Captain Phillips

This was an excellent movie.  Very interesting.  Although I wasn't sure whether or not I was going to like the movie in the beginning, as it was semi difficult for me to understand, I ended up loving it. This was definitely different from the other kinds of movies we've been watching, seeing as this event is very modern.  It embarrasses me to say that I never heard of the pirates attacks of Somalia on ships, and I never heard of this event when it was happening or after.  But knowing about it now amazes me.  This story is fascinating, and it amazes me that this whole ordeal took place in the middle of the ocean.  In the movie, I really liked Captain Phillips, and I did think he was a hero, until I learned that the movie falsely portrayed him. Although the movie was amazing, I feel like it was wrong to portray such an event like this in any way other than what it was.  All of the characters should have been portrayed as they actually were.  That being said, it was a fabulous movie, and very intense, and very educational about this event. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.

United 93

I enjoyed this film, as much as one can enjoy a film about the terrorist attacks on the United States of 9/11 and watching hundreds of people die a horrible death.  But I thought that it seemed accurate to me, the portrayal of events seemed accurate.  I liked how the film switched back and forth between the plane and the control center and showed the reactions of people as they found out about the planes crashing.  I think that everyone in that movie must be truly gifted actors to be able to portray that.  That is a scary film to be in, and I was impressed with everyone in it.  I thought that it was a very impactful movie, since most people only think of the two planes that hit the twin towers on 9/11.  Most people don't think about the heroics of the people on this plane, and how they sacrificed themselves for the good of thousands of others.  This was a very impactful film, and I am glad that we watched it.  I woul definitely recommend it to others to learn more about our country's history and this horrific time for America (although I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who's planning on flying in the near future).

Apollo 13

I enjoyed the film Apollo 13.  I wasn't aware of this story before watching the movie, and I thought that it was made in a way that was very easy to understand and follow what was happening throughout the whole film.  I especially liked how the movie switched back and forth between the space shuttle and the command center on Earth so that you could get both views of the situation. I didn't know that the shuttle wasn't going to make it to the moon before watching this film because I hadn't known the story, so when they had the malfunction on the shuttle I was shocked and horrified.  I also didn't know if they were going to make it back to Earth alive or not.  So I was very engrossed in this story.  It was very interesting to watch this amazing time in history for America.  I would definitely recommend this movie to others.

I think that this is a reasonable budget for NASA.  That may sound absolutely ridiculous because almost 10 billion dollars is absurd to think about.  That kind of money is unfathomable.  But when you think about what it's for, how it's for NASA, and sending astronauts into space and to explore the amazing vast universe that we are such a tiny part of, it seems worth it to me.

I feel that the retirement of the space program was a bad thing for the United States. Going to space and exploring the universe leads to many advances for our country in science and astronomy.  If we are no longer going out and learning more, how are we expected to continue advancing as a country? We can't learn everything there is to know by staying on Earth.  We have the technology to do amazing things, it is a waste not to use it in the most incredible ways that we can.

Parkland

I thought that this was a good movie.  It seemed like it accurately portrayed what happened surrounding this event.  Obviously this was a horrific tragedy for the American people.  I can't imagine what it must've been like.  Everyone must've been so shocked and scared.  I imagine it compares somewhat to the terror and shock people felt after 9/11.  I think that this was an interesting movie, and I thought it was cool how the studio got many big actors to be in the film.  The event itself is very interesting.  I wouldn't watch this movie on my own just for a good time, but I thought that it was informative and well made and well casted and good for getting across the historical significance of this event.

The Pianist

I would say that overall I enjoyed this movie.  I found it a little confusing and hard to follow at times, especially during the beginning.  I was confused by the characters, who was who, and how everyone in the family was related.  I didn't know any of the character's names.  But I thought that the story was incredible.  I always find stories about the holocaust and surviving amazing.  They are so inspiring to me.  They are filled with so much horror and despair, but yet, throughout it all, there's always that glimmer of hope, that will to live, to make it to the end, to make it through all the horror that is going on around you.  To be strong enough to make it through, and come out on the other side a new person.  For the millions and millions of people that died in the holocaust, there are also so many incredible and beautiful stories to be told about people who survived it.  This was definitely one of those stories.  This movie greatly impacted me and my thinking.

