The Cove

Documentaries have always interested me for one main reason: either they were going to be awesome or absolutely terrible. I always felt as if there was no in between. They're a "hit or miss" one might say. In the case of The Cove, it was a great success.

In my experience of watching documentaries, they are very different from films. The main difference is that documentaries completely aim to inform viewers about a topic. Some documentaries might only want to inform viewers, while others might want to prove something to viewers. The Cove was a documentary that focused all of its attention on bringing attention to the killing of dolphins off the coast of Japan.

I have very mixed emotions about The Cove. I am currently a biology major with both a chemistry minor and environmental science minor. My pre-professional concentration is in veterinary medicine. It seems as if The Cove would definitely be a documentary that would interest me! For the most part, I was extremely interested, until the very end of the The Cove.

The information, mission, and hopes of the documentary were very well presented throughout the film. Viewers were given the opportunity to get to know the activists on many different levels. Also, the activists did a great job presenting a vast array of information through the use of interviews and on-site footage in Japan. In fact, it seemed as if the majority of the documentary was filmed in Japan. However, The Cove isn't one of those documentaries that just throws statistics and facts at the viewers. There was some of that, but it wasn't too noticeable due to the constant action. Not to sound cruel, but hunting and killing is action that keeps attention. People might not want to watch it, but for some reason they can't look away. Also, the undercover operations that the activists organized were very exciting and added to the interest level significantly.

The bottom line of this documentary, however, was to bring attention to the killings of dolphins off the coast of Japan. Was it done effectively? If people in land-locked North Dakota are watching, I'd say The Cove was definitely a success. The activists were successful because of their organized strategy. They used interviews with government officials, interviews with the general public about radiation and dolphin meat consumption, hidden cameras, and underwater technology to capture valuable and pertinent information. Through all these techniques, the activists were able to tap into the emotions of viewers and spread their message.

As I mentioned before, my emotions were mixed as I watched The Cove. It is apparent that the killing of dolphins off the coast of Japan is not being done in a humane way. For this reason, I was very upset when the documentary showed the killings. Also, since the levels of mercury are very high in dolphin meat, it is concerning that people are eating dolphin. Even more shocking is that dolphin meat was being served in Japanese schools for lunch! However, all progress that this documentary and activists had done was destroyed when Ric O'Barry went into the IWC meeting with a television strapped to his chest. This was the action of a radical activist and not an effective way of spreading the message to influential people.

In the end, The Cove was a very successful film because of the actions taken by activists. They did not sit outside a government building shouting and holding signs. They took matters into their own hands and took many dangerous risks. The risks paid off when the documentary was able to connect with viewers emotionally. This is essential for the success of a documentary and The Cove is a documentary that could really make a difference in the world.

Smoke Signals

Drama? Comedy? I'm not really sure if the movie Smoke Signals was presented in a very good way. Directors have very specific purposes in making films, and I'm not sure if this film was presented efficiently. There was a lot going on in this film, yet it did still have a central message. It could have been done differently with a much more effective impact. Smoke Signals was very confusing to me and it was not one of my favorite films.

First of all, there were many mixed signals within this film. In a lot of scenes, there would be very serious dialogue followed by characters acting very comical. I am familiar with the role of comic relief, but it seemed very out of place and almost detracted from the purpose of each scene. Personally, I was interested more in Thomas (the comic relief character) than Victor and his struggles. I didn't connect with Victor due to my constant laughter whenever Thomas spoke. Comic relief is essential in dramas and films with serious tones, but it should not overshadow or take away from the main parts of the film. This occurred numerous times throughout Smoke Signals. Though I was confused and distracted from the film's message, I was able to understand the themes and the plot. The underlying themes were quite obvious: alcohol abuse, abandonment, and unlikely friendships.

