Sound and Music in Tsotsi (2005)

         Within movies sound and music are very influential elements. Each of these are elements that help provide the  engagement of the viewer. The use of music and sound can be used as a non verbal medium.  This is because each of these elements lets the viewers  build their connections and can help them to bridge their insights about the movie's various concepts. Then they can apply them towards other elements within the same movie. In addition these two elements can set the emotional tone, create an atmosphere, or even convey a non verbal dialogue of a movie's main plot.
  
       While watching the South African film Tsotsi (2005) there are several scenes where the use of sound and music are present. However,  two scenes stood out to me the most while watching this movie. One of these scenes has music that is connected to the action which is taking place, while the other scene has music that seemed to be an inappropriate choice for the action.
  

https://youtu.be/SmXW4fkMTXY?t=8m32s

       The scene I chose to analyze first was the scene that  had music which connected and supported the action. This was the scene where the main character Tsotsi leaves the club after beating up Boston due to Boston making demeaning comments about Tsotsi's family. Tsotsi leaves the club running and the music starts to be up beat with a base as if it is mirroring the action of Tsotsi's heart beating faster from running. However, as Tsotsi slows down and hides while hes planning to steal the car the music becomes softer. This can connect to how Tsotsi is being sneaky as he is about to steal the car.

 https://youtu.be/zZB1N4IMjlA?t=50s 

        The scene I chose to analyze second was the scene that  has music that seemed to be an inappropriate choice for the action. This was the scene where the main character Tsotsi is at the club with his friends and he is listening to Boston talk about the man he just killed at the train station .  The music that is playing in the background  is upbeat and has a happy tempo. This type of music contradicts the conversation topic of Boston. This is because unlike the happy sounding music with people dancing; the killing of the man which took place at the train station is a depressing situation.

       Overall, sound and music are very influential elements which are used within Tsotsi (2005). Each of these  elements were used as a non verbal medium within the movie. By analyzing the music and sound within two scenes of this movie I was able to build my own connections towards the movie's various concepts  In addition I could see how these two elements did or did not coincide with the setting of the emotional tone, the creation of the atmosphere, or even the conveying of  a non verbal dialogue of Tsotsi's main plot.

Interesting Special Effect from Avatar (2009)

    Special effects are used within several movies to enhance the movie viewer's experience and to add credibility to the movie's story line. Within the movie Avatar (2009), several effects are used to create a realistic view of the characters and the environment they live in.  To create the special effects, the scenes of the film required computer generated imagery (CGI) behind a green screen. Actors were then dressed up in body suits which synced the actor's body movements to make those of the film's characters. Actors also wore microphones to change their voices to those of the film's characters.  Overall, Avatar (2009) was a movie loaded with special effects and without the creation of CGI many of the movie's scenes would not have been possible. This is especially true for several of the scenes depicted in the film's trailer above which utilized many of these special effect tools to create the film.

Historical Framework Response to Whale Rider (2002)

Within The Whale Rider (2002) there are several historical frameworks present. However, the historical framework that stuck out to me the most was the historical framework dichotomy of Youth versus Old Age. This is because throughout the movie old age is valued over youth. The youth in the movie were expected to respect their elders and the elders in return are supposed to teach them the ways of the past. Although the youth viewed the old as stuck in the traditional past ways. This is because the youth favored the modern progressive ways of life. The elders felt the youth are ignorant and disrespectful of the old ways and traditions. An example from the movie which states this view is when Pai uses the war stick. The war stick is reserved for the men of the tribe and the grandpa makes this clear by reprimanding Pai. However, her uncle who is young shows her the tradition. Thus it shows how the sacred traditions of the elders are seen as less sacred by the youth and are tended to be modernized to fit an individual's agenda.

Interesting Use of Transtition: Disney's Tarzan (1999)

        The movie I felt had an interesting use of transition is from Disney's Tarzan (1999). In this three minute clip of the movie, Tarzan is transitioning from a boy into a man. Within this clip the transition of Tarzan from being a boy to man is shown by a dissolve transition. This dissolve transition is also known as an overlapping transition. This is because the previous shot is gradually being replaced by the next shot. The previous shot of Tarzan as a boy disappears as the following shot of Tarzan as a man appears. For a few seconds each of the shots overlap each other and both can be seen. Overall, this shot within the movie clip was used to show the passage of time where Tarzan transitions from being a boy into a man.

Whale Rider (2002) Featured Blogger Class Question

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/8408404

(open up internet explorer to view clip)

The Road Home (1999): Symbolism

While watching the Chinese movie called The Road Home (1999) I saw several objects that focused on symbolism. However, two objects stood out to me the most while watching this movie.