MOVIE REVIEW - 500 DAYS OF SUMMER

By Leah Trottier

Country of Origin: U.S.A.

Year of release: 2009                                            It is highly recommended that you listen to the                     .                                                                                         soundtrack to have the full experience

                                                                                        while you embark on the inside scoop on            .                                                                                                       500 Days Of Summer:

(500) DAYS OF SUMMER (2009)                      

Cast

Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Tom

Zooey Deschanel as Summer

Geoffrey Arend as McKenzie

Chloe Grace Moretz as Rachel

Matthew Gray Gubler as Paul

Clark Gregg as Vance

Rachel Boston as Alis

Minka Kelly as Girl

Directed By: Marc Webb

Cinematographer: Eric Steelburg

Screenplay By: Scott Neustadtler & Michael H. Weber

The film made its debut at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. In Europe, 500 Days premiered in Switzerland as the opening film of the 62nd Locarno Film Festival. Filmed independently, it was picked up for distribution by Fox Searchlight Pictures and opened in US and Canadian limited release on July 17, 2009, later expanding to wide release in the US on August 7, 2009.  It was later also released on September 2, 2009, in Ireland and the United Kingdom, and opened in Australia on September 17, 2009. It was proved a great success when it received standing ovations, cheering, and endless positive reviews. Later, during its full opening weekend, the film grossed twenty-seven times its original budget cost, making it one of the most successful "sleeper hits" of the year.

The film’s screenplay was written by Scott Neustadtler & Michael H. Weber, who have also written Pink Panther, and The Fault in our Stars, the one being comedy, the other Drama or romance. So with 500 Days of Summer, they combined the two to create a brilliant romantic comedy.

Looking at the main plot’s relation to human events, it is an accurate representation of a first-hand experience of a man losing his love. In fact, it is said that Scott Neustadtler was dumped by an English girl, inspiring him to write the movie, which claims to be “not a love story”. Although it could be argued either way, they proposed that point because it does not follow the classic, spiteful and misogynistic love story plot: Intro when the two meet, it takes them time to fall in love, they know they are right for each other, something tries to bring them apart, the relationship breaks, but in the end they get back together again, and everybody is happy. The plot of 500 Days of Summer is far more complex than that. It is presented as a non-linear narrative, as it jumps from various days within the 500-day span of Tom and Summer’s relationship. It begins at the start when the two meet at their workplace, and begin to grow a mutual attraction for each other. This attraction is carried-out in different ways, as Tom believes in true love and has hopes that they will be together forever, while Summer does not believe in true-love, and does not want a boyfriend.  She does not believe in possession, or commitment, while Tom’s philosophy is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum.

            

         Collecting facts in previous explanations, we can gather that the main theme in the movie is not as much love as it is reality. Tom is a greeting-card maker, who failed to get into architecture school. The narrator tells us:

“The boy, Tom Hansen of Margate, New

 Jersey, grew up believing that he'd

 never truly be happy until the day

 he met his... "soulmate."    

This belief stemmed from early

               exposure to sad British pop music

               and a total misreading of the

               movie, "The Graduate."”

While the idea of soul-mates may be something straight out of the movies, one can be very happy with numerous people. But then what happens when the relationship runs out of steam? Then you just have two people who really aren’t that compatible. That’s what happens here. Only Tom is completely oblivious to it and instead Summer is forced to be the evil voice of reason. While no one in the film is a villain, Summer, at times, is painted that way. 

In reality though, she did nothing wrong as she had told Tom from the start that she wanted nothing serious.  Towards the end of the film, the audience is almost forced to hate her. We as an audience, especially in romantic comedies, have been trained to believe that the two main characters will end up together no matter what, which is obviously not too realistic. Here it hits very close to home. We find out that there will be no happy ending for the two as a couple, as it is revealed that Summer is now engaged. Tom angrily walks off, tears in his eyes and heartbreaking music playing. Tom recalls his experiences in the relationship in a mix-matched order, making it relatable to us, as an audience would recall past loves in non-chronological order.

