Tsotsi: Reflection

Tsotsi was released in 2005 and is based on a man by the name of Tsotsi who lives in Jamaica. He affiliates himself with violent crimes and is constantly getting away with his actions. He lives in an unfortunate part of Jamaica where everyone lives in 'shacks' and where gang violence is a reoccurring issue. In this film, Tsotsi commits a crime that will change his life and the lives of other countless people.

This film does a great job in showing a side of Jamaica that many of us rarely see. In America, Jamaica is a place of luxury and vacation. Tsotsi shows how the people of Jamaica truly live. It shows that this is a country of poverty and crime. However, like most places there is typically an area where the rich people live. In this film you are able to see how one might live in Jamaica if they are rich or if they're poor.

I really liked this movie. It gave the audience a roller coaster ride of emotions and was intriguing. If it were a book; it'd be a page turner. There was always something happening that kept you on edge and you always wanted to know what would happen next. It is a great film and would defiantly recommend it to people.

Nuovo cinema Paradiso: Reflection

Nuovo cinema Paradiso was a descent film. It was a little too long for my liking but it had good meaning. It's an Italian based film that was released in United States in 1990. According to various websites it is a film that is recognized world wide and has received several awards, one being an Oscar.

This film is about the life of a boy named Toto. Ever since he was no more than 4 years old he always had a love for movies and film. Due to his passion towards film he met the man who changed the film reels and ran the movie theater. He and the young boy become very close and grow older together. It's a very touching film and you were able to see how something as simple as a movie theater can bring so many people together.

Culturally, you are able to get a good sense of the Italian way of life. Throughout this film it shows how the Italian people tend to be close to their families and like to grow old in the same town where they grew up in. Through this movie you get a sense that they are very emotional people and are open about their feelings. You go through a roller coaster ride of emotions while watching this movie; sadness, happiness, suspense, you experience it all. I do enjoy this movie culturally because you are able to see every angle of the Italian culture. Italy is a truly beautiful country with great history and geographical sites which are portrayed throughout this film.

I would recommend this movie to other people. It was not one of my favorite films that we have watched in this class, but it defiantly had good meaning and portrayed the struggles of growing up very well. You also got a sense of the Italian culture and how their lives change over time. This film shows a lot of Italy which really adds to the movie.

The Host: Reflection

The Host was not a very good film. I have never been interested in Scifi sort of phenomenas. This film was basically about a family who goes out in search of a missing family member of their own. However, they are battling against a sea monster who has been running around South Korea killing people and bringing them to its 'home'. If you are someone who is interested in cheesy, weird Asian films than this is the movie for you.

Culturally The Host showed a lot of South Korea that you wouldn't see unless you have been there yourself or watch foreign films. You are able to get a sense of how they live, what they eat, and what their city life is like. They live very similar lives to that of an American but like most cultures they follow certain customs that some of us may find out of the ordinary.

Like I had stated earlier life in South Korea is much like that of an American. This film shows people going to work on what you assume is a usual 9 to 5 shift. It shows people walking around in park and simply enjoying life until, of course, the giant sea monster attacks. In the movie the cause of this sea monster is due to pollution in the city's river. Perhaps this film suggests that in South Korea pollution is a reoccurring issue in their country and made this film to sort of 'poke fun,' if you will. There are many people who live in this country so I could only assume that pollution is an issue. In this film you are also showed the city and how many people relay on public transportation, like that of New York City. There are high rise towers everywhere and many people running around in a rush with somewhere to go. Even though this movie was awful, you were able to get a sense of what their way of life, what they like to eat, etc.

I would not watch this movie again. Like I had stated before the acting was mediocre and the plot was awful. I would not recommend viewing this film unless you enjoy watching films that consist of a sea monster attacking South Korean people for about two hours.

Napoleon Dynamite: Reflection

I considered even blogging my thoughts about this film, Napoleon Dynamite. It is a movie that is recognized nationally and perhaps even globally. It was released in 2004 and since then has been loved by millions. I remember the first time I saw this movie, I thought it was hilarious and I honestly couldn't get enough of the awkward humor. However once it exploded into this new phenomenon I started to get a bit sick of the "dude, my lips hurt real bad," comment.

