It's Friday, so it's time for another family movie installment. This week, I am going to cover one of the all time classics, Charlie Chaplin's, "The Gold Rush." Silent movies are great for kids. At first, I was amazed at how engaged they were with the stories. But when I stop and think about it, it doesn't surprise me. Let me use a story to illustrate why it is not surprising.
When I was in college, I took a 6 week trip to Romania. One of the things I did there was help out in an orphanage. We did many things with the young boys at the orphanage. We played soccer, basketball, took them to the park, and helped out around the orphanage. Another thing we did was watch TV. The number one thing that we watched was "Tom and Jerry". We could watch it with them because "Tom and Jerry" has no dialogue. Instead, it has bangs, gags and pounds, things that can be understood by anyone. In a nutshell, that is the genius of Chaplin's work, and it is on display in this film.
The plot is somewhat minimal, mainly because it serves as a set up for the genius situations in which Chaplin finds himself. It follows Chaplin's Tramp as he makes his way to Alaska to search for gold and riches. Along the way, he is met by a bear, severe hunger, a lovely girl, and almost more danger than he can handle. The film has one of Chaplin's signature moments (something referenced below in the interview), and it stands as one of the great works of cinema. I watched it last Friday with my kids. Here's what they thought:
Joel: "Who starred in Gold Rush?"
Corrie-"Charlie Chaplin."
Joel- "What was your favorite part?"
Jack- "When he was holding the bear's leg, and then ROAR-RAH-ROAR!"
Wes- "I like how the bear was following him."
Corrie- "When he ties himself on to the dog's rope, and then he led the dog out onto the dance floor, and then the cat came onto the dance floor and the dog saw it and started chasing it."
Jack- "You know another part that I really like is when the guy imagines him as a chicken."
Joel- "That was one of the very first special effects in movies-when they make something look like something that doesn't really exist."
Wes- "He was hungry because he was a chicken."
Jack- "Because Charles Chaplin played a pretty funny person!"
Joel- "Remember what my favorite part was?"
All 3- "What?"
Joel- "At the very beginning, when he has his cane, and he puts his cane in the snow and he falls in."
All three laugh
Joel- "So what other Chaplin movies have you seen?
Corrie- "Modern Times!"
Joel- "What was the other one called?"
Jack- "The Kid"
Corrie- "City Lights"
Joel- "So you've seen 3 others. What's unique about Charlie Chaplin's movies?"
Corrie- "They're funny and they're old."
Wes- "Yeah, they're funny and old."
Joel- "Did you like the part where he ate the shoe?"
All 3- "Yeah!!!"
Joel- "What's the name of the girl in the movie?"
Corrie- "Georgia."
Jack- "GEORGIA, GEORGIA GEORGIA"
Joel- "What does he think about Georgia?"
Corrie- "He likes her."
Joel- "Remember what happens in the scene when he is imagining what happens New Year's Eve? The little dance that he does?"
Corrie- "He uses the potatoes"
Joel- "Did you know that is one of the most famous scenes in all the movies?"
Wes- "They didn't come over except Geogia"
Jack- "So he was dreaming about what he was doing New Year's Eve?"
Joel- "What else do you like about it."
Corrie (quietly)- "Romantic."
Joel- "I always like his facial expressions a lot. Does it bother you at all that there was no talking in the movie?"
Corrie- "It's like with "Fantasia". I usually like it talking, but in "Fantasia" it seems like the music is doing the job, but in Charlie Chaplin I feel like the actions are doing the job."
Joel- "That's a good point."
Jack- "I really like the end."
Joel- "Why?"
Jack- "At the end, Charlie Chaplin and Georgia meet up."
Joel- "That makes you happy?"
Jack- "Yeah."
Joel- "Thank you my little movie critics."
Friday, March 2, 2012
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Another New Feature
For those of you who are interested, I started labeling my posts. If you want to look at any of my older posts, I categorized them to the right. I have started with some basic categories, but will probably continue to be more specific with some of them. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Trailer Tuesday: "Brave"
Here is a trailer for the new Pixar movie "Brave"...my daughter is very excited :)
Here's a link to another trailer:
http://disney.go.com/brave/?cmp=wdsmp_brv_EMC_120223_video_img_Extl
Here's a link to another trailer:
http://disney.go.com/brave/?cmp=wdsmp_brv_EMC_120223_video_img_Extl
Monday, February 27, 2012
Oscar Trivia Contest Answers
Here are the answers....congrats to Paul from Denver our winner!!! Thanks for playing!