At the end of the movie, there is a sense of emptiness and disappointment, as well as satisfaction. The two genres of emotions go hand-in-hand because it is in a way satisfying to feel like we have been taken on a journey of a realistic man and woman’s relationship.  The fact that it is so realistic leaves us with the real-life feeling of regret and loss.  At the end of the movie, there is a quick twist in events as Tom meets a new woman, ironically named Autumn, representing a fresh beginning with a new possibility. 

Tom is able to have his mind open to the new start because he is finally beginning to understand that in life there are always so many new opportunities that arise, but it takes an open-minded person to grasp the little ones. As the saying goes, “when one door closes, another one opens”, which is exactly the message that is portrayed at the end of the movie. 

The narration in the movie is used effectively, adding comedic relief, explanation of events, and a key into Tom’s head. At the beginning of the movie, the narrator states, “This is a story of boy meets girl. But I should tell you up front that it is not a love story”.

NARRATOR:

            “If Tom had learned anything... it

                    was that you can't ascribe great

                    cosmic significance to a simple

                    earthly event. Coincidence. That's

                    all anything ever is. Nothing more

                    than coincidence.”

“It took a long time but Tom had

                    finally learned. There are no

                    miracles. There's no such thing as

                    fate. Nothing is meant to be. He

                    knew. He was sure of it now”

After this narration is when his views are changed by meeting Autumn. It goes from the lowest of the low, to the new beginning.  The script is very well written.  Few lines into the script, Tom voices,

”Tom: It's official. I'm in love with Summer.

[while Montage of Summer plays]

Tom: I love her smile. I love her hair. I love her knees. I love how she licks her lips before she talks. I love her heart-shaped birthmark on her neck. I love it when she sleeps. I love it how she makes me feel”

As the days change, and in Tom’s eyes, Summer becomes more evil, the exact same montage plays, but with a drastically different voice-over.:

Tom: [Montage of Summer] "I hate her crooked teeth. I hate her 1960s haircut. I hate her knobby knees. I hate her cockroach-shaped splotch on her neck. I hate the way she smacks her lips before she talks. I hate the way she sounds when she laughs. " [Fade to black as Swayze's 'She's Like the Wind' plays briefly]

In terms of music, it is incredibly well planned-out. The director Marc Webb has directed music videos by Fergie and Chemical Romance, thus, knowing effective songs to put in appropriate places in the movie.  Webb uses music by “The Smiths”,  Regina Spektor, Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen, Simon&Garfunkel, Feist, Hall&Oates. Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen, The Temper Tramp, Black Lips, Doves, Carla Bruni, Wolfmother, Mumm-Ra, Meagan Smith, and She&Him.  All are used to convey mood, portray emotion,  and to fill-in the words the characters do not voice.

As the film is an artistic one, the scene where Tom is over-joyed to wake up the morning after he hit a home run with Summer, a musical number begins to the song, “You Make my Dreams Come True” by Hall&Oates. It would have seemed out-of-place and cheesy to see a random flash-mob dancing with Tom in the streets on his way to work, but Webb effectively incorporated the scene to portray the highest state of happiness Tom reaches in arguably the whole movie.

There is a particular scene in the movie, which in my opinion is absolutely brilliant and very well executed.  It contrasts Tom’s expectations against reality:

 It is given very straight-forward, as the screen is split in two, playing the two opposite perspectives. As the scene progresses, they become more and more drastically opposite. The viewer is torn with the sub-conscious emotional decision whether to follow the expectation scene or the reality scene, though we are drawn to expectation scene because it reflects a positive romance. It reaches all audiences, giving both sides of the story, and here is an excellent example of how the music is used to add incredible emotion. At the end of the scene, when the reality side fills the whole entire screen again, it shows Tom walking on an empty night street with only the dim streetlights to guide away. He stands in the street, and a sketch-like concrete effect is coloured over the screen, symbolizing that the relationship has come to a halt, and Tom feels as though there is nowhere else to turn.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKTrx7pLKXM

There are many times in the movie where symbolism is hidden. For example, when Tom’s heart is broken, he rushes down the staircase. The scene is shown from top-view, making Tom appear vulnerable, and symbolizing his feeling towards him and Summer’s relationship: The staircase is winding, going round and round, getting darker the further he runs in a downwards spiral. The cinematography for the movie is phenomenal, as close-ups, framing, angles and all types of shots are used effectively. There were parts in the movie when it gave the sense that it was incredibly planned out, with events, action, scenes, shots, music and emotion connected.

