Literary Approach: Marxism

In Time
By: Andrew Niccol

In Time is a science fiction film written and directed by Andrew Niccol in 2011. During the time it was written cryptocurrencies
had started to surge and become feasible to replace our usage of physical bills and coins. The film focuses on this topic as well as
some other social issues which may arise in such a world. The story is set in 2169 when humans stop aging after they celebrate their
25th birthday. The humans then use their “time” as currency; a digital clock-like figure is embedded onto their arms indicating how
much they have. Several zones are established in this society separating different types of people, some zones like New Greenwich
have rich people who almost live forever, while zones like Dayton are poor areas where people live day to day. In the beginning of
the story, we are introduced to 28-year-old Will Salas who lives in Dayton with his 50-year-old mother. Will lives his life normally,
working a job until he saves a 105-year-old man who explains how people from New Greenwich control the prices to keep people
dying in other zones. The man later gives Will over a century which Will uses this to help his friend, but fails to do so for his mother.
The rest of the film focuses on his trials on avenging his mother and crashing the old system where people are no longer dying
unnecessarily, in doing so he meets 28-year-old Slyvia and she helps him achieve his goal.

The movie uses many themes to express the events of the story in a way in which creates suspense for the audience on what
happens. The way it uses similar events multiple times but with different outcomes shows how much each character improved as the
movie progressed. How different events were used to create opportunities to crash the social structures and freeing people from the
old control of the rich.

The way the story portrayed the vast differences of the rich and the poor really showed how much social disparity was
present in the movie. From the beginning of the movie the hidden effects of the rich raising the prices was visible with how coffee
prices and bus fares suddenly increased. The movie showed how different zones were like limiters. People from lower class zones
were shunned by the higher classes and the poor revered the rich as immortal humans. For these reasons Will was constantly being
discriminated against when arriving in New Greenwich, even having his time stolen by, essentially, the police force who restricts who
goes where, but luckily Will meets Slyvia who despite knowing Will was branded as a criminal and from Dayton still respected and
followed him. It showed how the system of “For a few to live, many must die” was flawed and that reform was needed. This reform
though not perfect, came in Will stealing 1 million years and distributing this to all zones, effectively ending the deaths of many and
discrimination against some poorer zones.
 Overall, In Time was a movie which showcased the struggles of a world with time as both currency and life. As a science-
fiction movie it even gave us a relatable part, which is the social struggles of the rich and poor, how some cities are wealthy to the
extremes and some are practically filled with crime and poverty. But it shows that even if some people are greater than others
equality can be reached if those in the rich would help those poorer than them some problems could be solved.

Literary Approach: Historical

Journey to the Center of the Earth
By: Jules Verne

“As long as the heart beats, as long as body and soul keep together, I cannot admit that any creature endowed with a will has
a need to despair of life “…… as quoted from the science-fiction novel Journey to the Center of the Earth written by French author
Jules Verne in 1864. It was the second book of his popular series that combined scientific facts and adventure fiction. Journey to the
Center of the Earth was written by the author to take readers on fantastic adventures that don’t necessarily exist in the real world. It is
so imaginative but is kept grounded in possibilities. Jules Verne emphasizes the impact of human struggles against nature. This is
because Prof. Lidenbrock and his group faced many hardships on the way to the center of the earth but never gave up. A historical
approach is used to analyze this travel fiction that reflects the time period and circumstances in which it is written.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a science-fiction classic from one of the most interesting writers of this genre that
withstood the test of times. Author Jules Verne took with him the readers to places people have never seen nor imagined. The story
began when one-day Professor Otto Lindebrock found a book of an Icelandic writer, Snorre Sturiason, written in runes. An old piece
of paper fell out of it. Axel, Prof. Otto’s nephew, decoded it and was shocked to find out that it was an instruction on how to reach the
center of the earth. At first, Axel didn’t want to reveal this to his uncle because of the dangers it entailed but eventually he told him
the truth of what he deciphered. Prof. Otto decided to go on with the adventure with Axel, Hans, and a guide. The group met
challenging experiences and conditions like dehydration when water ran out, losing their way in dark tunnels, being caught in
electrical storms, rations and food running low, and the fear of ending up dead. The group endured all these impacts of human
struggles against the wrath of nature. Two months after entering the underground world, the group was brought back to the surface
of Stromboli Island through a volcanic eruption.

