Gold Rush Assignment, Movie Review Example

The focus of the film is the main protagonist of the film the Little Tramp, played by Charlie Chaplin. Whereas the character of the Little Tramp is clearly comedic in character, bordering on the absurd with his various humorous actions, arguably the Tramp’s uniqueness shows through in his pathetic and almost tragic character. The Tramp is caught amidst the illusory hope of capitalistic and material wealth, participating in gold prospecting, while his love story shows that true wealth is rather found in relations with other humans instead of the material realm.

The General

1. The central conflict in The General is essentially a personal one, as the lead character played by Buster Keaton attempts to win the hand of his love, although this conflict itself takes place within the context of the American Civil War.
2. Accordingly, the conflict of the film can be said to be external, but on two levels of externality. The protagonist attempts to earn the love of his desired partner, while this conflict itself is symbolized in the war-time framework of what is essentially a romantic comedy.
3. An abstract synopsis of the conflict could be understood in terms of love between individuals being somehow hindered by social norms, insofar as the reason for Keaton being rejected by his love is that of her believing he has not enlisted in the Confederate army as a soldier, while the army itself thinks Keaton is too valuable as a train engineer to participate in the war as a common foot-soldier. Hence, the abstract or general conflict in The General is that of the human being against social norms and expectations.
4. The major conflict of the narrative is thus related to the theme because the possibility of love between individuals finds itself shaped by social normativities that exist outside of the pure relationship between the couple. Accordingly, the conflict is based upon how one may oppose situations that are outside of one’s control to ultimately overcome them and realize a desire.