Metropolis

This is a movie that needs to be watched many time in order to appreciate its story, art direction and acting. There is so much about this movie that un nerves me, from the exaggerated acting to the beautiful composition. The entire movie is one dark art deco design. This movie had many of the parallels of hunger games, where society is separated between the high class and the working industry. It would be of no surprise if Metropolis was part of the inspiration for Hunger Games (seeing how many dystopian fictions use Metropolis as a blueprint). The most significant thing for me was the design of the actors. You knew right away who was fair, who was corrupted, who was a worker and a high class member. Much of the story is told in the silhouettes and action of each figure. The setting too told a story about the conditions of the world they lived in. There are two societies, the high class that lives in the upper parts of the city, and the industry that serves as the spine and heart of the city. The Hunger games is also like this, where its split between the haves and have nots. Metropolis has a much more twisted plot incorporated into its story, making it much more than a plot for rebellion and instigation. It also focuses much on the character interaction, we feel and suffer when the character feels and suffer. In Hunger Games, we suffer through the same pains and burns that Katniss goes through. So we can relate to their point of view. I still feel that Metropolis needs to be watched again and again, because I am still trying to understand it.

Hunger Games

Hunger games has the same idea of survival and character building that lord of the flies and the most dangerous game has. In the case of Hunger Games, the author managed to create a whole world, history and lore to compliment the story at hand. The history of the characters and the history of the world they live in gives more significance to their situation and survival. Katniss not only fights for survival, but draws on prior history, or flashbacks to help her get to her goals and return to those who she loves. This also helps us understand her relation to the other characters, and her justifications. This story also promotes a lot about rebellion, standing against authority and many Marxists concepts. Which is interesting to see in a book for younger audiences. Personally I did not enjoy the hunger games. It didn’t appeal too much to me.

Ponyo

Ponyo simply is a story of a girl from another setting running away to find comfort and love In another existence that seems new and exciting. Its got references about the little mermaid, global warming, current state of our eco system all packed into this family friendly movie. Ponyo seems much simpler than many of Miyaazaki’s other works, both in terms of style and story. I see it as appealing to both adults and kids, but the story is simple enough for a child to take in without any problems. There are no overt metaphorical ideas or deep character interactivity, but its got a simple charm to it. Scott Mcloud talks about how simplicity let people relate more to a subject than something far more specific. Here I get the idea of a girl running away from her living situation to another setting that is magical to her but normal to the immediate population around her. I also get the idea of how fishing, and human intervention is hurting the ocean and ecosystem. On occasion they talk about, or show humans fishing, and its effects on the ocean. The film emphasizes more on the little things, like family, friends, interactions between people, than on an overall concept.

OZ

I have watched the movie, and now finally read the book. The idea I got from the film version was an optimistic tone juxtaposed with the grim reality that the farm girl from Kansas has to live with (something that worked with the era they lived in). The movie was a colorful vomit of emotion, its presents happy times, sad times, grim time and etc. A very bipolar tone. When reading the book, I got an almost opposite feeling. The characters were darker, much less “silly” than their film counterparts. The overall tone was depressing, and as realistic/ grim as Kansas. The girl from Kansas is much more colder, and seems to focus on one objective, to get back home. In order to do that, she is willing to do anything including killing the wicked witch. In the film she had justification to get back home. She had a caring family, and a whole neighborhood to look forward to. In the book they barely make a point to give any justification for her to go back. This story is a good example of how it could be interpreted in different ways. The book took the girl through a dangerous journey that made her miss her dull but comfortable existence at home. While the movie took the girl through a wonderful adventure, filled with good and bad times and dancing/song times. In the end she had to get back to the real world to make sure that her family and friends didn’t worry about her.