U S A
( h o l l y w o o d )
L A N G U A G E : E N G L I S H
G E N R E S : A C T I O N & A D V E N T U R E | S C I - F I & F A N T A S Y | T H R I L L E R & H O R R O R
G E N R E S : A C T I O N & A D V E N T U R E | S C I - F I & F A N T A S Y | T H R I L L E R & H O R R O R
i n t r o d u c t i o nOkay, I may know what you’re thinking. You may be taken aback as to why I have now decided upon writing about the Hollywood film industry. Obviously, American movies are what I have been exposed to most, so you may be wondering as to why I even bother taking my time out of this project to address such a familiar topic. If you ask me, I find it rather important to take a step back every once in a while and reflect upon what I’ve come to learn. In this case, I intend to delve into what has made American films so iconic across the globe, and to also explore what significant comparisons and influences it has had on foreign cinema.
r e c u r r i n g t h e m e sDespite having a string of successful films, Hollywood does have its fair share of equally poor ones. A legitimate reason why movies have the tendency to flop is due to overused themes and clichés. I mean, who would want to go to the theatre again and watch the same plot-holes and action scenes for the eighteenth consecutive time in a row? While you could sit in your movie seat (whilst stuffing your face full of popcorn) and scoff at Hollywood for using these same themes over and over again, take into consideration the magic of how some stories can be retold and adapted into so many different forms. And yes, I guess you could say some are, more often than not, reinvented rather poorly in comparison to their predecessors. However, that’s not to say that one can't take the world by surprise every once in awhile either. Listed below are the plot themes you'll most likely encounter the next time you visit the movie theatre. I challenge you to try to name one film that does not use at least one of the following tropes:
If you’re any more interested, this page includes some funny, yet rather true stereotypical things you’ll find in many American movie scenes.
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D I R E C T O R S
Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas A C T O R S Leonardo DiCaprio, Morgan Freeman, Tom Hanks Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise. Matt Damon Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford, Marlon Brando A C T R E S S E S Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Bullock Natalie Portman, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe |
o t h e r
When I had looked into the French cinema industry earlier in this project, I had discovered that France's
methods of filmmaking were very revolutionary and trend-setting. Now looking upon the massiveness
that is Hollywood, I can wholeheartedly say that it has flourished and
triumphed immensely, with a long list of successful “firsts”.
methods of filmmaking were very revolutionary and trend-setting. Now looking upon the massiveness
that is Hollywood, I can wholeheartedly say that it has flourished and
triumphed immensely, with a long list of successful “firsts”.
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i c o n i c f i l m
T H E W I Z A R D O F O Z
I'll admit it - I had a bit of a dilemma trying to pick only one iconic Hollywood movie to focus on, but after much debating, the renowned classic The Wizard of Oz is undoubtedly the perfect choice. This film is simply evergreen after having won millions of hearts since its release in 1939. It continues to touch the lives of both young and old, from generation to generation. But why? How is a film able to retain that same freshness and vibrancy it emulated nearly 77 years ago?
Ever since I was a very young girl, this film captivated my imagination, as it was the first catalyst that sparked my obsession with movies. In fact, I can’t even begin to tell you how many consecutive years I had dressed up as Dorothy on Halloween. When my father had brought home a new Yorkshire terrier puppy on my fourth birthday, I irrefutably named him “Toto” within seconds of first laying my eyes on him. In essence, this film proved to me that the fairy tales and fables I had often read in books could be easily translated into magical moving, talking images I could literally witness before my very eyes. This whole concept intrigued me as I found myself immersed in its memorable songs, stunningly vibrant locales, and quirky characters. Even though I could quote nearly every line of dialogue if you so asked me to, its overall message is what I still find myself pondering about even years later. Its lesson can be something as subtle as finding your true strengths through your own weaknesses; and yet it can also be rich and prevalent in the sense that it can apply to the most unfathomable of circumstances. As far as I'm concerned, such a level of ingenuity is a rather difficult feat for a film to achieve. |
" Lions, and tigers, and bears. Oh my! "
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c o n c l u s i o n
The American influence is a powerful, yet undeniable force. Especially in the last fifty years, American culture has been seemingly attractive to those abroad, and it never ceases to grow as the years progress. For example, I know (through consistent exposure from one of my best friends, of course) that KPop and JPop music has begun to use many English lyrics, despite its countries not being prominent users of the English language. Brand names are the new norm (take a look at this Indian Coca Cola advertisement, for instance) as the American image is often attempted to be replicated across the globe. In terms of films, the U.S. heavily gravitates a foreign audience, which is something that should be taken into consideration as to why Hollywood films tend to run successfully in the box office for so long. In all honesty, American cinema is world renowned for its breathtaking visuals and its groundbreaking sense of escapism, and I can wholeheartedly say that it has significantly shaped me into the visionary, expressive person I am today.
R E S O U R C E S
"Hollywood Movies." Random History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://facts.randomhistory.com/random-facts-about-hollywood-movies.html>.
"Top Ten Central Themes in Film." The Script Lab. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting/story/development/1005-top-10-central-themes-in-film>.
"Topic: Film Industry." www.statista.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://www.statista.com/topics/964/film/>.
"50 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Wizard of Oz’." Flavorwire. N.p., 25 Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://flavorwire.com/411724/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-wizard-of-oz/1>.
"Hollywood Movies." Random History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://facts.randomhistory.com/random-facts-about-hollywood-movies.html>.
"Top Ten Central Themes in Film." The Script Lab. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting/story/development/1005-top-10-central-themes-in-film>.
"Topic: Film Industry." www.statista.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://www.statista.com/topics/964/film/>.
"50 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘The Wizard of Oz’." Flavorwire. N.p., 25 Aug. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2016. <http://flavorwire.com/411724/50-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-wizard-of-oz/1>.
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Moving west across the Pacific Ocean, another emerging film industry is beginning to flourish creatively. Japan is considered by many to be the world's leader in animation – find out why. |