Film Class Help

[SideEffect34]

I'm in a Film History and Appreciation class at my college and I wanted to see if you guys had any ideas for my first film review. I've never written a film review before. For the first review, I can choose any movie I want.

The directions state:
"The review is to focus on some aspect of filmmaking and should in no way describe the plot of the movie. Please write about set design, costumes, make-up, hair, lighting, direction, cinematography, editing, special effects, sound design, score, or stunts. Pick only one of these topics and write a full review." It only has to be one page.

I was thinking of doing it on Up or The Dark Knight for their score. Possibly The Curious Case of Benjamin Button for make-up and/or special effects. You can look through my movie collection to see what movies I have. I would love to hear any other ideas. Thanks!

[Teabaggins]

Freddy Vs Jason: Direction

or

Ghostrider: hair

[Kryptonic]

Dark Knight would be a good one to write about regarding the score and how manipulative it is in regards to the pace/editing and overall emotions it triggers in the audience.

[jadedeath]

Avoid TDK.

I'm betting all of your fellow students will be writing about it {or Avatar} WAY too trendy.

Go with the Prestige, special FX.

Logan

[mikejet]

Any film directed by Alan Smithee for direction.

[Kryptonic]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

Avoid TDK.

I'm betting all of your fellow students will be writing about it {or Avatar} WAY too trendy.

Go with the Prestige, special FX.

Logan

But TDK is so last year.

Most people won't write about the score though. Scores are so typically cast aside when discussing films.

[Lord_Stewie]

Go with T2: FX way ahead of its time.

[Elandyll]

You want to score mega points with the teacher?

The Leopard, by Luchino Visconti (Il gattopardo - 1963)

Il gattopardo (1963)

If you want something closer to our times and maybe more to your taste, maybe Moulin Rouge (2001), Elizabeth (2007), Benjamin Button (2008) or Big Fish (2003).

Lots to say about cinematography, editing, music, costumes, etc. on all of those.

Not that TDK can't be used of course, but I bet that with younger audiences (in film school), every 1 out of 3 essai the teacher has gotten since 2008 is about TDK...

[steve_dave]

Want to bottle the professor's mind?

Freaks - Directed by Tod Browning

Used real deformed freaks for most of the visual effects and has a very haunting story about acceptance and revenge.

[toef]

Since this is your first film review, I'd recommend picking a fairly mainstream movie.

If you try to pick something artsy/obscure that film-nerds/-buffs/-professors love, your review is going to come off as a lame attempt to score points, or as trying to already establish yourself as part of the in-crowd.

It's like a kid who's just learning to play the piano, and instead of being satisfied with playing Chopsticks, he figures he'll play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3, to impress the teacher, except when he tries to, he destroys the song.

[steve_dave]

For the "non-geeky" approach that won't come off sounding like you want to "score points:"

Pick either Toy Story 2 or Up to focus on great storytelling.

[mikejet]

Basic Instinct and talk about how they light the scenes and setup shots so EVERYTHING is visible....

[toef]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Basic Instinct and talk about how they light the scenes and setup shots so EVERYTHING is visible....

And how they didn't tell her what they were doing.

[jono_0101]

like others are saying, id avoid using a huge blockbuster film that is really recent like TDK, T2 would definitely be a good one, but i also think that american psycho would be a really interesting film to do in terms of direction

definitely let us know what you decide to do

[jono_0101]

Originally Posted by toefer

And how they didn't tell her what they were doing.

is that true? i never heard that before

[toef]

Originally Posted by jono_0101

is that true? i never heard that before

Sort of. From Wikipedia (always a reliable source):

Stone claimed that although she agreed to film the flashing scene with no panties, and although she and Verhoeven had discussed the scene from the beginning of production, she was unaware just how explicit the infamous shot would be. She said, "I knew that we were going to do this leg-crossing thing and I knew that we were going to allude to the concept that I was nude, but I did not think that you would see my vagina in the scene. Later, when I saw it in the screening I was shocked. I think seeing it in a room full of strangers was so disrespectful and so shocking, so I went into the booth and slapped him and left."

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by mikejet

Any film directed by Alan Smithee for direction.

awesome!

[Blu-Curry]

Special effects and STAR WARS haha... can't go wrong with that!

[toef]

Anything about The Room. Maybe how Lisa already ordered a pizza.

[kareface]

Does it have to be a well known or major film? Could a short like this work?

The Third & The Seventh on Vimeo