Happy Halloween!

Taken from Google Images

In honor of Halloween, I want you to think about the scariest of scary movies you've seen.  What made it so terrifying?  What cinematic elements make a movie good 'n scary?  Use your genre sheet and write about this horrific flick!

Cautionary Tales

Taken from Google Images.

 

Cautionary tales are ones that warn us about something, and Brian Aldiss's short story "Super Toys Last All Summer Long" definitely contains a few warnings for readers. 

How is "Super Toys" a cautionary tale?  What do you think this science fiction story is warning readers of?  In what ways were the world which Aldiss created like our own?  How can we prevent the events in the story from happening? 

Use your genre sheet!

Rom-Coms & Sci-Fi

Taken from Google Images

 

We're about ready to switch genres, people - major genre shift!  Breakfast at Tiffany's turned out to be a romantic comedy, but you will find that A.I. (Artificial Intelligence) is anything but romantic or comedic. 

For this journal prompt, I would like you to write about your favorite science fiction movie and explain what makes it so good.  Usually, science fiction movies (and the books from which the films are derived) have messages of warning for our generation - what warnings can you detect from the sci-fi movie you chose?  We'll talk more about these warnings or "cautionary tales" when we read "Super Toys Last All Summer Long" by Brian Aldiss!

And if you aren't a sci-fi person, you may choose your favorite romantic comedy and write about it instead! 

Ready...set...go!  Happy 1st Monday of Quarter 2!

Breakfast at Tiffany's

A Romantic Comedy?  Really?!
Taken from Google Images

 

After reading Truman Capote's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" I want you to think about the tone of the story; what mood did it create for readers - why?  Give examples from the text.

Now take that thought a bit further.  If you were to make "Breakfast at Tiffany's" into a film, in what genre would it fall?  Romance?  Drama?  Horror?  Thriller?  Comedy?  Give reasons for the genre you choose!

Worst Adaptation

One Day - this movie didn't "wow" me at all.
But the book - ah, the book was great!
Taken from Google Images

I think that we can all agree that F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was adapted into a pretty stellar movie.  For this journal prompt, I want you to think about an adaptation of a children's book, short story, novel, novella, graphic novel (etc) that fell short, leaving you disappointed.  Be sure to explain why the movie fell short and what the director, screenwriters, actors (etc) could have done to make it better.

Benjamin Button Top 10 List

Taken from Google Images

 

For today's journal prompt, I want you to consider the adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" into a film. 

Clearly, the film was far different from the story and a lot was done in the film-making process to turn this tiny story into a full-length blockbuster movie. 

Think about what the screenwriter, director, producers, costume designers, make-up artists, and casting crew did well and make a Top 10 List of things that were done to make this film such a success.  Along with the list, be sure to give explanations for each, elaborating and giving specific examples from the film.