90's Bad Fashion, Great Films

The 90’s saw the introduction of films containing further nudity and sexual references as well as the appeal towards those who like the CGI component to films and those who are into what happens after death. There were many directors who took the road to establishing a high basis for the performance of CGI animation within the industry. This new adventure allowed for films to become 3D and add different dimensions to characters and plots instead of the forwarded and conventional stories.

Included in this era are the films that emanated sexuality such as the 1990 release of Pretty Woman, telling the story of an overworked upper class man and a less than impressive prostitute who becomes the object of affection through providing a few nights of company. Following in 1992 was the controversial release of Basic Instinct which exerts sexuality non-stop, with Sharon Stone providing scenes that are x rated and very risky for the time of publication. These two films broke barriers in the case of ratings applied to films and the content shocked patrons through the overt presentation of strong, beautiful women who are absorbed in themselves more so then the powerful men that reign in these films.

These two films are great starters to an era were many breakthroughs were made including the blockbuster directed by Steven Spielberg, Jurassic Park released in 1993 was the first to bring the element of pre-historic extinct creatures to life. The plot which surrounds two palaeontologists being brought in to oversee a project which has successfully created dinosaurs from a mosquito which was preserved. These dinosaurs live in enclosures but soon become too much and begin a hostile takeover by tormenting the team and the park for which is their home. Before this film learning about dinosaurs was limited to museums and books and the history channel but the movie brought to life what had not been done up to the point, introducing children to a virtual world off the names of dinosaurs if their carnivores or herbivores and the distinct nature of survival amongst their own species. It was to say the least a huge success and one that is remembered.

The 90’s were amazing in film production, directing and acting and was the era that provided a film that won all 5 major areas at the academy awards, Silence of the lambs which to this day is freakishly scary gave audiences a thrill in 1991. The film follows the story of Hannibal Lector played by Anthony Hopkins and his need and established fetish for cannibalism and on his trail is Jodi Foster who puts him behind bars but has no idea to the extent and depth that his madness goes. Great films succeed through how convincing they are and Hopkins adopted the persona and traits of the characters to add the believability to this onscreen maniac and scared many of the audience who have seen the entire film or even just snippets. Another masterpiece created at the end of the 90’s was The Matrix which has a difficult plot, great dialogue and the freeze frame moves you can see. The Matrix released in 1999 identified a world were nothing is as it seems and you can delve into reality or live in a futile fake world. Neo who the film follows chooses to go down the rabbit hole and have the real world unveiled to him. As the film continues their are moves were their fighting skills are shown and frozen to a point where you see them just in mid air, this seen has been used in films and a continuing theme through the Matrix trilogy.

These films mentioned above include special effects which no doubt adds to the consumer aspect of the film industry but in the 90’s there were some teen dramas that did choose to forfeit special effects. One of my fave teen films was the 1995 release of clueless, which exposes a culture within a Beverly Hills’ high school and those fortunate enough to have a motorized wardrobe. As Cher goes through the year she faces challenges such as getting her license, heartbreak, a makeover that turns ugly and finding two lonely teaches love. A perfect Friday night chick flick that never gets old. Joining my faves is the 1994 pee wee football movie, Little Giants which establishes that girls can do anything guys do and do it better. As a the small town of Urbania prepare for the battle of the O’Shea brothers who decide that theirs only room for one team those that can play and those that can’t. Becky the daughter of Danny and the niece of Kevin decides she has something to prove when her uncle does not let her onto the Cowboy’s side. A story that can hit home for many pre-teen and teen girls about self-belief.

90’s films although lacking the special effect elements of some of the contemporary films blurred lines and created controversies. Their elaborate storylines and emphasis on girl domination were inspiring. The fashion not so great but what era is? it provided a great paradigm to those film made decades before but still held onto strong female characters.