Alcoholism was very apparent and a problem for the characters in Smoke Signals. If it wasn't for Arnold's drunkenness, the film would have been much different or nonexistent. Whether Arnold would've become an alcoholic is debatable, but he might not have become such a guilty, troubled, and abusive man. Alcohol was a very popular object in this film, as it was referenced or placed in scenes many times. It definitely had an impact on the entire Coeur D'Alene Reservation, not only Victor and his father.

The abandonment theme ties into the unlikely friendship that was formed between Thomas and Victor. Thomas was saved by Arnold in the fire that Arnold started. Therefore, Thomas was grateful to Arnold and always wanted to talk to Victor about how great a man Arnold was. Over the years, Victor became very annoyed of Thomas, but also grew fond of him and formed a strange friendship. The two were brought even closer together with Arnold's death.

Since Smoke Signals did tackled some tough issues in alcohol abuse and abandonment, comic relief was essential. However, I have a problem with the way it was done. Personally, I do not feel that it was done in a respectful way. The Indian Reservation setting was not necessary. The same story could have been told in any other setting with characters of any nationality or race. The characters could have even been of different races and still had the same story. I felt that in many cases the Native American population was made fun of. I would've been extremely offended if I was of Native American ancestry.

In conclusion, this would not be a film that I would watch again or recommend that others watch. Perhaps there were themes that I did not see or fully appreciate in this film. Yet, I feel that this film was embarrassing at times to the Native American population. I have many Native American friends that also have this thought; however, there are other Native friends of mine that absolutley love this movie. It all comes down to the viewer's perception. As for myself, Smoke Signals would not be a film that I'd rate high.

The Cider House Rules

Wow! It isn't too often that I will sit down to watch a movie two days in a row. The Cider House Rules is one of those films that I could actually watch three days in a row. It was without a doubt one of the best films that I have seen in the past few months. There is so much to the this film and viewers can always see more if they take time appreciate all the movie's features.  So many different aspects made this film enjoyable for me. The multiple themes, the music, and symbolism make it very enjoyable and entertaining to watch.

Upon first watching the film, I felt that the movie was about abortion. The orphanage doctor was fine with performing abortions, while his apprentice was not okay with it. I felt a connection to this because I am interested in both the medical field and the topic of abortion. Most of the time, I am not in favor of abortion. However, after watching The Cider House Rules, my thoughts were definitely challenged. As shown in the film, if a person wants an operation done, they will find a way to have it. Sometimes that means the operation will be performed by poorly trained people in unsanitary conditions. This can lead to even more problems and complications. In the end, I found myself contemplating whether it is best to lose one life, or two from improper and unsafe operations.

Another moral issue revolved around rape. A father raped his daughter and no one did or said anything about it. His daughter became pregnant and the apprentice, who was against performing abortions, knew that he could do the operation safely and correctly for the daughter. Without needing any convincing, the apprentice did perform the abortion because he knew it was the right thing to do. Sure, it was against his morals and he would have rather not done it, but he had to break his own rules.
This could very well be the ultimate message behind The Cider House Rules, as there were many instances where rules were broken. For example, the doctor at the orphanage had been breaking the law for years by performing abortions because he knew he could help the women while others might not be able to safely. The apprentice broke his own personal rule to save the pregnant daughter from possible harm. The migrant workers that lived in the Cider House broke nearly all the rules that were listed on the wall. And lastly, when the daughter stabbed her father in the night, the apple orchard workers decided it was best to lie to police and not tell the truth as to how the father died. As the father said, "Sometimes you gotta break the rules to set things straight."

In the end, this movie has been one of the best movies that I have ever seen. My reasoning might sound illogical, but sometimes you gotta break the rules, right? I am a person that knows exactly where I stand on moral and social issues. I do not like it when my beliefs are challenged or insulted in any way, but who does? This movie definitely challenged my beliefs on certain issues and now I find myself rethinking my stances. It is amazing how films, like The Cider House Rules, can have such an effect on viewers. After all, that is partly the reason why a director chooses to make a film. They want to give viewers something that makes them think deeply. The Cider House Rules is a film that definitely gives viewers something to think about and appreciate afterwards.