Movies, Movies, Movies

I don't consider myself a movie buff by any means. Okay, so maybe I can rattle off a few lines from a sparingly few faves such as Say Anything, or Caddyshack, or The Breakfast Club, but I chalk that up to my brains ability to absorb absolutely useless information that is only required in social games of trivia or "what movie's this line from?" with my brother (he always wins).

Since returning to college I find that I don't have the time for movies and when I do it's usually something picked by my mother or a friend and requires limited analyzing, vague focus, and popcorn.

So why did I choose Graduate Studies in Film as my final class to take my final semester? I have no idea. Possibly the idea of watching 16 movies instead of reading 16 books sounded more appealing while I finish my thesis and study for comps. Maybe I was half-asleep or distracted, possibly hung over the day I registered. Either way, this class will either be very interesting and informative or I will never want to see another movie as long as I live.

Movies we will be viewing: Goodfellas, The Lord of the Rings, Fight Club, Boys Don't Cry, Blow-Up, The Lion King, The Usual Suspects, Song of the South (possibly, it is still banned), Gran Torino, Dark City, V for Vendetta, Moulin Rouge, and Plan 9 from Outer Space (or some other equally bad movie).

Not a bad list and actually, I've seen 6 of them. What we'll be looking for in each movie: director intent, "why" does a movie mean as well as "how," omniscient camera, gender criticism (neo-masculinity, post-modern female. the relaxing of roles), mimicry, inter-textual criticism and pop culture, post-structuralism and the language of deceit, cultural criticism and what to make of racism...

No best acting, best screen kiss, best partners, best cinematography here.

Like I said, this class will either make or break my future film viewing. I'm leaning toward "make" at this point. I'll let you know after the sixth or seventh movie.