A scene from one of Miyazaki's older films: "My neighbor Totoro." The forest spirit Totoro, seen on the right, also made a cameo as one of the toys in "Toy Story 3."
By Jaren Jolley
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese anime filmmaker. If you aren’t the biggest anime fan, don’t worry neither am I, but with Miyazaki you are dealing with something so beyond predictable or categorical, that you are in complete rapture with every single one of Miyazaki’s films. Some of his most notable films are Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, and Princess Mononoke. Miyazaki works in with a production and animation studio called Studio Ghibli. Spirited Away won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Each Miyazaki film works within a different niche and brings something entirely unique and different to the table, but there is a common “magic” that binds all them and makes all his movies so stylistically and cinematic pleasing.
Every single time you finish one of his movies you have a very warm, inspirational, and magic feeling within you. It’s nearly inexplicable, unless you view them yourself. Any doubts you have about the anime factor dissolve when you see the beautiful visuals, artistic touch, talented voice cast, and brilliant plot progression. You connect with the stories in such a personal way that the films become a part of you and you glom onto them until you’ve gladly squeezed every last bit of brilliant meaning out of them. You walk away with a greater sense of self, which is essentially the mark of a perfect or near perfect movie. All those factors are why Miyazaki has become one of my favorite filmmakers of all time.
This 2011 film was made by filmmakers James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot. Image by g4tv.com
By Nicholas Lives
Just like any other medium, mainstream movies are most always large budget films with a major studio behind them. While these movies are not necessarily bad, the more interesting film experiences often come from the independent filmmakers. Since most independent films have lower budgets though, they often don't get as much exposure to mainstream audiences and wind up as straight-to-DVD projects that nobody ever hears about aside from word-of-mouth,
Well my friends, welcome to the word-of-mouth.
You may not have heard about the following 3 films, but if you enjoy interesting and unique experiences in movies, I encourage you to seek these out at your local video store or order them on Netflix. While they may not have tons of money behind them, these films have tons of heart. Enjoy responsibly.
3. Troll Hunter (2010)
A Norwegian movie about a group of documentary filmmakers who discover that trolls- the fabled creatures from fairy tales- actually exist and are a part of a massive government cover-up, Troll Hunter is a fantastic film that plays on all of the tropes set up by the popular found footage film Cloverfield. While the premise may sound a little too wacky for some people, the film presents the story in such a way that makes trolls almost as believable as aliens or ghosts from many other similar films. If you liked Cloverfield back when it came out, chances are you'll love Troll Hunter.
2.Indie Game: The Movie (2011)
An indie documentary about indie game development. You could only get more indie if the soundtrack was composed by an indie musician! Oh wait, it is. Funded by the public via Kickstarter, two Canadian documentary filmmakers follow the creation of three independent games- Super Meat Boy, Fez, and Braid- in order to show the world that making games isn't all fun and games, and dives into the heart of what real art is all about. The film is not out on DVD yet, but screenings are still being shown around the country and a dvd version is scheduled to release sometime this year. If you get the chance, be sure to catch this indie-extravaganza of a film.
1.God Bless America (2011)
Out of all the films on this list, this is probably the hardest film to take in. If you are easily offended by politics, violence, or crude jokes, this film may not be for you. Written by comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, God Bless America is a story about a terminally ill cancer patient named Frank who decides that before he dies, he's going to make America right again - by killing everyone he believes to be part of America's corruption. the film serves as an over-the-top satire on modern American culture, and it uses its story to brutally satirize everything from reality TV shows like American Idol and Real Housewives, to radical anti-gay protest groups like the West-Bouro Baptist church.
The film pulls no punches, but as a result, is one of the few films out there that drives its message home without remorse or a single second thought about its audience. It's pure film chaos, and may very well be the most offensive thing that got made in a long while. And in a way, you kind of have to respect it for that.
 The upcoming film also features an original score from movie composer James Newton Howard, who also did the score for 2008's "The Dark Knight." By Jaren Jolley
Scoring for The Hunger Games features pieces by Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, Taylor Swift, and The Civil Wars.
