"Animation is about creating the illusion of life. And you can't create it if you don't have one." - Vera Nazarian
12.24.13
The Island -- Michael Bay
I recently watched The Island for the first time, and was pretty disturbed for most of it. I found some parts rather disgusting- and the whole idea behind it made me slightly sick. It had a similar effect on me as The Hunger Games had. However, the thing that made this movie more enjoyable and exciting to me was, after wrestling with possible meanings and purposes, I figured out to the best of my abilities, the message behind the movie. I love that 'aha!' moment- it improves the movie by 100%.
Clients pay millions to clone themselves. When the time arises, whether by age or by sickness, the clone is at their disposal. These clones can be operated on, and the needed organs and parts can be taken from them- an exact replica of the organs that the client needs to survive. This often means killing the clone in order to keep the client alive and well.
The original theory of this cloning idea was that the clones would live in a vegetative state- a state without thoughts, feelings, emotions, or need. They would be senseless, inactive, and certainly not human. This proved false, as the clones displayed emotions and feelings and, in the Echo category, they portrayed curiosity- something very dangerous for people that are being lied to.
Discovering that to survive, the clones would need some sort of drive- some sort of hope to keep them alive, the company invented the concept of 'The Island.' By hypnotizing the products to desperately want to go to The Island, they controlled their hope and purpose in life. They told them that one day, their time would come where they would have the privilege to go to The Island and live in paradise. They lied. Yes, their time would come, most assuredly- but that time meant that their client needed something from them. That time meant that the clone must die.
This false hope worked for all- except for the Echo category. Lincoln Six Echo showed tremendous curiosity and skepticism- two extremely dangerous feelings for one who is meant to be kept in the dark. He knows something's wrong, and he's determined to find out. He knows there must be a greater purpose for his life than simply waiting around to go to The Island. He's correct.
About halfway through the movie, it hit me. The message that the producers are trying to get across in my opinion, is obvious. Let's see if you can figure it out. I'll give you a hint- it is one of today's top controversies, debated all over the place.
The Institution is kept underground, and what they do there is kept secret from the rest of the world, including the clients. The clients are told that their clones have no feelings, no emotions, and are not human. The truth that is made obvious to the audience is that these clones are human, as they experience joy and pain and fear and curiosity.
Whenever the client needs, these clones can be disposed of for the client's benefit. To the audience, this is atrocious. It has been established that this is wrong- these clones deserve life as much as the rest of the world. They should get a chance at life, but instead, they are killed whenever it will best benefit the client.
Because the client believes the clones are vegetative beings, they have no way of knowing the torment they are put through. They are given the false hope of The Island, and then killed. They do have feelings, emotions, and potential. Killing them is murder. The company knows it, but the clients do not.
When Lincoln Six Echo meets his sponsor, Tom Lincoln, the attitude of the human race is amplified to a terrible extent. Even when Tom sees his clone, a living, breathing, thinking human, he does not want to give up his chance at an extended lifetime. He decides t hat the death of his clone is necessary for his own survival.
The founder and doctor at the Institution believe that the science is outstanding, and the possibilities are endless. They truly believe they are doing the world a gigantic favour by killing the clones and saving the clients.
Is any of this sounding familiar? The decision to end someone's life is not made by that person, but by someone else. The right to murder someone simply because it is assumed that they have no feelings, have no potential, and are not human. The argument that science is greater than morality.
It's called abortion.
Every day, mothers are lied to. The world is lied to. The unborn child is not considered human, and can be disposed of if 'necessary' for the benefit of the mother. Sometimes it is the wrong choice of the mother that lead to the pregnancy, and the consequences of that choice are taken out on the innocent child. The death penalty. It's science, and it's logical, but is it right?
Many people do not believe that the unborn baby is human. The Island gave a brand new perspective- the perspective of pro-life. That baby is human. That baby has the potential to do good and to do bad. That baby has the potential to think, to dream, to feel, and to love. In The Island, those babies are portrayed as clones. They are the unborn children. They are created, and as they grow they anticipate the day when they will finally get to experience real life by going to The Island. Instead, they are brutally murdered. All their potential goes down the drain.
It is made painfully clear to the audience that these clones are human, and that killing them is wrong. They have their own minds and ideas. Even pro-choice campaigners, when watching The Island, would probably agree that it is wrong to kill those clones. Later in the movie, they kill the clones that were not quite 'hatched.' Even though they were, in a sense, not born, it is still wrong. They are portrayed as automatic adults, and for some reason, our society thinks that it is wrong to kill an adult, but okay to kill the unborn infant. The truth brought out in The Island says that they are the same.
There is so much symbolism in the movie that I would love to talk about, but that might make this response a little dry. Just one more part I'd like to point out is the addition of Albert Laurent- the African-American security officer. After capturing the two fugitive clones, he begins to realize what's going on. He realizes that those clones are live individuals, and he begins to question the killing of them. He briefly talks about the past, when it was thought that Black people were not human. He and his brother were branded, because they were thought to be less-than-human. He knew that was wrong, and he sees that it is happening again. He is right.
