Volver in my opinion is the best film from the selection of films we’ve watched. I watched this film a couple of years back in my high school Spanish class and it was one of the first European films I had been exposed to and definitely was not disappointed. The film although it came out in 2006 tackled a lot of problems women face today well over a decade later. The film starred by world class actress Penelope Cruz boasts it’s cinematic excellence with a ton of foreshadowing scenes. A common cinematic saying I’ve read about states that you should never point a gun unless you plan to fire it (metaphor). This saying means that there are no scenes you or objects/references you should show unless it has purpose to the story. In one scene, Raimunda is being shown from an overview angle washing a knife. That scene may have seemed random but a few scenes later, it is the very knife used by her daughter Paula in self defense against her father, Paco. Now we see more complex forms of foreshadowing when Raimunda finds Paco dead. At first she was shocked and horrified at the sight but then as Paula explains Paco’s attempt at her, you can see Raimunda’s reaction change drastically to a more understanding and calm demeanor. I find foreshadowing the best cinematic tool directors use to give films a more mysterious and exciting element.

I find that the film has it’s fair share of mystery and clues on the outcome of the film as it unfolds but what really surprised me were the plot twists in the film. The film came off as slow in the very beginning with not much happening and rather early on in the film, deaths of who I thought were a major characters, Paco and Aunt Paula. A big theme in the film was death. But it was like a snowball, more and more things were happening in the film until it neared the end where most of the plot twists were coming out. What I liked most about the film was that I wasn’t able to predict the ending. Usually in films, it is rather easy to predict the end. I guess this is what separates the good films from the great, the mysteriousness of the film. The director did a fantastic job with cinematography as well by decking out the film in bright red any chance he had as a way to mask the darkness of the film. The film although dark with so much death, had some sense of excitement and thriller to it. It was an overall good film because it all doesn’t make sense until the very end of the film.

Of all the movies, I would say that “Heavy Trip” is the film right up my alley. It tells the story of an aspiring black metal band that hopes to make it big someday. Since the formation of the group 12 years ago, the Finnish ensemble has lacked the experience of performing live. However, after one of the members chance upon meeting the director of a metal festival, their lives take an abrupt turn. After adopting the name “Impaled Rektum,” the group embarks on a journey that surely tugged on the heartstrings of its audience – including my own. “Heavy Trip” was the perfect combination of a success story, and well-timed comedy.

From its namesake, one can only assume that the film will dabble on time travel. Although many directors have ventured into this genre in the past, what I believe differs Timecrimes from the mainstream time travel movies that I’ve watched is that its protagonist does not travel back many years into the past, however it takes him 90 minutes before the incident he so-recently experienced. As a moviegoer, I normally trace back the steps of the protagonist to paradoxically be a step ahead of the movie. I have the tendency to build up theories in my head of which particular moment resulted to the present.  However, what “Timecrimes” put emphasis on is that every moment, and detail leading up to the present is significant. Therefore, a change in any of these could result in various outcomes. Indeed there were scenes that were predictable, but the film was able to add some twists and turns that still managed to surprise me. “Timecrimes” is a film that reminds its audience of the simple principle of cause and effect.

“Trollhunter” is André Ovredal’s comedic take on the alleged troll sightings in Norway. The movie revolved around the government’s attempt to conceal the supernatural beings from the human eye. As more of the story is told, the movie even goes as far as to assume that animal herds are involved in this conspiracy. Old footages of trolls were also included in the film. However, there were moments that felt unnecessary during the film. I think that the story could have been told within a shorter period of time. All in all, ‘Trollhunter” is a film to watch for someone with an interest for trolls and comedic relief.  

I knew Holy Motors was an unconventional film at first sight. The beginning scene was somewhat disturbing, however, the film was mind-boggling enough to keep my attention. The film was nothing short of extravagant. Its charm lied within the grand details that were dream-like, and yet these stories were portrayed to be different versions of an individual’s reality. It’s as though the director directly drew inspiration from his imagination, and strung all of his ideas together to create a film. Although there was no clear plot for the movie, I would still consider it as a masterpiece. It was imaginative, unique, and daring. Watching the film was a different experience, however I think that the story-telling style used in the creation of the movie would not cater to the masses. Holy Motors is a film of acquired, and sophisticated taste. Although I consider films as a medium of art, I believe that this movie is the very definition of abstract.