American Politics & Pop Culture

It is well known that in many aspects the U.S. armed forces was very segregated. The film tried to conceal this reality but there are cues that still stood out.

The most obvious cue is that Sahara had only one black, Sudanese character named Sgt. Tambul, a French fighter. None came from the U.S. army side, which differs from today's U.S. army, where one would probably see a black soldier in every five.

Another cue is that Sgt. Tambul did not hesitate to fall under Sgt. Joe command. They both were allies and were on the same superiority level, but it is easily to tell that Sgt. Tambul was more of a servant to the group of allies. He did not socialize as much as everyone else in the group because there was an obvious sense that he did not measure up to the same level of superiority with them.

If Tambul were a white Sgt., he probably would not have been the one to labor for the water. He was just as thirsty as every other soldier, but being that he was the black one, he knew without asking that he was expected to do the labor.

The Nazi soldier initially resisted Sgt. Tambul as he wanted to search him and he said that he would not allow an inferior race to search him. Such resistance from a prisoner, and even worse the statement, would have been enough to stir a Sergeant’s anger.

In general I would say that the film accomplished its task of making the U.S. Armed forces look good as being humanitarians and strong. Whether or not it was intended to portray a back character as being inferior, racism definitely played a role.

Chimezie Ononenyi

01/31/08

Posted by onon0006 at 10:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to the reading "Good War, Race War," the film Sahara was deemed "radical" because of the way the African American character, Tamdul, was depicted. Not only was he "equal" to the white Americans but he was also a hero for his acts of bravery during the film. This "equality" was unusual to see because during WWII the military was segregated, thus many African Americans who wanted to help the war effort cooked meals, rarely making it to battle.

While the film Sahara shed African Americans in a better light than most WWII films, it still managed to illustrate the racism of that time period, in subtle ways. For example, once captured, the Nazi soldier refuses to be searched by the African American soldier stating, "I don't want to be searched by an inferior race." Later in the movie, Tamdul was confronted about his "multiple wives", a stereotype assumed by the other soldiers in his platoon. Later to find out he had one wife just like them.

After reading "Good War, Race War" and hearing the personal stories of each platoon (specifically Manchester's memoir), it is a shame that the military did not desegregate during WWII. I say this because Manchester's platoon was like a "melting pot" and despite all the different ethnicities of the soldiers, they bonded on such a high level that Manchester said, " [We] didn't fight for [the] flag or [the] country . . . we fought for one another." Author of "Good War, Race War" Gary Gerstle makes the suggestion that if black men and white men had the chance to fight alongside one another in battle, the bond they could have formed may have helped to break down the vicious walls of racism. "When German shells and bombs are raining about them, they do not worry as much about the race or creed of the man next to them, Walter White (NAACP chairmen-1944).

Posted by dollx040 at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In Sahara, there exists a strong undertow of governmental propaganda regarding the American war effort. Humphrey Bogart, himself, represented a tough-as-nails general. His portrayal was consistent with the masculine ideals being propagated by posters and advertisements on the American home front. The issues of the war were portrayed in an inherently biased way. The Germans were continually being vilianized; for example, radio transmissions using terms like “the Germans have wiped out…� and “The Germans took over...� These statements shadowed the reality of Germany’s European invasions during the war. The American way of life is addressed in minute instances: the Texan soldier talking about his hometown and wife, and the Italian’s brother in Pittsburgh, showed America as a land of opportunity and new beginnings for all. Similarly, when Bogart asks the troops if they agree to stay and hold off the Germans, or go home, he has nothing to lose, but t they have families and loved ones. This illustrates the importance on family values held by American’s during the war.
The German’s were consistently snide, ruthless, and untrustworthy in Sahara. As they were shown shooting the Frenchman in the back, stabbing the Italian in the back, and killing their own soldier who cracked under the pressure; the allies were shown burying their men, and Bogart couldn’t leave behind the Italian to die. There was an obvious attempt to completely polarize the compassion of the Allied powers from the heartless Axis powers.
The areas of material supply and civilian responsibility were addressed through the constant shortage portrayed in the film. The men are always in need of something, whether it be food, water, or ammunition. This portrayal was used as a motivator for the home front to continue to do their part in supplying the war effort with the above scarcities. Britain, France, and Italy listened to and obeyed the American general (Bogart), the strong and competent leader reflected the American “we are the world� mentality of military superiority and influence
For the time period, I feel that the non existence of women on the battlefield was appropriate, and did not take away from the film; it simply reflected gender roles at that time. The issue of race was also indicative of society, as all of the men of diverse backgrounds worked together to stop the Germans, however, they were not exactly all treated with the same respect. For instance, the black man was expected to climb down the well and check for water. Although I liked Sahara, it served no other purpose aside from spreading war propaganda.

Posted by joh03704 at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Despite Sahara being predictable and having lame special effects, I was ultimately still able to enjoy the movie. It made me laugh, possibly unintentionally, but regardless I found it humorous. Sahara’s propagandistic purpose was bluntly evident throughout the entire movie, forcing me to classify it strictly as a propaganda piece. It followed practically every theme the government outlined. The issues of war were addressed in a conversation in which one of the characters is telling Bogart’s character how they are better than the enemy because of freedom. It shows the nature of two enemies, German and Italian, in the prisoner’s conversation, in which we are told the German’s are ruthless killers to the soul and are full of hatred, while the Italian’s are just fighting a war out of fear of what will happen to their families if they don’t. The movie obviously lays out the United Nations and the fighting forces by adding the English medical unit, “Frenchy�, and the Sudanese solider to the expedition. Sahara briefly discusses the production front and the home front when the Italian makes reference to his brother-in-law from Pittsburg who works in a steel mill, which could have helped to build the Lulu Belle.

The idea of war evoked depravities is clearly represented in Sahara. One example is when the German prisoner stabs the Italian prisoner in the back for not following orders. Another is when the German commander orders his men to fire on Frenchy, while his back is still turned. Another example of this depravity is when we find out the German prisoner who drank the water was executed for talking to the enemy. The morale consequences of fighting and dying for one’s country are addressed by Bogart’s character Joe Gunn. His speech about staying to stall the enemy being every soliders duty, even though they have families, and how it is most likely that they will all die, shows the consequences of fighting and dying for one’s country so that one’s country wins and protects the ideals they believe in.

The film does not reflect the reality of the emphasis of race in the military at that time, but instead shows a black man being a hero. The purpose of the gallant Sudanese solider was to get minorities to sign up for the war effort in hopes of the same glory that they could never attain due to racism. There was reference to wives and girlfriends back home, but no female characters in the film. This is because at that time the women’s place was not on the battlefield, but rather back home in the factories. This did not significantly take away from the movies persuasive purposes because it still made the point that we, the Americans and our allies, are good and that we will win because we’re smarter and righteous, while the enemy, who is bad and deceitful, will ultimately lose.

Posted by nels5175 at 12:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thought Sahara was a fantastic film. After having it brought to my attention, it was very easy to see the propagandistic attributes of the movie as it progressed from start to finish. As we discussed in class, OWI (the Office of War Information) outlined six basic categories and themes that were to serve as Hollywood's contribution to the war effort. I was able to see each and every one of them at some point within the movie. The movie was out to make the Germans evil and the American/Allied forces righteous. One example of this notion was the scene in which the captured German fighter pilot exclaims, "I don't want to be touched by a man of inferior race." Another example was when the Italian character shouted, "Italians are not like Germans - only the body wears the uniform and not the soul!" Another glaring example would be the two scenes in which the Germans either shot a man in the back or literally stabbed a man in the back! And yet another, slightly more subtle example was when the German P.O.W. continually lied about his ability to speak English. Now on the flip side, there were just as many if not more scenes that shed a light of righteousness upon the American commando/America. For example, the Americans welcomed people of other ethnicities (blacks, "frenchies", and Italians). Even in moments when water was extremely scarce, the Americans would still have the decency to share water with the German P.O.W. Also the Americans were willing to sacrifice their lives even if it meant that it was only going to "slow down" the Axis forces. The men were out there to protect freedom and to die for what they believed in. There are far too many messages and powerful ideas and ideals strew throughout Sahara to list and or articulate them all. Ultimately, I thought the movie was great. It was great because of its ability to present powerful American ideals in such an effective, entertaining, and uplifting way.

Posted by John Erck at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sahara definitely fit the bill for a WW2 era propaganda film, presenting all the aspects intended by the Office of War Information that were outlined by Gerstle. It portrayed the iconic American hero, played by Bogart, taking charge and saving the day. It portrayed bravery and sacrifice, with the unusual crew risking and sometimes losing their lives to advance the greater good. They acted together with members from all the Allied nations to put their duty to their cause and countries above their own life. It also showed the humanity of the American GI, because they risked their own water and rations just to save an enemy from an agonizing death. The film also showed audiences what all were fighting for, as various soldiers displayed pictures and recounted stories of the loved ones back home. The Nazi enemy was portrayed as coldhearted and demonized, with a prisoner going so far as to literally stab his ally in the back to escape. It does not address the civilian side of responsibility and the roles at home directly, but the Frenchman’s account of his civilian life at home does emphasize once again what the troops are fighting for. This is definitely a pro-American film, as Bogart explains that the troop captured victory because “American’s are stronger,� and they “have that extra something� that the Nazi enemy lacks.

This film showed the human depravity that people are capable of that is displayed by the Nazi, but it also emphasizes the courage that it evokes, demonstrated by the soldiers turned heroes when the hard decisions and sacrifices need to be made. It showed that sometimes an individual’s death is not in vain if they lived and die to advance the “good fight,� as this ragtag group did. The film did incorporate the aspect of racism, but it was only displayed by the Nazi enemy. The Allies seemed ready to accept the Sudanese soldier as one of their own, but as Gerstle pointed out, the OWI was careful not to force Americans to address the issue of racial equality in their own forces. The Sudanese soldier even sacrificed himself for the good of the crew, which serves to provide African Americans at home with aspirations of heroism without granting them equality in their ranks. The absence of women in this film is inconsequential, because the war did not include women on the front and definitely not in the ranks. Overall, this film would have served as an ideal propaganda film to accomplish the intended messages the government wished the public to receive.

Posted by schr0845 at 11:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After watching Sahara, I would definitely classify it as a propaganda film. The film touched on several of the points the government used as a guide for war time movies. The issue of war, meaning what American troops were fighting for was one theme touched on in the movie. The character Joe Gunn was the leader for the American platoon, and he quickly became the leader of all the other platoons. Gunn became the selfless leader by letting others drink the newly discovered water before himself while he parented the soldiers by allowing them so much to drink. He was looking out for the safety of the other soldiers before himself. This could help give American viewers the impression that America was fighting for other allied countries freedoms as well as it’s own. Sahara also did a good job of portraying the enemy as a common evil. The Italian prisoner is found first and is shown as a very cowardly, but still likeable character. The German prisoner, however, is shown as cold hearted and back stabbing especially when he stabs the Italian prisoner while trying to escape during the battle. He is only known as a killer. The movie is uplifted a little when his character is killed, which shows how much the filmmakers wanted viewers to get a negative reaction to the Germans from this movie. The movie also incorporates the theme of United Nations because of the union of all the different platoons in the beginning of the movie. They all came together and endured pain together when they were out of food and water and while they later watched their comrades die in battle at the hands of the Germans. The production front and the home front were not mentioned often in the movie other than a glimpse at a letter to or from home. The final theme of fighting forces is also touched on in the movie. It depicts the platoon fleeing from German attack while trying to find refuge. Then, they get caught up in battle where they out-wit the German forces to win their battle. This is an important piece of propaganda because it would demoralize the home front by showing the same platoon on the losing end of the Sahara battle. When they win, it helps boost the morale of the American people.

Posted by kuni0018 at 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is almost always at the top of “the best of all time� film lists. Why do think
that is, and would you put it on your own “all time� list?

I don't think I would go as far as to say that Citizen Kane is at the top of "the best of all time" list, but it was a pretty decent movie for its time.
Citizen Kane had many positive elements. For instance, the movie experimented with many different camera angles which made for a more interesting film. Storytelling is a strong aspect of the movie as well. Citizen Kane takes us through the life of one man; his accomplishments and failures, marriages and divorces. It shows everything Kane had to do to achieve the American dream. This made for a more realistic movie, showing how hard one man had to work to get to the top and how lonely it really is up there. I also really enjoyed the symbolism that took place in the movie. Having the viewer unaware of what 'rosebud' meant throughout the film keeps them in suspense until the end when the meaning of 'rosebud' is presented.
I wouldn't put this movie on my top list because even though it was a pretty good movie it was a little too slow moving for me and it was actually quite depressing.

Posted by ruff0046 at 2:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:

1: "Memento"- This movie was really thought provoking. It takes your brain through two hours of confusion and in the end; you still may or may not have figured it out. He has no short-term memory and is trying to figure out the details of his wife's death.

2: "Ratatouille"- What can I say?! This is a feel-good movie, and personally, I really like France, furry things, and cooking, so you can see why this movie drew my interest. Also, it has something that most cartoons do not... Unlike most Disney films, they actually throw in elements of reality which make it interesting to adults too.

3: "Breakfast at Tiffany's": I LOVE Audrey Hepburn. This movie is endearing because it makes me feel like a very independent person compared to her character Holly-Go-Lightly, who tends to leech onto men and use her wit, charm, and good looks to party her way through life.

4. "American History X"- This is a weird favorite because of its neo-nazistic theme. I have a hard time watching this because of the shock value of it, but the first time I did, it opened my eyes to the reality of some hate-mob mentality that I was completely ignorant of.

5. "Abandon"- This is about a girl who is being stalked by a former boyfriend. In the end, however, things aren't quite as they seem. I really like the psychological thrill of this movie.

Artists:

1. Death Cab for Cutie - (favorite album: Transatlanticism) good for sleeping, relaxing, homework-doing

2. Arcade Fire

3. Amy Winehouse- apparently they didn't "try to make her go to rehab" hard enough! Her voice is beautiful in a way that is unexpected and intriguing.

4. R. Kelly- He may have a sketchy past, but the man knows how to make a 'phat' dance song

5. Anna Nalik- "chick music" at its finest

Posted by joh03704 at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I will admit that at first it was hard for me to focus and gain interest in the film Citizen Kane, partially because the films most of us engage in today are far more digitally enhanced and appealing to the eye; for example color vs. black and white. However, once I adjusted to this difference, I was able to see the film for its defiant strengths such as the story line, acting, connections with society, and creative filmmaking considering the limited resources and technology available at the time.
Although the movie was created years ago, it reflects on issues still relative to modern society. This allows people of today’s society the ability to make connections, which is usually an important aspect of films from a viewer’s perspective.
Citizen Kane reflects on the popular belief that having everything one could ever imagine does not always lead to true happiness. Implying that material worth is not what is most important. Americans, then and today, live for this story. It gives the less privileged hope and forces people to empathize and appreciate the non materialistic gifts life has to offer. Making connections and giving most people a better sense of worth.
The constant mystery of trying to figure out the meaning and significance of Charles Kane’s last word, “rosebud,� had me curious and intrigued throughout the entire movie. When the solution to the mystery is solved, revealing the symbolism of rosebud to the loss of Kane’s childhood, it implies that something as significant as one’s childhood is irreplaceable and no material worth can ever fill this void. This is always a popular storyline among modern society and never seems to get old.
I wouldn’t go as far to say that this is the greatest movie of all time. However, I would agree that this is a very excellent film that can still be appreciated today. The positive qualities found in the symbolism, connections, respectable acting, and creativity leave Citizen Kane a film quite deserving of a significant amount of credit.

Posted by munoz047 at 6:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I remember my grandfather saying once that Citizen Kane was the best movie of all times, and that Plan 9 from Outer Space was consistently voted the worst. Personally, I enjoy Plan 9 a lot more than Citizen Kane if only for the fact that it induces some serious laughter. So when I first saw Citizen Kane as a senior in high school, I was left wondering what all the fuss was about. I thought Orson Welles was a good actor and that he made a pretty solid movie but—the best movie of all time? I didn’t think so and I still don’t. However, I don’t agree with this comment (seemingly written by either an old man who is wondering where the good old days disappeared to or some sullen teenager):

“Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message—all things that do not interest film-goers today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care.�

This I find to be very harsh (and also, if that’s all it takes to make a great film, I could make one tomorrow!). I would agree that people don’t care too much about Citizen Kane anymore as it is somewhat dated and a story that isn’t really relevant to your ordinary citizen as most of us aren’t multi-millionaires who can do whatever we want, but I don’t agree that the lack of interest is due to the fact that film-goers don’t care about cinematography, symbolism, or message. We do seem to care as the movies that get nominated to win Academy Awards tend to be fluent in all three of those categories. There’s even an award for best cinematography so someone must care.

Let’s look at the winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006. Personally I was very annoyed that Crash, a story about racism, won over Brokeback Mountain, a story about, well, you know, because I felt Brokeback Mountain was the better film and Crash was nothing new. But I guess the audiences and voters felt different and no doubt it was due to the message of the movie: that racism is still prevalent even if it’s not overt. Take a look at the leading-contender for Best Picture this year, No Country For Old Men, which is seeping with symbolism and has a powerful message of its own. Movie-goers do care about these things, just not so much in out-dated, 60 year old movies.

Posted by bergm150 at 3:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 movies
1. The Shawshank Redemption- I love the chemistry (platonic) between Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, both are tremendous actors. Also the story here is wonderful-- intricate, surprisingy and believable, thanks to Stephen King. Plus the cinematography is gorgeous, Thomas Newman's score complements perfectly, and I always end up with a happy feeling when I finish watching it. "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best thing". I could gush longer but I'll stop here.

2. Lost in Translation- I can really relate to what Scarlett Johansson is going through in this movie, feeling lost and unsure of what to do with her life. Also good music and gorgeous scenery.

3. The Squid and the Whale- This is just a really awesome movie about a dysfunctional family and how divorce affects the two children in the family. The ending is perfect especially with Lou Reed playing as background music.

4. No Country For Old Men- Rarely does a movie end where I think it should. This one does.

5. Pulp Fiction- Probably don't need to say anything on this one. It's clearly a great movie. Best script of all time, I would argue.

Top 5 Artists
(I'm a music lover so this should be difficult)

1. The B-52's- this is a sentimental selection. Plus, they very nearly founded alternative music.

2. Dave Matthews Band- typical college band, but they are very talented and put on the best concerts.

3. Stars/Decemberists/Arcade Fire/New Pornographers/Death Cab for Cutie- Sorry, that's five bands, but they all run in the same "indie" vein.

4. Heartless Bastards- a favorite of today, subject to change. Very powerful, energetic blues-rock band.

5. Tears for Fears- I'm a sucker for melancholic 80s bands.

(honorable mentions? Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, The Who, Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai, The Beatles, George Harrison, John Lennon, Thomas Newman, John Williams, Wolf Parade, Wilco, XTC, Tegan and Sara, Damien Rice, Snow Patrol, Jesus and Mary Chain, Muse, Alanis Morissette, Genesis, Collective Soul, Coldplay, New Radicals, The Strokes, The Suburbs, and Sufjan Stevens). (sorry).

Posted by bergm150 at 2:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I wouldn’t list Citizen Kane as one of “the best of all time�. The appeal of the American Dream is not as relevant as it was back then, and I believe it’s just harder for the majority of the population to relate to this as the middle class families have been growing steadily. Although I enjoyed the movie to a certain extent because I do believe that there is much more to life than the American Dream. It is not about the quantity of materials, but the quality and significance of holding such materials, whether it is excessive or not. The difference in the adult’s (Kane’s parents) idea of what happiness is (wealth) compare to a child’s (Charles Foster Kane) idea of what happiness is (family), is significant in the movie as at the end on his deathbed when he mentions the name of his sledge, brings us back to the notion that all the wealth he acquired and the love he bought never filled the void of leaving his family and the simpler times during his childhood. As he acquires wealth and spends money ruthlessly throughout the movie, it is fairly apparent that he was becoming farther and farther from affections he desired. In his final home, his palace, the large fireplace was sparsely furnished, normal conversation was hard to hold (they were shouting in the grand hall or … living room?) and everybody was unhappy. It was ironic how Charles Kane thought wealth could buy back what lacked from him but at the end what mattered to him most was considered worthless when he died and was burnt. It was a good movie and the irony forces people to rethink the concept of the American Dream.

Posted by lungx009 at 8:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 – Katherine Lung

Movies…

Running with Scissors – the dysfunctional family dynamics was funny and the fact that it was a real story.
Finding Neverland – I can’t specifically remember why, but it was enjoyable.
The Illusionist – the twist at the end made me shout out loud.
Perfume – the unexpecting ending and poignant twist to the plot was appealing.
Little Miss Sunshine – another dysfunctional family thing.

Musical artists…

Black Eyed Peas
Marie Digby
Gavin Degraw
Maroon 5
KT Tunstall

Posted by lungx009 at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would like to address several of the questions posed. First of all, as to Citizen Kane being considered the greatest movie of all time, I would have to disagree, although I do think that it was an amazing movie about what is important in life.

As far as this movie not interesting your average movie goer today, I think it wouldn't interest many. The first 5 minutes of the movie where it shows the life of Kane documentary are somewhat annoying in my opinion. Once the regular dialog and characters came into place, the movie become much more interesting. I think the depiction of the "American Dream" not being all that it's cracked up to be is very critical, today probably more so than before. Here is a man who had all the wealth in the world, and the final thing he thinks about on his deathbed is a time when he was with his mother and had a sled. He didn't want to leave as a young child because he desired the love of his mother. Later in life, when he had "gained everything," he had really lost everything in my opinion. The most important thing in life is not the money and things we acquire, rather it is the people in your life. For me it doesn't matter where I am, what I'm doing, or whether or not I am rich or poor, if I am not surrounded with people who care about me. Nothing is more important than this, and oftentimes people forget this in their pursuit of money and power. It is a powerful message about life, and I enjoy the storytelling method where the reporter goes and talks to people who have interacted with Kane in their life. It reminds me of the style of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" and has many parallels with it. Both old movies, well ahead of their time, filled with messages that are just as important today as they were in the 1940s.

Posted by marsh401 at 11:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies:

1) Casino. - I'm a big fan of the mob movies and of Pesci and De Niro. there is no doubt in my mind that this is the best Las Vegas/Mobster movie of all time.

2) Braveheart - The definition of an epic movie. First of it's kind and so many more films were inspired from it.

3) Blow - Some unreal Johnny Depp acting, and on top of it all its a true story.