It's the American Holocaust. It happened to the Jews, the handicapped, the Ukrainian, the Japanese, the Chinese, the African-Americans, and now it is happening to the unborn child, regardless of race. We should be learning from history, but instead we are blind to the obvious parallel. Trying to kill people that are deemed to be not human has never succeeded before- in fact, it has always been disastrous. How much longer must this continue?
11.9.13
War Horse -- Steven Spielberg (Michael Morpurgo)
It's what tickles my fancy. I love history- especially anything war-related. I understand that it's awful. Horrid. Tragic. And yet, thought the stories can bring me to tears in frustration and sadness, it also fuels my vigour. Hearing of soldiers' passion, obedience, sacrifice, nobility, chivalry, patriotism, and courage... it's enough to give anybody an adrenaline rush!
This
movie directed by Steven Spielberg was based off a novel by Michael
Morpurgo written in 1982. I've never read the book, and I've seen the
movie only twice- but it was enough. Throughout the entire 2.5-hour
movie, I was covered with goosebumps. Every few seconds, a fresh cascade
of shivers would tingle down my spine. War. Battle. Sacrifice. There's
something about it all that I just can't get enough of. I tend to talk a
lot but, when I watched War Horse, I was completely silent for the whole thing.
I
would definitely label it as one of my all-time favourite movies. I
think what was so intriguing with this story, is the fact that the main
horse, Joey was his name, switched sides numerous times. Because of the
switches going on, and Joey fighting on different sides over and over,
it's confusing but amazing. Instead of most stories, where the audience
is simply stuck with one view: from the protagonist's perspective,
against the other side(s), War Horse shows all sides of the
story. An innocent animal is used on all sides, so we don't have a
chance to develop our hatred toward a specific side- we see all
perspectives, and we can better understand the emotions from both sides.
It's truly a remarkable tale, in that respect.
The
first time he is active in the war, he is part of the British cavalry.
From this perspective, the Germans are the enemies. We identify with
Captain James Nicholls (Tom Hiddelston), who purchases Joey from the
poor farm boy, and we can see the desperate situation they are in. We
feel sorrow when the Captain is killed off Joey, and the frantic attempt
to overpower the Germans via surprise-attack fails. At that point, our
feelings toward the Germans represent hatred, anger, and it seems
unfair. We still pity the small British calvary, and the failure of
their plan. The Captain is dead, and Joey is captured.
Joey
is taken by the Germans and, seeing now from their perspective, our
views start to change. They may have won, but it was a terribly
frightening scenario: eating breakfast, waking up, relaxing without
fear, when suddenly, out of the field nearby, the British cavalry
charges in, killing many unprepared, unarmed men. It seems cruel, come
to think of it. Maybe it makes better sense to cheer when, even though
caught unawares, the Germans pull through. Our feelings of bitterness
toward them fade away, and we begin, now, to identify with them, all
because of Joey's capture.
He
goes through more switches, back and forth, and I believe the idea was
to show war for what it really is. It is not bad guys fighting against
good guys- all are equal. With Joey continuously changing sides and
seeing the war through unbiased eyes for four war-filled years, it is an
incredible method for learning understanding, and compassion. I just love it.
My
favourite scene in the entire movie is when Joey is finally his own.
Nobody owns him, because he is trapped in barbed wire in No Man's Land.
He kicks and pants, trying to get out, but only manages to tangle
himself more and more. After the bombing is through and the two opposing
sides are quiet, they notice the horse stuck in between them. It's the
British that walk out first- one lone soldier raising a white flag, in
attempt to save the stranded horse. He is soon helped by a German
soldier, who supplies him with wire cutters. It's an awkward
conversation, as these two men were recently trying to kill each other.
It's
a solemn scene, but I could watch it over and over. Here are two men
who met each other in the midst of a war, knowing that their duty was to
kill the other. Brought together by a dying horse, they meet on a
person-to-person basis. I just try to imagine the feelings and thoughts
they were experiencing as they talked to each other. I don't know for
certain but if it had been me, I would be confused. I would be thinking
along the lines of, "I thought they were the enemy. I thought they were
evil. Why are we trying to kill each other- he's just like me!" I'm sure
it was a similar line of thinking in their minds as well.
I
love stories like that. It happens all the time, but war is where it is
most recognized. Two opposing sides sharing a common desire- one that
helps them relate to each other, one that brings them together. In this
case, it was their duty to continue fighting, even though after the
encounter they both most likely experienced regret, and silently
breathed prayers of safety for the other.
