Monday April 30 review project- notes

While everyone's film review notes are due by 3:00 tomorrow, some students sent theirs along early. You will find below an example. These notes, however, do not give enough information to write the review, which is due by 3:00 Thursday. (my grades are due Friday remember.) Read over these notes and see my comments, so as to understand how they need to be expanded. Remember that the person reading your review is depending upon your eyes to bring the film alive.

Notes: Urban Legend (1998)

Title: Urban Legend (1998) Notes

Director- Jamie Blanks (what else has he done)

Written by- Silvio Horta ( other work?)

Stars- Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart, Michael Rosenbaum, and Loretta Devine (background on these actors)

Setting- Remote New England Campus (how is the remoteness achieved? types of buildings? landscaping?)

Genre- Horror, Thriller, Suspense 

- Very ominous music to start off (instruments? start off where? describe the setting against which is plays. analogous to what?)

- Great camera angles to create suspense (wide angle, close up? on what or who?)

- Cliché scary old guy at gas station (describe him...time of day)

- Trilling 1st death...even though axe killer not very scary (how dies?)

- Very old campus to give it scary feel (doesn' t that fil it with the setting?)

- Nice job of introducing characters in the beginning so you can get an opinion about them before they die (how exactly are they introduced?)

- Guy takes girl to woods...very scary (how is she enticed into the woods?)

- Makes girl kill friend... Very creative death (how? why?)

- The movie makes you hate the girl's roommate (why?)

- They do a great job of create camera angles that create suspense (?)

- Music is all kind of cliché (good)

- The way the roommate died is very unrealistic….clever but very unrealistic (explain)

- Usually the protagonists throughout horror movies are the killers so I predict the journalist is the killer (good)

- Someone is framing the professor (good- expand the plot info)

- I wonder what the Stanley hall massacre is? 

- The rain is very cliché throughout the movie (good)

-Very creative way to kill off the dean (good- explain)

-Security guard seems to be the only innocent one (how is this integrated into the plot?)

- Killing a dog was taking it too far (why?)

- The killer seems to be killing everybody quicker…it seems as though they’re trying to (talk about pacing and how it works in the film.) rush to the end of the movie by killing everyone off

- The feminine way the killer waves at the main character foreshadows (good- use the literary terms )the killer being her best friend (

- The rain is OVERUSED in this movie (good)

- Very good thriller...keeps you guessing who is the killer (good- why?)

- Seem unnecessary to kill the janitor 

- Old decrepit abandoned house seems too cliché

- I knew her friend was the killer :) (how?- put don't give that away in the review)

- The back-story of the killer seems like a good enough reason for the killing

- Killer is not a very good actor... Does not play villain well (why?)

- The security guard seems like the only honorable character

- Were did the journalist come from...didn't make sense (good point to include in review)

- Didn’t see the killer still being alive in the car (good)

- Great ending to the movie with killer still being alive

- Overall great storyline kept me guessing the entire movie (what exactly worked for you in the film?

Wednesday April 25 day 2 writing reviews

General Information: How to write great reviews  

When writing reviews of any kind—restaurant reviews, book reviews, movie reviews, art reviews, music or concert reviews, and more—it's important to organize your thoughts carefully and always to keep in mind the people who will be likely to read what you write. Keep a few key pointers in mind to ensure that whatever review you write will be intelligent, informative, engaging, and fair.

1. Ask yourself “what does the reader want to know?”

This is the most important thing to remember when writing a review. You can craft the wittiest prose with the cleverest metaphors, but unless the reader finds out what they want to know, you’ve not done your job as a reviewer.

2. Decide on the overall point you want to get across to the reader.

If you know your subject matter well (which, as a reviewer, you should do), you’ll no doubt have a whole ream of opinions, both good and bad, that you can knock back and forth like a review-writing game of tennis. All those viewpoints can get confusing, so simplify it.

3. Be ruthless when editing – don’t be precious about your “art”.

If it doesn’t help you answer the reader’s question (point number 1, above), or isn’t directly conducive to getting your main point across (number 2), then get rid of it! You might be really proud of a line you’ve written, but unless it helps the review as a whole it’s no good.