Fanatical 80's

One of the greatest components of studying film is that you get to look to the past for the inspirations of the present and how the history of film has shaped and created pop culture. No other era does this better than the 80’s were films became more than just a trip to the cinemas but an experience of Action, Horror, Comedy and Sci-Fi. Introducing the world to teen angst dramas such as Sixteen Candles, the existence of aliens with ET and the hot but knowledgeable teacher DR. Jones in what has come to be one of the most likable and profitable franchises, Indiana Jones. There stand a long list of these films which can easily be named and you have either seen or heard of the film. So let’s explore the era of shoulder pads, bad hair styles and what is sure to be the best movies soundtracks ever.

Successful films off the 80’s includes the 1984 release of Ghostbusters with its very catchy theme song and the disbelief in their action to rid the city of ghosts and creatures of the nether realm. ET was a show stopper when it was released in 1982 breaking through the barriers of science fiction and getting nine Oscar nominations and won four and despite its aging still remains a timeless and classic family orientated film which is filled with great messages about friendship and the want to go home. Finding its way into 1985 is the hugely popular drama The Breakfast Club which serves the importance of breaking down the pessimistic views overshadowing cliques and the need for popularity. The plot although simple follows a group of teens belonging to different divisions in the school and their experience in detention where we see them try to understand the others in a way they have not allowed themselves previous. Following on from The Breakfast club with its 1986 release is Ferris Buller’s Day Off which is just a genius movie with great humour, sensitivity and the best enactment of twist and shout seen since the Beatles. These films are a limited bunch of films that helped define independent years within the 80’s.

Some of the most recommended films of the 80’s include The Princess Bride which was released in 1987 and is told through a grandfather reading to his sick grandson. The film takes the audience on a journey of true love between Buttercup and Wesley who tells his love for Buttercup through these words “as you wish”. There love knows no bounds and even though their ripped apart by circumstances not under their control they proceed through the inevitable fate of not finding their better half to conquer a kingdom and regale their lost love. That same year saw the release of Dirty Dancing which cemented the statement “no one puts baby in the corner”, it see’s the evolutions of a timid teenager into a sexy dancer, however there are serious scenes and storylines such as improper abortion surgery and the restrictions parents place on their children that isolate them from experiencing life. The following year saw the release of the revolutionary film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the film crossed traditional animation with real animation and scenes of film noir. The intrigue can be seen in the seductiveness of Jessica Rabbit wnho although is a human cartoon is married to Roger but is still ogled by the real life male population including Marvin with whom she plays “patty cake”.

To start the decade the Blues Brothers were introduced along with Jack Nicholson in The Shining. The Blues Brothers Jake and Elwood were characters created to repent for their sins by keeping the orphanage in which they grew up open however they were usually in jail or ended up in jail through their good willed intentions. As they wrecked police cars and instigated high speed chases they continued with the same excuse “were on a mission from god”, despite their indiscretions they always find an interval to entertain with a song whether it be Aretha Franklin or the legendary Ray Charles, sadly losing Jim Belushi put a halt to the brotherly aspect but a third instalment was made in 2001. Also released was The Shining which is scary as hell but is payed homage to in the Simpsons, telling the story of a man who becomes disgruntled whilst being a caretaker and turning a bit nutty on his family. Jack Nicholson who plays the main character is haunting particularly in the scene where he chops through the door declaring “here’s Johnny”, the saying which is in recognition of Johnny Carson has become synonymous with the film and one of the beloved one liners that great films provide audiences with.

The end of the decade saw the release of a truly great movie in Dead Poets Society starring Robin Williams as a teacher who dares to teach against the norm. In 1989 the story of a relationship between a group of boys and their teacher was told and their bond celebrated in one line “my captain’s captain” which in the end scene when their teacher is being kicked out they stand on their desks and say the oath showing their thanks. It also has a suicide scene where a young man kills himself after performing in a play for which he is given a standing ovation but does not gain his father’s respect and answers the only way he knows how.

