Film Appreciation Blog by

Week 1

whill6_1 — 2025-05-21 18:05:15 UTC

For this week's film review, I decided to analyze the use of color, hues and lighting in James Cameron's 'Avatar' (2009), and talk about how he carefully uses these elements to mirror Jake's emotions and his spiritual journey as his values and ways of life change completely. These elements really helped me understand the true message that the film was trying to portray which will be discussed more in depth in the film review!!

Week 2

whill6_1 — 2025-05-21 18:05:23 UTC

In Fight Club (1999), director David Fincher incorporates cinematography in his film through different tactics such as color palettes and lighting to mirror that of the emotions of the narrator and main characters of the story, further emphasizing the mental struggle that the narrator is going through. The film has many scenes with a subdued color palette with many soft grey, blue and green hues to them such as those in the two images above. These colors together make the film have a bland and dull overlap to the scenes which represent the mundane and unfulfilling existence of the narrator. The earlier scenes can be characterized by a combination of the flat lighting and static camera work to create the feel of emotional detachment that the character is going through emotionally. Additionally, the sterile looking environment of his condo and office further underlie his monotonous routine, coinciding with his emotional state and the lack of excitement and happiness in his life at that moment, further showing his inner emptiness. As his mental stability decreases, Fincher continues to use cinematographic elements to showcase this. In the introduction of Tyler Durden, there was a shift towards more chaotic and expressive visuals in the film such as more handheld camera motions and rapid movement on top of the more common skewed and asymmetrical angles, directly mirroring his decline in mental stability. However, despite his continuous decline, the lighting in the film starts to become much brighter with warmer colors and tones becoming more prevalent in places such as Lou’s Tavern and the underground fight clubs being dimly light with practical lighting for their respective locations, enhancing the increased energy in the atmosphere. The significance of color in this film play a role in storytelling with the various palettes throughout the various parts of the film such as the beginning of the film’s muted tones and the later part of the film’s warmer and more vibrant tones like the bright pinks and the intense oranges you see within certain scenes. Moments like this in the film can draw attention to Tyler’s disruptive nature and influence over the narrator and his slow decline into further chaos mentally. Aside from color, Fincher alters his depth of field often to emphasize the disorientation, isolation and detachment of his characters, and accompanied them with subliminal flashes of Tyler in the earlier scenes that were used to foreshadow the psychological twist that takes place later in the film in terms of the narrator’s mental state. Fincher used innovative visual sequences to critique consumer culture as well, like in the IKEA catalog scene where the camera evenly pans throughout the narrator’s apartment, mirroring a commercial, emphasizing emptiness and materialism in society and the film. However, in direct contrast with this, the fight scenes maintain a sense of raw intimacy, which are obtained through various close ups with heavy shadows to allow the audience to focus on who is in front of our face, to amplify the emotions being released and showcasing the brutality of the characters. Essentially, the cinematography in Fight Club is more than just a random stylistic choice, but a necessary choice to engage in the art of storytelling within the film and every decision regarding lighting, camera movement and color reflect the Narrator’s mental evolution whether he gets better or worse on top of often mirroring his current emotional state.

Week 3

whill6_1 — 2025-05-21 18:05:28 UTC

For this week's film review, I decided to analyze how the film's use of intense suspense accompanied with the tension of the silence of the film allows it to be categorized in the thriller and horror category. In addition to this, the constant threat of the family's survival and their intense obsession with staying quiet and putting a finger over their lips to communicate the one thing that was needed while outside intensifies the fear of the audience, catalyzing the thrill of the plot of the movie.

Week 4

whill6_1 — 2025-05-21 18:05:32 UTC

Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is known not just for its story and acting, but also for how well it uses editing and sound to shape the film’s emotion, pace, and overall impact. One of the biggest things that stands out in the editing is how slow and careful it is. Instead of jumping quickly from scene to scene or using flashy transitions, the movie takes its time, letting us really take in the characters’ expressions and movements. A great example of this is the restaurant scene where Michael kills Sollozzo and McCluskey. The suspense builds slowly, with long shots and very little movement. The camera stays on Michael’s face as he thinks about what he’s about to do, and the sound of a subway train in the background gets louder, raising the tension until he finally pulls the trigger. The slow pace helps us feel his stress and watch him change into someone willing to kill. Another strong editing choice is cross-cutting, which is used during the famous baptism scene. As Michael stands in church, becoming his nephew’s godfather, the film cuts back and forth between this peaceful moment and scenes of violent killings he secretly ordered. These quick cuts show the two sides of Michael, one as a loving family man and the other as a cold, powerful criminal. The edits get faster as the sequence goes on, building energy and emotion until the final murder lines up perfectly with the end of the baptism. The sound design is just as important in setting the film’s mood and tone. Nino Rota’s music, especially the main theme, gives the movie a sad, dramatic feel. The score comes back during big emotional moments, like when Michael comes home from Sicily or after Don Vito dies, helping connect the story to ideas like destiny and family loyalty. Silence is also used in smart ways. For example, when Don Vito dies in the garden, the scene is quiet and calm, showing that he died naturally and peacefully. In the restaurant scene, as Michael prepares to shoot, the background noise fades except for the train sound, which grows louder and shows his growing anxiety. This mix of silence and sound pulls us into what the characters are feeling without them needing to say anything. The way the characters speak is also part of the sound design. Most of the time, especially with Michael and Don Vito, their voices are low and steady, which makes them seem powerful and in control. These quiet conversations set the mood and help define who they are. A different sound moment that stands out is when Sonny gets ambushed at the toll booth. The sudden burst of gunfire and chaos hits hard, especially after the quiet moments before, making his death even more shocking and emotional. Little sound effects, like a lighter flicking, clothes rustling, or shoes clicking on the floor, also make the movie feel more real. These small sounds help build the world of the Corleone family and make everything seem more believable. Overall, the editing and sound in The Godfather don’t just support the story, they’re part of what makes the movie so powerful. The slow pacing gives us time to think and feel, the cross-cutting adds meaning, and the careful use of music, silence, and background noise creates a strong emotional experience. Together, these elements make the film more than just a gangster movie. They turn it into a deep and moving look at family, power, and identity. Because of this, The Godfather isn’t just a great story, it’s one of the best examples of filmmaking at its highest level.

Week 5

whill6_1 — 2025-05-21 18:05:41 UTC