I imagine that, or at least I have to imagine that, not all of the Nazis were horribly awful people.  Yes, most of them did horrific things, but some of them did not; some of them did not want to be like that.  Some of them still had a heart and a soul, and a conscience, such as Hosenfeld.  He was still another human, just like Szpilman.  Another man.  He wasn't totally and completely corrupted by the Nazi mindset.  He could still see Jews for the people that they were truly, like a pianist, instead of defining them and stereotyping them by their religion.  Hosenfeld was one of the few good ones that still existed during this time period.  He saw the desperation in Szpilman, and he saw how magical his piano playing was, and for a moment while Szpilman was playing, he was in control.  Hosenfeld sat listening, transformed by this Jew, and for a few minutes the world that they lived in around them didn't matter.

I don't think that Szpilman had a choice in trusting Hosenfeld.  He had been found out, and if Hosenfeld had really wanted to kill him, he would have done it right away.  There was no point in waiting.  But Hosenfeld asked him to play the piano, and sat there looking at him just as a normal man. Not as a Nazi looking at a Jew, but as an amazed spectator in the presence of a great musician.  I think that after Szpilman got to play the piano after so long again, he was content.  If he was going to die, at least he'd got it in one last time.  If Hosenfeld wanted to kill him, he would have.  Szpilman had no choice but to trust him, and just hope, as it turned out to be, that Hosenfeld truly was one of the good ones.

Defiance

I thought that this was an excellent movie.  As soon as I saw the trailer for this film, I was captivated.  I immediately wanted to see the whole movie, and know more about the subject, and tell my friends and family about it, which, I imagine, is what the goal of a movie is.  Not only is this story incredible, but the actors who played the characters in this movie were exceptional.  I particularly liked the man who played Tuvia.  I thought he was an amazing actor and really made an impact on me.  I feel like he was the center for everyone throughout the film.  I am always especially impressed with actors who play roles in movies dealing with such heavy content, such as the holocaust.  They have to be especially talented.  This movie, along with any movie dealing with the holocaust, has a special effect on me.  Although stories about the holocaust are extremely hard to hear about and watch, they make for some of my favorite stories because they are so impactful.  I have been hearing learning about the holocaust my entire life, and I always find it fascinating to learn more about it and hear more about that time period.  There were so many good parts to this movie.  So much can be related to todays world, such as the struggle to maintain humanity in a sometimes particularly hard period of time, or deciding to put the value of your life and the lives of the people you care about above redemption.  These brothers were absolutely amazing; the things that they did, most people would not be able to do.  They were courageous, brave, strong, and powerful: born leaders.  This film definitely left a lasting impression on me, for the content the extraordinary acting, and the educational value it had.  I would definitely recommend this film to anyone and everyone.

Tuvia's statement in the film "Our revenge is to live." is extremely powerful.  The Nazis goal was to completely terminate the entire Jewish population.   Not one Jew was supposed to be left living, or it would taint Hitler's Aryan race.  Escaping into the woods, and being able to survive the holocaust as a Jew when so millions of their brothers and sisters were slaughtered every day, was revenge enough.  The fact that the Nazis did not get them, they were not captured and treated like animals, they were not brutally murdered for no reason whatsoever, was the ultimate redemption.  Staying alive throughout this time was the only thing that they could do.  I do believe that humanity and revenge can co exist, to a certain extent.  In an extreme situation like this one, it is definitely hard to know where to draw the line. How far is too far to go to get revenge before you give up your morals, your values, and everything else that makes you a human being? It is a very thin line.  Zus definitely crossed this line at one point in the film.  Tuvia was constantly intent on preserving their humanity, and by doing that, he believed they would get revenge.  I believe that wanting revenge is a natural human emotion, along with all of the other things that we feel on a daily basis.  However, choosing to act on that feeling, or not act on it, is what makes us human, and helps us preserve our humanity in questionable and hard times.

