Movie Review Preview Activity

Movie 1 La La Land https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/la_la_land

1. Liongate Films 

2. Damien Chazelle 

3. 7/10

4. Cinematography, Music, Plot, Acting

5. Terrible ending

6. In La La Land the "City of Angels" is reimagined through the glorious sheen of the late 40s/early 50s Hollywood musical. For examples, watch An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, or The Band Wagon to see what I mean. What makes Chazelle's 3rd feature so incredible is how brilliantly he understand how to reference history. He skillfully recontextualizes the vernacular of the American musical for the modern age. The exquisite score by Justin Hurwitz, elaborate production design by David Wasco, those costumes by Mary Zophres, the Technicolor, the romance - La La Land's aesthetic borrows from history but the time period and the characters are rooted firmly in contemporary society. 2016 is all here: cell phones, Hybrid vehicles, the part-time job as a barista. Chazelle makes our present era seem so much more magical. There is an exuberant quality I haven't seen recently. Mia and Sebastian radiate sweetness too. This uncorrupted pair shares a purity. You want them to be together. Their emotion is real. You fall in love. This why we go to the cinema. If I may paraphrase a famous expression once said by Humphrey Bogart, La La Land is the stuff that [movies] are made of. It is sublime. 

Movie 2 Lord of the Rings - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lord_of_the_rings_the_fellowship_of_the_ring

1. New Line Cinema

2. Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens

3. 8/10

4. , Story, Action, Acting

5. Cinematography

6. Truly one word to describe this film: Spectacular. A brilliant and extraordinary fantasy adventure loaded with great drama and even greater action sequences. Ian McKellen gives an outstanding performance. Ejijah Wood is wonderful. Sean Astin is terrific. Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Sean Bean and Johnathan Rhys-Davies are magnificent. The cast is truly fantastic. A thrilling, funny and deeply moving movie experience that truly blows you away. A feast for the eyes and ears that truly captivates you from the first to very last shot. The special effects are as superb as the storytelling. A triumphant classic for all times.