The Salem Witch Trials were a series of executions in the 1600s where over 20 people accused of witchcraft were killed. The main reason these executions occurred was due to the Puritans’ beliefs at the time. Many people see the trials through a modern lens and view them as being similar to 9-11, due to … Read more
This film depicts the life of Forest Gump, a man who continually battles to live outside society’s expectations. Although Forrest is considered ‘slow,’ his mental impairment doesn’t seem to faze him. In fact, the innocence that stems from his limited comprehension of the world gives Forrest an optimistically rosy perspective on life. Forrest’s childlike innocence … Read more
The movie “Remember The Titans” is a film about racial tensions in America during the early 1970s. The story follows a high school football team in Virginia as they navigate the challenges of desegregation. The film stars Denzel Washington and is based on a true story. “Remember The Titans” is an important film because it … Read more
Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times is a classic movie that tells the story of a man who is trying to make it in the modern world. The movie follows his struggles as he tries to find work and make a life for himself. Charlie Chaplin was one of the most popular actors of his time, and … Read more
Tom Hanks portrays Forrest Gump, a simple man with a low I.Q. who finds himself in the middle of nearly every major event of the late twentieth century in the United States. Forrest Gump is a classic film that tells the story of a simple man who find himself in the middle of some of … Read more
The Great Depression was one of the most difficult times in American history. Millions of people lost their jobs, homes, and savings. But there were some people who managed to overcome the odds and find success. One of those people was James J. Braddock, better known as the “Cinderella Man.” Braddock was a professional boxer … Read more
A Pursuit of Happiness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman. The film is based on the true story of Gardner’s life, which was chronicled in the best-selling 2003 memoir of the same name written by Gardner with Quincy Troupe. The … Read more
The film Brokeback Mountain was released in 2005 and directed by Ang Lee. The film tells the story of two young men, Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist, who meet while working as sheep herders on Brokeback Mountain in Wyoming. They soon develop a romantic and sexual relationship, which they must keep secret due to … Read more
The Walkout is a searing and powerful film about the real-life student-led walkouts in East Los Angeles in 1968. The Walkout chronicles the days leading up to the walkouts, as well as the actual protests and aftermath. The film is an inspiring story of courage and strength in the face of adversity. The Walkout is … Read more
The Hero’s Journey—Kung Fu Panda Many people admire heroes, who are selfless and willing to put their lives on the line to help others. Courage and maverick are common themes among heroes across the world. In Kung Fu Panda, Po, a panda who loves kung fu and dreams of becoming a great warrior, goes on … Read more
African American women have long been hidden figures in American society. They’ve been underestimated, unappreciated, and often overlooked. But the film “Hidden Figures” shines a spotlight on the important role that these women played in American history. The movie tells the true story of three African American women who worked as mathematicians at NASA during … Read more
Horror films are a genre of film that typically seeks to provoke fear in the audience.They are often characterized by elements such as suspense, violence, and gore.Many horror films are based on novels or short stories, and often employ supernatural or otherworldly beings such as ghosts, witches, zombies, and vampires. Horror films often take place … Read more
Gladiator is a 2000 epic historical drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Franzoni, John Logan, and William Nicholson. It stars Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed (in his final film role), Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, John Shrapnel, and Richard Harris. Gladiator is set in 180 AD, during … Read more
Before the Flood is a movie about Climate Change. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is directed by Fisher Stevens. The movie was released in 2016 and has a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. Before the Flood follows DiCaprio as he interviews various experts on Climate Change and visits different parts of the world … Read more
The romantic tragedy of Romeo and Juliet has been performed by various actors, directors, and writers many times on film or stage, however the themes remain true to William Shakespeare’s original play written in the late 1500s. Both of the films we watched in class were excellent examples of contrast: one was more traditional (Zefferilli’s … Read more
The Odyssey is one of the most famous works of ancient Greek literature, and it has been compared to O Brother Where Art Thou in a number of ways. Firstly, both stories feature heroes who undertake long journeys home after enduring great hardships. In The Odyssey, the hero Odysseus must overcome numerous challenges on his … Read more