The Godfather

I did not particularly like The Godfather. I didn't think that it was amazing, but I also didn't think it was completely terrible. I guess I was more indifferent about it. I just don't understand why it is considered a classic, or, by some, one of the greatest films of all time. I did not like the plot of the movie. I am not really interested in this particular time of history though, or the concept of organized crime, so this movie was kind of boring to me. I suppose that this movie portrays organized crime well though, and it would be interesting and a good movie to someone who is interested by that type of thing in history. The only parts of the movie that really impacted me were all the deaths, and how all the deaths occurred. Many of them shocked me and many made me actually cringe. The way they treated people, killing left and right as if people were not alive human beings, was appalling. I can't say I got a particular theme or message out of this movie. I would only recommend this to others if they are interested in the very specific topic of organized crime, otherwise, it would probably bore most people.

Vito Corleone is essentially the "moral" center of this film.  Out of all of the Corleone men, I feel like he is the one with the best moral compass. Although he had done many bad and illegal things throughout his life, it has all been with his family in mind, and to protect them. He also refuses to get wrapped up in the drug business, which shows that he really does have a moral center and cares about doing the right thing. Although I did not really like this movie or connect to any particular characters, it was sad when Vito Corleone collapsed and died in his tomato plants. Allthough many people were freed from the manipulation of the Don when he died, it was still a sad moment and the "end of an era".

I don't know much about organized crime, but I imagine this film is very different from how it is normally portrayed. I imagine that organized crime would for the most part be told from the outside. The stories of the horrors of organized crime would be told from an outside point of view, without truly knowing what the reasons for it are or what is going on inside. This movie lets you see that. It shows you what the reasoning is behind all the crime, what the people are really thinking and doing. This is a fresh new perspective on the concept of organized crime. This new angle could be why many people consider this movie such a classic. I, however, don't agree with that.

Miracle on Ice

Miracle is by far my favorite movie that we have watched to date.  I'm pretty sure that i've said that about a couple other movies too, but this one really is my favorite.  When it first started out, I didn't really understand, or connect with the story.  It wasn't interesting to me.  But then, as it went on, I became more and more invested in it.  I couldn't take my eyes away.  The fact that this was a true story is so inspiring.  I only wish I could've been alive to see the real thing.  And it could not have been a more perfect time to watch this movie, what with the winter olympics going on during it and the US hockey team was trying to win a game against Canada.  It was just such an inspiration.  It was beautifully cast, and acted.  The story was depicted amazingly. It made me want to get on the internet after having watched it and research about this event, and that day. It definitely gives you a sense of patriotism, and pride for your country.  I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone and everyone.  

This event was so significant to Americans.  This movie depicts the story of the US hockey team getting to the 1980 winter olympics in Lake Placid. For nine months, the coach of the team, Herb Brooks, pushed 20 young, college hockey players beyond their limits.  They started off playing for themselves, thinking about themselves, and not connecting as a team.  Herb taught them to work together, to work with each other, to use each other to be the best hockey team in the world.  The US hockey team in the 1980 olympics was definitely the underdog.  Nobody thought that they could ever win anything with a bunch of young inexperienced college hockey players.  And yet, they pushed, and they pushed.  They had the most patriotism, pride, and dedication. They ended up beating the Soviet Union, the best hockey team in the world, with a score of 4-3.  Then they went on to win the gold.  It is truly an amazingly inspiring story. During this time, especially because it was the height of the cold way, the game against the Soviet Union was about a little more than just hockey.  We proved to the world that we could still come out on top, that we were the best, we had the most pride and self determination.  This event will forever be remembered as a great achievement in our American history.

The only thing that I can think of that comes close to as much of an impact on the conscience of the American public is the terrorist attack of 9/11.  It seems weird to compare such a tragic, horrific event to such a beautiful accomplishment in our nation's sports history, but yet, they are so similar.  Both events were able to bring together the American people in such a way that is not the norm.  People helped each other, cared for others, and were nice to each other.  Having pride for your country is one thing, but Americans can bring it to a whole new level.  

