“The Godfather” (1972)

This might sound a little odd, but I have never watched “The Godfather,” so I took advantage of this assignment, which was to write a blog entry about a movie between 1971 and 1990. “The Godfather” (1972) is full of crime and drama. I really enoyed it, I wanted to buy a cat, sit on a chair and start to talk the same way Dan Vito Corleone did.

Al Pacino plays Micheal, the son of Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), also known as the Godfather or Don. It takes place in the late 1940s in New York and Corleone is the head of a Mafia family. Michael doesn’t stick to the family business in the beginning; he enlists in the Marines to fight in World War II. Michael shows up at the wedding of his sister, Connie (Talia_Shire), with his non-Italian girlfriend, Kay (Diane_Keaton), who learns for the first time about the family “business.” A couple months later the Godfather gets shot by some gunmen trying to get back at him for rejecting their request for aid from the Corleones’ political connections; he survives although he is in bad condition. Michael saves his father from a second attempt of assassination. He then convinces his brother and family advisor to allow him be the one to get revenge. Michael murders a police captain and has to hide out in Sicily, where he falls in love and gets married to a local girl; however she is later murdered in an attempt to kill Michael. There are a lot of murders in this movie. Sonny, Michael’s hotheaded brother is murdered. Michael ten returns home and marries Kay. His father recovers and makes peace with his rivals, realizing that another powerful don was pulling the strings behind the narcotics endeavor that began the gang warfare. Michael’s father then dies and Michael becomes the next Godfather.

Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton all stared in it. These are a great group of amazing actors. All of whom starred in movies I loved; however they might not be the movies these stars are known for. I recently watched “Jack and Jill,” and boy did I really like that movies. I don’t think I stopped laughing. Al Pacino was in “jack and Jill” and he did a phenomenal job. “Elf” is one of my favorite movies to watch during the winter season, it’s just one of those movies you could watch over and over again and still laugh at the same parts, James Caan starred I “Elf” as well. “Elf” starred Will Farrell and so did another one of my favorite movies, “Kicking and Screaming”, which started Robert Duvall as well. Stared in “Because I Said So,” “The Family Stone’, and “Mad Money”.

Although there is a lot of back and forth in this movie and it can get confusing sometimes, it is very entertaining. You never knew who trust in this movie. Was the Corleone family good? Were they bad? Or were they just doing their job? It was as though someone didn’t do what they wanted them to do, so BAM they killed them. They couldn’t even trust their own family. It’s no wonder this movie is so widely known. It was longer than most movies though, it was about 2 hours and 55 minutes. I would recommend this movie to everyone!

“The Graduate” (1967)

For this assignment I had to choose a movie between 1959 and 1970 and I chose “The Graduate” (1967), not my favorite movie, I found it a little boring actually.  But after watching the movie I couldn’t The Sound of Silence out of my head, seeing that that’s what the movie opened and closed with.

Benjamin comes home after completing college. His parents throw him a welcome home party but he’s to worried about his future to enjoy it.  He is then seduced by his father’s partner’s wife, Mrs. Robinson. They then meet regularly at a hotel. Encourage by his father and Mr. Robinson to go on a date with Elaine Robinson Benjamin does against Mrs. Robinson’s approval. He then finds out he really likes Elaine but when she learns about his affair with her mother she doesn’t want anything to do with him. He is so in love with her that he goes to win her back In Berkley, where she goes to school.

Benjamin seemed like such a lost soul. He is always easily manipulated. His parents didn’t really even notice how lost he was until half way through the movie. I thought it was weird that Ben still called her Mrs. Robinson even when they were sleeping together. I get this is can be a romantic movie, but who falls in love after one date? And Elaine told two guys she “might” marry them, who does that? She told Benjamin and another guy she actually married but then Ben came into the church and started screaming so they ran away together, runaway bride.

It was supposed to be a romantic comedy, but I didn’t find it funny, maybe his alienation and disenchantment was supposed to be funny, I’m not sure. When the women in the movie scream it is horrifying!!

AMAZING!!! “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Its official “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) is one of my favorite movies of all time! I don’t even care that it’s black and white (although now they have a colorized version). The previous movie I watched for my CCBE “It Happened One Night” was good, but this movie blew it out of the park. I actually did not notice this until I was done watching the movie, but both movies were actually directed by the same director, Frank Capra. Because of this movie, I will try never to frown upon black and white movies (I’ll try cant promise anything). This movie was heart warming, funny, romantic, dramatic, family, everything you would want in a movie.

At first I was going to go ahead and watch “Casablanca,” I have heard great things about that movie, but as I went down the list I saw “It’s a wonderful Life” and for some reason something clicked, I felt as though I have heard that this movie is great and a classic, (sorry for calling it a classic, but to be honest I think it is) not really sure to be honest, but my mom said she’s watched it and said it was a good movie, so I went ahead and chose that, and boy am I glad (now I’m getting a little corny).

