Citizen Kane - Not the Worst Movie Ever

     After watching Citizen Kane, I have to disagree with the people that deem it the best movie of all time. In my opinion, Citizen Kane is a GOOD movie, but definitely not the best. The main reason I would only classify it as decent is because of my personal preference in movies. I’d rather watch something along the lines of Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.

I enjoy fantasy films with action, romance, and humour in them instead of a drawn out mystery involving politics and a sad life story. Basically, I find Citizen Kane boring. The main conflict (attempting to find out about Kane’s life) is just not as exciting as a giant war between men, elves, wizards, hobbits, dwarves, and orcs, or the adventures of a young wizard forced to save the world from evil. This is entirely based on my preference of genres. Looking at the technical or film-making perspective, I can see why Citizen Kane may be seen as such an amazing movie. One impressive aspect is the acting. Excellent acting is demonstrated by all cast members, but can be particularly seen by Kane (Orson Welles) and Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore). One of Welles' best scenes was when Susan leaves Kane and he goes completely insane in anger and misery. He walks around her room upturning tables, ripping pictures from the walls and smashing a wide variety of items. Orson Welles manages to make this look very emotional and easily conveys to the audience how distraught Kane is by the loss of his second wife. Worse actors may just look funny running around a room destroying things.

 

Dorothy Comingore is also an exemplary actor. She does a very convincing impression of a depressed drunk person during both of Susan's interviews with the reporter Thompson. She was also quite good when she freaks out at Kane for allowing a bad review of her debut opera performance to be in his newspaper, "The Inquirer". She seems genuinely angry even in Susan’s annoying squeaky voice. This acting is particularly amazing when compared to the awfulness seen in the Twilight series. Kristen Stewart can’t act unless you count biting your lip, grabbing your hair and breathing heavily as great acting. She only has one expression which is a kind of zombie-like blank look.

Twilight is absolutely awful and it is partially (but not entirely) due to extremely poor acting. Citizen Kane did a fantastic job in comparison. Another positive part of this movie was the creative filming techniques and special effects. For an old film without a lot of technology, they managed many interesting and impressive shots. A few specific examples include putting the camera through a sign before and after Susan Alexander’s interviews, and through a table when Kane’s parents are discussing sending him away with Thatcher. A great shot was when a nurse enters Kane’s room to find him dead and she’s shown in the broken remains of his snow globe.



Some awesome special effects were also seen at the beginning when Xanadu was shown surrounded by fog on a hill. The giant palace actually looked realistic, which is a great accomplishment for such an old movie.

 

These effects were way better than the ones in the 1981 movie Clash of the Titans. Although it may have come out 40 years after Citizen Kane, the mythical creatures are nowhere near as realistic as anything in Orson Welles' film. Sure, creating a static castle on a hill is a lot easier than animating moving monsters, but it is more enjoyable look at a nicely created palace than a giant slithering piece of play-dough (see video below). Citizen Kane did a marvellous job using special effects that were not noticeably (or distractingly) fake, particularly when considering its age.



Overall, I don’t believe Citizen Kane is the best movie ever. I personally was not overly interested in the topic, making it a bit boring. Despite this, the excellent acting and creative film-making made up for the slightly dull plot. All things considered, Citizen Kane was a decent and fairly enjoyable film even with my personal preference in movies.

Music Video Analysis - Good Time

*WARNING: This choice does not mean that I actually enjoy the artists (meaning Carly Rae Jepsen), song, or video!

            I will be analyzing the music video for the song “Good Time”. It is by the wonderful Owl City (AKA Adam Young) and features Carly Rae Jepsen.

           

To start, the reality constructed in this video is one where it’s always a good time. The people in the video are constantly having fun and laughing together and absolutely nothing goes wrong (unless you count a girl burning her marshmallow). The faultlessness of their reality is also demonstrated by them singing, “It’s always a good time,” literally twenty two times throughout the entire song. I think they present reality this way because it appeals to their targeted audience (teenagers) and everyone else for that matter. Who doesn’t want to live in a world where everything goes perfectly and you always have fun?

            Another aspect of their made-up reality is that everyone is attractive and dressed up in fashionable clothing. They constructed it this way because no one really wants to watch a bunch of ugly people. It’s horrible and shallow, but most people want to see actors and actresses that are thin, dressed perfectly, and are basically plastered in make-up because it’s just not as fun to watch normal people.

            The world that is portrayed in this video is definitely not realistic. Bad things do happen, whether they are small like embarrassing yourself, or large like having a friend getting hurt. It’s not “always a good time”. This reality is also meant to be true. The people in it are relatively normal aside from their beauty, and nothing particularly crazy or unusual happens. The video seems to attempt to be realistic, even though it is not.

