Kill Bill and Postmodernism

(Fig 1: Movie Poster)

'Kill Bill' (2003) Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino is a martial arts, action packed film. The film is iconic and world renowned, partially for its intense and cartoony fight scenes and also for its postmodern film making. 

(Fig 2: Movie Still)

1. Intertextuality: Throughout 'Kill Bill' Quentin Tarantino includes references to other genres of film. Such as; Japanese Cinema, Action, Horror and some of his own films. 'Lady Snowblade' is used as inspiration and referenced in 'Kill Bill'. For example, the shot where the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad are all looking down at The Bride. Another shot is where the Bride is standing in the door way of the church is in reference to 'The Searchers' (1956) The film also includes an animated sequence breaking away from the live action to inform the audience of O-Ren's backstory. 

(Fig 3: Movie Still)

2. Non-linear Narrative: The film jumps around a lot. We start with the Bride being "killed", then the opening credits roll which leads us to a car pulling up to a family home. The Bride fights and kills Vernita Green within the first 10 minutes of the film. Once Green is dead, we see that the Bride has already killed O-Ren. At this point we then jump back to when the Bride is in a coma and the events that led up to her killing O-Ren. 

(Fig 4: Movie Still)

3. Aestheticization of violence: 'Kill Bill' is full of violence and gore. However, Tarantino makes all the violence in the film a spectacle, people are either covered head to toe in someone else's blood, limbs cut off or blood spluttering out all over the place. The best example would be when the Bride finds O-Ren and starts to cut down all of her henchmen. This scene was considered so bloody and grotesque that Tarantino made it black and white, which in the end made it seem more artistic and calling back to the beginning which is also black and white.

(Fig 5: Movie Still)

4. Hyperrealism: Throughout the film the Bride overcomes many obstacle which seem impossible. From the beginning the fight with Green, Green misses a shot from close range and the Bride manages to throw a knife right in the chest. The most obvious scene where hyperrealism occurs is the scene where the Bride takes down groups upon groups of trained yakuza and comes out victorious.

(Fig 6: Movie Still)

5. Miniatures: In the early 2000s CGI was still in its early stages, but becoming more of a trend in cinema. The choice to use a miniature was different and the scene where the plane is flying over Japan shows the full scale of the country, while also paying homage to older films where miniatures are more common.

Illustration:

Fig 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_dNIXwrbzY

Fig 2: https://wiki.tarantino.info/index.php/Kill_Bill_References_Guide

Fig 3: https://gradingfightscenes.com/2013/07/11/kill-bill-fight-1-of-4/

Fig 4: https://screenrant.com/kill-bill-3-not-happening-uma-thurman-car-crash/

Fig 5: https://blahg.josefsipek.net/?p=128

Fig 6: http://www.andsoitbeginsfilms.com/2015/11/top-52-things-i-love-about-kill-bill.html

Perspectives - Postmodern Definitions

(Fig 1)

Postmodern: The state of society after modernity 

High Modernism: A form of modernity, distinguished by its firm confidence in science and technology

Capitalist: People who use their wealth to boost profits by investing and conform to capitalist principles 

Superabundance: a larger amount than is needed 

Disconnected: Having a connection broken/lack of a connection with reality 

Pop: 'popular'. liked or admired by many people or a specific group.

Fragmentary: Consists of small disconnected or incomplete parts

Eclectic: Drawing upon multiple ideas, styles or tastes from a broad range of sources 

Nostalgia: The feeling of sentimentality to a time in the past, typically a happy moment 

Simulacra: A representation of someone or something 

Superficiality: Lack of thoroughness or serious thought 

Flippant: Lack of respectful or serious attitude 

Depthless: So deep that it can't be measured 

Fabulation: .Novels that in the style of magical realism and do not follow the traditional sense of realism

Pastiche: Imitating a style of an artist or work 

Bricolage: something constructed or created from a diverse range of sources 

Aleatory: depending on the throw of a dice or on chance; random

Fig 1: http://www.lacasayouth.com/the-postmodern-jesus/

Film Review - Tron Legacy- Archetypes

Archetypes in Tron Legacy 

(Fig 1: Sam Flynn)

Sam Flynn is the Hero of Tron Legacy, we follow his journey through the Grid for the first time and how he adapts to his new environment.

                                                                    (Fig 2: Clu)

The Shadow is Clu, after Kevin Flynn first entered the Grid he used Clu to take care of it while he was in the real world. However, Clu had his own ideas for how the Grid should be run. Flynn is cast out never to be seen again and Clu continues to take over the Grid.

                                                               (Fig 3: Alan Bradley)

Alan acts as the Herald in the film. At the beginning of the film Sam pulls a stunt at the newly run ENCOM company, Alan aware that Sam was behind it goes to visit him. Alan then informs Sam that he received a message from his father and to Flynn's arcade.

                                                                    (Fig 4: Tron)

In Tron Legacy, Tron has been reprogrammed and turned against Kevin Flynn, now under Clu's control. When Sam enters the Grid he ends up in the disc wars Tron acts the Threshold Guardian facing off against Sam.

                                                                       (Fig 5: Zuse)

Zuse is the Trickster/Jester, he runs a night club in the Grid. Sam goes to him to find out information, but he sets Sam up and Clu's henchmen show up and ambush him.  

(Fig 6: Kevin Flynn)

(Fig 7: Quorra)

Both Flynn and Quorra act as Mentors to Sam. Quorra however seems more like a carer/guardian to Sam. Where as, Flynn has been entering in and out of the Grid for years as well as being a 'user' and his father he can relate to Sam than Quorra. But since Flynn can't go into the central Grid because he'd be killed this is where Quorra comes in to teach him more about the Grid. 

(Fig 8: Quorra)

Quorra fits these roles more than mentor, Allies and Maiden. Quorra helps Sam throughout the whole time he is in the Grid. She also her intentions are pure and acts as a possible love interest.

(Fig 9: Flynn;s Mother)

(Fig 10: Kevin Flynn)

Sam's mother died in an unexpected car accident so Flynn's Mother took over and took care of Sam while Flynn was away in the Grid. It can be argued that Alan was possibly a father figure to Sam after his fathers disappearance however Flynn is still Sam's Father.

(Fig 11: Young Sam)

Sam has a flashback to when his father was around when he was young and we see how Flynn's disappearance affected Sam. In this case Sam is also the Child in this film.

(Fig 12: Tron)

Tron after being reprogrammed is forced to follow Clu's commands, however near the end of the film he regains some memories. This allows him to remember his purpose and defend Flynn from Clu.

Fig 1: https://digitalcitizen.ca/2010/12/15/over-160-tron-legacy-original-and-concepts-wallpapers-1920x1200-pixels/sam-flynn-tall2-1920x1200/

Fig 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHoCQvddn0o

Fig 3: http://brianorndorf.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54ee7b64288330147e3762319970b-popup

Fig 4: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/movies/05tron.html

Fig 5: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/castor-from-tron-legacy/images/19948573/title/castor-screencap

Fig 6 & 10: https://siftingthroughpatterns.wordpress.com/2012/05/12/why-kevin-flynn-is-the-true-villain-behind-tron-legacy/

Fig 7: http://topstrongest.wikia.com/wiki/File:Quorra-Tron-Legacy-HD.jpg

Fig 8: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/quorra/images/17860209/title/tron-legacy-quorra-photo

Fig 9: https://www.picsofcelebrities.com/celebrity/belinda-montgomery/pictures/belinda-montgomery-2016.html

Fig 11: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Du4vUCGOHg

Fig 12: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Du4vUCGOHg

Film Review - Tron - Hero's Journey

(Fig 1: Joseph Campbell - Theory of The Heroes Journey Model 1949)

'Tron' (1982) is an example of a film that follows the Hero's Journey. The Heroes Journey is a formula used in story telling that follows a main character on an adventure or quest, usually with an end goal. Tron starts in the Ordinary world which is outside of the computer system, however it can be argued that the ordinary world is within the computer system from Tron's perspective since he can also be considered a protagonist.

