Movie Review Prep

Start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Phillips_(merchant_mariner)

You are then free to use google to do independent research. Please answer the following questions:

1. Who are the main characters you would expect to see in the movie, based on the real life events?

Captain Phillips, his crew, a group of Somali pirates including the leader Abduwali Muse .

2. Briefly, in 2-3 paragraphs, tell me what you expect the plot to be in the movie, based on the real life events?

Captain Phillips and his crew are on their way to Kenya carrying cargo and resources. They then notice a speedboat with 4 people heading towards them. These four pirates board the ship and kidnap Captain Phillips, but the crew capture a pirate. The pirates try to start the ship but it doesn't start. Crew members give them a lifeboat, with the intent to trade the captured pirate for their captain. It fails and all the pirates escape with Phillips.

Captain Phillips and the pirates are now in a lifeboat, heading to Somalia. Then the U.S Navy arrives and saves Captain Phillips.

3. Why was this story important?
It's an example of a real life event that actually happened. It shows the effects of pirate-hijacking, and is an example of why pirate-hijacking drills exist.

Also it's a life-threatening event in real life.

4. Why did the pirates try to take the ship?

It's the same as robbing. Taking over the ship would be a source of wealth if taken to illegal markets, or held as ransom.

Now lets do a little research about the movie itself:

Start here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Phillips_(film)

You are then free to use google to do independent research. Please answer the following questions?

1. List the five most important actors in the film.

Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi, Faysal Ahmed, Omar Berdouni,  Yul Vazquez.

2. What is the movie rated?
 Rotten Tomatoes:  an approval rating of 93% based on 263 reviews. An average rating of 8.3/10
3. Who directed the movie?
Paul Greengrass
4. Who was the producer?

Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca

5. What awards did it win?
 Nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards: Best Picture (Drama), Best Actor in a Drama (Hanks), Best Supporting Actor (Abdi) and Best Director (Greengrass).
Nominated for nine British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction (Greengrass), Best Actor (Hanks), Best Supporting Actor (Abdi), and Best Adapted Screenplay.[30] 

Abdi won Best Supporting Actor.

Nominated for six Academy Awards; Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Abdi), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing.

6. How much did it cost to make?
$55 million
7. How was it received by audiences?
 Was praised for its screenplay, production, cinematography, and the performances of Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi.

8. What did other movie reviews think about the movie?

4.5/5 Screen Rant: "Greengrass and Hanks succeed in Captain Phillips with an astute and exciting action-thriller/biopic."

4/5 The Guardian: "I can't imagine anyone other than Greengrass handling this material, the story seemingly tailormade for his trademark blend of political clout, dramatic punch, thespian wallop and broad audience appeal."

Final Exam Preview

1. Explain your experiences with creating videos. Anything counts, Facebook live, youtube, vine, tiktok, snapchat, insta, etc.

I have used InShot, a video-making app, for a video project. That's pretty much all my experience in creating videos.

2. What do you think the biggest differences you might encounter using a DSLR or GoPro compared to your phone?

Taking pictures will be sharper ( or can easily be sharper compared to the phone's camera quality). Allows higher amounts of shutter speed, aperture, ISO.


3. Now that you know what your assignment is, please list at least three ideas you have for creating video.

Going to a park with brother and showing his interactions with other kids.

A homework crisis where homework is completed at 1AM

Going to a hiking trip





4. Explain some ways you might be able to use still images in your video product.

Still images can be used to show a before/after shot (cooking),  an action (such as running or walking a path) can be taken by still images.

Big highlights should have more viewing time, so a still image of a good shot of something very interesting shows impact.

5. What are some ways you could use audio in your product?

Music, sound effects/the outside sounds, narration.


3-5min total

Comprised of: 

45 sec of video min or more (broken up)

20-60 still pictures (broken up)

title and stuff

manual set camera

must include narration at least 15 seconds worth. (ex: narrate intro)

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Newpaper Design 2

Newspaper Design

Magazine Covers Done

Movie Reviews

A Father Confronts His ‘Spider-Verse’ Problem:

1. Name of the publication

New York Times.

2. Name of the writer

Lawrence Ware.

3. Grade or score the movie review on a 1-10 scale in your opinion

9/10

Very good animations and entertaining plot for a movie despite it's PG rating (PG movies usually only entertain very young children).

4. High Points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

Very unique cinematography that illustrates the movie as a comic-book-style of a plot. Extremely likable characters, and very entertaining plot.

Plot is full of action and humor, which entertains more than just young children.

5. Low points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

The plot introduces many other Spiderman characters, which reduce the focus of the main character becoming Spiderman during the film. Movie does bring in a superhero that isn't white (as opposed to old stereotypical movies that enforce white supremacy like Pocahontas), but loses focus on the character for a while when the other characters appear.

Plot isn't too realistic in terms of how machinery works and other things, but is forgivable because of the comic book theme.

6. Quote a paragraph from the review that you think expresses the overall opinion of the reviewer about the movie.

"Miles Morales, the first Afro-Latino Spider-Man, was the focus for the first half of the film, but, thereafter, he became a Spider-Man among Spider-Men. He was no longer the focus, and that puts me in a tough place as a father of young children."

How to Let Your Dragon Go

1. Name of the publication

The Atlantic.

2. Name of the writer

David Sims


3. Grade or score the movie review on a 1-10 scale in your opinion

7.
Despite its poor plot structure, it's still a good enough movie to end the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy.

4. High Points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

Very beautiful cinematography and performance: Characters' actions in this movie move fluidly, even during dynamic movements like flying. Movie transitions to a very likable conclusion.

5. Low points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)

Lots of filler content, leading to a poor plot.

6. Quote a paragraph from the review that you think expresses the overall opinion of the reviewer about the movie.

"The bond between Hiccup and Toothless has been well developed enough over these three films that the heartfelt last 20 minutes work. So much of The Hidden World is stuffed with filler material. But in certain wordless moments, this grand final entry really sings."

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A Father Confronts His ‘Spider-Verse’ Problem - The New York Times

‘How to Train Your Dragon’ Explores ‘The Hidden World’ - The Atlantic

Portraits and Self Portraits

Magazine Cover Images