My Feels on the Class Films*

*These feels are subject to change, especially since I am a fickle woman.

We have watch several different kinds of films in class.  I liked quite a few of them; pretty sure there was one that I loathed, but I do not know how to rate them on a numbered scale.  I think it would make more sense for me to talk about them in the order we watched them so that I can recollect my reactions upon watching each one.

1. Sherlock Jr. (1924) - this was a fun one.  Not particularly that high on my list, but I did enjoy it.  As far as slapstick comedy goes, it was definitely more enjoyable than Family Guy.

2. Freaks (1932) - this was the first film of this class where I got emotionally invested in what was going on.  It is a crooked, clever sort of horror film; moderately high up on my list.

3. Detour (1945) - this one was a letdown.  I really like film noir, but this particular film was boring and the main character was so whiny.  I think I initially hated the femme fatale character, but looking back, I think I was just annoyed that the film was not as "cool" as I expected, especially since this unit was covered on my birthday.  This is very low on my list.

4. Awara (1951) - I really liked this film.  One of my favorites in the class, this film was pretty to look at, the characters were interesting, the story was overall well developed, and the best part was the music.  I still don't agree that Awara is necessarily a musical, but the songs were nice anyway.  I want the soundtrack.

5. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1967) - this one was...alright.  Initially, I really liked it, but now that I think about it, I don't like it as much as I did.  I remember it being a lot slower, and while it is a very good Western (a terribly underrated genre), I also remember not focusing on it very well while watching it.  It might just be me, though.

6. Killer of Sheep (1977) - I don't know what to say about this film.  I didn't hate it; it was a strange film, though.  Rating it is difficult because I can't find much else to say about it, so I'll just place it in the corner of my list until it decides to tell me what it wants.

7. Spoorloos (1988) - I have a love/hate relationship with this film.  I want to love it because the premise is so interesting and the characters are very intriguing, but they also bother me, especially the "bad guy" of the movie.  I want to like him, but he irritates me for some unknown reason; maybe it's the way he's written?  This film is the see-saw on my list.

8. My Own Private Idaho (1991) - another love/hate relationship, although I know the reason for this one.  I want to like the film for its originality and creativity, but I have seen so many different queer films that this one seems kind of bland in comparison.  Not a bad film; not that low on my list, but I do think there are much better queer films out there.  Here's a short list of better ones (because I happen to love queer cinema):
The Trip (2002)
Wilde (1997)
Bad Education (2002)
Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
Maurice (1987)
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)
NOT David's Birthday (2009; that one is so boring)
Okay, I should stop talking now...

9. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) - my other favorite from this class.  This film had very nice cinematography, a great cast, and AGAIN with the awesome music!  The atmosphere of the entire movie was breathtaking as well.

10. Wendy and Lucy (2008) - I liked this film.  Just liked it; I was afraid that it was going to turn into one of those "art" films that clearly try too hard, but no.  This movie defied my expectations in a good way.  It's sort of in the middle of the list.

11. Moonrise Kingdom (2012) - I really liked this film, too, mostly because it was a nice, little sort of whimsical escape for me from the fact that we are near finals and I don't feel prepared for any of it.  Yet, this film made me sad; I wish I could just up an leave my home. But no. Priorities.

12. Frances Ha (2012) - I want to like this film.  It is a good movie, but it kind of pissed me off; it was a reminder that we cannot just up and leave our homes and abandon our priorities.  It was a reminder that dreams are almost always compromised.  And this reminder came. Right. Near. Finals.  Thanks, Frances.  Thanks a lot.  This movie is only temporarily low on my list; it'll probably climb up once I start summer vacation.

Moonrise Kingdom: Voyeurism and Bummin' Cigarettes

This is a particular screenshot displays a wide shot of a woman, who is Suzy's mother, on her bike asking for a cigarette from a cop (Bruce Willis) who was smoking one next to his car.  There is a frame around the scenario in the shape of binocular eye-holes, because they are being watched by a little girl, Suzy, who is off-camera, making this a voyeuristic scene.

The two adults are centered in the binocular's frame, but they are far away.  The two adults are sort of close to each other, in how close they are standing/sitting near each other, and with the fact that Suzy's mother is taking a cigarette from the cop that he was already smoking.  Suzy's mother is also turned away slightly from Suzy's view; this is suggestive of some secretive behavior, as if she is trying to be careful not to be seen.  The cop in particular is partially hidden by the front of his car, and the word "Police" on the car is being blocked by a huge bush.  This could be read as a sign that justice is being breached in some way (hint hint).  There is also lighthouse cleverly placed more in the foreground and it is facing Suzy's mother and the cop, which is mimicking Suzy's position from where she is watching them.