Musicals? Still Worth Watching?

After viewing two musical films, “The Wizard of Oz” and “Singin’ in the Rain” do you feel that the musical is worth viewing to modern audiences? Would you advise friends to take the time to see one or two? We will discuss your feeling briefly next week! 

"Citizen Kane" or "Notorious"

Of the two films we have viewed from the 1940s ("Citizen Kane" and "Notorious"), which one do you prefer and why? Refer to the quality of film techniques used by the directors at least once for each film in your answer..

Homework for "Citizen Kane"

After viewing the film and hearing some of the commentary by Roger Ebert, what do you remember the best (and what is most important for you about the film?). Does it deserve its status as one of the greatest films of all time? Would you recommend it to a friend? Why or why not?

Emptiness in Human Mind

Roger Ebert said, “Rosebud is the green light at the end of Gatsby’s pier.” I also agree with his word. Mr. Kane and Gatsby is same type of people. Both of them successful (in some ways), became rich and desired true love. They thought love is providing wealth. Mr. Kane made everything possible for Susan, and Mr. Gatsby paid everything for to be rich to become a man who fit for wealthy woman. Pitifully, that is not love. One-sided love is not the true love, but communicating love is the true love. One-sided giving out and receiving are both can’t be love. That’s why they could not make it. It was because they were misguided by money and power. Kane lost his original intention, and Gatsby chose to be a criminal. No noble purpose can be made by unsanctified manner. Their goals were not reachable by that kind of ways. They did not need to have a lot of money and power to reach the love. All they had to do were give attention and listen to people their love. The rosebud and the green light are same. They mean the emptiness in human mind and the effort to fill it in vain. No stuffs and people can fill that void. We were born to be lonely. Even true love can’t fill it. They did not know that. Happiness is not in comparing and competing. It is allowed to a simple and honest soul that enjoying the present as a present.

Responding to "Citizen Kane"

Read Roger Ebert’s review of “Citizen Kane” and respond to one or two things he says about the film. Be specific when you mention Ebert’s ideas and agree or disagree (say why you do) with him. Write you answer in a paragraph and post it to the blog before coming to class next week.

Movie Like a Bittersweet Candy

“The wizard of OZ” made me think a lot since the last week. Personally, I don’t agree that Roger Ebert’s words, “That is why any adult in control of a child is sooner or later going to suggest a viewing of the movie.” I think we should not show this movie to children. First, Judy Garland seems too mature for the role to me. 17 years old in reality is high school student, and they are baby sitters in it. I think the role of Dorothy supposed to be taken by a girl around 10 years old. And the cruelty of message of this movie is another reason. I could show this movie to children if it ended in the land of OZ, but it says that the only place of we being a hero or heroine is in dream too clearly. Dorothy was a girl who is nobody in the reality, and all the excitements had happened in the land of OZ were nothing but dream! Furthermore, her last word, “there is no place better than home,” is just like, “there is no Santa in the world.” We should not ruin their childhood fantasies because it is too cruel. Conclusively, this movie befit to teenagers and mature people. Most of peoples are living with the idea that they are the center of the world, but they soon figure out that they could be the surroundings. When we are studying in school and living our lives, we feel our limits and those are not that high. We find out that home was the best place in our life, then. There’s no place better than home, because there are parents, brothers and sisters are feeding, comfort and caring us. But, I don't think that children need to know about it too soon such as their 10 years old days. The film is too cruel for child, and too bittersweet for adults. Even those fairy tales like expressions are feels hypocritical to me. It tastes like a candy treat before have a bitter medicine.

“The Wizard of Oz” is not only for Children

“The Wizard of Oz” is thought of as a children’s film. “A wonderful surface of comedy and music, special effects and excitement…” as Ebert said in his review. He also indicated: “As adults, we love it….” I agree with Ebert’s view point. “The Wizard of Oz” is not only for children, but also for adults. Undoubtedly all of us were children before, and many of us have similar experiences from our childhood. Sometimes we wanted to run far away from home, especially when we felt our thoughts were not accepted by adults. In this film, Dorothy's Aunt tells her to "…find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble". In the same situation we might have the same idea as Dorothy, to run away from home, protect her pet Toto, and to find "'someplace where there isn't any trouble”. But when Dorothy left her family after a tornado, her only wish was “go home”. Her journey to get back home is an adventure that she takes with her new companions, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion. In spite of many unexpected challenges on the way, they sing and dance forward to achieve their goals. These scenes “remind us of a journey we have taken.”

Moreover, the film’s famous song, "Over the Rainbow", was sung for adults rather than children. The song was sung by actress Judy Garland, and was used in the film when “Dorothy experienced an unpleasant incident involving her dog”. The song goes: “…Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops…”. No wonder Ebert said “Judy Garland had, I gather, an unhappy childhood” and “When she hoped that troubles would melt like lemon drops, you believed she had troubles.” Therefore, as a parent of two sons, I prefer this movie just as Ebert told us: “That is why any adult in control of a child is sooner or later going to suggest a viewing of “The Wizard of Oz.”