Thursday, February 19, 2009

Persepolis review 2

John Richardson
English 1106
Dan Lawson
Friday February 20, 2009

Graphic novels have become a trend that is beginning to become popular in the United States, and all over the world. The books have also become a hot topic to be transformed into films. Examples of graphic novel blockbusters are: Spider-Man 1, 2, and 3. Batman; The Dark Night, and the Incredible Hulk are all examples of hit movies that were based off of graphic novels. Another graphic novel, which just recently was turned into a movie, was Persepolis. Persepolis is the story of Marjane Satrapi, a young woman who grew up in Iran and lived through a revolution, oppression, and a period of homelessness. Satrapi grew up in a family that taught her the sky was the limit for all her dreams and hopes. She aspired to become a prophet, a rocker, and much more but the government was putting her down at every turn. The government was reverting back to a traditional stance. Western ideas were frowned upon, as well as women’s free rights to display their personality. Marji grew up protesting all that Iran was turning into, and she had many western ideas. For this reason, her parents sent her to France where she could more easily express her free western ideas, and grow up away from a war. She went through a very difficult transition; she bounced from house to house, and had many groups of friends. She realized that she did not like who she was becoming, and came back to Iran many years later to be with her family.
I personally thought it was a great film. I was a huge fan of the graphic novel, and I feel other fans will feel the same way about the book! The storyline follows the book completely, and there are not many flaws between the two. The only thing I did not like in the movie was how they briefly touched upon some key points in the book. Marji has a strong relationship with her Uncle. In the book, the relationship is a significant part of the plot, but in the film the relationship is not a focal point at all. I feel even though the film is completely animated, and there are no people whatsoever, I feel it still can convey a strong message. There is no loss of real life situations at all and you feel involved in the story even though it is just a cartoon. Beverly Burning of Culturevulture.net feels the same way by saying:
“The animation is exquisitely evocative, but it is Satrapi’s story itself, and her point of view, that captivates us. Every stage of her life is treated with a clear-headed view of someone who has seen so much, and yet comes out the other end without the anger and need for revenge or bitterness that taints other memoirs.”
I agree with her completely because I felt the same way after watching the films, and I can relate to her feelings completely. Burning is insisting that there is no loss of emotion even though people may think it is difficult to relate to a cartoon, it is not.
Another renowned comic artist is now having his comics turned into movies, and his name is William Eisner. His most recent book to film hit is the Christmas spirit, but he has made his name off of his work as a comic book writer. He said in his book that; “Comic book writers have developed their craft in an interplay of words, and images. I believe, achieved a successful cross breading of illustration and prose.” His point is that comic artists have found a way to relay messages in different ways other than just words on a page. I feel this pertains to Persepolis because it is a prime example of words and drawn images becoming one piece. After reading the works of Eisner, and seeing all of Satrapi’s work, I feel that comics and graphic novels are going to become much more popular, and also be turned into many more movies. Persepolis is a phenomenal film, and I enjoyed watching it. It was captivating, exciting, and interesting, and I feel it will catch all viewers’ eyes, and enlighten them on not only the situation that happened in Iran, as well as the story of a girl who grew into a woman through many difficult situations.

first persepolis review

John Richardson
English 1106
Dan Lawson
Wednesday February 18, 2009

The movie Persepolis is a film that took one of the world’s most renowned graphic novels, and turned it into a great film. The novel by Marijane Strapi outlines her life growing up in Iran, and follows her throughout a move, a war, and a tremendous change in character. The film starts of right in the beginning, right when Strapi was a care free little girl growing up in Iran. The film shows how she has a strong relationship with her family, but also shows she is very independent from a young age when she proclaims herself a prophet. The film does a nice job paralleling the book, although I feel it moves a little too fast. The film does not pay nearly enough attention to the beginning or they blow through Marijane’s relationship with her Uncle. The book demonstrates a strong relationship with her uncle, and how he feels she is the star of his life, and the movie just shows how he talks to her in prison and briefly at home. It is difficult to follow the whole entire book, in one film so I feel people who enjoyed the book will also enjoy the film. It follows the book in order almost exactly, and the characters look exactly the same, so there is no difference whatsoever. I feel the movie has a few flaws, but overall did a very good job making the graphic novel Persepolis turn into a real life story. I give these film two thumbs up because it is a great story, and it is exactly like the book.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Suggestions for Writing

Who would have ever thought that the same movie could derive such different opinions from its viewers. Tim Gilchrist, and Robert Ebert, are two renowned movie critics who have a very different opinion of the film, but they base their opinions off of the same information. Gilchrist feels that the first Spider Man movie was a phenomenal adaptation of the comic book, but he feels that the second film has a lot left to be desired. Flaws in the plot, and other flaws made Gilchrist unhappy with the film. He feels parts of it were long and drawn out, and the film was lacking a lot. He does say that the film is a strong representation of the comic, but plots are drawn out and long. He feels this is unnecessary for the movie. Robert Ebert on the other hand feels that Spider Man 2 is what a superhero film should be. He feels that the film is a model of what a superhero film should be. He also likes how the film does such a good job showing Peter Parker as well as Spider Man. Ebert did not like the first Spider Man like Gilchrist did, and he feels that the second one is far superior. Both of these columnists feel that it is a great film, but have different opinions on it. I feel that personal taste comes into effect based on the authors preference of actors directors, and views on the comic books the movies were derived from. The writers both know they are great films but they feel differently amongst the sequel and the prequel, and which one is greater then the other.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Persepolis

After reading the graphic novel Persepolis, along with Eisner and McCloud, I have developed a completely new appreciation of graphic novels, and comic books in general. I never thought that pictures could tell a story quite like it does in Persepolis. I had no idea what was truly going on in Iran about Thirty years ago, and now I have an understanding of what was going on, and the revolution that the people had to undergo. Strapi does a phenomenal job describing the beginning of her life using images. A lot of what she does goes back to McCloud, and how he broke down the dynamics of a comic. Although her pictures are not detailed like Eisner, they still do the job of telling a story and getting it across to many people. In Persepolis, I also like how her growth as a person is shown throughout the book. She starts off as a kid who has no cares, and throughout the whole entire novel, she grows into a women who understands the war, and has her own ideas and values. I also feel, after watching the movie, that a lot of Marijane's story is left out. The book describes her life in much more detail, which is generally what happens. It's just surprising to me because it was a comic book that she had written so people tend to think that it is shorter but that was not the case. I feel after reading these three pieces really shows how comics are much more then pictures in the paper, but actually stories that can outline someones life, and tell amazing stories.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Examples of Templates

When i comes to the topic of comic books, most of us will readily agree that McCloud is the best at explaining his ideas. Where this agreement usually ends is a question of preference. Whether some are convinced that Eisner is the best at Comics, or Persepolis is the best comic.

Although McCloud does not say so directly. He feels Eisner is a creat comic book writer.

Exercise 1

A.
Chemical X has been found in Ohio's groundwater. On one hand, they say it could be beneficial to the treatment of the water in the long run. On the other hand it could possible make people sick, and be detrimental to peoples health.

B.
Although many people think the novel is a literary masterpiece. I feel that it has many flaws, but many people say it is brilliant.

C.
Many people assume that football is boring. I feel that football is an exciting sport.

D.
One one hand people say the film is about the benefits of relationships. On the other hand I feel that it shows the negative affects of relationships.

E.
Many people feel that the templates in this book will stifle my creativity. I feel that it will make me more creative and produce better results in the long run, adding to my creativity.