Jules Verne was worldwide known as the father of science fiction. In his novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth, he
showcased his most memorable setting- the bowels of the Earth. His characters, Prof. Otto and Axel play important roles in the story.
As for the female characters, Martha and Grauben, their roles somewhat lacked enthusiasm and anticipation. The novel has the
elements of love, thrill, optimism, tragic events, escapism, obsessiveness, and most especially that of hope. As scholar William
Butcher states in the introduction to the Oxford Classics edition of Journey to the Center of the Earth that there are several fictional
characters who are also real personalities. Snorre Turleson was a historian and politician who composed Heimskringla, a chronicle of
Norse mythology and history. As for the runes manuscript that Prof. Otto was perusing in the novel, Verne was also fascinated and
influenced by the runes characters he saw in Oslo in 1861. Verne’s idea for the cryptogram came probably from the detective short
story of Edgar Allan Poe called “The Gold Bug”. There are other true-to-life historical references that are perceived in the novel.
Sir Humprey Davy was a chemist who discovered the laughing gas, invented the miner’s safety lamp, and proved that diamonds
came from carbon. August Petermann was a cartographer and geographer who lived in Leipzig. In the Roman calendar, Calends
was the first day of the month and a Leyden jar was an electrical condenser. Although these are mentioned fictionally as part of the
novel, they are based on true-to-life characters and events. Humprey Davy, a real scientist during Verne’s time, was brought to life by
the character of Arne Saknussemm. Here, the readers were brought to the attention that scientific theories and practical experiences
could one day be possible.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is one of Jules Verne’s greatest sci-fi novels. It is captivating, accurate and credible. The
fictional characters and other elements in this novel are rooted in reality. The author presented an engaging style about ideas that
are quite unheard of in his days but eventually can become a possibility someday. I therefore highly recommend this sci-fi novel for
travel and thrilling adventure reading.

Literary Approach: Reader- Response

Hello World
By: Yoshihiro Sono, Manatsu Suzuki

“When two people really care about each other, they will always look for a way to make it work, no matter how hard it is.” that
quote mirrors the plot of the film Hello World, a 2019 Japanese animated science fiction film directed by Tomohiko Ito from an
original screenplay written by Mado Nozaki. The film grossed over $25 million worldwide and received mixed - to - positive reviews
from critics, with praise going to the direction and animation. The film also received novelization, two manga adaptations, and a 3-
episode anime spin-off. Tomohiko Ito, the director of the film, laid out three "pillars" in making the film: a "drama" between the present
and future self, a cute "character", and the expression of the "world view" of the electronic world and virtual space. The film took
place in the city of Kyoto, Japan in the year 2027. Within the city lives Naomi Katagaki, a 16-year-old indecisive high school student
with a love for books and Ichigyou Ruri, a girl with a cold personality who is often blunt with people, but shares her love for reading.
The film started showing that the Japanese government made plans to create an infinite - capacity quantum computer which is
known as Alltale to preserve the city’s natural architecture using drones, storing all its data in Alltale. One day while walking home
after school, a mysterious three - legged crow stole Katagaki’s book and in an attempt to get it back, he chased the crow and met a
strange man that appeared out of nowhere. The strange man whom only Katagaki can see is then revealed to be his future self, 10
years later. The strange man explained that he has come to change a tragic accident that happened to Ruri, shortly after they started
dating. Initially taking his words with a grain of salt, present - day Katagaki follows his future self's instructions and starts getting
closer to Ruri, determined to save her. The rest of the film showed Katagaki and his future self’s journey and preparations to save
Ruri. Will they be able to change the future and save her?

