Philo 135 Comparative Philosophy

Film Analysis Through Compare & Contrast

Guidelines:

1. Choose one Chinese film and one Western (American, European film) to
compare and contrast side by side. You also have the option to choose between
any Asian movie (Filipino, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Bollywood) to compare with a
Western movie.

2. Analyze the films separately using the following format:

a. Introduction
i. Background information on both films. (2 pts)
ii. Thesis statement what will be compared and contrasted. (2 pts)
b. Plot and Storyline
i. Comparison of the main plot and storyline for both films (2 pts)
ii. Examination of how the plots are similar and different. (2 pts)
c. Character development
i. Comparison of the development of the main characters. (2 pts)
ii. Examination of how characters are similar and different. (2 pts)
d. Themes (20 pts)
i. Comparison of the themes of both films. It could include the
following themes:
1. Relationships - illustrate the dynamics of the characters’
relationships (family friendship, soul-mate, etc).
2. Society and Culture - examine the cultural and societal
norms depicted in a movie and how the characters interact
with and challenge them.
3. Power and Power Struggles - Analyze the distribution of
power among the characters and the dynamics of power
play.
4. Morality and Ethics - examine the moral and ethical
dilemmas of the characters and how they make their own
choices.
5. Identity and Self-discovery - explore how character’s
development progressed throughout the movie.

3. The output should show your ability to understand congruities and parallels.