Movie Trailer Review

Movie Trailer Review
Hailey Hurowitz
September 30, 2012

Title of Film: MAMA
Release Date: January 18th, 2013
Producers: J. Miles Dale, Barbara Muschietti, and Guillermo del Toro 
Director: Andy Muschietti
Genre: Thriller

Plot:   This movie is a supernatural thriller that tells the story of a couple, Annabel and Lucas, are faced with the challenge of raising Lucas's young nieces.  His nieces were found in the forest after being lost there for five years.  Quickly, it becomes visible that the young girls are being haunted by a ghostly woman that they believe is their mother.  Annabel plans to use the girls to bring back her own dead children as well.  This ghostly thing doesn't just haunt the girls, but starts to haunt the whole family which causes chaos.

Time and Place of Film:  The movie takes place in the time of 2012.  The place of the film takes place in Canada.

Main Characters:  Jessica Chastain plays Annabel, the mom that takes the two little girls in to raise.  Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays Lucus, the dad that takes the two little girls in.  Megan Charpentier plays Victoria, the older little girl.  Isabelle Nelisse plays Lilly, the younger little girl.  All these main characters seem from the trailer that they fit their part extremely well.

Introduction and Ending: The introduction of this movie trailer was when an older man found theses two girls in the forests all dirty and scary looking.  They then show the two little girls in a shelter, and the girls are acting crazy like animals.  They then get introduced to Annabel and Lucus, and Lucas is their dad's brother.  Annabel and Lucus take them in, so that they can raise them, but they don't know what they got their selfs into.  They kids keep acting very crazy at Annabel's and Lucus's him causing all sorts of problems.  They also start drawing weird pictures on the walls, and they both talk to the pictures which really freak Annabel and Lucus out.  They keep saying MAMA through out the beginning.
          The ending of this movie trailer was when the older little girl see's a ghost, and tries to explain it to Annabel.  The ghosts or ghost really starts to effect the whole family such as playing with the lights, and going under Annabel's bed.  The ghost is apparently the two little girls mom, that apparently promised to leave them alone.  In the ending of the trailer and throughout the trailer, they continue to say MAMA really creepily.  At the very end of the trailer the two little girls are looking at a ghost, and doing a creepy happy sounding kind of laugh.
         I think the introduction and the ending of the trailer was magnificent because it really showed how scary this movie is going to be.  It didn't give away the whole movie, but it did a great job in explaining what the movie would be about without giving it away.  It was very creepy, and the acting was great.  This movie could defiantly win an award for something.

Camera Work:  The camera work was excellent, and in scary movie trailers, they tend to zoom in on random things to make things more mysterious.  It was a lot of fast shots, that had lots of dark coloring to them.  The music also fit the part of the trailer, making it very scary.  There were a lot of good transitions, and the costumes were excellent.  The camera work of this trailer really made the movie seem very scary.

Identifying Shots and Angles:  There were lots of good shots and angle shots like, wide shots, medium shots, over the should shots, lots of close ups, high angle shots, low angle shots, and tilts.  The close ups really showed the expressions of how the characters were feeling.  The shots and the camera angles really made this movie 10 times more scarier which is a good thing.

Key Moment: A key moment in the trailer is when the two little girls are drawing pictures on the walls, and they talk to them.  They pictures mean something, and the pictures also talk back to them.  The little girls faces look scary the whole time.

Who Would Like This Film:  I think this movie should be seen by people ages 15 and up, or it should just be rated R.  People that like thriller movies, and really scary movies would really like this movie a lot.  If you don't like really scary movies, don't watch this movie because it will probably give you nightmares.

Rate This Film: I would rate this film 4 and a half stars, and the only reason it isn't a full 5 stars is because I am not a scary movie fan.  If I wasn't thinking about my opinion i would give it the full 5 stars because it honestly seems like a great thriller to watch.  The actors seem very good from the trailer, especially the two little girls.

Recommendations: I would recommend this movie to people that can handle really scary movies, and that like them.  You should also be at least in your late teens to see this movie because it look like it can get gruesome.  I would be prepared to get spooked, and maybe even be scared for nights to come after watching this movie.

