Cabiria was my first silent film experience, my expectations were not high as I thought the lack of communication between characters would be boring. Though there was no verbal commentary, the intertitles and overemphasized acting guided the viewer through the movie. In addition to the exaggerated acting the soundtrack aided in creating suspense, joy and sadness when needed. The soundtrack was limited but the songs were strategically placed in a way that was fitting in some manner, though not always obvious. The set designs and special effects were dated but impressive for the time when this film was made. For example, the build for the Temple of Moloch was so intricate and grand. I was equally impressed with the model volcanic eruption and the flames bursting from the statue during the sacrifice of the children. Overall I am pleased with my first experience with a silent film and I would recommend Cabiria.
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Going into "Cabiria", I was concerned it was going to be dull. It was my first silent film, and it spanned a whopping 2 hours. How...
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Though dreading having to see this film due to its silent, black & white nature, I was pleasantly surprised that I found myself genuinel...
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Please introduce yourself briefly and talk about your background with film and/or interest in this class. What kind of movies do you like, w...
Silent movies take some getting used to for modern viewers who are used to sound, colors, and much more lifelike, computer-generated special effects. You argue that "Cabiria" may still be worth watching and nicely back this up with examples, namely the impressive life-size set of the temple of Moloch and two instances of practical effects. Good job!
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