Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

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For the fourteenth film of the month we have Mr. Smith Goes To Washington

First off, we have the story which has Jefferson Smith a naive man who is appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he decides not to back down. I thought the story was enjoyable and I liked the way politics was handled and portrayed. 

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were one of the best parts of the film especially James Stewart as Jefferson the naive but determined man who becomes part of the Senate. His relationship with Clarissa was really good and kept him going later in the film.

As for the film's visuals I thought they were good and were consistent throughout the whole film. Moving onto the tone of the film which I enjoyed as it had the built the tensions and pressures of the Senate and how it can be manipulated to people's own needs. I thought the soundtrack of the film was very good and suited the style of film it wanted to be. 

Overall, I thought this film was a very enjoyable film especially with the way power in politics was shown and how it can be used to ruin people and be used for peoples own needs and wants.

I give Mr. Smith Goes To Washington a score of 8/10

The Shining

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shining_(film)#/media/File:The_Shining_(1980).png

For the thirteenth film of the month we have The Shining 

First off, we have the story which has Jack accepting a caretaker job at a hotel during the winter and moves in with his wife Wendy and son Danny. I thought the story was very entertaining and was surprised how much i ended up enjoying it. 

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were very well acted with the standouts being Jack Nicholson as Jack and Shelley Duvall as Wendy especially when everything starts going crazy throughout the hotel. 

As for the film's visuals I thought the film looked fantastic with so many standout shots you could see how much style the film had. The cinematography was excellent with it's precise camera movement and positioning as well as the lighting of certain scenes. Moving onto the tone of the film which I really enjoyed as it created a disturbing and chilling atmosphere throughout that made the film more entertaining. I thought the soundtrack of the film was very good and was mostly made up of sound effects and few tracks to add to the overall experience that was presented. 

Overall, I thought this film was an entertaining one and as for it being horror film which is a genre I find difficult liking but this one showed me how good they can actually be and it allows me to expand my genres of watching films.

I give The Shining a score of 9/10

Paths Of Glory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paths_of_Glory#/media/File:PathsOfGloryPoster.jpg

For the twelfth film of the month we have Paths Of Glory

First off, we have the story which has a Colonel having to defend some of his officers in a court-martial when they refuse to continue during a suicide attack. I thought the story was very entertaining and I liked the way that war was handled and how it can be twisted my man's decisions and power.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the most interesting part about this whole film one because of how good the acting was and because of the way man was portrayed in this film and how power can effect man to want to accomplish his own goals even if that means doing anything necessary to do it. 

As for the film's visuals I thought the film looked very good and there were some standout shots throughout as well as the battlefield scene which was executed with precision. Now we have the action which I thought was very thrilling and entertaining and the way the camera went through the trenches and onto no-mans land was excellent and wasn't afraid to show off the impact of being in the war. Moving onto the tone of the film which I really enjoyed as the film had a feeling of uneasiness throughout mostly because of the setting and situations the characters were in. I thought the soundtrack of the film was very good with it being manly composed by percussion instruments. 

Overall, I thought this film was a very enjoyable film with it being very different in genre being another film by Stanley Kubrick i'm starting to see how good he is and it continues to keep me entertained. 

I give Paths Of Glory a score of 8/10

The Lives Of Others

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For the eleventh film of the month we have The Lives Of Others

First off, we have the story which has an agent of the secret police during 1984 in East Berlin, conducting surveillance on a writer and his lover. He soon finds himself becoming increasingly absorbed by their lives. I thought the story was very enjoyable and I was surprised with how much I enjoyed it.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the most interesting part of the film especially because of the job roles they are in and having to spy on someone during the time period of the film added to what it would have been like during that time. I can also say the acting throughout was excellent and added to the characters very well to make the film better.

As for the film's visuals I thought the film had a really nice look to it with it a darker feel to it because of the setting and the situations for all the characters involved. Moving onto the tone of the film which I really enjoyed as it felt very unsettling through the whole film and the tension was really high which built up the story. I thought the soundtrack of the film was really good and i liked the mix of tracks they had.

Overall, I thought this film was very entertaining and I think it was part to the unsettling feeling throughout that makes you wonder what is going to happen and as the first German film I have seen I look forward to more. 

I give The Lives Of Others a score of 8/10

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

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For the tenth film of the month we have Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 

First off, we have the story which has an insane general who triggers a path to nuclear holocaust and that a War Room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop the catastrophic event. I thought the story was very entertaining and the way it tackled nuclear war while this film was made during the Cold War.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the most interesting part about the film with characters like Strangelove himself as well as the crazy general who started all the problems. Then you had the rest of the cast who did a great job at adding to the films situation.

