Denise Bedwell’s HUM210 Blog

Reflections on the Movies

     The four movies that I chose were THX1138, American Graffiti, Lentl, and Prince of Tides. THX1138 and American Graffiti were both written and directed by the one and only George Lucas. Prince of Tides and Lentl were written and directed by Barbra Streisand.

     The first on that I watched was THX1138. This movie was set in the future, about a city underground that the people are controlled by some higher power that I could not quite figure out. The men and women of the city do not have normal names the have letters and numbers. For example the main character played by Robert Duvall name was THX1138. He worked on making robots that are used as police officers. The men and woman are not allowed to have any feelings. For example love, they are not to have any emotion what so ever. Everyone is self sedated because that is what this higher power wants. No one asked questions they just took the pills that were provided with there meals. Until THX’s roommate LUH stopped taking the pills and fell in love with THX. She then tricked THX into sobering up so that he would know what it is like to feel. He ends up falling in love which is not allowed. They talk about escaping to the upper world above ground. When they attempt this they are arrested and she is recycled. THX eventually escapes to the upper world where he sees sunlight for the first time, and that is where the movie ends. I found this movie a little weird and very boring. George Lucas has definitely come a long way.

     The next movie I watched was American Graffiti. I really liked this movie. It was a wholesome, fun film. It was about a group of teenagers spending there last night together before a couple of them go off to college. They all eventually separate and do their own thing that night. One guy spends his whole night looking for a girl that he saw earlier crusin’ down the street. The couple of the group manage to break up and get back together all before the night is over. The “nerd” gets the girl and has a wild night. The guy who’s modo is “to cool for school” ends up crusin’ around all night with a thirteen year old girl(played by McKenzie Phillips)which I though did a great job, her character was hilarious. This movie is very similar to Happy Days, not only because it stared Ron Howard and Cindy Williams, but also because of the 50’s type setting. It is nice to watch a movie without having to see so much sex and violence. I think that George Lucas did a great job on this film, especially it only being his second film.

     The third movie I watched was Prince of Tides. This movie was about a married man named Tom (Nick Nolte) that is trying to help his suicidal sister, Savannah through her problems. In the mean time he ends up finding out about some suppressed memories of his own. Which is basically the fault of his controlling, psychotic mother, made them all cover up the crime and never tell a sole.

     He ends up falling in love with his sisters psychologists’ who helps him retrieve and deal with these painful memories. The psychologist, Dr. Susan Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand.) is also going through a hard time which he helps her through. In the end the sister and the brother are mentally healthier and happier. He goes home to his wife and works out their problems. I didn’t really like the movie; it was very hard to watch some parts of the movie, like where the men come in and rape the mother, daughter, and son. It is not a movie that I would ever want to see again. I think that I will stick to the “American Graffiti” type movies.

     The fourth and final movie that I watched was Lentl. It is a movie about a Jewish women who father taught her a bout religion. This is set back in a time where women were severely suppressed and were not supposed to know certain things. After the passing of her father she decides to dress up as and to portray a man in order to join a school. She ends up having a sort of arranged marriage to a woman who obviously doesn’t know that she is a man. In the end she ends up telling the women and inspires the woman to learn more and discover who she really is. I liked this movie a lot better than Barbra’s other movie. I do think that she is a great actress and a wonderful director, writer, and producer. She can do it all.   

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