Rating Scale

A movie that recieves a 10/10 fits into my top ten all time favorite movies!

A movie that recieves a 9/10 is a must see movie that falls just short of making my top ten all time movies list.

A movie that receives an 8/10 exceeds expectations and is a must see.

A movie that receives a 7/10 meets the expectations, but is nothing beyond extraordinary. I would still recommend this film.

A movie that receives a 6/10 is nothing I would ever watch again. It's border-line bad and doesn't meet expectations.

A movie that receives a 5/10 is bad, but it still needs to receive a rating.

Anything below a five is not worthy of making my blog!

The Graduate

"One Word: Plastics." This was one example of change symbolized the rebellious youth of the 1960's. In The Graduate, Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) is college graduate who seeks not to live the successful adult life. He is not your typical college graduate; instead, Ben is quite the awkward character when it comes to interactions with women. Without caring about his future, Ben floats in his parents pool and, "Sows some wild oats." Taking Mr. Robinson's (Murray Hamilton) advice, Ben takes his chance and has an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) after she seduces him. Oblivious to the whole situation, Mr. Robinson believes it would be a good idea for Ben to take Elaine (Katharine Ross), Mr. and Mrs. Robinsons' daughter, out. This only adds to the drama of this comic film.
This is a must see movie. I highly recommend viewing this film on account that you will laugh and enjoy the entirety of this movie. I give this movie a 8/10. The film really shows how the rebellious youth of the 1960's changed so many students. Ben relates to life as a game. He says, "It's like I was playing some kind of game, but the rules don't make any sense to me. They're being made up by all the wrong people. I mean no one makes them up. They seem to make themselves up." Ben was on the right path having graduated from college and having a bright future in front of him, but Ben's rebellion changes his life forever. Not only has he decided not to continue his successful, Ben also gets caught up in a double family love triangle. The lyrics of Simon & Garfunkel's soundtrack directly relate to what is happening at the time. It is very easy to interpret the life and feelings when these songs are played. "So, here's to you Mrs. Robinson."

Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock's new idea of a suspenseful, horror movie has completely added a new element to the movie industry. Psycho was the first horror movie ever produced and not only was it a success, the new style has ever since been a huge attraction for many movie viewers. Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) and her lover, Sam Loomis (John Gavin), are unable to live happily together because of Sam's debt. When Marion is trusted to bank $40,000 for her employer, Marion seizes the oppurtunity to start a new, debt-free life with Sam. Marion grows tired while driving and decides to pull off the highway and stay the night at The Bates Motel. The motel is run by a man named Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins). When Norman's mother finds out a woman is staying at the motel, she makes sure that Norman and Marion will never have a "living relationship."

Alfred Hitchcock's choice of producing this film in black and white was a genius idea. The movie would have been nowehre near the same if it were in color. In black and white the movie gives more of a suspenseful tone to it. It makes some scenes darker which makes the movie that much more intense. With Hitchcock's new ideas and great production, I would give this movie a 8/10. Not only did he introduce a new genre to the movie world, Hitchcock produced one of the all-time greatest horror films. I would highly recommend watching this film not only because it was the first horror film, but because of its twisted plot which keeps you on edge the entire movie. This movie grabs your attention and blocks out the real world. You wouldn't even notice a fly if it landed on you, let alone swat it.

Ben-Hur : Socratic Discussion

(Picture Provided by SoundOnSight)

Click Here for Perham High School Film Studies Socratic Discussion on Ben-Hur

Citizen Kane

Just as Mr. Kane, "Always gagged on the silver spoon," I about gagged over the plot of this film. There is no other reason to watch this film other than the fact that it is critically claimed as one of the best films ever made. Sure it has a great message to the audience, but the plot is very boring. This is no film I would suggest to watch on a Friday family night or friendly movie night. Citizen Kane is a film you would watch when you are home alone on a Friday night with no friends to hang out with.

The film starts out like a movie you would watch in Science class. It is no attention grabber and almost put me to sleep in the first ten minutes. Charles Foster Kane, played by Orson Welles (also the director), was a rich man who was very successful in the business world and could have whatever he wanted. The story is about reporters examining the legacy he left behind. As the reporters talk to different people, the film has flashbacks of Mr. Kane's life. Unless you are the person who loves learning about someone's life, you will probably fall far short of enjoying this film. Kane was very successful in starting a newspaper business which reached extremely high circulation numbers. He soon gains the love of many people and the hate of others. You either loved him or hated him, there was no in between. Kane eventually gains the confidence and demand for more power. When Kane runs for governor, he encounters conflict with Jim Gettys, his opponent, who reveals a secret Kane's wife, Emily. The reason the plot of this film is so terrible, is its only purpose is trying to find the meaning of Charles Foster Kane's meaning to his dying word-- "rosebud."

It is very obvious why the critics name this film as possibly the best film ever-- its message to society. Citizen Kane shows how one can, at one moment, have the love of an entire world, but never have happiness. Money cannot buy happiness, and Kane learned that the hard way. There was only one thing that made him happy-- "rosebud." The question is, "What was rosebud?" Even though it seemed like a pointless plot, I still give the film a solid 7/10. It does have an important message to

society and the the cinematography is absolutely phenomenal for 1941. This is a must see film since it is critically claimed one of the best films ever. It is a one and done movie; you will probably not watch this more than one time, but you have to since the critics call it one of the best films ever.