Arcade Fire singer Win Butler talks about the music for the film:
"Our whole approach was to get into the world and try to create something that serves the story and the film. There's something in the story of Abraham and Isaac that I think resonates with the themes in the film, like sacrificing children. So we made a weird, alternate-universe version of that, where it's as if Abraham had a daughter — kind of a metaphor for [Hunger Games character] Katniss."
The song Abraham's Daughter by Arcade Fire is featured below.
 Wes Anderson lives in his imagination. Image by Google. By Jaren Jolley
My faith in the movie industry waivers so frequently that it becomes hard for me to consider all films “art”. As this struggle for pure filmography continues, I do have a steady assuredness from one specific director and every project he has created: Wes Anderson.
The man behind such films as Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou; his style and themes are so unique, engaging, and important you can’t help but fall in love and become attached to every one of his movies. He is considered an auteur in film, which means a truly unique and stylistic director throughout the entire process of making his films, no matter how much Hollywood tries to dilute his product, his personal creative vision still shines through.
Anderson’s iconic style is wrought by his usage of dry and natural humor, human nature, reuse of actors throughout all of his films (Owen Wilson, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman), and specific aesthetics/methodical cinematography, especially working deeply within and taking advantage of the niche his films are set in.
A Wes Anderson film is something that needs to be experienced to be defined and appreciated; films I think our generation would genuinely enjoy and be captivated by. Look for his new film Moonrise Kingdom coming out May 2012.
Wes Anderson Filmography:
-Bottle Rocket (1996)
-Rushmore (1998)
-The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
-The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
-Darjeeling Limited (2007)
-Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
-Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
Megaplex Theaters- now with a fully-feldged in-theatre Cafe! Photo by Michaela Robbins.
By Michaela Robbins
The Movies: What is the best part about going to see a movie at a movie theater?
Maybe it’s the awesome overpriced food court or the large screens, maybe it's the surround sound. No matter what it is we all love going out to the movies. People get so used to going to the same theater that they don’t realize that there are other bigger and better places that may be closer to home.
Megaplex Theaters have recently updated their Thanksgiving Point theater from eight theaters to seventeen! One of them being a D-box theater and another being a VIP theater with recliner chairs, i pad menus, and waiters that will bring your food right to your chair!
The Thanksgiving Point theater seems like it is far away but if you live in the Draper area it is actually closer. If you take the freeway you can get to the theater in seven minutes, where it would take you ten minutes to get to Jordan Commons. With Thanksgiving Point's new upgrade they now have a huge food court including brands such as Pizza Hut, the Deli, and The Mayan.
Their biggest theater can hold up to 500 guests, and with great movies like The Hunger Games and The Avengers coming out, the Megaplex Theatre at Thanksgiving Point is the place to go to obtain the fullest movie-watching experience.
The best kind of date is the old fashioned kind.
By Kaylen Thomas
Are you planning on watching a movie with that special someone of Valentine’s Day but aren’t sure of what to watch? Have no fear; here is a list of the best romantic movies to watch on the fourteenth that any valentine will love.
10. You’ve Got Mail- A simple romantic comedy about the troubles of trying to meet someone on the internet. It stars Tom Hanks so how could you possibly go wrong with this pick?
9. Ever After- This real life Cinderella story has humor, love, and adventure. Watch this for a true romance movie.
8. P.S. I Love You- If you thought The Notebook was the only movie that will make your girl cry, P.S. I Love You will make her cry her eyes out. There’s not much more I can say unless I ruin the movie, but you will get lots of cuddle time in this flick.
7. Hitch- Are you interested in a watching a movie with your girlfriend, but don’t want it to be some sappy romance movie? This is the movie for you. It’s hilarious and won’t make you feel all “chick-flicked” out.
6. 50 First Dates- This Adam Sandler movie is hilarious and very unique. Watch this movie if you want to laugh uncontrollably with your date.
5. Sweet Home Alabama- This is my personal favorite. I would love any guy who would watch this with me. The problem is that it is very predictable and cheesy, just like any good chick flick should be. If you can handle that, watch this with your favorite girl.
4. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days- A couple both wanting different goals for the relationship. The girl wants to break up and the guy wants to stay together. See all the crazy things Kate Hudsen does in this hilarious movie.
3. Pearl Harbor- Guys- this movie has everything you want; war, action, romance (for your date), and a twist to the plot. What more could you ask for?
2. 500 Days of Summer- Right up front this movie says it is not a love story. While it’s not, this cute movie will leave any girl with a smile on her face, and there is a good chance that you will enjoy it too.
1. The Notebook- If you want your girl to see your sensitive side, watch this movie. It is a cute story about love, but it’s a given, any girl who watches this will cry. This movie would be perfect for you if you want to be the one to comfort her while she is sad.
By Jaren Jolley
Oscar Nominations 2012
Film in 2011 was a remarkable experience, and accomplished many new and breathtaking things. And now that 2012 has rolled around it is time to reward all the inspiring and important movies from 2011. So here they are, the 2012 Oscar nominations.
Best Picture:
"War Horse"
"The Artist"
"Moneyball"
"The Descendants"
"The Tree of Life"
"Midnight in Paris"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
Best Actress:
Glenn Close, "Albert Nobbs"
Viola Davis, "The Help"
Rooney Mara, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"
Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady"
Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn"
Best Actor:
Demian Bichir, "A Better Life"
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Gary Oldman, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"
Best Supporting Actress:
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Best Supporting Actor:
Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte, "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Max Von Sydow, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
Best Director:
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"
Best Animated Feature:
"A Cat in Paris"
"Chico & Rita"
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
"Puss in Boots"
"Rango"
 No way! Really?? Yes. Really. By Nicholas Lives
Seeing as how today my brain is vacationing somewhere in the bahamas while the rest of my empty shell of a body remains here with the task of providing you lovely people with an article about music and/or movies, I do believe it is time for the brainless article I like to call...
Nick's Factual Fun Facts About Movie Facts!
Yes, that's right. Today you're getting a list of fun facts about movies you most likely didn't know or didn't want to know. This is the kind of knowledge you get from simply reading the credits and paying attention. Enjoy responsibly.
FACT: Actor George Clooney got one of his first acting roles in the hilariously stupid "Return of the Killer Tomatoes."
FACT: The cute little girl who voices the enthusiastic "Lilo" from "Disney's Lilo and Stitch" also happens to be the creepy little black-haired girl from the horror film, "The Ring."
FACT: Tim Burton did NOT direct the animated creepy kids' film "Coraline," nor did he have any part in the production whatsoever. You can thank overlooked director Henry Selik for that masterpiece.
FACT: Brad Pitt, Britney Spears, and quite a few other famous people got their start starring in Disney's ancient kids' television show: "The Mickey Mouse Club."
FACT: Every film starring Morgan Freeman is awesome.
FACT: Every film starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is cringe-inducing.
FACT: My personal opinion about movies is actually fact.
FACT: "Vampires Suck" was not as funny as you think it was.
FACT: Nick is too tired to think up anymore facts.
AND THEN THE FACTS LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, THE END.
Jaque' Poopatta: Legendary wooden filmmaker of France. Photo credit of tacoasylum.com
By Nicholas Lives
As I'm sure most of you know by now, the annual Alta High School Film Festival is soon arriving, with the due date for entries being as early as January 25th. This of course means that anyone who wants to enter in a film of their own better start jumping on that particular ball soon, lest they wind up with a 5-minute video of their cat sleeping.
So what do you do if you are interested in making a film of your own, but you don't know the first thing about what goes into making a movie? Folks, whether you like it or not, Nicholas Lives is here to help.
Pre-Production!
A common mistake made by amateur filmmakers is that often they believe that the best way to approach making a film is to just wander around with a camera filming everything they see and then hoping for the best. Wrong.
Planning is everything. If you want to make a film of your own, even if it's just a silly 60-second comedy sketch, then you have to have a plan of some shape or form. Whether it be a professionally written script or a series of stick figures scribbled in crayon on the back of a napkin, if you don't have a plan, you don't have a film.
