bullets, and they are able to escape. After floating down a river, they are saved by a helicopter. Unfortunately, Steven cannot get on and falls back into the river, breaking both of his legs. Mike jumps in after him, and Nick is then flown to Saigon while the others are left behind. Mike and Steven end up getting out and they return to their small hometown of Pennsylvania. Steven has lost both of his legs and doesn't want to leave the rehab center and return to his life and his wife. Mike is the only one who makes it out of the war both physically and emotionally. Vietnam broke Nick and Steven. Upon hearing that Saigon is going to fall, Mike goes to save Nick, only to find him playing Russian roulette for money. Mike plays Nick, and when he finally gets through to him, Nick kills himself  because he cannot live with himself. 

Throughout this movie you see how war changes a person. You get to meet 3 incredible people, and you start to know them. DeNiro did an incredible job as Mike, and Cimino did a fantastic job showing Vietnam through the lives of the people it changed. It is definitely worth the 3 hours it takes to watch it, and it is the 53rd best movie for a reason.

Raging Bull (1980)

         Raging Bull, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a beautiful black and white film about the success and demise of boxer Jake LaMotta. Based on the actual life of LaMotta, the movie shows the heartbreaking crumble of a seemingly once great fighter. The story goes back and forth between Jake’s personal life, family and love, and his fighting and work after his retirement. Angry, jealous, and almost always on the verge of a fight, LaMotta is not painted as a lovable character from the beginning, however as the audience, we still route for him through the majority of the film. His extreme jealousy and suspicion towards his wife is a constant source of stress

throughout the movie. Jake further and further drives himself away from his family and fans with his attitude and determination to make a name for himself, by himself. He is even described once as the sort of guy that everyone is routing against, which the audience can relate to after watching him at home with his wife. The inevitable fall from glory at the end is almost expected, and the contradiction between his life as a famous fighter, and as a nobody, cabaret comedian show the sharp juxtaposition of you reap what you sew.

         Raging Bull is a cinematic vision and the storyline moves along, but the real masterpiece of the thing is De Niro’s performance. Robert De Niro plays LaMotta with a delicate hand: he became the character, and showed every inch of human imperfection. No amount of planned character development and scripted direction could provoke such a performance. When LaMotta is put in solitary confinement after being arrested for introducing a fourteen year old girl to some men, his true snapping point is revealed and De Niro slams his head and fists into the wall with such force I expected actual brain damage. This moment is so poignant and powerful, and the audience expects a turning point: for LaMotta to beg for forgiveness and change his ways, to amend the years of wrong he’d done and for everything to become good again as soon as he was released. In reality, nothing much changed, but this less “fairy tale” ending gave more power to the movie, and more power and complexity to the character De Niro builds. Captivating and poingnant, the combination of De Niro’s acting, and Scorsese’s directing, Raging Bull deserves it’s fourth place on the AFI’s top 100 of all times list.

Annie Hall (1977)

          Woody Allen’s Annie Hall made me question love, while simultaneously reaffirming its strength, all while making me laugh. All opinions against Allen aside, the humor in Annie Hall was intelligent and often refreshing while being sarcastic and often mildly whiney. The honesty in both characters and the perspective on love gave the movie depth. Annie Hall is the story of two people finding their way together through love and a relationship in New York. Alvy Singer, a comedian and New York native falls in love with Annie Hall, a Wisconsin singer living in the Big City. The movie follows their love and fading love, reminiscence of past relationships, and all the ups and downs of conflicted wants in a fading relationship.

         The frequently explore

d idea of love and passion fading gave an angle on love typically avoided in movies. More often movies show the optimistic and ever-prevailing side of love, while Annie Hall showed that sometimes, it just fades away. Alvy and Annie try again to make things work several times but the movie ends on a realistic note of “it just doesn’t always work out.” The movie ends on the hopeful note that at least the two are still friends, but Alvy finds himself wishing things with Annie had ended differently. 

         Annie Hall is dynamic, with a wide variety of shots, often in a jumbled chronology. The ups and downs and back and forths of the movie ever leaves you bored and the overall brevity of the movie doesn’t leave you wanting more, but doesn’t drag in the least bit. Allen’s stylistic choices to brea the third wall, interact with theaudience and other characters in the setting of the movie, and have strangers on the street share opinions of deeply personal things in the main character’s lives adds another level of interest. Many pop culture references and jokes of the day also add to the richness of the movie, although they simultaneously date the movie, and take a significant portion away from later generation’s viewing. Annie Hall is a fun, witty movie and despite its lack-luster real world view on love, it makes viewers excited to go out and fall in love.

Taxi Driver (1976)

         Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver explores human nature through the eyes of a taxi driver. Robert De Niro’s performance stuns in yet another movie. De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a cabbie and Vietnam vet who’s observation of sleazy, after hours New York coupled with his crushing loneliness and isolation leads him to lust after violent action.

         Careful, deliberate artistic shots created the work of art surrounding the human exploration within the movie. Shots such as the prolonged pan over the handle of the .44 the gun salesman shows Bickle emphasize Bickle’s attraction to the gun and violence and force the audience to acknowledge and take stock of these details.

         Travis Bickle transforms for the audience. At first he seems merely intriguing, although he is stalking Betsy, a woman he sees as a beacon of light in the dark city, his confidence in approaching her, and his subsequent curiosity sparking observations of her draw us into his character. However as the movie progresses, these seemly innocent quirks throw up a few red flags, namely when he takes Betsy on a date to an adult film. His isolation and loneliness only become more apparent as the film goes on. Even when he has passengers in his cab he is alone and separate from the people that enter his car. Scenes of his apartment scream of isolation as he works out and writes letters to his parents. At one point, his television falls over and breaks, cutting him off a step further. Lost and lonely, Bickle sets out to right the wronged city with violence and ends up saving a child prostitute as his final act. Before he saves Iris, however, he channels his violent desire towards assasinating Presidential candidate Charles Palentine. His character continues to develop and the audience is torn by his complexity, on the one hand his violent tendencies don’t seem to be in the name of “good,” yet he does good when he saves Iris. He is treated as a hero, and Betsy flags down his cab, perhaps to give him a second chance. Travis surprises us by turning her down, adding another layer of realistic complexity to his character. Overall, Taxi Driver is a well made exploration of loneliness, the line between good and evil, and human nature as a whole.