Friday, December 30, 2011

Weekly Update for December 30, 2011

Hi everyone,

It's been some time since I posted a weekly update. One, my laptop has not been working well( it was slowing down too much so I been making on it) and two, my dad's mother was in town and she is very nosy. So I'm happy to say I'm re-starting my update for this blog and the LAMC Book club I started some weeks ago  (yay). I'll post an update next week, for now have a happy and safe new year everyone!!!! Remember stay young^.^


 Please feel free to check out my DeviantArt profile http://ave7891.deviantart.com/

Friday, November 25, 2011

Blog#12 The Mystery of Rosebud

Before I saw Citizen Kane in my Cinema class, I heard the word "Rosebud" when I was younger from a cartoon or two. I never thought that word would mean something in a movie called Citizen Kane from 1941. Once I saw this movie I felt sad for the main character played by the late Orson Welles. You can feel the sadness by his eyes and body movement and I thought of a Bruce Wayne type in the character as well. He also directed, produced, and wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz for this film. That's a lot of power for a man that worked for the first time with RKO Pictures and this film is also know as the "greatest American film of all time". The other movie that is similar to this one is The Social Network (2010) ( I have not seen that The Social Network, I heard from a few people who have seen both films.)
The two scenes that really got my eyes and got me thinking in the first scene were his parents sold him( or was forced). The second scene when he was talking to his first wife once they were newlyweds. When the main character Charles Foster Kane (Orson Welles) went to live with Thatcher, he was given a sled( I thought nothing of it at first when I saw it but that sled was a clue for the end).
In the second scene I well talk about is when they are having breakfast as newlywed. They are seating close to each other with so much in love in their eyes. Then the camera zooms in to just see their faces and going to his wife then to him when they were talking back and forth within each other for a minute or two. Until they end their discussion the camera zooms out you notice the two characters are now apart showing the years they were growing apart from their love.


Like I said before I feel sad for this main character and I even hear even this film is close enough in how Orson Welles's real life came out to be. Now I would say what the sled mean in the film but it's not fair. If you haven't seen this great movie. Let's just say if you loved one period in your life what would it be in your childhood or as an adult?


The semester is coming to an end sadly, it was a fun ride to start a blog even if I had no idea what it was at first and I'm still learning. I still want to continue my blog but in making background and other things like I said in my last blog. On Fridays I will give weekly updates, I'll be remodeling my blog to have it ready for the first week of January to start the new year right. Good luck in your finals and thank you so much for the comments. Remember stay young^.^.




Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Weekly Update for November 23, 2011

Hi everyone,

One more blog left to go for the semester sadly. I still want to continue my blog but design background for scrapbooking and other things I have in mind. I'm going to post my last blog for the class this Friday to have that out of the way.

Yes I'm a fan of Citizen Kane movie! I was hoping someone of the group would know that line (Yay Jessica!!). That's the last movie I will review on blog #12. See everyone on Friday, remember stay young^.^

   
Have a good Thanksgiving everyone
(good luck and be safe on BLACK FRIDAY if you go!!)

Friday, November 18, 2011

Blog#11 Metropolis:A Movie that Would Have Be Lost Forever

Metropolis is a German silent film of science-fiction genre which was directed by Fritz Lang but was uncredited. I saw this film in my Cinema 003 class back in fall of 2006( I been at Mission College since fall 2005 as a full and part-time student). The professors at the time with Stan Levine( he was a sweet man). Metropolis was the first silent movie I have seen and enjoyed. Even if at times I don't read the subtitles when they came up to tell about the missing scene that were late years ago. The version I saw was missing 30 minutes to an hour more or less of the footage. Metropolis is a long movie but I have not seen the update version yet. The film was re-release on November 16, 2010 on DVD and Blu-Ray with 25 minutes of restored footage. Also, the film was seen at the TCM Classic Film Festival.

The background was unreal, beautiful, and dark to me and that really catch my eye. It's was just like a master drawing that can not be replaced with anything of our time( I can be wrong, but the scene were hard to explain with my point of view.).