4) The Notebook - I know I'm a guy and shouldn't like this movie, but it is definitely the best romance I have ever seen and an amazing story as well.

5) Superbad - prime example of a satire of mine and I'm sure many others' high school days. Could not stop laughing during the entire movie.

Top 5 Artists:

1) Dave Matthews Band - I'm not a total junkie, but gotta say I love listening and chilling to DMB. I also went to his concert at Alpine Valley this summer.

2) Tech N9ne - In my opinion one of the best and under recognized rappers out there. Been to two of his concerts and absolutely loved them.

3) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - love so many of his songs. Last Dance With Mary Jane, Learning to Fly, American Girl, Free Fallin, Don't Do Me Like That.... I could go on forever.

4) Led Zeppelin - Absolutely love Going to California, Over the Hills and Far Away, Dy'er Maker (which Sean Kingston eloquently ripped off for his song "Me Love") and so many more.

5) Toby Keith - I love some good country, and Toby Keith is pretty much the king. Went and saw him at We Fest in Detroit Lakes this year and had the time of my life.

Posted by marsh401 at 11:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

At first I didn't see how this movie could be rated one of the best movies of all time. Now, I can see why this movie is classic. It has all the elements of the "rags to riches" story. Everyone loves to see the underdog make it. It makes good story because it correlates to people that want to be that person or strive to be that person from rags to riches.

The part that stuck out the most to me is his lost childhood. How he used money, power, and knowledge try to compensate for a childhood that he lost. He was never happy or satisfied with what he had in life, even though became wealthy and powerful. He used it to live his dreams through other people which in the end did him no good. It wasn’t self fulfilling because he was never satisfied. In the end all of things he acquired didn’t hold any value compared to his sled “Rosebud� did. His sled represented simplicity. It was a symbol of freedom and living in the present time.

I think this movie depicts people who get caught up in material possessions and living a lavish life that they forget the simple things in life that should be cherished and remembered. For example, parents who are so occupied working and forgetting that they need to be there for their kids. They don’t get to experience their child growing up and being a big part of their life because they are so occupied worrying about the future and forgetting what is important now.

-Hubert-

Posted by tuazo001 at 11:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The film “Citizen Kane� I must admit, was only mildly entertaining to me. However, I do feel that this movie conveyed an interesting message. The fact that Kane’s financial success was so unfulfilling to him is a message that continues to be a topic of interest today. This can be exemplified by the number of people who seek fame and financial success as an end to being happy. There are a number of recent movies based around the premise of wealth and success not necessarily producing happiness. I find it remarkable that Wells was the first person to present this message to audiences. Although this film was not the most entertaining movie I’ve ever viewed I believe that it does convey a message that is still appealing and holds some resonance with audiences today.

Posted by Martine Schroeder at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 movies - I definately enjoy the chick flick...
1) While You Were Sleeping
2) Father of the Bride
3) Ransom
4) Stepmom
5) Wedding Crashers

Top 5 artists –I basically will listen to any type of music, but these are probably my favorite artists from each genre.
1) Justin Timberlake
2) Dave Matthews Band
3) Mariah Carey
4) Rascal Flatts
5) Bob Dylan

Posted by Martine Schroeder at 11:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've heard a lot of talk about this movie for most of my life, but going into class last Wednesday I honestly had no idea what this movie was about, much less what to expect. I particularly liked the way we learned about Kane through the stories and memories of those closest to him, but none of them knew him well enough to know what Rosebud actually meant. Kane is a tragic character, but brings the tragedy onto himself by succombing to tempatation of wealth and power, making it nearly impossible to sympathize with him.
Although the taste of moviegoers today has drastically changed since the time this movie came out, I don't agree that most people wouldn't care about the symbolism, message, etc, that this movie is based on. While the majority of us wouldn't put this movie in the top 5 list we just made, I believe most of us at least appreciate the differences between Citizen Kane and the dumb humor and redundant action movies that Hollywood wants us to watch. As a capitalist country, most people are concerned with acquiring as much wealth and power as possible, just like Kane does, but nobody really thinks about the consequences of having so much power in the palm of your hand. Therefore, this movie is still relevent in that respect, and probably will be for a long time...unless there is another communist uprising in the near future.

Posted by ross0426 at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“If I wasn’t rich I might have been a good man.� Does wealth corrupt good people? I don't think so, but this movie brings up the idea that the quest for money and wealth has the power to turn good people bad. Kane is essentially alone when he dies. He is surrounded by material things that he has purchased in a house empty of family or friends. Sure he has a butler, but everyone in his life at this point, is paid to be in his life. I think that this movie is relevant to our society because so many people do strive for financial success, which is alright, but lose sight of more important things in the process. One problem this movie may have connecting with today's audience is that it was a little slow. Society has become more impatient over time and this could prevent it from being enjoyed by many people. Overall I found it entertaining enough with a refreshing message that money won't solve all problems and that maybe this American Dream that so many strive for is a little overrated.

Posted by Alicia Bjork at 11:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I read the syllabus and noted that we would be screening “Citizen Kane� in class, I had mixed feelings. I knew it was an iconic film, a masterpiece, listed as one of the best, as one of those films you just need to see. My initial hesitancy was that it would be boring, slow, cheesy, and would not live up to all the hype. I have been proven wrong when it comes to classic movies, as “Rebel without a Cause� is one of my favorites, but nonetheless, I was not expecting to like the film. I was even more surprised when I found myself quite captivated by it.

While Kane was certainly flawed, perhaps even despicable, he is also pitiable. I found myself, more than disliking his character, actually feeling bad for him. As we come to learn in the end, that the meaning behind his last utterance, “rosebud,� is a reference to his beloved sled, a relic from his childhood, it shows us how traumatic his separation from his mother, and essentially, his childhood, was. He knew a true kind of love before he was taken away, something he was never able to replicate through domineering behavior or bought affections. Kane died with wealth, but was empty and alone; the adage “money doesn’t buy happiness� certainly rings true in this case.

I do think that the idea of a less idealized depiction of the American Dream does resonate with people in this time. While this comparison is quite possibly sacrilegious, I think there are many similarities between Kane and the “starlets� and “socialites� of today, for instance Britney Spears. Her childhood was, essentially, lost to fame; she grew up quickly with the constant scrutiny of the public. Now, in her mid-twenties, she’s rich, spending some obscene amount of money monthly, and has the attention of the world, but (as we’re constantly reminded) she is in decline. Her career is all but dead, she lost her kids, and she may be battling some addiction/mental health issues. Again, “money doesn’t buy happiness;� she has everything, but nothing, as did Kane.

Posted by palaz012 at 11:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Miles Mendenhall favorite Music and Movies…

Songs: Ohia, the magnolia electric company (one whole album about an electric company that employs a small town)

Joanna Newsom, Y’s (I drove 7 hours to see her backed up by a 28 piece orchestra and have no problem admitting I cried)

Windmill, Puddle City Racing (#1 and #3 are just good enough to excuse any other lack luster track)

Leadbelly, Capitol Record Recordings (Leadbelly is just a cool guy)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Good toe tapping)

The Great Escape ( I modeled most of my masculine characteristics after Steve Mcqueen)

Tekkonkinkreet (Great art, brilliant story, cool name).

Oldboy (Has one of the best plot twists)

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (It’s the scariest movie I’ve ever been made to watch and 75% of the scary things happen during the day)

Zeitgeist (A brilliant and well researched documentary summing up a scary theory and its future consequences. I wish its sources were illegitimate so I didn’t have to believe it)

Citizen Kane Review

Citizen Kane, cited often as one of the greatest movies of all time, holds little mainstream audience in today’s society. First and foremost, consider the differences in cinematography. Welles stretches out his scenes, sometimes going minutes without any substantial dialogue or emotion, a device that, although commendable, would never hold the attention of a generation who grew up on the ADHD inducing 10 second flashy scenes of MTV and action movies. It preaches patience to a distracted culture, and preaches a message that has become trite. Based around the idea that money can’t buy happiness, Kane fails to identify with a culture who has turned such a statement into a sort of mantra, quoting the phrase to anyone who works too much, buys extravagant things etc, etc. Although a progressive thought in the day it was made in, it becomes lost like anything else of worth in the present day, passed up for Die Hard and whatever Harry Potter installment they are on now.

Posted by mende058 at 11:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:

Star Wars - The original trilogy never gets old for me, and the special effects that Lucas uses are incredible for the time. The new movies are also good, but I don't think they can ever be considered classics like the originals.

Tommy Boy - The best performance by one of the funniest men to have ever lived, Chis Farley.

Dazed and Confused - Anybody that has lived through high school can relate to this movie in one way or another.

Boondock Saints - This movie really makes you think about the differences between right and wrong/ good vs. evil and whether ordinary citizens have the right to take the law into their own hands if the law enforcement is less than sufficient. And it's just straight up bad ass.

Girl's 'Yeah Right' - A skateboarding video that turns the sport and the filming of it into a piece of art. The tricks are innovative and technical as hell, great use of special effects (special effects in skate video? yep.), and the audio/video synchronization is amazing (the entire film is perfectly edited so that every trick pops and/or lands on the beat of the song playing in the background). Anyone can appreciate this video, even if you don't skateboard or know anything about the sport.

Music

Operation Ivy - Even though they only recorded one full length album, they completely changed the way punk rock would be played from then on.

Black Keys - A twosome that puts a modern twist on blues rock, but still stays true to the roots.

The Roots - These guys have the best beats in all of hip hop, no questions asked.

Led Zeppelin - I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't put the greatest rock and roll band of all time on my list.

Pennywise - A punk band that plays hard and fast every song. They didn't really change the scene at all like Op Ivy, and after a while all their songs start to sound the same, but I love them nonetheless.

Posted by ross0426 at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Why hello there! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I must say this is a hard topic for me because I love a lot of music albums and movies. It was hard for me to narrow my top fives but I did it. In no particular order…

Music Albums

1) Justin Timberlake: Justified. I really loved Justin’s style and swagger even when he was with N’sync. He has such a great voice and a great dancer. This album just set him apart from your stereotypical pop album that was expected from him. He really showcased R&B in this album. With the help of Timberland, he had great beats and melodies in this album. I can play through the whole album without skipping a song. Every song in my opinion was really good.
2) Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSounds: Okay you guessed it, I’m a Justin Timberlake fan. I really love this album as much as his first ones. Again, showcasing R&B flavor, he made an album worth listening to every song. The song “My Love� was such a hit and it had a unique beat to it. I can never get sick of that song.
3) Lupe Fiasco: The Cool. This is the latest album I just can’t get enough of. He a great lyricist. He is able to relay messages or tell stories vividly through his lyrics. He has this bboy/skater swagger unlike your typical hip hop artist.
4) Dr. Dre – The Chronic. This album will be forever classic. Dr. Dre really pioneered gangster rap through this album in its time. Though the album may be vulgar, it was comedic and informative about what goes on in the “ghetto�. The song “Ain’t nothing but a G thang� will forever be a classic hit in hip/hop. He really put the west coast rap on his back at the time.
5) The Game: The documentary. This is one hot album. For a period of time, west coast hip hop fell off. The rise of southern hip hop dominated the scene. The Game was noted at the “the Savior of West Coast rap�. With Dr. Dre mentoring the Game, they made a classic album. It had all the elements of west coast rap and was able to slow things down with the upbeat of southern rap. Every song on this album was really good!

Movies

1) Bad Boy 1 & 2. My two favorite comedic actors, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence teamed up and made a movie I can never get sick of. They were so funny in this movie. You can tell that they really had chemistry working together to make these movies successful.
2) Dodgeball – I love Ben Stiller and the whole concept of “Dodgeball�. They had funny characters and the movie was exciting from beginning to end.
3) She’s All That – I thought this was a great modern day classic love story. The movie was funny consistently and did a great job displaying the “ugly duckling� story to modern times.
4) Crash – I love the storyline. How in the end each character had a affect on each others lives without even knowing it.
5) Cloverfield – I really like the how they projected the movie in an amateur like filming. It seemed real and you can feel the terror and emotions that were going on at the time. I love how the story unfolds in the end with the relationship of the main character and his crush.

-Hubert-

Posted by tuazo001 at 10:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Music
1. Arctic Monkeys - daily life in Sheffield, England, set to indie/garage rock aesthetics - fast, with amazing beats.
2. The Suicide Machines - hardcore punk/ska band with progressive political/social overtones
3. Muse - dystopia/apocalypse/conspiracy themes, amazing guitar riffs, and a singer with crazy falsetto skills.
4. Nirvana - what do you say about Nirvana? It's Nirvana. I guess that's all you really need to say.
5. White Stripes - Jack White is some sort of eccentric musical mad scientist; simplistic music, that combines country, folk, blues, and garage rock.

Film
1. Amelie - My all-time favorite movie. Wonderfully quirky characters, amazing cinematography, beautiful score.
2. Last King of Scotland - this film gave me chills; the acting is extraordinary. Forest Whitaker is almost indistinguishable from Idi Amin.
3. About A Boy - This film has a surprising amount of depth, considering it's a Hugh Grant vehicle. It deals with issues of redemption, acceptance, commitment, and growth. It also has a great score by Badly Drawn Boy.
4. Pan's Labyrinth - Beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
5. Lord of the Rings/Master & Commander - This is a tie; both of these films launched obsessions, in their own right, and I couldn't bear to eliminate one. The geek in me needed to know everything possible about the making of LOTR, and in doing so, has left me in awe of its grandeur. Master & Commander, another great epic film, reenacted 19th century maritime life with an astonishing amount of detail and brought about my interest in sailing/ships.

Posted by palaz012 at 10:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is one of the best movies of all time because it has various aspects that continue to appeal to many movie goers. The most apparent evidence is observing how the students were willing to spend 10 more minutes to finish the movie. It was captivating because the “Rosebud� word mystery continued throughout the movie. It is human nature to be curious and understand the unknown. Therefore most audiences that saw the movie since the 1940s, -no matter whether the genre of Citizen Kane appealed to them or not- wanted to figure out what Charles Foster Kane was thinking when he chose “Rosebud� as his last word. Citizen Kane is also one of my “all time� list because I too demand explanation for the word.

I do not think that Citizen Kane’s depiction of the American dream resonates with today’s film goers. Not very many people would wish to use their wealth and power the way Charles did. Many people, including the audience of the movie, would probably choose to stay happy while living a regular life than trading wealth for happiness.

I do not fully agree with the statement that nobody would care if I were to show the movie to a random audience because even though the movie is very dated, it still has the curiosity aspect that will continue to captivate its viewers.

Comparing Citizen Kane to movies I see today, there isn’t much angle differences that stand out. However a few differences did show. It seems like there was always a camera zoom in one’s face in order to make one's expression really stand out. Another difference was that none of the characters seemed casual. Everyone was always uptight. The men all wore a suit and the women wore formal dresses.

I think that the portrayal of Charles was fair because it showed that no human being has power over everything no matter how rich they are. Charles was a decent man but he couldn’t use his wealth and power to make his abusive relationship workout with his partner .

Posted by onon0006 at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Cane was a thought provoking movie. The movie never came out and specifically spelled out what I the concepts the movie conveys, but instead subtly alluded to them throughout the entire movie. This caused me to inadvertently think far more about this movie and the meanings behind it than any other movie I have ever watched. This is a large part of the reason why Citizen Cane often appears on the top of the best movies of all time lists. Critics watch hundreds of movies, so a movie that does not let them stop thinking about it obviously appear high in their lists. Also although it is an old and black and white movie the acting as well as the story line was exemplary even if they do not meet up to current standards.
The first major theme was that the American Dream is not necessarily what it is made up to be. Cane as a child had everything that he wanted in his sled and his family. His parents were not able to realize this and so sent him off to a place he could live the American Dream and in so doing took away everything he really wanted. Following in his live Cane gained power and respect which are what many people strive for, yet all he wanted in the end was love and acceptance, things he was never able to buy. Cane never realized this as even when he had a woman who was willing to love him as he continued to try to buy her affection; instead of earning it by the way he acted toward her. In saying rosebud when she left I believe that he realized what he had done by treating her as he did. He had done the same thing to her in buying her everything and removing her from the life that she knew as his parents had to him when they sent him off to live with the well educated man for a better upbringing.
Another theme was how mass media is able to influence public opinion and beliefs.

Posted by andre368 at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MUSIC

Semisonic-Closing Time (has been my favorite song since the first time I heard it years ago and I listen to it on my computer all the time)

Green Day-Boulevard of Broken Dreams (awesome song even though it was originally way overplayed on the radio)

Weird Al-White and Nerdy (I love satire and this was an awesome remake of Riding Dirty)

Chris Rice-The Cartoon Song (Great worship song with a great point)

Trace Adkins-I Ain’t Never Had Too Much Fun (I don’t like very much country but I really get a kick out of this song, I love it when a song makes me laugh)

MOVIES

The Matrix (Love the concept and the whole general movie, had awesome action and plot. Was seriously disappointed by the two following sequels)

Lord of the Rings (all three movies were awesome both in their storyline and their visual quality)

Gladiator (Awesome story of what it is to be a person who sticks to their beliefs and is willing to die for them. I enjoyed the portrayal of the greatness and weakness of the human kind)

Red vs. Blue (very cleverly made inside a video game with voices put to characters. Great satire that needs a good understanding of the game (halo) to understand but is simply hilarious)

Fantastic 4 (The move was very entertaining and I love things that have a hypothetical scientific background that is made to seem believable, even if it is not actually possible. I felt that this movie did an outstanding job of this)

Posted by andre368 at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies:
Almost Famous- I love the spontaneity portrayed throughout this movie and also thoroughly enjoy the soundtrack.
Pulp Fiction- In addition to the numerous amazingly talented actors, this movie also contains an intriuging story line and is an all around excellent movie.
Juno- Recently became one of my favorite movies. I found it to be adorable, touching, and hilarious all at once. The soundtrack is also wonderful.
Dazed and Confused- This movie reminds me so much of my own High School experience and is always a fun one to watch.
Across the Universe- I love musicals and what better music to incorporate than The Beatles.

Top 5 Artists:
This was a very difficult thing for me to do.
Bob Dylan- An extremely gifted artist with amazing lyrics.
Red Hot Chili Peppers- A band I can listen to over and over again and never get sick of them.
The Beatles- Classics that will always be remembered and appreciated by numerous generations.
Norah Jones- I love bluegrass and find her music to be calming and always puts me in a happier mood.
Mason Jennings- Mason's acoustics and lyrics are moving and always make me happy. I grew an even bigger appreciation for his music after seeing him live.

Posted by munoz047 at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Considered one of the greatest films of all-time, Citizen Kane certainly does many things well. First, the film exemplifies that, for some, money simply can't buy happiness. I believe this is a view that resonates with many modern film-goers. Living in a society in which they are exposed to corporate scandal, greed by professional athletes and celebrity vanity on a daily basis, I truly believe that the greater theme of Citizen Kane would ring true for many of today's film-goers. Second, I would have to disagree with the comment posted on the assignment page that no one today would appreciate the magnificence of Kane's cinematography, symbolism and its message. I would argue that while the modern trend in movies is to go bigger and better with visual effects, true film-makers and film-goers are just as concerned with a film's content (cinematography, symbolism and its message) as they are with surface-driven action sequences. Third, there is a stark contrast between Welles' shooting methods with those of today's filmmakers. In Kane, one can observe the long takes imposed by Welles. Often times, a scene will stretch the limits of dialogue or emotion before cutting to another scene. This couldn't be further from the methods of today's producers. Short, concise sequences full of visual stimuli have replaced the longer takes of older films such as Kane. Whether this is a positive or a negative is, in my opinion, still up for debate. Last, I wish to comment on the status of the film as one of the greatest of all-time. For me, Kane is a very good film. It breaks the boundaries of genre, as it could be seen as a mystery, drama or tragedy. Welles deviated from the norms of film-making, as he was among the first artists to depict the affluent lifestyle in a negative manner. In doing so, he took a risk and produced a classic film that stands the test of time. Although I wouldn't put Citizen Kane in my top five films, I can certainly see why others have.

Posted by stap0069 at 9:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

What first strikes you in the film Citizen Kane is just the absolute massive scope of everything. From the towering Xanadu to the close ups of the imposing characters, this is a film that really turns a critical eye on the grandeur of the object, and in so doing the American obsession with over indulgence.
While the film could have easily started with Charles Kane as a boy on the streets, it instead starts with a time line of the man's life at his death. Doing this allows Orson Welles to forefront the image, as the opening montage becomes of series of grand structures and scenes. One after the other, each of a more and more massive scale. From the towering Xanadu, to the birds eye shot of the union square as literally a sea of people, Welles puts the idea of the American dream on display from the very beginning. This effect is achieved due to the often used low angle shots to show us the buildings giving each place not only a stature to it, but also a dark, foreboding aspect to it as well. Welles’ heavy use of shadows also add to this the opening is at times very reminiscent of the early German expressionist films (the way the buildings are sculpted with the light reminds me of Cabinet of Dr. Caligari). As the film progresses and the characters are introduced, we often see them in close up, and very frequently from low angles. Again this is a technique used with success throughout the film to really situate the people as men of power. In this way Welles really turns the camera on what Americans generally equate with success. By making the standard objects of power so immense and sinister he really forces the viewer to analyze what it means to be successful and if our view isn’t itself a little warped and twisted

Posted by hobb0041 at 9:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While I would not go so far as to say that Citizen Kane is one of my favorite movies of all time, I can appreciate what it brought to American cinema during the 1940’s. Welles’ message of wealth and life in the limelight causing such personal turmoil was one unfamiliar to people during that time. I feel that this message is relevant today, but it has lost the punch it once had because of the countless films since Wells' exposing the same pitfalls of trying to achieve the “American Dream�. In an age of computer graphics and high demand for bigger and better special effects and camera angles, it is no surprise that the typical American cannot appreciate what progress Citizen Kane represented in cinematography. Perhaps only those who have a deep appreciation and understanding of the art of film might consider this to be one of the greatest movies ever. Even though I was slightly let down by the film, one part of the movie that I enjoyed was when Welles is talking about how if had he stayed poor, he may have been a good man. You see his struggle throughout the course of the movie when he attempts to “buy love� and never really lets anyone in close enough to impact his life and his heart. It is sad to see his life slowly falling apart piece by piece and a part of me felt bad for him. Overall, I feel the movie is worth watching; however, I was disappointed that it did not live up to its hype.

