This can be said by many to be another typical romantic movie set in the time of a war, but it does have some unique characteristics. Can love be so powerful that you are able to let go of it, to ensure the other’s happiness? Clearly Casablanca proves this true, with the affair Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund had.  This movie, to my point of view, is special in the sense it does not end in the expected manner, and that is very special in this kind of movies. This is one of my favorite romantic films because it is not made up of cheesy scenes,  but actually shows the story behind the troubled past of a woman, and for that deserves 4/5 stars.

“Casablanca” came out in the midst of World War II, 1942. It is based on the troubles this war caused to all people. Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) is the owner of a very exclusive Café in Casablanca, a city in Morocco, when unexpectedly Ugarte, a criminal, brings two ‘letters of transit’ he had stolen, for a man called Victor Laszlo which at the time was not there. Ugarte is killed by the police but surprisingly leaves the letters to Rick’s custody.  When everything  already seemed unreal, Ilsa Lund, in a coincidence, appears at Rick’s café. Ilsa was the reason behind Rick’s melancholic character, she was once her lover but disappeared. Now Ilsa was with Laszlo, and they where searching for the letters of transit. How will this love story unfold? Will Rick be forgiving of seeking vengeance? Watch the movie and clear your doubts.

The well-known Austro-Hungarian director Michael Curtiz directed “Casablanca”.  Michael Curtiz directed more than 50 films in Europe and 100 in the United States! “Casablanca” was one of his masterpieces, at the time in which it was filmed, many of the elements that make it were totally new. The introduction with the globe animation was pretty much an innovation to movies, one of the first.

The film shows how Ilsa and Rick met years before, with scenes that took place in the past. These romantic scenes are the core of the movie since they sow all the unconnected aspects. There are very few ‘cheesy’ moments were love is swore forever, but more on the connection these two strangers instantly felt. After these scenes, the movie turns a miserable mood again because the couple agrees that its not meant to be. This heart tearing moments are precisely the genius in the movie, what it is different from all other of its kind.

I would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for an unconventional romance mixed with some war, for kids over 13. This great film has impacted me in many ways, I can now see how love is not just roses and flowers, but also sacrifices.

Rosebud, the last word of a great man, is one of Hollywood’s greatest mysteries open to many interpretations. Kane, a rich man, had it all, from women to money, what could have possibly be wrong with him? I believe that Rosebud is the key to this. This intriguing 1941 film to my opinion deserves 4/5 stars because of what it teaches by not saying anything.

The director Orson Welles, is thought by many to be the greatest of all times. In this movie Welles uses a lot of panning shots at the introduction, which are characteristic of him. This film was a pioneer on not linear time model,  the movie goes to the past in various occasions, such as the flashbacks from the people being interviewed and that constitutes very important fragments. The audience gets indirect characterization of Kane this way, especially since the flashbacks where from some other person’s perspective.

Before watching the movie I expected something, which did not have any similarities to what it was. I expected a movie with a chronological order, simple and easy to understand, but what I saw was totally different, It was a dense, difficult to understand at time, and symbolic movie.

I think that the way the movie was structured was not the best, and also the script at points was too complicated and felt tiring to follow. These are the two only flaws in my point of view. Maybe it would of been better that more context was shown before adding many scenes such as the flashbacks that Kane’s first ex –wife had, because they are very sudden and may confuse. This is such an outstanding movie in my opinion because of its themes rather than aesthetical aspect or any other. Indirectly at the end of the movie all comes to an end with a scene in which nobody says anything.

Orson Welles does a great job teaching the audience such an important message with out words, but the body of the film could have been improved making it more coherent for the audience.

One of many beautiful waves

Step Into Liquid – More than a Sport

Many people prejudice surfers simply because of this wonderful sport they have chosen to practice, in truth surfing is just one more way to connect with nature and live a balanced life. “Step Into Liquid” as the name suggest is filled with wonderful eye-opening themes related to surfing. This Documental is my favorite because it is a balanced mix of wonderful waves and surfers, the story of surfing, and the true meaning of surfing to each and every one of us.