The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was first published in 1850. The story follows Hester Prynne, a woman who is sentenced to wear a scarlet letter A on her chest after she has an affair. Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, then seeks revenge on the man she had the affair with, Reverend … Read more
The Blues Brothers is a movie about two brothers who are trying to save their family’s soul food restaurant. The movie is full of sociology, from the characters’ interactions with each other to the way the plot unfolds. The movie shows how important family and friends can be, and how even the most criminal of … Read more
Arnold Schwarzenegger is an American actor, film producer, entrepreneur, politician, and former professional bodybuilder. He served two terms as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011. Arnold was born in Thal, Austria, and started weight training at the age of 15. Arnold won the Mr. Universe title at age 20 and went on … Read more
The Lady Eve is a film about a woman who falls in love with a man she meets on a ship. The film was released in 1941 and starred Barbara Stanwyck and Henry Fonda. The film was directed by Preston Sturges. The film is set on a cruise ship, and the story follows the relationship … Read more
The Scarlet Letter is a great film adaptation of the classic novel. The movie does a great job of staying true to the original story while also updating it for a modern audience. The acting is top-notch, and the visuals are stunning. If you’re a fan of the book, or just looking for a good … Read more
The Matrix is a movie that intertwines much symbolism, mythology, philosophy, and psychology. The film is set in a future in which humanity is unknowingly living in a simulated reality created by intelligent machines. The story of The Matrix is about humans who fight against the machines in order to break free from the simulated … Read more
Karl Freund’s “Mad Love” is a horror film that explores the power of Gothic imagery and themes. The film centers around Dr. Gogol, a mad scientist who is obsessed with actress Marguerite Dumont. Gogol kidnaps Marguerite and brings her to his lab, where he attempts to use her as a subject in his experiments. Marguerite … Read more
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s play of the same name. It was directed by Michael Hoffman and stars Kevin Kline, Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Everett, Stanley Tucci, and Calista Flockhart. The film follows the basic plot of the play, with a few changes made for cinematic purposes. A Midsummer Night’s Dream … Read more
Individualism is a fundamental value in American society. It is the belief that each person should be self-reliant and independent. This value is expressed in many ways, including the desire for privacy and freedom of expression. Individualism is also a key element of the American Dream, which is the belief that anyone can achieve success … Read more
The movie 12 Angry Men is a 1957 American film directed by Sidney Lumet. It is based on the courtroom drama by Reginald Rose, which in turn was based on the true story of the jury deliberations in the trial of a young Puerto Rican man accused of murdering his father. The movie stars Henry … Read more
The Patriot is a historical fiction film released in 2000. The movie is about the American Revolution, and stars Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin. The film was directed by Roland Emmerich. The Patriot received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success. The film earned over $120 million domestically and over $180 million … Read more
The Color Purple is a movie that tells the story of a women named Purple who is living in a time where her gender roles are extremely limited. She is forced to marry a man she does not love, and she is not allowed to express herself in any way that goes against what society … Read more
One Night the Moon is a 2001 Australian musical film directed by Rachel Perkins and starring Mia Wasikowska, David Gulpilil, and Jessica Mauboy. The film tells the story of a young girl’s search for her missing dog in the outback. One Night the Moon uses a mixture of traditional Aboriginal storytelling and music, as well … Read more
Cinderella is a popular fairy tale that has been adapted into movies and other works of fiction. The story is about a young woman who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, but is eventually able to attend the royal ball with the help of her Fairy Godmother and finds true love. Cinderella is often … Read more
The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was first published in 1850. The story is set in Puritan New England in the 17th century. The novel revolves around the life of Hester Prynne, who is forced to wear a scarlet A on her chest as punishment for having an affair. The novel … Read more
Gallipoli is a 1981 Australian film directed by Peter Weir and starring Mel Gibson and Mark Lee. The film tells the story of two young men, Archy Hamilton (Gibson) and Frank Dunne (Lee), who enlist in the Australian Army during World War I. They are sent to fight in the Gallipoli Campaign against the Ottoman … Read more
Child abuse is a topic that is often overlooked, but it is a serious issue that deserves attention. The movie Lolita is a great example of how child abuse can affect someone for the rest of their life. Lolita tells the story of a man who becomes obsessed with a young girl and starts abusing … Read more
