I've viewed this movie before during my AP world history class last year. However, back then, i simply thought this movie was out-dated, boring, and archaic. I found nothing about the film especially interesting or special. But now that this class has re-introduced the movie to me, I am amazed to see how much fun i am having watching an old film like this one.
The thing is, i've always been interested in, how should i put it? Behind-the-scene aspects of the film. i like noticing the different camera angles and the different special effects put into a certain scene, or noticing how the music in a movie is used. I also like thinking, "well, what was the director even THINKING or envisioning when he created this scene?" For example, i can be watching a really epic movie with epic music in the background, then suddenly come to the realization that without the music, the movie would simply be l-a-m-e with corny lines that people generally do not use in real life.
Yesterday, Mr. Bennett explained to the class about some elements of film. And as i continue watching, i begin to notice these elements that are portrayed very simply in this movie.
And as i analyze this film, my mindset begins to take in and notice things, such has how one thing can really reperesent or foreshadow another event. For example, when the men were in the classroom happily thinking that becoming soldiers would be a victorious and enriching experience, they marched out of the room and threw their papers everywhere. The papers h/e, fluttered about in the air and landed in a disarray all along the floor, giving the room a messy appearance. In the ending scene, when the camera kind of hovered on the papers in the room, it came to me that the papers were actually an irony and a foreshadowing about the war. The war that they are about to fight in is not exciting and happy and victorious. it is definately nothing to celebrate about. It is a disasterous mess that will include realities of life, including destruction, death, and deepening sorrow.
At first, I was disappointed to hear that you had already seen this film. But then I realized that it gives you an advantage, the same one I enjoy, in analyzing the film. The advantage is that we can analyze more easily since we are not in thrall to the plot.
ReplyDeleteIt is the greatest failure of the class. I have seen this film perhaps 30 times, and I still enjoy it very much. One year I tried to show a film twice, but I felt that it didn't work either.
Oh, I see that I violated my rule in that I am not only "following" but am commenting upon a blog whose author is unknown to me. WHile Melodii is perhaps preferable to BulldozerEddy or FX9Q42Fly, it is not what I asked for. Can you change it to your name?
ReplyDeletei don't know how to, or this obscure site doesn't allow me to :(
ReplyDelete