There are many great films in the 80’s but a stand out for me is a movie starring River Phoenix called Stand by Me. Stand By Me is a tale of friendship and overcoming the stereotypical boundaries placed on a person. River Phoenix plays Chris Chambers a boy who has alcoholic parents and is judged accordingly and through this part River excelled and prospered in the film industry before he died of a concoction of drugs outside the Viper room. An excellent piece of work from a man taken too soon and feverish tale about growing up and learning and how true friendship knows no bounds.

The 80's was a true movement in film allowing exlposions of animation and sexual intimidation . Providing a foundation for which teens could celebrate their individuality and adhere to the styles of leading ladies. Breaking down the norm became a hot topic as nerds got the guy, an alien and human can be friends and friendship is more important than previously understood.

Directors Cut

In the film industry there are many titles associated to those who take participation within the film or behind the scenes. One of the most important roles is the filmmaker or most commonly known director. Some of the most legendary directors include Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, John Hughes and Tim Burton. I have chosen these specific directors as each have a memorable movie to their names and multiple box office hits. Their visions for films and the final product are what make the study of films great.

Steven Spielberg is an unforgettable name in Hollywood and the film industry creating such film as Jurassic Park, Jaws and the Indiana Jones character. His adventures have introduced the world to the phenomenon of aliens and the further decent into the relationship between those on earth and those who are yet to be proven to exist. His explanation of this is that his father was very interested in science fiction and as a child he fixated on his alienation and through films has transformed the odd presumptions of the fear portrayed towards aliens as a meaningful introduction to a new life form which ET shows. Not only has he succeeded in genres such as science fiction but drama with the cleverly done film called Schindlers List which is a heartbreaking tale about war and the simplistic value and heart wrenching symbolism of a little red jacket. In a career spanding more than four decades he has received credits such as best director for the 1993 release of Schindlers list and the 1998 release of saving private Ryan. Although the awards speak for themselves so does money. The following were box office hits causing his career to take momentum: Jaws (1975), Indian Jones: Raiders of the lost ark ?(1981), ET (1982), Jurassic Park (1993) and many more.

Just like Spielberg, James Cameron is a well known directore famously for his re-telling of Titanic which despite it’s criticisms it is to date the highest grossing film with a total of 1.8 billion to its name and the winner of eleven academy awards including best picture. Titanic is the best example to use when describing the work of James Cameron who really goes after blocklbusters. His latest endevour is the acclaimed Avatar starring Australian Sam Worthington which delves into CGI and a battle between normality and the imagination. Avatar which is estimated to have cost over 300 million has been at the top in America for two weeks. Other works of Cameron that readers might have seen is Terminator which famously has Arnold saying no more than around 11 words and the unprecendented techniques of the elaborate animatronics to create robots with the level of skill and animation that created the war which stands between Sarah and her son. Like Spielberg there are certain themes that can be seen in the film of James Cameron including the relationship that develops between humans and technology which is shown in terminator particular judgment day and Aliens but this may be predicated on the fact he prides himself off showing the latest techniques and elabprating on technology to showcase the imagination that films hold and giving audiences the experices they deserve when seeing one of his films.

Speilberg and Cameron both have careers that have spanded over many decades and evolutionary techniques within the film industry but John Hughes is to be thanked for his inspirational and outlandish films in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Hughes who died last year in August gave the world some of the best teenage dramas with Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candels, Ferris Bullers Day Off, Weird Science, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone and Home Alone 2: New York. Through his films John Hughes summed up an entire decade with the fashion and songs which where used in the films. There isn’t one girl who wouldn’t be able to relate to the tragic and desperate character of Andie and her best friend Duckie in Pretty in Pink (1986). One of his best films is Ferris Bullers day off which follows Ferris, his girlfriend and best friend around the city as they wag school, the character of ferris does make reference to the fact his speeking to the audience which was nearly unheard off before John Hughes, it allows for the audience to feel as though they see the problem Ferris has through his dialogue. One scene that shows this well is in the beginning when talking about his friend Cameron saying to the audience that “Cameron is so uptight that if you shoved a piece of cole up his ass in two weeks you have a diamond”. This one quoute also written by Hughes gives the audience a valid chance to understand the restraint and strictness that Cameron portrays. Classic films which will last for decades to come.

