paper topic and dwarf hitman

ok so i know its a little late but i wanted to post that the topic of my paper was going to be based on freeway, and how there are two truths. the truth of what actually happened event wise, and what should be done, and then the truth of reality, and who believes what. hope it came out well, and will be seeing everyone in class today to watch the movie with the dwarf hitman

Free way

I know this is crazy late but the internet isn't working at my house. I really enjoyed freeway and it’s probably my favorite movie we have watched throughout the whole semester. I think if I were to have watched this on my own I wouldn’t have gotten that it had to do with red riding hood. I actually thought this movie was really entertaining and ridiculously funny. I really like how Reese Witherspoon played Vanessa I’ve never seen her play such an interesting character. It’s weird because Vanessa was very innocent and naive in my opinion but still very intense and vulgar. I guess it was like a child she didn’t have a filter when she saw Bob’s mutations she hysterical laughed and made fun of him or when she was talking to the cops she just said whatever she wanted. I also liked how she just goes into the diner no problem after she murders someone and orders food like it was no big deal she just killed someone. I found her honesty very entertaining. I also enjoyed how unlike the original little red riding hood Vanessa manages to hold her own throughout the entire movie and it was nice to see after she kills Bob the cops show up and it’s kind of like ha she didn’t need you to show up anyway. This movie was a good laugh and I really enjoyed it.

I kind of can’t believe the semesters over it seems like yesterday we were watching La Jetee. I really enjoyed this semester. I have seen many movies I would have never picked up to watch if it wasn’t for this class. I’m excited for the movie today I am sure it is going to be something very crazy and entertaining just like the rest of the films.

Hamlet

Real late. I really didn't find this movie interesting. I have seen the true story of hamlet before and i found myself loving the story line and all the twists and turns. I felt that the new modern day twist they threw into the movie really scewed it. i think that this is a story that has tried to be redone over and over again, and just almost shouldn't be touched. The language really threw me off. I know that this is a characteristic that is normally kept, and is part of the stories true roots, but it really deterred me. i was not satisfied with this movie and most definitely will not be writing my final paper on it.

posting comments

i dont know whats going on but i cant post comments under anything.>>>>>>ughhhhhh
Anyway, i cant beleive this semester is over and im graduating>>>> happy happy joy joy

I did find the final paper to be somewhat challenging, but i enjoyed writing it surprisingly.
and watching the film again was interesting and i noticed things that i didnt notice the first time.

Well this semester has come to an end to quickly. To be quite honest this class has been one of my best classes this semester and i enjoyed the experience. Throughout all the films we saw in class I prefer the last one Freeway because it did give a little twist to an old folk tale that i have heard a million times. But any way over all I enjoyed this class and it made me have a better appreciation for films in general.

Last class

Alright, well tomorrow is our last class. I have to say I remember meeting at the honors advisement office to pick this course and when the adviser named another teacher I asked if you were teaching the course because I remember you'd always bring up your film class in our english class. Any way, just as I expected, this class was awesome. I learned a lot about the different types of movies out there and that theres more to a movie than just the plot and the characters playing their role. What an awesome class and experience. As for the paper, I think it went well and I have I feel as if I definitely covered the topic of Truth as well as I could in my paper.

Freeway

I was finally able to get a hold of a copy of Freeway and I have to say that this was my favorite movie that we saw all semester. I loved the films twist on the classic Little Red Riding Hood and the humor it added to the plot. I really loved Vanessa's character because she was so honest about everything and she was able to take care of herself. Its not too often that you see a women in a movie now a days who isn't playing the damsel in distress. Vanessa was definitely not the damsel in distress when it came to defending herself. I do have to agree with the fact that I don't think a scary looking Bob would have been better for the film and that because he looking so trusting that makes him all the more scary. Because of this he was able to lure Vanessa into his car, which I don't think would have happened if he was a scarier looking man. I have to say my favorite part of the movie was when she went into the diner covered in blood and said "I must look a fright" only after the waitress looked at her like she was crazy. All in all I really did enjoy the movie.
Its hard to believe that the semester is already over and that my tie at Nassau is over as well. I really enjoyed the class and I have to say that this was probably my favorite class all semester. Not only because we got to watch movies but we watched movies I probably would not have watched on my own. also that the class challenged us to take a deeper look at how films are made and the different elements used. I really enjoyed being able to share my thoughts on the blog because I'm not a very talkative person and class and this was a way for me to be able to share.
I look forward to our last class and watching the final film, which I have seen parts of but have never been able to watch all the way through.

the finale

i must say that i am sadden that we are having our last class. I really enjoyed this class and all the movies that we have watch. The movies arent ones that i would have chosen on my own, but am glad that i got to see what else is out here beside the same old media movies that are put out in theaters, with the same old boy meet girl, girl falls in love and the end. They are starting to get played out. I especially enjoyed freeway once again and will be looking more into exploitation films. I also like the fact that we are able to express our feelings and though on the blog ( even though i did get a little behind) its in a way more comfortable especially for the people who are shy in the classroom. Am looking forward for this bittersweet tuesday but cant wait to see the last movie either.

