To: Ms. Julie Taymor

109 Sheffield
Saline, Michigan, 48176

September 21, 2014

Julie Taymor
1801 Century Park East
Los Angeles, California, 90067

Dear Ms. Taymor:

Hello, I'm Hannah. I really just wanted to congratulate you on your success with Across the Universe. I know this may be a bit belated, but if I were to ever meet you, I think I'd cry. This movie is cause for celebration.

The use of classical Beatles music in your film is what first intrigued me, and I was not disappointed. Each line of the musical score selected is relevant. Your skillful use of visual art during the musical interludes are impactful and beautiful. Many scenes will stick with me for a long time, especially the one where Max goes in to try and avoid the draft. I think the dancing is effective, and sorting the soldiers through machines was simply inspired. I wish I could communicate to you in a better way of how smart you are to include the things you included.

Going along with the music are the artists and actors you chose to play your characters. The voices are all perfect, singing in tribute to the Beatles, but also strong enough to stand on their own. Brilliant, Ms. Taymor is the fact that you didn't stand for one voice in your film; there were allusions to Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin! I listen to the soundtrack often. Beautiful, beautiful.

Not only is your movie beautifully artistic, but it gives a voice to the Vietnamese War has stuck with me. You display the troubles of both being at home during the war and in the thick of it. It is very touching and powerful. Honestly, I think that your movie has made me sympathize with the time period, and understand the time period much more than any lecture I could have listened to (and I really enjoy history lectures- no joke). Because of the obvious effort and heart that you have put into this movie, the Vietnamese War has a special interest for me.

Across the Universe is one of my all-time favorite movies. It is as powerful as the first each time I see it. I use it for school projects as often as I can, because it's magnificent, Ms. Taymor. I just want to say thank you. It is a true gift to watch your film. I wish you the best with all your future endeavors. 

Thank you,



Hannah Marie Burkhart

Hanna was ______!

Hanna, a 2011 movie directed by Joe Wright, is truly one of the most cinematically poetic movies of our generation. It is centered around a sweet looking sixteen year old girl, who has been trained her whole life, by her father, as a highly skilled assassin. The film follows Hanna’s journey to eliminate a single woman who has been after her since Hanna’s birth, and to afterwards make her way back to her father. Through the story, Hanna also has to deal with the fact that, although her skills are finely honed, she lacks both knowledge of social standards and actual experience with modern day technologies. The film goes through many suspenseful chase scenes that are neither cliche nor interminable, all while balancing both the merciless side of it’s ruthless protagonist and the idea that she is indeed a little girl.

Although Hanna is a particularly quiet main character, the writers did an excellent job making dialogue count. Through the progression of her journey, she meets a variety of characters whose voices are definitely heard, even if they don’t have much screen time. Each and every person has a nearly fully developed personality and motive. It is so refreshing to see ‘real people’ on screen. Many writers fail in making their characters honest enough to be almost touchable, but Hanna does this effortlessly. It makes the film more enjoyable to watch, easier to connect to, and quite refreshing.

The visual stimulation that comes along with watching this film is a true delight. Taking place on several different terrains, Hanna catches both the desolate beauty of the desert and the elegant simplicity of the tundra. There are several scenes that play with the lush look of deciduous forests. Even urban settings are given their fair-share of camera-angles and attention. The true treasure, however is that these backdrops only enhance the story itself. Snow looks white on its own, but it looks especially so when scarlet melts through the top layer of crystals. A forest is only that until you add a fairy-tale inspired house- suddenly it all looks so very enchanted. The creators of Hanna were artists in their own right, making each and every setting count. The symbolism, though, is where Hanna really shines. I continue to be in awe at every viewing. To be honest, going into any details about this will only be spoiler-ridden, and doing that could be catastrophic if you plan on seeing the movie. What I will say is, the credits roll, leaving you in holy wonder at the power that has just rolled into your eye sockets for one hundred and eleven solid minutes.

Five Assasins out of Five Assasins