The Truman Show is a movie about a man who is unknowingly living in a reality television show. The film raises many ethical questions, such as whether or not it is morally wrong to deceive someone in this way. The characters in the movie must grapple with the ethical implications of their actions, and viewers … Read more
When it comes to Like Water for Chocolate, there are two different versions: the movie and the book. Both have their own unique take on the story, but which one is better? The movie Like Water for Chocolate was released in 1992 and was directed by Alfonso Arau. The film starred Lumi Cavazos as Tita … Read more
Lolita is a novel by Vladimir Nabokov, first published in 1955. Lolita is the story of a middle-aged man’s sexual obsession with a 12-year-old girl. Lolita has been adapted into film twice, once in 1962 and again in 1997. The 1962 Lolita, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is considered one of the greatest films of all … Read more
Mommie Dearest is a movie about the turbulent relationship between Christina Crawford and her mother, Joan Crawford. The movie explores the psychological disorders that may have contributed to the dysfunctional relationship between mother and daughter. Joan Crawford was one of the most successful actresses of her time. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress … Read more
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, and Darlene Cates. The film follows 24-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store clerk struggling to care for his developmentally disabled brother Arnie (DiCaprio) and morbidly obese mother (Cates) in a sleepy … Read more
The Scarlet Letter is a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne that was published in 1850. The story is set in Puritan New England and follows the life of Hester Prynne, who is convicted of adultery and must wear a scarlet A on her chest as punishment. The novel has been adapted into a film several times, … Read more
The Godfather is a novel by Mario Puzo and The Godfather is a film by Francis Ford Coppola. The two works are very different, with the novel being much more graphic and explicit than the film. The novel also has a lot more backstory and detail about the characters, while the film focuses more on … Read more
The Castle is a 1997 Australian film directed by Rob Sitch. The film follows the antics of the unemployed Kerrigan family who live in a decrepit and run-down house near an airport in Melbourne, Australia. The Kerrigans are constantly harassed by the local council and their attempts to improve their home or fight back against … Read more
Romeo and Juliet is a classic love story that has been retold in many different ways. One of the most recent interpretations is the movie released in 2013. While the movie does stay true to the original story, there are some aspects that could have been done better. For example, the characters seem very one-dimensional … Read more
When it comes to Flowers For Algernon, there are some key differences between the novel and film versions that are worth noting. For starters, in the book, Charlie is only given intelligence-boosting surgery because he is part of an experiment. In the film, however, Charlie volunteers for the surgery after hearing about its potential benefits. … Read more
Big Fish is a 2003 American fantasy drama film based on the 1998 novel of the same name by Daniel Wallace. The film was directed by Tim Burton and stars Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, and Marion Cotillard. The film tells the story of Edward Bloom (Finney), a traveling salesman who tells … Read more
Soylent Green is a film released in 1973, directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charlton Heston. The film is set in a future world where the population has become so large that the Earth can no longer sustain them. Soylent Green is one of the solutions created to help feed the population, and it is … Read more
The Breakfast Club is a 1985 American comedy-drama film written and directed by John Hughes. The film stars Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy as five high school students who are forced to spend a Saturday in detention. The film was released on February 15, 1985. The Breakfast Club … Read more
The movie Pleasantville is set in the 1950s and follows the lives of two siblings, David and Jennifer, who are transported into the black-and-white world of a sitcom named Pleasantville. The stylistic elements of the movie help to create the overall feeling of nostalgia that is central to the film. One stylistic element that is … Read more
Tim Burton is one of the most unique, popular and well-known film directors today. Tim has directed many different movies that have been very well received all over the world (both by critics and audiences). Tim’s career as a director started off with short films like Vincent (1982) but really took off when he made … Read more
Shakespeare had his will written in 1612, but he died before it was signed. The document is dated March 25th of that year, and if you’re interested to read it for yourself, you can find a copy of the original on the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust website. It’s very short – only one page – and … Read more
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowski brothers. It depicts a dystopian future in which reality perceived by humans is actually the Matrix: an illusion created by sentient machines to pacify and subdue the human population while their bodies’ heat and electrical activity are used as an … Read more