Dammit Wolverton! Keep your pants on....

Throughout this semester, ive been intrigued by the extremely random films we've watched. I totally have enjoyed this class because it has opened my eyes to a new way of looking into films. i look to see how narrative elements are used to prove a point or to symbolize something else. In this film Freeway it took a childrens story and made it into a more sexy and interesting film. Matthew Brights mashup of this film has made me interested in more films such as these. I like the idea of taking a storyline that we all know, and changing it up and or altering its meaning. Brights version of Little Red Riding Hood was a bit modified for the modern day viewer. For someone who wants to see a bit more skin than usual. For someone who wants to see violence and drugs. This is what our society asks for, we enjoy watching a gorey film compared to a film that is slow and very literal.
In class we discussed the version of the wolf being the way he was. For some people said that we were expecting a more grizzly looking man who looks somewhat intimidating. But i wasnt waiting for "24"s own Jack Bauer playing the predator killer. I guess for women its different, he did have a creepy look to him and the glasses and the monotone voice can be a perfect fit for this role, but i think a larger, more scary guy would of done justice.
Matthew Bright used some iconic visual effects of the little red riding hood with the Red Hood and the basket. I enjoyed making the connectiosn with the film and story. The name of the predator Bob WOLVErton was also genius. (With the exeption that Prof. Estevez had a bad experience with one Bob Wolverton) thats just ironic though. But he did get everything he deserved. I enjoyed ending the semester and having a film such as this one to write and discuss about because i felt like the other films we watched this semester were a bit depressing. Freeway had more of a comedic factor to it.

I was absent the tues. we watched free way, and after our discussion last tues. I was really curious to watch it. I think this is my favorite movie of the semester. It was so cool to see the little red riding hood story line made horror film. I found it to be really funny, and couldn't believe Reese Witherspoon actually played this tough, rebellious, prison girl. It's so not her. She's usually in all the cute chick flick movies with the perfect hair haha. I think the element of truth was the clearest in this movie. There's so much to write about on it. It's also sad to think that there are a lot of innocent people in jail and a lot of killers out there living freely because the truth wasn't told. I really enjoyed this movie and am looking forward to next weeks final movie. I can't believe its the end of the semester already!

Freeway

I know, I know, light years late on this post... but I really did have a response I wanted to share! First off, I thought it was so hilariously awkward to see Reese Witherspoon play such a role and I loved how the movie had a humorous take. The "Hey officers, what's up?" line killed me. In class, we ( and by we, I mean everyone else... my lack of extensive film knowledge often inspires me to keep quiet ;) ) discussed how a more grizzly looking wolf could have been appropriate. I disagree completely. I find the Bob Wolverton-type predator to be the scariest of all. It's much more unsettling to imagine that some people who appear put together and trustworthy could secretly be dangerous. (I thought the Ted Bundy comparison was spot on.) Also, I think that whole type of predator is the basis of the original Little Red Riding Hood. The wolf in those stories IS well spoken and IS often dressed in gentleman's clothes to show that you can't trust appearances. If the wolf was portrayed simply as grizzly and obviously dangerous, LRRH would be seen as a much more gullible (and stupid) character than she really is, which would change the moral of the story. The original LRRH builds around the concept of "not everyone is who they appear" and I think Freeway did a good job of doing the same.

SOMEONE STILL HAS MY FREEWAY DVD

AND THEY BETTER TURN IT IN QUICK IF THEY DON'T WANT TO END UP LIKE BOB WOLVERTON!

Exploitation films

Unfortunately i was not able to see the video because of copyright claim. I never knew that " exploitation films" were a type of gene in the movie industry, but now reading more about it i can see how a lot of the Quentin Tarantino are definitely "exploitation films". I guess i like these type of films because of the few tarantino movies ive seen and freeway, I've enjoy watching them. As much as Freeway is very over the top, its in a funny way which makes the movie that much better.

hamlet

i found it very funny that they have even made x rated shakespearian themed porn videos. people don't know what to invent now in days. in my opinion Shakespeare is more appropriate for the classrooms then anywhere else.