            Some codes and conventions of pop song music videos include having a crazy party, casual/bright clothing, going on a trip somewhere, lots of sun, and outgoing people. The song is usually upbeat and cheerful. All of these aspects combine to create an overall ‘fun’ and laid-back atmosphere. This “Good Time” Video includes all of these. Half the video is the group doing various enjoyable activities like driving together on roads with scenic views, swimming in a lake, or hiking; while the other half is shots of a giant, loud party. Combined with the bold, brightly-coloured trendy clothing everyone is wearing and all of the smiling and laughing, this video constructs a 100% fun and care-free environment. It seems to have encompassed nearly all of the pop video stereotypes.

            A creed/value statement expressed in this music video is that it’s important to have fun. I think this because it is clearly the main focus of the video and is the name of the song. Also, every single person in the video is having fun whether they are swimming, driving, sitting around a campfire, dancing, or running through a forest with a giant butterfly on a stick. Nothing goes wrong, showing that it is alright to cut loose.

The lifestyle choice demonstrated is very similar to the value statement. It shows a life of having no responsibilities and just being able to have fun with your friends. Furthermore, although they do have a party, there are no signs of drugs or alcohol like in many other music videos. Therefore, I believe drugs and alcohol are specifically NOT part of the portrayed lifestyle.

The “Good Time” video did not include very many different groups. It did contain both white and black people, but at least twice as many were white than black. This is probably because pop songs in general are predominantly white. It’s like how rap songs usually have more black people. I don’t believe the song is meant to be racist though. Next, the genders were not even. There was at least half the amount of boys as girls. This could be due to the target audience being primarily teen girls who should relate better to a mainly female cast in the video.

            The video for “Good Time” targets teenagers because the majority of them just want to have a “good time”. Teens don’t want to work or have responsibilities, they want to hang out with friends and have fun, and the song is about just that. The video fits with the fun-filled song since it is like an example of the perfect day for most teens. It starts out with you and a bunch of attractive friends driving together to a rustic cabin where you meet more outgoing, attractive people. From there you eat slushies, swim, make flower chains, fish, have a campfire with roasted marshmallows, and then finish with a dance party. For most teenagers, that would be one amazing day. In addition, two popular artists are featured in the video, instead of just one. This would therefore appeal to fans of both Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, giving the song twice as many fans. People who loved both singers would be super-excited too. Due to the fun atmosphere and the multiple artists involved, the video and song should effectively sell to the average teen.

            Whether “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen is actually a good video depends on who is watching it. Personally, I don’t enjoy it at all. I’m not a social person, so the partying really doesn’t appeal to me. The girls’ clothing also bothers me. Carly Rae Jepsen is barely wearing anything at all! Furthermore, I think the video is a bit boring. Sure, it includes lots of activities but the video itself is nothing special. It has little to no depth and isn’t too artistic. This is just my opinion though. I’m sure most teenagers would enjoy the video as it features two popular artists and follows a fun-filled story. The song is upbeat and catchy, and therefore should be enjoyable to listen to. In general, this would be a great music video for the average teenager.

 

My Media Profile

1. I believe that media is somewhat important I my life, as it really depends on the type. I could happily do without a lot of today’s pop culture such as artists like 50 Cent who seem to only sing about drugs, alcohol, and other such inappropriate topics. I also have absolutely no connection to social-networking like Facebook or Twitter, and am glad of it since they appear to consume people’s lives. Furthermore, television shows like Jersey Shore are ridiculous and it is kind of sad that people get so much entertainment out of them. On the other hand, there are certain kinds of media that are extremely important to me. My life revolves around books, anime, and manga. Life would be boring without my favourite fandoms like Harry Potter, Fullmetal Alchemist, and the Mortal Instruments. I also rely heavily on the internet for both school and entertainment purposes. To summarize, certain types of media are not at all essential in my life, while I love others. This is why media is only somewhat important to me.

2. The most important types of media to me are…

Video Games

Although I do not classify myself as a real “gamer”, I do enjoy playing Wii, DS, or even GameBoy games in my spare time. Being able to sit back and fight a few monsters is quite stress-relieving. A few if my favourite games include Legend of Zelda, Sakura Wars, and Super Mario Brothers.

Internet

The internet is extremely important on my life. First, I need Google. How else would I find out about things quickly? Whether it is information for a school project or how to make a Hylian shield, Google helps you find it all. The Internet is also the main way to watch anime. The shows never play on television, and they are extremely expensive if you can even find them in the first place. With the Internet, I can watch anything I like for free. Overall, the Internet provides easily found information and sustains my anime addiction.