The last director is Tim Burton who has created cult favourites like Bettlejuise, Sleepy Hollow, The Corpse Bride, Sweeny Todd and Ed Wood. Some of the most creative and haunting tales have been brought to life through the imagiantion of Tim Burton. Sleepy Hollow is a prime example with it being an American Folktale focused on the tellings of investigater Ichabod Crane who through extenuating circumstances is told to investigate the hideous murders occuring in a town called Sleepy Hollow, the film slowly reveals the tale of the headless horsemen and his summoning by the stepmother who by chance witnessed his glory days. Starring Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci it is a masterpiece of not only film genius but the haunting music is to be applauded. Another film which has inspired costumes fo Halloween and Much up day parties is the tale of Edward Scissorhands. Its perfect in plot and acting and shows the softness to a supposed hideous person who although is a master of sculpting and hairdressing goes through life with the people living in an unforgiving town persisting he is an unnatural being, but only one does not believe this and throught that window Burton creates a love story of compassion and caring. An honourable mention is Pee Wee’s Big Adventure which is possibly one of the funniest films ever made with creation of the Pee Wee herman dance. As abstract as some of his films may be he is nothing but a genius in his film endevours as he seeks to be different and invite audiences to seek that foundation.

There are many directors who can be considered to be the best such Alfred Hitchcock who revolutionised the film idustry with The Birds and the very popular Psycho. Alongside him are Woody Allen, Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin and Clint Eastwood. These directors changed an industry that was conforming to a socially based idea of filming, presenting the world with the same, repetative technology and plot. These filmmakers changed that and elaborated on the imagination that films could give with the development and usage of ne technology, CGI and the further decent into abstract plots.

Original Vs. Remakes

It’s always said that nothing can beat the original, but does this logic apply to cinema?

Remakes in contemporary times have harboured a bigger audience and greater profit due to the extensiveness in technology, colour, And Mise en Scene etc. However not all remakes do justice to the original script or plot. In the year 2010 there are a number of films to be released that are repeats of other movies such as Tim Burton’s artistic creation of Alice in Wonderland or the reincarnation of Freddy Kruger in The Nightmare on Elm Street directed by Michael Bay. The question remains though can these new versions compete with the old?

The first remake the plagues on my mind is Prom Night which originally starred Jamie Lee Curtis and was released in 1980 and re-released in 2008, However although the characters had the same name and the movie the same title it had a completely different plot. This was alluded to in descriptions of the movie but those who assumed it was to be like the one previous were disappointed by the harrowing tale that was turned into a negated teen drama with bitchiness and trivialised issues like who will be prom queen? Unlike the original were the teens felt the wrath of fathers despair due to the loss of a child. The newly released version is classified under horror and thriller depending on a personal spectrum of fear as the film leaves nothing to the imagination and feels like a wasted hour and a half.

Along with Prom Night is House of Wax starring Paris Hilton, although I liked the newly released version it was not due to her acting or any participation she may have had. Originally House of Wax was released in 1953 consisting of the same plot relative to the 2005 film. Despite the acting differences there is a huge cap in the intrigue and mystery in the second release. The character of Vincent is so cleverly done with the beginning showing his calmness compared to his brother Bo and yet he is considered to be the monster due to his deformities but in actual fact he only follows the orders his conjoined but separate twin gives him. As the character Alisha Cuthbert plays finds the high chairs in which in the opening scenes shows the troubled child that Bo was and how his manipulation had led to the inhumane killings of the town which is now shut of from society.