I found the movie more interesting the fact that it had actors of our generation in it. The same old hamlets with the setting being in shakespearian era gets old after watching it so many times over in high school english classes. the fact that they were able to put in a new york city setting made the movie alot more intriguing. Now if they are able to tone down the shakespearian language would be great because as many times as we watch the movie, it still gets confusing.

Freeway

When I first watched the film it dawned on me that I saw this film before but a long time ago. I liked the fact how they had Reese Witherspoon characterized as sweet young girl but she also had a mean streak. For example she arrives at the diner after trying to kill Bob and sits down to order food and does not notice she has blood all over her hands. Until the waitress comes over and looks at her strange so then she goes in the bathroom to clean her self and comes back to continue to order. As if nothing just happened that was the funny part. Thereafter she proceeds outside where police are waiting for her and she says "I did not do nothing." It showed that she did not have remorse but if many people were in her shoes and had her state of mind i would not expect anything less.

Freeway

I am not going to say that Reese Witherspoon's acting is the best thing I have ever seen, but it does show the character she would come to perfect. She can manage to shoot and slash her way into our hearts while exemplifying the idiot savant. This ability is fundamental to the direction of this movie. Without it we wouldn’t have bought the plot moving as it did. Of course it helped the level of comic violence given to those serious brutal moments. Her innocence as opposed by the disingenuous environment she comes from and those around her attempting to take advantage of her apparent naivety. Keifer Sutherlands character is the perfect example, the wolf in the hen yard that causes fear to compensate for something lacking inside. The movie does a great job of not taking itself too seriously while maintaining some level of realism. That quality is what keeps it moving towards something plot wise while giving a chuckle here and there. Looking forward to seeing the last piece you have chosen.

PS: Although I haven’t seen this yet, it’s been recommended heavily, including a Netflix suggestion that will never give up until I watch it… Is the last movie In Bruges?

fin de Cinema

I was trying to post a comment under evryone else, but i wouldnt let me.
i cant beleive the semester is coming to an end already. i really enjoyed this class and cant wait to see what the final film will be. As far as the final paper, i find that it has been challenging so far for me, and i would like to think that i haven just been " occupying a seat" LOL, but its been great.

FFFFreewaYYYYYY

im struggling to think of which movie i liked better, memento, story telling, or this. probably this one because the comic and over-the-top feel to it. the 3 have the same feel of being double crossed and taking it to an extreme. and i can't really disagree with vanessa and some of the things she does. although its taken to an extreme, she really doesnt have another choice, like bob said his word will be held over hers.

its a crazy movie, and i think i need a second watch of it.

its definitely all shakespeare to me

sorry for the late response once again but been busy or i just say im gonna get to it and i never end up getting to it. This production of William Shakespeare Hamlet was a typical modern transformation of a Shakespearean theme into a film. Shakespeare and I have had our differences, but i understood this version of hamlet more than any other modernized shakespeare film. In this version Almereyda transcends the empire of Denmark as Denmark Corporation. They were fighting off a corporate takeover by their upcoming competitor Fortinbras. Elsinore is modernized into a hotel.
SInce this film was released in 2000, it was the turn of a new century, Y2K was in full effect. A new age of technology started. I like how Almereydas version uses the dominance of media, of visual culture, of communications technology in contemporary life. The way they use fax machines and emails for communication, and surveillance cameras and video/film clips for way of gettin their point across.
i was never a big fan of Shakespearean language. I never really understood dialogue throughout the play of hamlet, but in this film the modern filmmaking made me understand more. Most directors and filmmakers do not adapt any play by shakespeare. Its like in a way frowned upon to do it. I feel like since he was such a reputable author and playright that people try not to adapt anything else. its very unconventional to do something like that.
overall this version of hamlet is one of my most enjoyable film because of Bill Murray. he is a great actor and one of the most talented comedians in the film industry. To see him play a somewhat serious role was interesting to me. He played such a geniune role of a father and very sympathetic character. He loved his children very much and all he did was for him, well atleast thats what i got from it.

I saw freeway when i was in high school i think? well it was on regular tv and i watched it, and honestly until last tuesday when you presented it in class i had no idea it was the same film. I never never never never would have made that connection (little red riding hood) back then! I love how it feels its almost enlightening...i feel like i know something the rest of the world doesnt LOL

I left this same comment on the main page under the bonus!

freeway..

really enjoyed Freeway.. but still think Memento was my favorite movie....
Freeway was funny and I kept wondering how it related to little red riding hood. but as u continue to see the movie it comes together .. The end def. gave it all away with Bob being dressed up as his grandma. Found it funny that Vanessa did a lot to get to her grandma's house .. even prostitute her self away .."SEXO BUENO". All around good movie and was kinda suprised that ive never seen the movie before.

