MYST: Life of Pi

For my final MYST post I have decided to rewatch life of Pi. Going into the movie I was a little anxious due to the beautiful day this Sunday had been. However, I was determined to be a complete shut in and kill two birds with one stone and watch Life of Pi and Jaws (for final). All I could say was how great the digital effects blew me away for my second time watching. Thinking back to class about how the digital effects from Life of Pi's effect had bankrupted a digital design firm gives me great sympathy for how their hard work had not paid off.

As for the plot I think it was great in terms of how it resolved itself.*Spoiler Alert* I love how the movie maintains an optimistic attitude with the death of everyone from the ship wreck as a depiction of animals.  Realistically saying you spent months surviving with a hungry tiger for months is a bit unreal, yet I am quite a pessimist after all. In my opinion hollywood should learn from this movie and start producing more philosophical movies such as this. I would give Life of Pi an A for its visual effects, deep intricate optimism and feel good story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vGhezgI5Es

In this scene in Life of Pi, Pi is in dream state of mind. Perhaps onboard the boat he had hallucinated from dehydration. Regardless it ultimately appears the ocean is the universe and he is just drifting through it. Once knocked down from the universe Pi ultimately realizes it its him that can save himself from drowning in the universe and balance things once more.

“To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation.” 
― Yann Martel, Life of Pi

MYST: Children of Men

For one of my final movies in your spare time I decided to watch Children of Men. After watching the scene where there is no cuts in class, I figured why not give the movie a shot. Before a brutal eight hour drive to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania I decided to kill time with the movie. Going into the movie I had somewhat of an interest already because we had seen a few scenes, also dystopian societies interest me for their ability to reflect on what life would be like without certain essentials. 

After faced with the tough question "Would this be considered a foreign film if the director/writer is Mexican (Alfonso Cuaron), the production company is American and the cast is British?" I concluded that it is in fact foreign because it seems to appeal more to a British citizen than an American with its futuristic depictions of London. However, the film did appeal universally to basic ideas of standing up for what is right including against a police state like government.  I enjoyed the film's complexity and its fast paced anything can happen attitude. Overall I would give the movie a B+.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBfsJ7K1VNk

Like discussed in class Cuaron did long scenes with very few cuts. The video explains how in the one scene where the main character was ambushed in a car equipment had to be strapped onto the car as well as having camera men sit on top of the car as well. Many directors would have cut scenes to probably insert the camera angle in different spots to capture the whole scene. Cuaron's filming on the other hand had little to no cuts which keeps up with pace of the mood and puts the audience in the movie. In my opinion the no cut method should be used more often for its ability to draw in audiences like it did with me.