Got three hours to kill?

NOTE: THIS IS MICHAEL SIROIS POSTING UNDER SAM SHEPLER'S ACCOUNT (BECAUSE BLOGSPOT DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK FOR ME)

Got three hours to kill?..

...then watch "Das Boot". It's a 1981 film by Wolfgang Peterson, director of the recent films "Troy" and "Poseidon". Though the previous two films were disappointments, "Das Boot" is not just Peterson's greatest film but it is also the greatest submarine film of all time.

The plot [from imdb.com]:

"It is 1942 and the German submarine fleet is heavily engaged in the so called "Battle of the Atlantic" to harass and destroy English shipping. With better escorts of the Destroyer Class, however, German U-Boats have begun to take heavy losses. "Das Boot" is the story of one such U-Boat crew, with the film examining how these submariners maintained their professionalism as soldiers, attempted to accomplish impossible missions, while all the time attempting to understand and obey the ideology of the government under which they served."

I love this film. It was nominated for six Academy awards: best director, best cinematography, best writing adapted from another medium, best sound effects, best film editing and best sound. Though it didn't win anything, it's been both popular and critically acclaimed.

Here is a sample scene: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtUw_JnmYQ0



It's loooong, though. But it's mezmerising.

Clark: Symphony of a Great University Online

Hey Guys, for those of you who got a chance to see the short film Mike and I created, inspired by Ruttmanns' masterpiece, thanks again for waiting despite technical difficulties and we hope you all enjoyed it. If you haven't seen it or would like to view it again, it is now online so feel free to check it out. We were a bit rushed editing so it is possible we may re-edit it later and add a few more things we would have liked to but we will see. Anyways, enjoy, here is the link, and please let us know what you think or if there were any sections that particularly resonated with you. Clearly we did not try to follow the exact format of Berlin: SOGS, but we attempted to include several significant themes, contrasts, and related aesthetics. In the words of Ruttmann, he was trying to create "a symphonic film out of the millions of energies that comprise the life of a big city," and it was with this in mind that we planned and created Clark: Symphony of a Great University.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLiPz5kqf5k

TV Total (Example)

The other day I was sitting in an Academic Spree Day presentation on German Comedy. The presenter started the presentation with "German humor is not funny". I do not agree.
As we have examined a lot of comedy shows in our final project presentation and since we have showed some in German, I thought maybe I should post an example with English subtitles. This is my favorite comedy show from Germany, TV Total, but unfortunately the only episode that was on Youtube with English subtitles is one with Tokio Hotel as guests (I don't know if you've heard of Tokio Hotel... apparently they're a phenomenon. You have to judge for yourselves). However, I still believe that this is an okay representation of how the show usually works. Also you can see the only moving studio in the world :-)

Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hJREoEzLtY

I know how we are all feeling right now, we are saddened because we don’t know where to look for great German movies anymore because class is ending but never fear there is a solution! (Actually many solutions but this video certainly could be one!) This video is a wrap up of some of the best movies to come out in Germany in 2008, and other industry and actor news and events to keep you up to date. The movie the THE RED BARON seemed particularly interesting, and can be another case study of the ways contemporary German cinema portrays it’s self as a formerly militaristic imperial state. Additionally, the movie is actually filmed in English, although it is a German production. Another interesting thing I previously was unaware of is that the German Film equivalent of the Oscars is the called the Lola’s, with the statuette award being named “Lola” a nod to the great Lola’s of German cinema, in “The Blue Angel” and Fassbinder’s “Lola.”

Here is the link to the video, It is lengthy, but they also summarize some info in the sidebar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM0tDuGxwhQ

Interesting article that wraps up semester well

I found this article browsing the web the other day, and felt it gave a great quick overview of many of the major topics we discussed in the course, and for me it was a refreshing recap that also brought up a few interesting points I hadn’t thought about.
Some of the most interesting and ironic points it brings up include how American movies tend to dominate the German scene today, and despite the many famous and talented German Directors throughout history for the most part they still lack the prestige of an auteurial style that resulted in a “school” of their cinema so to speak. Overall, the article brings up many examples of how much German cinema has contributed to American and international filmmaking, especially in the early days, but perhaps does not get the recognition it deserves except from true knowledgeable fans of the genre.

here is the link to the article:

http://www.german-way.com/cinema.html

Dark City

A Picture of the leader of "The Strangers" examining a human

This film was released in 1998 in the USA. It is about a man who does not have a memory of his past and lives in a world with no sun. "The Strangers" from a different planet are in control of an underground world that controls the lives of the humans. The main character struggles to try and put his past together and destroy "The Strangers"
Even though this is an english film , while I was watching the film all I could think of was German Expressionism. There are many dark pathways, grimey looking buildings, and slanted archways. "The Strangers" look like an imitation of Nosferatu and lure in the background with shadows. There are also scenes that reminded me of the city in Metropolis.

One of "The Strangers" lurking in the background

Nosferatu

The people behind the man are "The Strangers" they resemble Nosferatu

The giant head opens up into a clock, similar to Metropolis

The Edukators: Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei

If you didn't get a chance to watch this movie it is really worth it. It is about a group of young Germans, a girl named Jule and two guys named Jan and Peter. They "educate" the rich upper class in Germany by breaking into their houses, rearranging their furniture in ludicrous fashion and leaving notes saying "you have too much money" (Sie haben zu viel Geld) or "the fat years are over" (Die Fetten Jahre sind vorbei); which is their way of standing up against wealthy, selfish rich people, who do not care about anybody but themselves. They are standing up for what they think is right. However things begin to get our of hand and the the dynamic trio begin encounter some severe problems.

The young people in this movie are like Lola and Manni from "Lola Rennt". They too are law breaking criminals, but somehow it is the rich, selfish father who is seen in a bad light rather than Lola and Manni who are the actual criminals, doing what they want including breaking the law. This theme continues in other movies we have watched too. In Maria Braun for instance, Maria becomes very wealthy and is transformed into this evil character. Is money really the root to all evil? And if German cinema is trying to suggest that being extremely wealthy is a vice, is that suggesting some hidden anti-capitalism criticism of the new Germany?Hollywood movies tend to glamorous the rich and powerful lifestyle. Think about movies such as "Ironman" and "The Dark Knight" where the superheroes happen to be multibillionaire bachelors who own very powerful companies and live very luxurious lives.

What do you think of German cinema's depiction of wealth?