What would you think of this scene once you when it for the first time? Would you like how it looks now or can the scene be better in some other way?


Even in this scene were the cyborg is going to transformation into the female in the movie, the female name is Maria played by Brigitte Helm. This made my mind think in how were they able to make that scene came to life in my eye. You should see this scene for yourself if you have not yet.

Another thing is the actors and the actress in this film were great even if they don't talk. The movement in their hands say it all, when they are mad, sad, in love, happy( in a good and an evil way as well), scared, and so much more that went along with their face movements.The cast and crew from this film is in the TCM website, http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/5892/Metropolis/ check it out to know more about the film and others films as well.

I know there is so much more I can say about this film but I only seen it once sadly. Next week, I will talk about another film I also saw in my Cinema class( I really enjoyed this class. But Rodriguez Aviles is a good professor as well.). I'll see everyone on Wednesday to find out which movie I will talk about next. Remember stay young ^.^ Rosebub

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Weekly Update for November 16, 2011

Hi everyone,

The fall semester is over in a few weeks.Yay!!

This Friday on blog#11 I will be talking about a movie that Adolf Hitler don't agree with. The name is Metropolis from  1927 by Fritz Lang. I know that is other movie with the same that is anime from 2001 by  Rintaro but these two movie don't have the same plot.


I'll see everyone on Friday to tell you guys more about this film. Remember stay young^,^

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Blog#10 "I Just Finished the Worst Picture in the World."[14]

What actor or actress would say that? Without knowing that film would be the first to won five major Academy Awards for Best Picture (Columbia Pictures (Frank Capra and Harry Cohn)), Best Director (Frank Capra), Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), and for Best Writing, Adaptation (Robert Riskin). Two other films that won those same awards were One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991). Also, there was two remakes that were musicals called Eve Knew Her Apples (1945) starring Ann Miller,[3] and You Can't Run Away from It(1956) starring Jack Lemmon and June Allyson.   


What movie am I talking about, will it's an American romantic comedy "with the elements of screwball comedy" named It Happened One Night from 1934.
 Before Claudette was the leading lady, there were other women offered the role like Miriam Hopkins, Myrna Loy("were then offered the roles, but each turned the script down, though Loy later noted that the final story as filmed bore little resemblance to the script that she and Montgomery had been offered for their perusal.[4]")Margaret SullavanConstance Bennett( she was willing to play the role but Columbia Pictures didn't allow her.), Bette Davis(she wanted the part but "Warner Brothers and Jack Warner refused to loan her."), Carole Lombard( was unable to play the role, she was working on another film called Bolero), and Loretta Young turn the role down.For the leading man Robert Montgomery but he turn it down.




Claudette had worked in her first movie (For the Love of Mike (1927)) with Frank as director and it was a disaster. She vowed not to work with him again but later she agreed to play the leading lady if her "salary was doubled to $50,000" and to completed filming with in four week, for her to take a well planned vacation.


Frank now had his leading lady but not a leading man. Until Columbia Pictures wanted some kind of  "punishment" for actor Clark Gable, for refusing a role from the studio.


Claudette was unhappy while the filming this film, at one point she was outraged with Frank. When he got a body double for her. She told him, "Get her out of here. I'll do it. That's not my leg!" After the movie she told her friend, "I just finished the worst picture in the world."[14]. Once the film was release with the word of mouth the movie became a major hit and the biggest hit for actress Claudette. 




Notes: "Through the filming, Capra claimed, Colbert "had many little tantrums, motivated by her antipathy toward me," however "she was wonderful in the part."[14] After her acceptance speech at the Oscars ceremony, she went back on stage and thanked Capra for making the film.[15]"

In 1935, after her Academy Award nomination, Colbert decided not to attend the presentation, feeling confident that she would not win the award, and instead, planned to take a cross-country railroad trip. After she was named the winner, studio chief Harry Cohn sent someone to "drag her off" the train, which had not yet left the station, and take her to the ceremony. Colbert arrived wearing a two-piece traveling suit which she had the Paramount Pictures costume designer, Travis Banton, make for her trip.[18]

I highly recommend this movie to everyone of any age group. Sometime it's on TCM( Turner Classic Movies (around the world)) or even check it out on youtube (there are some movies that you can watch for free.)