Hello World offered a great cinematic journey of traveling in space and time that captured the eyes of the viewers. The
characters, especially Katagaki showed great development throughout the film and the viewers saw how he exerted effort, how much
Ruri meant to him, and his determination to save her. The plot and soundtrack were also on point which made the viewers enjoy the
film.

“I want to see her smile again, even if it’s not reality, even if it doesn’t belong to me.” this line by Katagaki from the film made
me think about how the power of selflessness, determination, and perseverance drove the relationship between him and Ruri.
Although there were parts in the film where the plot was a bit confusing, the film itself is still surprisingly great. The soundtracks
added mood to certain scenes and made it more touching and emotional. There were no dull scenes in this film and the storyline was
properly executed. The art used in this film played vital roles in certain scenes and it managed to beautify touching scenes. If you are
not a fan of science fiction movies, you may not immediately understand the plot of this film since there were some scenes where it
travels through time. This film portrayed the boundary between different time and world where one simple alteration can cause a
great contradiction in the flow of time.

The film has one of the most satisfying endings that I’ve watched from any animated film. The plot twists gave me chills and
although it is a science fiction film with CGI graphics that not everyone enjoys, it managed to give me a roller coaster of emotions and
has made it to the list of must watch films. If you’re into science fiction, then this sci - fi film intensified with romance will surely give
you a mind - blowing journey.
Literary Approach: Moralist

Spider-Man: No Way Home

By: Jon Watts, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

“You have a gift. You have power. And with great power, there must also come great responsibility” …a famous quote that was said
by aunt May from the 2021 sci-fi movie Spider-Man: No Way Home directed by Jon Watts and written by Chris McKenna and Erik
Sommers. The superhero film was released last December and immediately became a blockbuster on the first day of film screening.
Based on different comic storylines of the Marvel character “Spider-Man”, the film began when Peter Parker got framed for murder
and got his identity as Spider-Man revealed to the world. Now, being accused as a murderer, Parker as well as his aunt and his
friends’ normal life became a mess. This caused Parker to seek help from Doctor Strange in hopes of bringing their normal lives way
back before his identity got exposed. Strange casted a spell that would make everyone forget that Parker is Spider-man, but Parker
interrupted him, causing the spell to break loose and open the multiverse, pulling in powerful villains that have fought a Spider-Man
from every universe to their own universe. The rest of the movie showcased how Peter Parker (as Spiderman) and Dr. Strange dealt
with these “visitors” and returned them to their respective universes through sacrifice and hardships that they get to experience
especially for Parker, as he finally discovers and realizes what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

This Sci-Fi movie put the audience in awe because of its attractive visuals and outstanding cinematography. Even though most of the
designs of the characters as well as some of the details in the settings are made through CGI, they still looked pretty real and they
even looked appealing to the audience’s eyes which means that the film’s design team took their job seriously. The plot and the
characters help bring out the themes of the movie through the things they said and the actions they did in the film’s plot. The themes
of redemption, sacrifice, salvation, and responsibility are what most audiences could relate to and this movie especially the things
that are related to and the stakes that come with the role of being Spider-Man portrayed those themes perfectly. Another thing that
made this film special is the nostalgia factor, because it brought back all the previous villains and Spider-Men (which were portrayed
by the same actors) from older Spider-Man films which were the three Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies from the 2000s, and the two
“The Amazing Spider-Man” movies from the 2010s. The film received so much hype because of this as fans around the globe wanted
to see how these characters would interact with characters from the MCU (the main universe in which the plot takes place) and how
their actors would portray their respective roles again after not portraying them for around 20 years and 10 years. The writers did the
characters justice and they didn’t change their personalities from their previous movies which earned them the respect from
Marvel/Spider-Man fans. I think the reason why so many people are fans of the character is because even though Spider-Man is
equipped with superpowers and abilities, he still experiences the same hardships and challenges that most people in the real world
do. With these ideas as well as the things I mentioned above in mind, the elements of the film were cohesive and the film became
enjoyable to watch for millions of people around the world.

