Film blog: November 2008

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Annotated Catalogue

Item 1
Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989 dir Steven Spielberg)
My central focus film, it centres on the father son relationship between Indiana and his father. This film not only questions the role of fathers and how the chioces they make effect their sons, it also portrays the significance of a father figure in a young boy/man's life. This film documents the way in which long suffering relationships can heal. It is considered the most successful Indiana Jones film because of the chemistry between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.
Item 2
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back(1980 dir George Lucas)
This film looks at the relationship between father and son in the opposite way to the last crusade. It is the most famous and celebrated Star Wars film because of that infamous line. Rather than have the tension between a father and son close this film establishes it.
Item 3
Indiana Jones and The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull(2008 dir Steven Spielberg)
This is the fourth installment of the action packed Indiana series. This film foolows the conflict between old vs youth with Indiana's own son mutt introduced. What is interesting about this concept is that Indy didn't know he had a son therefore Mutt grew up with only a mother to look up to. As the link between them develops it is interesting to see how Indy acts towards Mutt like his own father did towards him.

Web based research
Item 4: http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-05-20-lucas-father-issues_n.htm
A blog entry exploring the link between George Lucas's own upbringing to the lastest Indiana Jones film. Exploring how the director uses his own experience to influence the characters in his films.
Item 5: http://stlouisfanforce.net/?tag=george-lucas
An interesting article showing evidence that Darth Vader's name provides a clue as to who he really is through the resmeblance Vader has to Vater (German for Father). Also comments on how their relationship links to a German poet Albrecht and his relationship with his father.
Item6:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097576/board/thread/115569746?d=115673326&p=1#115673326
A IMDB forum entry in which I thought showed a very interesting concept in which throughout most of The Last Crusade Indy is wearing a tie, representing his longing to impress his Dad.
Item 7:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097576/board/thread/115734588?d=115755607&p=1#115755607
Another IMDB forum entry which I felt raised a valid point as to who is Indiana's inspiration as a young boy. I find it interesting that if Indy had never met this man would he be doing what he does? Would he have gone on to become a librarian like his father in order to impress him? It's a question i'll never know the answer still makes a very interesting point.
Item 8:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080684/board/thread/117434130?d=117452244&p=1#117452244
Vaild points and opinions made about the closely linked Vader and Vater.

Thursday 20 November 2008

Grrr IMDB >.<

Well IMDB is determined not to let me become a member so I've posted a thread on the rotten tomato forum.

http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?p=14516430#post14516430

I'd love some feedback pleeeease =]

Wednesday 19 November 2008

Indy vs Luke

The Last crusade is arguably about the coming together of the all American Hero who's action packed lifestyle entertains with the boring old librarian. Indy continuously shocks his father by his actions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQCCQEeZJ7M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSGnXwh6W1A&feature=related
Indy is a representation of who everyman wants to become. The ultimate American hero, a ladies man, good fighter, interlectual etc What makes comparing these two heroes together is how differently the films represent them. The last crusade is a celebration. The tension between a father and son is destroyed along with the grail and this creates a new beginning in Indy and Henry's relationship.
The empire Strikes Back on the otherhand is about a hero finding himself, throughout the film Luke fails a lot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCSVfTL784Q Infact this film seems to centre on the downfall of our hero.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frX00n3gngU&feature=related
The infamous line "Luke, I am your father." one of the most famous line in history proves these. Greatly contrasting the theme in the last crusade The Empire Strikes Back documents the beginning of the tension between a father and son. A new bond is formed and barriers put up. Luke is shown as a hero in progress he is vulnerable and prone to mistakes which adds to his innocent look. Luke as a character is so much younger and inncoent than Indy although both share the same determination. In Indiana Jones's case he will never be destroyed or seen as weak (although Indiana is at his weakest when his father is dying but that is not physical weakness it's emotional) however Luke Skywalker is prone to weakness just as his father was. In the battle he is badly hurt (one hand cut off) and the fact that Vader is his father again adds to his vulnerablitlity as there is a great increase in expecting Luke to become evil as Vader did.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8B6OBLcs7U
Luke hanging from the bottom of the city just shows that he is a beaten hero..I don't think I have ever seen a hero look so weak within a scene. He is badly hurt after the fight with vader in which 1. he was defeated. 2. he found out that the most evil being in space is his father. He is dangling on some thin pipes, if they break or he slips he will fall to his death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmW1Hnh-xdo Now compare this to the ending of the last crusade. Indy and his father's relatioship reaches a new height when his father addresses him as Indiana and not Juniour showing that he finally sees him as a man and not a young boy. It also shows Henry throw away his whole lifes research in order to keep his son showing that his priorities are where they should be. Although the grail is destroyed, it allows their relationship to recover and creates a closure for the both of them. Here Indy looks strong, he is amongst friends and family who he can trust. On horseback his strengthg is emphasised as he is controlling an animal but also the horse acts as a kind of plimph making the audience literally look up to him. The conventional riding into the sunset scene creates a feeling of endless possibilities and creates a feeling that what Indiana and Henry have got ahead of them (relationship wise) is going to be far greater. It's a very posisitve ending to a film which is full of conflict. Unlike the star wars film it gives the audience and characters closure making it a far more comfortable ending.