With a total of 11 oscars each, what 3 films are tied for winning the most oscars? Ben Hur, Titanic, Return of the King
What are the 3 movies to win the "Big Five" at the oscars (Best picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay)? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Silence of the Lambs, It Happened One Night
What actor has won the most Oscars for acting? Tie: Jack Nicholson, Walter Brennan (tied with 3)
What actress has won the most Oscars for acting? Katherine Hepburn (4)
Which director has won the most Oscars for directing? John Ford (4)
What individual holds the record for winning the most Oscars overall? Walt Disney (26)
Which actor or actress has the most nominations for acting? Meryl Streep (17)
For which film did Alfred Hitchcock win the best director Oscar? None
With a total of 11 oscars each, what 3 films are tied for winning the most oscars? Ben Hur, Titanic, Return of the King
What are the 3 movies to win the "Big Five" at the oscars (Best picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay)? One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Silence of the Lambs, It Happened One Night
What actor has won the most Oscars for acting? Tie: Jack Nicholson, Walter Brennan (tied with 3)
What actress has won the most Oscars for acting? Katherine Hepburn (4)
Which director has won the most Oscars for directing? John Ford (4)
What individual holds the record for winning the most Oscars overall? Walt Disney (26)
Which actor or actress has the most nominations for acting? Meryl Streep (17)
For which film did Alfred Hitchcock win the best director Oscar? None
Sunday, February 26, 2012
OSCAR TRIVIA CONTEST
I did a little research, and I have a few questions. You can e-mail your answers to me at losbascoms@mac.com. I am trusting my participants to not use the internet, so that everyone is answering with the same standard. If you put your answers in the comments, others will see it. I'll throw in a $10 Trader Joe's gift card for the winner. Have fun.
With a total of 11 oscars each, what 3 films are tied for winning the most oscars?
What are the 3 movies to win the "Big Five" at the oscars (Best picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay)?
What actor has won the most Oscars for acting?
What actress has won the most Oscars for acting?
Which director has won the most Oscars for directing?
What individual holds the record for winning the most Oscars overall?
Which actor or actress has the most nominations for acting?
For which film did Alfred Hitchcock win the best director Oscar?
With a total of 11 oscars each, what 3 films are tied for winning the most oscars?
What are the 3 movies to win the "Big Five" at the oscars (Best picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay)?
What actor has won the most Oscars for acting?
What actress has won the most Oscars for acting?
Which director has won the most Oscars for directing?
What individual holds the record for winning the most Oscars overall?
Which actor or actress has the most nominations for acting?
For which film did Alfred Hitchcock win the best director Oscar?
Saturday, February 25, 2012
SUBTITLE SATURDAY: The Lives of Others, Revisited
As I come to the end of the first week of trying to blog more often, I have one other feature I want to share. I would like to blog once a week on some of my favorite movies from other countries, as well as new discoveries that I have made. I am also going to take the advice of one of my readers and begin to include trailers for the movies upon which I am writing an entry. The first movie I for this feature is one that I have already shared. It gave me the name of this blog, and it is my favorite movie of the last 10 years. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on it...if you have already read this entry, new ones are coming:
I could not think of a better title to borrow for the name of my blog than the title of this 2006 film from Germany. This is the best movie I have seen in the last ten years. I do not make it a practice to speak in absolutes when it comes to the arts, but it has meant more to me than any other film of which I can think. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and it is easy to see why it had such a powerful effect.
To sum it up, the film is set in East Germany in 1984. A loyal Socialist playwright (Georg) has begun to question some of the elements of the East German regime. At the same time, his girlfriend finds favor with the head of the East German police (The Stasi). The head of police decides to bug the playwright's house so he can pursue his girlfriend. They put their best surveillance man on the job (Wiesler). The movie could have become a silly voyeuristic romp. Instead, it takes a profound turn. The man listens into the life of this playwright, and realizes what he is missing in his own life. What he decides to do about it is what the film is about.