Attempting not to give any spoilers here is the best plot synopsis I would come up with:

The movie start off with angels discussing George Bailey (James Stewart), a small-town resident, once a dreamer, in the middle of a freak out that he actually contemplates suicide. We then flash back to review George’s life, learning that he always wanted to leave his hometown to see the world, but that circumstances and his own good heart kept him from traveling and still in Bedford Falls. He did things like sacrificing his own education for his brother’s and keeping the family-run savings and loan up and running. As well as protecting the town from a jerk of a banker Potter (Lionel Barrymore). George marries his childhood sweetheart (Donna Reed) and raises a family. Now to the present, George is about to jump from a bridge, but instead ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody (Henry Travers). Clarence wants to earn his wings. Clarence shows him how badly Bedford Falls would have been without George. (Sorry if there were any spoilers)

The only thing about this movie that wasn’t the great was that the screen cuts were obvious, maybe it was just the version I watched.

I loved Anne, the family maid, in the few scenes she was in, she cracked me up. Especially when she said “That’s why all children should be girls” and being the only girl with three younger brothers I could relate. I loved that she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and that she was so close with the family.

I have a tendency to watch a movie, pick something about that movie, and want to copy it. For example when I watched “Rocky” I wanted to become a boxer and I still want to due the fact that I recently watched “Reel Steel.” But that’s not the point I’m just rambling now. Because of this movie I want to go find Bedford Falls and move there. I mean the city I live in is great, but this one was awesome, everyone was so happy, except that jerk Mr. Potter, and whenever someone needed anything everyone was there for them. They were just so close.

James Stewart, who played George Bailey, was amazing. He did a great job at playing a small-town dreamer who loses and finds his way.  The audience is able to relate with him right away. Donna Reed plays his wife, and she did a great job as well. She was a caring wife, loving mother, and everything in between. All the actors did an outstanding job; not only were they convincing, but they perfect. No other word could describe them. If the cast was any different I don’t think this movie would have been such a success.

“One for the Money” Review

Even with a good cast, most of whom either appeared, starred or are currently starring on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” I am sorry to say I would not give “One for the Money” anything higher than a C. “One for the Money” is based on the best-selling novel by Janet Evanovich. This movie was intended for the fans of Janet Ecanovich. Anyone else watching the movie would have problems with the logic of someone going from selling lingerie at Macy’s to catching bail-jumpers as a recovery agent.

Stephanie plum, played by Katherine Heigl, has recently been divorced and lost her job at Macy’s selling Lingerie. In need for a job, she goes to work for her cousin Vinny (Patrick Fischler) at his bail bond company as a recovery agent. Even though Stephanie does not own a weapon or know the first thing about catching a bail jumper, she is in desperate need for cash. With a 50,000 dollars payout, Stephanie takes on Vinny’s biggest bail-jumper, Joe Morelli (Jason O’Mara). Not only is Stephanie going into this for the money, but for a little payback as well. Morelli is a cop accused of killing an unarmed man. He also happens to be the guy who dumped her in high school after she gave him her golden ticket. Everyone Stephanie encounters throughout seems to recall her responding to the rejection by running him over with her car and breaking his leg.

Julie Anne Robinson has directed a couple episode of “Grey’s Anatomy,” as well as, “The Last Song,” (2010) based on Nicholas Spark’s Best Selling Novel and “Cutting It” (2002). Katherine Heigl, who also executively produced the “One for the Money,” has starred in movies like “New Year’s Eve” (2011), “Killers” (2010), and “Knocked Up” (2007). Playing the man Heigl is after is Jason O’Mara who starred in T.V series such as “Terra Nova” and “Your Self Bad.” Let’s not forget about Daniel Sunjata, known for his role in the T.V series “Rescue Me.” Sunjata played Ranger, who Plum described as “the statue of David by Michelangelo, if you dipped him in caramel and strapped some heat on him.”

The movie was not the amazing, nor was it the worse movie of all time; it felt as though the plot was not strong enough. The movie was unrealistic; it gave the impression that anyone could become a bounty hunter. Plum had no gun and no handcuff, I mean come on you are chasing bail jumpers. It kind of felt like the Nancy Drew movie, although she was not chasing bail jumpers, but still how realistic is it that a teen uncovers a murder case?

As for the acting it was pretty solid. I have to give it to Heigl she did a pretty good Jersey accent. Heigl is good in romantic comedies, but when you add action into it its ok, not any Grammy winners though.  Sunjata was great; maybe even one of the best actors in the movie (even though his role wasn’t huge).  He gave Ranger the confidence that was needed for the role. Although Joe Morelli could have been a little more Italian, he did his job, can’t complain.

