September 2, 2009
Sci-Fi Blog
The best sci-fi character ever created would have to be HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Starting by the fact that it’s a machine that resembles human qualities, but in fact is incapable of emotion, Hal-1000 is able to depict a very possible future for humanity just by its crude, methodical way of thinking. First of all, HAL questions the credibility and reliability of computers, and as technology progresses, we see how we depend more on them each passing day. Also, HAL makes us think about our future as humans, seeing how HAL’s speech and manner is seemingly more human than the people on board. One wonders if with time, humans will become so desensitized to each other, that machines could end up acting more human than humans themselves. HAL is a non-human character that makes the audience question and discuss metaphysical and philosophical aspects of life and human nature, which is why I consider it the most innovative and best developed sci-fi character in film history.
The best sci-fi villain ever created is Alex DeLarge from A Clockwork Orange. He represents the most cruel and narcissistic personality that could be conceived. At the same time, he is a brilliant person, extremely fond of Beethoven, and with a great sense of humor, which is evident when he commits a rape while singing “Singing in the Rain,” probably the happiest song ever written. What makes him such a terrifying character is that when he subjected to torture by the government, one can’t help but identify with him and understand that his personality is not that uncommon, but that it resides in our very nature.
The best villain in a movie is without a doubt Hannibal Lecter. First seen as a secondary character in the movie Manhunter (named Hannibal Lecktor), the character inspired what would become a franchise and the legacy of Anthony Hopkins by his extraordinary performance in Silence of the Lambs. Hannibal Lecter is a serial killer, which by its self wouldn’t be very remarkable, but imagine a serial killer that is an excellent psychiatrist possessing a truly outstanding, intellectual, and brilliant mind. He’s fond of art, literature, classical music, etc. Now, as if that weren’t enough to become deeply terrifying, add some cannibalism to the mix.
September 5, 2009
The End
A film with a great ending is Seven, where the climax and resolution are placed together in a twist that makes the audience forget their most instinctive reflex function- breathing. Suspense drives us throughout the whole movie up to that point, but director David Fincher gives no more answers than necessary. At last, when we discover what’s happened and why things are worse than anyone could have imagined, character hierarchy changes and the whole balance of the movie is turned around in a split second. The ending is so incredibly suspenseful and impactful that one can’t help but remember it forever.
The Godfather has one of the best openings ever on film. A simple scene where a local mortician, Bonasera, is asking Vito Corleone to do a murder in revenge of his daughter’s attack, we get an excellent sense of how important and powerful is our main character. After that, the wedding scene introduces us to everyone in the Corleone Family (as in the Cosa Nostra family, as well as the blood-related one) and we learn about Italian-American culture.
See Them Go
Watching Lester Burnham, of American Beauty, die by the hands of a man driven by hate and confusion was tremendously impactful and devastating to me. Throughout the movie I got to know the character, identify with him, and desire for him to succeed at finding happiness. As he liberated himself from trivialities of common standards of livings, I encouraged him and idolized him. He ultimately dies out of confusion from a disturbed man, which is extremely sad, but director Sam Mendez showed us his face after being killed. A smile on his face was everything I needed to see to understand that it was not a pointless death, but one that gave the movie and the characters a whole new meaning.
September 14, 2009
Web of Risks
I used to work in a coffee shop as a shift supervisor. One day I was assigned to open the store with a coworker who did not show up or call in sick. A week went by and no one had heard of her, but suddenly another coworker, who was her friend on Facebook, noticed that she had posted photos of herself partying the night before her absence at work. I never knew exactly what happened next, but I know she was to be reprimanded with a warning, if not a suspension, but she resigned and we never saw her at work again.
If I were in a position, where I had to employ someone and had the opportunity to see his or her Facebook or Myspace page, I’d like to think I’d be professional and stay away from it unless that person asked me to take a look at it. Although such pages are generally public, they offer a sense of privacy that most users expect in naivety. Professionally, it would be unethical for me to wander into their personal business, because it should not affect a working environment. Its true that personal choices may reflect ones professional ethic, but there’s a legal process that should be followed when a person is not fit to do a specific task. Employers, by seeing the personal information and pictures posted in these types of pages, could become biased towards employees and derive to unfair conclusions.
September 16, 2009
Actor
If I had to choose between working with an impossible actor or an egomaniac writer, I’d choose the latter. Actors are very important to studios because they are the main attraction of most moviegoers. Studios hire them for their celebrity status and many times ignore their capacities to portray the character. Therefore, I’d be forced, like so many directors, to make my movie with an actor I’m not happy with. However, if working with a writer who does not respect my ideas, I’d probably try to make him understand how my ideas could work. I could also talk to the producers about the problem and see how they think the situation could be solved peacefully. If nothing works, I’d do the work on my own and show it to the producers.
Riddles
In The Dark Knight, The Joker gives victims different reason for his disfiguration. This could be a result of madness, but most likely it’s a psychological tactic based on how he perceives each victim. I believe he never explained the truth about it, but by telling dramatic stories about his disfiguration, he was able to create a small sympathetic weakness on his victims, which he later used to his advantage.
September 21, 2009
Song
I always loved the ending of Fallen mainly because of the use of music in it. As one discovers that the fallen angel, Azazel, won the battle and will live eternally, we hear “Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones. Not only does it work musically as a way to end the movie and start the credits, but also lyrically it’s a perfect fit. The movie is about a sort of demon that possesses people and makes them destroy their lives, and the song is told through the perspective of the Devil himself. Also, it fits in great with the movie because Azazel is a big Rolling Stones fan, singing “Tiiime is on my side. Yes it is!” throughout the movie.
Edge Of Your Seat
The first time I saw Rear Window, I remember that I couldn’t disconnect from the movie in the least. I couldn’t hear anything around me, as I sat inclined towards the screen waiting for the next clue or event. The movie does such a great job of placing the audience in the place of the protagonist, that the audience feels as if they are the ones finding the clues. I remember well that one of the scenes that exhilarated me the most was when Lisa went to the suspect’s apartment to find the ring, and then the man came back to the apartment. Another scene where the tension is extremely high that one can’t even breathe is when Thorwald discovers who Jeffries is and where he lives, and Jeffries is alone and no one can help him as the murderer approaches him.
September 23, 2009
Memories
I believe that some events and truths in life are hugely painful and it is best to forget about them. Some might argue that everything can be a teaching experience, and by that reasoning, it wouldn’t be wise to forget things, but I think that sometimes the pain overpowers whatever lesson can be learned, if any. In life, many things happen that are just cruel and tragic, and have nothing good to offer. In such cases, it would be great if one could just forget about it and move on.
Burning House
If my house was burning down and I only had the chance to save 5 of my DVDs, I’d have to choose Taxi Driver, Seven, Heat, The Godfather and American Beauty. These movies mean the most to me and have been my favorite movies for many years, therefore, I could watch them an infinite amount of times. Through their philosophical explorations, they have helped me build my personality and I have no doubt that I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for them. Also, they work as an excellent source of entertainment for me, as well as they conjure up great memories of me watching and discussing them with my dad.
