First and foremost, we're looking for a film that might help us think about course themes, but you get bonus points for suggestions of "good" movies as well as extra gold stars if you can suggest a film that might help us think about roads, American mobility (or lack thereof), and mid-to-late twentieth century cultural concerns.
This might not be the best suggestion, but I remember reading and watching this in high school and I am also I guess, looking at this from a literary standpoint. I'm not nominating per say, BUT I am suggesting, "The Grapes of Wrath." This is a novel written by John Steinbeck and the screenplay by Nunally Johnson. It's set during the time of the Great Depression and is about an family from Oklahoma I believe, who become nomadic (migrant farmers) after they lose their farm. The book tells of their journey across the United States and eventually end up in California where they look for a fresh start and jobs.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand that this probably will not be voted for, as it's an EXTREMELY old film, but, I just wanted to throw it out there and do my part in at least trying to make a suggestion so I feel like I took part in the whole "democratic" aspect of it. :)
Henry Fonda! Great suggestion...
DeleteI vote for Brittany's suggestion! Let's look at labor migration!
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ReplyDeleteLeesha
ReplyDeleteI just watched this movie trailer.
This is the general synopsis of A Map for Saturday
"On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents.
The documentary finds backpackers helping neglected Thai tsunami victims. It explains why Nepal’s guesthouses are empty and Brazil’s stoplights are ignored.
But at its core, SATURDAY tracks the emotional arc of extreme long-term travelers; teenagers and senior citizens who wondered, “What would it be like to travel the world?” Then did it."
The trailer makes it look very interesting, but I haven't seen it so I'm not sure if it is any good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xyWnYJ1aUQ
Hi All,
ReplyDeleteright so for the first nomination I thought it would be fun to look to Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and the "Road movie" franchise starting in 1940 with "Road to Singapore." These movies offer a fantastic look into the past and reveal travel as a fun hustle that can bring riches and adventure! Also, The road movies give one a perspective of travel through the tenets of 1940 America. I would ask that we watch Road to Utopia, as this deals with the our two hero's traveling to Alaska!
Trailer: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=road+to+utopia+trailer&FORM=VIRE5#view=detail&mid=EC838C7EFF89CE20B60EEC838C7EFF89CE20B60E
On to number two!
The second picture I would like to recommend Trout Bum Diaries: Volume I.
This documentary style presentation features 4 friends who long to try their hand at flyfishing around the world. They don't get far without their fair share of troubles and they don't have all the money in the world. Sleeping on the ground, camping where they can and making sure not to run out of beer, they fish everywhere they can and have a great time meeting the locals and trying to fit all their luggage in a series of planes, trains, cars, and camels!
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUnKUmRRINg
#3: 7 Years in Tibet
This is a great flick featuring Brad Pitt. the movie follows closely the travel novel written by an Austrian mountaineer who famously takes on the Himalayas. Unfortunately WWII has other plans and we soon find our hero locked away. He has to escape and travel through the highest peaks in the world to get home. Although this movie has a bit of action within it, the movie really is about the experiances Pitt has in Tibet and how he changes over time.
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSyr_vJ5t3k
#4: The Guilt Trip
Seth Rogen and blast from the past Barbra Streisand take to the open road in this mother-son bonding film. I haven't seen it, but I bet it's pretty funny.
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezuLn0Eel6g
#5: Midnight in Paris
Director Woody Allen and star Owen Wilson hit this movie out of the park. Imagine if you found yourself in 1920s Paris coming face to face with some of the worlds most prolific writers (Hemingway, Fitzgerald) and artists (Picaso, Dali)... what would you do? This is a great movie that transports the viewer to Paris while following a writer who is in the City of lights as an engagement present from his Fiancée's parents who join them. Funny, thought provoking, and amazing!
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAfR8omt-CY
#6: Lost In Translation - (#6b- Ground hog Day)
Because Bill Murray....and it's a travel movie....but really...Bill Murray.
Trailer: 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU0oZsqeG_s
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSVeDx9fk60
#7: Indian Jones 1,2,3/ Life of Walter Mitty/ Journey to the Center of the Earth(1952)/ Island at the top of the World (1974)/ In search of the Castaways
Journey to the center of the Earth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF8Bf1d_crk
Life of Walter Mitty:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZDfmEDdRsg
Island at the top of the World:
http://www.bing.com/search?q=Island+at+the+top+of+the+world&src=IE-TopResult&FORM=IETR02&conversationid=
In Search of the Castaways:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2gzBOZN7uc
there are so many more but those are my best!
Cheers,
A
I'd vote for 7 Years in Tibet or The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (I almost suggested that one too)
DeleteI see that the "Road to" series has been mentioned! I personally would recommend the Road to Bali - that's the one I've seen, and greatly enjoyed. Bob Hope and Bing Crosby are a delight to watch, and there is certainly a road and travel involved! I also think that the movie does a good job of illustrating what's it's like to be exposed to a culture strikingly different from your own.
ReplyDeleteAnother movie that illustrates this is the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. This is a movie about a more unconventional style of travel, but I think it also serves as a great satirical look at how it feels to be completely out of your depth when traveling - Douglas Adams wrote the original book inspired by the "Hitchhiker's Guide to [x]" manual, so I'm sure we could find things in the film in common with what we've discussed in class. (The [x] stands for whichever country he was in at the time - I think it was England, but I'm not sure.)
The Bucket List - it stars Morgan Freeman enough said 5 stars let's watch it. (Also, it's on a list of like, the 25 greatest travel movies ever. I have seen it and can confirm that it's pretty great.)
The Gods Must Be Crazy - This is a really good example of the whole "white people" spoof culture thing in travel, as well as a great look at how travelers really react when unexpectedly exposed to "the authentic experience."
Homeward Bound - Two dogs and a cat embark on the Greatest Road Trip Ever in the Greatest Travel Movie of All Time (tm)
High School Musical - okay when you're done laughing just take a moment to consider how it DOES do a great job of illustrating the concept of "otherness" that we've been discussing in class lately! Plus you can say you watched HSM in a 400-level college class. For credit. Please consider
And finally, because I feel like nobody's said it and yet it demands to be said - the Fellowship of the Ring. It covers travel, exposure to different races and cultures, the struggle of trying to get places and having everything go horribly wrong, etc.
If anyone wants a link to a trailer for any of these, let me know! That being said, someone also mentioned Indiana Jones and I am one hundred percent for us discussing the cultural exposure and interaction in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom