...Following the Band: Review of the Film Almost Famous Almost famous, written and directed by Cameron Crowe , is an endearing coming of age film that follows the adventures and experiences William Miller, of a teenage writer played by Patrick Fugit, as he follows an up and coming rock and roll band (Stillwater) in order to write a cover story for Rolling Stone Magazine in the early 1970's. William Miller is a bright-eyed and intelligent young high school student with a passion for both writing and rock music. Confined by an overly concerned and strict mother who has a irrational dislike for rock and roll music, William is desperate to break away and create a life for himself. William is determined it find an outlet and eventually lands a job writing album reviews for a local newspaper. Lester Bangs, an editor of Cream (a low-budget rock and roll magazine) played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, stumbles across William's album reviews and enjoys his work. Lester ends up getting ahold of William and offers him a job reporting on a Black Sabbath Concert. William excitedly accepts the offer, but is unable to gain access to the hugely popular Black Sabbath after the concert. Fortunately for William the members of the opening band, Stillwater, are very willing to be interviewed and provide him with enough material to write a solid report. William's piece on Stillwater catches the eye of an editor at Rolling Stone Magazine, Ben Fong-Torres ( played by Terry Chen ), who was so impressed by...
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...master facilitator in editing and on the set. All of these people help the director to form the story in the film. A countless amount of time is put into a film’s analysis which observes the filmmaking techniques, in turn helps the audience to understand the style of the film. A film's style is a dependable on the cinematic methods that include the mise en scène, cinematography, editing, sound, and overall structure (Goodykoontz & Jacobs 2014). Filmmaker’s styles have advanced so much over many years in Hollywood, and they have incorporated many elements of all sorts of technical effects while developing distinctive approaches to making a movie. Director Cameron Crowe offers an inspiring thematic trio in the movie Jerry Maguire, it is filled with drama, comedy, and romance as it relates to a genre film. Cameron Crowe did his homework before he began to develop the character Jerry Maguire. He talked to a businessmen and interviewed him for about a year in order to develop the script for the movie. His role as the director is very important in the making of a movie, he is the storyteller who needs people, equipment for the set, and an imagination with a lot of planning to bring his story to the audience. He is also considered the artist as he is the one who holds the vision for the movie, deals with different personalities from the actors, uncooperative weather, budgets...
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...Introduction: “SHOW ME THE MONEY!” (Crowe, 1996). One of the most famous movie quotes from all time, coming from the 1996 film Jerry Maguire, a movie about a man named after the movie who works for a big sports agency firm and decides that he prefers to pursue less clients and give each one more personal attention rather than trying to rack up as many clients/commissions possible. At first everyone in his firm pretends that this is a smart idea, until a fellow agent fires him on the spot. The rest of the movie displays him rebuilding his brand by holding onto one client, Rod Tidwell, who he develops a close personal bond with and eventually lands the contract that he had desired deeply throughout the movie. Although dramatized, this movie has inspired many people to desire a career as a sports agent and has made it look like a glamorous life. After seeing this film this has...
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...Derek Ajamian The different topics in the movie weren’t all accurate. Back then gladiators were supposed to make it believable but no actually kill each other. Also the pointing of a thumb down or up was changed in the movie then it really was. Another difference was some of the men had good bodies and weren’t plump or chubby. I think this movie is very believable. Hollywood added the drama between the crazy emperor and Maximus. Maximus was sold into slavery and back then Gladiators did that too. In the movie they didn’t have gladiators fight privately in other peoples rich homes and in the past they would. They didn’t make it 100% based on historical fact because they want a dramatic storyline that really brings action to an amazing story. They changed the thumbs because since this movie was made in our generation that’s what were used but in the past they would have it the other way. The coliseum’s big and small was exactly the same in the movies and back then in Rome. There was a battle of Carthage that Rome had won in real life and in the movie Maximus and others won that battle. The weapons and training were pretty much the same except there was no net in the movie and in the past they had those. Woman gladiators were in the movie and in past Rome too. They showed gambling in the movie before the battles and in the past they did this too. Fans would get very into these events in the movie and in the past. Lastly the gladiator dress was the same in the early Roman time...