Georg's girlfriend is Christa Marie, one of the most popular stage actresses in East Germany. She is played by Martina Gedeck with such soul and sadness that one cannot help but feel her pain as we watch the movie. In the end, the socialists are crushing the creative lives in the country, including hers. She cannot bear it. As Georg plays a piece of music on the piano, he quotes a memorable quote from Lenin. Georg says that Lenin had to stop listening to Beethoven's Appasionata Sonata, because if he continued, the revolution wouldn't happen. Georg finally decides to stray from his loyalty when one of his favorite play directors commits suicide.
There are so many scenes to cherish: As Wiesler listens in on Georg's life, he observes the richness of beauty of his life, as opposed to his subject. While Georg enjoys a life of fulfilling love, Wiesler can only ask a prostitute if she can stay a while longer to keep him company. As Wiesler begins to change, he stops himself from pursuing the name of a child's father who has cast aspersions on the Stasi. The boy is innocent and is only quoting his father, and one can watch Wiesler's eyes as he hears the words of treason from the small boy, and then decides to go in a different direction. And finally, the lengths the people in this film have to pursue to simply have an honest conversation is striking.
The end of the film is sublime. It is so moving and true. I will not reveal it here of course, because it is too great a surprise to do so. For those of us old enough to remember watching the Berlin Wall fall, this film is extra poignant. It wasn't so long ago, but it seems distant. Watching the power of art, freedom and beauty change the heart of a man is a lovely sight. That is why I love this movie.
I could not think of a better title to borrow for the name of my blog than the title of this 2006 film from Germany. This is the best movie I have seen in the last ten years. I do not make it a practice to speak in absolutes when it comes to the arts, but it has meant more to me than any other film of which I can think. It won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and it is easy to see why it had such a powerful effect.
To sum it up, the film is set in East Germany in 1984. A loyal Socialist playwright (Georg) has begun to question some of the elements of the East German regime. At the same time, his girlfriend finds favor with the head of the East German police (The Stasi). The head of police decides to bug the playwright's house so he can pursue his girlfriend. They put their best surveillance man on the job (Wiesler). The movie could have become a silly voyeuristic romp. Instead, it takes a profound turn. The man listens into the life of this playwright, and realizes what he is missing in his own life. What he decides to do about it is what the film is about.
Georg's girlfriend is Christa Marie, one of the most popular stage actresses in East Germany. She is played by Martina Gedeck with such soul and sadness that one cannot help but feel her pain as we watch the movie. In the end, the socialists are crushing the creative lives in the country, including hers. She cannot bear it. As Georg plays a piece of music on the piano, he quotes a memorable quote from Lenin. Georg says that Lenin had to stop listening to Beethoven's Appasionata Sonata, because if he continued, the revolution wouldn't happen. Georg finally decides to stray from his loyalty when one of his favorite play directors commits suicide.
There are so many scenes to cherish: As Wiesler listens in on Georg's life, he observes the richness of beauty of his life, as opposed to his subject. While Georg enjoys a life of fulfilling love, Wiesler can only ask a prostitute if she can stay a while longer to keep him company. As Wiesler begins to change, he stops himself from pursuing the name of a child's father who has cast aspersions on the Stasi. The boy is innocent and is only quoting his father, and one can watch Wiesler's eyes as he hears the words of treason from the small boy, and then decides to go in a different direction. And finally, the lengths the people in this film have to pursue to simply have an honest conversation is striking.
The end of the film is sublime. It is so moving and true. I will not reveal it here of course, because it is too great a surprise to do so. For those of us old enough to remember watching the Berlin Wall fall, this film is extra poignant. It wasn't so long ago, but it seems distant. Watching the power of art, freedom and beauty change the heart of a man is a lovely sight. That is why I love this movie.
Friday, February 24, 2012
FAMILY FILM FRIDAY: Yellow Submarine
Why is it that some things that seem so obvious are so hard to see? Why it took me so many years to introduce this movie to my kids is beyond me. It has everything they could want in a movie: it is colorful, funny, has great music, and is an overall joy to watch.