Posted by colb0086 at 9:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Overall I enjoyed the film, but I believe that the film is severly overrated. I see that the film set the standard for films in which the main character is completely miserable due to his or her own actions. The acting left something to be desired, the characters in the film are very specific, but the portrayals of the characters are shallow. However, I did enjoy the film's style and how the audience learns more about Charles Foster Kane. The concept of releasing details to the viewer through detective work after the man's death in order to understand what his dying words meant was a clever way of progressing the plot and telling Kane's story. The story's development effectively built up my desire to comprehend "rosebud". I appreciated how the film came to a close with the cathartic burning of Kane's beloved possession from the only time period he was truly happy.

Posted by sore0344 at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the film Citizen Kane, it became evident that the American Dream was “hollow� for Charles Kane, and I do think this somewhat has resonance in today’s moviegoers. As people are still understanding of the original idea and purpose of the American Dream, it becomes almost necessary by today’s standards for some people to behave as Kane did do achieve such status, especially financially. We exist in the “me generation�—one that somewhat mirrors Kane’s desire in the film to attain everything for himself before others. It is after Kane establishes himself financially that he pursues the more real things of life, such as companionship and world travels, which also corresponds to our latest generational trends, for the most part. Even then, at the end of the day the only love Kane has is for himself.

I believe that if people were shown this film today, they would at least be understanding of its meaning, even if they didn’t care. True, this film would not be the most intriguing at first glance, or be the top seller at the box office, but the symbols and messages in Citizen Kane are still well applicable in today’s society, and I think everyone who watched it today would be appreciative. For example, the monopolization of public media and use of it to sway opinions is still an issue today (although it is not always readily evident) as it was when Kane controlled newspapers countrywide in the film. The thing that could be asked of people today after viewing Citizen Kane is at least to take a second thought at how they are being influenced in their every day lives by surrounding media.

As far as the cinematography of this film goes, it was a little too different from current films for my liking. I felt that some scenes, both significant and not, were awkwardly lingered upon during the filming, and certain visual or audio effects were too overdone for their purpose. Thankfully, these things were not a great hindrance to the plot.

Posted by joh02361 at 9:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

in no particular order..
1. Beastie Boys- they mixed their first album in a college dorm room
2. The Velvet Underground- the first indie rock band
3. Blondie- a truly versitle female, worked with rock and roll and hip hop
4. Bob Dylan- the greatest american folk singer/song writer
5. Talking Heads- my favorite band

1. Annie Hall- Diane Keaton is adorable and Woody Allen is comicly gifted
2. Fargo- an enjoyable storyline and it's set in Minnesota
3. American HIstory X- huge Edward Norton fan and I believe this to be his finest role, such an important story
4. Edward Scissorhands- I love Tim Burton's work and Johnny Depp gives an amazing performance
5. Pulp Fiction- my favorite Tarantino film, great cast, great plot.

Posted by sore0344 at 9:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As a regular film watcher and have never seen Citizen Kane before, I found it to be rather dull and boring. I'm a person who loves the tear jerker films and this one I was just in disgust of how he used his life for very little good. He's a man of great power, especially through all his relationships he had with people, but instead of using them to create common good he only thought about himself. It disgusted me, because you can see this view of powerful people throughout society today.

Besides the story of the life of Charles Kane himself though, the film had awesome cinematography. Sure it's only in black and white, but if you take a look at it hard you can see how many shadows and lighting characteristics it has that it would only degrade the film if it were in color. When watching the film I did notice the same scowl on his aging face from the beginning to the end of the plot as if he has been trying to get at everyone that has helped him succeed. It was as if Charlie had always strived to get back to the life he had before; with Rosebud, his sled. Other than how well Orson Welles directed the movie with it's symbolism, message and cinematography I would say it's a movie that portrays how our society is today and it's horrible. I will never watch this movie again.

Posted by carr0445 at 9:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Having never watched Citizen Kane before I did not know what to expect from a Film directed in the 1940’s. Personally I would not put it at the top of my all time favorite list because I found it to slow to understand and do not like many old films. I also do not like black and white films as the lack of color makes it harder for me to follow. However that being said I do understand the greatness of this film due to the lighting and camera work for a film directed in the 1940s. If this film was directed with today’s modern techniques to move faster and become easier to understand I do believe it would be a very successful film and possibly on me all time favorite movies

Citizen Kane used the mysterious word “Rosebud� to examine the American Dream. Kane used his money and power to buy love and make others as miserable as possible. However what Rosebud really reveals to us is his lost happiness from his childhood. In his early childhood Kane was brought up poor but was still happy, when his mother sent him away he lost all his happiness, becoming rich and greedy turning Kane’s palace into his own prison, a tragedy that greed and wealth can bring to many people who do not know what to do with it all.

I agree with the following statement “Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its
cinematography, symbolism, and message, all things that do not interest most film goers
today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody
would care.� Most people today watch films for the excitement, a good story line, and great acting not for the likes of cinematography, symbolism and the message.

I do believe that the portrayal of Charles Foster Kane was fair. The director does cover Kane’s life from all aspects expressing this through several different characters that viewed his life differently to find out his true personality.

Overall I believe if I watched the film again I would understand the concepts of the film easier now that I know the meaning of “Rosebud� and can follow the importance of it throughout the film.

Posted by campb503 at 9:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top Movies
1. The Usual Suspects - Bryan Singer
I have never been left so blown away by a film as when I watched the Usual Suspects for the first time. My friends kept me completely in the dark on the story line, not even letting me read the back of the box. I can't even count the number of times I've seen it and i still find something new every time, Spacey's performance is just amazing.

2. Spaceballs -Mel Brooks
Mel Brooks was our generation's Chaplin (sans political commentary). the script of Spaceballs is Brooks at his absolute best and also has the great John Candy and Rick Moranis, how could you possibly go wrong.

3. Last of the Mohicans - Michael Mann
One of the best film scores of all time, and Daniel Day Lewis is just a crazy good actor. The culmination at the end when the father avenges his son is brutal and heart wrenching. A masterpiece, what every epic war film (Gladiator, 300, Troy, The Patriot etc) aspires to.

4. Tokyo Drifter - Seijin Suzuki
The Film tha tTarentino literally stole scenes from for Kill Bill. In a genre known for being difficult to follow and over the top this is a Japanese yakuza film where the director was actually fired from the studio for being too incomprehensible and the action too crazy. Not true at all. far from it, this film displays a film maker breaking all the rules and notions of how continuity editing and a film should look like to the audience. The use of color and music make this film a true under seen classic.

5. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Ang Lee
Ang Lee's masterpiece, not only made the chinese martial arts films accessible to the American audience but brought together three generations of Chinese stars to produce a film that stands as both a martial arts masterpiece and an emotion filled drama. The cinematography is top of the line and absolutely gorgeous.

Top 5 Music Artists
1. AFI
The band that started my crazed journey into music (i proceded to then work for a music company and now have literally over 1400 cd's all due to AFI!!). Insightful lyrics, and music that continues to evolve and challenge itself, each cd shows a different aspect of the band

2. Buena Vista Social Club
The absolute most tasteful and well written cd, musically I have ever heard. each of the members, on their own, helped define and change the shape of cuban jazz and are each considered masters, and national treasures. Brought together by the great Ry Cooder, it is just impossible to get beyond the monumental experience that listening to this cd is. In an era of over-hyped, over-payed music blow-holes, this shows what music is should alwasy aspire to.

3. Rammstein
A massive sound, one review said, Music to invade Poland to, and a huge flare for cinematics Rammstein puts together a sound that is both unique and over the top. With music videos that challenge any film on artistic merit and cinematography (just search youtube and watch the video for Sonne), and concerts that no other band can stand up to (Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters once said in an interview that he would never want Rammstein to open for the Foo Fighters because Rammstein would blow any band of the stage) it is no wonder that they are the best selling German artist of all time.

4. Judas Priest
Rob Halford. No more words are really necessary, the greatest metal screams of all time, imitated by every power metal band on the planet. and backed by KK and Glenn, producing guitar riffs and setting the stage for the possibility of two lead guitarists and twin solos in music. It is just ridiculous to think of all this group has accomplished and done, not only for metal but music in general, and their still going strong. As old as Halford is, his voice just gets better and better.

5. Mithotyn
Alright now i'm really going to start testing people's knowledge and conception of what is considered 'good' music. Norwegian Viking Black Metal at it's finest. Melodic guitar riffs that metallica wishes they could come up with!

Posted by hobb0041 at 9:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thought the film Citizen Kane was enjoyable and a very good story. It is not a kind of film that I would normally watch and to be honest I had never heard of it before this class.
One thing that I really enjoyed about the making of this film was the way that we got to see Charles Foster Kane's full life. From this we got to know what he went through then ultimately know what he meant by his dying word "rosebud"
The cinematography of the film was very good for a 1941 film. Compared to other films that I have seen from that era it was miles ahead of its time. This is why this film is considered one of the greatest films of all time!! I personally wouldn't class it as my greatest film of all time but from an American point of view it coincides with the American dream extremely well. When this film came out the American Dream was a huge part of people lives. This film contradicted the American Dream in a way as shows that money does not bring you happiness. The theme of "Rosebud" was very good for the movie. It almost acts as a new American dream because Rosebud represents Kane's childhood, or lack of it. It suggests that a new American Dream would be to have a good fun childhood then go on to have a good life which Kane did not have.

Posted by culve018 at 9:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top five movies:
1. Moulin Rouge- How can you not get the chills and the hair standing on your back when you watch and hear the voices or Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.
2. The Great Debaters- It's a very new movie but highly inspiring and worth watching
3. The Holiday- It's such a true story and hard to watch because it always reminds me of my family.
4. 300-The awesome graphics and detail put into shooting the fight scenes are unreal.
5. Two way tie between Hairspray and sadly High School Musical- The talent these young people have are amazing.

Top five musical artist:
1. The Beatles-No competition.
2. Rascal Flatts-Best country band ever created.
3. Boys like Girls-A complete band to just rock out to.
4. Jacks Mannequin-Such soothing vocals.
5. Carrie Underwood-An ungodly beautiful voice and nothing like ever like it.

Posted by carr0445 at 9:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone knows rosebud. I even knew what rosebud was without even knowing where that came from. It’s a part of our culture, each person will at one point in their life hear rosebud and may not know exactly what it means. I’ll be honest; I’m still confused about the importance of rosebud. This movie wouldn’t make the top of my list of favorite movies, but would be one I would like to own. Citizen Kane uses black and white to its advantage to show the light and dark of human nature, and also its mystery. The story begins in heaven. The room is full of light and the journalists are all in shadow. The angels take the history of each person. By taking the history of Kane it is almost as if they are weighing good and evil to see if he should be sent to heaven or hell. This large metaphor could represent the knowledge and workings of the press. The press delves and finds the true story through different sources to create a picture of a person or an event that took place. It would then be up to the public to qualify this information. This just as Kane does in his newspaper. He sells stories that may or may not be true, and leaves it to the public to decide what they shall believe.

Citizen Kane is one of the many rags to riches stories. He is given money, neatly and almost from nowhere. He is given a chance to build himself up from where his parents were in life. But in that he lost his childhood and his innocence and became almost godly; as represented by the kingdom of heaven including reporters as angels and a god being the one to run it all. Because of this glorious rise to riches and fame he is an idol or a pedestal for which the real life public would want to reach. Half of the popularity of this film could be due to the fact that he rises from nothing into a wealthy upperclassman. The other half would be his moral downfall. Something the public loves more than a person succeeding beyond their means is a person that becomes corrupt and fails in the end. The rise of a character gives the public a dream or a hope to become something better than what they are. The downfall makes the public feel better about themselves and their standpoint in life without having mass fortunes and many statues. This film represents the American dream, and the American tragedy.

Posted by Chris Lewis at 8:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone knows rosebud. I even knew what rosebud was without even knowing where that came from. It’s a part of our culture, each person will at one point in their life hear rosebud and may not know exactly what it means. I’ll be honest; I’m still confused about the importance of rosebud. This movie wouldn’t make the top of my list of favorite movies, but would be one I would like to own. Citizen Kane uses black and white to its advantage to show the light and dark of human nature, and also its mystery. The story begins in heaven. The room is full of light and the journalists are all in shadow. The angels take the history of each person. By taking the history of Kane it is almost as if they are weighing good and evil to see if he should be sent to heaven or hell. This large metaphor could represent the knowledge and workings of the press. The press delves and finds the true story through different sources to create a picture of a person or an event that took place. It would then be up to the public to qualify this information. This just as Kane does in his newspaper. He sells stories that may or may not be true, and leaves it to the public to decide what they shall believe.

Citizen Kane is one of the many rags to riches stories. He is given money, neatly and almost from nowhere. He is given a chance to build himself up from where his parents were in life. But in that he lost his childhood and his innocence and became almost godly; as represented by the kingdom of heaven including reporters as angels and a god being the one to run it all. Because of this glorious rise to riches and fame he is an idol or a pedestal for which the real life public would want to reach. Half of the popularity of this film could be due to the fact that he rises from nothing into a wealthy upperclassman. The other half would be his moral downfall. Something the public loves more than a person succeeding beyond their means is a person that becomes corrupt and fails in the end. The rise of a character gives the public a dream or a hope to become something better than what they are. The downfall makes the public feel better about themselves and their standpoint in life without having mass fortunes and many statues. This film represents the American dream, and the American tragedy.

Posted by Chris Lewis at 8:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have watched this movie several times before class and been impressed with the fantastic cinematography, the use of light and shadow to great affect, the acting, and the editing. However what struck me most this time was the way in which Welles ordered his plot. He begins the movie with the end, then uses that great newsreel footage to detail exactly what he is going to show the audience throughout the movie. As we move from viewpoint to viewpoint along with the reporter, the life of Kane is fleshed out more and more, and we get a character that is extremely complex but readily understood. It would be easy for an audience to dismiss or grow bored with the plot since it is already laid out. Instead the mystery of Kane's death only allows the viewer to become more engaged with the life he lead and the great drama and tragedy in it.

Posted by drey0022 at 8:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

At first, I thought Citizen Kane was really boring and a waste of valuable class time. But as I watched it further, I realized that there was a deeper meaning to the movie.
First, I found it interesting that the main character, Charles Foster Kane, started as an innocent little boy with honest goals and remained a noble man for as long as he did. However, as soon as he realized the extent of his wealth and power, Kane became the person he never said he would. I predicted that Kane would become miserable with his own life, however, I was surprised that he became such a monster to the people around him. I think the theme of the movie is an important lesson opposing the American Dream.
In addition, I also liked the quote from the Blog Assignment page regarding Citizen Kane as a notable movie from it's time. I agree with the idea that today's movie-goers would not find the technical aspects of the film interesting. Most people today view movies as an easy-going activity where deep thinking is not favorable. Even as I watched the film, I was immediately bored with the plot and the acting. I had to remind myself that I was looking for symbolism and focusing on the themes. Once I got into an analytical mindset, I found the film much more interesting.
Another interesting thing I noticed was the lighting in the film. The lighting in the movie was generally dark and full of shadows; however, as the film went on, the lighting gradually got darker. I think Orson Welles did this as an interesting way to portray the character's personality transition. The more Charles Foster Kane grew miserable, and the more he dealt with inner struggles, the darker the lighting got. Lighting in today's films is much brighter regardless of the type of film; however, movies with darker meanings usually have darker lighting. I just don't think it's as obvious now.
So, overall, I would definitely not put this movie on my top five list, but it is an important movie in American history. The film has great symbolism and I think everybody should see it, but this type of film is not appealing for movie-goers today. I think Citizen Kane is more educational than anything.

Posted by Courtney Marlow at 8:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My top five movies and musical artists, in no particular order, are as follows.

1. The Philadelphia Story: The dialogue between Grant, Hepburn, and Stewart is fantastic. One of the funniest films ever made.
2. All About Eve: Bette Davis at her finest. Everything about this movie, the writing, acting, camera work, etc is as good as it gets.
3. The Lion in Winter: The scenes with Hepburn and O'Toole are the best acted that I have seen.
4. The Apartment: I love Billy Wilder's work and of all his films this is the one that doesn't get old to me.
5. The Great Escape: Pure entertainment, a great war movie, with McQueen leading an all-star cast.

1. The Beatles: no explanation necessary.
2. Wilco: Jeff Tweedy has mad skills
3. Bob Dylan: In my opinion the greatest songwriter in American history
4. Radiohead: I can listen to their music at any time in any mood.
5. Dean Martin: Listening to Dean invokes a time and a place in my mind like no other music.

Posted by drey0022 at 8:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My five favorite movies are:
1. No Country For Old Men - The best new movie I've seen.
2. Who Killed The Electric Car? - An interesting view on a topic that is very important to me.
3. The Breakfast Club - Classic.
4. L'Auberge Espanole - Funny look at how different cultures interact.
5. Crash - Such a powerful and meaningful movie.

My five favorite songs are:
1. Lauryn Hill - Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You
2. Howie Day- Collide (Acoustic)
3. Sugarcult- Memory
4. Anything by the Beach Boys
5. Quietdrive - Halfey

Posted by Courtney Marlow at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thoroughly enjoyed Citizen Kane...though I have seen it before when I was much younger and way less capable of comprehending the granditude of its complexity. It makes an enormous amount of sense that CK would be on the best movies of all time list. The cinemetography is striking and presents the viewer with stark images that conveys the intensity of Kane's own character and his imminent doom...which is foreshadowed beautifully in the beginning Xanadu newsreel scene. That is actually one of my favorite segments of the film, when the newreel cuts out and you are suddenly caught off guard by the actual start of the film: a bunch of men sitting around in a screening room feverishly smoking cigarettes and theres a beatiful light from the projector room streaming down through the smoke. The interview scenes with the flashbacks are a brilliant way to pace the movie and as the story unravels the veiwer is allowed to grow to understand Kane's plight as a lonely, lost human being. Vs movies today Citizen Kane seems equally as thought-provoking and groundbreaking. Most films today seem to follow a prescribed outline in order to become box office hits with the occasional indie film...an even those have their own set of rules. CK is in the vein of the films of today that are equally as shocking: films that question the American Dream and the ideologies that we, as a consumer culture live by...and I dont believe there are too many of these films being made...so thats why this movie stands up to the test of time. It is equally as poignant as it was when it was first introduced...if not more considering our current state of being.

Posted by tapol001 at 8:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message-all things that do not interest most film-goers today". I agree that at the time Citizen Kane was made the cinematography, symbolism, and message were great. As a movie-goer myself, I love the way movies are put together and I enjoy movies that portray a message and allow viewers to ponder a greater question. However, in todays society I feel the need to have a movie be action packed with adrenaline, mystery, and special effects. Citizen Kane simply did not satisfy that need for me. The symbolism with the sled and Kane's childhood was fantastic and unexpected. On his death bed Kane went back to a time when he was free of the burden of wealth, to a simpler time where he felt he was loved. Even amid the symbolism and the progressing story line, I sometimes felt like the progression through the movie was too slow, methodical, and even predictable. I feel like these aspects are things that disinterest movie-watchers. For these reasons I think Citizen Kane would not make the top ten of many people's lists and does not make my list either.

Posted by zabor005 at 8:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I believe Citizen Kane is the best film of all time. While it is not my personal favorite film of all time, I understand why it normally tops the list. Its cinematography was groundbreaking (literally) for the time. A viewer with a keen eye realizes every angle, shadow, point of view and scene transition was deliberate and thought through. Welles had a hole cut into the floor for some scenes to make the actors appear extremely tall and show their “large way of life.� Welles’ shadow in the film covers other actors to show his hold and power over them. While we may be used to seeing this today, at the time of Citizen Kane’s release this was not often employed. Even still, many recent movies are more concerned with special effects and action than symbolism through cinematography.

Ideas of the American Dream are heavy-laden throughout the film. Kane evinces what every citizen is told he or she can do; as a child he has hardly anything, but he grows up to be one of the most powerful people in the country. Kane supposedly is concerned about the working man yet is truly more concerned about himself. He wants everyone to like him and tries to accrue this through buying love. Dystopia of the American Dream was not presented to the public in the manner of a film during the ‘40s before Citizen Kane. Questions concerning post-war life and pre-Cold War times were not centered on the possibility of not realizing or achieving a good job, plenty of money and a nuclear family. I believe this is one of the reasons the film was not a commercial success at its release.

As for today’s movie audiences, the emphasis of this film may be completely lost simply because it was made in 1941. Though at the same time, watching the film today may again bring into question the truths of the American Dream, wealth and class, and the meaning of love. I believe it is important for society to see this film in hopes of possibly regaining concern for symbolism, cinematography and social messages.

Posted by Candice Dehnbostel at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top five movies
1. Harold & Maude- I love the concept (a young man falls for an elderly woman), the dark humor and the wonderful soundtrack by Cat Stevens.
2. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly- Clint Eastwood is superb in this Spaghetti Western.
3. Pulp Fiction- Quentin Tarantino’s writing and directing creates a juxtaposition of current popular culture and classic movie styles.
4. Full Metal Jacket- This film is brutal and hopeless at times, but the ideas and commentary about the Vietnam War seem to allow those not alive at the time or in Vietnam a view into war.
5. The Darjeeling Limited- I love Wes Anderson and his choices of actors, color palettes and music. This film has exemplifies Anderson’s style.

Top five artists
1. The Beatles- I believe they were and still are the best band of all time.
2. Bob Dylan- His ability to tell stories of race, class, romance and social commentary through beautifully written folk and rock songs set a precedent for ‘60s artists and thereafter.
3. The Kinks- The Davies brothers crafted some of the catchiest pop songs: “This Time Tomorrow,� “Lola� and “Tired of Waiting.�
4. Jimi Hendrix- Songs like “Bold as Love� and his cover of Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window� showcase wonderful guitar licks that create more of an emotion than the actual lyrics do.
5. Sondre Lerche- He crosses folk, jazz, rock and pop in a perfect combination. The songs have quirky, infectious melodies that are complicated enough to sound simple.

Posted by Candice Dehnbostel at 7:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane:
At first, I thought that the "flashback" aspect of the movie was going to be hard to follow. However, once the movie got going, it became apparent that this was the best way to go about filming. Since the main purpose of the movie was to figure out what the meaning is behind the word "rosebud," it makes sense to start at Kane's death and travel back in time.
Another repetitive theme of the movie i noticed was the way in which different individuals referred to Kane. First of all, his Kane's name in general is mentioned so much during the movie. Every time his name can be put into the script, it is. Also, it seems that his two main friends, Bernstein and Leland refer to him in two different ways. From what I remember, Leland almost always calls him Charlie, while Bernstein seems to usually call him Mr. Kane or Kane. I never really figured out why this is, but one idea that came to mind is that Leland might not be intimidated by Kane like everyone else is. This can be shown when he attempts to write a negative review of Kane's wife after her opera performance. Even though it is not a successful attempt, it shows that he is not afraid of the power Kane displays. While he may be jealous, he is certainly not intimidated. Overall, the movie was a good example of how power does not necessarily equal happiness. I agree that it is one of the better movies of all time (especially because it has stood the test of time) but I would probably not rank it in my number 1 slot, like I mentioned above, I am pretty partial to the Godfather.

