Is He a Hero?

We've watched quite a few films by this point that would be considered hero films, but how well do they fit the archetype?  You've heard me babbling on about how Luke Skywalker is this, Princess Leia that, and R2-D2 (along with C3PO) the comic relief, but do you agree?  Your task is to pick one of the films that we've viewed on this topic (The Hunger Games, Star Wars: A New Hope, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Here Comes the Boom, The Natural) and determine if the film, in fact, fits the archetype. You do not want to simply write simple sentences and/or a list of how the characters and elements fit, but instead a well thought-out essay discussing a film within the archetype.

If you lost the handout on the archetype, you can find it here.

The Hero Archetype

Both George Lucas and J.K. Rowling obviously understand the hero archetype; simply look at their major works (Star Wars and Harry Potter respectively).  And because of this archetype - we can thank Odysseus for being the leading hero - all hero stories contain certain elements.  Your task is to compare both Star Wars: A New Hope and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in terms of the hero archetype.  If you lost the handout, you can find it here.  Remember to use good writing conventions and at least three hundred words.

Searching for Approval

In both Catch Me if You Can and October Sky we encountered a protagonist who was desperately searching for his father's approval and also was searching to carve out his place in society.  It is also worth noting that both of the films is based on a true story.  Your task is to discuss the motivating factors of both Frank Abignale Jr. and Homer Hickam and what these factors drove them to accomplish.  Did either earn their father's approval?  How do you know?  Make sure to use specific examples and good writing conventions in your response (and also three hundred words).

Hollywood and the Absent Father

While it's clear that the films we're currently watching (Trouble with the Curve, Field of Dreams, Catch Me if You Can) have an absent father figure and a son (or daughter) that is striving for their affection or, at the very least, acceptance, other films (The Godfather and Road to Perdition for instance) also address this topic.  Kate Carraway, in her article "Absent dads - Hollywood rarely gets the story right" attempts to explain the issues with the absent father in both film and television.  Is she right?  Is fatherhood (and by extension manhood) on trial?  The Cuyahoga County Fatherhood Initiative offers programs that try to raise the importance of fathers up; they even schedule a Fathers' Walk to School.   Your task is to discuss why you think that the absent father motif is common in film.  After doing this, you then need to discuss which of the films resonated the strongest with you.

Remember that you need to use at least three hundred words and good writing conventions.  Also remember that you will have a stronger post if you use specific examples.

2015 or 2015?

October 21, 2015: two versions of Marty McFly will be roaming Hill Valley and hilarity will be experienced by all.  While Robert Zemeckis attempts to predict what 2015 will be like, he does get some things wrong.  Your task will be to compare and contrast 2015 to Zemeckis' fictionalized version.  It may be helpful to to discuss each of the 2015s individually in their own paragraphs and then discuss the similarities in a separate paragraph.  Remember that you need to write at least three hundred words and demonstrate good writing conventions.  Oh, and BE SPECIFIC!

Modern Film Noir?

Road to Perdition is one of my favorite films and a stellar depiction of depression era gangsters, and The Godfather is the quintessential gangster film, but are they film noir?  We have already viewed two films in The Big Sleep and The Maltese Falcon that fit this category, and we know that there are modern films that also fit this category: the question is, does either Road to Perdition or The Godfather?  Certainly there are differences in the films and film making (our two primary examples come from the early and mid forties while Perdition comes from 2002 and The Godfather from 1972) among others.  Your task is to determine if Road to Perdition and The Godfather qualify as film noir.  


Remember that you need to use at least three hundred words in your post and that I will be grading writing conventions as well.  It may be helpful to prewrite and also to use Roger Ebert's "Guide to Film Noir" which can be found here. One final note: you will want to use specific details, as generalizations will not give much strength to your argument.

Mr. Deeds, Gary Cooper, and Adam Sandler

Certainly no one would argue that Gary Cooper and Adam Sandler play Longfellow Deeds the same; however, after viewing both Cooper's Deeds (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town - 1936) and Sandler's Deeds (Mr. Deeds - 2002), it is obvious the similarities.  Beyond the obvious differences, such as actors and the latter film being in color, there are many subtle differences.  Your task is to discuss both the similarities and differences between the films and then decide which one you thought was a better example of film and storytelling.  Keep in mind that you are not arguing for your favorite film, but rather the film that told a more cohesive story.  Another word of advice: when comparing the films it will certainly be helpful to explain which directorial choices were more effective (for instance Babe Bennett working for a print tabloid vs. Babe Bennett working for a tabloid news program).


As always I will be looking at writing conventions and the development of your post.  While you are required to write at least three hundred words, I doubt that you will be able to thoroughly compare the films without exceeding this minimum.