I will see everyone soon maybe with an update or the next blog( I been very busy that I haven't been able to write my updates for the week, I hope for this week I find the time to.). Remember stay young^.^.







Sunday, November 6, 2011

Blog#9 I Enjoy....

I always enjoyed black and white( and color as will) film ever since I can remember. So for the next following weeks I'll be talking about movies that are close to my heart and giving some background of the making, actors, actress, and directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, John M. Stahl just to name a few.

So many to choice from I know but it fun to look back to film from the silent era and how much movies have change over a long pointed of time.

Another thing I enjoy more than watching a movie is the making of the film. I have more fun watching the whole road of the making from just an idea in pager to planning the roles to begin filming. It's weird why I do.

I know Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is being use on many films now a day, more in others. It's fine when the workers are using the program to improve their graphics that are difficult to bring in real life by hand. But when the whole movie is in CGI is just a waste of money that may or may not hurt the film once it opens at the box office.

That are other movies that are over looked for many reasons. Story line was not clear enough or it just made the person think too much over it. I will go more on detail on blog#10.

I watch many of the movies in Turner Classic Movies(TCM) that I have not seen before, once I give myself the time to sit and relax, I enjoy the film as if it was made recently. The actor that come together to play the characters( at times) make a person feel what they feel and more. There few actors( I can be wrong, but this is my own input) take a person to the same place as the characters should be at.

There were actors I enjoy that I will (again) in each blog I go over the movies they are in. I don't want to give anything away just yet. Because it would not be any fun if I just told everything in this blog.

So what do you think of  movies that have been made over the years? And do you remember a movie that move you to tears? Or which one made you over think your mind for the answer once the film was over?  These are some of the questions I may ask for answer to(just for fun).

I will continue until the next blog, I will see everyone on Wednesday for my update of the week( sorry for this week, I even thought I wouldn't be able to write a blog tonight, My laptop as a big bug that I need to clean off)

I will see everyone on Wednesday then on Friday, Remember stay young.^,^ 

Friday, October 28, 2011

Blog#8 From Comics, Shows, Movies, and Now Animated Series

Batman has been around for a long run, he had it's wars in history that might of end him; however, his was able to fight back. There's so many animated shows that were had and others that were cut before. Here's the link if you want to check the list of the post and what's yet to come. http://legionsofgotham.org/TOONStimeline.html.

To start off I well not talk about the cartoon shows before the one from 1992 there no differences from the 60's show. Batman the animated series started on  September 5, 1992 and end September 15, 1995 in Fox (Fox kids). They use the same theme music from the first two Batman films from Tim Burton's for the opening. The funny thing I never notice until a friend point it out for me, the word Batman never was shown on the opening. I really enjoy seeing the art work in the two seasons, on DVD the first season was split in two box sets. The place setting was in the 1940's, and when the voice actors and actresses record together just like a radio play.
Two years later on the WB (kids' WB)  The new Batman Adventures started September 13, 1997 and ended  January 16, 1999. The art style was different in this series from the last series even character had their own style to tell them apart, while in the new character design like about the same to each other, just change the color of their skin and hair style(in my point of view). This cartoon had 24 episodes while the other one had 85 episodes.  

Then in January 10, 1999 a future Batman was on T.V. Bruce is an old man and a teenager by the name Terry McGinnis takes over the new Bat suit. This was the first Batman series that has a teenager play the hero not the sidekick. This show only had three seasons and 52 episodes when it ended in December 18, 2001. The show ( and the animated series) still airs on The Hub network.  
  On September 11, 2004 The Batman aired but this cartoon does not follow the comics, the movies, nor the other animated shows. Jeff Matsuda was the character design who also designed for the Jackie Chan Adventures cartoon. In the show Batgirl came out before Robin, since another animated show[ at that time] had Robin called Teen Titans and having 65 episodes when it end in March 8, 2008. 
Batman: The Brave and the Bold  aired November 14, 2008 and the last episode will air on November 18, 2011 on Cartoon Network.In this show he teams up with other super heroes from the silver age in the 1970's comics (I might be wrong, I seen less then ten episodes, I need to catch up). The show will end with 65 episodes.






