10,000 BC

10,000 BC, directed by Roland Emmerich, in 2008.


This film is often called “First Cinema,” which is the film that entertaining spectators rather than showing the artwork or sending a political message. And it is what Hollywood Cinemas can do really well, entertaining spectators. 10,000 BC is has very simple narrative that D’Leh pursues the trace exotic hunters who take this tribe people as slaves for saving his people, and his lover, Evolet. Even though we can expect all the story and even the ending, spectators are overwhelmed with the graphic. Especially, the first hunting for the Mammoths, it attracts the spectators into its film. Also, keep introducing the new African American tribes helps to remain the interests in the film, too.

The most interest thing from this film is that the narrator’s voice over with a lot of the establishing, extremely long shot which reminds me a documentary. The narrator’s voice sounds like very intellectual and modernize while all the scenes in the film shows that the primeval environment and lifestyle. Also, this narrator’s voice over also keeps the narrative time and space information to the spectator. From many African’s tribes, they have the traditional way of keeping their history, story-telling. So, keep the narrator’s voice understands the audience how the character’s feel, what character sees, where the characters are, what kind of situation that the characters are in. All the information is given by the oral like the traditional African tribe used to. Since this voice-over gives the idea that it is traditional way to keep information, audience keep feels that the characters in the very primeval time and space.

I really enjoyed this film until the ending. It was really good uses of the voice-over narration, the overwhelmed computer graphics, simple narrators, and keep adding new tribes in order not to lose the spectator’s interest. However, the ending is too random, the Evolet’s sudden revival. There could be many other choices for the ending, but I do not think spectators really satisfied within the ending that the director chooses. However, overall very impressive use of documentary style, I would give A- to this First cinema!

The NightWatch, video critic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSbzyM18u4Y

Video critic about NightWatch.
opening is the parody of the Nightwatch's character, wearing sun glasses in the dark, holding a flesh light, and screaming with no reason!!

The Wolfman, 2010, by Joe Johnston.

The Wolfman, 2010, by Joe Johnston.


Lawrence Talbot is the main character who lives as a actor for plays. He lives in America since he sent away from his father who thought Lawrence has the mental disease after he had seen the death of his mom at the young age. One day, Lawrence’s fiancé comes all the way from England in order to help her to find her lover. Hence, Lawrence comes to his hometown and investigates to find his missing brother, but it ends up with finding death body of his brother. People believe the mysterious monster kills his brother. Anyway, after he got wound from the beast, he is supposed to be died, but somehow he survives from the wound. Even feel better. After then, town people believe he is the monster.

(Picture from official The Wolfman website: http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/)

I watched this film because the Halloween was coming. Anyway, this film is remake version of The Wolfman by George Waggner in 1941. This film’s computer graphic looks very natural. However, as I mention earlier, It lost the most important thing, tone. Since it is horror and thriller genre, it is supposed to have tone from the film which often categorizes the film within genre.

(Picture from official The Wolfman website: http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/)

It has the deep focus, high key lighting system, extremely contrast between light and shadow, and the mysterious mis-en-scene such s the house setting, and the town people’s characteristic. Lawrence, his brother’s fiancé, a servant, and his father, only four people, are living in the huge house which is decorated with the death animals. The emptiness from the gothic style house somewhat creates the horrified tone. However, this film fails to keep the tension of the narrative because it is too obvious to find out what will happen. Unlike preview film, Nightwatch, this might be the weakness things from the Hollywood films. They too focus on the spectator’s understanding, so they often lost the things that need for the film.

(Picture from official The Wolfman website: http://www.thewolfmanmovie.com/)

Therefore, the climax part of the film which is the last battle between Lawrence and his father, does not have the tension what will happen. The spectators already know Lawrence is going to win the battle. Then what’s the point to have the scene?? When spectators do not satisfy with the film as entertaining purpose, they turn themselves as critics. Even though I expect more than what The Wolfman has, because of the actors and actress, I really disappointed with the director who totally missing the tone of horror and thriller tension in the film. Therefore, I grade this film, C-

Intro my blog

Powered by Podbean.com

Gloria Jean's Coffee (Torrance Del Amo)

In Torrance, there is the second largest shopping mall in California, Del Amo Shopping Center. Inside of the mall, there is a secret coffee and tea shop, Gloria Jean's coffee. The place is located in the south Del Amo Plaza, which is very lonesome location of the mall since many popular stores such as Guess, Levis, GAP, Express, Hollister, and Coach are located in the north Del Amo Plaza. Hence, many people do not know about Gloria Jean. Even though it is not well-known coffee franchise like Starbucks in the United State, It is very popular in Australia. The Strong sweet coffee smell attracted me to go inside of the store.


In side of the small store, there was full of the warm lights, and it had "bean" and "drink" bar. In between them, many coffee accessories such as cups, plates, spoons, syrups, hot chocolate powders, and snacks were displayed. Since it was my first time to visit, one of the workers suggested me a caramel apple nut chiller The small size is $4.00, Medium is $4.75, and Large is $5.50. I thought it was expensive that small coffee costs $4.00, but the small size was the same size as Starbucks’ grande.

Also the worker, Hose, explained to me that the caramel apple nut and pumpkin spicy chiller are the fall season coffee. At first, the chiller tasted a little bitter, then it turned to the strong apple and caramel taste. It was better than the most of the Starbuck frappuccino drinks. No offence to Starbuck fan!

The sweet smell came out from the bean bar. When I was there, many customers was waiting for getting beans. I asked which beans are the most popular ones. Hose, said Hazelnut, Toasted Almond, Butter Toffee, and Amaretto.

Everything was very impressive except few things:

1) There was no chair or table to sit and have a chat with friends.

2) It was too loud while the workers use the blender. Maybe, the blenders were broken…

3) Too complexes place setting. If there were waiting line for the bean bar, other customers cannot go though to drink bar because of the narrow entrance.