The main theme of “Step Into Liquid” is the meaning of that perfect wave all surfers seek, and where they should search. The perfect wave is actually a symbol for happiness since throughout the film people surfing regular spots talk about them as if they where the best in the world, since what really matters is having a good time, rather than the quality of the waves. This theme is reinforced over and over again with the narrator speaking and many interviews to people all over the world.

The director, Dana Brown, did a great job with this recompilation of hundreds of interviews to all surfers, from Laird Hamilton, the best big wave surfer ever, to surfing kids. This interviews mixed in with the same surfers riding waves on their home spots simply strengthens the film adding a ‘unity’ mood. This documentary, used for one of the many first times innovative filming techniques for surfing,, Also the high quality of the images and the rich colors make a very lively image and contribute to the impacting effect. I was concerned that Dana Brown would follow exactly his father’s surfing movie “The Endless Summer” but I was surprised by the originality and total difference between these two.

Concluding, this is an outstanding film about not only surfing but life in general, and that ‘perfect’ wave, meaning happiness.

Lawrence of Arabia one of the classical Hollywood movies shares an ongo

Peter O'Toole

ing issue that happens, happened, and will continue to happen in humanity, seeking one’s true identity. In my opinion this movie was way too long for what its message was. Action was short compared to transition moments, which took most of the time. This movie could easily be cut into three shorter movies. “Lawrence Of Arabia” has interesting themes and ideas but takes a very long time to develop them. My final rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

Peter O’Toole, the actor that took Lawrence of Arabia’s role had great acting skills but I think that he should of added more feelings to his character. During the whole movie I saw him with a blank expression, as if he had no feelings. By the script I can conclude that this character should be one that is changing emotions and feelings abruptly and passionately because of the important themes and Peter O’Toole does not do this but have a face of indifference.

I think that a good way to improve this movie would be to resume it in a shorter yet more powerful film, with all the important and impacting scenes and cutting out those that only make the movie slower and not flow easily.  This film was produced in 1962 where they apparently had a different idea of what a powerful movie was, or at least compared to my thoughts, since this movie was awarded 7 Oscar’s and other 19 prizes.

Apart from my poor opinion on the acting, I think that David Lean, the director of the film had a very pleasing aesthetical aspect of the movie fulfilled. There where beautiful shots of the dessert, its dunes, and large amounts of people in synchronization. Also David Lean had a good choice on setting, I really enjoyed each different setting on the movie and saw each unique. From never seen desserts to a fancy English pub.

This is a film I would recommend for everyone over 13 years old to watch. Although I am not a fan of this movie I am able to see the importance it has and the way it impacts people. This is a classic I believe everyone should watch, like it or not, it is impossible not to admit the power and change it causes on one.

Corruption is necessary is one the various themes the film “The Godfather” teaches the audience. I see this film as a classic, one of those movies which we can always refer back to when we want to watch the good old cinema. Personally I find this movie a little to strong and long but anyways very interesting and powerful. Overall I believe it deserves 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I think this film contains great acting from all of the crew; I was specially impressed by the weeping of a secondary actress at the beginning of the movie. This was one of the first sings that told me this would be a powerful movie, not one the kind that entertains you, but the ones which you feel specially changed by, those few movies that make you reflect on yourself and the world.

“The Godfather” starts with Don Vito Corleone’s daughter wedding; in the wedding his beloved son Michael arrives. Michael does not have plans to enter the family business, which is basically of corruption. The family is going through very rough times, experiencing loss of power and the aging of the leader, Vito Corleone. As things change Michael starts carrying a new role in the family, and after living in Italy for a few years and having hardening experiences he replaces his father as the leader of the family. Michael’s vindictive decisions cause consequences to the Corleone family, which you will figure out by watching this movie.

This #1 ranked American gangster movie had a lot of very powerful and lasting images that I can easily recall. An impacting image that can still bring me Goosebumps is the scene in which many men with machine guns assassinate Sonny, one of Corleone’s children, in vendetta. The film in my opinion would not be recommendable for kids under 14 because there are many bloody scenes and some inappropriate themes.  I enjoyed the film quite a lot, but it is necessary to reflect on it after watching, so it makes its fullest impact.

