Week 5: Blade Runner

This week's movie is "Blade Runner" (1982, 117mins). It starred Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. Directed by Ridley Scott, screenplay by Hampton Fancher. It's a science fiction/cyberpunk/film noir detective story about a man whose job it is to "retire" androids, or "replicants". On this particular job, he has to find and retire four replicants who have returned to Earth to find their maker. 

The film was nominated for Best Set Decoration and Best Visual Effects for the 1983 Oscars. It won the prestigious Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. "Blade Runner" is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick.

Harrison Ford's prior roles included "Star Wars", "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", and "Raiders of the Lost Ark", among others.

Here's the Wikipedia page and the script.

Special vocabulary:

-Voight-Kampff machine - "A very advanced form of lie detector that measures contractions of the iris muscle . . .  The VK is used primarily by Blade Runners to determine if a suspect is truly human by measuring the degree of his empathic response through carefully worded questions and statements. —Description from the original 1982 Blade Runner press kit."

-replicant

Think about these questions while you watch the film:

1. How would you describe the world of "Blade Runner" to someone who had never seen the movie?

2. Images of eyes come up again and again in this film. What do you think is their significance?

3. Deckerd is himself a replicant. Agree or disagree.

4. What is the main theme of this movie?


HOMEWORK:

Finish working on Assignment #2 and get it to me by 5pm April 10th.

Optional: watch next week's movie, The Terminator (1984).

Note: The midterm is week 7, April 19th. It will cover all the movies we've watched so far in class. It will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions.

Week 4: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

This week's movie is "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982, 115mins). It starred Dee Wallace, Drew Barrymore, and Henry Thomas. It's a children's movie about a boy who makes an emotional connection with an alien. Directed by Stephen Spielberg, written by Melissa Mathison. The film won 4 Oscars at the 1983 Academy Awards: Best Sound Effects Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Score, and Best Sound. It was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Director(Stephen Spielberg), Best Film Editing, Best Screenplay, and the most prestigious Academy Award, Best Picture. Here's the Wikipedia page and the script.

There were two original posters. I couldn't choose, so you get both!

Think about these questions while you watch the film:

1. Let's think about tropes again. What children's fairytale tropes are evident in this film?

2. The adults in the film never refer to E.T. as an "alien", a "monster", a "creature", or any other words that make the presence of an alien a real thing. They only say "him" or "it". Why do you think that is?

3. Elliot says to his sister, "Grown ups can't see him. Only little kids can see him". What is the significance of this innocent remark?

4. E.T. is treated like a stray dog. Explain.

5. E.llioT.  


HOMEWORK:

Assignment #2 is due April 10th - I changed the date to give myself more time to look at them.

Optional: watch the next film, which is Blade Runner – Final Cut (1982)

Week 3: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Class date: March 29, 2013
This week's movie is "Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981, 115mins). It's a classic adventure film meant to be a retro callback to the Saturday matinee serials of the 40s and 50s. It stars Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, and John Rhys-Davies. Directed by Stephen Spielberg, screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, story by George Lucas, and Philip Kaufman. 

The film won 4 Oscars at the 1982 Academy Awards: Best Art-Direction-Set Direction, Best Effects-Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and a Special Achievement Award Oscar for Sound Effects Editing. It was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Director(Stephen Spielberg), Best Music-Original Score(John Williams), and, the most prestigious Academy Award, Best Picture. Here's the Wikipedia page and the script.

Think about these questions while you watch the film:

1. Compare and contrast Indy and Belloq.

2. Discuss the history of Indy and Marion's relationship. Are they a good couple?

3. According to TV Tropes, "tropes are a devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members' minds and expectations". As an adventure film, what tropes are present in "Raiders of the Lost Ark"?

Homework:
Choose a new assignment and start working on it. Assignment #2 is due April 11th by 5pm.

Optional: watch the next film: E.T. - The Extra Terrestrial (1982)

Week 2: Alien

Class date: March 15
This week's movie is "Alien" (1979, 117 mins). Yes, it's not technically 80s, but I felt it was such a classic and really considered a part of the 80s decade. It stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, and Yaphet Kotto. Directed by Ridley Scott, screenplay by Dan O'Bannon. It won an Oscar in 1980 for Best Visual Effects. You may want to reference the Wikipedia page. Here is the screenplay.

Think about these questions while you watch the film:

1. Film critics have said this film explored primal fears about sexuality, reproduction and birth. Do you agree? Why or why not?

2. Why is this movie so frightening?

3. Ellen Ripley: Unlikely Hero


HOMEWORK:

1. Choose an assignment and start working on it. 

Optional: Watch the next movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Week 2: Assignments

In this class, you will do 4 assignments. You can choose which assignments you do from the following list:

1. 1000-word paper on the topic of your choice related to a movie we've watched (can be done twice)
2. 5-minute presentation on a topic of your choice related to a movie we've watched
3. Perform a skit for the class
1. memorize a scene from one of the movies we've watched
2. OR write a new scene that fits the movie
3. 2 people (10mins), 3 people (12mins), 4 people (14mins), etc.
4. Art project related to a movie we've watched - draw, paint, write music, dance, etc.
5. 5-minute video project to be shown in class
6. Your idea - you must discuss it with me first if you choose this one.

Due anytime before 5pm on the following days:

#1 Wednesday, March 21st
#2 Wednesday, April 10th
#3 Wednesday, May 1st
#4 Wednesday, May 23rd 

If your assignment requires class time to do, you must consult with me on a date to do it. It must still be done before the due date.
         

Class Information

Robin Hudson

KILC Room 312  031-750-5628
robin.gachon.Spring2013 at gmail dot com

Course website: 80sclassicmovies.blogspot.com
Course number: 09512003

A+ or A0        less than 25%

A0s + B0s      less than 40%

C0/C+            No Limit 
D0/D+            No Limit 

As long as you come to every class, do all the assignments, show up for the midterm and do the final presentation, you won't get less than C+.      

What will you do in this class?

You will view one classic American movie from the 1980s each week and discuss it with your classmates.

What’s the workload like?

Participation in class discussions will be important. You will do four assignments, two before the midterm, two after. We will discuss the details of the assignments later. There will also be a written midterm and final presentation.

Grading Breakdown:                       
          10% Attendance

          40% Assignments

          25% Midterm (in class written exam, multiple-choice, short answer, short essay)

          25% Final (presentation)

Attendance Policy: Students arriving 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class and will be marked absent. I do not accept absence excuses for any reason. Students missing more than four (4) classes will fail.

Cell phone Policy: Cell phones must be switched off and placed on my table during class time.

Plagiarism Policy: Under no circumstances will plagiarism be tolerated. Students who plagiarize work will be given an F for the assignment. 

Midterm will be Week 7, during class time.

Final presentations will be Week 14/15.

May 17^th is Buddha’s Birthday – no class that week.

We will be repeating today's class next week, so students who decide to stay in this class do not have to come next week.

Tentative Syllabus:

Week	Movie
1	When Harry Met Sally (1989)
2	Alien (1979)
3	Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
4	E. T. – The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
5	Blade Runner – Final Cut (1982)
6	The Terminator (1984)
7	MIDTERM EXAM
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16	The Breakfast Club (1985) Full Metal Jacket (1987) Rain Man (1988) Buddha’s Birthday – No class Stand by Me (1989) When Harry Met Sally (1989) Presentations Presentations TBD