Even without reading the subtitles, it would be quite easy for those who know the story of Macbeth to piece together the imagery of the ‘Scottish play.’  Many scenes in the play are very similar to their English equivalents. Such scenes include the bloody soldiers’ reports to the Duncan character, Asaji, unable to cleanse her hands of blood, and Spider Web Forest approaching Washizu’s castle in substitution for Dunsinane.

How has the film been marketed, relative to Shakespeare’s cultural iconicity?

This film adheres strongly to the story of Macbeth.  It seems as though the film sells itself as Shakespeare’s play relocated to a different time and place; in this case, ancient Japan.  The decision to include such iconic scenes as the ones aforementioned indicates that the director was appealing strongly to the audience’s recognition of such scenes in their classical context.  In doing this, one becomes conscious one is watching Shakespeare while experiencing its new, exciting representation.

A non-English language film, what unique insights are offered by this particular cross-cultural inter-textuality?

The film strongly conveys military as a theme throughout.  Rather than appealing to his emotions, Asaji persuades Washizu to kill the Great Lord as a strategical, preemptive strike.  She insults his militaristic understanding just as Lady Macbeth accuses her husband of lacking masculinity.  Another unique aspect in the film is the representation of the witches as an evil spirit who dwells in the wood spinning wool.  

How does the film reflect the inspiring text, both overtly and subtly?

The story in Throne of Blood is quite overtly a representation of Macbeth, and the same essential plot points are reproduced with relatively little variance from the original.  However, there are subtle references to the text as well. The Macbeth character Washizu, for instance, comments on the weather before meeting the witch, a reference to the ‘foul and fair’ comment in the original.  Also, the disquiet of the birds before the Duncan character’s death is another subtle reference to the bad omens which occur in the original text.  The bird imagery is even repeated in Throne of Blood before Washizu’s demise as the new Great Lord. This is a logical and thematic use of repetition which is absent in the original text. 

How does this film position Shakespeare culturally, both in overt statements and subtle implications?

The film was, in itself, a commentary about the ability of Shakespeare’s stories to transcend languages, time, and cultures.  It also positioned Macbeth as a very militaristic story, rejecting many (but not all) of the emotional contexts that are more frequently exploited in traditional performances.  By setting the story as a tale of war, Akira Kurosawa was able to represent Shakespeare’s play not only in his preferred era and location, but, conceivably, in any context where a military is present. 

How does the film exemplify the issues raised in readings about Shakespeare?

One reading from this course talked about the question frequently posed of Shakespeare films: ‘Is it Shakespeare?’.  While Throne of Blood is certainly a story of Japanese warlords, it is undoubtedly a sound representation of Macbeth.  The film violently opposes the concept of Bardolatry and a universal, timeless Shakespeare.  By incorporating traditions from his own culture (evil spirits, samurai, Japanese ceremonies, etc), Kurosawa is able to defy the English tradition of Shakespeare, while strongly maintaining the heart of the play. 

How does this film reflect the issues discussed of Shakespeare?

This film is a fantastic representation of the idea of Glocal Shakespeare.  Akira Kurosawa was able to translate the tale of Macbeth and reinsert it into the context of his own culture through the heavy use of military in the play.  Because military is, literally, a global concept, the play was easily adapted to fit Kurosawa’s popular Samurai genre.

"Twilight", headed by director Catherine Hardwicke ("the Nativity Story", "Thirteen"), had a generally low budget, was picked up by a barely-known production studio (Summit) and had a cast of mainly dark horse actors. It's story is based on the best-selling novel, in which a teenage girl falls in love with a vampire.

Plot

    The plot of "Twilight" is a bit heavy to handle. The audience is met with a whole new way of seeing vampires (no more garlic and coffins). Most of the specifics are too quickly explained in the film to be understood by those new to the series, so I would suggest going with someone who is familiar with the story.

The storyline moves at an incredibly slow pace, a great development tool that has sadly been neglected by modern cinema. The exposition is shot much like a normal movie, so that it doesn't even seem as though you're watching a fantasy tale. Once the vampires are introduced, the story then steadily begins to evolve.