42

I thought that this was a fantastic movie.  I loved every part of it.  I thought that every person in the movie was a terrific actor, especially the man who played Jackie Robinson.  I thought that he really connected to the story of Robinson.  The whole story moved me.  The man who played Robinson was so terrific because he made you connect with him, and feel his emotions.  When he was hurting in the movie, I felt like I was hurting.  When he was in pain, I could feel it too.  When he was sad, I could feel it, and when he was happy, I could feel it, and I found myself smiling.  At the end of the movie, when he won the game with the last home run, I could feel myself smiling and wanting to laugh and cheer for him.  I also loved the relationship between Robinson and his wife.  She was there for him throughout everything that he went through; she was his rock.  She always kept him grounded instead of fighting back to all of the nasty things that people said to him, and she kept him hopeful and inspired about his future. She never doubted him, even when he might have doubted the strength inside himself.  Their relationship was a beautiful part of the story.  As much as the happy parts affected me, the sad and hard to watch parts affected me even more.  The way that Jackie was treated literally sickened me.  In the one game scene against Boston when the coach was saying those horrible things to Jackie, it physically affected me.  I cringed every time he used the n-word, and tears pricked at my eyes for Jackie because he could not fight back.  Overall, this was a beautiful and truly inspiring story, it was amazingly cast and acted, and I loved every minute of it.

I definitely think that Jackie Robinson helped this country.  At a time when racism was still at an all time high, being the first colored person in a national sports team was extremely huge.  People might have been able to deal with black people living and working, but when one entered their precious and beloved sport of baseball, it was all too much.  Robinson wasn't just a black person playing baseball.  His story is much more than that.  After him, many more colored people began playing baseball and other national sports.  Little colored boys and girls used him as an inspiration.  Jackie did more than play baseball: he gave hope for the future and set a precedent for many to follow his bold and admirable actions.  He started creating the pathway for the more, thankfully, equal world that we live in today.

Jackie's nine values are basic values that every person should have at least a few of.  They include the basic values of a moral person.  Any one person trying to live an admirable life can relate to these goals.  Anything in life, whether it be getting a good grade on your next test, getting into the college you want, landing that job you've always coveted: all of these things can be achieved if you set your mind to it, and use values like Jackie's that include determination, commitment, courage, and excellence.

I think that this quote by Jackie Robinson means that all people are meant to impact other people in some way.  Every person is here, doing what they are doing, for a reason.  Even if you can't see it, all of our lives are intertwined in some way.  Without one person, so many people's lives would be completely different.  I completely agree with this saying.  I do believe that every person is meant to impact someone else's life in some way. A life is important because in some way, by doing something, you will affect someone else, and maybe help them realize something important, or make a huge life decision.  All people are here for a reason, and all lives are important to each other.

Cinderella Man

I had never really heard the term Cinderella man before this movie, so I didn't really have a good idea of what it means.  After the beginning of the movie though, it's pretty self explanatory and anyone can use common sense to figure out what it means.  The title of this movie was called Cinderella Man I think because it is loosely related to a modern story of Cinderella, except with a man instead of a woman, obviously.  In the original story of Cinderella, a poor young woman is forced into gruesome labor and to live a terrible life by the evils of her relatives.  In the movie, James Braddock is also forced into hard gruesome labor and ends up living a terrible way of life during the Great Depression. However, in the end of both stories, everything turns around and Cinderella and James Braddock are both saved and live a happily ever after.  A Cinderella man I think is someone who endures much hardship in their life, and overcomes it to get the happy ending that they deserve and work for.  I personally loved this movie. I thought it was excellent in showing how hard times really were for people during the Great Depression.  Even though it was a movie about a main character whose job was boxing, and not everyone has that profession, it is still very relatable and shows what life was really like for an average struggling family during this period of time. People today deal with money issues all the time, as well as many other things.  Every family has their hardships and their struggles, and the hardships of the time are continuously changing.

