Rope was a great examples of how film techniques can be used to make a movie. This movie is one tracking shot. This means that there are no cuts in the entire shooting period. The director used techniques to fool the audience, like zooming into a characters back to give the illusion of a cut. I wasn't as concerned with the storyline as noticing tricks to make the tracking shot work. However, the movie was an example of a psychopath's sick humor. Even at the most crucial moment of his scheme Brandon still plays his game, which ultimately gives it away. This was another Hitchcock classic to say the least.

The Testament of Dr. Mabuse is more like an action movie to me. The movie is about an old man who controls criminal activity through his mind. He writes down his plans of action in an insane asylum. Meanwhile, one of his workers decides to bail on a job. I was quite surprised of how much action was involved in this movie. I was pleasantly surprised about the story line and plot of the movie. In the opening scene I thought the movie was silent, which was very interesting to me. This movie was also one of the first movies to use fire in an action sequence. I actually thought Kent was going to die in the room with the bomb, but that was just another twist in the movie. I liked this movie for its action and background. It's nice to see the start of a new film making genre.

Shadow of a Vampire is a movie within a movie. It shows the director's struggle in making the Nosferatu. The film is a great example of German Expressionism. The different camera angles and the low key lighting make this movie what it is. In the story the director makes it seem that that Max Shriek is an actual vampire. The film held my attention the whole time because of the sickness it possessed. Murnau wanted to make the greatest movie ever, even if it meant death. He filmed the climax of his movie when Shriek was killing his partners. This film was a nice change from the silent films. I was really interested in the movie because I had just seen Nosferatu. German Expressionism obviously had a strong influence in this movie. In my opinion what made the movie so good, was the low key lighting.

Nosferatu was my second silent film. I liked it more that Dr. Caligari because I thought it was a little easier to follow. I realized that silent films are made so you can focus on the film techniques and the setting. The low key lighting in some of the scenes fit perfect with the horror element of the film. The vampire fit the mold of what a vampire should look like in my mind. With no sound or dialogue it is hard to discuss things said or implied in this story. This was the better out of the two silent films I've watched in my life.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was my first silent film. Before I watched this movie I was not a fan of silent films. I have been brought up in a society that demands sound and dialogue in modern movies. What I got from this movie was unlike any other movie I have ever seen. The monster, known as Nosferatu, that Dr. Caligari created was not my idea of a vampire. I think that the picture of a vampire in my mind has been created by modern day society. Dr. Caligari had an evil mind, just like modern day serial killers. One of the most corrupt things a person can do is create something for the soul purpose of evil. I regret to inform you that after watching this movie I am still not very fond of silent films.

Don't Look Now made me think about how tough it must be to be a parent. Guilt of letting his daughter play around by the water, plays havoc with Donald Sutherland's mind. I also noticed the great film techniques that Nicolas Roeg used in this film. The match cuts he used during the death of the little girl, connected with the picture slides. Donald Sutherland used his instincts to realize that something wasn't right. Don't Look Now was a movie that had me talking to the television trying to tell the characters what to do. It was one of my favorite movies all semester, because I believe it was one of the best storylines. One of the coolest parts of the movie for me was the foreshadowing of John Baxter's funeral. He saw his funeral and did not process the warning that was given to him. Before I processed the technique used, that scene was ambiguous to me. Overall, the movie was a great teaching film and will defintely be viewed by me again.

Bubba Hotep in my mind was initially thought of as a pointless comedy movie. After I watched and thought about the movie I feel ashamed. I feel bad for the guy. Although it was never made clear if the main character was the real Elvis, it was that thought which made the movie great in my mind. The movie showed us that the old white man could have actually been Elvis, but that there was no way the old black man was JFK. Elvis learned a life lesson that he might as well agree with him rather than losing a friend. He felt as most washed out stars do. He wanted the feeling of fame he had before he lost it. To go out with a bang, he had to kill the ghost that haunted the home. Bubba Hotep was not the typical movie that we watch in Film Studies, but it was great none the less.

