MOVIE CRITIQUE
Requirements:
· Choose a movie from the following list -1st come first serve – I must know your selection by Friday April 18th – e-mail me if you are absent on that day.
· If you wish to use a film that is not on the list please let me know ASAP.
· Must be typed – Times New Roman - Size 12 Font, double spaced, 1 inch margins.
· Should be about 3-4 pages long, this does not include your bibliography.
· All citations must be done in MLA Style – see website for explanation, or visit the SFP library site.
· Include a bibliography on the last page. - visit the SFP library site if you are not sure how to do a bibliography.
· Due Monday May 5th – 10 points off for every day late
Due Date: Monday May 5th
Your movie must be approved before submission.
PART ONE: Information
Write a short paragraph including the name of the movie, the director, producer, the three top stars, and the year of release. Also include when and where you watched the film and any special comments on its release (was it an abridged or colorized version, was it in more than one part, was it part of a series, was it based on a novel, etc.)
PART TWO: The Plot
In no more than one good paragraph retelling the plot. Of course, you will not be able to give all the details. Just condense the main story into one paragraph.
PART THREE: The Reality {most important part – needs research}
Were there any characters in the movie based on real people? If so, who were they and were they treated with historical accuracy? Were there any real events (battles, migrations, laws, etc.)? If so, were they correct as to event, time period, etc.? If there were NO real characters or events in a historical movie, it was probably a conscious decision on the part of the writers and director. Try to analyze why reality was omitted. (HINT: It is very probable you will need to do serious research for these paragraphs both to find out if people or things were real and if they were presented accurately.)
PART FOUR: The Setting
When and where was the movie set? If several locations were used, were they all depicted realistically? (Were there forests, mountains, rivers, etc. where they should have been for the real setting?) How long a time span did it cover? Were the houses, furnishings, foods, tools, weapons, clothes, hairstyles, shoes, streets, etc. shown with accuracy? Give some examples of period props you think were especially well or especially poorly presented. Again, you will need to research.
PART FIVE: Evaluation
Give an evaluation of the film. Don't just say, "I liked it because it was a good movie," or "I hated it because it was boring." Like a real film critic, point out the strengths and weaknesses of the movie. Which actors did a good job and which were inadequate? Were there places where the plot was vague, too slow, or too fast? Were there stereotyped roles or rounded characterizations? Did the story build to a logical climax and resolve itself satisfactorily? Did it hold the viewer's interest uniformly? Why? If the film was done many years ago, would it be done differently now? Why? Did the film make the viewer more aware of history or just confuse the issue? What would have made the film better? Would you recommend the film to another student? Why?
Due Date: Monday May 5th
· Your movie must be approved before submission.
· The movie should not be your only source; you must have other sources to prove that the movie was historically accurate. {i.e. Books, Websites, etc} Your textbook cannot be used as a source. Also do not use ayt encyclopedias.
· Wikipedia is not a valid source anyone using it for their projects will receive a grade of zero.
· Please remember that you must include a bibliography with your project listing any websites, books, magazines, or films used. No papers will be accepted without one.
· This is to be written in your own words, if you copy anything it will be considered an honor code violation.
List of Movies
1. Mongol (2008) – Genghis Khan
2. 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992) -- Christopher Columbus
3. Apocalypto (2006)
4. Luther (2003)
5. Amadeus (1984)
6. The Sword and the Rose (1953)
7. Elizabeth (1998)
8. To Kill a King (2003)
9. Libertine (2004)
10. The Madness of King George III (1994)
11. Amazing Grace (2006)
12. Rob Roy (1995)
13. The Three Musketeers (1993)
14. Seven Samurai (1954)
15. Marie Antoinette (2006)
16. Reign of Terror (1949)
17. Goya's Ghost (2006)
18. Immortal Beloved (1994)
19. The Four Feathers (2002)
20. The King and I (1956)
21. Frida (2003)
22. Cradle will Rock (1999)
23. Norma Rae (1979)
24. Titanic (1997)
25. Shaka Zulu (1987)
26. Zulu (1964)
27. Gandhi (1982)
28. Out of Africa (1985)
29. Cotton Mary (1999)
30. A Passage to India (1984)
31. Tai Pan (1986)
32. All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)
33. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
34. In Love and War (1996)
35. Reds (1981)
36. Dr. Zhivago (1965)
37. Michael Collins (1996)
38. My Left Foot (1989)
39. Evita (1996)
40. Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
41. Belle Epoque (1992)
42. Casablanca (1942)
43. Stalingrad (1992)
44. U-571 (2000)
45. Downfall (2004)
46. The Assisi Underground (1985)
47. Schindler's List (1993)
48. The Pianist (2002)
49. The Last Emperor (1987)
50. Empire of the Sun (1987)
51. Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
52. Jinnah (1998)
53. In the Name of the Father (1993)
54. Sarafina (1992)
55. Mandela and De Klerk (1997)
56. A Dry, White Season (1989)
57. Romero (1989)
58. Munich (2005)
59. Osama (2003)
60. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
61. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
62. Judgement at Nuremberg (1961)
63. Cry Freedom (1987)
64. Blood Diamond (2006)
65. Hotel Rwanda (2006)
66. The Killing Fields (1984)
67. The Last King of Scotland (2006)
68. Elizabeth : The Golden Age (2007)
69. Life is Beautiful (1997)
70. Enemy at the Gates (2001)