Posted by cloy0004 at 7:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The film Citizen Kane is critical of American culture. The film critiques how American culture lost its democratic nature in three ways; through the media, capitalism, and individualism. Orson Welles ties these three things together in a story to act as a reflection of what's happened to America. First Orson Welles owns a newspapers company and he is ridiculing and mocking an actual event called "yellow journalism." And in particular the infamous event of newspapers in America reporting a lie that the Spanish armada had attacked the American navy in the gulf around Cuba in the late 19th century. Mr Thatcher says"'Enemy Armada Off Jersey Coast you know you haven't the slightest proof that this - this armada - is off the Jersey Coast." Mr. Kane says "Can you prove it isn't?" Mr. Berntein recieves a telegram reporting from Cuba by Mr. Wheeler "I could send you some prose poems about palm trees and sunrises...there's no war here." Mr. Kane responds "You provide the prose poems, I'll provide the war." Mr. Kane is openly engaging in ridiculous and blatant forms of yellow journalism to satirize it.
Capitalism is another avenue of deterioration of American culture reflected in the film. Kane explains to Thatcher "it is also my pleasure - to see to it that decent, hard-working people of this city are not robbed blind by a group of money-mad pirates because, God help them, they have no one to look after their interests!...If I don't defend the interests of the underprivileged, somebody else will - maybe somebody without any money or any property and that would be too bad." Here he is just mocking the idealism of rich helping the poor. It seems like a deliberate, sarcastic joke. Kane lived in the world largest estate next to Disneyworld? Film calls it Xanadu. He seemed to be a boy with too much money and not enough responsibillity. Throughout the film he wasted money on frivolous things. He commented "I can't help that i don't own every statue in Europe, they've been making statues for two thousand years," or something of the like. In the end as evidenced by the film, he was quite unhappy with all his wealth, and what he really wanted was just his happy childhood.
His happy childhood leads into the final element of Welles critique of American culture in Citizen Kane which is individualism. Kane showed an utter disregard for what his readers knew and didn't know. His wife tries to educate him about being unscrupulous. "People will think..." He finishes her sentence "What I tell them to think." He later had an affair and left the same wife and their child for another woman. He later alienated her from himself too. He showed an inability to live in a social family setting or even a long term relationship. Also in the opening montage after the screening of "news on the march" we see a reporter asking several people who knew Charles Foster Kane in his lifetime questions about him and their stories were like a pastiche, incoherent, disjuctive. And in the end, the reporter couldn't find out the answer to the question what does "rosebud" mean? It seems that everyone was just looking out for themselves and no one really gave a damn about the other from the singer who yelled at him to "get out" to the concierge who tried to sell the reporter some information. Additionally, what Kane really wanted was his happy and poor childhood back that he had been alienated from to have an oversaturated overstimulated life away from his family and parents. It seems to be the message of the film. The film seems to be a statement on the narcissicm of American culture and what it has become because of capitalism, media, and individualism.

Posted by dahme012 at 7:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had never seen Citizen Kane before. I have to say that I did not like this movie very much. I often find older movies to slow and uninteresting for my personal taste. There were also several scenes throughout the movie that I thought would belong on an episode of MST3K; not in a cinema masterpiece. I do, although, understand why in its day it was considered one of the greatest movies of all time. It uses innovative camera techniques and an unusual story telling method that at the time set it apart from other films.

One thing I did enjoy about the movie was the way that the character of Kane is developed. In the beginning, we see him as a great man, fighting for the working mans rights and living the American dream. But, as each new person tells their story we see a slightly different person until we reach the end of the movie where we see him as a lonely old man. The things we learned about him earlier in the movie are put in a completely new light. His actions we not noble or kind, he was simply trying to selfishly win peoples hearts any way he could. Once he lost the election, he felt he had lost the peoples love so; he desperately clings to Susan and tries to make people love her by forcing to do something she does not want. When that doesn’t work all he does is try to keep Susan with him by spending money on her, not by actually loving and caring for her.

While the story was shown in a very interesting way, I still found it to slow for my tastes. I understand why this is an influential movie but, I personally do not believe this is one of the greatest movies of all time.

Posted by will1920 at 7:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although the American Film Institute (AFI) lists Citizen Kane as the best American movie of all time, it did not make my top five. However, the movie does deserve recognition for its fantastic depiction of the pursuit of the “American Dream�.
The opening scene of the movie is a scenic tour of Xanadu, the private estate/monument of Charles Foster Kane. The camera then pans to a dying man (Kane) examining a snow globe. The dying man (Kane) drops the globe, which smashes on the floor and the man utters one last word, “Rosebud�, before dying alone. The movie then follows a group of reporters who are trying to investigate the meaning behind “Rosebud�. Orson Welles uses sequences of flashbacks to Kane’s early, middle and late life in order to show the events and influences that lead to his rise and fall from power.

It is the “American Dream� to achieve wealth, power and happiness, but as the movie accurately depicts, the three are not necessarily related. Kane inherits an empire at a very young age, achieving wealth beyond any little boys’ imagination. However, as the events of Kane’s life unfold (two divorces, a fall from grace in the eyes of the American people, a child who dies in an automobile accident, etc.) he realizes that the wealth and power has never made him truly happy. He alienated the only true friend he has ever had (James Gettys), he kept a personal guard up with both his wives, preventing him from ever being truly close/vulnerable with either woman and throughout his life loved only himself. The significance of the word “Rosebud� was that it represented the only time in Kane’s life when he had been truly happy. This was when he lived with both parents and had not yet inherited the money/power. The movie asks viewers to challenge the norm of the “American Dream�, the norm being that the accumulation of money brings happiness. It challenges society to look past materialistic possessions and truly find what makes them happy.

Ian R. Bell

Posted by bellx236 at 7:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I thought the movie Citizen Kane was some what of a boring movie from a viewing perspective, but I can understand why the film is considered as one of the greatest films all time because of the strong message the film sends. I think the reason why I didn't enjoy the film that much is because I am use to watching more modern films, from my generation per say. I thought Wells did a brilliant job of depicting the quote on quote "American Dream� by showing how wealth and power doesn't always bring happiness to an individual. It all starts at the beginning of the film when the famous word "Rosebud" is said and he drops the snow globe on the floor and the glass breaks. We later find out that the word "Rosebud" is his sled from his childhood, but it symbolized more then just a sled. I felt it represented the lack of love and happiness in his life. Most people would say that Kane lived a great life because he had an abundant amount of wealth and power, but really he was a lonely man.
All in all I found the movie to be somewhat boring but I thought Wells did a great job of illustrating how money doesn’t bring you happiness and love.

Posted by white968 at 7:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message-all things that do not interest most film goes today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care." I agree with this statement, because Citizen Kane is a more old fashioned film that is centered around the main character's loss of childhood. The backbone of the film is reporters trying to figure out what rosebud means. We find out at the end that rosebud refers to the sled he had when he was a child. The message of the film being that childhood is very important to the way we grow and who we become. The sled is also a symbol, of innocents and joy. When he leaves his parents his innocents and joy are left behind and he is never able to recover from this loss. Messages and symbols like this are no longer looked as much in films. Now people are much more interested in special effects and violence, so I agree with the quote that now a days people really wouldn't care.

Posted by elmxx014 at 7:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:
1. The Shawshank Redemption : Because sometimes random friendships are the most interesting to watch.
2. The Godfather: What is there not to like about this film? Part 1 is better, but part 2 is not bad for a sequel.
3. A Beautiful Mind: The symbolism in this movie is phenomenal, and Crowe is one of my favorites.
4. He Got Game: I love most sports movies, the story of this one makes it great.
5. Any Nature Documentaries- I love non-fiction films involving any spectrum of nature (i.e. Planet Earth)

Music:
1. DJ Danger Mouse -The Gray Album- A mix between Jay-Z lyrics and Beatles instrumentals...excellent
2. Celtic Music- ranging from violin to bagpipes, I like most Celtic bands, vocals.
3. The Chieftains- Similar to Celtic but more emphasis on vocals...
4. Bruce Springsteen- ANY ALBUM. even though his voice is not his strongest skill, his music and him in general put him on my list.
5. John Prine- because as one of my dad's favorites, I was forced to listen to him growing up and got used to his music being around.

Posted by cloy0004 at 7:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While I don't agree that Citizen Kane is "the best movie of all time" (though it is certainly quite good), I can see why many people would make that assessment. In my understanding, Citizen Kane was a film of many firsts. It was the first film to deconstruct "The American Dream" and examine it with a critical eye. Going with a general theme that money is the root of all evil (or at least despair), "Citizen Kane" used the great mystery of Rosebud to demonstrate that the man who had everything, all that money could buy, still lacked one thing: the joys that the simple life and a normal childhood bring.

"Citizen Kane" also made use of some amazing cinematography. The opening sequence stands out particularly in my mind. We are introduced to a kingdom in utter decay. The long pan on the fence shows that what should have been Kane's palace was now his prison. The unusually long amount of time devoted to the shot demonstrates the length of his self-imposed prison sentence.

After "Citizen Kane," the camera techniques and theme used in the movie have been played with and expanded upon by other filmmakers. Though I would agree that most people would not much care for "Citizen Kane" today, I suggest that this would be the case because 1)it is in black and white and 2)Other movies have effectively explored similar themes but in a style that speaks to modern audiences.

Posted by Melissa Green at 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My top five list of movies is one of the hardest things I've ever done^^
1. Annie Hall (Woody Allen 1977)
2. Ladri di biciclette (1948)
aka "The Bicycle Thief" (Vittorio De Sica)
3. Network (Sidney Lumet 1976)
4. The Searchers (John Ford 1955)
5. Wild Strawberries (Ingmar Bergman 1959)
My top five favorite albums proved too awkward to write so I am writing my favorite songs by my favorite artists
1. Beethoven's 9th symphony
2. Johann Pachelbel "Canon"
3. Paul McCartney "Yesterday"
4. Bernie Higgins "Key Largo"
5. John Denver "Annie's Song or Country Roads" It's a toss up.

Posted by dahme012 at 7:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top Five Movies
1) Transformers- The story is great and the special effects are amazing
2) Superbad- It's so funny, and so true of high school boys
3) Saw 4-I love scary movies, and this one is really entertaining
4) The Notebook- It is such a good love story and it makes me cry every time
5) The Count of Monte Cristo- I love the plot of this movie, he plots his revenge so carefully

Top Five Artists
1) Justin Timberlake-I've loved his songs ever since he started in N'sync
2)Santana- He has a great voice and Into the Night is a really good song
3)Tool- One of my friends got me hooked
4)Sweet- I love to sing to Ballroom Blitz
5)Michael Jackson- He is a classic

Posted by elmxx014 at 6:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As others have said, I wouldn't rank Citizen Kane as anywhere near the top of my list. Many people say it is the embodiment of the American Dream but from someone who is already in that position, I don't think it's the same. People who have little look up to people who have everything and envy them. People already in the position of wealth and power may not think anything special of it. That is why Kane was not living a life he enjoyed. Because he did not finish his childhood he didn't know what to do with his wealth. This may also be why he said "Rosebud" as his last words, it -was- something he lost, a life he could have lived. The word Rosebud also helped trigger a whole investigation, more than I had anticipated from what the reporter was suppose to find. However each of the individuals had such a bias to their stories that it was was hard to tell who was really telling the real story. Of all of them though, I would think that the Butler had the most truth behind his tale. There was no ill will coming from him and there was no reason he should keep secrets, especially because he was being payed. All in all, this movie did not hold my interest very well nor did it impress me like I had expected.

Posted by leex2727 at 6:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The top five movies:
1. Crash- It does a wonderful job of depicting racial prejudice in America.
2. City of God- Great movie, it depicts how Brazilians police contribute to violence and drugs in the county.
3. Constant Gardener – it illustrate the unethical practices of pharmaceutical companies in Africa.
4. Ghost- Great love story and nice sound track.
5. Home alone- watched it many times as a kid.
The top five musical artists:
1. Bob Marley- his music is timeless and he fought for social justice.
2. Lauryn Hill- Great reggae influenced music
3. Celine Dion- Wonderful voice, great love songs
4. John Mayer- Great lyrics and also touches social problem
5. Usher- great dance and great entertainer

Posted by mula0013 at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Even though Citizen Kane was made in the 1940s, the theme and the camera work of the movie was phenomenal. A lot of films that were made before 1940s weren't nearly as good as Citizen Kane - so in that sense, I think Citizen Kane influenced a lot of film writers and directors. I thought the movie was good, but i wouldn't list it as my all time favorite movie because it is hard to compare Citizen Kane to some of the films that came out within the last decade -the plot, technology and acting would differ a lot. However, if i was living during that time, i can surely say that Citizen Kane would be my favorite movie.
I can see some people saying that Citizen Kane is one of the best films, but at the same time i can see people saying that Citizen Kane is over rated. The statement that says, "Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message-all things that do not interest most film goers today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care" is an interesting statement, but from my point of view it totally makes sense. Citizen Kane has a good theme and cinematography, but most people today, i think, go and watch the film for a thrill, surprises and a good plot - not much for symbolism etc. Citizen Kane doesn't have many surprises or a scene where it makes you thrilled. So, i don't think people today would enjoy the film as much because they are so used to the films that has more impact.

Posted by katay007 at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Music:
The Beatles: Classic
Nobuo Uematsu: Composer for the Final Fantasy Soundtracks
Takeharu Ishimoto: Composer of OST FF soundtrack
Tool: Recommended by Alex Quast
Led Zeppelin: Sparked a new age.

Movies:
Superbad: Hilarious
Swordfish: Explosions and girls. Has a very well written plot that I found quite enjoyable
Bond Films (Sean Connery): Has an element of fantasy that we wish we could have in our lives. I think that most people would like to live a life similar to Bond.
Terminator 2- Judgment Day: For what it's about, the movie is very well written and executed. I think the idea of machines becoming smarter than humans in the near future a real possibility and we can see that in Deep Blue.
The Fifth Element: Bruce Willis, Chris Tucker, and an amazing person with orange hair. Add them together and you get an exceptional movie.

Posted by leex2727 at 6:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The first time I had seen Citizen Kane, one of the most hyped of movies for nearly six decades, was early in highschool and I can't say I was too impressed. My disinterest was due to the fact that I was not used to black and white, slow paced, out dated, and old fashioned films because they were out of the norm of my viewing pleasure. It took me a few more years to appreciate the film for what it is, perhaps the most magnificent, controversial American movies of all time.
Watching the film this time around I challenged myself to look at its deeper meaning beyond the surface. The movie is much more complex then I could have ever imagined. First of all, it gives away no easy answers. There is so much hidden symbolism where every single detail is significant in the film's meaning. I can not beleive Citizen Kane came out in the early 40's, it was unlike anything around that time. The camera work was just brilliant in itself including the many low angled shots, creating powerful personas, and the extreme close ups. I remember one almost humorous close up at Kane's party. The camera was zoomed in on Leland's face for no particular reason that I could tell for quite some time. The lighting of the shots were powerful and intensional as well. There is one shot where the lighting of the characters is almost black and white. Kane is in the room with Mr. Bernstein and Leland writing up his intensions for the paper and when he's finished he stands next to the others in a dark shadow, perhaps foreshadowing what's to come of the newspaper and Kane's life. The music is also done exceptionally well as it should have been since it was picked out by the same man who does the music for Alfred Hitchcock films. Citizen Kane is such a classic, well-liked-by-the-critics film because Orson Welles dared to make a film unlike anything anyone had ever seen before and he succeeded beyond belief. People at the time were used to viewing straight forward movies with easily identifiable good guy/bad guy characters. The movie contains hidden symbolism, impeccable camera work, brilliant sound, and engaging imagery all together creating one of the most influencial films in American history.

Posted by kolsu002 at 6:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane Reflection:
I wouldn’t put Citizen Kane in my best of all time film lists but I can understand why some people would put it on their list. Even thought the movie is set in 1941, the theme of the movie is timeless. It depicts the American dream of success, wealth and power. The main character Kane is successful businessman and extremely wealth but not happy. Kane uses his money for his selfish benefits without any care for others. His parents gave him up; he was deprived of a normal childhood and love from his parents in the pursuit of success and wealth. Like many Americans today who struggle and sacrifices for the American dream of owning big house, expensive car and accumulating wealth only to realize money doesn’t buy happiness. At the end of his life Kane says the word “rosebud� which is a sled he had when he was poor and living with his parents. The sled represents a time in which Kane was truly happy. The movie challenges viewers to examine at our materialistic society and find out what truly brings us happiness.

Over all I did not care for the movie. The symbolisms and the messages in the movie are not as obvious to recognize compare to the movies we see today; therefore it makes it hard to follow the movie. I also didn’t care much for the acting it was too theatrical. The fact the movie was in back in white did not help.

Posted by mula0013 at 6:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I enjoyed Citizen Kane far more than I thought I would; however, I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped. I think I didn’t really love it because students, people my age, aren’t really brought up in the mindset of “achieving the American Dream.� Today, we’re brought up to respect actors and actresses that have a great deal of money and always appear happy. We aren’t raised to equate money with happiness, but we aren’t raised to think the opposite, either. I respect and appreciate the movie for breaking the mold in a time when there was nothing else except for that mold, but to today’s youth the movie has little relevance. Given the slew of controversial movies that have existed in the last few decades, this movie is just one more—and a fairly tame one at that. Again, I enjoyed this movie, but because of the experiences of myself and my peers, it doesn’t have the great meaning it has for older generations.

Posted by ward0373 at 6:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It was in 11th grade in my design class that Citizen Kane is the best movie ever made. We studied how it was directed compared to how we direct movies in the present. In my opinion, it is not the best movie ever made, but if I lived in the 1940s, I can clearly understand how it may have been a favorite for many people. The story behind was very rich, it does show the rise and downfall of man in a timetable where you feel like you are the investigator searching for answers. It does depict the so-called “American Dream� where the rise of an unknown man becomes the role model for many who are pursuing this dream. But when they fall, they fall hard, just like Kane. The way money corrupts a human is very well known as it is looked as the root of all evil. It cost Kane his happiness, his child, and his two wives all in which should be treasured more then money. In the beginning when he was young, he had the drive to make a great newspaper with money not an issue as he motivated his employees to work hard, but at the end, money was the only thing holding him together. I enjoyed how they made the transition to each year very visible with their makeup effects. Kane and his entourage were aging with time, very accurately I must say. This was surprising to me as I and I may speak for others as well, did not think a movie this old can pull off these kinds of effects.

Posted by Anthony Zerka at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Before this class I had never seen or heard of the movie Citizen Kane. Being one of the best all time movies ever made really has a lot to live up too since there are thousands of excellent movies out there. I normally do not like black and white movies but I thought that Citizen Kane was a great movie because it had substance to its story. The American dream is something majority of Americans strive for, being wealthy and powerful. The movie Citizen Kane does actually that, it shows how this poor little boy has nothing then in his twenty’s he runs a newspaper business and even though it does not make any money he does what he enjoys. Just like the American dream you can come from nothing like Kane did and overcome your obstacles going against your oppressive environment and become wealthy and powerful. In your class readings the article “Politics and Film� talked about a Liberalism society and from that individualism is one of its main focal points. Citizen Kane does an effective job portraying the individualism characteristic in Charles Kane both good and bad. Growing up I always wanted a job that would make me lots of money so one day I would be as wealthy as Charles Kane. However the older I get the easier it is to see that the American Dream is a wonderful thing but there is balance between money and power too much is never a good thing. There are plenty of examples of wealthy people with too much money and power like Michael Jackson he own his own amusement park and would anyone want to trade their life for Michael Jackson? I certainly would not. I really like this movie because it reinforces the American Dream back to the early 1900’s which was a better life, a happy healthy life. I would like to see a modern make of this movie because I think people would really like this movie. Like Charles Kane said “If I wouldn’t have been rich I would have been a really great man�. Americans need to see this film and remember “rosebud�.

Posted by towar003 at 6:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My top five favorite movies in order are The Godfather, Rush Hour, 300, Goodfellas, and Cloverfield. The Godfather is and will always be my favorite movie all for two important reasons; it is about a family and the mafia. I have read the book, but I enjoyed the movie better. The movie is full of emotion, hate, drama, and action and with Al Pacino, Dianne Keaton, and Marlon Brando, you cannot go wrong. Rush Hour is probably one of the funniest movies I have ever watched. I believe opposites attract and with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan being partners, my belief is true. The action mixed in the comedy has been attempted by many other movies, but has failed miserably. Chris Tucker’s jokes and his Michael Jackson inspired dancing is to me, the best parts of the movie. 300 is a very inspiring movie to me. 300 men defend their country with their lives with no fear for honor. The story behind this movie is true, though it is shown with a little exaggeration. I love hearing the music in the background, it is energetic. Goodfellas is another mafia movie, but unlike the Godfather, it is based on a true story. The whole movie is a time line of how Henry, the main character, got to where he is today. It shows the ups and downs of being a “wise guy� and the dangers that one may face. Many people say it is better then the Godfather, I believe it comes close, but not to close. Cloverfield just came out and I have been waiting to see it since I saw the preview trailer from Transformers. The movie was just amazing to me. The way it was filmed and the plot, not the mention that the monster was very awesome. There is more to the movie then what they display. Clues on how the monster was created have been all over the internet. I want to see it again to see these clues that are portrayed in the movie. What I enjoyed most is how you feel like you are part of this epic event. Going to save the woman you love is very brave and I am sure people in the audience felt they would do the same. I must admit, my heart was pounding the whole time because it was so suspenseful!

Posted by Anthony Zerka at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I foun out that the movie was from the 1940's, I will admit I was not in the least bit excited for it. I have watched a fair share of older movies and was bored out of my mind. I am so use to the new age technology and special effects that these movies usually seem to have nothing to offer. But, Citizen Kane, was a pleasurable experience. The cinematography was much different and more engaging than other movies in the time period. I am not a huge movie buff so I do not know much about what was different, but the use of the camera angles was interesting. They seemed to amplify characters and create emphasis without any special effects, which was a nice change. The story line and characters kept me interested throughout. I enjoyed the movie starting at the end with Kane on his deathbed and muttering "Rosebud" and the plot jumping around containing flashbacks.