Books

I believe books are the most influential media in my life. I have always loved reading, and I get attached to certain series. I adore Harry Potter so much that my friends and I are attempting to create a BCI Quidditch team. Books are so amazing because they let you escape into another world for awhile so you can forget about whatever is happening in your own. If you are worried about something, you can simply read a book and forget about your troubles. Furthermore, most novels have great messages and can teach valuable life lessons. They are even good for the brain unlike television or the Internet! In my opinion, books are the best form of media. They are not only entertaining, stress-relieving, and teachers of important life lessons, but they are even good for you.

3. Personally, I disapprove of a lot of modern pop culture. Certain aspects are fine, but those are few and far between. Some things I dislike include the increasingly inappropriate and revealing clothing; increased number of songs about drugs, alcohol, and worse; and the popularity of ridiculous shows like “Jersey Shore” or “Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo”. The movies that are being released recently are also disappointing. Many are (sometimes horrible) interpretations of a book or comic like “Twilight”, or it is a redo of a previous movie. In addition I don’t like how dependent people are on technology like cell phones and social-networking. Technology is extremely helpful for quick and easy communication with others. However, you never need to be talking with someone 24/7, especially if you are meant to be focusing on something else. People text so often that texting language has even made its way into everyday speech. People speak using acronyms like LOL or BRB, which I find really weird. Social networking is also just as bad. Although I am fairly unfamiliar with it, it seems to take up a great deal of teenagers’ time, and is seen as extremely important. Another negative aspect of Facebook is that many people say things that they wouldn’t have the courage to say face to face.  This can and does lead to cyberbullying.  I manage to get along fine without social networking. I think that if people continue to be so dependent on technology, they’ll end up like the humans in Wall-E (but probably not as extreme) who have no awareness of the world around them. (See video below). Despite my general disapproval of today’s pop culture, there are also some features that I do like. For instance, I like that nerd culture is more recognized. A ton of super-hero movies have recently been released and I enjoyed most of them. I also like some of the popular TV shows like “Big Bang Theory” and “American Idol”. Other than these few things though, I don’t really like modern pop culture. Nerd culture may be more acknowledged, but fashion, music, and television have become increasingly inappropriate. Many people can barely function without their technology. Overall, I think we are headed in a bad direction.

This is a short clip from the movie "Wall-E" that demostrates what could happen if people become too dependent on technology. It is a bit of an extreme view, but it gets the point across.

4. If I was stuck on a desert island (fully equipped with electricity and the necessary technology) and could only have one movie, one video game, one TV show, and one book with me, I would choose…

Movie - Forrest Gump

     “Forrest Gump” is a movie with a bit of everything. It has humour, romance, action, and an interesting, feel-good story. Although Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) may not be too smart, he has a big heart and is kind and honest. I love the movie enough to watch it over and over again, so if I can only have one movie, it has to be this one.

Video Game - Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

     Out of all the Zelda games I’ve played (and there have been quite a few) this is by far the best. For those who haven’t played it, it follows the story of a teenage boy named Link trying to rescue his friend Zelda from evil forces. He eventually learns that he is part of a larger plan and must help save the world from complete destruction. With amazing graphics, a lovable cast of characters, a fantastic soundtrack, and such an incredible plot, this Wii game is undoubtedly my favourite.

TV Show - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

     Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is an anime (Japanese TV show) and my absolute favourite. Morals about family and friendship, a bit of romance, alchemy, and awesome fight scenes are all put together to make one amazing anime. I literally cried watching this show, and although I watched it awhile ago, it remains my absolute favourite. Furthermore, it followed the original manga (Japanese comic) by Hiromu Arakawa, so the story was accurate, not some weird adaptation that has no connection to the initial book, like the Twilight movies. Finally, with only one show to watch on a desert island, it’s great that this anime has so many episodes (64 plus 4 bonus episodes).

                             The Official Funimation Trailer

                                                 Book - Harry Potter Series

     For anyone who has read the whole series, they know why I picked these books to take to my desert island. The story is amazing and heart-wrenching and you could never guess what exactly is going to happen next. J.K. Rowling also did an incredible job developing such a detailed world of magic that you could almost believe was real. These are not the only reasons why I love the series so much though. Lots of other books I have read have great characters, plots and well-developed worlds. The difference is that I grew up with the Harry Potter series, and the characters in them. As Harry and his friends got older, I did too. I don’t think I’ll ever connect with and become attached to another series like I did with Harry Potter. For these reasons I would, beyond a doubt, take these books to my desert island so I can read them over and over again.