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...Loretta Polk Mrs. Lorna Ivey English Comp. I 3, March 2014 Maximus’ Death Gladiator is a movie about a beloved General of Rome named Maximus. He is informed by the aging emperor, Marcus Aurelius, that he would like Maximus to be his heir. However, the emperor’s son Commodus overhears this and becomes furious. Commodus wanted the position himself; he killed his father before he could inform the empire of his decision about Maximus. Commodus became the new emperor and orders Maximus’s and his family to be put to death. Maximus escapes to find his home destroyed and his wife and son burnt to death. Maximus’s loss causes him to lose the will to continue living and gets him captured and put into the Gladiator games. His only desire now is to rise to the top so that he might be able to look into the eyes of the man who killed his family and obtain his revenge (Terry). The emperor, Commodus, has become so sinister that he even threatens to kill Lucius, his sister Lucilla’s son; believing that him and his sister can have what he call a “pure blood child” together. Commodus hears that the people of Rome see Maximus as the savior of Rome. This makes Commodus furious and leads him to conjure up a plan to kill Maximus. Commodus decides to fight Maximus in the Roman Coliseum and kill him in front of all of Rome. He cheats and punctures Maximus’s lung with a hidden shank before the fight is started. Commodus wears white, Royal Armor, while Maximus wears gladiator armor with an encrusted...
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... Lecturer English SUBMITTED BY: Nusrat Jahan Nishi SUBJECT: ENG102 SECTION: 5 Date: 30/11/2011 History made History “Gladiator” Gladiator is a historical epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Ralf Möller, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, Jorhn Shrapnel and Richard Harris. Released in the United States on May 5, 2000, Gladiator was a box office success, receiving positive reviews, and was credited with briefly reviving the historical epic. Channel 4 (UK TV) poll named it as the sixth greatest film of all time. The film was nominated for and won multiple awards, particularly five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Best Visual Effects, Best Costume Design, Best Sound (Bob Beemer, Scott Millan and Ken Weston) Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his heir over his own son, Commodus, and a power struggle leaves Maximus family condemned to death. The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the Gladiator games until...
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...Critique of Master and Commander Critique of Master and Commander * The “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” is an impressive action/adventure movie that takes place during the time of the Napoleonic War. Based on the novels of Patrick O’brian, it recreates the world of the British Navy in 1805 with such detail and intensity that the sea battles become stages for personality and character (Ebert, November 14, 2003). Captain “Lucky Jack” Aubrey of the HMS Surprise is played by Russell Crowe and the ship’s doctor, Maturin is played by Paul Bettany. Aubrey and Maturin is strained by Aubrey not following through on a promise made to Bettany. The friendship is proven when Maturin is injured from gunshot from another grew member and Aubrey has a choice of saving his friend or continuing to pursue the enemy. The main plot is how this British ship ambushed and out gunned and out manned by the enemy ship. With the HMS Surprise obtained heavy damaged in a surprise attack in a fog bank the Captain of the British ship manages to evade the enemy, and eventually repair his ship to do battle again. * The directors’ mise-en-scene immerses the viewer into the early 19th century as how life is like on a ship during the early 19th century. The director provides realistic settings with lighting, costumes, and management of time along with the feeling of working and living out on the ocean. The beginning of the film gives the viewer a little tour of the harsh environment...
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...Gladiator Julius Mitchell ENG 225 Prof. Jonathan Beller 13 March 2011 What would you do if you were engaged in a twelve year campaign; you have a wife and son who are waiting for you, but you are asked to be king and leader of your country? Would you refuse your king, and turn your back on your country, for the sake of two? Ridley Scott, director of Universal Pictures “Gladiator,” brought to life, writer David Franzoni’s epic tale of Maximus, an inspiring and powerful Roman General. After twelve years of fighting, Maximus longs for nothing more than the warm embrace of his family. Unfortunately, the king, Marcus Aurelius asked that he should be crowned king of Rome instead of his corrupt son Commodus. Maximus is caught in a power struggle, which leave him and his family condemned to death. This critical analysis of the motion picture “Gladiator,” will analyze the key elements of film, which embody the storytelling, acting, cinematography, editing, sound, style and directing, societal impact, genre, film criticism and analysis. The story of Maximus, once the most powerful, and respected, general, in Rome, reduced to a slave who fights for an opportunity to exact his vengeance for the brutal death of his family is written with three basic elements. It has character, desire, and conflict. The narrative structure of the film is organized in six stages. These stages are developed by the turning points in the plot. The stages are the initial setup, new...