I would have to agree with the statement "Citizen Kane is cited ... nobody would care." I do not believe that the thought behind the statement is a good ting, but I do believe it to be true. The annual movie awards hand out awards for things like special effects, not for symbolism and the message the movie portrays. It seems that the movie-going audience is constantly looking for the newest, biggest, and most spectacular, not content. Compared to movies of 2008 Citizen Kane was not as "choppy" I might say. It did not constantly jump from person to person, but had more of a consistent filming.

I believe the portrayal of Charles Foster Kane is a fair and proper one. The point of view the director has you see Kane from really helps the viewer understand the kind of man Kane was. It was easy to realize that he only loved himself and the power he had. Money and possessions were the center of his life and he used them to create and manipulate the power he had. The portrayal emphasized how horrible of a man he really was, but also might not have showed a softer side, if he even had one.

Posted by mcgui149 at 5:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

1. I believe that Citizen Kane should be up there with any top movie lists because of how well it was "put together". The cinematic aspects of the film were revolutionary. My favorite shot was when Kane was a young boy playing with "Rosebud" through the window while his mother was signing his papers away. He was the focus of the shot, yet he was clearly in the background. It's pretty impressive cinematography. I really enjoyed the story as well. A man who has, or is collecting everything, only truly loved one thing: Rosebud, his sled. Interesting concept, and one that scholars have broken down into prevailing themes on life, greed and American culture.

2. I believe that as long as we live in a capitalistic society, that greed will always influence the American Culture and landscape. That being said, this movie translate very well to every generation post-great depression.

3. I truly think that this statement hit the "new generation's" view of movies to a "T". Its pretty sad, that almost all people refuse to watch this movie because of slow moving scenes, little to no action, and no true romanticism. People today tend to go to movies to get away from the everyday life. Citizen Kane lacks the "hollywood" luster of today's movies, but generations need a reminder of the old school movies that shaped American culture.

4. Orsen Welles, in my opinion, is underrated by the general public for his cinematic efforts in Citizen Kane. Avid movie fans and critics agree that this movie was an epic movie for its time, but the general public ceases to accept this. I spoke earlier about how Kane was always the center of attention. I think of the scene where he is playing with his sled while his mother is bartering him away. My favorite shot of the movie has to be when they are celebrating and the camera cuts away from Kane for one of the few times during the movie, yet his reflection is still clearly visible in the window. Its awe-inspiring to think of how Welles directed this movie. The angles that Kane used are still used in some TV or artistic movies likely because of Kane, but they aren't used all that often because the general public doesn't understand the basis or underlying meanings for creating such angles, such as the triangle, where Kane was generally the center of.

5. Welles liked to transition the scenes with Kane still being the focus of the shot. Instead of conversations that we are used to such as one person talking directly to the camera, and then a cut to the other person talking to the camera, Welles preferred to keep everyone in the shot. It's interesting and rarely down these days.

6. I'm not sure the portrayal of Charles Foster Kane is fair or not. He is said to be formatted after the newspaper tycoon of the 20th century. I cannot honestly asses the fairness of his character, if he is truly based on this character, without further details about the guy. It must have been pretty accurate or damning because the his reaction/response to the film, by blackballing both welles and the film. It's a shame this movie did so poorly in it's debut, because it truly is a cinematic masterpiece for its respective time.

Posted by heigh006 at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although it did not turn out to be one of my all-time favorite movies, I recognize the historical value of Citizen Kane that has continually placed it at the top of “the best of all time� film list. Since the time the United States first became an independent nation, the ideal of the American dream has transcended every generation from the Pilgrims to present day. As the overriding ideal of Citizen Kane relates to the American Dream of fame and fortune, it is clear to see the reasons this movie has stood the test of time. The principles of a man lonely and miserable despite great wealth and fame are as true today as a century ago. This is apparent in the gossip columns of celebrities today
who find themselves in drug or alcohol rehabilitation or recovering from an attempted suicide after realizing that a life in front of the cameras and sparkling jewels was not necessarily what they expected. The difference is that today’s actors have perfect lives on screen with happiness and prosperity while their personal lives may not match with the characters they portray. In the case of Citizen Kane, Orson Welles was miserable in the movie but may have been satisfied and happy off of the camera. With this in mind, it may be difficult for today’s American movie-goers to relate as they still view the American dream as a goal to which they will aspire.

As Citizen Kane was made in the 1940’s, many question its validity in today’s society. One author summed it up when he or she said “Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism and message-all things that do not interest most film-goers today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care.� This statement holds many truths. First, the movie held amazing cinematography for its time as the camera caught different angles of each character and scene, allowing the viewer to see the distorted ideals of Charles Kane. Shadows were used to symbolize the shadows and darkness Kane felt over his life. Both of these filming strategies are still used in today’s movie industry, except that shadows tend to mean that something lurking or scary is approaching. In relation to the quote, “a random bunch of people today� would most likely find this movie dull and old. They may argue that is lacks the fast-paced, action-filled scenes that are currently driving the filmmaking world.

Overall, the film for me was enjoyable as it granted me greater insight into the corruption of the American dream. I hope it remains an American classic and learning tool for many years to come.

Posted by basse044 at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies
1. Singin’ in the Rain: Gene Kelley and Debbie Reynolds are fantastic in this classic. The music and dancing cannot be beat.
2. Footloose: This movie was a breakthrough for Kevin Bacon, and I am a sucker for cheesy 80’s music.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean # 1: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie as it was fun and fast-paced, complete with a great soundtrack and love story.
4. Hitch: My two favorite scenes are on the jet skis and when Will Smith has an allergic reaction at the cooking show. It totally made me laugh, but the love story was also great.
5. Hairspray: The music made me want to get up and dance. At the same time, it held historical value in portraying the beginning of the 60’s with segregation and acceptance of others different than yourself.

Musical Artists
1. Frank Sinatra: His songs are timeless, and his voice will never again be matched in tone or quality.
2. Michael Jackson: Although I may not agree with his personal life today, his songs are masterfully done and get everyone out of their seats onto the dance floor.
3. Norah Jones: I love playing her songs on rainy days with a cup of coffee and a blanket. They are very chill and relaxing.
4. Faith Hill: She is spunky with tunes you love to sing in the car or when I am getting ready to do homework.
5. Snow Patrol: They have a unique style and sound that is difficult to match. Their music is interesting yet not overly stimulating.

Posted by basse044 at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I love listening to music and watching movies, but I am also not the guy to come to for artist or actor names.

My Top Five for music, in no particular order, would be:
1) Brad Paisley - some of my favorite country songs are on his "Time Well Wasted" album.
2) Garth Brooks / George Straight - two legendary country artists
3) Leona Lewis - she is a new favorite of mine. She won the British version of "Amercan Idol" and has an amazing voice that rivals Whitney Houston.
4) PANIC! At the Disco - a great band with a more techno sound accompanied by some interesting comedic lyrics.
5) Justin Timberlake - a lot of his new stuff has a great sound I can't get enough of.

Top Five Movies:
1) Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Jim Carey does an amazing job in this movie. My friends and I constantly quote from this movie.
2) Clue. Modeled after the board game clue has a darker sense of comedy in it that takes a certain sense of humor to really enjoy.
3)Snatch / Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. These two movies, one a sequel to the other, have such interesting twists and outcomes that are genius and highy amusing.
4) Drop Dead Gorgeous. This is an absolute favorite. I saw the movie right before moving to Minnesota and found it hilarious. Besides the witty remarks throughout the movie I am able to find something i did not notice before every time I watch it.
5) The Bourne Trilogy. These rank at the top of my favorite action movies because of how real everything seems in the movie. The trilogy has some of the best and most realistic car chases and hand to hand combat.

Posted by mcgui149 at 5:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is viewed as an extremely significant and poignant film for its time. It is understood that it depicts the typical “rags-to-riches American Dream,� however a number of disturbing events take place, as well. One main disturbance is that Charles Foster Kane’s parents were so poor that they essentially sold their child to Mr. Thatcher for an incredible price of $50,000 per year. It seemed that Charles’ mother made this decision to better her son’s future – both financially and to distance him from his abusive father. In the brief encounter that was seen between Charles and his parents, it was quite obvious that he was very loved and that his parents were making choices about Charles’ future that were what they thought to be in his best interest. Growing up poor, his parents had a first-hand experience of the difficulties that are accompanied by an inability to get ahead economically in a money-driven society. In their eyes, they were making the ultimate sacrifice, losing a son, in an effort to give him the opportunity to excel economically and to save him from the difficulties of living poor. Their gravest mistake, however, was not allowing their child to choose his fate for himself. Had they have known how Charles truly felt, they would have understood that love meant more to him than money ever would. The only real love Charles had ever experienced in his life was that of his parents’, who were more concerned with his future than with his heart. Although this movie depicts the rags-to-riches American dream, in which once a person becomes rich and powerful, they will live a happy, blissful life full of material things, this could not have been further from the truth for Charles. I believe that this film is very eye-opening and possibly even controversial for its time because it is questioning the “everyone wants fame and fortune� ideal of the American dream. In the case of Charles Kane, it seems as though being loved and loving in return is a much greater fortune than any amount of money. Citizen Kane shows us that it really does not matter how much money one has because true love and happiness is not a commodity that can be bought.
-HF

Posted by fash0016 at 5:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top Five Movies:
1. Gattaca - GREAT movie! How cool would it be to actually be able to pull a stunt like that off?! I love movies about the future and the advancement of science.
2. American History X - Edward Norton is an amazing actor! It's an extremely eye-opening film that everyone must see!
3. Hotel Rwanda - Very sad, yet extremely powerful!
4. The Last King of Scotland - Really shows the atrocities of war and the manipulation that goes on behind closed doors.
5. Blood Diamond - DiCaprio is amazing in this film. Also a must-see!

Top Five Musical Artists:
1. Micheal Jackson - Musical legend...enough said.
2. Madonna - The female musical legend.
3. John Legend - Has a great voice and is very talented.
4. Googoosh - The most loved and respected Iranian singer of all time.
5. Haydeh - My personal favorite Iranian singer of all time - Frank Sinatra agreed that her voice was one-of-a-kind...enough said.

Posted by fash0016 at 5:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's easy to see why Citizen Kane triumphs so heavily in the critical realm of film. There are clearly powerful forces at work here. Orson Welles revolutionized the technical aspects of film-making with deep-focus, the use of the "wipe", as well as the way the story is told as flashbacks from a series of people, to name only a few. I confess that my rube-ish, uncultivated eye didn't pick up on all the nuances nor realize what I was seeing until after I did a little research. However, I did pick up on a few things right away, particularly how many shots were done at a low angle. This made the subjects loom in comparison with the viewer's eye. I found the low angle shot particularly prominent in the scene where Susan leaves Kane and he tears apart the room. He stumbles about savagely, more monster than man, so that the room seems fragile and delicate next to him. It's almost as if the room can barely contain him. The fact that Kane appears so un-human (not to be confused here with inhuman) is particularly juxtaposed against the fact that we are seeing him at a moment where his behavior is so vulnerable, personal and genuine.

Because Citizen Kane was the first of its kind in so many ways, I find myself wondering how much of the movie influenced popular opinion and how much the reverse was true, a concept discussed at length in our readings. Was the disillusionment of the American Dream a wake-up call for the public at the movie's dissemination or a merely a reflection of an already growing concern? Most likely, I suspect it was a combination of the two. Movies questioning the possible corruption in the government were already starting to appear. It would follow that some of the basic American ideals might come under the same scrutiny. Either way, Welles has more than twice over earned the honors regularly bestowed upon the film. But by the same token, one might say that the people who loved the film and love it still have earned those honors as well.

Posted by coats001 at 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Like a few others before me have already stated, I wouldn't put Citizen Kane on my list of the top movies of all time, simply because there are many other more modern movies (1990-present) that I would prefer watching over it. However, given the technical achievements, solid acting, and a tragic storyline illustrating the dangers of money and power which I think will "stand the test of time" (I think it can be applied to any time period), I can see why many people consider Citizen Kane as one of the best movies of all time. It became obvious that the film was ahead of its time after watching just the first five minutes of the movie. The rain pattering down, the camera's jerky movements as it approached Zanadu, and the ominous music instantly set the mood for the rest of the movie, and showed some of the "special effects" that Welle's was capable of during that time. It was amazing to me how real Zanadu looked, and how big it was for not being an actual house. As for the storyline, it is interesting that the character of Kane is modeled after William Randolph Hearst, a real newspaper tycoon who basically monopolized the entire business in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (I visited "Hearst Castle" [the real-life version of Zanadu] this summer with my dad, and it is just as big as the movie depicts it.) I wonder what he thought of the movie, given he was still alive when it was released. The message of the movie was clear and important: money cannot buy love, or true happiness. Kane thought he had everything, until he realized that all the money in the world couldn't get his wives to love him. I think many people could listen to his advice as they pursue their own "American Dream". All in All I think Citizen Kane was a great technical achievement, and has a message which will ring true for the rest of time, which is probably why Citizen Kane can still be found at the top of many people's list of the best movies ever made.

Posted by ruppx051 at 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While I had not seen Citizen Kane before, I had a lot of presumptions already made about the movie. Last year I did a research project on William Randolph Hearst, and part of the project included Citizen Kane and its connection to Hearst. I did not find the movie particularly interesting, and had trouble even staying awake. I have admittedly become jaded by modern special effects and cinematography, so I had trouble picking out what would be considered "revolutionary" for a movie made in the 1940's. Luckily, I had done the research project and knew to look for things such as camera placement, angles, and how the camera pans across the screen. Apparently Citizen Kane was one of the first, if not the first, movie to use sets with actual roofs. This allows for more dynamic shots, as the camera can now be aimed in any direction without having to worry about a roofless room. This technique was used several times on Charles Kane, and had the effect of making him appear much larger than he actually was. I think this type of camera work has been lost over the years, and now if a director wants to make something larger, you use special effects instead of nifty camera placements.

The story itself was entirely original in the 1940's. While today it is borderline impossible to create anything that could be considered completely original, Orson Welles was able to create a unique masterpiece that has stood the test of time for 60 years. The setup of the story itself is somewhat interesting, as the main character, Kane, is not a conventional protagonist. I did not find myself rooting for him, and I don't think that was the intention of the movie. The ending reinforces this, as Kane never got what he wanted, which would leave most viewers angry, confused, and dejected if he were a normal, lovable main character. The director for the movie Dodgeball (not exactly an epic classic such as Citizen Kane) shot the original ending for the movie with the "good guys" losing the final match. The early screening for the movie caused such a bad reaction among viewers, that the director was forced to bring in the actors again and re-shoot, with a victorious outcome. This is a great example of what makes Citizen Kane special, as Welles was able to pull off this sad ending while keeping the viewer from becoming outraged.

Posted by hanse978 at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While this wasn't the first time I'd ever seen Citizen Kane, it was probably the first time I really appreciated it for its genius. Seeing it in high school was more of a chore than something I was able to respect for all the clever camera usage and contrasting points of view. My favorite aspect of this movie was what everyone believed "rosebud" might have represented. Characters who were interviewed believed that "rosebud" might be something impressive that Charles Foster Kane had won or a woman with whom he may have been involved. In Thompson's attempts, the interviewed character sometimes manages to allude to "rosebud" without any knowledge of it. From Thatcher's library, he reads about Kane's childhood. This scene shows him sledding by his house and he strikes Thatcher in the stomach with his sled. For his first Christmas with Thatcher, Kane receives a fancy new sled. Then, during the interview with Susan Alexander, we see a conversation between the two of them in which Kane talks about going to a warehouse to search for his youth where his mothers things are in storage. At the end of the movie, the disgusting amount of property is panned over and we see the extent of his wealth. Men are burning things and one yells "throw that junk." This is when we see "rosebud" for the last time and it wraps up the movie very well because the meaning will forever be a mystery. Another feature of this movie I really liked was the usage of jigsaw puzzles. While everyone is trying to piece together the life of Charles Foster Kane, his lonely wife Susan does jigsaw puzzles to pass the time in the gigantic mansion they live in. The camera angles and uses of shadows always depict the alienation Susan feels. When she is shown in conversations with her husband, his shadow covers her and makes her look very small and overpowered as the movie becomes darker and more unhappy. I definitely agree that this movie is among the best of all time, mostly because it is impossible to take everything in upon watching it only once.

Posted by weir0041 at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This was my first time viewing Citizen Kane. The closest thing I have experienced to it was the Simpson's episode parodying it. As I read other people's writeups, I can agree with them when I say I'm sort of biased against black-and-white movies. I've only seen them in educational contexts, so I have this innate reaction to label them boring. Although, compared to other B & W movies, I'd say Citizen Kane was one of the better ones. I can understand why it was so big at the time of its release, with the notion that the American dream isn't all it's cracked up to be. The one thing that I noticed that was constantly utilized was the long fades between scenes.

The effect of the long fades is to blend each scene with the next. It gives a feeling of flow, which is appropriate since much of the movie consists of people telling the story of Charles Kane. Since everything only happens as fast as people tell them through anecdotes, the fade effect is useful to show that each story is interrelated. There are no fast cuts like you'd see in many movies today. The fast cuts seem to invoke feelings of unexpectedness and confusion, while a fade establishes a new scene while allowing reflection on the previous. It lets the movie clearly designate what are 'flashbacks' and what is occuring in 'normal time'.

All said and done, Citizen Kane isn't half bad of a flick. I can see how it was so big back in the day, and I can see where it has some merit even today. The American dream, while often glorified, was depicted as shallow and unfulfilling. It's a nice change from how movies usually go (granted, 'nice' might not be the best word to use there), but it's an interesting look at how power corrupts, and blinds people to their weaknesses. Those messages are just as true today as they were in 1941.

Jeff Batts

Posted by batts002 at 4:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:
1. Finding Forrester- I've always wanted to be a writer and have been so inthralled with the process in which a person's philosophy flows through a pen and onto paper. This story reminds me of why I love this art and how through writing you can reach anyone.
2. Stranger Than Fiction- Another movie that jumpstarts my passion for writing. It reminds me how in a good book each character has a life of it's own, and the reader should feel like any character could be a friend, neighbor, or coworker.
3. Rocky Horror Picture Show- Some movies are just fun.
4. Sweeney Todd- Reaches down into a person's darkest roots of deception, violence, and the need for passion. Plus the music is great.
5. Pan's Labarynth- I'm not one for fantasy, but this story shows multiple points of view and stresses how a story can be great if it has great characters.

Music:
1. Beatles- Classic artists that can paint any picture.
2. Aqua- Happy music that makes me feel perky with a picked up beat.
3. Danny Elphman- He composes amazing symphonies that can paint a picture with a simple beat and a vibrating strings. It's nice to be able to close your eyes and feel a surrounding based on music.
4. Rent- I have a connection with an older sibling through this musical and it always reminds me of her.

Even though we are of a different generation we still feel connected by the same trials and tribulations of our times.
5. Hairspray- It puts a positive spin on what teens faced in a certain time, but also displays the emotions that challenge society from a day to day perspective.

Posted by Chris Lewis at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies:
The Departed -- Some people I talked to were confused by this movie, but I found it exciting from start until finish. I loved how round the characters were, especially Leonardo DiCaprio's character. You could really empathize with him and understand the kind of pressure he was under.

Lord of the Rings Trilogy -- Maybe I am not the best person to comment on the story line, as I have not read the books, but the cinematography and overall production of all three movies was fantastic! If I had to pick a favorite, it would be Return of the King, but I have never gotten bored of watching any of them.

Dumb and Dumber -- The writing was original and right on, and it seems like every time I watch the movie I notice another joke or bit of humor that I had overlooked before.

Pulp Fiction -- I liked the twisting plot lines and how they were presented in a way that made absolutely no sense at first. In order to really enjoy this movie, you basically have to see it twice to get all the information from the various plot lines and then piece them together to create a chronological timeline.

Fight Club -- This is another great movie, similar to Pulp Fiction in how you have to view the movie multiple times to really get a feeling for what is going on. Still, a fun movie with one of the best plot twists ever. It took me completely by surprise.

Top 5 Albums:
Dark Side of the Moon [Pink Floyd] -- A great album, from start to finish. I love how each song seems to blend perfectly into the next, as if it is one continuous song.

Houses of the Holy [Led Zeppelin] -- I am a huge Led Zeppelin fan, so I could just include their entire catalogue, but I chose Houses of the Holy because; a) It has some of my favorite Zeppelin songs, and b) I didn’t want to pick Led Zeppelin IV like everyone else.

Stadium Arcadium [Red Hot Chili Peppers] -- I love Anthony Kiedis’ voice (since he changed his singing style in the early-mid 90’s), and the songs on this album are all very catchy.

Paranoid [Black Sabbath] -- I love this album, especially some of the less popular songs, although hits such as Iron Man and Paranoid still rock as well.

Back in Black [AC/DC] -- Every song sounds basically the exact same, but after listening to this album, the songs are stuck in my head for days.

Posted by hanse978 at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies

1. Big Jake- John Wayne is my favorite actor and this movie Big Jake is one of his greatest classic films he made in the early 1970’s. During John Wayne’s prime he represented the ideal image of being an American man, he was a role model for the American public.

2. Wedding Crashers- Vince Vaughn into today’s era is the funniest actor out there. Wedding Crasher is the best comedy of all time with all the funny memorable quotes. This quote is one of many memorable in the movie:

 Jeremy Grey: Okay, what's our back story?
John Beckwith: We're brothers from New Hampshire. We're venture capitalists.
Jeremy Grey: I'm sick of that. Let's be from Vermont. And let's have an emerging maple syrup conglomerate.
John Beckwith: Wait, that's stupid. We don't know anything about maple syrup.
Jeremy Grey: I happen to know everything there is to know about maple syrup! I love maple syrup. I love maple syrup on pancakes. I love it on pizza. And I take maple syrup and put a little bit in my hair when I've had a rough week. What do you think holds it up, slick?

3. Crocodile Dundee- This movie is just one classic movie that never gets old to watch. Crocodile Dundee has a great story line and is very funny to watch.

4. Mighty Ducks Series.- growing up I love hockey and always wanted to be in that movie. Being from Minneapolis is was cool to see how these reject kids start from nothing and go on the being the best. It’s a great story about sports.