Some of the best remakes that I have seen include Oceans Eleven which originally included the rat pack in the 1960 release but became a world wide hit in 2001 when the cast included George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Julia Roberts. Not only is the plot genius but the calmness and partnership between Danny and Rusty provides hysterical moments during the film and so does the fact that despite what situation his in rusty almost always has a drink or food in his hands. The mastery of the final scenes is phenomenal with robbing the casino so perfectly and then having it explained in regards to the preparation they were doing and the fake vault that they built. Truly a great representation of another film that for its time was revolutionary.

Two other great remakes that I’ve seen are Sweeny Todd: The demon Barber of Fleet Street and 300. Sweeny Todd which was released in 1936 has an updated version which was directed Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp in 2007. The original displays fright and the outlandish tale of a man who could succumb to this massacre of killing those who enter his barber shop. The reincarnation of this film is hard to resist with the creative spark of Burton and Depp who together have created masterpieces which have been remakes such as the upcoming Alice in Wonderland and Willy Wonka both exceeding the expectations that were outlined for this release. The story follows a man who has lost his family to a wealthy man who was overcome with greed when the women he wanted chose a barber. This leads to the banishing of Todd from his town and his return which ends up causing the mass murder of those who are from out of town. Burton’s wife makes an appearance as her and Todd find a use for each other. She uses the limbs from the dead for her pies which unknown to her customers taste quite exceptional with the extra special ingredient.

300 which is a remake of 300 Spartans was released in 2006 with too many special effects to name. The original in 1962 is nothing compared to the techniques used in the contemporary version. Although the Spartans are still the focal point it is the use of technology that is showcased with the battle scenes and the creatures used against the Spartans which they defeat. The plot follows an army of 300 who go up against the Persian army who are over stepping their bounds into Sparta. As the king of Sparta gathers his army he shows that although their small in numbers compared to the Persians they can still outdo them with their highly intelligible techniques and smarts which does work up until the last stand where the King dies but his heroics are not unnoticed as the army returns with the tale and their army triples. It does seem a little like David vs. Goliath but it shows a good story and the gradual progression of CGI.

Remakes are not always great but sometimes they can be bigger and better then the original. Great stories need to be re –told to continue into generations and directors help that with creative new techniques such as Michael Bay and Tim Burton. A great example is in 2009 a re-release of fame was done which was a splendid example of young talent and sent a message to teens which the original fame intended. Remakes we could do without are PSYCHO which was stupid because you cannot recreate Alfred Hitchcock.

Vampire Frenzy

The last post I wrote was dedicated to the debate surrounding the books and movie adaptions of Harry Potter and Twilight, this theme will be continued to further discuss the phenomenon surrounding the intrigue and unmistakable likeness for creatures of the dark. Twilight which is the biggest franchise containing vampires since the 90's release of Buffy the Vampire slayer and the spin off Angel. All of which follow a long history of displacement of vampires being either banished or welcomed into society.

Lets start at the beginning shall we?

The first identifiable vampire is the legendary, Dracula which before being adapted to the movie screen was a literary creation. Despite their being over 200 movie adaptions that have either been inspired by or use the character of Dracula, Nosferatu remains as the original. Nosferatu was released in 1922 as a completely silent movie which added darkness, mystery and intrigue creating dimensions of vampires other than what had already been written or assumed. However consumerism and advertising has added to the overwhelming consumption of books, movies and television series that use vampires as either main characters or reference to another plot.

The most popular television show using vampires was the 90's series Buffy which starred Sarah Michelle Galler as the slayer, a person or persons destined to hunt creatures that are harmful to the human existance and in this case, Vampires. The show indulges in the life of  a teenage girl who is to fulfil her destiny as those who came before her, but her life is turned upside down when by surprise she falls for Angel who unknown to her, Giles and her friends is a Vampire formely know as Angelius. As the series continues it becomes apparent that through past events Angel has a soul and can feel remorse and pain which in effect causes him to be a positive for the hunters instead of the hunted. Although paradoxically this seems to be ok it convolutes the original expressions of vampires who in most depictions before Buffy which of course was censored, had a relationship of love and commitment not just SEX or the idea that death was Angels only intention towards Buffy.