(Fig 2: 'Tron')

 The main protagonist is Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer who was considered that best at ENCOM. However, this ended when Flynn lost his job and had five of his video game ideas stolen by Ed Dillinger. Since then Flynn has been hacking ENCOM to find proof to support his claims but is halted by the Master Control Program (MCP). Dillinger and the MCP work together to stop Flynn from interfering, with the MCP even blackmailing Dillinger with information about his plagiarising Flynn's games if he does not comply with its directives. Flynn's friends who work at ENCOM find out that Dillinger is on to him and they go to his arcade to warn him. 

(Fig 3: Movie Still)

This scene can act as the Call to adventure and the Refusal to call. Flynn's friend Alan informs him that he was working on a security program named 'Tron'. This gave Flynn the idea to use Tron to take over the MCP and get the proof he needed. However, it was the information that Dillinger is on to him that previously made him lose hope since it meant hacking ENCOM a lot harder. Flynn's Supernatural aid comes from his friends Alan and Lora who get him into the ENCOM building. Alan gives Flynn the Tron program and Lora gets Flynn to a computer in the experimental laser section of the building where she works. 

(Fig 4: Movie Still)

When Flynn starts to hack into ENCOM's system, the MCP warns Flynn that he should stop. Flynn taunts the MCP, which starts to panic and resorts to using the experimental laser. This is when Flynn starts to cross the first threshold by being scanned into the computer system. It's arguable that the first threshold was entering the ENCOM building, but Flynn entering the system is where we the audience properly enter the world of 'Tron'. Once inside the system Flynn is mistaken as a "program", he now has entered the Belly of the whale and gets shoved into a prison cell with other computer programs. Flynn meets RAM who is in the cell next to him and he warns Flynn of the dangers within the system, then Flynn is called on to enter his first game. This is his road of the trials. Flynn faces off against a program and when told to kill the program after winning, he refuses. Sark, Dillinger's in system persona then kills the program anyway. After returning to his cell Flynn meets Ram again, but this time Tron is also there. Flynn plays along saying he is a program and the three of them decide to break out and defeat the MCP. The three enter a light cycle game against Sarks men, once they're all defeated Tron, Flynn and Ram break out and escape. Sarks men try to chase them but lose sight of the trio. The three stop and see the communicator, this will allow Tron to gain the information needed to defeat MCP. 

(Fig 5: Movie Still)

That scene acts as Meeting the Goddess because it symbolises the end goal and once completed,  better life. After this the three are pursued again by Sark and lose Ram in the process, Flynn and Tron are separated and both try to reach the communicator via different routes. the Ultimate boon occurs once Tron reaches the communicator to contact Alan, Alan then provides Tron with the ability to defeat the MCP. Flynn disguises himself as a henchman and when Sark catches up to Tron, Flynn joins Tron. Refusal of the return is when Sark continues to pursue Tron and Flynn, as well as those two continuing to the MCP. Once they reach MCP, Flynn gets separated again and Tron has his Magic flight with Sark in a one on one battle. Flynn manages to get back to Tron and jumps into the MCP, this is Rescue from without since it allows Tron to attack the MCP and defeats him. 

Flynn gets scanned out the system after jumping into the MCP and Crosses the Return Threshold. 

Now that know how to enter the system he has Mastered two worlds, also now that MCP is defeated Flynn has the proof he needs and then takes over ENCOM, Freedom to live.

NOTE: In hindsight I should have done 'Tron Legacy' for the Hero's Journey and then 'Tron' (1982) for the archetypes review for it to make sense. However, since I've done 'Tron' (1982) for the Hero's Journey, I'll use Legacy for my archetypes review.  

                                                             

Illustrations:

Fig 1: http://www.sfcenter.ku.edu/Workshop-stuff/Joseph-Campbell-Hero-Journey.htm

Fig 2: http://www.mercwithamovieblog.com/2016/10/retro-review-tron-1982.html

Fig 3: http://greatlittle-knownmovies.blogspot.com/2018/03/agony-booth-review-tron-1982-part-2.html

Fig 4: http://tron.wikia.com/wiki/TRON_Universe

Fig 5: https://cartoonhd.care/film/tron

Five Moom Dramatic poses

Last week we did 5 more poses, this time dramatic poses rather than action ones.

These are my five: