King of the Jungle

So, this is our latest project, the five by five, cinco by cinco, and also 5x5 in other languages. Anywho, here goes.

1st shot: A little clip from the song featured in Disney's "The Lion King". I used it because recently, one of my cat's got a haircut that makes him look like a lion.
2nd shot: My lion-esque cat, Simon, awaking from a deep slumber, and startled to see an unwanted animal in its kingdom.
3rd shot: My more panthery cat, Garfunkel, cries for me to let him out on the hunt, so for he can get us food, as we have not eaten in many moons.
4th shot: The King inspecting a strange piece of human machinery. "What is this abomination", he says.
5th shot: The hunter laments over a failed hunt. The flatlands have gone dry, and some of the young will starve.

For this project I used a typical point and shoot camera. To edit, I used iMovie. Overall, smooth sailing.

In all, I am very pleased with the video, it portrays the majestic lifestyle of the feline monarchy in a way I never thought possible before.

I think for our next project, we should do a short project like this one, but instead, an abstract 25-30 second music video.

Dystopian Trailer Analysis

Dystopian Trailer.

The Island . Michael Bay . PG-13 . 2005

Lincoln (Ewan McGregor) and Jordan (Scarlett Johanson) are supposed apocalypse survivors living in a protected facility, cut off from the world. When they learn that they are only clones, used for human organ harvesting, they must escaped the fake utopia they live in. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR9JPy00Ojk&feature=related

The trailer for Michael Bay's "The Island", shows a good example of a dystopia because the world the main characters live in is a supposed Utopia, and the citizens living their fear the world outside where they live and the island itself. The catalyst, Lincoln discovering that "the island" does not exist and that their is a real world outside the facility where he lives, sends him and Joran, a female citizen, on a journey to escape the slaughterhouse in which they live. 

The trailer is fast paced and includes many flashing images that do not necessarily pertain to the plot, but do make the viewer more intrigued in the film. Quick snippits of voice saying things such as "the island isn't real!" or, "don't you want to live?" Make you sit at the edge of your seat.

Overall, the trailer presents a great example of a dystopian world.

World Without Walls Annotated Link

http://diigo.com/0sy3s

Self Structured Learning

In a world, where walls are a thing of the past, an entire complex, digital matrix, is at our Cheeto dusted fingertips. Not physical walls, of course, that would probably be the single worst thing that ever has happened to humanity. Luckily, the walls I speak of, are walls which limit communication. Ever since scientists created a magical thing called, "the internet", new forms of communication, and learning, have arisen across the globe.
I can't even imagine how my parents got through school without google or Sparknotes or high functioning calculators. Today instead of just using the web as a way to slack off, I can also use it as a opportunity to "turbo-enhance" my learning. Previously, students only had their opinions, and the opinions of their teachers and peers, however, now, one can access the opinions of humans worldwide. Even without the ability to access online encyclopedias, dictionaries, and other information sources, we even have the opportunity to share ideas with "Real People!" Yes, real, live people with real ideas that they are willing to share, and are willing to here yours. This is great because it allows you to get a real global perspective and get a less biased brainstorming session with people other than your peers. Over all, the internet allows for great for structuring ones own learning. Magical really, just magical.

Batman's Greatest Foe (Its not who you think)

For my first real assignment in my media class this year, I was told to annotate a current movie review, and then review the review and post said review on this blog. Earlier in the summer I had the fortune of being able to attend a Batman Marathon at my local movie theater, at which they would play the newest  Batman film at midnight. My first thought when the film was over, was: that was the best movie I have ever seen. Now, this might just be because Batman has been my favorite Super Hero, or rather, Hero, for a long long time. Everything Batman stands for is so different from other super heroes. Or at least how super hero's are portrayed in films and most of the mainstream comics. I was overjoyed with Christopher Nolan's portrayal of my long-time role model. Showing him as an outcast, all alone, and yet still protecting those who have discarded him, showing the ultimate example of good and nobility. I can't think of a single other super hero movie that exemplifies more moral conflict, sadness, pain, struggle, fight, and triumph as does the new Batman Trilogy.

I was shocked after reading the reviews for The Avengers, and seeing that they were extremely positive. What I saw was a brightly colored, shallow, family flick chock full of bad jokes not worth more than a couple dollars. Batman is not a comedy, unlike many of the super hero films they play in theaters today.

So, for my assignment, I of course wanted to review a review of The Dark Knight Rises. And what has better reviews that the Newyorker Magazine? Let me tell you one thing, and I am directing this at those with control at the Newyorker, what on earth where you thinking letting Anthony Lane's review of The Dark Knight Rises appear in print. I have never read a more ignorant, or ill informed article of any sort in my entire life, and I have read many ignorant articles. First off, the review contains absolutely no comment on aspects of the film other than criticizing Batman Himself. There is no mention of cinematography, acting (other than batman's), set, or costumes. I was in awe of the immaturity of the writers comments, almost directly asking director Christopher Nolan to make shallower movies Among complaints of Batman not getting "wasted with Iron Man" (who, by the way, is in a completely different universe) and the paralyzing stupidity of word combinations such as calling fear and anger "large abstract nouns", perhaps the most appalling sentence of all resides in the last paragraph. Let me remind you, this is a real review printed in the world famous Newyorker Magazine, this is not a joke. And I quote "Over three films we have waited for him to have Bat-Core sex, hanging upside down from a rafter and emitting cries of sonar."

What you've just said, is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling incoherent review, were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought everyone who read it is now dumber for having done so. I give you no sympathy, and may god have mercy on your soul. (Adapted from Billy Madison)
The annotated review: http://diigo.com/0sudu

Gettin to know me.

Hello internet! My name is Conor, and I hail from old Mary's Land. I have been alive for 15 revolutions about the sun. 15 winters, 15 Summers, and all the hopscotch and all the shenanigans in between. My hobbies include, but are not limited to, shenaniganing, adventuring, exploring, rabble-rousing, questioning the man, bucking the system, rocking and or rolling, and of course, film production and media. This Blog, named ConorCorp. will be a collection of my film and media work throughout the school year.