Acting

    Kristen Stewart ("Into the Wild") plays Bella Swan, the heroine and narrator of the story. Stewart does well in depicting this level-headed, yet clumsy teenage girl. Unlike many of today's actresses, she knows how to be modest, smart, and yet somehow humanly flawed at the same time. She is a true insight to the modern teenager in the midst of a thousand incorrect stereotypes.

    Robert Pattinson ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") does an excellent job in displaying the dark, confused soul of Edward Cullen. As much of the film was based on close-ups, it was important that his facial expressions properly showed what he was thinking. He gives a great performance of one who is lusting to kill, yet is struggling against his instincts to protect the one he loves. Where Pattinson lacks, however, is in his ability to do action work. The faster-paced sequences near the end seemed someone unnatural and forced. This aspect could have been improved, perhaps, with more training for these scenes.

    More notable performances include Billy Burke, who is perfect as Bella's lonesome, police chief father, as well as Tyler Lautner as Jacob Black, an optimistic teen from the nearby reservation who has some secrets to share. Peter Facinelli fits into the role of Dr. Carslile Cullen, Edward's concerned, yet charismatic father.

Editing

    Editing was spectacular, especially when juggling so many close-up shots among establishing and movement shots. The credits also add a great end to the film, collaging the film's best moments in an artistic manner.

Special Effects

    The special effects were adequate at best. Some of the tree-jumping and quickened running didn't look realistic at all. The baseball scene, however, managed to push away most of these problems with a much clearer arrangement of shots. The film's climax is well-coordinated as well, and it seems as though most of the film's special effects budget was saved for this one scene. These shots would also seem more difficult to film, since it takes place in a room full of mirrors. It would be very difficult to avoid getting your own camera's reflection in a shot.

What makes it unique

    The most important aspect of this film is that it gives an honest, un-"Hollywood"ized look at the American teenager in the form of modest Bella Swan. It also concentrates on the idea of the battle against one's inner demons, which is always a fascinating subject to observe. Look deep enough, and you can find a lot of psychology in this film.

Overall

    Though "Twilight" is far from a perfect movie, it should be appreciated for its artful storytelling and intriguing characters. It should not be dismissed as an average teenage film, or a 'chick-flick'... in fact, it's a very difficult film to place in any particular genre. See it, and you'll understand.

The story holds a very strong message which is somewhat overpowering in this 143 minute film. We are shown that the blood diamond trade has devastating effects on millions of Africans and the money exchanged only goes to further the violence and suffering in the country. The harsh scenes of young children carrying machine guns and taking on names such as ‘Live no more’ and ‘Child Killer’, and the thousands of helpless people crammed into one refugee camp, has the largest of effects on the viewer.

Soloman is forced into working for the rebels when they attack his village causing his family to flea in different directions. Danny Archer gets himself involved in one last attempt to get out of the continent and give himself a better way of living. Solomans passion to get his family back and Archers determination to succeed and give love interest Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connely) a story that will end the diamond conflict, drives the film from one scene to the next. Most scenes are scenes of bloodshed and the killings on innocent bystanders but the journey that the two Africans pursue is an emotional and dangerous ride.

Blood Diamond deals with many modern day issues but in a way that makes it hard to forget as soon as the film is over. The intensity of the violence and the amazing performance given by Hounsou on what it’s like to be taken from your family, leaves a mark that will seriously have you doubting the purchase of diamonds. The constant backdrop of violence creates a gripping tale of powerful rebels and exploration. The greed and corruption in the African diamond trade clearly underlies a lot of human misery. Families are separated, innocent people are brutally murdered, children as young as seven are corrupted to think like the twisted ways of a rebel and taught how to use guns to kill people and turn them into child soldiers.

Zwick has a masterful idea and one, which is acted out with the utmost belief by DiCaprio and Hounsou. From seeing Zwicks ideas go from The Last Samurai in 1999 to Blood Diamond in 2006 his passion to exert the true lengths of violence that our countries entail become clear. The chemistry between Danny Archer and the female reporter, is quite a welcoming one after the endless war wounds and torture scenes. The romance takes you out of the brutality of events and puts a realisation back into the storyline of how even after the harshest of events and the life threatening circumstances there is always a story to be told and sold.

The story reveals how the biggest diamond merchants are intimately involved in supporting the conflict. After over two hours of violence, passion and drama the ending seems rather to fairy tale for its’ intense build-up. Not a single person is not affected in someway or other. If you are not forced into becoming a diamond slave, you are turned into a child soldier or kept amongst the millions of other desperate Africans made to live in one of the biggest refugee camps. All this is too easily forgotten when one family out of the thousands affected finds happiness and ends up living a life they once never thought possible.

Starring:  Vincent Price

Running Time: 86 minutes

Release Date:  March 8, 1964

Based on the novel, I am Legend that was hereafter adapted into two other films by the name of Omega Man starring Charlton Heston and the more familiar, I am Legend starring Will Smith as Robert Neville.  The Last Man on Earth, starring Vincent Price, is entertaining for a number of reasons.  These also serve as reasons why the film is... not very good.  First and foremost, a synopsis:

Robert Neville is a lonely man, and as far as he knows, he is the last human man left.  He begins his day preparing large wooden stakes that he then uses to plunge through the hearts of those who are "infected."  The infected cannot withstand the rays of the sun, and although they also display aversions to garlic and their reflection in the mirror, these are said to be merely psychological.  Lastly, they must drink fresh blood.  According to Wikipedia, this is the first time a film has attempted to use scientific reasons for vampirism.

For whatever reason, Robert Neville--our antihero--has not been affected by the disease.  What did he do that was different?  Wifeless and childless, Robert Neville has lost most of his hope for mankind--and most of his sanity.  This is until he happens upon a lone woman walking around during the day.

Alright, the downsides of this movie...  Vincent Price does well in roles that have a mysterious air about them.  He does not, however, do very well traipsing around plunging stakes into the hearts of vampires.  He just isn't... manly enough.  His movements throughout the film are vaguely effeminate and thus, unconvincing.  Every night, he waits for the vampires to come to his door.  They throw things at his house, hoping to break his fortress and charge inside--they even yell things at him:  "We're gonna get you," they say menacingly...  Needless to say, these vampires aren't very charismatic.

After the return of the Dark Lord, the whole world is terrified, muggles and wizards alike must work together; but is very difficult to do when Lord Voldemort and his growing group of death eaters wants all mudbloods and muggles, dead!

Harry and Professor Dumbledore must find a way to end all of this despair by finding a way to defeat Lord Voldemort, but of course, they will need to know much more about Tom Marvollo Riddle's past, the boy whom Lord Voldemort once was...

But this movie isn't just terrifying and creepy. Harry finds love, love beyond Cho Chang, but there are traitors in whom anyone can expect.

Frightmare begins as it means to go on with the death of onetime Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, killed after a visit to a funfair to see a clairvoyant. This opening scene was a shot in colour but later turned to black and white because the vision of gore you see was just too much for that moment in time. This event sees the condemning to prison of an unknown party, and at this point the movie moves forward from the 1950's to the 1970's. Frightmare is all about extreme family secrets and a thirst for something that you really are not meant to have, cannibalism.

Of all the Pete Walker movies of this time, Frightmare offers the most striking vision with some of the worst acting. The memories of Frightmare really stayed with me for years after seeing it, and were given a stark reminder when I made my most recent return to this horror movie as part of a self imposed Pete Walker season.

The story of Frightmare is incredibly slow moving, but this is not a criticism; because this slow delivery makes the terror at the end all the more striking. But don't be fooled into thinking the movie is about build up, all the way through there is an unhealthy amount of deaths to contend with, and some really quite extreme gore.

It is rumoured that director Abel Ferrara took a liking to this movie when conjuring up the story to his long banned movie Driller Killer, and as the movies killer moves through a choice of weaponry onto the electric drill you can see some real similarities, hard to believe that a small budget movie not really seen in America would be responsible for such a thing.

Pete Walker's regular cast favourite Sheila Keith plays Dorothy Yates the movies cannibal and drill obsessive, I have ruined nothing in this reveal, it's made blatantly obvious from the movies offset just who the villain of the piece is. But in Dorothy you feel a touch of sadness because the character is a victim of mental illness, and it's this slow development and understanding of mental illness that give Frightmare its extreme but winning formula. Upon first sight this aging woman seems charming, but as the "headaches" occur you can see the delivery of messages into Dorothy's head. Sheila Keith was the sort of actress that could be both charming and menacing, an aspect that director was more than aware of casting her more often than not in his movies as the villain.

