This Movie, one of the better ones that I have watched this semester, was the largest budgeted film of its time. This movie reminded me of America and its views on big business. I think about the larger companies and the way that many of them treat their employees. I think about the billions of dollars being made and all of the record profits being made by the fortune five hundred companies. The people on the lower levels of these companies usually never see the benefits of their labor. Walmart for example is a powerful company that makes enormous profits, just like the big business in Metropolis. The people from the movie make me think about the hundreds of workers who work in the store for minimum wages and for long hours. I also think of the conditions of many who work under the minimum wage standard and what they have to endure. The problems are the same as metropolis. Just like when the people were getting flooded in their small ghetto where they were stacked on top of each other, the big business people where having a party, blinded to the hurt, harm, and danger endured by the workers. I think that the people believed that if they couldn't see it then it was not happening. The most intriguing part of watching this movie is realizing that the directors are not trying to portray the owners as bad, but they are just giving an actual depiction of the time. The workers during these periods were treated as worker, people who are here to perform a duty and then leave. The owners are there to be in control and decided what happens, not there to make peoples lives better. I don't personally agree with it, but I do understand that the people with the money make the decisions and that still has not changed today, nor will it change in the future.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Hypocrites
(1915)
my thoughts
9 May 2011
This was my first time ever watching a silent film and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I believe one of the most important things that I noticed while watching this film was that I can create my own words or theme for the film. The film doesn't push its thoughts into your head, but allows you to think and create your own scenes. Many movies today don't afford you this opportunity and I believe it is one that is greatly missed whether we recognize it or not. In the beginning the film had me lost and wondering what exactly was going on or what I should be looking for, but then it quickly changed and speed up once the pastor finished his sermon. I noticed the way the people where criticizing him and the way that people were disrespecting the sanctuary, because there was no sound it wasn't hard to notice those incidents. I also enjoyed the way the movie moved from the present into a type of dream. The way the dream ran parallel to reality was great because then it gave the viewer a better understanding of what the director was actually trying to convey. The way the preacher was saying that the people don't want to accept the truth or don't like to see the truth was shown in the dream. It was shown when he went in search of the truth and it was on "the road less traveled" and only a few people had the urge to even try to make it up the path. Some tried and found it too hard, but only one person actually made it all the way up with the priest. I think the director was saying that most people really don't care about that truth and if something is too demanding or requires too much of their time or effort then they aren't going to work for it. They believe that there has to be another way and if not then it obviously wasn't worth their time to begin with. The author also presented the view that the truth is ever fleeting and that many aren't prepared for it to be revealed to them.
True Heart Susie
(1919)
When being good goes bad
9 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is a classic case of allowing society and traditionalism hold you back from what you really desire. There was once a time in society where the belief was that things had to be done strictly by the book and if you did them any other way then you were wrong. This belief system was not only for one part of life, but for all. There was a strict way for church's to operate, people to dress, families to conduct business, and also for people to interact with each other and if you did any of these differently than the norm then you were out of order. This was not the time to be different in society; it was a time to conform to traditionalism. Susie was as true to the traditional ways as "the needle to the pole." Susie allows her traditional ways to keep her from getting the man that she longed for from childhood. She was never willing to tell him what she truly wanted to neither through actions nor words while other girls did. Susie sat on the sideline and watched as other women robbed her of the stock she had invested so much in. Susie was so caught in tradition and being nice that it was too a fault. In the end it hurt her more than it helped. One thing I noticed was that Susie was more loyal to her mother than she was to her own desires and that loyalty cost her many years of happiness. Susie eventually married the man of her dreams, but it was well into her later years of life and she could never be as happy as she could have been had she gone with her gut feeling and told the young man how she felt. Susie surely had a true heart.
Battleship Potemkin
(1925)
We're not gonna take it.....
9 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This film was about a revolt on a ship that was started because the commanders were not concerned with the midshipmen. The commanders were overworking them and also not feeding them properly and that became a recipe for disaster. The movie reminded me of a grassroots uprising. It was about the little man gaining the respect that he rightfully deserved and finally standing up to the people in charge.
While the midshipmen were on the boat they were constantly treated wrong and then they finally decided to turn on the commanders. This on sea revolt is heard about on land and causes a stir and the people start a revolt on land. The revolt did not go as well for the people on land though, it turned into a massacre. Many of these people that revolted were running down the stairs as they were shot in the back by the infantry of government. I believe this was symbolism of what was going on with the Russian Revolution and how the people have to stand up for themselves and become heroes. This film allows the people who should and would normally be viewed as villains to be viewed as the heroes. This film was one of the better propaganda films of the 20th century. The editing of this movie that I see is the switch between the ship and the stair scene. That makes you think about the revolution on the sea and the contrast between the revolutions on the ship. I think the director did a great job with this film contrasting the views of both on shore and off shore revolts, really made me think. I also believe that this film was very successful because it was something that many people could relate too. In some way I believe that all people feel like someone is holding them down or trying to oppress them and that people who watched or heard about this film could relate to that
While the midshipmen were on the boat they were constantly treated wrong and then they finally decided to turn on the commanders. This on sea revolt is heard about on land and causes a stir and the people start a revolt on land. The revolt did not go as well for the people on land though, it turned into a massacre. Many of these people that revolted were running down the stairs as they were shot in the back by the infantry of government. I believe this was symbolism of what was going on with the Russian Revolution and how the people have to stand up for themselves and become heroes. This film allows the people who should and would normally be viewed as villains to be viewed as the heroes. This film was one of the better propaganda films of the 20th century. The editing of this movie that I see is the switch between the ship and the stair scene. That makes you think about the revolution on the sea and the contrast between the revolutions on the ship. I think the director did a great job with this film contrasting the views of both on shore and off shore revolts, really made me think. I also believe that this film was very successful because it was something that many people could relate too. In some way I believe that all people feel like someone is holding them down or trying to oppress them and that people who watched or heard about this film could relate to that
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