Movie Trailer Review

Movie Trailer Review
Hailey Hurowitz            
September 29, 2012

Title of Film: The Flat
Release Date: October 19th, 2012
Producer: Arnon Goldfinger, Thomas Kufus
Director: Arnon Goldfinger
Genre: Documentary

Plot: In Tel Aviv, Israel, Arnon Goldfinger goes to a flat on the third floor of a Bauhaus building where his grandparents lived since they immigrated to Palestine.  If it wasn't for the view from the windows, someone might think the flat was in Berlin.  The flat was furnished with European pieces, with lots of German books, and covered with lots of dust and history.  When Arnon's grandmother died at the age of 98, he was called to the flat to empty the place out.  There was a bunch of objects, pictures, letters, and documents, that revealed the hard lives of his grandparents, Gerda and Kurt Tuchler.  The flat also left races of the troubled and painful past they had.  Goldfinger, suddenly started going through every single drawer, trying to figure everything out.  Arnon's family never really discussed anything about the past, and now that he found all this interesting information about his family, it brings up adventures, unexpected national interests, friendships, enemies, and deep family emotions.  All that "junk" even reveals some secrets that should have remained untold.  The movie is basically about how different generations of people deal with the memory of the Holocaust.

Time and Place: The time is in 2012, but they talk a lot about the times of the Holocaust(1933-1945).  The place of the movie is in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Main Characters: Arnon Goldfinger plays himself in his documentary movie, The Flat, where he discovers very cool, and not so cool things about is families past in the Holocaust.  Talya Galon, who plays herself lives not too far from Goldfinger's grandparents flat, and he tells her about the flat.  She then decides to help him with his discoveries, and the cinematography.  There are also a few other not so major characters that contribute to the documentary movie.

Introduction and Ending: The introduction of the trailer was about how Arnon Goldfinger was talking about his grandparents, and that his grandmother just died.  He said now he has to go into her flat and go through everything.  He talked of the times that he use to spend there as a boy, and that the meaningful things were left unspoken.  He started to find nazi/german things from the holocaust that he didn't know about before. 
              The ending of the trailer was about how Arnon is trying to figure the things out about his grandparents, and uncover all the secrets.  The grandparents were apparently friends with a nazi, so Arnon goes to find the daughter of the nazi.  It is a little confusing, but you can tell he is trying to find out about his grandparents, and that the flat really means something to him then when he was a little boy.
          I wouldn't say the introduction and the ending was creative, but it was really busy like.  It made you want to go see the movie because it made you want to know what the grandparents were all about.  It was real documentary like sounding, and the music went well with the trailer.

Camera Work: The camera work wasn't that good, but it was good for a documentary movie.  To me when you see a trailer for a documentary movie, and a trailer for a regular movie they are different in many ways.  They are different with the talking and the camera shots.  They didn't really put any special effects, but the camera work fit the trailer well.

Identifying Shots and Angles: The trailer had wide shots, medium shots, over the shoulder shots, close ups, high angle shots, and low angle shots.  They could of put more pan, tilt, dolly, and tracking shots though.  The shots were sort of plan and simple, but they did add a few cool shots.

Key Moment: A key moment in the trailer was when they tracked a nazi's daughter thats father was friends with Arnon's grandparents.  You could tell she was sort of upset about something, but you couldn't tell what she was upset about because she only said a few words of something.


Who Would Like the Film: I think people that like to learn and know about the Holocaust will be fascinated by this movie.  The Jewish people will also love this movie since it is about a jew that lives in Israel, and is about the Holocaust.  The majority of this movie is in English, but still be prepared to read subtitles, and understand israeli accents, if you don't like doing that when you watch a movie, this movie won't be a good one for you to watch.  I think you should be 13 and up to watch this movie because it talks about the Holocaust which is a very hard subject to deal with.  Also, if you don't like documentary movies, this won't be the movie for you to watch. 


Rate This Film: I rate this movie 4 stars because it seems like a really good movie, but the reason I don't give it the perfect 5 stars is because it isn't a movie that I would put out in theaters.  It is more of a movie that they should already put out to buy, and skip the theater part, or it should be on TV to watch.  I personally, love documentaries, but I don't like seeing documentaries in theaters.  The movie seems really interesting though, and I can't wait to see this movie when it comes out.  After watching the trailer, I really want to know what are the family secrets. 

Recommendations: I would absolutely recommend this movie to ages 13 and up.  It seems like a very great documentary that you can learn a lot from, like the Holocaust.  Since I am Jewish, I love learning about the Holocaust, and Jewish people.  If you like watching someone go through a journey, and being ready for the ride, then you should totally watch this movie.

Movie Trailer Review

Movie Trailer Review
Hailey Hurowitz
September 29, 2012


 Title of Film: Lincoln
Release Date: November 9, 2012
Producer: Kathleen Kennedy
Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Drama    






Plot:     This film is a drama that focuses on the 16th President's really hard final months in office.  With America divided by war, and changes going on, Lincoln takes action to end the war, unite the country, and abolish slavery.  With so much passion and determination to do this, his choices during those hard times, will change how the world is for the many generation to come.  Spielberg wants to present how Lincoln was the greatest working President in American history, doing some of the greatest works for the world.  Tony Kushner, the screenwriter said that he had worked on the script for six years, and he is really excited for this movie to finally hit the theaters.