As for the film's visuals I thought the film looked really good with the black and white added to the style and cinematography in terms of lighting and shadows Then you had the set design for the war room with the huge table with room for all the generals as well as the big screen of the whole world which dwarfs the whole wall. Moving onto the tone of the film which I thought was done very well as you had the looming threat of nuclear war but it managed to get some good comedy throughout. I thought the soundtrack of the film was good and it had tracks that suited the war themes of the film. 

Overall, I thought this film was very enjoyable to watch and as it being my first film from director Stanley Kubrick I believe it was a great first choice and I look forward to more of his films in the future. 

I give Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb a score of 9/10

Sunset Boulevard

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For the ninth film of the month we have Sunset Boulevard 

First off, we have the story which has a screenwriter who ends up writing a screenplay for a star who has faded into obscurity. I thought the story was very entertaining with the way they showed how someone can be effected by Hollywood and when someone falls out of fame and how that descent can lead down a dark path.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were very interesting especially Norma and how she wants to relive her fame once again and how being out of the limelight has made her codependent on Max her butler and Joe who she meets. 

As for the film's visuals I thought the film looked really good and had a few interesting uses with the camerawork and lighting to add to the film's aesthetic. Moving onto the tone of the film which I found to be somewhat disturbing in places as Norma lives in her own fantasy of once again gracing the pictures like she once did. I thought the soundtrack of the film was consistent throughout and had tracks that fit the time of the film's setting. 

Overall, I thought this film was very interesting look at Hollywood and there were parts throughout that I felt could ring true in some cases in real life but slight less dramatised than the film put it.

I give Sunset Boulevard  a score of 8/10

Grave Of The Fireflies

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For the eighth film of the month we have Grave Of The Fireflies

First off, we have the story which has two siblings: Seita and Setsuko as they try to to survive during the last few months of World War 2. I thought the story was entertaining as well as emotional and very sad as you felt for the siblings situation.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were very likeable and you cared for their situation throughout and what they had to go through to survive. You could also see how much they cared for each other and to help each other. 

As for the film's visuals I thought were stunning as it managed to capture facial features also you could feel the emotions they feel. The animation was also able to show the horrors of war very well and wasn't afraid of showing certain images. Moving onto the tone of the film which managed to capture the hard times of living during the war but also the few nice moments between the siblings was a way to build the chemistry and have some hope throughout. I thought the soundtrack of the film was good at capturing the times of the war as well as the emotional moments throughout the film. 

Overall, I thought this film was another excellent Studio Ghibli that managed to show a different style of film and capture what it would have been like living during World War 2 in Japan which shows their range of storytelling. 

I give Grave Of The Fireflies a score of 9/10

Cinema Paradiso

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_Paradiso#/media/File:CinemaParadiso.jpg

For the seventh film of the month we have Cinema Paradiso 

First off, we have the story which has a young man recalls his childhood of falling in love with the films shown at his local cinema and how he formed a friendship with the projectionist. I thought the story was amazing and showing the progression of someones life and how film can affect it was amazing to see and how someone now can still be effected by it by older films. 

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the best part of the film as it was the focus especially between the protectionist Alfredo and Salvatore as they form a close bond through life and you can see how they both helped each other and how film brought them together. 

As for the film's visuals I thought it had some nice cinematography throughout with some good camerawork as well as lighting. The film also had some nice singular shots throughout that add life to the film and setting. Moving onto the tone of the film which I really enjoyed as it managed to have some comedy moments but also when times got bad for the characters you could feel for them. I thought the soundtrack of the film was very good as it captured living in Italy as well emotional tracks when needed to capture happy or sad times through life.

Overall, I thought this film was an excellent film and watching this as someone who is into film and how film was brought to life by the characters love for it showed how much it lasts through life to look back on. 

I give Cinema Paradiso  a score of 10/10

The Great Dictator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Dictator#/media/File:The_Great_Dictator.jpg

For the sixth film of the month we have The Great Dictator

First off, we have the story which has a Jewish barber  rise of fascist dictator Adenoid Hynkel who he bears a remarkable resemblance to to he returns to his quiet neighbourhood but is stunned by the brutal changes and joins a girl he meets and her neighbours in rebelling. I thought the story was very entertaining and I liked how it unfolded with Chaplin playing two roles in this film.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the most interesting part about the film with Chaplin playing both the Barber, a simple man who wants to return to work as well the dictator Hynkel who is funny in his own right as well as being a satire of Hitler during WW2.

As for the film's visuals I thought the film looked very good and when it came to the comedy  that's when they excelled as well as the composition of the whole film in terms of camerawork. Moving onto the tone of the film which I enjoyed as I found it really funny with slapstick comedy but also situational comedy that Chaplin did very well at. There also managed to be some dramatic moments in as well to add to the war parts. I thought the soundtrack of the film was very good especially when timed with some of the comedy moments throughout the film.

