This article could asses the ways teen films inform, it's primarly teenage audience, about the social and emotional ways of dealing with sex. Given this is never addressed in the clinical and scientific approach schools take towards sexual education, its reasonable to assume that most people would understand the other elements of sexual education through alternative mediums. Teen films are a great example as they often focus around the sex quest for boys i.e. Superbad, the Inbetweeners movie, Sex Drive, American Pie etc. Its could be said these films often create a gender disparity in dealing with sex as there is barely any female representation aside from the, older and sexually intimidating character
This is an interesting topic as it would be worth looking at the impact also of the genre of the film on the presentation of sex in such films. For instance the role in comedy is often to amuse and this can be used to soften the awkwardness of such sexual encounters and exploration. However, some of this does also normalise and champion the pursuit of sex as a rite of passage, which can send a negative portrayal of sex. The presence of sex in horror films is perhaps one of the most disturbing as often there are undertones of rape, force and abuse, 'Cherry Falls' is a concerning one. Then the issue of teen romance films can both have a positive and negative portrayal of sexual relations, 'Girl Next Door' and '100 Girls' are two interesting and frank films that deal with unusual portrayals of the emotional connection related to sex. I think this could be an intriguing topic to discuss. – SaraiMW7 years ago
I would add that there could also be strong critique involved. The teen dramas also facilitate an idealization of sexual engagement and often promote problematic images of women. – Jonathan Judd7 years ago
YES! I'd be interested to know how newer films tackle this idea, too. – Emily Esten7 years ago
Mother is a film which has received rather controversial critical reception for its gratuitous brutality and extremely intricate plot line. Perhaps what is overlooked however, is the overall premise of the film being a biblical allusion and social commentary- particularly in an environmental sense. An article going into the depth of this using examples of the film and Aronofskys directing will be quite engaging.
an interesting topic to look into! however, the director and the actors in the film have all come out saying that instead of being a biblical allegory, Mother! is an environmental horror film, with both the female lead and the house itself representing nature and "mother earth" – ees7 years ago
Halloween will soon be upon us and with it, classic Halloween films. Ask anyone who grew up in the 1990s or early 2000s what their first or favorite Halloween films were, and Hocus Pocus will probably top the list. With three incredible lead actresses (Bette Middler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker), quotable lines, and bewitching songs, the film will probably endure much longer than the Sanderson sisters.
This said, many critics feel Hocus Pocus is overrated and too campy. It's not necessarily scary, unless you're around little Dani's age (played by Thora Birch). Many critics are unsure why a Disney movie aimed at kids and tweens talks so much about virginity and sex. Others claim that though they try, the Sanderson sisters just aren't that funny.
So what's the truth behind Hocus Pocus? What makes it good? If the elements listed above are not done well, what is (or is the film scarier, funnier, or smarter than we give it credit for)? Did the three lead actresses give their best or sell themselves short/"phone it in?" Discuss.
I've always been mystified by the popularity of this film. A critical discussion about its craft and elements would be very interesting. Perhaps, this exploration could increase my appreciation of this quirky romp. – L Squared7 years ago
I watched it last year to see what all the fuss was about (saw it as a kid, but in an elementary cafeteria with poor acoustics, so I didn't hear/understand a thing). IMHO, some parts are good but it's not the A+ film a lot of people seem to think it is. I'd argue that with films like this, the nostalgia filter blinds viewers to certain flaws. Of course, that could be good or bad. – Stephanie M.7 years ago
Definitely need to address nostalgia goggles and how the new generations react to this without that previous experience. – AGMacdonald7 years ago
A modern trend as it would appear, in superhero films-especially those within the DC comic book universe, would be the darker, more realistic cinematic portrayal of the heroes themselves. This trend seemed to be pioneered by director Christopher Nolan in his critically acclaimed 'Dark Knight' trilogy which showcased the most critically installment of Batman thus far. This article could discuss these titles as such.
With online services like iTunes and Vudu offering consumers the chance to buy movies and TV shows digitally, has the relatively new 4K Blu-Ray arrived at the wrong time? How much longer will DVD formats in general last?
It may be worthwhile to look into media history comparing Blockbuster and Netflix to see how they adapting to changing consumer trends in the same DVD and streaming challenge. – Munjeera7 years ago
Good topic. In my opinion I don't think DVD will die, maybe it will evolve more and more but never completely die. Some people love to have their own physical copy. Just like people collection toys, cards, decors, some people collect physical copies of their favorite movies. As an example, look how vinyls have done a huge comeback, and all because people love to have a collection of them, even if there are services like Spotify, Deezer, Apple music and more. Actually, digital music has been around for quite a while, but physical copies still sell. – Andres Tovar7 years ago
Analyse why the new Chinese movie Wolf Warrior II have witnessed great success in such a comparative low budget? And also, what is the advice for making national cinema to go internationally competitive in the Hollywood context? Would big budget or cooperation with Hollywood crew be a must?
It would be interesting to expand this topic to include examples of other medium-to-low budget Oriental films that have had great success globally and, perhaps what impact or influence these may have had on Western film makers. I confess I haven't seen Wolf Warrior II, so I'll put it on my 'to watch' list. Also worth addressing is whether there is actually a need to compete with Hollywood when domestic audiences in China or South Korea for example do engage with their domestic film makers enthusiastically. – Amyus7 years ago
Frank Grillo does decent work. On the other hand, ‘The Great wall’ was not as successful as Matt Damon had hoped it would be. – Dr. Vishnu Unnithan4 years ago
A detailed analysis of the existentialist nature of films by Woody Allen. It's pretty interesting how many of his films challenge contemporary societal issues through existentialist ideologies. This article could be a break down of his various films and the manner in which they explore ideas relating to existence and the meaning of life, often in a comical manner. From Bananas to Annie Hall to the more recent Cafe Society, Woody Allen films are typically incredibly humorous whilst also a great insight into the meaninglessness of life. What you all think?
I would love it if someone explained Woody Allen. I have never gotten the appeal. – Munjeera7 years ago
Perhaps a disclaimer could be written to focus on the movies only and not his personal life. I was never a fan and his point often escaped me anyway. – Munjeera7 years ago
That's a good point Munjeera! I feel like often the point of his films can go over your head. They're not necessarily supposed to be extremely thought-provoking or anything (excluding Interiors and a few others) but they still have that reoccurring theme of existentialism which I personally quite enjoy and find very interesting.
– ninaphillips277 years ago
I take great interest in revisiting the past works of screenwriting. I felt the same way about Robin Williams; could never really engage with his early comic charades, his escapades into worlds of fantasy, and finally his masterpieces: Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting. All the pieces of that literary puzzle eventually came to light. Robins and Allen teach us that life is as jovial as it is entrenched in trivial matters--much ado about nothing--if I may. – lofreire7 years ago
His films certainly have a cynical overture too them, this article could reveal the intimidation of existentialism and that it often leads to pessimism. – Iliasbakalla7 years ago
Discuss the political climate that existed in the American entertainment industry in the early 1950s that was exploited by Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House In-American Activities Committee (HUAC), and ramifications of the committee's investigations.
This could be a great topic. There is a play that deals with it, "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?" Check it out!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1844626.Are_You_Now_or_Have_You_Ever_Been_and_Other_Plays – L Squared7 years ago