However, television shows containing Vampires have since changed with the 2009 releases of True Blood and The Vampire Diaries which are both adaptions from successful book series. True Blood concedes to the idea that vampires are an accepted part of society and they can walk into a bar and order artificial blood as a surrogate for your average beer or alcoholic beverage. The setting advocates that in the Western states of America, normality is a word that can be associated to Vampires and their existance and lifestyle which has continued throughout centuries. Like Buffy there is a romance between Bill (Vampire) and Sookie (mortal) which is drastic and distorted and contains a physicality which was previously unshown in Buffy or Angel as the censoring provisions have now been changed and True Blood has marketing value on the sexuality and roughness of love that it displays.

The most recent television show to be marketed to vampire loving audiences is The Vampire Diaries.

The plot revolves around two brothers, Stefan and Damon and their shared love for Elena a reincarnation or so they think of the woman they once loved and the one who delivered the fate of them being vampires. Like Buffy their home is a small town with no knowledge of the existence of vampires and are frightened when Damon becomes the source of attacks on townsfolk but the twist comes when like Angel and Edward, Stefan does not feed on humans which weakens him but to betray his soul in that way is not an outs for him, the only object he has to live for is Elena. Despite these three television series being different they share a commonality in that all three women overcome the boundaries, that the men they love are vampires but to "have loved and lost is better than to never loved at all".

Beyond television shows dedicated to having vampires as either recurring or permanent roles there are paranormal shows such as the X Files and Supernatural. The X Files which was the original paranormal exploration show used Vampires in all their glory including melting techniques, the thirst for human blood and the exceptional sex drive which Agent Moulder succumbs to. Whereas in Supernatural the myths surrounding vampires are dispelled, those portraying the vampires claim that sunlight does them no harm and the only form of destruction they can face is by the colt. A revolver which Sam and Dean must find in order to kill and defeat them. There is no one television show that has continuous line of thought when it comes to vampires and in particular their manifestations.

However, there are more movies containing Vampires then television shows made. The character of Dracula spawned many movies devoted to him specifically and then others who took inspiration from the morbid, drab and hollow existence he inhabited. In recent years there have been films that have looked at the specific tales of vampires which includes the underworld trilogy, pitching werewolves against vampires in what has a been a never ending war.The Twilight saga following a similar route but detours leaving readers to wonder about the relationship between what have traditionally been enemies.

Those franchises are considered to be more of a conventional plot of vampires compared to the recent release of Lesbian Vampire Killers which plays on the sex appeal of not only women together but the sexuality that Vampires resinate as seen by others. These films were all made in America but there is one pre teen Vampire film which is Swedish called let the right one in. This film follows a young girl and boy and although you might consider it to be innocent and playful despite what its about, it contains darkness and a very bleak outlook on their lives compared to Twilight or Underworld were there is some hope but this establishes none of those elements.

Vampiristic themes (that even a word, lol), are broad with the exploration beginning with the Vamp which is a term used to describe women and not men. In the 1920's the term Vamp was used when describing aggressive young sexual women who was classified as being unsettling for society. Although in cinema the Vamp type is rare it can be considered to appear in the femmefatale era where women are in control and the domineering sex compared the meek men who fall into their traps. Quite different compared to Bella, Buffy, Sookie and Elena.

Vampires VS. Wizards

Which side are you on?

As of late I have noticed that there are a lot of comparisons being made between the Twilight Saga franchise and Harry Potter. Despite being Team Twilight I was intrigued by the fascination with both enterprises and their elaborate attempt to bring back the dichotomy of magical and traditionally violent creatures.