4. Don’t write about yourself; it’s about the band, book, movie or whatever you’re reviewing.

A classic novice’s mistake this one. Look at any page of Amazon customer reviews, and you’ll no doubt come across someone who tells a story all about how the guy they work with said The Da Vinci Code is great, but I wasn’t sure because he’s not too smart, but then he did recommend that other book to me that was pretty good, although he’s a religious nut so it probably won’t be my thing, but I suppose I should because otherwise he’ll never shut up about it…WHO CARES?

5. Don’t be afraid to state the obvious.

You’re an expert in your field – anything you don’t know about the works of Stephen King isn’t worth knowing! So it can be a bit frustrating as a reviewer to have to hold your reader’s hand and explain to them that he’s a quite well-known horror writer and that they may even have heard of The Shining – it was made into a film, you know?

 6. Don’t praise—or damn—blindly. If you’re going to enshrine the subject, or entomb it, back up your opinions with concrete evidence. Why is that particular pizza so darn good? What's an example of a particular author's dazzling turns of phrase? What about the artist's technique makes a particular painting so exciting? In what ways did the cabaret singer fail to engage the audience?

7. Have an opinion. Writing a review is not an occasion to be modest or self-effacing. As long as you're capable of backing up your opinion, don’t be afraid to express, emphatically, what you feel or believe. Remember: professionalism is in the details. Specific facts, keen observations, and well-considered insights amount to more than opinions.

8. Avoid “I” and “In My Opinion”

Too many critics pepper reviews with phrases like “I think” or “In my opinion.” Again, this is often done by novice critics afraid of writing declarative sentences. But such phrases are unnecessary; your reader understands that it’s your opinion you’re writing about, not someone else’s. So leave out the “I.”

9. Give Background

The critic’s analysis is the centerpiece of any review, but that’s not much use to readers if he doesn’t provide enough background information.

So if you’re reviewing a movie, that means not just outlining the plot but also discussing the director and his previous films, the actors and perhaps even the screenwriter. Critiquing a restaurant? When did it open, who owns it and who’s the head chef? An art exhibit? Tell us a little about the artist, her influences and her previous works.

How to Write a Movie Review

Writing a movie review is a great way of expressing your opinion of a movie.  The purpose of most movie reviews is to help the reader in determining whether they want to watch, rent or buy the movie.  The review should give enough details about the movie that the reader can make an informed decision, without giving anyway any essentials such as the plot or any surprises.  

Below are our guidelines and tips for writing a good movie review.

 1. Watch the movie (seems obvious, but…)

 The first step in writing the review is to watch the movie.  Watch the movie in a relaxed environment you are familiar with.  You do not want to be distracted by an unfamiliar room.  Watching the movie a second time will help you absorb a lot more detail about the movie.  Take notes as they watch the movie review.  (you will turn these in!)

2. Give your opinion (look over the general guidelines again)

 Most movie reviewers will give their opinion of the movie.  This is important as the reviewer can express the elements of the movie they enjoyed or disliked.  However, as in all good journalism, the reviewer should also give impartial details, and allow the reader to make their own mind over an issue the reader liked or disliked.  Opinions should be explained to allow the reader to determine whether they would agree with your opinion.

 Many regular movie reviewers will develop a following.  If one can find a reviewer who shares a similar taste in films, one can confidently follow the reviewer’s recommendations.

 3. Who is your audience? (In this case it is your peers)

 You need to consider who your likely readers are.  Writing a movie review for children requires a different approach than if writing for a movie club.  Ensure you report on the factors that matter to your likely audience.

 4. Give an outline

 Give the plot outline of the movie, but don't give away essential details such as the end or any surprises.  If there is a big surprise you want to entice readers by telling them something special happens, just don't say what.

 5. Actors

 If the movie contains actors, as most do, detail who is starring in the movie and how well you think they acted. (research the actors / directors, etc)

 6. Structure

 Did the movie follow a regular predictable story line? Flashbacks?  Foreshadowing?

7. Cinematography /  lighting

 Give details about how well the movie was shot and directed.  How did the camera angles contribute to the tone and mood?

 8. Music

Did the movie have its own score, or did it feature songs from popular artists?

9. Many of those literary element terms that have you have had in English classes carry over into the film critic vocabulary: plot (and its various components), setting, characters, tone, dialogue, point of view, imagery and don’t forget to look for symbolism.

10. Read, read and read

 Read and check your review thoroughly.  It can be embarrassing to find errors in your work after it has been published.  This is especially important for reviews that will be published on the Internet, as search engines are always looking for the correct spellings of key words.