The scene where Braddock's son explained why he stole had a huge effect on me.  I even got choked up a little.  It broke my heart that such a young boy would go to such desperate measures to feed himself and his family.  To have someone's innocence and youth corrupted at such a young age is awful.  While the ethics behind this decision are clearly wrong (stealing is never ok) I understand why he did it.  I would probably do the same thing if in a similar situation.  If you have no other options and you feel like you and your family might starve, you have to do what you can to survive and to make sure the people you care about survive.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  This scene made me more sad and think about the tragedy of it than really question the morals and ethics behind it.

I feel as though changing the way that Max Baer is portrayed in this movie was not unethical, but it wasn't completely justified either.  However, it is a Hollywood movie, and the goal of the movie was to sell and make money.  Changing Baer's character was probably just the best bet for the movie to be successful, I don't think it was intended to hurt Baer's family or ruin his reputation.  I think if anything, it adds to the story of James Braddock, making him seem like more of a hero, and more of a strong willed man that people can admire and look up to.  Having a villain in a story is hardly something to get upset over.

I think that the scene where Braddock goes into Madison Square Garden to beg for money is also a very powerful scene.  I do not think that Braddock was pathetic in this moment at all.  Many men during this time did not want to ask for help because they could not swallow their prides to do what was best for them and their families.  Braddock knew they needed help.  He was enough of a man to do what needed to be done, and get money to save his family.  I do not think this should be considered pathetic at all, in fact, I think it is extremely noble and admirable.  James Braddock was a stand up man, and pathetic is the last word I would ever use to describe him.  I think that in this moment, Braddock hits rock bottom.  And from there, things can only get better. It is the low point of his Cinderella story, the point just before he gets the opportunity for his happily ever after.

Tombstone

I did not like the movie Tombstone at all.  I thought that it was overall very boring. There was no real plot, it was hard to follow, and by the end of the film I didn't even know the names of all the characters. I never understood the conflict throughout the whole movie, and what they were fighting about.  It did not give me very good insight into the old west.  While it gave me a good visual of the time period, I still do not understand the historical significance of the times and what this movie was trying to portray. I also felt that the ending was disappointing, and not what I was expecting.  The movie had no real effect on me because I couldn't understand the character's stories, therefore I wasn't able to connect with them. The only part of the movie I can say that I genuinely liked was the scene with Wyatt Earp and the woman (see I still don't even know her name) riding their horses through the big open grass field, and then talking about what makes them happy and what makes them laugh.  That was nice to watch.  I did not like any of the characters; I can't say one made a lasting impression on me.  The story also did not leave a lasting impression on me.  I cannot see this story relating to any content in today's society besides that maybe it could be paralleled to the struggle of people who want to immigrate to the United States, or people who want to move in general, and the struggles and dangers that could come along with that.

I believe that an event is legendary when it significantly changes some aspect of someone's life.  If an event has no effect on anyone involved, why would it be remembered? It would simply be lumped into the mass of other memories that a person accumulates in their lifetime.  A legendary event is one that stands out in your head, that you will remember forever, whether for the good or the bad. I believe that legendary events also involved some type of hero, in one way or another.  A person is a legend when they touch, in so many different ways, a number of different people's lives, or do something so great that they are famous, or infamous, for that one thing. I don't believe that either of these apply to any of the characters in the film, although I could see how one might consider Wyatt Earp a legend.  He protected his town and fought for many different people. I do not think that the "Wild West" is for me.  This movie did not appeal to me in any way, and I prefer that Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday and everyone else can just stay, kept away, in the Wild West where they belong without dragging me into it.

