Run Lola Run

Run Lola Run is a very interesting movie to watch and analyze. On the surface this movie could be viewed as a frenetic action movie that plays in a very video game like manner. However upon closer inspection it can be said to have a deeper meaning than the plot would lead the viewer to believe. To me, the movie seemed to try and say that there is no one predestined fate and what happens to us next is determined by what we do and when we do it. For me this the idea is given credit by Lola's three runs and three unique outcomes based upon split second decisions that either save her or lose her time. Another aspect of the movie that I found interesting was the visual style of the film. The film had a bright and active look with a lot of high speed sequences and a lot of quick edits. Overall I was satisfied with this movie, it had a good pace, a unique gimmick of story telling, flashy editing and was well acted.

Run Lola Run

In the movie, Run Lola Run, the audience is shown three different outcomes based on different encounters with the main character Lola. Lola is trying to save her boyfriend Manni by trying to collect one-hundred marks by a certain time. When looking at the kinetic style that the film uses, Rodger Ebert makes an interesting observation that this movie is almost like a video game. Ebert points out that Lola and Manni both die once until they eventually figure out how to “beat the game”.  

            Another interesting aspect of this film are the still-frames that are used when showing the futures of people Lola runs into. These still-frames show a multitude of futures for these characters. For example the women with the baby she runs into first, is shown getting her baby taken away, then the second time she wins the lottery and the third time she becomes religious. The whole time I was watching the film I tried to determine what all of these still-frames mean. I believe that the director wanted to show us that every interaction that Lola has is almost a butterfly effect. Each path that Lola takes has consequences and rewards for the people that surround her.

            I thought that this was a great film. With most foreign films it becomes strenuous to read the subtitles. I felt as though a viewer could watch this without subtitles and still get the main point and plot of this film. By really showing the audience what is happening through body gestures and other subtle clues, I feel the director has created a film with no barriers. The director did an excellent job of creating intriguing characters and more importantly an intriguing story.     

Do The Right Thing

Do the Right Thing was an interesting work for Spike Lee. It focuses on inner city racial tensions, and the struggles people face every day. The most interesting part of this movie is the unique camera movement. The movie had a very dynamic camera that would have long shots with a lot of movement without cutting to another camera. It made the film almost interactive because at points characters would talk straight into the camera almost as if it were speaking to the audience as opposed to the other character in the scene. I feel that in using the camera in that way the filmmakers were trying to immerse the audience and put them in the situations emotionally and visually on the screen. Do the Right Thing has a grand impact on the viewer and forces them to witness discrimination and realize the harsh realities people face every day.