The GodFather Review

Rarely do I enjoy a movie as I enjoyed Francis Ford Coppola's adaption of Mario Puzo's novel, The GodFather. This film has made a lasting impression on what I now expect to get out of any other movies I see. Not only were there subtle hints peppered throughout the movie, the color orange for instance, but the killings were also so graphic that it forced me to not turn away. During Luca Brasi's murder, when he was strangled in an empty bar, there was no music and the shot was an over the shoulder shot that focused on Brasi the entire time. This was meant to place the viewer there and give the impression that this was not a glamorous way to die. The symbolism of the color orange throughout the film is also important. The color orange is commonly believed to represent conflict. Which is why, when Vito get shot he is shown buying oranges which then roll across the street. Orange is also prevalent in the final office scene, Kay is wearing an orange dress. The door then closes on the orange dress, showing that the conflict has been temporarily resolved. Last, but certainly not least, food is very important to Italian culture, and it is no different in the film. No business talk at the dinner table, only fresh, homemade meals, and cannoli's play a part in a murder.

Crime films will always be interesting, but great crime films will always have a special place in movie lovers hearts, most likely because they will be trying to live up to The Godfathers.

Psycho Review

Psycho, arguably one of Alfred Hitchcock's best known film, can still pack a punch for unsuspecting viewers. Having recently re-watched it, I knew what I was in for, however some others that viewed it with me weren't so well versed and hadn't seen the film before. Lets just say that Hitchcock's still got it, he managed to rile a few screams from the crowd of high school students, which is seemingly harder than one might think. Psycho centers on a beautiful, blonde, real estate agent who steals a large sum of money from her employer. She then flee's town to be with her lover, only to never make it after staying the night at the Bates Motel. The story then makes a whole bunch of twists and turns from that point that shouldn't be spoiled. To many, Hitchcock is still considered the master of suspense, and for good reason. The film has you guessing until the very last minutes, when everything is explained to you very neatly and leaves no cliff hangers, however they still made three more movies after this one. My favorite thing about this movie, however, is the way that it was shot. Some camera angles are directly from a character's point of view, making it seem as though you are in the film. This gives the movie an interesting feel, coupled with Hitchcock's legendary shower scene, this film could possibly get any better. And that was meant as a compliment.

Citizen Kane Review

Citizen Kane was an exciting film, not modern day Michael Bay exciting, but for the time it was thought provoking and very technologically advanced. Orson Welles made quite a splash in the film world with his camera techniques. He used many fades and different transitions to give the film more depth. Wipes were used to transition a sequence of shots in which Kane and his first wife were having meals at one of their many tables. The wipes were meant to show the passage of time, in correlation with the costumes that the two characters wore, as well as their makeup. But, the special effects can only make up so much of the film. This isn't Gravity. The main plot follows a reporter who wishes to get a better understanding of the meaning of "Rosebud", Kane's last words. He travels to see many of Kane's old friends and lovers, and they tell the story of Kane's life and what they think Rosebud might be through flash backs. This is why special effects and make up were crucial for Citizen Kane. Without it the actors would just look stupid, trying to play older versions of themselves. The audience would also be confused as to what time period they were in. Thankfully, this wasn't the case, and Citizen Kane was a delightful success. A must watch film classic.