Time and Place: The movie is in the time of 1865.  The movie takes place in the United States, Washington, D.C.

Main Characters: Daniel Day-Lewis, the academy award winner stars Abraham Lincoln.  Sally Field, another academy award winner plays Mary Todd Lincoln, Lincoln's wife.  David Strathairn, plays Secretary of State, which was William Seward at that time.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the film is Lincoln's and Sally's eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, who recently graduated from Harvard, and is now a new Union Army captain.  James Spader plays William N. Bilboe as a Democratic Party operative.  Hal Holbrook, who actually won an Emmy for portraying Lincoln in a 1976 mini-series, plays Francis Preston Blair, an American journalist and politician.  Tommy Lee Jones plays as Thaddeus Stevens, a Radical Republican Congressional leader.  There are also many more stars that contribute to the character roles in this movie.

Introduction and Ending: 
       The introduction is the Lincoln movie trailer was different shots of the movie.  It showed war pictures, and pictures of Lincoln talking to other politicians.  Lincoln was trying to talk to the politicians and the people about abolishing slavery once and for all, but you could tell by his facial expressions that he was having trouble doing that.  The beginning of the trailer also cited the quotes from the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, "and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
     The ending was less action packed, with people being more understanding of what Lincoln wanted to accomplish.  The people started to be pro Lincoln, and really like what Lincoln was all about.  When times were getting tough for Lincoln, Marry Todd Lincoln stepped in, and told Lincoln to not give up, and to believe in himself, which he really started to do.  Since he continued to keep thinking he could accomplish his goals, he did, which was ending the war and slavery.
     I wouldn't say the trailer was creative to me in the way they did it, but it was really good in the way an American dramatic film should be.  It had great scenes of the American battles, and the American politicians.  You could tell everyone looked the part of the 1800s kind of look, with great facial expressions, and clean cut voices.  They did have a lot of editing skills that I saw that made the trailer even better.

Camera Work: I think the camera work was very good, and could defiantly win an award for that.  They weren't shaky at all with the camera, and everything ran smoothly.  The camera also had good shots of things, like Lincoln at the end when they gave him a close up, which really showed the detail on his face, and how he was feeling.  The coloring was also very good and clear.  They had a lot of great transitions, and they really captured what they needed to to makes this trailer a great trailer.

Identifying the Shots: The trailer had most of the shots there is.  They had wide shots, medium shots, over the should shots, close ups, extreme long shots, and high angle shots.  They could of added pan shots and dolly's, but I think the trailer was really good without them.  They had great closeups of Lincoln and other characters in the movie, which really showed you how much passion they had in the film about what they were trying to accomplish.

Key Moment: A key moment in the trailer was when Lincoln was raising his voice and was repeatedly pointing really harshly at his fellow politician helpers, trying to tell them that now was the time to stop slavery, and that they need to do something about it now.  After that "moment," things started to change, like people were starting to agree and understand.

Who Would Like the Film: I think this film would interest someone who is into American history, and the times of when Abraham Lincoln was President.  If you are not intrigued by American history, or the olden days, then you wouldn't like this movie at all.  This film hasn't been rated yet, but from watching the trailer, I think you should be at least 13-years-old or older.  I think this movie should be rated PG-13 because it has a lot of gruesome scenes(war), and that movies about slavery can get really heavy to handle.  It seems like a movie that will be difficult for some one to understand, and will make you think.

Rate This Film: I would give this film  5 stars because these kinds of movies really interest me.  I love movies that are about great people in history trying to get what they want to happen across.  The movie also has very great actors and actresses that will be awesome to watch altogether in a movie.  I love movies that make me want to think, and make me proud of our country.  It seems like a movie that I can learn important things in history from.

Recommendations:  I would totally recommend this movie to people.  It seems like a great movie that everybody can learn a thing or two from about American History.  I think people nowadays don't think about the past that much, and how we got where we are today.  Abraham Lincoln plays a big part in that, and he was basically the Martin Luther King Jr. before we had MLK.  If you don't like movies set in the olden days though, I suggest you shouldn't watch the movie.  This movie also takes places quite soon after election day, which would be fun to see because this movie is about our 16th president after all.  By watching the trailer, you can't understand the whole film or the times of Lincoln, which is good because it makes you really want to go see it.   