I
can't fully explain my crazy thoughts and feelings for this movie- but
it energizes me, reading, listening to, or watching stories of war. Not
especially fantasy wars, but always historical-fiction or
non-fiction wars, nation against nation. I love the feeling of loyalty,
and I think that's the emotion that sends shivers down my back. It's
partly because I wonder what I would do in that situation. Would I rise
and be obedient, or run away and hide? Would I do it for valour and
honour? This movie is an excellent portrayal and an ingenious way of
showing all sides of war, and teaching a lesson on prejudice.
11.9.13
The Scientist - Chipotle Ad
In only two minutes, Chipotle was able to show how it all began, where it came to, and the changes that are now being made to 'Cultivate a Better World.' To me, the ad was surprisingly short, and the message was as broad as daylight. The song, especially, helped clarify the message to the point where there was no confusion whatsoever: "Back to the Beginning." The title of the advertisement is, "Back to the Start." It doesn't get any easier than that.
I found that the marketing technique is clever and unique. Most other advertisements I've seen, especially for restaurants or food companies, have been almost obnoxiously loud and obvious. Screaming their name and showing it off at every possible moment, you don't need to wonder what they are advertising. Nothing original- the ads rely on puns, humorous remarks, slogans, etc. It's all the same.
In The Scientist's case, I found the approach on advertizing original, and smart! Rather than announcing why they were good and healthy in a blunt, annoying way, they instead decided to target the heart of the matter. Instead of saying "Chipotle has the purest, most real food," they showed what they were NOT. They didn't confess to be perfect, instead, they showed the entire story. Perhaps they made mistakes along the way, like the farmer in the story did. But, in contrast with that pit of unhealthy food and genetically modified food, the rebirth of the restaurant after looked incredibly appealing. Had the entire store not been shown, the effect would not have been nearly as profound.
The advertisement doesn't directly mess with the audience's emotions, but instead admits its vulnerability, emphasizes the stand they took to fix their mistakes, and the audience then has the image of Chipotle as a knight in shining armor. Those who will eat there can't help but taste the purity and 100% organic food. They imagine the beautiful fields where their food was grown, harvested, and prepared by hand. Even though it may not taste much different in reality, the image of the vast difference between genetically altered food and organic food portrayed in the advertisement is still vivid in their minds.
With renewed respect, Chipotle has successfully lured in their customers through a new and rarely explored route- a road less traveled, and found that it held promising results, as the statistics confirm.
11.9.13
The Scarecrow - Chipotle Ad
They really outdid themselves this time. The first ad was good- but this one is fantastic, in my opinion. And I've never even eaten at Chipotle!
Right away, the haunting beeping noises of the factory are very imminent. It's melancholy, a very depressing setting. The bleak, yellowish background and colouring of the outdoors is not pleasant. Some will recognize the song, "Pure Imagination," from the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The fuzzy, modernized tune gives the whole ad an even more depressing feel. The tune is made minor, rather than major, as it is in the original.
The advertisement actually gave me goosebumps, as I'm sure it did for a lot of people. The animation was spectacular, and the way they matched the music to the movements in the animation was superb. The blurry noises and music gave a nostalgic presence, and a reminiscing theme, perhaps relating to the Scarecrow's mourning for the days when people ate real food, rather than this overly processed garbage. Their message is very obvious, right near the beginning you see the label put on the package of food: "100% Beef-ish!" It's a direct blow to other companies, basically accusing them of false advertising, and perhaps a warning to consumers to check more thoroughly into claims such as that. Chipotle is trying to prove to people that they are not only selling deliciously scrumptious dishes, but they are virtuous!
Unlike The Scientist, The Scarecrow hits viewers much deeper on an emotional level. I know after I watched it for the first time, even though I knew that it was just advertising a restaurant, I felt a little off-kilter. The song was stuck in my head for days, and that's not a hyperbole. That, I'm sure, was their intention: to create an advertisement that impacted people for long periods of time, and was so original and out-of-the ordinary that people would check it out.
It's really fascinating that the ad had such an effect on people, and it didn't even mention the company's name until the end- the only references are when the Scarecrow picks the pepper (Chipotle's logo), and right at the end when the banner declares their slogan: "Cultivate a Better World." The Scarecrow not only advertises the restaurant, but the app they created, as well. Statistics say that when the arcade-style app was released along with this short film, the game had 35,000 downloads on its first day, and 250,000 four days later. Having the game is a genius marketing technique. The whole point of the game is to correct the wrongs committed by the fictional industrial giant, "Crow Foods."
Crows were used as the villains in this ad and in the game, and its meant to be a point of irony and sarcasm. A scarecrow's job in real life is to scare away crows that harm the food growing. That's why the message is perfectly portrayed with crows, the wreckers of the food, as the bosses of today's issues: genetically altered food material. Chipotle can be honestly praised, as this is not even falsely advertising their honest food-raising methods.
To say the least, I was really impressed with the ad, and pretty amazed that a simple restaurant commercial could actually impact me emotionally and occupy my thoughts for a few days after watching it. I felt a little vulnerable, but it was perfect for a portfolio response!