Where you get this tug of love situation with the movie is in her husband Edmund Yates played by Rupert Davies, you discover that despite the fact that he never committed murder, that he shared the same sentence in prison as Dorothy for being fully in the knowledge of her actions. As the movie progresses your heart does go out to Edmund as you can see the years of recovery that he believes Dorothy has had falling around his feet. You see him wrestling with his emotions as he tries to prevent the inevitable all the time just thinking it's on the horizon, unaware this time that Dorothy is actually killing.

But this is not a two way relationship Jackie (Deborah Fairfax) and Debbie (Kim Butcher) are the grown up children of the couple, and it seems that Debbie the younger of the two sisters has the same sort of diabolical thirst for blood and raw meat that her mother has.

Frightmare is 34 years on (at the time of writing) pretty extreme, in fact it's not an uneven offering to partner off with movies like Saw and Hostel, if you have seen either they you might be just starting to get a feel of exactly how hardcore this movie was for the time.

While I cannot say that Frightmare scared me, I can easily see it scaring some, yes the acting is terrible, but the gore is extreme and although I was not frightened by the movie it is one that I will never forget for as long as I live.

All this happened at the turn of the last century when people were beginning to see the use of prospecting for oil on land that had hitherto been used for farming. The book and the film it inspired are about greed and faith and the clash between the two.

It all started with the purchase of an oil-saturated property. There would be the passage of a pipeline through his land if he cleansed his soul.

Daniel's brother humiliates him in front of a congregation and the audience can witness the tension that Daniel is willing to take on so as to have his material wealth.

There are other conflicts which come to the surface fueled by the greed of exploration and set against a conservative background, such as between father and son and the turmoil caused when hope is lost in "saving" the community from speculative exploration.

Daniel Day Lewis is an intense and expressive actor who gets into his roles much as a method actor would, by being very much "in character". He deserved the nomination for best actor in 2008.

Di Caprio won best performance for leading actor, while his costar Hounsou, who also stared in one of the leading roles in the movie Amistad; 1997 as Cinque a slave on board the Amistad who participated in the rebellion against the crew of the ship, won best supporting actor for his role in the Blood Diamond. The film won several awards including best editing, best sound editing and best sound mixing. It was filmed on location in Cape Town in South Africa.

The movie portrays Archer in his role as it evolves through the movie as an uninterested third party and a smuggler of rough diamonds used by rebels to buy weapons to a caring friend of the downtrodden Solomon Vandy who has lost his home, his family and any means of a life he may have once had. They are aided on several occasions by Connelley's character the photo journalist Maddy Bowen, who eventually aids in getting Vandy out of the country, and to London where he is able to rejoin his family, expose the diamond smuggling operation, with the expert help of Maddy, and tell his story to the public. -JS

Civil law that is written into the books, challenged, and repealed to suit the needs of society is not what this is about. Those laws are an ever-changing creation by man; the oil that keeps the machine running smoothly, till suddenly a small bearing becomes overheated then the law needs an amendment.

War is the glaring example of that irrefutable natural law, what goes around comes around. If Hitler had been a peaceful man and channeled his effort for the betterment of his people and country, ww2 would not be in the history books and I would have stayed home to help my father log his patch of timber.

I believe Hitler died in his bunker.

Human blood soaked into the battlefields, while grieving mothers, widows and orphans, learned to cope. Munitions plants and arms production built their personal freeway to the bank. Millionaires raised their profile to Billionaires forgetting about the natural law that would balance the scales, unless by some miracle the scales have been balanced.

Not very likely: The scales have never balanced through millenniums of time. Until man learns how to love his neighbor, stops holding a gun to his head, gives him food and water, and above all takes the time and has the patience to simply understand, there is little hope for early improvement.

When a country, any country, wages war against another country the scales of time become unbalanced for a long time. The battle may be won with guns, but the war is won through negotiations by intelligent people that understand the disastrous outcome if they fail. Right now a match is ready to drop in tinder dry forest. It's time to put away the match and hope for rain.