Freeway

This movie was a very pleasant surprise. It was violent, very profane at times, energetic and a very entertaining movie. I never thought that the fairy tale of 'Little Red Riding hood" could be so provacative and so scary. i found the film to be very funny (not sure if it was intentional or not)and disturbing, whimsical and scary, and totally, totally original. I think the best way i can describe the movie is as a very twisted black comedy. It is actually very hard to determine when the story is meant to be taken seriously and when the film expects us to laugh and that is part of the movie's appeal to me.

Freeway!

Freeway is certainly my favorite movie this semester. Reese Witherspoon ha not aged a bit since her role as Vanessa. I thought this movie has dark comedy molded into the film.

I enjoyed Vanessa is young but is still able to defend herself; for example, when she is in jail and she attacks another inmate with barely having any confrontation with the inmate. Vanessa is a very witty character, that not only thinks of her own best intentions, but also the intentions of others. One example of how Vanessa thinks of the intentions of others, is her reason for (attempting) killing Bob; she thought that if she didn't kill Bob, he would continue to kill other innocent girls in the future. Although Vanessa is as young as she is, she was a very independent girl; when her parents were arrested for prostitution and drug use, Vanessa did not even seem surprised or upset.

Throughout the movie, there were many relations to little red riding hood; when Vanessa outsmarted Bob so she was able to get her gun relates to how little red riding hood tricks the wolf in order to escape. Another relation to little red ridding hood was when Bob dresses up as Vanessa's grandmother to trick her. Overall Vanessa plays an innocent little girl just like little red riding hood does in her story.

I really enjoyed this movie Freeway, i thought the story was great while having dark comedy to relieve tension.

Semester ending

Cant believe the semester is coming to an end. I feel that i have gotten the chance to experience and view many movies that I'd never dream of seeing. Each movie had their own unique way of telling a story. Free way, also had a unique way of telling a story. The way it plays on little red riding hood was pretty cool. I like the fact that the main character is pretty but not "smart" or well educated as the "real" red riding hood was portrayed as. I like the cartoonish feel to it. It makes its views on society and also gives us this comedy to go right aside with the blood and violence. Great movie again. I will probably have more questions that I will post iup after our class discussion today in regards to our essay.

I haven't been able to see Freeway yet, but after reading the student logs and the log on the main class blog about exploitation of film, it sounds like a good movie. Based on what I've read, the plot of the story sounds very interesting and the Little Red Riding Hood theme sounds like it will add an even more interesting twist to it. While I was reading the class blog on the exploitation of film and the description of Vanessa's character I found it interesting that she is the ethical character in the movie even though she is so violent and sexual. I can't wait to watch the movie so I can write more about it and get to see how the story unfolds for myself.

I wanted to watch the clip for Machete, but the link isn't working. It says the video is no longer available. It sounds like an interesting bunch of actors though! And if its anything like the other Quentin Tarantino movies I've seen I'm sure the movie itself will be pretty interesting too!!

I really loved the final reckoning link on the last class blog. I can't believe there's only one week of classes left!

Freeway

Out of all the movies we've seen in class, I really enjoyed this one the most :). I think the name of the movie suits it perfectly becuase one of the highest points in the movie was when vanessa got stuck on the freeway. And I also saw the title Freeway, as Vanessa's lifestyle was a Freeway in itself. She had a very strong personality with a very innocent face and didnt worry about the consequences and just spoke her mind. The movie compared to the typical story of little red riding hood, adds a fun twist to the story. I like how in the beginning of the Film your introduced with the story of little red riding hood through cartoon images, but almost in a "Adult" cartoon version because little red riding hood had a sexy red corsette versus the innocent little red dress. The part of the movie that reminded me a lot of the original "R.R.H" was @ the end when bob is hiding at her grandmas house and he's dressed as grandma hiding under the covers. I was a little confused in that part because how did Bob know she had escaped from jail and was at her grandmas? I liked the ending how the two investigators just both laughed with her, almost as if they were solving this case with her all along, and that the Truth had come out. I do believe though that Vanessa should have behaved a little better though after she had shot bob because i felt like her shooting the sheriff at the gas station and then the scene where shes a prostitute and demands the guy to go in the trunk just gave her more reason to be in jail, but yet again thats the image the producer wanted to bring out in her.

Little Red Riding Hood

I apologize for this blog being so late, it was just such a crazy weekend!!