The characters were very well cast. The story essentially focuses on the story of Tom and Summer, as it even introduces, “This is a story of boy meets girl”, so there is little camera time focused on other characters, in comparison to the entire movie.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays the character of Tom well, portraying a love-hungry man, yearning for true love. It is a challenge for him, observing his real-life persona drastically opposing that of his character. In reality, Joseph is much like Summer’s character: fun, talkative, confident, while his character of Tom is a thinker, lost hope, insecure, and awkward at times. Zooey, being naturally corky and comedic, is challenged by playing a not only free-spirited role, but displays an array of serious emotions, as well.  It is just as important when casting for any film or television, for the actors to have chemistry with one another, as it is to have talented actors. Without that connection, the film would be dull, due to the fact that 90 percent of the movie time is focused on those two characters.

Another way that Webb makes it realistic for the audience is using settings that we experience in our every-day lives. For example, there are a number of scenes shot in IKEA, as the couple pretend as though they were a married couple, lying in the store beds, testing the store sinks, acting as children, at the bliss of their relationship. This could be considered as product-placement, yet it is done plainly, effectively, but discretely. When we watch the scene, we do not first notice that it is an advertisement for IKEA, but rather that we ourselves have walked the same floors as them, just as though Tom and Summer are real people. That is clever product-placement in form of setting, rather than in tangible object form.

When this movie was made in 2009, there were many large-scale events that took place world-wide, filling the media:

January 7 - Russia cuts of natural gas supplies to Europe in a major energy dispute

January 20 - Barack Obama is inaugurated as President of the United States

April 1 - Albania and Croatia join NATO

April 2 - the G2 summit in London meeting about the world financial crisis

June 11 - The H1N1 virus is named a global pandemic

June 25 - Michael Jackson dies. The year was marked by celebrity deaths, and this one topped them all.

August 4 - Korean leader Kim Jon Il pardons two American journalists, with diplomatic assistance from Bill Clinton

September 29 - An earthquake triggers a tsunami in Samoa

Fall 2009 East Anglia emails are hacked and released

December 7 - the Copenhagen Climate Change conference begins. Highly anticipated and big news, it is questionable if it was productive

Through all the significant news-breakers covered by news channels worldwide, none of it seemed to have any effect on the production of the movie. This is part of the meticulous beauty created within the film.  Empathy is experienced by both characters to some degree, just enough to be on a human level. But due to the characters, they do not give out generous amounts of empathy for one another, which is the leading reason why the relationship did not succeed. In terms of evil in the story, Tom perceives Summer to be almost heartless and evil as the relationship goes on. Looking at it from Summer’s perspective though, she would not be considered “evil”, but rather free-spirited, which I believe is true gift to possess.

The shots used in the film were done creatively, with emphasis on the mood it is intending to portray. It almost felt like there were two styles of the filming: one artsy and daring and the other locked down and direct. I loved the shot of Tom in the conference room when he talks about being lied to with the big Santa Claus just out of focus behind him--which of course hearkens back to an early conversation between him and Summer. And the sequence in the train with the golden light covering Tom and Summer's faces was gorgeous.  



 Cinematographer Eric Steelburg addresses,

“Feature film cinematography is all about responsibility to the story and setting the appropriate tone, while being as unobtrusive and transparent as possible. When you make a scene that is effective and strong, a kind of beauty is born out of it. Marc said that fi lm had the right texture and emotional tone for this story. After I read the script, I was in perfect agreement.” Widescreen framing was used because in the majority of the film, Tom and Summer are the only ones in the shot.” A widescreen angled lens was appropriate, as the majority of the film frames only Summer and Tom. 

“We also used it to isolate characters in wide shots when their relationship isn’t working. In addition, we knew that we’d be shooting entirely on practical locations, and the 2.40 frame gave me a little more room to hide lights overhead and dolly track below.”