Glory

Overall, I enjoyed the movie Glory.  I felt that it was interesting, well acted, engaging, and told a good story depicting a small part of the civil war.  I liked the plot; I enjoy watching war movies, they are my favorites.  I thought that the story was well developed, however, I sometimes found it a little hard to follow at times.  I got confused with many of the characters multiple times, and never really even remembered most of the characters' names.  But besides that, the message of the movie was wonderful. It shows hope and inspiration and a tremendous amount of courage; it shows to people what courage really looks like. Although it has been almost 200 years since the time this movie took place, it shows the root of a huge issue that would be a problem in our society even to this day, which is racism.  The way that the black soldiers were treated compared to the white soldiers was shocking.  I always knew that things like that were going on in our society a long time ago, and even today, however, I tend to turn a blind eye to it, and not really address the issue unless it is forced upon me.   That's what this movie does.  It forces you to think about the issue of racism in our country, a large root of the civil war, where people in our country were fighting and killing each other, because of the color of a person's skin.  And it shows what true courage is, and how all people, no matter your race, can be courageous, brave, and admirable.

I believe that people are willing to die for their country to prove a point.  In the civil war, many African Americans were so eager to become soldiers and volunteer to die for their country just in the hope that others might realize that they are people too, and deserve to be treated with the same respect.  Or maybe it is to prove a point that the country that you are fighting for is the strongest, the best, the greatest.  It could be out of simple love for your country, and wanting to protect the legacy of it and the people who live there.  I believe many people also wish to prove their bravery and courage by going to war; showing people that they can be heroes.  I do believe that the men of the 54th Massachusetts were heroes.  Being the first all black infantry would set a precedent for the rest of time.  They were the first African Americans to risk their lives for their country, knowing full well that they would be treated disrespectfully in the process, and they went out and proudly fought and died for their country anyway. I also believe that Shaw is a hero, being the commander of the first all black infantry.  He knew what stakes and prices would come with such a position, and he took it anyway, and proudly led his men into battle as equals to anyone else fighting for their country.  He died in battle with his men.

This story, about the 54th Massachusetts and its leadership at Fort Wagner, is significant to our society today.  While this may not have been significant at the time, seeing as it was a bloody, losing battle with many casualties, today it is seen as a turning point.  People recognized that African Americans could fight, and fight valiantly and bravely.  They realized that African Americans are people, so to speak.  It set a precedent, and proved a point to the entire country.  This is a story truly about courage and bravery.  While it is within a time in our country that we are not proud of, there is a shining moment within it, which this movie beautifully depicts.

My introduction

 Hi! My name is Brooke.  I would say a word that best describes me is spontaneous.  I love doing unplanned things and going with the flow, in school, and in my every day life. My goals include my future, such as where i'll be going to college and what i'll be doing with my life after high school.  I want to be a writer, or do something in politics, or be a veterinarian.  I have a few options.  I can't wait to finish high school and move on to more important things in life, and when i'm older, I hope to have a successful job and be happy with my life.  My interests now include cheerleading, writing, painting/drawing, and spending time with my friends and family.  I like seeing my friends at school, and my favorite class is English, because I love to write, or history, because I love history. I hate science and math in school. The qualities of my favorite teachers are caring, engaging, sarcastic, and able to making learning interesting and fun for me.  (Burk & Keller).  I love learning about history.  American history is my favorite.  I love learning about how our country used to be so different from how it is today. 




Overall, I would say that I am mostly disappointed in humanity.  I feel like our society has come so far in technology, and media, and news, and weapons.  We are progressing in everything except as humans beings; as humans, we are digressing.  In the past, people focused much more on the core values of life.  People as a whole were more honest, forgiving, loving, caring, empathetic, and hardworking.  Today, these traits become harder and harder to find in a person.  People today care about materialistic things such as money and clothes and cars, and will do whatever it takes to get to what they want, ignoring the fact that they are throwing away morals and values to get there.  People today don't see what they have become.  We have become a society filled with people like Miley Cyrus, and Lindsay Lohan, where getting arrested and doing drugs and shocking the public by doing something heinous is the norm.  People today are so different than people 100 years ago, where our country was booming and prosperous; where people were concerned with hard work to get success, not cheating your way to the top, and certainly not making a public mockery of many important things.  Our society has come such a far way in such a short time; while we have made many advancements in our society today, I feel as though it is taking a long time for human minds to catch up to the level that everything else in our society is at.