Night of the Living Dead is somewhat a classic horror film. However, most people don't look at it for it's horror elements, but rather the effect it had in society. It was one of the first films of that time to portray the African American hero. At the time of the movie's release segregation was at its peak. The director was very bold in venturing into these unchartered waters. Not only was this the first time an African American was the hero, but I also think it was one of the first times the black man was the boss over the white man. I also really liked the ending of this movie. He makes it through the night unlike any of the others, but gets shot because he is thought to be a zombie. This movie is a classic for many reasons, but mainly because of its boldness.

In Texas Chainsaw Massacre we feel as if we should sympathize with the cannibal family. You feel bad because of the fact that Leatherface is scared of all of the people. The family was put out of work because of the new, upcoming technology. We can see that Leatherface is very confused and scared after he kills the first three teenagers. In my eyes I can't sympathize with that family just because they are out of work. I can also see how you could make an argument, because that is all they have ever known. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is classic and one of the first horror movies not to talk about monsters, but to show you what could happen in real life.

Psycho

Psycho is a good example of how a person can be corrupted. Norman Bates is completely insane. Bates is living a psychotic, double life between him and his mother. I found it hard to believe that Bates was living alone and pretending to be his mother, at first. It was really strange because he was having conversations with himself, as if he were talking to his mother. Psycho shows the weird, but loving relationship Bates had for his mother. I think that the biggest factor in this movie is revenge. Norman Bates killed his mother and her lover because she was not giving him all of her attention. Nearly ten years later when Norman would look at young girls, his mother felt the same way. Norman’s mother half of his mind killed all of the young women that were a threat to their relationship. Psycho opened my eyes to the mind of a psychotic killer. A classic movie in the eyes of the film world, is also a classic in my mind.

Psycho

Psycho is a good example of how a person can be corrupted. Norman Bates is completely insane. Bates is living a psychotic, double life between him and his mother. I found it hard to believe that Bates was living alone and pretending to be his mother, at first. It was really strange because he was having conversations with himself, as if he were talking to his mother. Psycho shows the weird, but loving relationship Bates had for his mother. I think that the biggest factor in this movie is revenge. Norman Bates killed his mother and her lover because she was not giving him all of her attention. Nearly ten years later when Norman would look at young girls, his mother felt the same way. Norman’s mother half of his mind killed all of the young women that were a threat to their relationship. Psycho opened my eyes to the mind of a psychotic killer. A classic movie in the eyes of the film world, is also a classic in my mind.

Frenzy was a confusing movie to me. It wasn't your normal, everyday movie. At first, I thought that the ending wasn't very good. Then I remembered that every movie ends the same. There is always a chase or a fight scene, or something like that. Blainey was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.I really didn't know what to expect with this movie, but I was pleasently suprised. Hitchcock's work is very interesting to me now. I can't wait to see the other movies we are going to watch in class.

Hollywoodland was a great movie that showed the struggle for fame. George Reeves, who was played by Ben Affleck, was an actor who never could seem to get the big roles. He meets Toni Mannix who is his love interest in the movie. I found it kind of strange that throughout the story Toni Mannix's husband has a mistress and Toni has George Reeves. The strange thing is that both of them know about the affair the other is having. The struggling actor picks up a role for a series where he would play Superman. Though George doesn't like the role, he accepts for the money. I think at this point in the movie it shows the actor's want for fame instead of taking the safe path. When the Superman series is over Reeves really struggles to find roles to fit his big ego. Toward the end of the story Reeves is found dead in his bedroom. Louis Simo is a private investigator who is only trying to make a quick buck. After the FBI rules the death a suicide, Simo is hired to investigate further. He tells the papers he thinks it is was a murder, to get good press. As the movie goes along, Simo himself starts to believe what was once his attempt at fame. He goes through senarios in his head of what could have happended to Reeves. His final vision is a suicide. Although the case was never fully put to rest it can be seen by the last scene that it probably was a suicide. I liked this movie for the twists and turns in it. Just when you think it is a homicide, the director has to show the scenario of a suicide. This movie really shows the life of a struggling actor and how desperate he becomes. I will see this movie again in the near future.