In this blog post, focusing on the movie ‘Your Soul Is by My Side’, we’ll explore the synergy created when a fantasy setting and a romantic love story come together, as well as how the fantasy-romance genre expresses the emotion of love. Reasons for Choosing the Fantasy Romance Genre and the Film’s Structure There are likely certain scenes or themes that come to mind when one...
How Does ‘Rain Man’ Help a Selfish Younger Brother Realize the Meaning of Family?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the process of restoring brotherly bonds through the journey of Raymond, an older brother with autism, and his selfish younger brother Charlie, while exploring the film’s various expressive techniques—including character development, structure, cinematography, and editing. The Encounter Between an Older Brother with Autism and a Selfish Younger Brother...
Why Must Norman Bates Die? The Fate of the Monster in “Psycho”
In this blog post, I’ll examine the fate of the typical slasher horror killer, focusing on Norman Bates from “Psycho,” and reflect on the question of whether a monster must necessarily die. Are horror movies really that predictable? I remember when I was twenty. I recall vehemently refuting a friend’s claim—made during a drinking session with friends—that “horror movies are predictable.”...
How Is the Spirit of Chivalry Reborn in Modern Stories?
In this blog post, I’d like to examine how music, costumes, cinematography, characters, and narrative—all transcending time—come together in ‘Knight William’, a coming-of-age story based on medieval chivalric literature. As the saying goes, “There is nothing new under the sun”; all art—and indeed, all people—are much the same today as they were a hundred years ago. The same...
How Does ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ Explore Identity and Oppression Through the Lens of Film Noir?
In this blog post, I’ll examine Jonathan Demme’s ‘The Silence of the Lambs’—a film typically known as a thriller—from the perspective of film noir. I’ll explore everything from its formal characteristics, such as dark visuals and vertical and diagonal compositions, to the themes of identity and oppression embodied by Sterling, Hannibal Lecter, and Buffalo Bill, as well as the striking...
How Does “Shrek” Overcome Prejudice Based on Appearance to Become a True Hero?
In this blog post, we’ll examine the movie “Shrek”—based on familiar fairy tales and parodies—through the lens of Campbell’s hero’s journey framework, reflecting on Shrek’s adventures, journey, inner growth, prejudice based on appearance, and the meaning of true love. The Movie “Shrek” and Campbell’s Hero’s Journey The movie ‘Shrek’ is a remarkable film that draws on well-known...
How Did “Identity” Turn Multiple Personalities into a Source of Horror?
In this blog post, I’ll examine how the film “Identity” combines the theme of multiple personalities with the conventions of the crime thriller genre, and how it depicts the process of liberation from one’s own repression through the interaction between reality and fiction. A Genres Analysis of ‘Identity’ In a broad sense, the thriller is a type of suspense drama that...
Is ‘The Master’ a film that presents humanity through pure sensation rather than explaining it?
In this blog post, I will examine the questions and reflections raised by ‘The Master’—focusing on the way the film prioritizes pure sensation over narrative structure, the relationship between Freddie and Lancaster, its anti-psychological characterization, and the film’s opening scene and the actors’ performances. The Weaving of Narrative? First, I’d like to begin by refuting...
How did the Korean-style mockumentary begin, and in what direction has it evolved?
In this blog post, I’ll examine the origins and definition of the mockumentary genre and, through the films ‘Abandoned House’ and ‘Actresses’, explore the characteristics and limitations of the Korean-style mockumentary, as well as its potential for future development. The Beginnings of the Korean Mockumentary The mockumentary genre, which began with ‘The...
What Kind of Conflict and Love Should a Korean Romantic Comedy Depict?
In this blog post, I’ll examine the conflict, character development, endings, and use of supporting characters and settings in ‘The Zoo Next to the Art Museum’, ‘He Was So Cool’, and ‘Notting Hill’, and consider what structure and elements a Korean romantic comedy should have. The Beloved Genre: The Potential of the Romantic Comedy What is the most...