Harry Potter which was released in 1997 established a format for imagination and the spectacular within both the human and wizard world. J.K did not isolate just the enviornment of Hogwarts as being the only inhabitation of these teenagers but included good and bad experiences that had happened in the mortal realm. This crossover of worlds led to Harry's memories of both living with an indulgent and mean aunt and uncle but also having time spent with the Weasley's in their small but homely house. These patterns gave dimensions to the character, book and movies and allowed audiences of all ages to enjoy the adventures of Harry Potter and the expident trio in which Hermione and Ron create. However, it has taken years for the movies to be realesed and with the last to be in two parts. Despite the importance this novel has played since it's release it has less of an affect personally once I read Twilight and became overwhelmed like all those who believe in romance.

Twilight which was released in 2005 has taken the world by storm. Their are those in America who have tattoos of quotes such as "The lion fell in love with the lamb" or the symbolism of the hands holding the apple which also appears in the first film. However the popularization of vampires began with Bran Stokers Dracula and contnued with the 90's series of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and the spinoff 'Angel'. Although the world has been introduced to allusive and conjured up view of vampires through the X files and Supernatural, it is Edward Cullen and family who are a different description to those previously created. So Edward does not drink human blood, can go out in sunlight but crystallizes instead of dies or is horribly disfigured, does not have a vampire face like angel, can read minds and has fallen unconditionally in love with the most plain Jane of forks high school, Bella Swan. His struggle to control himself around Bella makes it even more heart wrenching when he decides to leave in the second book to allow her the freedom and life he think she deserves and would have if he were not in her life. This view changes when through false news of her death he realised he has one love and without her the life of immortality he is leading is worthless.

This move shows that though he his the undead he is not without a heart. The franchise is phenemonial in money made and the book sales and has had two sucessfull movies with a third to be released next year. Whilst Harry Potter was good when you were 12-14 it is Twilight that is aimed at teenagers and an older generation willing to accept that Love even if imaginary can come in many forms.

But I also see the advantages and disadvantages to the film through critical analysis. I did my final assignment on the topic of  'Genre' and the misrepresentation given to films by their labelling. Twilight for example is classified as being horror and yet their are little sequences that make an individual shriek or shut their eyes in fear. The simple classification of a film helps an audience member decipher their enthusiasm towards that film and if their afraid of mythical creatures who suck blood which is only a partial part compared to the love story then their less likely to see that film. However, the sequencing in which Twilight is labelled can be complicated through sub categorization which may include romance, comedy and become ambiguous in what the plot is actually directed towards. Harry Potter which was established as a sem- teenage film has become darker with every director and release causing children who like the books to be disbaled in their attempt to see the film because it is rated according to national standards of content. There is another element that complicates how we categorize films, special effects. In cinema studes there is a term called 'Mise en scene' and it includes costuming, lighting, shot angles and so forth and when a director has a specific image in mind for a scene these techniques are used to establishe the overall effect which is meant to add character and depth to an otherwise childrens fairy tale and due to this Harry Potter has become about darkness, Power and the invetiability of death.

Small Budget

The new and ecentric horror film paranormal activity has grossed over 100 million dollars in the month of october this year and yet it was considered to be a low budget cinematic endevour. Paranormal activity follows two college students and their beyond normal experiences in their home, convinced she is haunted Katie and boyfriend Micah film the unexplained happenings hoping to prove their not insane or imaging the occurences.

Paranormal activity heavily linked to the Blair Witch Project which became a huge success through the intimidation of fear and the suprising elements of the films rather than the stereotypical ending or plot. A critique of these films may be that their not conventional hollywood movies but they connect with a type of filming which has been surpassed by technology and the ability to want the next blockbuster. Made on a budget of $15,000 Paranormal Activity has minimal special effects as it relies on the convincing acting of those experiencing these fears and thrills. This film was a 97 minute short film shown in 2007 and changed and edited to suit a different audience and ended up being one of the best movies released this year.

As a cinema studies student I recognize that technology has created a new history for films and consumerism of films but it does take away from the plot and concentration that should be placed on the characters. The new Spike Jones film based on the book Where the Wild Things Are displays a film where special effects are not used to create the alternate universe in which Max escapes into and by doing this he adheres to the nature of the book and familarity with a style of film making.