As many of you may already know this is a film about a teenager by the name of Napoleon Dynamite. He lives in Idaho and lives an 'odd' life if you will. It's just a story about his life, his family, his friends, his school and all that he goes through. One main thing I really enjoy this film is that it's probably the only film I have seen without some sort of violence, sexual content etc; with the exception of child films.

I would recommend this to someone who hasn't seen the film and who has a weird sense of humor. For most people I have talked to about the movie, there is a bittersweet relationship with it. Either people love it, or they find it annoying. I still think people should view it if they haven't already, just to see what the hype is all about.

Les Triplettes de Belleville: Reflection

I actually enjoyed the uniqueness of this French based film, Les Triplettes de Belleville. It was interesting how throughout the entire movie there wasn't any conversation but only actions and emotions. It was as if the movie made it so its viewers could imagine what the characters were saying.

This film had an interesting plot. Basically it was about a boy who's parents passed away and he channeled his anger and frustration through cycling. He trains his whole life until he becomes good enough to compete in le Tour de France. During the Tour he falls from exhaustion and is picked up by a bunch of French mafia gang members. This is a story about how his grandmother goes on a journey to find her missing grandson. It's a very interesting film.

Throughout this film you see an exaggerated version of how both the French and American live. You get the idea that the French are proud of their cuisine and their people. Where as this film sort of makes fun of Americans and their way of living. It makes fun of the American people by making them outrageously over weight and writing things on their shirt like, 'I like big.' I thought it was humorous.

I would recommend this movie to a friend. However I would only recommend it to a type of friend who has patience and who appreciates different outlooks on films. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who enjoys your typical Hollywood action movie. Otherwise, this film is a one-of-a-kind and should be watched by foreign film lovers.

Fargo: Reflection

Fargo was released in 1996 and after it's release it soon became a nation wide hit. This is basically a story about a man (Jerry) who works at a car dealership and is suffering from financial problems. Due to his financial issues, he begins to loose his good judgement and starts to go to extremes in order for him to recieve the money he owes. What he does, is he basically hires two hit men to pretend to kidnap his wife so her wealthy father will pay the men what Jerry owes. Of course, things do not go as planned and blood is inevitably shed over the money, and much more.

Personally, I'm not sure why so many people enjoy this movie. Perhaps it is because it pokes fun at Minnesotans and their stereotypical accent? Maybe it's because the plot is so outrageous it attracts large amounts of people? Whatever it is, I have never been fond of this film. I do enjoy the humorous side of the movie, but the plot itself I think could have been better. I have no problem with blood and guts, but I think this movie could have also done well without it. The first time I had ever seen this film, I didn't even know this movie had any killing in it whatsoever; it was my understanding that it was just a simple movie making fun of people from Minnesota. Shockingly there was much more to it than that.

I would recommend this movie to others despite its gruesome scenes. Since it is a film loved nation wide, I think people should see it just so they can simply say 'I've seen it.' Otherwise I wouldn't voluntarily watch it more than once. Many people I know enjoy this movie, but I'm personally not a fan of it.

The Son's Room: Reflection

Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the entire movie due to priorities I had to attend. However, I was able to watch the beginning and the ending of The Son's Room. This is an Italian based film that aimed to show the good, the bad, and the ugly in any average family. It focused on the life of the father, the mother, the daughter and the son. It went on to show how each of them lived their lives and how they interacted with one another.

It was a good film in that it showed the Italian culture very well. You were able to see how a typical Italian family might live and that they are not much different than that of an American family. Like any family, they had their good and bad times. However, something very tragic ends up happening to the son affecting the entire family and the rest of the movie. You go on to see how this family chooses to cope with what has happened and how different their lives become.

Like I had stated earlier, I was not able to watch this entire film so it's hard for me to give a full summary on the movie. It's also difficult to tell whether or not I enjoyed this film to all its potential. However, from what I saw I wouldn't recommend this film to a friend. I found it a bit boring and the plot had no originality. It was a predictable film from what I had saw and it didn't keep me intrigued to keep watching. Otherwise, this film showed the struggles and the good times of a typical Italian family and how they chose to cope with these issues.