To help promote the film, Gordon-Levitt and Deschanel starred in the debut episode of Microsoft Zune and Mean Magazine's "Cinemash" series. In the episode, they "mash" the characters from the film Sid and Nancy with story elements from 500 Days of Summer.

Marc Webb created a music video as a companion piece to the film, titled "The Bank Heist". It features Deschanel and Gordon-Levitt dancing to "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?", a song by Deschanel's folk group She & Him.

In conclusion, analyzing the film from the perspective of someone who would like to work in the film industry, it has been a great honour to delve into some of the hidden details of the movie. The conflict between Summer and Tom, the internal one between Summer and herself, and Tom and himself, are merely building blocks to the artistic piece that appeals to arguably every single type of audience.  The film was done in an artistic manner, with revolutionary cinematography. The script, music, directing, acting, cinematography and production combined contributes to an incredible modern film. Normally I would have criticism in terms of picking apart details and altering certain aspects of the film, but for this one I am shocked to realize that it is so effectively done, that I have no complaints.  500 Days of Summer may not have been the most enjoyable for Tom, but it sure was a thought-stemming experience for me.

WORKS CITED:

"(500) Days of Summer (2009) - Quotes - IMDb." IMDb - Movies, TV and Celebrities. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2013. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/quotes>.

"(500) Days of Summer - Box Office Data, DVD Sales, Movie News, Cast Information - The Numbers." The Numbers - Movie Box Office Data, Film Stars, Idle Speculation. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2013. <http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2009/500DS.php>.

"(500) Days of Summer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., 13 June 2017. Web. 19 June 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(500)_Days_of_Summer>.

"Eric STeelburg." focus on film. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2013. <motion.kodak.com/motion/uploadedFiles/inCamera_oct2008_juno.pdf>.

Michael H. Weber, & Scott Neustadtler . "500 Days of Summer Script at IMSDb.." The Internet Movie Script Database (IMSDb). N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2013. <http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/500-Days-of-Summer.html>.

Straightedge is Beautiful. "(500) Days of Summer-Thoughts and Analysis | straightedgeisbeautiful." straightedgeisbeautiful | Get to know about Angel Cervantes…and Pop Culture. Explore the archives and i guarantee you will find something you like.. N.p., 22 May 2011. Web. 20 June 2013. <http://straightedgeisbeautiful.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/500-days-of-summer-thoughts-and-analysis/>

A SEMESTER FOR THE BOOKS.

Mini Reviews:

#1 - "Shining" redux Movie Trailer

#2 - The Truman Show

#3 - Viral Friday [fail cat ft Seal music]

#4 - 16 Candles

#5 - Jeremiah Singing happy Birthday to Emily Mancini (wow)

#1 -     SHINING REDUX          

SHINING REDUX MOVIE TRAILER

           Whoever came up with the idea of redux/recut trailer almost surpasses the intelligence of Einstein. Coming from someone that has never seen the actual "The Shining" movie, I certainly would have thought that this is a happy film, a great Sunday-night cuddle-up-by-the-fire family movie. Look at it: you've got the introduction of characters in a friendly voice, (eg. "Meet Jack Torrance"), you have the narration bringing ideas like "He's a writer looking for inspiration). - How in any way does that sound menacing? We all need inspiration sometimes, so when our brains make the connection to the character, we perceive him as a down-to-earth, kind human being with funny facial expressions. We see him as a loving father, and entertainer to his son. The son is an innocent curious one, who loves his new mother, just as much as she loves him. The family is just your average middle-class family going through the struggles of every day life. The music adds to the family feel, as the song "On My Way" from Ice age plays. The song has a positive message and vibe, all contributing to the trailer.         

                                      SEND ME ON MY WAY (ICE AGE)

For another good example of music used to change the mood of film, here are the opening credits of The Shining set to the happy song of "There She Goes":

Sounds like the beginning to a romantic comedy right?

   Now, listening to my thoughts of what I gather from this trailer, you would probably say I'm crazy. That may be part of it, but it is also that the trailer is incredibly well-done, as the editor manipulates the shots, narration and song to create a great film that YOU should cuddle up on the couch with your family and enjoy some nice fresh popped-corn with. 