The world known Godfather Emblem

There where a few parts from the film that I disliked, but mainly it is because I did not expect them. One these parts is the killing of Michael’s girlfriend which leads him into his dark side. The atmosphere created by Francis Ford Coppola, is very gloomy and dark, due to the many deaths and other influencing factors. The plot of the film was well organized and easy to follow, jumps from different people’s perspective where obvious.  The acting was impeccable, specially Marlon Brando’s and Al Pacino’s.  Overall this is an

amazingly well filmed movie, a classic, and a key piece that has lead to today’s cinema.

The most important ideals in life, the ones we have to live by, are many times not true, but that does not mean that we can stop believing in them. Second Hand Lions is about a mother on an unstable economical situation that leaves her son with his uncles and by manipulating him tries to take advantage of them. This is a great movie because whilst entertaining the audience with old “grandpa” tales it teaches a very important lesson in life.

The movie begins with the mother leaving her child, Walter, behind to his uncles that are at the same time bothered by other relatives, which also seem interested in their money. After the other family of relatives gets sick of the uncles, Hub and Garth, they leave for good and the story starts picking up. At first the boy is shy and a little scared but soon he familiarizes with his uncles tales about amazing fights in the Middle East on times of the First World War, and a second parallel story comes up. Tim McCanlies does a great job on this aspect on the movie, carrying this other totally different story that makes the movie go to a higher level. While teaching the kid how to live like a man, the old men tell him stories about their past. These are the most entertaining bits of the story since they’re filled with action.

The most lasting images throughout this film are the teachings of Hub and Garth to everyone. Many scenes have been stuck in my mind since I have watched the movie. What I thought was the most meaningful part was the ‘speech’ Hub, one of the uncles, gave to a group of rebellious teenagers about what we must believe in even though at times those ideals seem obscure and distant. A part that really worked for me where the short bits of the parallel story Garth told, the war made apt to be seen by the eyes of child changed my perspective of many ideas and gave a sort of positive mood.

There where some aspects of the movie that I disliked also. In some parts I think the movie is too ‘light’ and maybe the director should have made it more realistic and impacting by adding shocking scenes. In my opinion due to this the movie is a good choice for kids from 10 years to any age. The atmosphere created is one of mostly happiness but some dark themes such as loss and taking advantage of others are approached. The actor who played Walter (Haley Joel Osmet), did a regular job on this, while Michael Caine (Garth) and Robert Duvall (Hub) did a wonderful interpretaion of their roles, specially Michael Caine.

After all this is a great movie for every person, it fits well in most age ranges and it is always a good occasion to watch it.

“Where Does Stuff Come From” Review

“Where Does Stuff come from”, is the title of a very interesting short film which criticizes our way of living. Overall I think this is a great film since it is making us, the people of the world, change our views about commercialization and see the wider picture which is the effects it causes.

Personally I do not agree with many ideas and opinions that the lady, Annie Leonard, gives, such as our way of living is totally wrong. I think she is taking it to the extreme and making a great exaggeration by saying that. Of course I believe that she does this intending to convince everyone. Also a few facts she gives seem very exaggerated, such as the United State’s forest being only 4% of what it originally was. Maybe this ‘fact’ was from a not so trustworthy source, but then we ask ourselves, who would be a reliable source? If we follow was she says, the government is influenced by the will of the bigger corporative businesses, which would not want to show how the world’s natural resources are collapsing. The only way to get true reliable data is to get it with our own means.

During this short 20-minute film we get a lot of information packed about the world today on the consumption aspect. It is expressed in a very interesting way through black and white drawings that make it very easy to understand, also commercial concepts are explained very well. The tone of the film at first is of alarm emphasizing the immediate change that needs to take place right away, but towards the end it becomes a more calmed one explaining that solutions in certain places are still occurring but more need to start. Not only do we touch the theme of consumption but also how this is causing destruction to our planet that needs to come to an end also. In a very impacting way we are shown how buying so many goods is affecting the environment, societies, and health of people.

This short film doesn’t use any special effects or amazing shots but it causes such an impacting message that it does not need any of these at all. The main effect used is the drawings that explain and support the content in order to have a better understanding. Also the music on this film is great, its positive, contrasting to the first negative mood and then supporting at the end when we finally get the message that all of us together can make this world a better place.

——–
Here is a link to the video’s official site: http://www.storyofstuff.com/

I recommend you watch this video to get a broader idea of how we contaminate our planet.