Production!
After you've put together some sort of plan for your film, it's time to start filming. Here's a few quick tips to keep in mind while filming in order to make things easier when it comes to the editing process:
- Don't go out of your way to film scenes in chronological order when not necessary. If, for example, two of your scenes in the film took place in the same warehouse but at different times in the story, film all the warehouse scenes first so that you don't have to be trotting back and forth between locations.
- When filming in the dark, make sure to always keep the actor's lit, otherwise you'll get a very grainy picture. The best way to do this is by having someone shine a light on a piece of white paper, which will reflect some of the light onto the actors without looking unnatural or distracting.
- Don't use the "zoom" function in the middle of a scene. This usually winds up looking pretty tacky in the final product. If you wish to zoom in on your subject, let the scene finish and then film it again at a closer angle. This will allow you to integrate the close-up shot into the film during the editing process.
Which brings me to...
Post-Production!
When you've finished filming your masterpiece, now is the time to make it all come together by transferring the footage into an editing program. Several free ones are available, such as iMovie for Macs and Windows Movie Maker for PC's, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one that suits you. Here are a few general tips to keep in mind during post-production.
- Music should add to the scene, not distract from it. Before you import that "Poker Face Remix" into your fight scene, ask yourself: Am I adding this in because I like it or because the film needs it?
- If you find that you can't hear the actors in your film talking for one reason or another, you can always dub their voice. This basically means recording the actor with a separate microphone in a quiet room, and having them talk in-sync with their lips on the original footage. It may sound hard, and that's because it is. That being said, don't underestimate the negative effect bad sound can have on your film. No one can appreciate your masterpiece if they're too busy trying to hear the actors speak.
- Don't overuse the pre-built "transitions" that come with your editing software. Most movies use only the most basic of cuts, meaning that they literally just jump from one shot to the next. When's the last time you saw a movie use a cheesy "page turn" transition? You may think it looks cool, but trust me, it doesn't. Don't do it.
Well, I hope some of you aspiring filmmakers out there found these tips useful. I look forward to seeing all your films at the Alta High Film Festival on February 1st!
Movies can make us mad sometimes. Image by liquidlearn.com
By Nicholas Lives
Movies can be magical things. Movies can take you away from the horrors of your life and put you into the horror of someone else's life. Movies can take you on magical journeys through time and space. Movies can also often be big piles of crap. Hollywood has the tendency to do annoying things in their movies, and that's why I made this list. Hollywood, listen up.
NICK'S UNABRIDGED LIST OF THINGS HOLLYWOOD NEEDS TO QUIT DOING BECAUSE IT'S GETTING ON HIS NERVES:
1. Stop replacing actors in sequels.
For me, this is a big one. Whenever a sequel to some mediocre film comes out, and the studio finds that the original actors chose not to participate, they decided to try and pull a fast one on us by hiring similar-looking actors and then pretending they're the same characters. Look, we're not idiots.
The most atrocious example of this Hollywood switch-a-roo is when they replaced the "Daddy Day Care" protagonists Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Paul Rae in the equally atrocious sequel, "Daddy Day Camp." So what, Hollywood? Did you think that replacing a black actor with another black actor and a fat actor with another fat actor would convince us that they are the same people from the first film? Putting aside the fact that a movie like "Daddy Day Care" shouldn't even need a sequel, that kind of actor replacement is just downright insulting to the audience's intelligence.
2. Stop shoving pop culture references where they don't belong.
I can't help but groan in agony every time I see a character in a movie interrupt the story just so he can throw in a reference to Facebook, Twitter, or whatever music artist was popular at the time, all in some vain attempt to "modernize" the film. We don't care how "modern" your movie is, we just want to watch the movie. Nothing sets off my crap-o-meter more than when a character in a movie says,
"Yeah, I saw that on Youtube. LOL."
Keep your LOL's to yourself.
3. Stop making crappy movies.
This one speaks for itself. It's pretty simple really. Hollywood, this is something you really need to work on. Just admit you have a problem. Think of the children.
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