This movie also teaches things and values to the viewers through different events that happened in the plot. Spider-Man: No Way
Home portrays restorative justice, responsibility, and sacrifice through the actions of Peter Parker. Some events that emphasize
these is the part where Parker attempts to cure the villains so they won’t experience their deaths before sending them back to their
universes. Because of his morality and belief that every person deserves a second chance to redeem themselves and correct their
wrong doings from the past, he had the will to cure them even though he knows that some of them might do something evil. Instead
of the typical scenario where the hero must defeat the villain, the plot requires the hero to forgive and show some empathy to the
villains. The villains in the story are actually good and didn’t really have any malicious intentions. Some just experienced pure
unluckiness and unfortunate situations which led to them obtaining their superpowers. There was actually a good heart in every
villain, and we can never judge them without knowing their true intent and desires in life. I think this was the film’s way of showing the
meaning of restorative justice to the audience. Anyways, things went Parker’s way until Norman Osborn (Green Goblin) convinced
the other villains to betray Parker as they do not want to lose their powers so that they can continue doing their villainous schemes.
This led to the death of Parker’s aunt May which was done by Osborn himself. Parker experienced a tremendous amount of inner
pain and shock for the loss. At this point, he was ready to give up on curing the villains, and seeks revenge by sending them back
right away so they experience their fate, but he was stopped by two alternative versions of him from other universes. The two
alternative Parkers shared stories about losing their loved ones and they connected with him. Having someone who will support you
or in this case, guide you to the right direction so that you will not experience the same thing they did after they lose their loved ones
is such a special thing to bear. Because of the two Parkers, the MCU Parker filled himself with courage and decided to help the
villains again this time with the help of two Spider-Men. And this is probably the universal lesson of the story. Pain is such an
unavoidable thing in life. Because of this, it is really what we do for our pain that matters the most. It is what we do that defines who
we really are. If we embrace pain as an invitation in becoming the best version of ourselves, then life becomes meaningful. This
movie reminds us that we should always do the right thing, which is shown through the actions of the Parkers. No matter how many
hardships life throws at us, we should always get up and do things with a sense of morality. This also incorporates the responsibility
theme wherein Parker has the ability to seek revenge and easily kill the one who killed his aunt with his superpowers, but he chose
not to because he knows that is not the right thing to do. At the end of the film, Parker is now left alone and erased from everyone’s
memories due to the spell Doctor Strange casted to save their universe. This shows the true strength of Parker. He understood the
importance of sacrificing his relationships with MJ and Ned Leeds, in order to save their world. Having lost everyone and everything,
he was able to start afresh drawing on all that he learned from his experiences so far. The journey of growing up is not so much
about what we gain, accumulate, or accomplish, but about what we learn and who we become in the process of the journey, and the
people who help us get there along the way who remain in our hearts and minds forever, whether present in our lives or not. And
then, even if there is no way home, home is always with us because it is within us.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is a once in a lifetime thing in the cinemas. The combination of sadness, nostalgia, excitement, as well
as the lessons that it wants to teach to us is what made this film so amazing. All the experiences that our hero had in this story, is
what made him the Spider-Man that we all know and love. If you’re into superhero films/sci-fi films, then this one's for you.

Distribution of Works

Members Literary Approach Chosen Story

B2 Angeles, Anthony Jose A. Marxist In Time

B9 Maminta, Lawrence Andrew P. Moralist Spider-Man: No Way Home

G11 Talabucon, Jeanne Emerose Mari O. Historical Journey to the Center of the Earth

G14 Villola, Samantha Isabelle L. Reader- Response Hello World