   

Political News

Political News
Clinton and Obama Join Together
Hailey Hurowitz
September 29, 2012

           President Obama is continuing to lean on Bill Clinton for help in the final weeks before the election day.  A part of this alliance is strongly promoting a raffle prize, a chance to meet President Obama and Clinton on the campaign trail.  Michelle Obama said that a chance to meet Obama and Clinton will be on the campaign trail stop in California next week.  The fundraising event with President Clinton will be at a private residence in LA on the 7th of October.  That is the only time the two presidents will be together.  The Obama campaign expects Clinton to do more events on Obama's behalf after he goes through New Hampshire on Wednesday ahead of the debate.  On sunday, Obama will be in Nevada preparing for his first debate against Mitt Romney, which will be in Denver on Wednesday night.  Obama will spend the rest of the week at events in Colorado, Ohio and Virginia.

International News

International News
Syria Craziness
Hailey Hurowitz
September 10, 2012

         

          There is a lot of craziness happening in Syria recently.  Syria is now deciding that they want to get rid of Humanitarian welfare which I think is absurd.  Now in Syria there is a whole killing bash because of this.  Foreign ministers of Islamic countries have agreed to suspend Syria from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.  I think the Syrian government is being really unfair to their people.  Things seem to being going down hill for Syria.     

Favorite Film

Favorite Film
Gran Torino
Hailey Hurowitz
September 29, 2012

           My favorite movie is Gran Torino.  Gran Torino is my favorite movie because it shows how a person can change for the better.  Clint Eastwood changed for the better by accepting other people from different ethnic groups.  He really inspired me to stick up for people no matter what and accept everyone.  Since in the movie he suffered having a good relationship with his family, it showed me that i wouldn’t want that for myself.  This movie was amazing in so many different ways. 

Local News

Local News
Man Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Stomping Death of a Teen
Hailey Hurowitz
September 28, 2012

                  In Douglasville, Ga., a Douglas County judge has sentenced Tracen Franklin to life in prison without any possibility of parole because he beat a teen during a house party to death.  The 20-year-old man was convicted earlier this month in the 2010 stomping death of Bobby Tillman at a Douglasville party.  Tillman didn't know his attacker and was standing with friends when four guys lashed out at him.  Franklin made the most serious injuries, stomping until Tilman's heart tore open.  Apparently, Franklin was frustrated that night about his status on his high school football team.  A hung jury was declared last Friday after talking and going over this case for four days on the issue of if Franklin should face the death penalty for the murder.  This left the judge the options to sentence him to life in prison with or without parole.  On Friday, Franklin asked for mercy.  Tillman's mother, Monique Rivarde, said the apology was long overdue and too late.  The judge declined Franklin's plea and sentenced him to life without parole.  Franklin is one of four who were charged in Tillman's murder.  One person has already pleaded guilty and is serving life with parole.  The two others still face charges.

International News

International News

Al Qaeda Suspects Escape Iraq Prison in Deadly Break

Hailey Hurowitz

September 28, 2012

     

                 Prisoners took weapons and sat off hours-long clashes with security guards at a prison in Saddam Hussein's hometown that left 12 dead, including 10 guards, before dozens of inmates managed to escape from the facility.  The escaped prisoners included al-Qaida suspects.  It was the latest embarrassing security lapse in Iraq, raising questions about the Shilite-led government;s ability to ensure the country's security in the wake of the U.S. troop withdrawal last December.  The prison riot took place on Thursday night.  Lots of inmates broke into the prison storeroom, taking weapons that were kept there and overpowering the guards.  The prisoners then engaged in a long gun battle with security inside the facility before breaking out hours later.  By Friday morning, government troops had regained control of the prison, and a curfew was imposed in Tikrit.  Everything is pretty much under control now, and the security troops are chasing the escaped prisoners, and have already recaptured some.  Twelve people died in the incident, 10 prison guards and two inmates.  Thirty-two people were also wounded in the incident at the prison.  A total of 81 inmates, including some who had been sentenced to death, managed to escape but 36 of them were quickly recaptured.  Special forces even had to be sent to Tikrit from Baghdad in order to stop the rioting.  The Security forces later had to put down three car bombs that were found parked near the prison.  The inmates even had time to burn all the prison records during the rioting, which will complicate the tracking down of those who escaped.  A lot of people think the jailbreak was an inside job. 

National News

National News
Father Mistakenly Kills Son After Neighbor Reports a Robber
Hailey Hurowitz
September 28, 2012

            A Connecticut school teacher accidentally shot his 15-year-old son what he apparently thought was was the attempted robbery of a neighbor's house.  The incident happened in New Fairfield about 1 a.m., Thursday when a woman called her neighbor, Jeffrey Giuliano, and said she thought there was a robber in front of her house.  Police said the woman said the robber was dressed in black, wearing a ski mask, and holding a shiny object.  Giuliano confronted the person, who he apparently didn't realize was his adopted son, Tyler, and shot the boy when he came toward him in a threatening way.  Tyler Giuliano was pronounced dead at the scene.  His father has not been charged with a crime.  Police are still continuing to investigate the incident.