ASSIGNMENT: 1. Make sure you have read both the general information on reviews and the specifics as regards writing a film review. As well, even if you did not or, in the case of period 3 need not send along the questions, please have read the New Yorker review of The Hunger Games. This is the level of detail that should be in your review. 

                2. Choose a film from the list below and watch it. They are all approximately 1:35 minutes long; hence you have Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in class to watch the movie privately. YOU NEED EAR PLUGS! 

                3. On Tuesday May 1, turn in your detailed outline of the film. This should include, not only the notes you took while watching the film, but background information on actors, director, sound and cinematography.

                 4. on Thursday May 3, send along by 3:00- not the usual midnight- your review, which will be a minimum of 500 words.  My grades are due the 4th; so no late work will be accepted.

1. Commando  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IliiXXDEEBE
2. Religuolous (documentary with Bill Maher) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f8fMmMhwRg
3. Pink Floyd- The Wall http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQE3vcwU97g
4. His Girl Friday (Katherine Hepburn / Cary Grant 1940) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rdSZUlzIQw
5. It Happened One Night (Claudette Colbert / Clark Gable  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZo7Gp03REY
6. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner  (Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCAaEbCDovQ
7. 12 Angry Men  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6QhKPZDZTE&feature=related
8. Urban Legend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH3FgMtPEVU&feature=related
9. Shawshank Redemption  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtwXlIwozog

Tuesday April 24 writing reviews day 1

These next couple weeks we are working writing how to write reviews. Everyone will write one for a film and another of the their choice: music, theatre, restaurant or art exhibit.
For Tuesday April 24- all journalism classes are responsible for reading the review; however, only periods 7 and 9 (not 3)should answer the questions. These are due by midnight tonight. 
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE HEAD OR EAR PHONES TOMORROW.

Please read the following the film review from The New Yorker on The Hunger Games and answer the following questions.  Due by midnight tonight.
1. How has the author Denby prepared himself with background material to write the review?
2. What liteary elements do you note in the article. Give excerpts from the text.
3. What historical allusions does Denby make?
4. To what does Denby proclaim the success of the film?
5.What do we know of the actor Jennifer Lawrence's background?
6. Who is the cinematographer and what type of camera work is used in the film?
7. According to Denby, why is this film incapable of being a classic?
8  Discuss who the audience is for this review and how you know it.

The Current Cinema

Kids at Risk

“The Hunger Games” and “Bully.”

by David Denby April 2, 2012

Suzanne Collins’s “The Hunger Games” (the first book in a best-selling young-adult trilogy) is a sensational piece of pop primitivism—a Hobbesian war of all against all. In a dystopian society in the future, a group of wealthy, epicene overlords—authoritarians with violet hair and the vicious manners of French courtiers—threaten and control an impoverished population. Years ago, the virtuous commoners rose up, unsuccessfully, against their decadent rulers, and they’ve been both cosseted and terrorized ever since by a yearly lottery in which two teens from each of twelve districts are selected, trained, and turned into media stars. They are then set loose in a controlled wilderness, where they must survive hunger and one another, until only one of them is left alive. The survivor will bring home to his district both glory and food, and everyone, rich and poor, watches the events on television. Collins’s idea seems to be derived from the bloodier Greek myths and Roman gladiatorial contests (the big shots have names like Seneca and Claudius); from William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”; and from TV spectacles like the myriad “Survivor” shows and sado-Trumpian elimination contests. Collins’s strategy of putting girls and boys (some as young as twelve) at the center of a deadly struggle adds tense, nasty excitement to the old tales and tawdry TV rituals she draws on.

Trying to explain the trilogy’s extraordinary popularity, critics and commentators have reached for metaphors. Perhaps it’s that the books offer a hyper-charged version of high school, an everyday place with incessant anxieties: constant judgment by adults; hazing, bullying, and cliques; and, finally, college-entry traumas. If you stretch the metaphor a bit, the books could be seen as a menacing fable of capitalism, in which an ethos of competition increasingly yields winner-take-all victors. Collins might seem to be one of those victors herself: there are twenty-four million copies of the trilogy in print in the United States alone. But maybe the reason for its success is simple: it makes teens feel both victimized and important.