5. My Cousin Vinny- Joe Pesci and Marsisa Tomei had great chemistry and really made this movie one of American classic movies to watch. Joe Pesci is another one of my favorite actors and really makes this movie great. My Cousin Vinny has a lot of memorable quotes which is why this is in my top five all time.

Artists

1. Taylor Swift- it’s cool that she writes all of her own songs. She pretty good looking too and is by far my favorite artist.

2. Fergie- I went to one of her concerts and I had a blast and my favorite song of her's is Big Girls Don’t Cry. I am not sure why being a guy but I like the song.

3. Alan Jackson- I grew up listen to him as a kid and I love all of his songs and the lyrics to his songs.

4. Toby Keith- I like his songs and what he sings about. Being from the country I like the image that he has.

5. Faith Hill/Tim Mcgraw- I don’t think there is a better duo that these two artist. Very inspiring people to listen to.

Posted by towar003 at 4:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:
1. Love Acutally- A beautifully woven story depicting different facets of love. Makes my heart sigh every time...
2. Forrest Gump- Tom Hanks was great in this movie, and the idea of creating a historical montage and unveiling it through a fictional character made for a good storyline and strong presentation.
3. Good Will Hunting- A not-so-usual kind of 'rags to riches' story. The setting and circumstances of the characters fit this movie well I think.
4. Life is Beautiful- Poignantly told experience of the Nazi era through the eyes of an Italian family. The end lesson holds true to the title.
5. Casablanca- There's just some underlying quality about this movie I love. It's classic, witty, and charming all at the same time.

Music artists:
1. The Red Hot Chili Peppers- Something about their music-- the bass line? the vocals? the lyrics? --just hooks me in completely whenever I hear one of their songs.
2. Bob Dylan- The younger Bob Dylan, that is (although he's still good today). It's amazing how a few mysterious verses could have influenced a whole generation, and we don't really have anything like that to compare it to presently to even realize it's past effect.
3. Wilco- I enjoy their folksy-rockness and mellow beats.
4. Andrew Bird- Total chillout music-- this guy's a very talented musician with a smooth, relaxing voice.
5. Rilo Kiley- Their lyrics can be edgy/controversial and sweetly emotional at the same time, as can Jenny Lewis's voice. But that's what I like about this group.

Posted by joh02361 at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Music:
Journey - Whenever I hear Journey songs it reminds me of growing up and listening to the music with my dad. I love that "Don't Stop Believin" is such a popular song now.
Santana - The compilation of artists on Shaman that came out in 2002 is amazing.
Kanye West - There is so much rap out there that I can't stand but I will always love Kanye West's music.
Aerosmith - "Dream On" and "Sweet Emotion" have been two of my favorite songs since the first time I heard them.
Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas - This CD will always be one that I listen to repeatedly during the holidays.

Top 5 Movies:
"Blades of Glory" - Being a figure skater I can appreciate all of the shenanigans that go on during this hilarious movie.
"Love Actually" - It's such a hopeful movie and all of the stories link together well.
"Moulin Rouge" - The music is what makes this movie amazing and Baz Luhrmann's directing is incredible.
"It's a Wonderful Life" - one of the very few movies that has ever made me cry.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" - Part of the reason this is on my Top 5 list is because I did a skating routine so the music, so every time I watch the movie and hear the music I'm reminded of an amazing skating routine, I also really like the story line and complicated characters of the trilogy.

Posted by weir0041 at 4:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I think Charles Foster Kane acted like a lost little boy from the time he was separated from his parents until the day he died. Everything he did in his life was to excess including the way he reported news in the Inquirer to the construction of Xanadu. Kane spent his life tring to feel excepted and loved, and yet was unable to keep his inner core of friends and relatives close. He died alone, longing for the innocence of his childhood years with the echo of his last word, "Rosebud."

This story is not unlike what we have been told our whole lives, that money "can't buy you happiness." Kane had many opportunities for happiness in his life including a successful business, many friends, and a happy marriage. Unfortunately for Kane, his instincts for indulgence and control ruined all that around him. This ironically left him alone and abandoned, which was what he feared the most.

I think this movie would play well in today's era if produced with modern filmmaking techniques. The storyline as told in 1941 moves much too slowly to make the big screen today. However, there is enough of a plot to this movie that many of the untold parts of the original film could be included in a remake, such as what happens in Kane's earlier years that shape his personality.

I came to class with no expectations for this film. I wasn't aware that Citizen Kane was considered one of the "best movies of all time", but after seeing it I can understand why. This movie depicts the desire of the "American Dream", yet shows us that not all are capable of holding onto that success. The struggle for that dream is timeless.

Posted by char0018 at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I enjoy a good movie much more than I tend to pay attention to what is playing on the radio. While I appreciate music very much, I have never paid much attention to which artist performs what. Therefore, my movie list is paired down and my artist list is stretched.

Top Five Movies (in no particular order):

1. Apollo 13 - Everytime I watch this movie I think about how amazing it was to send someone to the moon back in a time where technology was very limited as compared to today. It makes me think that due to modern conveniences, our society has become less apt to take risks like the astronauts did back in the 60's. The Apollo space program was a rallying point for a downtrodden nation and gave our country the confidence to evolve technologically.

2. Miracle - I am a huge hockey fan and I remember back when I was a kid my dad had a poster of the 1980 Gold Medal Olympic Hockey Team. When I was old enough to appreciate what Herb Brooks stood for, as well as the team's accomplishment, I can't help but be inspired by this story.

3. Remember the Titans - How can you not be inspired by this movie!

4. The Incredibles - I just think the storyline of this movie is very clever. The animation, like all Pixar movies, is amazing and the story is an interesting twist to the classic idea of a superhero. Plus, when watched in HD...good grief!

5. Star Wars (all) - I appreciate the early trilogy for the idea and what was accomplished from a technical standpoint as much as I appreciate the later movies for their technological advancements. When you watch the more recent films, the earlier movies look very slow (which adds to their charm because back in the 80's they were cutting edge!)

Top Five Artists

Michael Jackson - I think he's getting weirder by the day, but he's still an icon. I enjoy his earlier stuff more than what he did later in his career. In fact, I think Janet Jackson has had a more successful career, longevity-wise.

Prince - Like Jackson, his earlier material is better than when he decided to name himself after a symbol, but in any event the guy has more talent than anyone else in the business.

Aretha Franklin - the girl's got pipes, that's all I can say.

The Beatles - I can play Abbey Road straight through, which is tough for me as I am really picky about music.

Rolling Stones - To me they are kind of like the Beatles, I don't seek out their music but when it's on I rarely turn it off.

Ultimately I mostly prefer instrumental music such as songs from the big band era like "In the Mood" or "Sing, Sing, Sing".

Posted by char0018 at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies and Music
Movies
Rules of Attraction- It is a great movie that really just sticks with you. It is messed up and wonderful, and the scene between Richard and his mother was just amazing. Packed with great scenes!
Rocky Horror Picture Show- Such an original movie, with great acting and awesome music. Just a wild, out there movie that makes me want to sing and dance!
The Nightmare Before Christmas- Just a well made piece, with a dark and macabre sense of humor. The music was great and the characters were innocent and fun.
Evita- One of my all time favorite musicals with one of my favorite entertainers. The life story of Eva Peron is romantic and tragic and it brings me to tears every time I watch it.
Romey and Michele’s High School Reunion- A hilarious look back at high school life. Each character can be compared with someone you went to high school. It is just fun!
Music
Madonna-I love to dance and her songs are always great for that.
Mickey Avalon- I love his take on rap. He has great lyrics and phat beats.
Black Eyed Peas- Great lyrics and enjoyable songs. Their sound and style just blend well to make amazing songs.
Cher- She is classic! All of her songs are empowering and fantastic.
Wicked- I love musicals and this is one of my favorite. I can just sing a long and I am able to really feel the music and the story.

Posted by flat0101 at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is not the first time that I have seen Citizen Kane. I do not really care much for the movie. I would not put this movie in my top favorite movies; however I understand why so many people would. The story behind Citizen Kane is one that anyone can understand. Fifty years ago they got it and one-hundred years from now they will still get it. The story is timeless; it is something that we have all seen and heard of. We get it. He was a poor kid who was made into a wealthy and powerful man, which turned him into a heartless, empty and cold being. Along with such a classic story, this film had some groundbreaking cinematograph. Welles’s use of camera angles, lighting and shadowing techniques and camera positioning, really added to the overall strength of his movie. When watching the movie his camera positions and angles made you feel as though you were in the story watching it, and you were a player in what was happening. The symbolism behind the cinematography also made the movie a masterpiece. For instance looking at the breakfast scene with Kane’s first wife, when the scene starts they are sitting next each other and by the end they are sitting across from one another at a large table. It showed the distance that grew between them. It was an amazing scene. A second scene that I enjoyed was with his second wife in their large living room. She is sitting by the fire putting a puzzle together while he sits across this giant, lifeless room from her and they have to shout to one another. The room represents Kane, bitter and empty.
Regardless of these strengths, viewers today would not care about the movie. I think the reason behind this is that many viewers now go to the movies for just entertainment value. It is a way for them to escape the really world and not be forced to think or analyze their own lives. But it is not only the viewer to blame for not caring, the industry has also changed. It has gone from producing movies like Citizen Kane, those with meaning and thought, to movies like The Fast and The Furious, where it is pure crap. Today so many movies are made just to make money; we have lost the ability to really look at a movie.
The portrayal of Welles’s character, Charles Foster Kane was a fair one. The character was seen from many different vantage points. We saw what Kane was like from the point of view of 2 of his wives, his best friend, his business manager, his youth care taker and briefly his butler. From all these viewpoints, they helped show Kane’s true character. He was selfish and although he cared about those around him; that did not stop him from getting what he wanted in life. Although fair, his story was never understood from his point of view. Only very few glimpses into how Kane felt were shown. He never let anyone understand who he was.

Posted by flat0101 at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This was the first time watching Citizen Kane and I liked it. It was not my favorite movie but I think it was beautifully made and had a good message. The thing that struck me the most was how different the accounts of Charles Kane from each person were. I think that shows a truth that is still relevant today. Everyone has different sides to themselves that they reveal to different people and sometimes no one knows the real person. We could see who Charles Foster Kane was only through others' eyes. I do not believe we ever saw the real or whole Charles Kane because he never let anyone see.

The movie is still relevant today. No, most people would not care about the shadows or camera angles but the message is still true in our celebrity obsessed culture. People watch these celebrities and want to know everything about them and are glued to the tv when their idols fail. The truth is the public does not know these people at all and know nothing of their personal struggles. Charles Kane had personal demons and issues that he never conquered. I do not think anyone really knew his true dreams or pain. Orson Wells showed a man who, I believe, had good intentions and ideas but was blinded by wealth and power.

Posted by fran0723 at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane - A good movie but not one of the best. However, I can certainly relate to anyone who believes that this movie is atop an all time list. The main reason why is because this movie contains camera usage that is ahead of its time. It is not necessarily the difficulty in various "shots" that I immediately notice but it is the cleverness in the usage of the camera. The first that I saw was in the first scene of the movie when Kane drops the snow globe and the nurse/maid runs into the room. This view of her suddenly entering the room is shown by a floor level refelction off of the shattered glass. You must appreciate the talent one has in order to subtly incorporate this into a film. More examples of impressive film making are shown throughout the movie with the usage of unique vantage points for the viewer, such as the scene of Kane and his first wife at the breakfast table. Kane initially tells his wife how much he loves her and seems so enthralled with her presence but as time and scene moves on the two become bored and have only bickering comments for one another morning after morning. In the last morning or cut of that scene Kane is reading from his very own newspaper while his wife reads from the rival newspaper, The Chronicle, no comments are made to each other, only subtle glances and I thought this scene was entertaining and depicted a long time frame in only a few minutes. Another thing about this movie I was impressed with was the usage of the set to portray an underlying notion. One example of this is at Xanadu when Kane is sitting in a giant chair talking to his wife who is sitting at the fireplace with a giant jigsaw puzzle. The huge, dark room they are in portrays how lonely Kane has made both of their lives and even though everything around them is perfect, expensive and breath taking, together in this mansion they are miserable.

I would certainly watch this movie again and I enjoyed watching it the first time.

Posted by luli0004 at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies
1. Dirty Dancing: A good story with good music and serious undertones
2. ET: The first movie I remeber falling in love with and watching over and over.
3. Saved: A funny and poignant way to show how dangerous religion can be when taken too far.
4: Dogma: Very funny and I love Kevin Smith
5. Grease: Pretty much a feel good movie that always puts me in a good mood.

Top Music:
1. Bon Jovi - Slipper When Wet: Great classic hair band rock
2. Aerosmith: Amazing band that has stood the test of time and continues to put out great music.
3. John Mayer: Great artist who has something to say and isn't afraid to say it and doesn't take himself to seriously.
4. Jack Johnson: He writes amazing songs and has managed to stay out of all the drama and just make music in Hawaii
5. Green Day: They don't take anyones crap and they speak their minds.

Posted by fran0723 at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had never seen Citizen Kane before we watched it in class. I had heard some people talk about the movie but had never been able to see it. I have a couple different beliefs about the movie. I think that the reason why it is in many peoples top 5 movies list is because they can understand and appreciate the quality of the movie for its time period. The lighting and camera work was astonishing for its time period. I really believe that this was an amazing movie in its era and the characters did a good job playing their role. Kane was perceived as a man of great wealth and power, when really all he wanted was love. Kane never received this from his parents because of being taken away from them at such a young age. I feel sympathy for Kane because I know that deep down inside he really was a good man and just never knew what "love" or real love actually felt like because he didn't receive it from his parents. This story shows you a different side of a rich and wealthy American. Most people believe that they live these amazingly happy lives and have no problems, when in reality this was the exact opposite of how Kane felt. Kane was a very lonely and dark man. Kane's second wife did not know who Kane was and had no clue what he was worth. I think that Kane was intrigued by the fact that she did not know who he was and he felt like he could start from scratch with her. He ends up making her sing when he knows along with everyone else that she is not meant to do it. Kane was a man that was infatuated by his power and wanted to prove the news papers wrong for calling his wife a "singer" and not believing that she could actually sing. He knew that the opera was not right for her but wanted to be the one that was responsible for everything with her. He wanted all of the power because this is what made him happiest. I think that this was a sad story because it just shows that because of the lack of love in his childhood, Kane grew up to be a very lonely and unhappy man. At the end of the movie, Kane's last words were "Rosebud." I believe he said this to show that all he ever wanted was a good family and a normal child hood. Overall I actually kind of enjoyed this movie and thought it was very interesting to see the ups and down's that Kane went through throughout his life.

Posted by kapla137 at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is at the top of best movie lists in my opinion because of the attention to detail that is shown by the direction to show each character as vulnerable and real. The characters could easily be seen as over the top but each one seems believable. The story allows them the ability to be seen as reasonable in their extremes; the attachment to a childhood toy makes even Kane decadent lifestyle in Xanadu seem reasonable. The camera work of the piece uses the light given and the extreme and decadent settings to make the characters look small and identifiable. I have enjoyed this film for years and the would say that it is very well done, however the content of the film left me feeling a bit let down so I would say that this is not in my top best films ever.

Posted by swanx058 at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is frequently on “Top� movie lists. It was a revolutionary film when it came out with its open questioning of the American dream, advanced cinematography, and over the top scenery. There was intense dialogue and social criticism that was very relevant then and now. The controversy surrounding its potentially libelous portrayal of William Randolph Hearst further adds to its prestige.

That being said, it certainly would not even make my top one hundred list. I must admit a certain anti-black and white movie bias. The lack of color really detracts from my viewing experience. It makes it that much harder to tell the characters apart and fully absorb the scenery.

The acting was overdone. The only believable characters in the movie were his two wives, who had very few scenes when you consider the extent the termination of the relationships influenced Kane. All the main characters seemed like incomplete sketches, raising no emotional connection with their life struggles.

The messages in the film were not obvious like you see in movies today. I am not sure how I feel about that. When I first watched Citizen Kane it was for a film studies class and we were really only meant to pay attention to the filming techniques. Jotting down notes on camera angles and panning, I managed to miss the meaning of the movie. I barely even figured out the plot. I thought it was a horrible movie and was dreading watching it again for this course.

Actually watching it as a movie I found myself following the story and absorbing the messages against selfish pursuits and meaningless acquisitions. It still struck me as more criticism against individual motives than a round condemnation of materialism. Kane was not bad for wanting to be wealthy or politically influential. It was bad because he had no altruistic motives; he merely wanted the love that he never received from his parents. It begs the question of responsibility when using todays standards. He needed therapy, not scorn.

Posted by shaw0139 at 12:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top movies in no order
1. Hedwig and the Angry Inch- a gender bending rock and rollercoaster, beautiful ballads.
2. Breakfast at Tiffany's- The original story was in so much better, but Hepburn shines in it.
3. Drop Dead Gorgeous- A perfect chronicle of my hometown minus the murder.
4. Funny Girl- Barbra in her peak, don’t rain on my parade!
5. The Labyrinth- Bowie in tights and puppets galore, what else could I ask for.

Top Music in no order
1. Back to Black, Amy Winehouse, Addicted to crack but I still lover her.
2. Robyn, Robyn, Swedish pop is never wasted on me.
3. Pieces of You, Jewel, Sad 90’s chick music, I love it
4. Lovers Rock, Sade, I could listen to her voice for hours
5. Missundaztood, Pink, Angry but fun.

Posted by swanx058 at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Illustrated Oxford Dictionary defines a citizen as a civilian who is part of a city or a commonwealth. This description does no justice to a mister Kane in the 1944 Orson Welles movie Citizen Kane. Not only is mister Kane one of the wealthiest man in the world in this movie, the only city that he takes apart of is a city one to his own. Some go to say that this city and its mansion of great monstrosity was a waste; his late wife was to call them an empty space. She goes on to tell us the story of mister Kane as the man who could only love himself.
Citizen Kane ranks on many all time movie list throughout the world. Something considered great at its release it is still viewed today. It was only a few days ago it was placed on the television station Turner Classic Movies. It seems that it might rest as a great movie because it portrayed what many people desire. They desire to be rich, to have anything you want and to someone to share it with. What it does an even better job doing is show us how these things can prove to hurt us more than they can help us. So in a reverse psychology way this movie became popular.
Orson Welles as a filmmaker received a lot of criticism for some of his movies, including this one. Not only was he criticized he eventually was sued for this movie in its portrayal of a man of great distinction at the time. In the end, he grew to be one of the best filmmakers of all times. As far as his cinematic go, his use of the camera would not appeal too much to movie makers today. The use of shadows and lighting angels are not as popular as the extended use of special effects that goes to be told in today’s film industry.
All in all, this movie did dwell on the not so glamorous life of luxury. Even today that still is a desire for most people. Given money, it rests on an individual to choose what to do with it. In Mister Kane’s choose, of buying love, life would have been all the much better without money. He started his life of wealth as a child holding onto to a sled known as RoseBud and he ended his life with the words RoseBud. This goes to show the viewer that money cannot pay love; love is earned, just like the sled his poor parents gifted to him as a citizen of their love.

Posted by remy0004 at 11:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Five Favorite Movies

Beauty and the Beast – Watched this all day everyday the summer it came out. I could recite the whole movie, every line. It has been awhile since I last watched it, but I think it will stand the test of time.

Dazed and Confused – A movie that really captivated me sophomore year of high school. I love the characters and there are great one liners.

Disturbing Behavior – back when Katie Holmes was America’s girl next door. The soundtrack was great. The action scenes weren’t too disturbing, but still pumped you up.

Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle – not necessarily revolutionary or inspiring in any way, but I have seen it well over a hundred times and am happy to watch it again any time.

Practical Magic – My inspiration for romantic relationships. It was such a good story of sisterly love, avoiding dangerous men, finding Mr. Right, with witchcraft thrown in.

Five Favorite Artists

Afroman – Their music is just so much fun. It makes me feel like a kid again. They bring back memories of Junior year.

Alanis Morrisette – her first CD was so different from anything I had heard before. I played it all day for the whole summer.

Cledus T. Judd – The Al Yankovich of country. Hilarious lyrics that blend in so well, great brain candy.

Dixie Chicks – Outspoken and opinionated artists. They were a good counterpoint to the Spice Girls’ brand of “Girl Power.�

Toby Keith – Know the lyrics to every song on every CD. And got to hang out with him on his tour bus.

Posted by shaw0139 at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After watching "Citizen Kane" I come to realize why it was put to the top of movie lists. It was one of the first movies in the black-and-white era to present fame and wealth in a negative way. It protrayed Mr. Kane as a powerful man who had everything going for him such as wealth, fame and love. However, all of his fortune quickly faded when his second wife left him for making her do against her will. He always wanted her to be an Opera singer, though she was not very good. When she was up on stage it seemed as if Mr. Kane was extremeley happy while his wife was not happy at all. It also seemed as if the audience was not very fond of her singing. She put up with a lot from Mr. Kane which was extremely surprising to me. However at the very end of the movie she did finally leave him and after that Mr. Kane dies where he utters his last word, "rosebud."

I personally found this movie interesting, I had never heard of it before even though it is a very popular movie to date. I like movies that have a unique twist or irony to them and "Citizen Kane" did that at the end. I was unaware of what "rosebud" meant until they explained it at the end of the movie. It added a nice twist to the movie because I think they were protraying that Kane wished he had led a simple, quite life. I think, like most people, Kane thought if he had money and fame he would be happy, but that was not the truth in this case. However, as a viewer we did not know he secretly felt this way until the very end.

Mr. Kane was seemed as if he was always trying to take control of any situation possible. He really enjoyed power and it showed throughout the movie. One part of the movie that I found very interesting was when his bid for governor came to a burning crash because of his rival Jim Getty. Getty exposed his affair with Susan which led to Mr. Kane divorcing his first wife and marrying Susan.

After Kane's death a reporter from the Inquirer newspaper searches and digs into his past by interviewing five eyewitnesses. This was probably my most favorite part of the movie, because you got to see a lot more about Mr. Kane and some sides of him you did not get to see throughout the whole movie.