 #2 - THE TRUMAN SHOW

            The Truman Show. After watching the first half of The Truman Show in class, I legitimately could not stop thinking about it. I don't know if I have ever been so dis-oriented and thought-provoked after watching half a movie, yet this one effectively made me think. It made me question:

What if we are all living in a world manipulated by one big corporation? Then it occured to me, in one way, we are: the government. As soon as we are born, when that hospital bracelet is put on our wrists, we are automatically a part of the grand society, and once you're in, there may be no way of escaping it. 

           Without being overly philosophical and dramatic, my point is that The Truman Show may not actually be terribly far from reality.. which brings us back to the question of: what is reality? The director (Peter Weir) and writer of the movie are incredibly creative to think of such an ornate concept of The Truman Show. Let's watch the scene where Truman's fake wife asks the camera for help when she is being "attacked" by Truman:

             Let's just notice that the wife is obviously under a lot of stress, having to play the role of Truman's wife, even though her true self can't stand Truman. She is required at all times to keep her composure, including under circumstances where Truman gets angry and finally begins to question the fake world he is living in. This clip applies to real-life marketing as it is obvious that Meryl is advertising her cocoa, and Truman's best friend advertises his beer when he walks in to save Meryl.  

ANYWAY, I'm glad that we watched this film, and in particular watching it in two parts on two days gave me the opportunity to think about it, and expand my mind on the idea behind the movie, and come back the next day with anticipation. Truman is a good guy ya know, and I'm glad he finally escaped to freedom. 

And here is a bit of real-life Jim Carrey to brighten up your day after that mind-twisting but brilliant movie.:

                                               

                                                                  Aaaaahhhhhh He's so precious.

#3 - VIRAL FRIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EPISODE FAILCAT.ft.Sail

Go ahead, watch it another 5 times... or 17.            Alright, you have to admit it's funny. For some reason, we people of the internet find it entertaining to watch other things (or cats) do stupid stuff, especially when it involves them getting hurt. Why? Good question. It may be because it is not affecting us, besides maybe painfully splitting a gut. There are so many cat fail videos out there, and internetians (internet version of martian) love them all, perhaps it's because they are cats, and well, cats are less relateable than humans. We don't feel quite as bad for them because they have nine lives... right? Here's for all of you who can only afford to spare 2 seconds of your lives on fail cat videos, rather than an exhausting 36 seconds:





              Okay so constructing this cat video would have taken incredible cleverness, to think of that song to go along with the actions. It matches perfectly. On the first accent at 17 seconds in, the cat turns and hides his head, as if his mission was just assigned to him/her. On the second, he/she lifts his head up as if scoping out the plane. On the third, it's Go Time. When the word SAIL comes up in the song, that cat just goes for it like there's no tomorrow. And with that leap of faith, there may not have been a tomorrow for that guy. Thankfully though, there have been mysterious internet rumors saying that he survived.. PHEW! 

             Why is this video so viral? Because it's hilaaaaaaaarious, and people love to laugh. The total of this video is 36 seconds long - short, prompt, so you can easily watch 20 others in the span of 13 minutes. I'd give this video a 9/10. The one point lacking is the mercy point for the cat's pain it endured for the cost of unintentional fame. Well done Sail Cat.


#4 - 16 CANDLES

 It's Samantha Baker's Sweet Sixteen and no one in her family remembers her birthday... Seriously, What in the world is worse than your whole family remembering your birthday? uhh.. NOTHING! So basically, she wakes up, her family is completely oblivious to the fact that it's her birthday, she goes to school, complains to her best friend about it, and since her sister's wedding is the day after, the whole day is just a disaster. To review, Ted "the Farmer", is a geek who really digs Sam. Sam doesn't dig Ted, but gives him her panties anyway. Sam loves Jake Ryan who just found out how she feels. Jake already has a girlfriend named Carolyn. She is the classic "princess" and Jake's kind of sick of it. He kinda digs Sam, but Sam doesn't know yet.

