Movie Review #3 - A Clockwork Orange

My third movie review is based upon the highly controversial film "A Clockwork Orange" which was released in 1971 by the legendary director Stanley Kubrick. This movie remains a popular cult-favorite due to its excessive scenes of brutality and "ultraviolence" that doesn't adhere to the conventional standards of cinema. "Clockwork" is essentially the prime example of a late-night-flick that truly wows its audiences. Its scenes are filled stylistic depictions of violence, drugs, sex, and Beethoven that draws in the viewer and leaves them in anticipation over what will happen next. Kubrick's unique use of camera angles, movement,  framing, lighting and props all synchronize harmoniously which ultimately results in a cinematic masterpiece. Without spoiling anything, the movie is revolves around a rebellious teen named Alex who is played by Malcolm McDowell. He does a superb job of assuming the role of Alex which reinforces the film's overall dystopian-overtone. As the story progresses, Alex finds himself paying for the misfortune that he caused in his extremely reckless lifestyle. Personally, I love the film's story and character-development simply because it is unlike anything else ever produced in cinema. However, some may find it frightening or hard to watch due to its distinctively ruthless subject matter. If you aren't familiar with Stanley Kubrick, or haven't seen this film, it is a movie that I recommend every mature adult to watch at least once in their life. Each person will walk away with different perceptions or understandings of this movie. Adapted from the original novel written by Anthony Burgess, its story can be described as multifaceted, layered and complex. 9/10

Movie Review #2 - Vertigo

For my second movie review, I'd like to discuss the movie "Vertigo" which is often considered Alfred Hitchcock's greatest masterpiece. When it was released in 1958, however, the film received generally poor reception from critics. It took many years for audiences to appreciate the true beauty of Hitchcock's most twisted and obsessive film. Vertigo can be categorized in a  number of different film genres, for example: film-noir, suspense, thriller, drama and even mystery. The movie's plot essentially revolves around ex-detective Scottie Ferguson,  played by James Stewart, and the deep psychological torment he experiences. As the film progresses, what starts off as a relatively straight-forward story quickly transforms into a complex and intricate web of story-lines. Hitchcock does a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere filled with tension and suspense. In addition to this, he develops characters in such a profound way that it draws in the audience and leaves us hanging on the edge of our seats. Although people may find Hitchcock's other works, such as North by Northwest or Psycho to be his greatest film, I personally feel that Vertigo possesses such a high-level of cinema excellence that it can not possibly by surpassed. If you have a passion for amazing movies, extreme plot-twists, or a love for all things Hitchcock, I definitely recommend watching Vertigo. It's the type of movie that requires multiple viewings to fully understand. In addition to this, you could watch it repeatedly and still discover something new on each viewing. You never forget the first time you see this movie; that's how good it is. My score = 10/10, (The Perfect Movie)

Movie Review #1: The Shawshank Redemption

Hello everybody, my name is Jeremy Lien and I'm currently a sophomore here at the University of Arizona. As a student in the Film and Television Arts Major, I have always possessed a keen passion towards cinema. Films are a means of artistic expression that surpasses aesthetics of conventional forms of art. Although this is my first attempt at creating an online blog, I will try to include as much information while at same time continue to be entertaining. I really like the idea of using a blog for this class because it allows me to share film recommendations with others, as well as receive feedback or recommendations from others. The first movie I'd like to discuss is The Shawshank Redemption which was released in 1994. Director Frank Darabont does a masterful job of developing characters on the movie-screen to the point where we as the audience sympathize for them. The film's story revolves around two prisoners played by Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. As the story progresses, we witness extreme depictions of brutality as well as examples of people abusing their power in order to keep prisoners in jail. Without spoiling anything, to sum everything up, the film is essentially a tale of true friendship and perseverance. I would definitely recommend this film to anybody who appreciates excellent story-telling or cinema. It's currently rated #1 on IMDB's "Top 250" list. Well, this basically wraps up my first blog, if you've seen this movie or have any other films you'd want me to review, Go ahead and leave a comment. Thanks for reading!