A few minutes into the movies and you start to notice that this is pretty similar to “The Bounty Hunter,” except well, not offense to Katherine Heigl and Jason O’Mara, but Jennifer Aniston and Gerald Butler starred in that movie making it a little more tolerable. The roles were switched as well, in The Bounty Hunter Butler was after Aniston, whereas in the One for the Money, Heigl is after O’Mara, both for personal stake.

One of my biggest problems with this movie was how dependent Plum was. According to my research one of the reasons the books were such a success was because women felt that Plum was fearless and independent. As a matter of fact the movie was written and made by females; you would think that would help. I saw no independence in the movie what so ever. Plum was so helpless, if she was not eating at her parents’ or having one of the main male characters around to fix her a meal, she was eating cheese puffs. I understand that in the novel one of Plum’s characteristics is her love for junk food, but I mean come one cook yourself some food. If you can handle a gun, you should be able to make yourself something quick to eat. Plums is not a very strong female character, most of the times she’s either getting lucky, more one of the males in the movie swoop in and save her in the last minute.

All in all the movie was ok. Put aside the logic and the feministic point of view, it was entertaining and at the end of the day that’s the most important thing (in my opinion at least).this movies was more for the series readers of Janet Evanovich, maybe to them the illogic makes sense.  The movies definitely not going to win any Oscars though.

 

 

“It Happened One Night”

Hi,

For this assignment we had to choose a movie between 1921 and 1939, I chose “It Happened One Night” (1934). Although this movie was predictable, a typical romantic comedy, I REALLY liked it. The movie was about a spoiled banker’s daughter, Ellie Andrews, who just tied the knot with society aviator King Westley. Her father disapproving of this had her whisked away to his yacht, where she would be out of King’s reach. Ellie jumps the ship, where she takes a bus heading back to her husband. Desperately needing help, she meets Peter Warne, who is a reporter out of work. Warne needs a story so he gives Ellie and ultimatum; either she stays with him until he gets her back to her husband, giving him an exclusive interview, or he’ll blow notify her father. So Ellie sticks with Warne and the journey begins.

This movie was not in color, but yet I didn’t mind it once I got into the movie. It felt like I was watching a movie from this decade, except for the clothes and cars. Warne was such a jerk, but that’s what made the movie humorous, just looking at him I couldn’t help but smile. The main characters bickered like an old married couple, which is exactly what they pretended to be while on their way to New York.  I have never watched a movie with either of the main characters, both of whom passed away a while ago. Peter Warne was played by Clark Gable, and Ellie Andrews was played by Claudette Colbert. The acting didn’t bother me, so I’m going to go ahead and say it was great acting (can’t really judge). I loved the ending, it kind of tied the whole movie together, it was the perfect way to incorporate where they are and how they got there.

I REALLY liked this movie, if you like the typical romantic comedy I would recommend this movie.

Critical Comment Blog Entry #1

Hello again,

So this is my first critical comment blog entry. Our class assignment was to choose a film from the beginning of film making up till 1920 and write a film review. The Film I chose was “The Speed Kings,” which was made in 1913.

In the film takes place automobile race. Mabel is in love with Teddy Tetzlaff, but Papa prefers Earl Cooper.So papa tries to prevent Tetzlaff from winning the race and tries to get Mabel away from him.

Maybe it’s because I have always watched movies with people actually talking in them because I was not crazy about this film. Don’t get me wrong, I did get a few laughs out of it. Both the papa and his daughter were pretty funny. The papa was played by Ford Sterling; the reactions that came from him were priceless. I find the dramatic acting in silent films very entertaining. I found his daughter in the movie a little less entertaining to watch. She was played by Mabel Normand.

The two race cars in the film were just BLAH, I felt like they were just there for the father and daughter to argue over. Both men were boring, Earl Cooper (the father’s choice) more than Teddy Tetzlaff ( the daughter’s choice). Both men were real race car drivers, not actors so I think that might be a reason for their acting skills (not that I’m one to judge).

All in all the film gave me a few laughs, I’m not crazy about silent movies so that might be why I wasn’t so fond of this one.

A little about Me and My Blog

Hello my name is Suemaya. I am 17 years old….. But I’ll be 18 in the end of February whaoooo. I am currently a senior at Fordson High School. I hope to go into Neurology in the future.

I started this blog for a class of mine, but I hope to continue with it when the class ends. This is my first blog and it will mostly be used to give movie reviews, as well as complete assignments (this being one of them). I LOVE movies, I can watch almost anything. My favorite movie is “Remember the Titans.” I love action movies; I think it has to do with the fact that I have 3 younger brothers. Comedies are another favorite of mine, although I laugh at pretty much anything.

Write soon,

Suemaya

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