Hannah Huwe - Do The Right Thing

While watching this movie I did not know where the story was going to go and was quite surprised by the ending. It was hard to watch at times but I overall enjoyed it. The review from the Washington Post tells us about the originality of the characters. It referred to them as "Spike Lee creations". It says that there has been a political message mixed in with the comedy and drama of the film. There are a lot of slurs in the movie and this article says that "everyone in the movie could use a cold moral shower by the end of the day".
    The Emerson review has an emphasis on "wake up!". This is the message that seems important to get across to us as viewers. These exact words are incorporated into the movie when Mr. Senor Love Daddy as he exclaims "waaaaake up!" through his radio station. Spike Lee's goal is that all who watch this film will walk away with these words. His choice of sunny colors and loud music mixed with all the tensions of the characters eventually all mix together and explode at the end. It was also said that he used a contrast of the artificial and realistic so that we get the feeling that this world contains personalities of both. Throughout the entire movie there is constant conflict and confusion. Lee made this come alive with his choice of details and oblique angles. There are so many contradictions that we never quite know how to feel towards the characters. Spike Lee creates the setting of the movie in the beginning with a close up on Senor Love Daddy's lips then gradually pulling out to reveal the street.
    The Ebert review has an emphasis on the viewers choice in deciding what to think about the film. The film is thought to be very controversial by many but the interpretation of what people get out of the film varies greatly. Some thought that it would cause trouble, some thought that the message is confused, and some thought it was too militant.
This just further shows that it's a movie that leaves us with our own opinion and interpretation. It is not a movie with answers, it is made for awareness. We are influenced to have sympathy not for one but all of the characters. It is not about choosing sides because it is fair to both sides.
                    
    One scene in the film that stood out to me was when Radio Raheem was buying batteries from the Koreans. We clearly see the bright orange/red lighting when he is walking down the road and his boom box starts skipping and slurring. The angles in this scene are really used to guide our emotion. When the camera is focused on Radio, we see that he is being filmed from down below to show that he is the powerful one. When the camera is on the Koreans, it is from up above giving them the appearance of being lower. Also the oblique angle used when filming the Koreans points toward confusion and from listening to the scene it is very obvious that they are easily confused by what Radio says and it takes some repeating for them to get it right. Good editing is noticeable in this scen when Radio Raheem is talking, the camera is focused on him. Then when the Koreans are talking, the camera is focused on them and it switches back and forth depending on who is talking.