Posted by pelt0071 at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My top five movies are tough for me to choose, mostly because I don't see a lot of movies, and the ones I do see I usually find a reason to dislike (What a positive first post...). I typically like the 'bad' horror movies - the ones that have gore for gore's sake, predictable plots, and cliche characters. The Zombie movie genre is probably my favorite...They're so hellbent for brains that it's hilarious. Thusly, my current top five list (in no particular order) would be this...
1. The Simpsons Movie - I'm an avid fan of the show, and the movie didn't disappoint. It's impressive how the show can be going on for nearly 20 years and they still haven't run out ideas.
2. Dead Silence - BY FAR the worst movie on my list, but I like it nonetheless. The plot twist at the end was actually pretty clever, plus ventriloquist dummies creep the shit out of me.
3. Any one of the Saw movies - I enjoy seeing all the elaborately rigged ways that they come up with to kill people. Whoever gets to come up with those may have the best job in Hollywood.
4. Night of the Living Dead 3D - First off, I have no idea why they added 3D to the title, which may be why I like it so much. The acting is absolutely awful, the characters are complete idiots, and there's nothing remotely 'scary' about this movie. However, it does have a scene where a guy on a dirtbike holds out his fist and drives into a zombie, effectively punching his head off, so it gets some points for being bad-ass.
5. Shaun of the Dead - This combines both the zombie and comedy genres, and does it well. It incorporates all the important elements of a zombie movie and takes a very lighthearted approach to them.

Top 5 Artists
1. They Might Be Giants - They've been around for nearly 25 years, and have done it all - children's music, TV themes, Dunkin Donuts commercials, as well as releasing 13 albums. They've done electronic, rock, country, jazz, latin...You name a style of music and they've probably done it.
2. Muse - My favorite aspect of Muse is the falsetto voice that Tom Bellamy sings in sometimes - he's a crazy son of a bitch.
3. Great Big Sea - A folk-rock band from Canada, I enjoy their catchy melodies and upbeat style.
4. Oppenheimer - They're an obscure two-piece from Northern Ireland that opened at a They Might Be Giants concert. They layer their sounds very well, and their lead vocalist sings and plays drums at the same time...As a drummer, I find that to be totally bitchin'.
5. Kelly Clarkson - Okay, I'll admit it - she's my guilty pleasure. I like a lot of the 'chick rock' musicians, like Pink, Michelle Branch, Alanis Morissette...Don't judge me.

Jeff Batts

Posted by batts002 at 11:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I do not agree with the notion that Citizen Kane is the greatest movie of all time. I can understand why people and critics put this movie on such a high pedestal. The film tells a great story of Charles Foster Kane who is born extremely poor, strikes it rich through an old gold mine and ends up becoming one of the most powerful men in the country. However all of the money and fame never gave Kane the happiness we all assume you would have with that kind of wealth. The technical aspects of the film were also beautifully mastered by a very young Orson Welles. Orson Welles was only 24 when he made this film and I believe this is another reason for why Citizen Kane gets the praise that it does. I also feel that Citizen Kane receives the greatest movie of all time stigma is because this movie represents the old Hollywood. I have noticed that a lot of the movies on the greatest of all time lists are usually from around the era of Citizen Kane. I think that this nostalgia for classic cinema is another reason for why so many people love this movie. If you were to show Citizen Kane to people in my generation or any in the future would enjoy this movie. There is no way the majority would say that Citizen Kane is a good movie, let alone the greatest of all time.

Posted by hove0107 at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had seen Citizen Kane previously and thought it a very good film. Not one of my all time favorites, but I can see why it is considered that by critics. The cinematography was groundbreaking at the time. From the shadowing and lighting, to the camera angles and camera positioning. The cinematography definitely added to my enjoyment of the film. I enjoyed how he would use a set camera and let a scene play out. This was especially noticable when he would use a low camera angle that panned the whole room. In one scene of note, filmed at the newspaper offices, you could only see Kane's legs in the foreground and his best friend Leland in the background, while they went through the whole scene wothout the camera moving. The scene was given added depth by the camera angle. Another way he used a still camera and let the scene play out was when he shot a scene in a large room. An example was at Xanadu, in the scenes with the gigantic fireplace and his wife doing her puzzles. He shot the scene from a corner of the room and just kept it there. The sound echoing of the walls. This just helped show how grandiose Kane's life was.

The story shows the misery and loneliness of a rich american, which contradicts the beliefs of most. Money buys happiness, not loneliness, or so it is believed. I enjoyed how it started out as a biography of Kane's life and gave you a quick synopsis of his life before it delved into the main story. Kane appeared to be the life of the party, and a man everyone wanted to be, it was clear however, that he was unhappy. His best friend always resented him, and his homelife was secluded and lonely, his life ending with a flashback to his youth when he saw his wife's snow globe. The globe reminding him of his lost happiness and his favorite memory of riding his sled, Rosebud. Its a story of how even money doesn't buy happiness, that your youth is lost as grow older, and that its easy to lose track of the things that bring enjoyment to your life. I think the main story would interest todays film-goers (youth lost, money doesn't necesarily buy happiness, the greater-than-life main character), however I think the pacing of the film would be lost on today's film-goers. Today, people want action, action, action. I think critics would still love it, but the average film-goer would find it boring.

Overall I think the movie is very good. I didn't see that Kane's life was in anyway portrayed in an unfair way. It showed his youth, how he was taken from his parents at an early age, and how that loneliness transferred to his adult life. Kane always made a point of saying he was trying to make a difference for those less fortunate. He was trying to help those that he related to from his poor upbringing. The loneliness that must have ensued when he was taken from his family was bound to stay with him throughout his life. I think Wells did a good job of keeping the story on track and Kane's life seemed to be reasonably depicted.

Posted by bela0003 at 8:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My top 5 movies:

1. The Godfather I and II. I love mafia/gangster movies and these are the best of the bunch. They are well directed, well acted and the stories are great. I have them lumped together because to me they are 1 great extended movie. As far as I am concerned, Godfather III never happened.

2. Pulp Fiction. This movie was great. The dialogue in this movie was top notch, especially between Sam Jackson and John Travolta. I haven't seen a movie since this that was so mezmerizing to watch and the way Tarantino brought all the different stories together without losing the audience, its just a great movie.

3. Monty Python's Holy Grail. This movie just cracks me up. Its so stupid, and yet so funny. Nee.

4. The Usual Suspects. I was totally surprised at the ending the first time I saw this movie, and had to see it again right away just to try and connect all the dots. It has everything you want in a who-done-it, action, drama, violence, humor. Just a great movie.

5. Fight Club. The first rule of fight club is you don't talk about fight club.

My Top Five Bands:
1. U2. They are probably the first group I ever really got into. Their latest albums aren't great, but up through Achtung Baby they didn't put out a bad album.

2. Radiohead. I hate to admit it, but I first got into Radiohead when the video for Creep was played on Beavis and Butthead. That song got me started, but the albums The Bends and OK Computer got me hooked. Plus, how can you not like a band who put one of their albums for sale on their website and sold it to you for the amount you thought the record was worth.

3. Johnny Cash. I love his voice. I had never really thought Johnny Cash was anything more than an old time, boring, country singer, until he sang a song on U2's Zooropa album. I thought his voice was great, and I liked the fact that he teamed up with a rock band for a song. I started pulling up some of his songs and was hooked. Live at Folsom Prison is one of my all time favorite albums.

4. Pearl Jam. They rock. Eddie Vedders voice would sound good underwater. They are great in concert. I also like the fact that they took a stand against Ticketmaster over concert ticket prices. Black and Yellow Ledbetter are two of my all time favorite songs.

5. Cowboy Junkies. This is my wife's favorite band and they have grown on me over the years. They are pretty slow and mellow, but in a good way.

Posted by bela0003 at 7:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The movie Citizen Kane at first didn't seem any appealing to me at all through its poster. I thought this would be an old boring movie featuring some rich powerful man in it. But then throught out the movie, I was proved wrong. It was able to keep me interesting and curious to know more about this Mr. Kane. He was the man who had everything: money, power, fame, love; everything a man at that time could possibly wished for. As the film proceeded, I found myself hating the man. I thought he over used his power. I felt strongly upset when it came to the point where he got married with his second wife, whom the press called a "singer" on a newspaper. I did't get upset because he got divorced with his first wife, or because he didn't care about his son. I hated him for forcing his second wife go on stage and perform, when he obviously knew it wasn't the right thing for her. She was miserable from all of that. I asked myself why would a man do that to his wife? I saw the situation as the man was trying to prove how wrong the press was calling his wife a "singer". He wanted to prove he was the one with power; he can turn things as he wished. He totally ignored how exhauted his wife felt, and keep on forcing her. Then he told her how sorry he was when she was about to leave him. I don't think it was because he still loved her. He was just trying to keep his power. He would look like a powerless man losing his woman. Power can not control love. I believe the movie spoke out this statement in the scene when she was leaving and said something like " oh yes, i can do this to you..I am leaving you.." (i can't really remember what she actually said), and walked out throught the doors without looking back once. He had all the power and money, but he couldn't keep his wife with him. Then he went crazy and destructed the room right after she had left. I looked at him as a furious king going wild because he just lost his crown. Then he saw the snow globe with the little house in it. He said the mysterious word for the first time: "Rosebud". He was brought back to his memory from childhood, when he lived with his parents in a little house and playing with all the snow outside. "Rosebud" turned out to be a word on his sled back when he was a little boy. It symbolizes his childhood, before he had been taken away from his parents, when he was playful and happy. It was the last word he said before his death. That was what a man who had all the money, fame, power wanted before he died. He only wanted his "Rosebud". It is not something expensive or fancy as people were expecting. It was just a simple thing, which was happiness, his childhood, who he was. Always remember where you came from, your root, so you won't lose yourself and your way in life. I think this was a great message "Rosebud" gave out to wrap up the film.

Posted by truon052 at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane

Though I will readily admit that I am not a fan of black and white films whatsoever (excluding American History X), I was surely not looking forward to watching such an “old� film. Though just watching it for the first five minutes I knew this film was going to be special no doubt. In the beginning one sees the glass dome with snowflakes it’s was so clear! I know the audience was thinking what I was thinking how did they do it? In 1941 how were they able to produce such amazing special effects? Though I must say the acting was all right, it was indeed more of a film that is valued for its special affects and how the movie was shot. I love how Citizen Kane goes against the grain and tries to show the affects of materialism and how it rots even the strongest of individual. The story line is also quite rich. Charles Foster Kane as a character is also not a one-dimension character. He’s a man who at one point has morals (in the beginning) however the audience can see his slow demise into materialism. A decade earlier the Great Depression had occurred and I believe this film can be seen as a great reference point to the harder times in America’s history. Overall this film was absolutely BRILLIANT, a definite classic.

Posted by dhill004 at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After watching Citizen Kane, I can understand why it is so commonly placed in poll-takers' top movie lists. One of the first movies to present the pursuit of wealth and prosperity in a negative light, Citizen Kane was most likely a shocking and somewhat puzzling movie for the people of the 1940s when it was released. I enjoyed the message behind the film and I think that everyone can learn from the portrayal of Kane.

I prefer to watch films with a twist or irony, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way Welles chose to end the film, with a sense of dramatic irony by revealing the meaning behind Rosebud to the audience as the hope of discovering the truth for the other characters in the movie is destroyed.

Although I very much enjoyed the film, I can see how it wouldn't appeal to many of today's movie-goers. In an age where high ratings often correspond to gratuitous sex, violence, and language, and viewers' interest has to be kept by millions of dollars in special effects (or so producers seem to think), it is difficult to imagine that a black-and-white, dialog-dominated, message-oriented film would receive much appreciation. I think it's sad that movie producers are forced to cater to the shortened attention spans of the MTV generation, when a simple movie like Citizen Kane can be very enjoyable and thought-provoking if the viewer were to decide to put the effort into understanding it.

Posted by dunh0037 at 10:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I think that Citizen Kane is always on “the best of all time� film list because it was a movie that was shot a lot different than other films at that time. Also, unlike other films at that time, it presented an atypical character. The character Charles Foster Kane was a man who conquered the American Dream (became very rich), but unlike what most people would have thought Kane to be like, he was a very miserable man. Personally I wouldn’t put this movie on my “all time� list, because I thought that it was very hard to follow. I found myself lost throughout most of the movie, until probably the last half hour or so. Another reason why I didn’t like it is because it is a very old movie and it didn’t really grab my attention. The acting and story lines today are so much more exciting and action packed, which is what this film lacked.
I think that the idea of the American Dream being less than desirable would resonate with today’s film-goers more than it would have with the people that saw it when it first came out. Today the rich and the famous are publicized more than they use to be and a long with the good publicity comes the bad. Their unhappiness and problems are shown in magazines and on the television for everyone to see, so in general the only reason that we would resonate with this idea more is because of our exposure to it.

Posted by clay0115 at 9:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although this film is revered highly as one of the best ever, I did not necessarily agree. I hear many classmates mention the groundbreaking cinematography. However, personally, I have very limited knowledge of the technical aspects of filmmaking and thus cannot truly appreciate this aspect of film. When I go to the movie, I pay attention to the actors, characters, plot, scenery, etc not the angles and cuts.

Speaking of those things, I felt that the movie had a lot of good things going for it. For one, the actors portrayed the characters very well. The plot moved a little slower than I like, but it was still captivating and pulled me in. At the end of the movie when class was almost over and people were leaving, I could not make myself leave without finding out the significance of "Rosebud". I found the last scene in Xanadu when they were carrying the puzzle out and the reporter was speaking to be one of the best scenes in the movie. It kinda brought it all together for me. Essentially, he was saying that it didn't really matter if he found out or not, there were many pieces of the puzzle that were missing to Mr. Kane's life. Even with all his wealth, he was still not happy, as the huge, lonely rooms only emphasized. Another thing I found inrtiguing was the way that the story was told from different perspectives, unlike many films today, the storyline isn't just handed to you in a basket, you have to go through and think about the deeper themes and the viewer must piece the story together. As mentioned above, that is part of what drew me into the movie, throughout, I had to think about different scenes and their significance. That mental stimulation caused me to have a personal investment in the film, since the story started from the end and worked its way backwards, small revelations and "oh, i get it!" moments are part of what kept me glued to the screen at the end.

Overall, I believe the underlying theme is quite important however the presentation of this movie did not excatly do it for me. After being conditioned to color movies with all dorts of special effects and humorous lines, had I watched it outside of class and not been forced to analyze it any further, it really would not have resonated with me as it would have with the viewers of its day.

Posted by Jasmine Omorogbe at 8:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Although Orsen Welles’ film, “Citizen Kane,� overwhelmingly appears on the top of “the best of all time� film lists, it didn’t make it to mine. This is the second time in which I’ve watched this film for a class at the U, and although the film is an innovative piece of work, mainly through Orsen’s technical use of deep focus and low-angle shots, the piece seems to have lost its affect on present-day audiences. Perhaps this film was as popular as it was during the 1940’s for it may have been the first film to shed a negative light on the American dream and it seemed to have been a film way ahead of its time. However, with today’s generation constantly being bombarded with negative messages and images concerning people who are supposedly living the American dream, it tends to just become a broken record, repeating the same message over and over again that “money doesn’t buy happiness.� Just from reading a few of my fellow classmates’ posts on the blog, and from a past discussion in another class regarding this film, I don’t believe that this film would have much resonance with film-goers today. It seems as if this generation craves action and drama in movies, and although Citizen Kane does contain a good amount of drama, I don’t believe the pace of the movie is fast enough to keep people interested.

Posted by eisl0005 at 5:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane brings to light for the first time the fact that the “American Dream� is never as picture-perfect as it seems, and that material wealth and affluence actually made him less happy. He tried to gain love and power through his money, which only made him more hollow as the years went by. Today’s American dream does not stray far from that of Kane’s, emotions aside. The more money and material goods we have, the better and easier we think life will be. However, the film portrays just the opposite, and I think more people today feel this empty, dark connection with Kane. The fast-pace American lifestyle is a product of the need to materially improve our quality of life; which, in turn, leaves many people feeling neglected by themselves and others, trying to regain that empty love with money only perpetuating the problem.

Posted by riva0067 at 4:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From the perspective of a young adult in 2008, I did not see the big deal about this movie. I do not have an answer as to why it is included in so many top lists of movies. To me, it's nothing special. In fact, I did not like this movie. I thought it was boring. I didn't appeal to me and keep me interested. I had a hard time trying to stay focused to follow this movie. There was nothing in the movie that related to me to keep me interested.

I guess if I was living in the 1940's I might have liked the movie. Back then there was no special effects and everything else that Hollywood can produce in today's world. I might have been impressed with it if I was in the 1940's, but I'm not.

Posted by woehl007 at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I think the most interesting thing about Citizen Kane is the split personalities of the title character. First implied when Kane buys the Inquirer, he seems to take on completely separate public and private personalities. He says,
"As Charles Foster Kane who owns eighty-two thousand, six hundred and thirty-four shares of public transit - you see, I do have a general idea of my holdings - I sympathize with you. Charles Foster Kane is a scoundrel. His paper should be run out of town. A committee should be formed to boycott him. You may, if you can form such a committee, put me down for a contribution of one thousand dollars."
At that point in the film, he is just beginning his media empire. However, later in the film, especially concerning his reactions to Jim Gettys' blackmail, it appears as though these two personalities have merged. He cannot sacrifice either one or the other, he must risk both of them.
While Kane himself never narrates or gives too much about himself away, it is clear that he never allows anything to distract him from what is on his mind; he focuses like a lazer beam. When his friend Jed fails to finish the review of Kane's singer wife's performance, Kane himself works to finish it. This obsessive behavior leads him to care more about his business than his wife, more about his popularity than his family. This perspective of himself as a public figure detracts from his relationships to those closest to him.

Posted by aretz008 at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies:
1. The Godfather: no movie so perfectly creates a period drama with such excellent acting, directing, music, and dialogue. I feel like the Godfather is a very complete picture of what films are at their best. (Godfather pt. 2 also acceptable #1)
2. Saving Private Ryan: this movie realized WWII in a way I never could have imagined. Of course, seeing it when you are eleven adds to the shock value.
3. The Empire Strikes Back: the perfect sequel movie. It is bigger, has more original action sequences and is darker than the first movie.
4. King Kong (2005): a smart remake that glamorously caricatures the depression-era original.
5. Back to the Future: One of the funniest, cheekiest visits to the fifties on film.

Albums: (this list i've been thinking of for some time)
1. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles - The best album by the greatest band in the world. This particular album of theirs stands out for its spectacular songwriting, groundbreaking production and so many other things.
2. Blood on the Tracks - Bob Dylan - Not as shocking as, say, Highway 61 Revisited, but Blood on the Tracks is still one of Dylan's most heartfelt sounding albums.
3. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco - No other album of this decade feels as timeless as this one. And after the lighthearted (relatively) Summerteeth, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot sounds like a full synth orchestra and two other songwriters joined the band just to make this much great material.
4. Rubber Soul - The Beatles - This marks the point at which the Beatles first branched into different styles of music. The album almost seems like it is made entirely of singles, they're all so catchy.
5. Revolver - The Beatles - The sequel to Rubber Soul is much heavier on electric guitars-- just the way it should be.

Posted by aretz008 at 3:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane, though deservedly noted for its cinematography and symbolism, contains a relevant message to modern Americans but is presented in a difficult manner for them to understand the message. The criticism of overconsumption and consumerism is certainly applicable to a popular culture that defines itself by commodities. Ironically, however, the proliferation of cheap technological products has led to the stylistic disinterest of modern audiences about films like Citizen Kane has waned. Entertainment is literally available at the fingertips of modern americans who can watch films on their ipods or cell phones has led to a devaluation of the slow cut style that Citizen Kane employs. A culture which can now use DVR's to speed through commercials does not have the patience to sift through the phased narrative of Citizen Kane. The message is therefore relevant, but underappreciated and therefore appears to be less relevant than it should be.

Posted by vieir013 at 3:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I would like to comment on the statement, “Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message–all things that do not interest most film-goers today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care.�

Speaking as someone who doesn't like older movies and has never seen this movie before, at first I thought that the movie was very confusing and the purpose was very scattered. As the movie progresses, the point becomes more clear. I supposed this corolates to how the reporter trying to figure out his life story feels as well; at first everything is a jumbled mess, but things get a bit more clear as people add to the story. I didn’t really care for the movie. Everyone seemed to yell their lines and I wasn’t pulled into the life of Charles Kane. I actually felt more for the side characters, especially his second wife, than I did for him. I thought the ending message in the last ten minutes of the movie was the redeeming factor for the piece. It really brought everything together in symbolizing that the simple pleasures in life, such as riding a sled, are the ones that really matter.

It is this ending symbolism that i think modern audiences would care about and can be seen in today's movies and tv shows. I remember a specific episode of the Simpsons that shows the life of Mr. Burns, the richest man in springfield, and his quest for his long lost teddy bear, bobo. This was the same concept that money doesn't make you happy, the little things in life do. The message of Citizen Kane is what makes it a classic and not the way that is was filmed. Shows like the Simpsons take that message and make it more relatable to the modern audience.

This image is of young Mr. Burns with bobo the bear. Taken from www.tvacres.com

Posted by kenne404 at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My “Top Five� movies of all time would include; Men of Honor, because of how uplifting the movie is; Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, because of the really cool special effects; Da vinci code, because of the mystery that went along with it and how everything came together and made sense at the end of the movie; P.S. I Love You, because it was a very touching movie; and National Treasure, because I love movies with a mystery behind it.
My “Top Five� artists/bands of all time would include; Norah Jones, because her music is so relaxing; Rascal Flatts, because of the tone of their voices; Whitney Houston, because her voice is amazing; Justin Timberlake, because all of his songs have a good beat; and Tim McGraw, because of the stories that go along with his songs.

Posted by clay0115 at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Musical Acts

1.)The Beatles- The best selling musical act of all time in the United States, making over forty singles that reached number one, selling over 1 BILLION, yes 1 BILLION tapes, the Beatles have stood up against the greatest critic in the music industry; time.
2.)Red Hot Chili Peppers-From their older albums of (Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication) to their newer ones (By the Way, Stadium Arcadium), time and time again the Red Hot Chili Peppers have not just produced amazing hits but mind-blowing albums.
3.) Black Sabbath-Ozzy Osbourne’s chilling vocals, Tony Iommi’s crunchy riffs, Geezer Butlers booming bass, and the powerful drumming of Bill Ward, Black Sabbath became the godfathers of heavy metal rock and number three on my list.
4.) Jimi Hendrix-One of the most influential guitarists of all time, Jimi Hendrix had overnight changed the way the guitar was played. With his fingers dancing from chord to chord it was pure magic. His albums “Are you experienced� and “Axis: Bold as Love� make me wonder how much bigger Hendrix would have become if not for his untimely death.
5.) Wolfmother-An up and coming band out of Australia Wolfmother is the new face of Metal and Rock. Though they are relatively new they sound as if they are something you’d find in your attic with your parents dusty Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix records.