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...Gladiator: The Movie Essay | Gladiator: The Movie Ridley Scott This student essay consists of approximately 3 pages of analysis of Gladiator. Print Word PDF This section contains 804 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) Gladiator: The Movie Summary: "What we do in life echoes in eternity." A famous tag line of the movie that Maximus (Russell Crowe) said to his men before they merge in the battlefield. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). A very highly intense action sequence directed by Ridley Scott. A film that won multiple awards including, best costume design, visual, pictures and sound effects. The "Gladiator." "What we do in life echoes in eternity." A famous tag line of the movie that Maximus (Russell Crowe) said to his men before they merge in the battlefield. Maximus is a powerful Roman general, loved by the people and the aging Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Before his death, the Emperor chooses Maximus to be his inheritor over his own son Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), and a power struggle leaves Maximus and his family condemned to death. The powerful general is unable to save his family, and his loss of will allows him to get captured and put into the savage games until he dies. The only desire that fuels him now is the chance to rise to the top so that he will be able to look into the eyes of the man who will feel his revenge. A very highly intense action...
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...Week 5 Essay David A. Micciche University of Phoenix For my report I decided to write about Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, which is an action, adventure, drama. This film was released in 2000 with Russell Crowe who is a method style actor, as the lead actor, Starring as Maximus. Maximus was the favorite general of Caesar Marcus Aurelius played by Richard Harris. After defeating the German Barbarians, general Maximus only dreamed of returning home to his wife and son to live a simply life tending to his crops, and leave behind his life as a respected general. After defeating the German barbarians, and with his health failing Caesar decides to appoint Maximus as the protector of Rome and wishes to pass all of his powers as Caesar to Maximus, on the condition that Maximus restores Rome to its former glory, then returning all power to the senate. Commodus, who is played by Joaquin Phoenix who is also a method actor, is a spoiled self indulged aristocrat that believed Caesar would name him as his successor. Commodus kills Caesar and takes the title of Caesar and orders his soldiers to kill Maximus and his family. Maximus escapes, wounded, only to return home to find that Commodus’ soldiers beat him there and slain his wife and son. He awakes to find himself captured to be sold as a slave to Proximo, played by the late Oliver Reed. Promimo is a Gladiator manager, and trains his slaves to fight as gladiators in arena settings, so that he can profit from their blood. Upon returning...
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...other to death with many different beautiful types of scenery and sets, such as the battle scene in the very beginning of the film, which is a beautiful forest covered in snow with trees lined on the outside of the Roman base, and Caesar’s palace, which is very big with tall rooms and many different pillars and marble floors. The most notable set in the film is the famous Coliseum of Rome which stands about twenty stories high, holding about 20,000 people to watch the gladiators battle to the death, looked as if it were the actual coliseum being used by the gladiators. Scott gives the film a sense of realism by showing blood and gore as it might happen if they were actually fighting in a ring. The film’s main character, Maximus (Russell Crowe), is made a slave by the new ruler of Rome, Commodus, (Joaquin Phoenix), because his father, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), was murdered by Commodus in a jealous rage because Marcus decides to make Maximus his successor, which does not go over well with Commodus. Maximus is taken away to be executed, but escapes and sets out to find his wife and child dead and is captured by slave-traders to become a slave. He is bought by Proximo who makes him fight as a gladiator around different arenas to make money. Proximo realizes Maximus’ potential and heals him up to fight in the great Coliseum of Rome, where he finds Commodus and in the end faces him one on one in the Coliseum. One scene that has the most impact on the whole movie is when...