There's a dance and then a party at Jake's afterwards.
Jake saves Ted's life and Ted talks the whole thing over with Jake. Jake agrees to let Ted take Carolyn, who is passed out, home in his dad's Rolls Royce. This excited Ted a lot even though she's missing a large chunk of her hair thanks to Tracy. Ted doesn't drive very well. No matter... that's not important. Jake goes looking for Sam and eventually finds her (along with Ted and Carolyn) at the church after Sam's sister's wedding. Jake takes Sam back to his place and gives her a birthday cake and her panties back. What a guy! They kiss.
The End.
By the way... There's a weird Chinese guy named after a duck's dork up in Mike's room.

So let's just take a second to point out how normal this plot is... NOT. Well, that can be argued by some. Various things in the movie could easily be realistic. Others, not so much. For example, the scene where Sam's sister is getting married, she gets drugged up and walks down the is to get married, as she is passing out and falling all over the place. Besides some surprised reactions by some people in the audience at the church, everyone seems to think that she's just having a darned good ol' time on her big wedding day. In the end though, the good guy and the good girl get each other, and everyone's happy. Don't you love it when everything works out just perfectly in the end? Aaaaahhh If our lives could all be 80s movies.....

Hey, you've gotta give Ted credit for getting Sam's panties... and Sam credit for taking Ted like a boss. I mean, if a farmer came out of nowhere and started kissing you in a car in a garage, what would you do?

Molly Ringwald is really a great actress though, I must say. She can be miserable, funny, insecure, therefore, the perfect representation of an average stereotypical teenager. I think that has been what has given her such a successful young acting career: she plays characters that are extremely relateable. Well that and a pretty face. She has done well throughout her career, and is now married and a mother of three living a relatively normal american lifestyle. Good for her. 

^ How you can tell it's an 80s movie.

 #5. JEREMIAH SINGS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MISS MANCINI

On the fateful May 14th, 2013, Emily Mancini turned seventeen. Little did she know, there was a surprise awaiting her in the class of Dr. Edwards.. 

It was Jeremiah's dare week, where he would literally take any dare from anyone at BCI, to raise money for Relay For Life. What a good man he is. 

On the fateful day, I and other clever schemers dared the brave man to sing happy birthday to Miss Mancini. But not in any way.. Nooooo, he was doomed to sing it Marilyn Munroe style... In a dress. What does that look like? Just like this: 

What a sight it was to witness such beauty and grace as Jeremiah gracefully trotted across the classroom, seducing the clearly happy Mancini. That leg kick was just so dreamy. One can only dream of what was going through her mind at that moment. It was a very noble thing he did, for an incredible noble cause. This one is for the books most definitely. Jeremiah never ceases to amaze, especially when in a dress.

Props to J-mac. Respect.

And a Happy Birthday To Emily Mancini!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(just a few days late but whatever) <3

BLOG ASSIGNMENT #3:

Statement #2: Music videos are creative and engaging media texts capable of being just as strong artistically as the songs they are accompanying.

__________________________________________________________

Before stating the obvious (that every top song must have a music-video), it is important to recognize the art required in creating a music-video. The most dominant categories of music-videos in today's society that I have gathered are:
1. Those that are standard modern-day rap, hip-hop ect.
2.Teenage-targeted
3. Independent-alternative

__________________________________________________________

Before we jump to conclusions here, I want to say that the three I have selected are most definitely not the only three categories out there, but those which I feel contrast each other most drastically. So for comparison purposes, please accept the categories I have put forth.

1. ALRIGHT, so the first category of music-videos is the one targeted for the late-teen, early 20s audience generally speaking. It usually involves rap, hip hop, R&B, and that sort of music. It is the one I consider least creative, although there are definitely some exceptions  Let's look at the typical rap video: 2 Chainz - I Luv Dem Strippers (Viewer Discretion Advised, as you may be scarred after viewing the video)

              Okay so this one is "what you see is what you get", meaning that the title of the song describes the music video pretty accurately. It involves semi-naked females, and rap-guys with bling, money and in possession of those semi-naked girls. The scenes repeat themselves, with little to no storyline. The originality in this video is a solid 1/10 for me, although I'll give it a 2, just for mercy. This video highlights one side of rap, but it is important to highlight the creativity that is seen in some more original rap videos, as it is important not to stereotype just one type of music-video.


           Let's look at Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert. This video is the complete opposite to the 2 Chains/Nikki Manaj. It is under the category of hip-hop still, yet the message in the song is so different - It explores the struggles of same-sex love, and Macklemore's childhood. All the points brought up in the song and in the video are relevant and applicable to real-life, and no matter what kind of person you are, it is guaranteed that you can find something that relates to you in some way in the song. The song itself is strong, and the video is most definitely just as strong, and could even stand alone. There is a storyline hidden in it, and if you are in-tune enough, you may be so privileged to pick-up on it. In addition, at the end of the video, it encourages the viewer to "Support Marriage Equality", which is something I personally strongly believe in.

 Same Love - Macklemore &Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert ^

________________________________________________________

2. Teen-targeted music videos T Swift/Ed Sheeran

            Usually in teen-targeted there is some substance can can be drawn from them, and others not so much. Look at Taylor Swift's White Horse. The video tells the story of her prince charming letting her down, and her heart breaking. Tween audiences can relate to the video, as they follow the story of Taylor finding out that her boyfriend is cheating on her, and her being ultimately devastated  Nothing terribly original about the video, yet it does compliment the song well, and I give credit to Taylor and her crew for creating it.

 White Horse - Taylor Swift ^

           As a contrast in substance of video, David Guetta ft Sia's "She Wolf" is extremely creative. Listen to the song alone and it sounds like any pop song, maybe one that has some originality. But when the visuals are added, the richness of the song is increased a huge amount. The video shows a wild wolf on her quest to escape Inuit hunters. Not only does the video include a captivating yet simple storyline  but it also uses today's advanced animation technology to enhance the video. As a popular song, it is challenging to find a happy medium of a video, as there are millions of viewers who will be judging it. But I think that they have effectively created a captivating video for  the majority of audiences, but also created something original, unseen by the pop industry.



She Wolf - David Guetta ft Sia

  _____________________________________________________________

 3. Independent/alternative music videos

            OK so here is where is become challenging to contrast a less-original video to a completely creative one. In my opinion, every single alternative video is unique, due to the type of music they represent. That being said, here is where it also gets interesting - studying some indie bands that have become mainstream, their producers sometimes completely change the band's vibes, in order to appeal to a larger audience, thus becoming more successful in a short time. At the same time, people love to see different. That is the reason why songs never last a terribly long time in the top billboard. Of Monsters And Men's Little Talks, the video is original, using modern animation for the whole of the video. It is new and unseen, therefor it attracts audiences. The same concept is seen in social media - everyone wants to be the first one to announce news, just as everyone wants to be the first one to share a new and original music video.

Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men

          Last but not least, let's examine OK GO's needing/getting music video. This is definitely a song that would NOT be complete without it's video. In the video, we see how all the sounds are made and put together. To think about it is mind-blowing. The planning and effort that was put into the video is absolutely incredible, even to think of how many takes they would have had to do to get their perfect one. Hands down, the song Needing/Getting would not be half as fascinating without the video to go along with it, which enhances the whole experience of the song. Then again, OK Go has a reputation for having mind-blowing music videos, so it is only fair that more than one are featured in my blog:OK Go - Needing/Getting

OK Go - End Love

OK Go - White Knuckles

*Note: There is too much brilliance about all of the OK Go music videos for this blog to contain. Therefor is it best to appreciate them yourself.* 

________________________________________________________

                    Through examining music videos of today, the three categories in particular, we see that music videos are an art form of their own, which add to the song is some cases, or just complete it. For some videos, they are able to stand alone with an intriguing story-line. Or for others it is best kept with the song, as it completes it, but in it's own art form. In the direction that technology is bringing us, the forces work against each other: more and more videos come out, so ideas are being used. Yet music-video makers still manage to successfully come up with mind-blowing original creations. We can definitely expect an abundance of new-idea music videos in the future, as they begin to develop more and more as their own strong free-standing art form, less reliant on the music itself. There are music-videos all around - you've just got to be keen enough to find the brilliant ones.