While reading the history of Little Red Riding Hood, I was very shocked to read that the meaning behind it has to do with sexuality. Especially the 1697 version, where it was a play on her losing her virginity and that the red cape symbolizing blood and sin. I find it very interesting the double meaning behind the story. Follow the rules and be a good little girl, and if you give into temptations along the way and "sin" you will be punished, in this case killed. I guess it shouldn't be to shocking that this children's story should have a double meaning because there are a lot of of children's rhymes and stories that aren't as sweet and innocent as they are made out to be. For example, Ring Around the Rosie is a song about the the plague. I just find it very interesting to learn that a lot of the stories and rhymes that you love as a kid have such different meanings behind them. I really loved the YouTube video of the Red Hot Riding Hood twist on the age old story. It was very funny to see almost the same basic plot with some of the roles reversed. Instead of the Wolf eating the Grandmother, The grandmother is a man hungry women trying to get the wolf.
After reading about Freeway and its twist on the character of Little Red Riding Hood I watched the trailer just to get a glimpse of the film and I think the twist on the story looks really interesting and I can't wait to watch it.

Hamlet

Sorry I'm so late wit the Hamlet i couldn't make it to last class and completely forgot about the blog. I found Hamlet to be alright. I've read the book and I'm not sure what it is but I felt like it was missing something. I felt that because it was a modern day take that it was odd that at the end of the film Hamlet and Horatio had a sword fight i thought they would have done it differently. I did like how instead of being the king and prince and have a castle of Denmark they used a big corporation in ny and hamlet was more like the heir of the company and even though they called Claudius the new king he was more like the CEO and when the company gets taken over by Fortinbras. I thought that was a great concept. I also like the way Hamlet did his to be or not to be speech how it first starts with the gun in his mouth because it is all about him contemplating suicide and then how he’s in blockbuster in the action aisle. I've seen a few hamlet films and usually I don't like the character Polonius but in this film I really liked Bill Murray playing him. What i also thought was different and i've never seen done before in a Hamlet film was at the end of the film they made it like his mother drank the poison on purpose and she knew it was poison but every version I've seen she drank the drink by accident and had no idea there was poison in it. I also liked Ophelia in the story some people said in class she was a little boring but in the play she doesn’t really have any personality and she’s just really odd and just listens to her dad and brother. Oh and I was reading the blog I was actually surprised and found it pretty funny that there are Shakespeare porno’s and I’m really excited for Freeway it looks to be very interesting and I love Reese Witherspoon.

my internet is finally working after two weeks! so im sorry for the super delay. I enjoyed Hamlet. I found it interesting, the whole NYC setting with old shakesperean language. It was very creative and it made sense to make the king the CEO of a company. I think that would be the closest relationship a modern day king would have to the modern day world. I found it alittle more confusing than the actual story. If i hadn't read Hamlet before the movie i would've been some what lost. It's a tragic story with a tragic ending, and it really shows how important the truth is, and how everything in life comes back to haunt you. And of course the famous "to be or not to be" scene which is the first thing i think most people think about when they hear Hamlet. The only character i was alittle disapointed by was Ophelia. She was too bland. I was expecting more drama, more emotion out of her. But I guess we do realize the exent of her emotions when she kills herself at the Guggenheim.

Im realy interested and excited to watch Freeway. Every movie we've watched so far in this class has been really interesting. Which is somewhat refreshing, it's always good to watch or see things in a different perspective. Little Red Riding Hood was my favorite story as a kid, and i remember watching the movie i had obsessively evry day. I haven't watched Little Red Riding Hood in 15 years so I'm excited to see a grown up perspective on the film, and I'm sure Reese Witherspoon will be good in this movie. The Betty Boop cartoon was adorable.

Little Red Riding Hood

I found it very interesting that the meaning behind " little red riding hood" story is really about sexuality. I always though that the reason our parents would tell us that story was to teach us what would happen if we don't follow the rules, a way to scare us into listening to our rules that were set. It makes more sense to me now though, seeing it in that way. The meaning each character has in the story, and even though the story is told in many different ways around the world they all have the same meaning. I really enjoyed the video clip of he cartoon. It gave me a sense of when i was younger watching cartoons like those. The way they did a different twist on the story i found quite funny, how now the grandmother is the one after him. I also wasn't able to attend class last tuesday so i didnt get a chance to see Freeway but from what i have read on the blog i am upset to have missed it. It seems like it somewhat like the cartoon clip. Also reading the Red Riding Hood Teasers, it reenforces that many people have different views of the story. I really like the animated school assignment. It pretty awesome how they were able to tell the whole story without any sound and pictures only.