Comm424,Murderball

The 2005 film Murderball takes a in depth look at the lives and actives of paraplegics, but is presented in somewhat of an unorthodox way. The movie introduces the audiences to men who compete for the United States wheelchair rugby team. Rugby, known for being a very intense and psychical sport, is taken to a entirely different level of intensity when modifying some rules and adding wheelchairs. These men who are confined to their chairs and limited to several functions in their limbs compete with such high levels of intensity and pride. The cultural assumption of people with similar conditions and people with disability is that they are weak; society places a common stereotype that dehumanizes people with a handicap like this. In the movie we observe a culture that many people may not be familiar with. The level of intensity that these men on these national teams is not different then any other professional athlete. The film allows them to express their feelings and destroy several myths that people may believe to be true. Rather then making the movie showing their daily difficulties, the producers embrace their exceptional athleticism and how they are making the best of their situation. This is highlighted through firstly sports, attitude, masculinity and even sexuality. By presenting the movie in a first person and actual life perspective, viewers are able to gain a better insight into the lives of quadriplegic, but also to destroy any preconceived notions or thought about disabilities in a broader sense.

Pulp Fiction Response

Pulp Fiction is a very popular movie directed by Quentin Tarantino in 1994. This criminal thriller starts out by introducing the audience to tow characters, Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. These two low-life criminals are conspiring to commit one more of their several robberies, this one taking place in a dinner during breakfast time. As they are about to call the attention of the employees and people eating, the scene ends. I believe that this initial set up was purposely constructed in order to foreshadow or hint to viewers what the rest of the film will consist of. The construct of time and place are very crucial and notable throughout the movie. We are taken day by day, scene by scene before we are reintroduced to Pumpkin and Honey Bunny. Jules, Vincent, Marcellus and other main characters are focused on. We learn that Jules and Vincent are two hit-men that work for Marcellus, a shady businessman assumed to engage in illegal activity to produce an income. Their primary task and mission in the movie is to retrieve a briefcase that belong to their boss, Marcellus. After killing several people, they retain the package and a new scene begins with the two at the same dinner Pumpkin and Honey Bunny are. Although Vincent ultimately get killed during another hit, he is still shown to be alive until the end of the film because of the way the scene are put together.  The contents of the package are never shown, but every time it was opened, a bright golden light emits from it.

Rambo film Notes

Rambo goes to look for his friend.
Speaks with older woman and finds out that how friend is dead.
They were friends who flight is the War of Vietnam together.
Stopped by police officer.
Officer escorts him out of town. Does not welcome him; suggests he leaves. Calls him a drifter.
Walks back to town and is confronted by officer. Searched and is arrested.
Notices where several riffle/ shot guns are located. Camera paused monetarily on the gun locker. Won't let them get proper fingerprints
Severe scarring all over his body. Soon attacked after.
Has flashbacks from being tortured in war.
Will not let the officers shave him. Attacks them all and escapes
Proceeds to steal a motorcycle and is chased by an officer deep into the woods.
Several officers arrive on the scene and they attempt to go search for Rambo
They begin the man and are very close to Rambo. He sees an oncoming helicopter and has no other choice but to jump from a very steep ledge onto trees after being shot at several times.
The officer who was shooting at Rambo fall out of the helicopter and dies.
After doing research they find out he is a highly trained solider and war hero.
Officers think they spot him, but it was a scarecrow. Two dogs are released after a man was shot;Rambo presumably kills both dogs.
As the search continues, he picks officers one by one; attacks then and sets violent traps.
Media coverage is at the bottom of the mountain; state police and other government agencies are present
Rambo's commanding officer is present and informs them about the type of person they are dealing with.
He refuses to cooperate even after speaking with his old friend.
Is spotted by a young civilian and lets him go with no harm, but gave up his location
After attempting to kill him with an explosive, we find out that Rambo survived the attack. He was still in the abandoned mine.
"When in doubt kill"
Colonel knows that he is still alive, but doesn't tell anyone
He looks up where the explosion took place and can sense that he is still alive.
As He returns out of the mountainous area, he takes over another military truck carrying several guns and weapons.
Crashes into a gas station and begins to take out electricity units all over town with a large automatic weapon. He is searching for the Sheriff.
As he corners him inside the police station after shooting him, he spare his life. Colonel is there to talk him down, and we see a compassionate Rambo who is under sever PTSD
He breaks down inside the station and surrenders 
There was no way he could escape, he was surrounded by 200 people searching for him
Walks out of the station with his old commanding officer.

Comm 424-Blue Velvet

The film Blue Velvet, directed by David Lynch in 1986, contains elements and styles from film noir. Although this film contained scenes that are much more cynical from movies like it in the past, Lynch puts his own personal twist and style to his movie. The main characters fit into classic noir type film, but the surrealism and depiction of this small town underworld is like no other. We are introduced to the protagonist in the movie, a young college student named Jeffry. He stumbles upon a severed ear. As he takes this ear to the authorities, he continues to venture further and seeks to discover how he came upon his finding. Jeffrey’s character fits right into the classic noir style of film. Alongside character traits, camera angles, lighting, and story line, Lynch provides viewers what seems to be a typical noir type movie. However, Jeffreys curiosity and voyeurism leads to meet Dorothy, a singer who performs at a local nightclub. After some amateur investigation work and help with his new friend, Sandy, Jeffery begins to look deeper into Dorothy's life and others who influence her life. Frank is a man who has kidnapped Dorothy’s son and husband. He is the antagonist in the movie and his personality and habits are exploited and shown with great emphasis. Frank is a psychotic man with a drug problem. He is inappropriate, aggressive, and hostile throughout the entire film. His facial expressions, tone, and violence is unlike any other character in the movie, distinguishing behavior not found in all noir work.

