Spike Lee's Do the RIght Thing: Territorial Struggle

1. The position and angle of the camera can be used to make the streets look smaller, and the characters look closer together. Mookie picks up the trash can and throws it through the window of the restaurant in one shot, signifying the closeness of the block. The street represents a barrier because of the Italian restaurant on one side and the Korean market on the other. Without the movie telling you, it is easy to tell that the day of the events is extremely hot due to the use of the camera.
2. There is a distinct barrier between the Sal and his sons, the Korean family, and the black people who live in the neighborhood. This is due to the fact that the two families each control a section in the neighborhood. While the black characers dislike the way that the institutions are run, they are a big part of their lives that they cannot do without. The way Sal and the owners of the store are treated and treat others prove the dislike of the different races towards each other.

Do the Right Thing

Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee chronicles racial conflicts in Brooklyn. It was shown in my film studies class because of its use of mise-en-scene. It takes place in one neighborhood, and shows some of the racial issues that occur. It features music in a prominent role, as it much of it is the music that the characters hear as well, instead of just a soundtrack. I also enjoyed the camera angles used for many scenes. Such as the closeup and slanted screen used in the confrontation between Sal and Raheem. The fact that it takes place on one block, in one day adds to the effect of the set used and the music played by Radio Raheem. This film uses a variety of characters, many of whom are not thoroughly examined. This makes the characters seem more like actual people, instead of characters of a movie. Overall, it was a very interesting film by a very talented director.

Traffic

Traffic is a film hich uses multiple color filters to distinguish the multiple storylines which link to form the plot of the movie. In a way similar to Vantage Point, Traffic contains multiple characters in multiple separate storylines converging into one. The yellow filter is used in the scenes in Mexico and add to the desert-like feel. There is a blue filter used in the scenes surrounding Michael Douglas' family. The film also has a grainy texture, which adds to the overall feel of the movie.

Traffic has a star studded cast, many of which only make cameos. It has a well-developed storyline, and it comes together very well. While the film was slightly long, it was not a boring as other films of its length.

Robin Hood

I recently watched The Adventures of Robin Hood from 1938 starring Errol Flynn. This film contains a great combination of comedy and action, along with beautiful coloring. Produced in Technicolor, it contains a vivid display of colors, most notably green. After seeing this film, I was reminded of the first time I watched The Wizard of Oz, seeing the spectacular colors contrasting to the typical film of its day. This film also had a spectacular flm score, one which I compare to that of the Star Wars franchise.

The colors of this film are bright, almost to the point of looking like a book, or a cartoon. However, this fits well and makes this film one of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. THe acting is great, and the film has an everlasting comedic effect, making it funny 70 years later.

In Living Black-and-White

1. I agree with the notion that black and white film has its own excitement and purposes. In the current film market, people are always looking for something different, and black and white film would certainly draw customers just because of its uniqueness. One example of a great black and white film would be Raging Bull. It was made well after color film became common. Because of the black and white colors, it seems reminiscent and brings thoughts about the past. The movie would not be the same if it was in color, as the black and white gives it it's character.

2. If I came across the black and white movie while flipping channels I would most likely keep going. This is because I know more color movies, and the black and white movies wouldn't attract my attention if I have never heard of it. I also find some black and white movies harder to get interested in because it is harder for me to relate to movies that are older. I would, however continue watching if the movie is a famous movie that I had heard about, or it features a famous actor or actress.

The Long Voyage Home/Raging Bull

Just finished watching two black and white films, whose plots could not have been more different and were made in two completely different eras.

The Long Voyage Home was released in 1940 and features John Wayne before his rise to stardom. Amazingly, even though nearly the entire movie takes place on a boat in the ocean, the majority of the film was shot in a studio. The black and white film is beautiful, and the many shades of black, white, and gray, almost make the film appear to be in color. While the plot leaves more to be desired from a teenager's point of view, the acting and the overall look of the film make this film enjoyable to watch.

After watching Raging Bull for the first time, it has already established itself as one of my all-time favorite sports movies. Based on the far-from-perfect life of boxer Jake LaMotta, this film employs some amazing camera work. As someone who has seen the Rocky movies multiple times, it is refreshing to see someone use a camera from inside the ring for once. It featurs one the most incredible shots in any movie that I have seen, when the camera follows Jake from the training room, out into stands towards the stage, and then up onto the crane to capture an aerial view. In the end, this film interests me as it is not a typical happy-go-lucky ending where he gets the girl and wins the title. While a typical happy ending may be generally more appreciated, it would have completely changed the mood of the film.