Film Criteria

  Some of my criteria for a noteworthy film are the mood. Whether this mood is set my compelling background music, or the actors' facial expression and body language; the mood is necessary in enhancing the story. Otherwise even a film with the greatest storyplot would be bland. Another important aspect is of course the storyplot itself. I tend to like science fiction films because there really isn't a limit in imagination for these films. The story can be as bizarre as the writer can make it, the CGI that comes out with the film is usually impressive to watch. The plot needs to be capitvating as well as intriguing. It needs to be interesting enough so the audience would want to watch this film over and over again, because each time they learn something different from it. The last criteria would be the acting. Choosing appropriate actors is important because not everyone can portray every role. Picking the right person for the right job will ensure a character maximizes their personality on screen. 

  "A Trip To The Moon" by George Melies rises up to my expectations of a good film. Even for an early film, when technology for special effects aren't readily available. The story, add-on music and narration are captivating. The story of the 5 astronomers having an adventure on the moon with the creatures who reside there are humorous and light-hearted. The background music, although not present in the original film, did a good job creating the mood. The music was a bit more relaxed and happy when the scientists were preparing to enter the shell, and more action-packed when they were fighting the Cellunites. 

  In "The Great Train Robbery", the music is more or less the same throughout. So although it is a good add-on for background music, it doesn't serve as much purpose as it did in "A Trip To The Moon". The story is simple but clear. The actors did a wonderful job of portraying a role without speaking a single word. Throughout most of the film you can't even see the actors' faces so they must rely on mere body language. I enjoyed that this was supposed to be more of an action-packed film about a group of train robbers, but since it's an older film, the over-exaggerated acting made this film quite humorous. 

  One of my personal favorite films would be The Dark Knight. As much as I love the action and exploration of psychology of the villains in this film, I also love the acting. The Joker, portrayed by Heath Ledger, was widely agreed as the best characterization in a film. Ledger spent much of his time and energy trying to act out the psychopahtic aspect of the Joker. As seen in this short clip, the Joker's maniac behavior clearly makes him one of the best villains out there. 

  It was said that Ledger added details that weren't in the script, but without them, the Joker wouldn't be nearly as good. For example, the way he takes the glass of champagne, throws all of it away, and then drinks it is a very clever way of showing his craziness.
  Another film I enjoy would be The Matrix. What stands out to me the most about that movie is the story. As I mentioned earlier I really enjoy the science fiction type of films because they really widen my imagination. The Matrix is about a post-apocalyptic world controlled by machines, which grow humans, harvesting their bioelectricity and heat as energy source. The machines created a simulated world for the humans, called the matrix, in which the humans live in a false reality. The main character, a seemingly normal man named Thomas Anderson, who goes by a more secretive name Neo, was able to bend the physics in this digital reality and ultimately destroy the machines, freeing the humans. Of course, like any other hero, Neo must go through trials to train and prove that he is the savior of mankind. To me this story is so interesting because I've never thought what would happen if I knew the reality I live in all my life isn't what it seems to be. The movie inspired me to think about things I've never thought of before, exploring corners of my mind that I otherwise would have ignored. It is this feeling of aspiration and suddenly realization that makes me really enjoy a film.