Buying the war- Notes

Film starts with clear introduction.
Concerns and deals with the war on terror, specifically the War in Iraq .
Being with 9/11 and the events leading into and after the act.
The citizens were looking for answers and closure to their questions. Devastated that a terrorists act an happen on US soil.
Wanted and looked to put blame on someone- the government and media outlets chose to put it on Iraq
The White House made assumptions that they possessed weapons of mass destruction.
The made ties to anything that the UN reports found to try and make is seem ad if Iraq had WMD
"Tubes". Story swept the nation
The White House gave official interviews on news outlets in order to convince citizens and viewers that Iraq is a threat.
Washington Post very influential
Stories were constantly being repeated constantly
Rumors are said that there were designated reporters that Bush would call on during interviews
Never gave a clear answer for why they feel like they went to war
The White House clearly manipulated the entire situation, fueled by the media.

Pulp Fiction film notes

The movie begins with a couple eating breakfast at a dinner. They seem different and suspicious. Moments after, they deiced to rob the dinner and the people eating there.
The next scene begins with two gentleman driving downtown talking about burgers. They mention their bosses name, Marcelo, as they arrive to an apartment complex. Vince a man working for Marcelo is taking his wife to dinner as he discusses it with his partner Jules.
Jules and Vince enter an apartment building and there are 3 men eating burgers for breakfast
After retrieving a suitcase from the men they shoot them.
The suitcase emits a shinny glare as Vince opened it-intrinsic interest
They deliver the suitcase to their boss
Vince runs into a boxer that was talking to
His boss
Vice talks to Marcelo then in the following scene meets with his wife to take her to dinner
They eat a meal at at classic dinner and win a dance competition together. As vice takes her home, she find his drugs that he purchased from a shady drug dealer prior. It is a very strong strain. She does a line and Vince finds her almost dead in the living room.
He takes her to the drug dealers house and gives her a shot to the heart
She wakes up. As Vince drops her off at home, they promise not to Mention it to anyone
As the next scene begins we are introduced to the boxer again
He has just won a fight, however we find that the fight was fixed- he shouldn't have won. He intends to leave town, but must return to his apartment to retrieve his fathers watch. He find the watch, and Vincent there who was suppose to kill him. However, Butch the boxer kills vince in the apartment. As Butch drives away, he see Marcelo waking and runs him over with a car. Marcelo begins to cause after Butch and they stumble into a pawn shop. The owner captures the two and calls a friend. As the two men are tied up, a police officer and the owner of the shop take them in the back and intend to rape them. Butch is able to escape, but goes back to help Marcelo. Marcelo lets him leave and does not decide to
Hurt butch as he decides to handle the rapist.
After we are reintroduced to the scene prior to Vince and Jules delivering the suitcase to their boss. There was another person in the apartment and shots at Vince and Jules, but completely misses.
They shot him and take the third man with them, but Vince accidentally shots him
In the car. They call Marcelo and he sends a man to dismantle the car and body from Jules's friends house.
As Vince and Jules eat we are reintroduced to the man and woman robing the dinner. They attempt to rob the people eating there, but Jules does not let them take his belongings.

Psycho film notes

December 11th- Phoenix Arizona
The film starts out with what appears to be a couple waking up in a hotel room. They seem very intimate with each other
Marion walks into a office
Camera zooms in and out focusing on money
Marion decides to take a money and go on a trip
Sees her boss as she drives out if town
She has his money- 30K
New scene with Marion walking up on the side of the road
Confronted by a CHP officer. He lets her go. She trades in a car at a dealership a d is still being followed by the officer
He is watching her across the street of the dealership.
Drives off and there is a voice-over of her thoughts.
Boss, officer, co-worker.
Stopes at the Bates motel
Is greeted by a man named Norman, he is interested in her. Offers her to stay in room 1 and makes her dinner.
They eat dinner at the parlor and we see how different Norman is.
He tells Marion about his mother and taxidermy collection. She feels uncomfortable. Leaves the parlor to go to sleep. As she showers, Norman is spying on her through a small hole in the wall. Moments later she is stabbed to death in the shower
Norman finds that she was murdered soon after and disposes of the body, car, and Marion's belongings. Days later Marion's sister goes to California looking for her. She meets Sam, Marion's lover, and questions him
A private investigator goes looking for Marion and the money. He meets with Sam and the sister
He goes to several hotels looking for her
Meets Norman at the Bates motel
Norman is very awkward and is caught in a few lies with Adbguast. The PI decided to go look for Norman's mother. As he walks up stairs he is murdered
Norman is shortly arrested after Sam and the sheriff discuss and put together the facts of the case
Norman was the one who did all the killing. He even killed his mother. The psychologist believes that he is mentally insane.