Even the characters have fanciful names. The citizens of Pepperland are under attack from the Blue Meanies. The Blue Meanies have rendered the town band (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) mute, and one solitary resident escapes on a Yellow Submarine to find another band of musicians to break the spell the Blue Meanies have cast. The captain of the Yellow Submarine makes his way to Liverpool, where upon he enlists the help of Beatles John, Paul, George and Ringo to come back to Pepperland with him and break the spell of the Blue Meanies. This rather basic plot is interspersed with Beatles' songs which are woven into the plot. There are also numerous amusing puns which will appeal to adults. These puns will fly over the kids' heads, but not enough that they will be derailed from the story. It is a wonderful film which does include a brief cameo from the Fab Four themselves, and gives us a wonderfully hummable soundtrack.
The movie feels unique to the 60's. It has a look that reminds us of the era, and the music and characters of the Beatles very much transport the viewer to the late 1960's. But more than that, I have been amazed by how much the music and story have resonated with my kids. I want to use this film as a springboard for what I hope will be a regular feature of this blog: talking to my children about the movies we watch together. I have three kids...a daughter (Corrie, 8) and two sons (Jack, 6 and Wes, 4). They actually have watched this movie more than I have! Here are some of their thoughts:
Joel: "What do you like most about this movie?"
Corrie: "The people in it have all sorts of adventures!"
Jack: "How the music comes and how all the Blue Meanies run away at the end!"
Wes: "I like how the Blue Meanies run away with the music!"
Joel: "What is your favorite song in the movie? Why?
Corrie: "(Laughs)...That's tricky...'When I'm 64'. I just like it. I don't know why...it's catchy."
Jack: "When I'm 64"
Joel: That's what Corrie said! Why do you like it so much?"
Jack "In the movie it counts to the 1, 2, 3, 4 until it gets to 64!!!"
Joel: "So you like the counting in the movie...Wes, what about you? You don't have a favorite song in the movie?"
Wes: (Blank stare) "The same song that Jackie likes...because it counts and it gets to 64!!"
Joel: "What happens to the Beatles during the song that's funny?"
Wes: "They grow..."
Jack: "They grow really long one of those...(points to my beard)"
Joel: "What makes this movie different from other movies that you like?"
Joel: "What do you like about it that's different from other movies."
Jack: "I don't know. They sing lots of songs."
Corrie: "That's what I like about it"
Joel: "What about you Wes?"
Wes: "Lots of songs!!"
Joel: "What else? Think about Cinderella...what is so different about the drawing?"
Jack: "It has a lot of different things...the Beatles aren't in Cinderella!"
Joel: "Who is your favorite character in the movie?"
Jack: "John...I don't know why."
Wes: "I like Paul...he sings a lot of the songs that I like (helped by Corrie)...he grows a black beard!!"
Corrie: "This is my favorite Beatle as well...Ringo..."
Wes "I like Ringo too."
Jack: "Because he's a talking door..."
Wes: "He makes himself a talking door?"
Corrie: "He helps what's his name..."
Joel: "The captain?"
Corries: "No. I don't know wat his name is. The wierd guy."
Joel: "The Nowhere Man?"
Corrie: "Yeah..because he's sad."
Joel: "How does this movie make you feel?"
Jack: "It makes me feel really good and I like watching it a lot."
Corrie: "It makes me feel adventurous."
Jack: "Yeah..that's what I meant."
Wes: "I like it too...it makes me feel good...."
Joel: "What else about the movie?"
Corrie: "It's kind of unique."
Jack: "It's like...it has a lot of action in it..."
Corrie: "It kind of reminds me of Alice in Wonderland-but I like it more.
Joel: "What reminds you of Alice in Wonderland about it?"
Corrie: "It just seems really wierd. "
Joel: "You know what really reminds me of Alice, is the Nowhere Man...remember how he says all those things...'quid pro quo, so much to know...'
Corrie: "Yeah that's what I mean."
Wes: Quid pro quo, so much to know (over and over and over)
Joel: "If you were telling another kid why you liked this movie and why they should watch it, what would you say?"
Jack: "I would tell them that it makes you feel adventurous and that it's fun."
Corrie: "It's kind of funny. Kind of funny and a lot of times I like singing along."
Jack: Sings "When I'm 64".
Wes: I like it becaue its funneee!!!
Joel: "All right guys...thanks a lot."
