English 3345 - Angels, Vampires and Monsters or the Human and Its Others

Topics in Cinema: English 3345 - Angels, Vampires and Monsters or the Human and Its Others

Portfolio Homework # 1: Angels, Poems, Stories, and Movies

Food for thought by Shakespeare: Hamlet: “What a piece of work is a man!

How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and

admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god!

The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals!”

Part I:

2. What was the Hollywood Studio System? Name 3 of Hollywood’s Golden Age stars.

The Hollywood Studio System was crated by five major film studios, also know as the Big Five. The Hollywood Studio System always has been very famous for all the good movies that has make and all the famous actors that have participated in it. This studio gave training and coaching to make good actors. Three of Hollywood’s Golden Age stars were Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Joan Crawford.

3. What was Thomas Edison’s relation to filmmaking? Did he make any “monster” movies? (HINT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-fM9meqfQ4&feature=relmfu)

Thomas Edison’s was an American inventor and a businessman than invented many things that influenced life around the world. He invented the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting practical electric light bulb. In 1910 he made a famous monster movie name Frankenstein.

4. Who is Roger Ebert and what is his job in the film industry?

Roger Elbert was an American journalist, screenwriter, and film critic. He was described as “the most powerful pundit in America”. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. Wrote more than 15 books and had a lot of television programs. He has been nominated for Emmy Awards.

7. Who was Fra Angelico? Find one of his angel paintings and in one sentence explain what it makes you feel or think.

Fran Angelico was a painter in the Renaissance era in Italy. Was born in 1395 and his name means “Angelic Brother”. The Pope John Paul II beatified Fra Angelico in October of 1982 and 2 years later declares him patron of Catholic artists. He do the famous painting of Jesus Christ crucified and the wound in his chest.

Part II:

5. Watch a post 9/11 angel film, such as Constantine (2005) or Legion (2009). Then summarize its plot and write on how it makes you feel and/or think.

In the film Constantine (2005), John Constantine is an exorcist that sends demos to hell and he is trying to buy his way to heaven. He start helping a detective that is trying to prove her sister’s deaths was not a suicide. He tries everything he can to help her, including going to hell to find information. John fight with the devil and made an exchange of the detective sister soul for himself.

I like very much this film because I love how Constantine made the exchange for the detective sister. Although he sends demos to hell and that was bad, in the movie he is trying to earn his pardon and go to heaven. Topics in Cinema: English 3345 - Angels, Vampires and Monsters or the Human and Its Others

Portfolio Homework # 2: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Dr. Reeves: "...nothing is stronger than the Law in the Universe, but on Earth, nothing is stronger than Love."

Part I:

1. Find biographical information on the directors, Powell and Pressburger, and their work. Why do you think they called themselves The Archers?

Michael Latham Powell (1905-1990) was an English film director. He worked and produced with Pressburger a lot of English films like A Matter of Life and Death. Powell and Pressburger decided to form a partnership and they would put in the credits of the movies “Written, Produced by Powell & Pressburger”. Emeric Pressburger (1902-1988) was a british screenwriter, film director and a producer. He was a journalist before meeting Powell. He moved to Paris then to London when he meet Powell. They worked together on “The Spy in Black” (1939), and they produced British films. They called themselves “The Archers” because that meant their total joint responsibility for their own work and that they weren’t beholden to any studio or other producers.

2. Find biographical information on David Niven and Kim Hunter. Be brief!

James David Graham Niven (1910-1983) was an English novelist and actor. Very popular actor in Europe and in the United State. He was the actor in the movie A Matter of Life and Death. He wins the award of Best Actor in the movie Separate Tables in 1958 and he was voted the second most popular British actor in 1945. Kim Hunter (1922-2002) was an American film, television, and theatre actress. In 1943, was her first film The Seventh Victim. She wins an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award on Best Supporting Actress.

Part II:

1. Peter Carter’s Character: What does “Peter” mean? Do you think “Peter” is a good name for the main character? Why do you think his beloved is just named “June”?

Peter means rock. I think that Peter is a good name for the main character because he is strong men that never give up on June. June represents the goddess of marriage and childbirth and represents love in the entire movie. She feels love for him even when she has not seen him.

7. “Heaven” or the “Other World”: How is “Heaven” portrayed in A Matter of Life and Death? How do you feel about that portrayal?

Heaven is portrayed as a lobby. Dead people check in and receive their wings. In heaven are statues of important people and big stairs. Heaven is like being on Earth. I’ve never imagined that heaven had a lobby that you have to do a check in.

10. Which title do you like better? Why? A Matter of Life and Death or Stairway to Heaven?

I like better the title of Stairway to Heaven because in the movie is clearly seen when Peter is getting up and down on the stairway that leads to heaven. And we clearly see when the court is on the stairs making