Overall, I thought this film was an excellent film and as I continue to watch Charlie Chaplin films I get a better understanding of how good he was even when he moved from silent to talkie films. 

I give The Great Dictator a score of 9/10

The Lion King

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For the fifth film of the month we have The Lion King 

First off, we have the story which has Simba a lion cub who is next in line for the throne from his father Mufasa. However Simba's uncle Scar wants the throne for himself and will do whatever he can to get it. I thought the story was very entertaining witch hit the right balance of emotional moments but also moments of learning and conflict.  

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the most important part of the film as they pushed the story and the acting from all the cast proved that with the standouts being Mufasa, Simba, Scar and Zazu. 

As for the film's visuals I thought the animation for this film was excellent managing to mix both a bright and vibrant style for most of the film with a dark and gloomy atmosphere for the darker scenes. The animation also picked up in some of the musical scenes as well. Moving onto the tone of the film which managed to get the right balance of drama and comedy to make a fun film. I thought the soundtrack of the film being one of the main aspects and well known parts of the film certainly held up to what I was expecting and heard of. 

Overall, I thought this film was very entertaining and after all the great things I heard about this film was proved right and now after seeing this for the first time I look forward to some of the other great Disney films.

I give The Lion King a score of 9/10

Gladiator

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator_(2000_film)#/media/File:Gladiator_ver1.jpg

For the fourth film of the month we have Gladiator 

First off, we have the story which focuses on an old Roman general who wants to get revenge on the corrupt emperor who killed his family and put him in slavery. I thought the story was very entertaining and I thought the scale of this film matched the story it wanted to tell.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were excellent through the acting and characteristics. Russell Crow as Maximus was a great lead and you cared for him because of what happened to him and you route for his cause. Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus was another interesting character through his cold nature and his conflict with Maximus was felt throughout the entire film and you wanted them to have a proper confrontation. The side cast did a good job as well filling in the rest of the cast to add chemistry with the main cast. 

As for the film's visuals I thought were one of the best parts about the film managing to have sweeping direction that across the film added to the experience especially when the action started getting up close to capture the brutality but also so you could see what was going on and enjoy it more. Now we have the action which was brutal and thrilling but still very entertaining to watch from the large scale battle at the start of the film to the battles fought in the Colosseum.  Moving onto the tone of the film which I enjoyed as it created an epic and dark film that fit the time period the film was set in. I thought the soundtrack of the film which I enjoyed having a mixture of tracks that work for all the emotions in this film from anger to sadness and even adding to the tension is some scenes. 

Overall, I thought this film was very enjoyable through it's story that unfolded as the first betrayal was felt and from there it got better and better. This was also thanks to a great cast and thrilling action to make a complete film.

I give Gladiator a score of 9/10

Whiplash

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whiplash_(2014_film)#/media/File:Whiplash_poster.jpg

For the third film of the month we have Whiplash

First off, we have the story which shows the relationship between an upcoming drummer and his tough instructor. I thought the story was very entertaining as well as thrilling with some really intense moments in it that was brought out through it's characters. 

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were the best part about this film especially because of the chemistry between Andrew played by Miles Teller and Fletcher played by J.K. Simmons who both stole the show with their battle of wits and how far they would go for the music. 

As for the film's visuals I thought which I really enjoyed with it's use of lightning and colour pallet which are used in ways to to give off an interesting context such as the yellow and orange colours when Andrew and Fletcher are together and when Fletcher gets reveals his true nature when teaching. There was also the use of colours like blue and green which occurs when Andrew is either reflecting or in some distress which balances out the pallet.  Moving onto the tone of the film which I thought was exceptional because of the way the way tension was built from the relationship and battle between Andrew and Fletcher which was the main focus of the film. I thought the soundtrack of the film was also great with it's use of jazz as well as drum pieces. 

Overall, I thought this film was wonderful built up with high tension through it's two main leads that have great chemistry with each other and you feel the conflict they have with one another to make a breathtaking film.

I give Whiplash a score of 10/10

Cat People

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_People_(1942_film)#/media/File:Cat_People_poster.png

For the second film of the month we have Cat People

First off, we have the story which tells the story of Irena a young woman from Serbia who believes she is a descendent of a race of people who turn into cats when angry or aroused. I thought the story was very entertaining and with some thrilling moments in it.

Next, we have the characters which overall, I thought were interesting especially the main character of Irena who's past and fears were the main focus of the film which I found fascinating. 

As for the film's visuals I thought they were one of the best parts of the film especially with the use of lighting and shadows to create a visually stunning film. Moving onto the tone of the film which I thought was good as it built up over the course of the film to add tension and intrigue. I thought the soundtrack of the film when used was very good adding to the mystery of the film. 

Overall, I thought this film was very entertaining and ended up being a different type of horror film that I was expecting to watch. 

I give Cat People a score of 8/10