Coming in 2013 Beware the Batman on Cartoon Network. Batman will have a new sidekick called Katana and for Alfred Pennyworth will if Batman doesn't use guns, Alfred will instant. Professor Pyg will be the villain and other villains that maybe we haven't heard of, we will see in 2013.





I know I missed a lot in each series, I feel bad for not writing more but I'm still in mid-terms. On Wednesday on my weekly updates I'll finish my last thoughts on Batman.
I'm getting use to drawing on my laptop 
HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!

 See everyone on Wednesday and remember stay young.
  

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Weekly Update for October 26, 2011

Hi everyone,

I know its late, it's been a busy day with mid-terms to get ready for soon. Anyway, on Friday's blog [#8] I will be talking about Batman's animated shows and with the animated movies I have left from the last blog. For now, that will be the last blog I'll talk about Batman since it's the last Friday of this month.
For November, I'm still thinking about of a topic. I'm between of talking about my favorite actors and actresses from the 40's to the present or my favorite movies of all time? Or a little of both sounds good too right?   

Will for now, I'll see everyone on Friday and remember stay young^.^

Friday, October 21, 2011

Blog#7 The Film History Of The Dark Knight from 1989 to Present Time


  The first Batman movie I saw was Batman: Mask of the Phantasm from 1993, I saw the movie at my dad's first cousin's house in Mexico, back in mid July of 1994 in English. From there and on this has been one my favorite movie of all times. With the main voice actors Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Mark Hamill as The Joker, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth and actress Dana Delany as Andres Beaumont  and many other talent voices in this film. Even though this is animated, the voices brought those characters to life more then the live action film can ever bring to the big screen(this is in my own point of view, I know everyone has their own input in this movie which is always fine). 

The Film only made $1,189,975 opening weekend, in total of $5,617,391 in the 48 days that it was playing in 1,506 theaters. The movie budget was $6 million to make.


    Tim Burton's Batman(1989) made $40,489,746 opening weekend, but did you know there were plans for others Batman films before Tim Burton took over back in the late 70's and early 80's. The movies were "Batman in Outer Space,"  then  "The Dark Knight Returns ." Studios turn the project down like Columbia Pictures, United Artists, and Universal Pictures until Warner Bros., in the late 1981, took the project with a budget of 15 million. The first idea in 1983 was a Batman and Dick Grayson's origins with the Joker and Rupert Thorne as the villains as for the love interest  Silver St. Cloud. "The Batman,"  was plan to release mid-1985 with a new budget of $20 million.There were two actor planed for this project,William Holden as James Gordon and David Niven as Alfred Pennyworth, sadly that don't came to be because they pass away William in 1981 and David in 1983.



Tim Burton don't want to direct a sequel, that's just not his style until Daniel Waters change his mind and Wesley Strick rewrite the project and was uncredited. This movies was dark for children even McDonald's turn down the Happy Meal toys from the movie. Warner Bros. was unhappy on this film that earned less in the box office then the one in 1989.










That why Warner Bros. change the directer to earn more money  for Batman Forever and Batman and Robin which was Joel Schumacher( again this is my own input, I was disappointed in both of those film). If you have not seen this   Batman Forever review by The Blockbuster Buster video from my weekly update, please feel free to see it now. Also this is a link to the review for Batman and Robin by That Guy With the Glasses website: http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/234-batman-and-robin     

Again there were more plans for other Batman film for a fifth one called Batman Triumphant,Batman Beyond(which Michael Keaton was going to play Terry McGinnis/future Batman and the late Paul Newman as Bruce Wayne if it was made),Batman Year One, Batman Dark Knight, and Batman vs Superman.

Christopher Nolan rebooted the project and in 2005 Batman Begins hit theaters June 15 in the U.S making $48,745,440 opening weekend. Also did you know Christian Bale was close to play Robin in Batman Forever and he also turn down the role next to Josh Hartnett to be in the Batman vs Superman project. 