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...The film gladiator is a 2000 historical action/drama film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe. The film won five Academy Awards in the 73rd Academy Awards ceremony. Ridley Scott also directed other films such as Blade Runner, Legend, A Good Year, American Gangster, Alien and Thelma & Louise. Overall, Gladiator cost $145.7 million to film and promote, with much of the production cost spent on computer special effects. However, the movie grossed over $187 million in American theatres and more than $269 million overseas. The trailer to gladiator starts off with loud dramatic music and a black screen with the words ‘the General’ this gives the audience the feeling that its going to be quite an Acton packed film the next few slides show a head shot of man walking with some armour on which fades into another black screen with the words ‘who became a slave’ which fades into a line of slaves dressed in rags. That then fades into yet another black screen with ‘the slave who became a gladiator’. There are a few more like this but it ends on ‘ the gladiator that defected an empire this grabs the audiences attention and makes them think that something must happen but yet still keeps them in suspense. After the starting sequence there is a few fighting scenes showing that there will be some violence in it and that it is still action packed. As the trailer gets towards the end the fights get more intense and there are people shouting the music also gets faster showing something...
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...Film paper: Gladiator “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius; father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.” In the 2000 film, Gladiator, Russel Crow plays a victorious Roman general, Maximus, whose charismatic leadership and order to return Rome back over to the Senate led the emperor’s son, Commodus Aurelius, played by Joaquin Phoenix, to murder his father, Marcus Aurelius, and plot the condemnation of Maximus. After escaping his own execution, Maximus is captured by slave traders and sold to Proximo’s business of harvesting gladiators. After growing in popularity he and his fellow gladiators are sent to Rome where he later forms a plot with Lucilla, Commodus’ sister, and Senator Gracchus to overthrow his nemesis, Commodus, and to return Rome to a senate-based government. Maximus was successful in his attempt to lead his followers and defeat his enemy through his charismatic leadership style and his reliance on his expert and referent power. Maximus exudes charisma through his self-confidence and humility in which he leads his followers. In the beginning of the film, Maximus walks the talk by fighting on the front lines of battle amongst his army with the Germanic barbarians. In order to inspire his men, Maixmus uses imagery and rhetorical language to motivate his army to be strong and succeed...
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...and the American cinema composition. Coming in at the second highest grossing film of all times only behind Titanic, James Cameron and his crew of artistic creators surely gave their audiences something to talk about. The film takes place in two separate worlds, the industrialized earth and the beautiful and plush avatar infested world of Pandora. The controversy of the film is centered on the humans mining the world of Pandora for a highly valuable element worth an estimated $20 million dollars a kilogram. The artistically drawn battle between the humans and the natives of Pandora, bring about a reminder of several classically organized stories that seem to follow along the same paths that Avatar treads upon. With this controversy that is being brought to light, the issue of race, racial tolerance and other problems dealing with color are brought up throughout the film in a multitude of ways. Whether it be embodied in the thoughts and processes of the characters, through the actual actions of the film, or the eerily similar comparisons that can be made between Avatar and other racially charged films, race is definitely a subject that was vividly dug up when the film crossed the minds of the viewers. Many reviews of the film Avatar put most of the racist charges and blames of inequality onto the writers of the film and the director, James Cameron. The argument presented states that even though the film is supposed to be centered on the idea of the natives saving the...
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...Storyline: In the year 2154, the RDA Corporation plans to explore Pandora, an earth-like moon situated at a distant galaxy for its rich abundance of unobtanium - a valuable mineral. The planet is inhabitant by Na ‘vi, a blue skinned species which are human like with feline characteristics. As Pandora’s atmosphere does not any human survival, scientists create human-Na’vi hybrids known as Avatars. These avatars are controlled by genetically matched human operators. Jake Sully was sent as a replacement for his identical twin brother who was recently murdered. Jake is a paraplegic war veteran. Dr. Grace Augustine who is the head of the Avatar Program appoints Jake as a bodyguard. In Pandora, Jake escorts Augustine and biologist Norm Spellman. The group was attacked by a large predator and eventually Jake gets separated from his team. Later, he was rescued by Neytiri, a female Na’vi. Hse took Jake to their clan where he was given a warm welcome. Back in the camp, Jake was identified by the leader of RDA security forces colonel Miles Quaritch who promises Jake to get back his real legs in exchange for intelligence about the natives. He was also appointed a task of making the Na’vis to abandon Hometree which was situated above a large deposit of unobtanium. In the meanwhile, Jake grows close towards Neytiri and her clan Omaticaya. Jake started enjoying his life through his avatar and eventually tries to stop his people to destroy the Omaticaya’s peaceful life on the Hometree...
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