The Graduate

The 1967 film, The Graduate asks the generation, “Are you going to be like your parents?”  This film often shows how before 1967, parents had a big influence on the way their children acted and thought. This movie marked the period of time when children started to make their own decisions and stand up for their own beliefs and values, instead of parroting their parents. I really enjoyed watching this movie because it was very funny and I never quite knew what was going to happen next.

Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) is the main character of this film. He is what one would call socially awkward. Hoffman’s great acting makes the movie a hilarious film. Ben has just finished college and is coming back home for awhile to “think” about his future. His parents are planning on him attending graduate school. The first scene in the movie emphasizes how back in 1967, parents tried their hardest to tell their children what to do and how to run their lives. Ben’s parents throw him this huge college graduation party.  One might assume that since it is a party for Ben, Ben’s friends would be there. Well, not in this case. The guests include Ben’s parent’s friends and they wouldn’t leave Ben alone. One will often see Ben making up excuses to leave the party to go and do something. He did whatever it took to get himself out of the room.

At the party, another main character comes into play, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft). She is one of Ben’s parents dear friend and her husband is Ben’s father’s business partner. She comes into the movie when Ben goes upstairs to his room to get away from the party for awhile. She is a very scandalous woman who was looking for some attention from Ben. While she is up in Ben’s room, she asks Ben if he would give her a ride home because she has a little bit of a drinking problem. However, once they arrive at Mrs. Robinson’s home, she keeps making up excuses for Ben to have to come in the house. Once she gets him in the house she offers him a drink. Ben knew that she was seducing him, but for some reason he just couldn’t say NO!

As the movie goes along, there are many hysterical scenes of Ben and Mrs. Robinson together. Their relationship has been going on for 2 months now, mostly taking place in the Taft Hotel, and that is when Mrs. Robinson’s daughter, Elaine ( Katharine Rose) comes into the movie. Elaine is a young, beautiful girl who is surprisingly single. I feel that Mrs. Robinson thought her daughter was a threat because she made Ben promise her that he wouldn’t ever see her daughter Elaine, let alone take her out on a date. But as many of you would guess, Ben can’t resist Elaine once his father made him take her out on a date. At first he was very upset about the whole idea of taking his lover’s daughter out on a date, but after awhile, he got use to it. As the end of the movie arrives, there are some very great scenes with a lot of symbolism. Try to figure out what the directors are trying to prove with the underlying symbols that are involved with this film. 


As this movie twists and turns to the finish line, it really shows how times have changed. Today parents have little control over their children and their children and their children’s future once he or she graduates from high school. It’s interesting how much times have really changed. This movie is a great example of that. I very much enjoyed this movie because of the great acting and hilarious scenes. I think that even though this is an older movie, it is one that everyone should watch because it is a great comedy and most people would probably enjoy it.

Psycho

Thriller, mystery, and suspense are the three words that sum up this movie. “Psycho” is a true story based on Ed Gein from Plainville Wisconsin. It was is the number one movie in horror and is directed and written by Alfred Hitchcock. Alfred Hitchcock has a variety of movies, but most of his movies are in the genre, horror. I would definitely recommend this movie because it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire movie. It is a 1960 horror, so don’t expect the graphics and special effects you are use to in the horrors nowadays.

The main character in this movie is Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) and she is unhappy with how her life is treating her. She has a boyfriend, Sam, who is paying off his divorce and doesn’t want to marry her because he doesn’t want her to live in the back of a hardware store for the rest of their life. This leads to some dishonest actions she does at work, and mysteriously takes off. On her way to see Sam, she goes through some pretty interesting experiences.

One late, rainy night she pulls into a motel to stay and expects to leave right in the morning. This is when Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) makes his first appearance. The reaction that one might get from Norman Bates might be friendly and cheery, but later on one’s reaction will definitely change. Norman Bates has some serious issues and needs some help from a psychologist. When Marion arrives at the motel, Norman welcomes her and offers to make her some supper. While she is eating, Norman reveals some curious stories about his mother. Marion is alarmed by these stories and tells Norman that she needs to go to her room and go to sleep. I think one knows how the story goes from there.  

I would definitely recommend this movie because you keep you on the edge of your chair throughout the entire film.  Also in this movie, the director Alfred Hitchcock, is deathly afraid of birds, so as your watch this film look for birds in the background at some parts. It is really unique and interesting how he put his biggest fear in a movie. From the suspenseful music to the creepy setting, this is the number one horror movie. So one should watch it and see how times have changed in the genre, horror.

I would rate the movie “Psycho” 4 out of 5.

Ben-Hur

As one follows the twists and the turns of the life of the Jewish prince, Ben-Hur, one will embark on a journey of adventure, drama, and action. Ben Hur is not only the number one Academy Award Winning film, but it also involves the original ship scene and original chase scene that you have watched in a variety of other movies. I would most definitely recommend this movie, but probably not until you are a young adult. This movie will keep you questioning what is going to happen next from start to finish.
The main character is Jedah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), who lives as a rich Jewish prince and merchant in Jerusalem at the beginning of first century. All is fine and dandy until his old friend, Messala (Stephen Boyd) comes back to Jerusalem. This is the point when everything goes bad. Messala and Ben have very different political views, and this is what leads Messala to say, “You are either for me or against me”.  Ben Hur would never choose anything over his people, not even his best friend. Ben Hur said that he would rather be a fool than a trader. Ben is a character that shows love and commitment for his people no matter what he is offered. He went through many sufferings and torture throughout the movie because of his decision to be against Messala.
Ben Hur, being the Jewish prince of his people, resembles the characteristics that Jesus has. Jesus mysteriously shows up periodically throughout the movie, helping and sometimes even saving Ben’s life. However, it is interesting because you never once see Jesus’s face.  Throughout the movie, I think they were trying to show that Ben and Jesus have some very strong similarities.  Like Jesus, Ben is all for his people. He cares more about other people’s lives than his own; no matter if he is risking his entire life for that person. As the movie progresses, one sees more and more similarities between Jesus and Ben Hur.
Even though this movie is older, and it doesn’t have the greatest special effects or color, I would definitely recommend this movie. For 1959, with such a limited technology, it is an outstanding movie; with a great plot filled with many memorable scenes. There are scenes in this movie where one might think they have had to use special effects, but in reality they didn’t. It must have taken them a very long time to put this movie together. It is unbelievable that they built the stadium for the chariot scene just for this movie. They put a lot of hard work into this movie, and did a fantastic job. “Ben-Hur” is not only the number one Academy Award winner, but it also has won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Supporting Actor.
My rating for “Ben Hur” is a 4 out of 5.
***Thank you to http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Ben-Hur/Summary/, for you information.