 

 

 

Then a sequel was made and was release in July 18, 2008 that made $158,411,483 opening weekend. I'll be honest I wasn't happy when I heard the late Heath Ledger was taking the role as Joker. In my mind I was like there's no way he would be able to put it off, until I saw the film opening day, I change my mind once he was on screen. Joker became the star in this film hands down( my point of view) However, Mark Hamill is still and always will be my favorite Joker.   

Now the next movie will come out next summer, I feel bad to say this but how will Nolan top this off, I have a feeling this will fail more so when I heard that the Batman movies series will be rebooted once more after The Dark Knight Rises. Christopher Nolan and his wife will be producers for the falling ones. Also I want to know what do you think of Anne Hathaway being the new Catwoman/Selina Kyle? Other then she looks hot or not. As for me, Michelle Pfeiffer' is my favorite by far.

I know I only went over one animated film, I will go over the rest next week. There so much more to talk about in each film like what other actors were up for Batman or villains role, I will see if I can put the list on my weekly update on Wednesday but this is far as I know.  

Please feel free to check out this video if you can and to leaven a comment and see everyone on Wedenseday, remember stay young^.^.


Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Weekly Update for October 19, 2011

Hi everyone,
 First of all, the new Batman game has a great opening. I can't wait to see more in the game. Sadly I don't get to the movie, Batman:Year One, even though I heard it's not that great like Batman: Under the Red Hood.


On Friday's blog number seven, I will be talking about Batman movies,which are the life action and animated movies. Starting with Tim Burton ( I will not talk about the two that Joel Schumacher directed,I found videos that are close enough of what I wanted to say) and ending with my input for the next Batman movie from Christopher Nolan.
This is one of the video for Batman Forever, please watch it, and I will put this video again on Friday's blog. 

Please feel free to leaven a comment and see everyone on Friday, remember stay young^.^.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Blog#6 Batman's History in Comics


Batman's first comic with in May 1939in Detective Comics number 27. Bob Kane noted some ideas from films like The Mark of Zorro (1920) by Fred Niblo and Theodore Reed. The other film was The Bat Whispers (1930) by Roland West. And using some ideas from other character like Doc Savage, The Shadow, and Sherlock Holmes.

Batman worked alone until his sidekick Robin aka Dick Grayson came onto the picture in April 1940 number 38 in Detective Comics and helped on comics sells. Other thing that Batman had was a gun to kill until editor Whitney Ellsworth made a chose to no longer have him use a gun nor kill. By 1942 he went to war just like many other comic superheros.



In the 50's there was few superheros comics left after the war, Batman was one that later meets up with Superman and finds out of each others secret of who they really are.In the comics World's Finest.


Then there was Fredric Wertham, a psychiatry, that wrote a book of his input in comics and it readers."Seduction of the Innocent is a book by German-American psychiatrist Fredric Wertham, published in 1954, that warned that comic books were a negative form of popular literature and a serious cause of juvenile delinquency. The book was a minor bestseller that created alarm in parents and galvanized them to campaign for censorship. At the same time, a U.S. Congressional inquiry was launched into the comic book industry. Subsequent to the publication of Seduction of the Innocent, the Comics Code Authority was voluntarily established by publishers to self-censor their titles." Saying that Batman and Robin were gay lovers, for Wonder Woman as a lesbian, and Superman as UN-American.


In 1956, the first Batwoman was in the comic and Bat-girl in 1961 to change the readers view of the two being gay.
Batman needed to change to safe it from cancellation in 1964, Julius Schwartz was assign to make a new story line,"make Batman more contemporary, and to return him to more detective-oriented stories." Alfred is killed and re-placed with aunt Harriet ;however, both were in the 1960's show. The comic did will when the show aired selling 900,000 copies, but sadly when the show was done so was the comic in 1968 yet again.

From a campy Batman to now a dark and 50 year old man.
That's what Frank Miller made Batman: The Dark Knight Returns in February to June 1986. From this point on Batman comics have become dark as himself as well.
There was a second Robin that no one really like named Jason Todd. He was killed in Batman: A Death in the Family in 1988 by The Joker. But honestly, DC give the fans a chose to call one of the numbers, one was to safe him while the other was death. By 28 votes Jason had to dead.( There been other Robins over the years like Tim Drake 1989 to 2009, Stephanie Brown( I'm not sure of the year she was Robin) , and his son Damian Wayne 2009)





In 2011, DC had a chose to relaunch New 52.
I'm sure I don't say everything about the comics, I still have a lot of reading to do. I just wish I knew more to talk about, I got into reading his comics in 2005. I did read the first Detective Comics of the new 52. Joker is mad and the job that was done on his face at the end was bloody. Then I read Catwoman which I feel sad for Batman, if any one has read it, you know what I mean. Also tell me what I miss in the Batman world.

Please feel free to leave a comment. See everyone on Wednesday for the update. Remember stay young.







Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Weekly Update for October 12, 2011

Hi everyone!!
First of all, there's two new clubs on campus! The first one is Anime Alliance Club on Thursdays at 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM in Instructional Bldg #1001, Som Chounlamountry. Then there's a Book Club that meets on Tuesdays twice a month ( next meeting will be on October 25) at 2:00 P.M to 3:00PM in the Learning Resource Center# 218.


You need to pay your ASO (Associated Student Organization) FEES at the Business office it's 7.00 dollars per semester (if you haven't already) to be a part of the club to have a saying on changes or new rules. You are still welcome to come in without paying the fee, just remember you can't give your input on the changes. Hope to see you there!


On Friday, I will be talking about Batman in the comics over the years ending up with the Batman of today. Also, yesterday  I saw the new trailer for The Avengers that came out yesterday, if you haven't seen it yet, here it is..enjoy



See you on Friday, please feel free to leave a comment, remember stay young^.^. See you then, bye
     




   

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Two Batman Before Adam West

Two Batman Before Adam West


A background when I was a child. As long that I remember, I would watch the clock to see what time was it to see if Batman was on T.V.  I really enjoyed that show.  That was one show I understood next to other classic show I grew, like I Love Lucy, Bewitched, I dream of Jeannine, and may other shows. We only had one T.V., when we moved to their house in 1992, which only had five channels. So I would fight to just see Batman for the day when my father was home.
Now that I look back at the Batman show it was silly but still watchable for me when I watch it now on the Hub from time to time. However, I always thought Adam West was the first man to play Batman. Little did I know I was wrong.


I came across the 1943’s film when Batman Begins came out on DVD back in 2005. So the very first Batman was Lewis Wilson and Douglas Croft was Robin. The film was also the first DC Comics movies. I have seen some of that film, so far it wasn’t bad, and I need to find it again to really finish it. This film came out four years after the comic.



Then in 1949 the second one came out but not the same actors. This time Robert Lowery took the roll of Batman as Johnny Duncan for Robin. To be honest I just saw the DVD one or twice in a SamGoody when the store were still around before it became f.y.e. I wish to say more about this film but I find a website that says more about each film and I don’t want to copy the person’s words. The website is http://www.batman-on-film.com/historyofthebatman_40sserials.html. Please feel free to check it out.

Years later Batman was back in January 12, 1966 (when my father was going to be two) to March 14, 1968(my mom wasn’t even both at the time). In this one Batman (if you don’t know) was Adam West and his partner was Burt Ward. The show was situation comedy, action, and adventure and was a big hit in since it aired. Like I said before it silly but fun to watch was children and it a good start to introduce to the Batman world. There was a spin-off show called “The Green Hornet” with Van Williams and the late Bruce Lee; however, the show was no a hit as Batman was. “The Green Hornet” had only 26 episodes.   Few years ago I saw in the history channel “History of the Comic”, I believe it was called, said that the T.V. show helped on sales going up in Batman comics.


This show had many guest stars. This is the list from Wikipedia:
Recurring villains
Since the show, Batman has change in comics, movies, cartoons, even in video games. From camping Batman, as others say, to a darker story. 

I’ll see everyone on Wednesday for my update of the week. Remember stay young^.^