Collins understands her audience well, and she can write. Her first-person narrator, Katniss Everdeen, who hails from a shabby coal-mining area, is a tough, resourceful girl, a huntress who protects her family. Collins, staying inside Katniss’s head, produces short, tactile sentences that are precise about apprehension and physical experience. However fanciful the basic premise, the books are rugged girls’ adventure literature of the kind that used to be written for boys. Making an exciting movie out of “The Hunger Games” should not have been that hard.

I certainly have no quarrel with the casting. Jennifer Lawrence demonstrated a convincing strength as Ree, the Ozarks girl with a husky voice and pale-blue eyes in “Winter’s Bone.” In “The Hunger Games,” as Katniss—a more dynamic version of Ree—she has a lightly burnished copper complexion, and when she’s still, there’s something luminous, slightly otherworldly about her. Her gravity and her steady gaze make her a fine heroine. And I enjoyed nineteen-year-old Josh Hutcherson as Peeta, the other competitor from Katniss’s district, who adores her; he has a lost look, an engaging not-quite-handsomeness. In true young-adult-fiction style, Katniss has a second admirer—stalwart, gentle Gale, played by Liam Hemsworth, who looks, in this movie, like a larger Taylor Lautner. Among the adults, Stanley Tucci and Elizabeth Banks, wearing enormous wigs, camp it up as the rulers. Though the satiric point of making some of the plutocrats monsters out of an eighteenth-century farce eludes me,

But the rest of “The Hunger Games” is pretty much a disaster—disjointed, muffled, and even, at times, boring. Collins herself labored on the script, along with Gary Ross and Billy Ray, and Ross (“Pleasantville,” “Seabiscuit”) directed. Working with the cinematographer Tom Stern, Ross shoots in a style that I have come to despise. A handheld camera whips nervously from one angle to another; the fragments are then jammed together without any regard for space. You feel like you’ve been tossed into a washing machine (don’t sit in the front rows without Dramamine). Even when two people are just talking calmly, Ross jerks the camera around. Why? As the sense of danger increases, he has nothing to build toward. Visually, he’s already gone over the top. And the action itself is a thrashing, incoherent blur—kids tumbling on the ground or wrestling with each other. Katniss stalks various kids with her bow and arrow, but she kills only one intentionally—a domineering sadist—and you don’t see the arrow hit him; you don’t even see him fall. Ross consistently drains away all the tensions built into the grisly story—the growing wariness and suspicion that each teen-ager must feel as the number of those still alive begins to diminish, or the horror (or glee) that some of them experience as they commit murder. The camera rushes through the wilderness, but, in the end, the movie looks less like a fight to the death than like a scavenger hunt. Katniss is always finding something useful in a tree or lying on the ground.

“The Hunger Games” is a prime example of commercial hypocrisy. The filmmakers bait kids with a cruel idea, but they can’t risk being too intense or too graphic (the books are more explicit). After a while, we get the point: because children are the principal audience, the picture needs a PG-13 rating. The result is an evasive, baffling, unexciting production—anything but a classic
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Monday / Tuesday April 16 / 17 finishing up project

All research articles for the investigative reporting project were due the Wednesday before the break. Any received after the Thursday earned you an individual 50 points. If I have nothing from you, this part of the project is a 0.

What now?  This is a recap of the previously posted blog information.
Due this Wednesday from each group or individual, if you are working independently:

Newsletter. 
  Of what does the newsletter consist?
 You should have chosen a template either from Microsoft Publisher or Works (Mac folks) You will take the edited articles and insert them. As well, the newsletter person will add photos and a graph or chart. Make sure you have a title for your newsletter. You may also include other relevant information, as in quotes or comments. Just make sure you identify the source. These should be aesthetically pleasing, as well as informational.  ALL NEWSLETTERS ARE DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS ON WEDNESDAY.  THERE WILL BE NO MORE CLASS TIME. GROUP GRADE; SO MAKE SURE YOUR PARTNER IS ON TASK.

Prezi.
 So as everyone knows how to do a Prezi, your classroom presentation of your project is in this format. The Prezi should have your topic title as the centerpiece, with the various parts of reporting supporting this. You and your knowledge are the focus. The Prezi supports you, as it should in a Power Point. That means there are primarily images and very, very few words. You are not reading off the screen. The presentations will take place Wednesday through Friday only.