Sports News

Sports News
Fred Jackson Cleared to Return
Hailey Hurowitz
September 28, 2012

               

               Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson has the team doctor's approval to play this weekend.  Jackson received the "okay" on Friday, before taking part in his third straight practice since spraining his right knee in a season- opening loss at the New York Jets on September 9th.  The doctor said as long as he feels like he's capable of going, he's okay with him playing.  Jackson said that he felt some soreness, but he believes he will be ready to play on Sunday, when the Bills (2-1) host AFC East rival New England (1-2).  Jackson is listed as questionable on the injury report, giving him a 50 percent chance of playing.  C.J. Spiller ( left shoulder), the running back practiced for a second straight say, and he is also listed questionable after he was hurt in a 24-14 win at Cleveland last weekend.  Their coach, Coach Chan Gailey said both of them have a great chance of playing, and was particularly surprised by how quickly Spiller's shoulder has improved.  Gailey said Spiller's potential of playing leaves open the opportunity for the Bills to use their Wildcat formations.  Jackson's recovery is actually ahead of schedule.  He was actually expected to miss at least three weeks.  Jackson, however, has kept open the possibility of playing against New England because the Patriots are a division rival.  Jackson is not afraid of making the injury worse by playing.

Political News

Political News
What Will it Take for Romney to Get Back on Track
Hailey Hurowitz
September 28, 2012

                Mitt Romney's chance of winning the presidential election could still be possible.  Republican strategists say, if Romney spends less time trying to define his opponent and more time spelling out how he would handle his job, it would be better for him.  Romney has been trying to do just that with a new chapter of refocusing on an economic message that has been not so good lately because of his controversial comments, that nearly half of the nation is dependent on government, and will vote for Obama no matter what.  Romney does though speak about how he can help boost earnings for middle income Americans, and ultimately create 12 million jobs before the end of a potential first term.  He says that trade needs to work in America, and he said, "that means we don't need to associate with cheaters like China."  He said, "we need to open up new markets."  Romney just needs to have a good week and run a good campaign for him to be okay.  Romney is though, running behind in battleground polls and the election is nearly almost over.  Nearly half of the 10 states with the highest foreclosure rates are battlegrounds, including Florida, Ohio, Michigan, and Nevada.  Romney spent Wednesday in Ohio in an attempt to help turn things around.  He is campaigning on Thursday in Virginia which is another key state where polls show he trails Obama.  People are having a lot of differences about Romney, but Romney is still very hopeful.  The 47 percent comment he said didn't help him though in his campaign.  It will take more than winning over voters in Republican strongholds to give Romney the boost needed in the final part of the campaign.  Some Republican strategists see the upcoming economic-themed debate as an opportunity for Romney to recover.  Others feel it's more important that Romney perform at least solidly in the debate but work harder on the campaign trail to gain momentum.

Local News

                                 

Local News

Two People Killed in a Plane Crash Near Lake Lanier

Hailey Hurowitz

August 14, 2012

             In Forsyth Country, Ga, two men were confirmed dead in a plane crash that happened near Lake Lanier on Thursday night.  According to Forsyth County Fire, the plane went down in front of Deer Creek Shore Presbyterian Church at around 8p.m., and there was no way for the two people to be saved.  The plane landed on the corner of Bamby Road and Lainer Drive.  Nobody on the ground was injured.  The church was holding a Bible study at the time of the crash.  Officials with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department say the passenger and the pilot were killed on impact.  THe cause of the crash is still not clear.  Representatives with the Federal Aviation Administration will be on the scene Friday to try to figure out how the plane went down.  This is very sad to me and its ironic it happened around the date of 9/11.  

New Dvd Release

New Dvd Release
The Loved Ones
    Hailey Hurowitz
    August, 12, 2012

             High School prom is coming up and you know what that means, girls need dates!  This movie, The Loved Ones is an amazing independent film that just came out september 11th 2012 on dvd.  The weird thing about this movie is that it never came out in theaters, but that is not only the weird thing about this movie.  The movie is about a girl that gets rejected by a guy to go to prom because he likes another girl.  The girl that got rejected has some tricks up her sleeve though for this boy that rejected her.  This girl is not as sweet as she seems, and does some really twisted stuff to him, but she does have the best prom of her life, and maybe her last prom and maybe his last.