Journal #3 Lawrence of Arabia (Reception)

I decided to write about the reception of the film, Lawrence of Arabia, because it is heralded as one of the greatest movies of all times on nearly all respected list of films and respected by many important filmmakers alike. It was releasesd December 16th 1962 and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards 1963, out of the 10 nominted for Lawrence of Arabia only walked away with 7 wins, including best director and best picture.

The public and critics both viewed the film as amazing and influential to fture films as they do today. Directed by David Lean who is well known for many of his other films such as Dr. Zhivago and many more is mostly renowned for his direction in Lawrence of Arabia.

People would react, in my opinion much different than they did when it came out because it doesn't have a very active, intriguing plotline throughout the first half of the film but for good reason, I feel it shows the agonizing slowness an dread of traveling through the desert, while it works very well in the movie it would not grab people's attention today as it would when it was released.

Truthfully I enjoyed the small little tendencies that made the cinematography what it was and how the character of Lawrence changed throughout the story in a almost comical way were just some of the reasons that this fim was given such a big response and is one of the most critically acclaimed movies of all time.

Too Tough To Die

I am almost completely against the article Too Tough to Die because it puts the down the entire genre of westerns saying that they are old and no one wants to watch them, but with the recent resurgence of new westerns I hope that they change everyone's opinion on them. The article puts down the westerns saying that people don't want to watch them because "you can speed up spaceships and cars, but you can't speed up horses." Which by all means is true because most directors are aiming for they're target audience to just make money and not art but westerns were the one of the first monumental dramas that actually changed they way they were made for the purpose of breaking away from the stereotypical western. I am actually excited for the new rise of westerns, seeing them now it doesn't do them the justice that they had and now deserve as truly amazing films. The I hope that when the western catches on and even more people are implementing the typical and expected western aspects and put new and unexpected twists on them will change everyone's opinion on the western from now until it slowly fades out again only to rise anew another time in the future.

The Review Of Vertigo (Journal #2)

Vertigo, Directed by Alfred Hitchcock is a story of a former detective, John 'Scottie' Ferguson who suffers from Acrophobia, (gets dizzy and passes out from 10 feet and up,) is asked to follow a former friends wife who John fears is suicidal, and all the strange events that follow.

Vertigo is a story of love and obsession and the latter takes control over the last half of the movie as John keeps seeing his lost love in all the places he had followed her when he was hired to follow her. He has these strange dreams excellently choreographed to give the most suspense possible and make you feel truly uncomfortable watching this man so saddened and truly unable to decipher reality and tricks created by his own mind, ultimately his reality becomes ruined by his own doing and his inability to let anything go.

James Stewart plays the lead as John Ferguson, and plays him beautifully. His acting is so life like and real you forget that those scenes of Vertigo are created and not the actual visions of a delusional man. Kim Novak as one of the most interesting characters in any movie I have ever seen, playing the suicidal knowing damsel in self created distress and the uncertain loving and caring disillusioned woman who provides herself as the love interest. These two are the two and only main characters as their are in reality only about eight characters who actually have lines in the entire movie, they basically carry the entire movie on their shoulders and as well as keeping the story rolling and drama flowing.

Alfred Hitchcock again dazzles audiences with his master cinematography skills and his ability to weave a web that ties itself to completely different aspects of the film and ties them together to create a masterpiece of a movie. During the dream sequence of the wallowing state of John Ferguson's self pity, the screen is bombarded with visual illusions, color flooding the screen and eerie music which creates a mood of awkwardness, you don't know what to focus on, so many things are happening that you feel bombarded with visual magic, Hitchcock's true skill at work, the ability to create suspense and unbearable tension.

Overall the film is filled with amazing aspects of visual literacy way behead of its time, characters that compel you to watch them even if you know that they are doomed to lead a life of misfortune, his amazing cinematographic mind or his unparalleled stories, you watch his movies because they completely encompass you forcing you to have a keen eye and ear for details because they will unknowingly appear again, tension is supposed to be the greatest way to promote entertainment, even if the ending leaves you feeling a little short, you can't help but feel entertained.

photo courtesy of pos-pych.com