directed by: winsor mckay
lists: total film most influential
genres: animation
traces to: snow white and the seven dwarves, who framed roger rabbit
these first real animated shorts are surprisingly adept - the body forms are consistent, and there's a general freedom of movement and use of perspective that is nicely executed. It even becomes 'roger rabbit' at the end when gertie 'picks up' winsor. cute, experimental fun.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Cabiria (1914)
directed by: giovanni pastrone
genres: silent, epic, adventure
lists: ebert's great movies, total film most influential
traces to: intolerance, indiana jones and the temple of doom
recommended for: die hard silent film buffs only.
the days of the 15 minute film are over - at more than three hours, 'cabiria' is a tough one to get through, but contains some really great stuff. this film is credited with inventing the dolly shot in 1914. it's surprising that dolly shots are not more prominent in subsequent silent films, though the apparatus required to achieve the movement must have been massive. the story is tedious and difficult to follow, beginning with the burning of carthage, and following the lead character through a series of episodes that parade her through lavish set pieces and place her in harm's way. the dolly shots are used almost exactly as they are today: pushing in at the start of the scene, and pulling out at the end. a couple dollys also follow the action across the space as the characters move through it. ebert says that griffith's camera is more fluid in 'birth of a nation,' but i disagree. 'nation' has some high speed camera movement, but none of the smooth, slow grace displayed here. 'cabiria' inspired griffith to expand 'intolerance' and add multiple storylines and epic sets, but i'm fairly certain that this film is also the inspiration for the heart-ripping scene in 'indiana jones and the temple of doom.' the sacrifical chambers and ceremonies in each film are almost exact duplicates. check it out:
genres: silent, epic, adventure
lists: ebert's great movies, total film most influential
traces to: intolerance, indiana jones and the temple of doom
recommended for: die hard silent film buffs only.
the days of the 15 minute film are over - at more than three hours, 'cabiria' is a tough one to get through, but contains some really great stuff. this film is credited with inventing the dolly shot in 1914. it's surprising that dolly shots are not more prominent in subsequent silent films, though the apparatus required to achieve the movement must have been massive. the story is tedious and difficult to follow, beginning with the burning of carthage, and following the lead character through a series of episodes that parade her through lavish set pieces and place her in harm's way. the dolly shots are used almost exactly as they are today: pushing in at the start of the scene, and pulling out at the end. a couple dollys also follow the action across the space as the characters move through it. ebert says that griffith's camera is more fluid in 'birth of a nation,' but i disagree. 'nation' has some high speed camera movement, but none of the smooth, slow grace displayed here. 'cabiria' inspired griffith to expand 'intolerance' and add multiple storylines and epic sets, but i'm fairly certain that this film is also the inspiration for the heart-ripping scene in 'indiana jones and the temple of doom.' the sacrifical chambers and ceremonies in each film are almost exact duplicates. check it out:
The Great Train Robbery (1903)
directed by: edwin s. porter
genre: western, action, heist, silent
lists: most influential
traces to: greed, the general, stagecoach, butch cassidy and the sundance kid
bandits hijack a train, have a dance party, and then are disposed of by the cops in a forest shootout. as an epilogue, a bandit shoots directly at the camera.
the first action/suspense/heist film! noteworthy for crosscutting between simultaneous action in two different scenes, location photography, train-mounted camera, and even has an optical effect in the station window that shows the train pulling in.
genre: western, action, heist, silent
lists: most influential
traces to: greed, the general, stagecoach, butch cassidy and the sundance kid
bandits hijack a train, have a dance party, and then are disposed of by the cops in a forest shootout. as an epilogue, a bandit shoots directly at the camera.
the first action/suspense/heist film! noteworthy for crosscutting between simultaneous action in two different scenes, location photography, train-mounted camera, and even has an optical effect in the station window that shows the train pulling in.
Le Voyage Dans La Lune (1902)
directed by: georges méliès
traces to: metropolis, king kong, robinson crusoe on mars, 2001: a space odyssey, star wars, jurassic park, avatar
the original special effects fantasy extravaganza. scientists visit new world, meet natives, kill some of them, and then are driven back home. it's the original 'avatar.'
amazingly, a restored, hand colored version of the film was just screened at cannes this past week with a new score by the band 'air.' i can't wait to see it.
the film primarily uses extensive two dimensional set pieces, matte paintings, painted backdrops, black art compositing, and rudimentary stop motion effects. 'a trip to the moon' is really an elaborate stage play assisted with a few optical effects, and benefitting from the use of editing to allow massive scene changes in the blink of an eye. the film is almost exclusively shot in a master wide shot - filling the screen with images of the players in the same proportions as they would be if a play version was physically staged in the playing space.
in the color version of the film, we see that when the ship lands on the moon's face (the only close-up shot in the film) there is actually blood dripping from his face, which better explains the hostile reception to the scientists' arrival.
traces to: metropolis, king kong, robinson crusoe on mars, 2001: a space odyssey, star wars, jurassic park, avatar
the original special effects fantasy extravaganza. scientists visit new world, meet natives, kill some of them, and then are driven back home. it's the original 'avatar.'
amazingly, a restored, hand colored version of the film was just screened at cannes this past week with a new score by the band 'air.' i can't wait to see it.
the film primarily uses extensive two dimensional set pieces, matte paintings, painted backdrops, black art compositing, and rudimentary stop motion effects. 'a trip to the moon' is really an elaborate stage play assisted with a few optical effects, and benefitting from the use of editing to allow massive scene changes in the blink of an eye. the film is almost exclusively shot in a master wide shot - filling the screen with images of the players in the same proportions as they would be if a play version was physically staged in the playing space.
in the color version of the film, we see that when the ship lands on the moon's face (the only close-up shot in the film) there is actually blood dripping from his face, which better explains the hostile reception to the scientists' arrival.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Exiting the Factory (1895)
directed by: louis lumiere
'exiting the factory' is the first film on my list. it consists of 45 seconds of people doing just that. it is the original documentary.
turns out this is not actually the earliest film - 'roundhay garden scene' predates it by 7 years. at 12 frames per second, it has a running time of approximately 2 seconds.
recommended for: fans of walking.
'exiting the factory' is the first film on my list. it consists of 45 seconds of people doing just that. it is the original documentary.
turns out this is not actually the earliest film - 'roundhay garden scene' predates it by 7 years. at 12 frames per second, it has a running time of approximately 2 seconds.
recommended for: fans of walking.
lists: total film most influential
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