Top 5 Films

1.) Crash- One of the greatest underrated films of all time. Winner of three Oscars most notably best picture 2005, Crash brilliantly displays the racial tensions that unfortunately surround Americans’ everyday lives. An absolute masterpiece!
2.) Forrest Gump- Tom Hanks acting in Forrest Gump is one of the greatest performances I have ever seen. Tom Hanks plays the character to part plus, with the interesting bits of history makes it even slightly educational.
3.) Ocean’s Eleven-Danny Ocean enough said. Funny, witty, suave, and refreshing, must have at least seen this fifteen times…
4.) Goodwill Hunting- Amazing cast, Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver and Ben Affleck. Tell an amazing story of overcoming the fear of the future.
5.) Gangs of New York- Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York as Bill “the Butcher� Cutting is by far one of the greatest villains the movie screen has ever seen. With superb acting miraculously from Leonardo DiCaprio and a decent script it makes my number five barely edging Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Posted by dhill004 at 2:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“Citizen Kane is cited as a great film for its cinematography, symbolism, and message–all things that do not interest most film-goers today. If you were to show Citizen Kane to a random bunch of people today, nobody would care.�
I would agree that CK is a great film because it was so innovative with regards to its cinematography, cinematography that today would not be necessarily noteworthy, but I think today’s audience is still receptive to the symbolism and message of the film. That’s why the film continues to be on the “best of all time� lists; not only was it ground-breaking in the industry (for which it should be remember and acknowledged), but its message and symbolism are still aspects of a good movie. The antithesis to the American dream still resonates deeply, perhaps even more deeply, in this day and age when materialism is all around us. People long for an escape from it to remember the “important things in life.�
While people might not be as impressed as they once were with the cinematography, with the knowledge of the film’s history, I think “a random bunch of people� would care and would understand why it’s one of the greats.

Posted by mayxx145 at 2:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In no particular order…

Movies (fan of musicals)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – I’ve watched this on a snowy night with my family every year since I can remember – sentimental favorite, and the music and story is great
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – hilarious, and I love Burt Reynolds and Dolly Pardon.
Drop Dead Gorgeous – really funny MN satire
Moulin Rouge – hard to compare to other movies; it’s in a league of its own, artistically
It’s a Wonderful Life – another sentimental family favorite

Artists/Albums (don’t think I’m savvy enough to create a comprehensive list, but I’ve enjoyed…)
John Denver – thank god he’s a country boy
The Smiths/Morrissey – beautiful lyrics and voice; for lost souls with a sense of humor
George Strait – so handsome
Fergie Ferg – so hot
Rent Soundtrack – “Take Me or Leave Me� is one of my favorite songs

Posted by mayxx145 at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies-
1)Star Wars (all six episodes)- They never get old and have been my favorite movies ever since I was little. Also, it is interesting to see the change in special effects in episodes 4-6 which were filmed in the late 70’s early 80’s and episodes 1-3 which were filmed more recently (late 90’s and early-mid 2000).
2) The Breakfast Club- It is a classic movie from my favorite decade. I think anyone who has been in high school can relate to one of the characters.
3) The Pursuit of Happyness- This movie is one of my favorites because of its message and also the fact that it is based on a true story. I love the interaction between Will Smith’s character and his son (who is also his son in real life).
4) The Notebook- Being a sucker for love stories, I enjoy Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling’s chemistry in this film.
5) Seven- I am a Psychology major so almost any movie dealing with an individual who is suffering from some kind of psychopathology is definitely of interest to me. Of course, Brad Pitt is always a wonderful addition to any movie.

Top 5 Music Artists-
1) Metallica- They generate the kind of music you can just blare in your car and rock out to.
2) Tool- To start off Maynard James Keenan is phenomenal and his band produces amazing music that has definitely set them apart from other groups. They always keep their fans wanting more.
3) Nat King Cole- His voice is classic and gives me goose bumps. He also represented progress for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement when he was given his own variety show on TV.
4) Lifehouse- I like their sound and their lyrics are always relatable to something going on in my life.
5) Staind-. Their music has ups and downs so I can listen to them no matter what mood I am in.
Some days I just put them on repeat in my iTunes.

Posted by colb0086 at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have never been a big fan of movies or TV and rarely watch either. Though I had heard of Citizen Kane, I had never seen it. After watching the movie in class, I can see how it would have been called one of the greatest movies of all time. In my opinion, this claim would be hard to apply today. When Citizen Kane was first released the innovations in the filming were plentiful. From the many different camera angles and camera shots to the arrangement of the story. The movie started at the end and through flashbacks and voice overs we were able to understand Kane’s plight. I think the ambiguity of the whole movie added to its ‘greatness.’ I don’t think I ever understood what Kane actually stood for and if he only ever cared about money.

There are many disadvantages to Citizen Kane that make it not as popular today. I think the fact that the movie progresses very slowly would make it hard for audiences today. As a society, we are used to action, action, and more action. If something is not happening almost every second, movies are considered boring. Also, I think the ambiguity would not be interesting to the younger generation in society. The simple subtleties in the plot would go over many people’s heads. Citizen Kane was most definitely one of the greatest movies of its time, but I don’t think it would be given this title by most people in today’s society.

Posted by swens389 at 9:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Films:
1) Shampoo: Hal Ashby's film has it all; comedy, drama, sadness, happiness, laughter, tears. Warren Beatty stars as the womanizing beautician who just can't seem to kick his habbit of sleeping around, even when hes got someone great to go home to. Though considered a light comedy, there is a tragic sense of realism as the two main characters don't end up together even though they're in love. Julie Christie's character chooses money and security over her heart and with the political backdrop of Nixon's presidential campaign looming throughout the film, we the audience can't help but reflect on what it is that is really driving us. Heart or a sense of security?

2) One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest: Jack Nicholson in his prime and at his absolute best as Randal P. McMurphy in this tragicomedy set inside the walls of a mental institution in Oregon. The amount life and humanity that Nicholson brings to this film is what really lures me in every time I choose to watch it. I first saw it in the 7th grade and ever since it has been one of my favorites. His ability to create such vibrance yet not get in the way of the story and allow for everything to unfold is brilliant and completely unselfish as an actor.

3) The 400 Blows (les Quatre Cents Coups): Truffaut's autobiographical tale of young Antoine Dionel is the true mark of the French New Wave and it really gave me a better appreciation of the role of the director of a film. The new wave is my favorite film movement and it really gave me a new sense of what it means to apprecaite film as an art form. Young Antoine is simply a metaphor for the very movement the film belongs to. He is a lost, troubled, abused, and curious youth who ultimately accomplishes his dream of reaching the ocean. He gets there by himself, but the final shot is one that left me numb as it is so uplifting while at the same time so sad for this young soul.

4) The Royal Tenenbaums: J.D. Salinger is one of my favorite authors and he never gives up the rights of his books to allow them to be made into films. This is a wonderful thing, but at the same time I always think of how certain books of his would be as films. To me, Wes Anderson's Tenenbaums is as close as we'll ever see to this. While I watch this, I feel like I could be reading a Salinger book. Not to take away from Anderson's creativity, but it's something I love about it. The old Manhattan wealthy academics, stricken by sadness and oddball humor. The wit in his quirky films is wonderful and the drama is devistating. Not to mention, Gene Hackman as Royal gives one of the great comedic performances I've ever seen.

5) Atonement: A love poem to fiction and to the power that fiction holds. I first read Ian McEwan's novel last year and was in awe. After seeing the film adaptation I was speechless. Joe Wright uses such style and beauty and to me, creates the best romantic film I've ever seen in a theatre. The love story and the narrative is heartbreaking, but what's so powerful is the underlying theme that fiction has the ability to atone for the misfortunes that reality throws upon us. It is wonderful and everyone should see it.

Music:

1) Broken Social Scene: Canada's multi-member group who can simply rock it out when they choose and also play a soft ballad when needed. My favorite group.

2) Led Zeppelin: To me, this is Rock'N'Roll at its very best.

3) Coldplay: I don't care what people say about Chris Martin selling out, their music is still beautifiul. Parachutes is one of the best albums I own and I cannot wait to hear more of what they have.

4) Van Morrison: My mom always played it as I was growing up so I feel it's kind of the music that brings me back to my youngest days. Gotta love the classic stuff.

5) Oasis: Wonderwall. Enough said.

Posted by moros007 at 2:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Like many of the previous posters, I hadn't seen this movie until we viewed it in class. I was well aware that it is often considered to be one of the best films of all time, and for that reason I had always been curious to watch it and see what all the fuss was about. It really was a great movie that seems to be way ahead of its' time. The camera angles and shots in Citizen Kane are not seen in other movies of the time (at least in what I have seen). What's more is that the story of the movie shows the perils of money and fame.

The themes of celebrity and the "American Dream" resonate powerfully with today's audiences. One can't help but think of all the celebrities who have everything they could ever want materially, but still are lonely, addicted to drugs, etc. Just look at Brittney Spears. She was America's "pop princess" for many years, and earned a TON of money and fame. She still has the money, but is apparently going through some very difficult times. The cliche' "Money can't buy you happiness/love" is so true in her case.

Additionally, our society preys on negativity. Every time I am checking out at the grocery store, I am confronted by magazines that let me know: 1) who is getting fatter, 2) who is addicted to drugs, 3) who is pregnant (hopefully illegitimately!!!), and/or 4) who is in or going to jail. Just look at the recent and very sad death of Heath Ledger. It's all over the news, but instead of mourning his death and paying respect to him, all we see is what pills were found on his dresser, and how long it took for one of the Olson sisters and the masseuse to call 911. It is hardly anyone's business but Ledger's family and also to the authorities, but it all over the news for the public to see. This parallels Kane's death. The public didn't care about what good he had done in his life. All that was sought out was what he meant by his last word: "Rosebud". Rosebud was his sled as a child, and the scene of him holding it is the last we see of him as an innocent and uncorrupted human being, before being brought into the public eye. I felt sorry for Kane. He was dragged into the life he lived, and ended up dying alone and miserable, but with plenty of cash and treasures that gave him no comfort. It was a great movie and I can see why it is so highly regarded.

On a side note...did anyone who has seen "Superbad" think the scene when Michael Cera's character told Jonah Hill's character that he was like Orson Wells, because he peaked in his "ass-getting" career at an early age, was hilarious? Good stuff.

Posted by smit1989 at 9:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Top 5 Movies:

1. Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy - These movies are spectacular. All of the hard work that went into the creation of them is amazing. Every character was played out very well, especially by Johnny Depp. All the special effects are impeccable.

2. Saw movies - These movies are very interesting to watch. I like how they make you think and once you think you have it all figured out, bam, there's a new twist to it and you're completely wrong.

3. Crash - Generally, I don't like movies that make you really pay attention to the story or you will get lost in it, but this is one, of two, that is different. It really shows the meaning to, "It's a small world." Not only are there a few different stories within the entire movie, all mixed up, but they are all tied together and it all comes out in the end.

4. Memento - This is another one of those movies that make you pay attention or you'll get lost in it. Like I said, I don't normally like them, but this is the 2nd of the two that I do like. This movie starts at the end and works its way back to the beginning. You know how it ends, but you have no idea how it got there, until you watch the end of the movie to get the beginning. Confused yet?

5. Pearl Harbor - A good history movie, with a touch of Hollywood ,of course, and a love story. I think more people, generally younger generations, would be more interested in history if more movies were made this way. A real event portrayed as just another movie, throw in a love story and some kids can learn about an actual event in history.

Top 5 Artists:

1. Nickelback: I love the sound of the band. I know other people say they sound 'just like every other boy band.' But, to me, they don't. Also, the lyrics actually can relate to anyone's life, not just life of a rockstar.

2. Imogen Heap: The creativity of one woman is amazing. Not only does she write all of her music, she is pretty much a one woman band. I saw her in concert and at one point, she was the only one on stage making the music. Granted she had loads of technology backing her up, but she created it all and the technology was just basically running loops of it rather than making the sound.

3. Fergie: So she's not one of my all-time favorites, but she has a song that hit pretty close to home this past summer. "Big Girls Don't Cry" Yeah, I'm sure you're all saying, "Oh man, not that song!" But at that time, I did need to move on from a few things. It was time for me to start "growing up."

4. Chantal Kreviazuk: The songs "Time" and "Feels Like Home" are very heartfelt and touching. Besides the meaningful lyrics, the music itself is very emotional.

5. Tim McGraw: A little country never hurt anyone. Here's another artist that puts real emotion that anyone can relate to into his music. And again, the music is very powerful, without the lyrics. But the lyrics are also powerful.

Posted by woehl007 at 9:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I must say I really enjoyed watching the film Citizen Kane. I have never seen the film before so I was very glad to have gotten the opportunity to watch it. Watching the film I can see why this makes most people’s top five list. It has a lot of creativity, unique setups, angle shots, and lighting that intrigues people to the movie. Even though this film may not have been one of my top five choices, I still thought it was a good movie that portrayed a good example of how films have changed since the 1940s till now. One example of this is how Orson Welles portrayed Charles Kane as a famous moneymaker man who had everything, but truthfully was disliked and was not the people’s definition of living the American Dream.
Another thing I really liked about the film was how Orson Welles setup a creative, innovated and well scripted plot. Not only did it make watching the film that more entertaining but interesting to compare his film technique to present film makers. For example, the film didn’t start off like your typical movies. It first started off somewhat like a documentary, where the narrator briefly introduced Charles Kane’s life, to setup the story line. However, it eventually ended up being the reporters who were watching and analyzing Charles Kane life’s story to find out what his last dying word “Rosebud� meant. In my opinion I thought this was a creative way to setup the start of the film because you don’t know what to expect or how it will turn out, since it doesn’t really start off like your typical movies. Speaking of that same scene I also noticed how Orson Welles didn’t direct any light or much angle shots on the reporters. Rather it was more focused on the main characters and hints throughout the film. Like at the beginning of the film when the scene was first focused on Kane’s mansion. Immediately you saw the change in the lights, angles and music and how it prepared you for something sad or tragic that was soon to come. The originality and creativity of this film is what made Charles Kane a popular classic movie today and is why it is on most people’s top five list.

Posted by elras004 at 9:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

My top 5 favorite movies of all time...this is really hard because I love movies and this list changes all the time! So, at the moment...
1) Serpico: Al Pacino's performance as the real-life "rebel" NYC cop, Frank Serpico, is unbelievable. Definitely a must see for a great story and to see one of the best performances of all time!
2) Goodfellas: I love mob movies. To me, they are all good and I could have easily put down Godfather I or II, or Mean Streets. I am going to go with this one because of the great cast and great story, not to mention some great directing by Martin Scorsese.
3) Dazed & Confused: This movie is classic. I've probably seen this movie more than any other. I probably shouldn't have been watching it in 6th grade, but it was funny then, and became more relevant and hilarious as I got older. I'm sure you know someone personally who reminds you of a character in the movie.
4) No Country for Old Men: All I have to say about this movie is Javier Bardem. Without a doubt, he plays the creepiest, most bad-ass bad guy in movie history. A bold statement, but in my opinion, it is true. The Coen brothers made another great movie, which ties The Big Lebowski as my favorite movie of theirs'.
5) This Is Spinal Tap: Christopher Guest's movies are right up my alley. I love all of them, but this one is the best. A must see if you love smart and irreverent humor.

Music:
1) Bruce Springsteen: My favorite artist of all time, hands down. His lyrics tell a story like Dylan, and he can rock with the best of them My favorite albums are "Greetings...", "Born to Run", and "Nebraska". I can't get enough of the Boss.
2) Townes Van Zandt: Unbelievable songs. Most of them are downers, but you can't deny his ability to write down the way he is feeling. A poet.
3) Led Zeppelin: LedZep is the reason I play guitar and the reason I started listening to rock music from before my time. An unbelievably talented band that will never be equaled, in my opinion.
4) Elton John: I know...I was born in the wrong decade. I don't care, the music that moves me most is from a "long" time ago. Elton's (and Bernie's) songs each put me in a different place each time I hear them.
5) The Who: Quadrophenia is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Posted by smit1989 at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

These are not in any particular order.
Movies:
1/ Forrest Gump: I think this is a classic movie in the time of the Vietnam war. But the movie is more about lives of people in the the war than the war itself. I thought it was meaningful and I fell in love with the beautiful love story in the movie. The ending was quite sad for me, but I had to say the movie was unforgettable.
2/ Titanic: I loved the pictures and action and the story of this movie. It's cheesy to say, but I can't stop myself from crying when it comes to the scene at the end, where Jack and Rose are floating in the water, and he told her no matter what, she will be strong and will hold on.
3/ Rush Hour 1: Just because it makes me laugh so hard and Jackie Chan is in it.
4/ Big Fish: I thought it was a silly movie watching the first five minutes of it. But then as the movie proceeded, I was able to find the meaning in the movie, the meaing of life, of love, especially the love between a father and his son. I think the movie is very moving and well directed.
5/ Juno: This is a new movie just came out in theater. It's made me laugh the whole time. Ellen Page was very good in her role. It's not just another teen pregnancy movie. It's wonderful, go see it if you haven't.

Music:
1/ Celine Dion: Who can deny her beautiful voice and love songs.
2/ 3 Doors Down: great alternative rock band
3/ Il Divo: Love their vocals
4/ Ricky Martin: I think he brings life to the stage.
5/ Daniel Powter: an Canadian singer. Love him just because of his song Bad Day

Posted by truon052 at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Citizen Kane is a classic "rags to riches" story of the 1940's, a time in which our country was emerging as a powerhouse both in the military and economically. The powerful and rich Charles Foster Kane symbolizes the economic success of the United States at that time. Much like the United States Kane always wanted more, from his extravagant estates and Inquirer business to running for Governor.

Daniel P. Franklin, author of Politics and Film, also recognizes the movie Citizen Kane as a "metaphor for our country's history." He points out that Citizen Kane falls under the category of "American Tales" lying beside classic westerns and individual achievement stories. He goes on to say how these tales support our biases and beliefs in this country.

Citizen Kane is always on the "greatest ever" film lists because it not only epitomizes our country's history but also some of our current elected officials. For example, after Charles becomes board with his wife, his estate, and his business he decides to run for governor, despite his lack of experience. Many Americans can identify with celebrities going into politics (i.e. Jesse Ventura, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jerry Springer). In many cases, it seems as though pop culture is lowering the expectations of our elected officials when we put celebrities lacking experience in office.

Despite all of Kane's success, in the end of the film he dies unhappy and alone, thus reinforcing the belief that money cannot but happiness.

Posted by dollx040 at 7:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

top 5 movies – (in no particular order)

1. Harold & Maude – I made my friend 'Scooter' watch this movie once. He asked me, "Is that kid really gonna make it with that old lady?" Yes. Yes, he is. It is one of the most romantic movies ever made, though I tend to avoid the genre vehemently. My mother made me watch this with her when I was a kid. I was dead set against it, but changed my tune promptly. I've loved it ever since.

2. Say Anything - Two words. Lloyd Dobler. Do I really need to say more? One of the best post-modern characters created in film. Okay that might be a stretch, but nonetheless this movie defines my late teens. I know it by heart. And as the future Mrs. Cusack, I feel the need to be supportive.

3. Rushmore - I really enjoy Wes Anderson. I love his use of color in his films. This movie just makes me feel good. Plus... Bill Murray. Everything he does is genius. The man could make sock darning funny.

4. Children of Men - Okay, this movie is relatively new so it's still hard to tell if it will stand up to the test of time with me. However, this is one of the first movies in a very long time that completely knocked the wind out of me. It’s such a powerful film.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - I love that every time I watch this movie (and I watch it a lot) I catch something new that I haven't seen before. How many movies can you say that about?

My tastes in music are hard to articulate primarily due to the fact that my musical choices are not intellectual ones. They are physical, emotional and visceral. By that token, my tastes can change over a matter of hours. That said, here are a few musical artists to which my favor will always return. (again, in no particular order):

1. Leonard Cohen – I grew up listening to him. It was my parents' music and now it’s mine as well. Cohen is an Edgar Allen Poe for the modern world, a poet with a voice that is dark, beautiful and only just slightly sinister.

2. The Clash – seminal UK punk band in the late ‘70’s. They make me move. They make me yell. How can that be bad?

3. The Pixies – “Gigantic� was the first song I learned to play on the bass. I will never tire of them. Frank Black/Black Frances may have one of the best screams in modern music.

4. Radiohead – I’ve been a fan since the very beginning. They are fearless.

5. Spoon – When I was a kid I had a whole slew of stuffed animals and of course I had my favorites. In an effort to hide my preferences from them, I had a strict bedtime schedule, so that a different animal slept with me each night. Sometimes I have to force myself to stop listening to Spoon so that my musical library won’t feel neglected.

Posted by coats001 at 6:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After watching the movie "Citizen Kane" i could easily see why it can be on "the best of all time" film lists. This movie has a lot of important messages, symbolism, and lessons that could be learned directly through Kane's actions or mistakes, if you will. The lessons offered are for both the elderly and the young people and we can all learn from them. Even though the movie lacks explosive action, breath taking scenes, even color, and etc. the story line itself makes up for it. The movie keeps one in suspense as one searches for the meaning of Kane's last words "Rosebud." The beginning of the movie shows a lonely man dying in a castle in the middle of the night, paints a scary and a depressing image of the last moments of one's life and one thing no one looks forward too. Anyhow, this movie would make it on my "all time" list because of the important lessons it offers for living one's life including loving and the fact that love is a one way road and that in order for someone to love you you must love them back. Also having everything in the world does not guarantee one happiness. Kane had everything, but no one and at the end the everything did not matter. His sled "Rosebud" was his remembrance of his childhood and the moment that got him where he was now. As his sled and his belongings burned up in the furnace only black smoke could be seen escaping the chimney and his life with it, symbolically.

Posted by karp0040 at 6:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Before I saw this movie on Wednesday evening in class I had only hear one or two things about the movie from friends. So I honestly did not know what to think about. I was pleasantly surprised. I ended up really liking the film and for many different reasons. A couple of those reasons have to do with how the film was shot. And the other couple of reasons for my appreciation for the film are for the way that the story was told.
The first thing that I noticed in regards to how this film was shot was the use of reflections in either mirrors or windows. The two instances that I remember most was the scene when Kane just started out in the newspaper business and was having a party at the office. And the other scene was that of when his second wife had just left him and he was walking down a hall in his huge house and he walked in front of mirrors that reflected each other. I don't know if these shots were meant for a certain reason or hidden meaning