My Film Critique Reflection

The comments we received on our film were mostly about the shots and how they were well composed, in nice lighting, and varied. Personally, I feel not only was it well composed but we also had an interesting storyline that had shots of different types and angles. Although we did nicely for one of our first films we still can improve on everything. We especially should improve on our acting to create a more believable story, and changing the backgrounds of the scenes to create an overall more interesting film. As new filmmakers we had many struggles. I as a filmmaker could improve on my acting, I was too nervous in front of the camera and made it look cheesy, also I should try different types of transitions to add more appeal to the film. To improve I need to become more comfortable with the camera and try different ideas while editing.

German Expressionism Investigation

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920)

Film:

Director: Robert Wiene

German Expressionism: This German film is a silent horror that delves into mental instability.

Inspired: Edward Scissor Hands

Faust (1926)

Film:

Director: Georges Méliès

German Expressionism: This film is based on an old German legend, it takes place in an urban setting, opening with a confusing scene of a man with black wings looking over the city showing paranoia and obsession.

Inspired: The Night On Bald Mountain scene in Fantasia

The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Film:

Director: James Whale

German Expressionism: Inspired by the Expressionist movement this film is a type of horror movie with anti-heroic main characters and the town was filled with paranoia and obsession with these characters causing madness.

Inspired: Edward Scissor Hands

Metropolis Summarizer

After Watching Metropolis, In your view, what is the Mediator?

The mediator in Metropolis is what connects the "head" to the "hands". The "head" is the higher class of society that controls the "hands", which are the workers. Freder being from the higher class decides to switch places with one of the workers and in doing so, he is the "heart" that connects the two together. Especially in the end of the film you see the two groups finally come together because of Freder and his efforts to save both parties from destroying themselves and others.

Is Fritz Lang trying to influence us?  Is he advocating for Capitalism? Communism?  Fascism? 

Fritz is definitely trying to influence us to see the reality of certain government systems. In Metropolis they had a fascist society where the "head" controlled over the "hands", but this system caused the workers of the city (the "hands") to start rebelling against their government. In the end when they make an agreement you can see how it changes from the former fascist society to a capitalist. The workers will still work, but they have an agreement with the government to create a better condition for them to do so. It creates a middle ground for both groups to co-exist.