Even the characters have fanciful names. The citizens of Pepperland are under attack from the Blue Meanies. The Blue Meanies have rendered the town band (Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band) mute, and one solitary resident escapes on a Yellow Submarine to find another band of musicians to break the spell the Blue Meanies have cast. The captain of the Yellow Submarine makes his way to Liverpool, where upon he enlists the help of Beatles John, Paul, George and Ringo to come back to Pepperland with him and break the spell of the Blue Meanies. This rather basic plot is interspersed with Beatles' songs which are woven into the plot. There are also numerous amusing puns which will appeal to adults. These puns will fly over the kids' heads, but not enough that they will be derailed from the story. It is a wonderful film which does include a brief cameo from the Fab Four themselves, and gives us a wonderfully hummable soundtrack.
The movie feels unique to the 60's. It has a look that reminds us of the era, and the music and characters of the Beatles very much transport the viewer to the late 1960's. But more than that, I have been amazed by how much the music and story have resonated with my kids. I want to use this film as a springboard for what I hope will be a regular feature of this blog: talking to my children about the movies we watch together. I have three kids...a daughter (Corrie, 8) and two sons (Jack, 6 and Wes, 4). They actually have watched this movie more than I have! Here are some of their thoughts:
Joel: "What do you like most about this movie?"
Corrie: "The people in it have all sorts of adventures!"
Jack: "How the music comes and how all the Blue Meanies run away at the end!"
Wes: "I like how the Blue Meanies run away with the music!"
Joel: "What is your favorite song in the movie? Why?
Corrie: "(Laughs)...That's tricky...'When I'm 64'. I just like it. I don't know why...it's catchy."
Jack: "When I'm 64"
Joel: That's what Corrie said! Why do you like it so much?"
Jack "In the movie it counts to the 1, 2, 3, 4 until it gets to 64!!!"
Joel: "So you like the counting in the movie...Wes, what about you? You don't have a favorite song in the movie?"
Wes: (Blank stare) "The same song that Jackie likes...because it counts and it gets to 64!!"
Joel: "What happens to the Beatles during the song that's funny?"
Wes: "They grow..."
Jack: "They grow really long one of those...(points to my beard)"
Joel: "What makes this movie different from other movies that you like?"
Joel: "What do you like about it that's different from other movies."
Jack: "I don't know. They sing lots of songs."
Corrie: "That's what I like about it"
Joel: "What about you Wes?"
Wes: "Lots of songs!!"
Joel: "What else? Think about Cinderella...what is so different about the drawing?"
Jack: "It has a lot of different things...the Beatles aren't in Cinderella!"
Joel: "Who is your favorite character in the movie?"
Jack: "John...I don't know why."
Wes: "I like Paul...he sings a lot of the songs that I like (helped by Corrie)...he grows a black beard!!"
Corrie: "This is my favorite Beatle as well...Ringo..."
Wes "I like Ringo too."
Jack: "Because he's a talking door..."
Wes: "He makes himself a talking door?"
Corrie: "He helps what's his name..."
Joel: "The captain?"
Corries: "No. I don't know wat his name is. The wierd guy."
Joel: "The Nowhere Man?"
Corrie: "Yeah..because he's sad."
Joel: "How does this movie make you feel?"
Jack: "It makes me feel really good and I like watching it a lot."
Corrie: "It makes me feel adventurous."
Jack: "Yeah..that's what I meant."
Wes: "I like it too...it makes me feel good...."
Joel: "What else about the movie?"
Corrie: "It's kind of unique."
Jack: "It's like...it has a lot of action in it..."
Corrie: "It kind of reminds me of Alice in Wonderland-but I like it more.
Joel: "What reminds you of Alice in Wonderland about it?"
Corrie: "It just seems really wierd. "
Joel: "You know what really reminds me of Alice, is the Nowhere Man...remember how he says all those things...'quid pro quo, so much to know...'
Corrie: "Yeah that's what I mean."
Wes: Quid pro quo, so much to know (over and over and over)
Joel: "If you were telling another kid why you liked this movie and why they should watch it, what would you say?"
Jack: "I would tell them that it makes you feel adventurous and that it's fun."
Corrie: "It's kind of funny. Kind of funny and a lot of times I like singing along."
Jack: Sings "When I'm 64".
Wes: I like it becaue its funneee!!!
Joel: "All right guys...thanks a lot."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)