Dear students
Welcome to English 124 and our blog. This blog will provide you with the materials we will be using in class for your review. Here you will find the class schedule and other documents discussed on the first day of class, power point presentations, videos and quizzes. I hope it will also be a good place to comment about films that you have watched and liked or disliked. Please feel free to comment on the progress of our blog. If there are sites you feel are important to include in our blogroll, feel free to suggest them so that they can be included. I’m looking forward to a very enjoyable semester.
First Film Comment: Avatar
Certainly the science-fiction films that I like are very limited. I can say that those films aren’t my first choice when I go to the movies. Always I ask to people who have seen it so they can help me to decide if it’s worth paying to see the film or not. But definitely Avatar is the exception. When I heard that Avatar was available in theaters I had the same doubt because I was not really sure that the film could be interesting. Everything changed when I had the opportunity to see and enjoy that marvelous production.
Jake Sully, interpreted by Sam Worthington is a paraplegic marine that is selected to replace his brother on a mission that he couldn’t finish because of his death. Pandora, the location of the mission is habited by a race called Na’Vi who the mostly are living around a gigantic tree that is sacred for them. But the human’s interests are different. They want to destroy that beautiful tree so they can obtain a powerful and very expensive mineral to resolve many problems of the humanity. The mission scientists are mentally transported to Na’Vi’s bodies thanks to the technology and a kind of process with machines. That’s part of Jake Sully’s mission, through this process he learn about Na’Vi’s culture, manners, conduct, actions and how they do to survive in their environment so he could be one of them. After doing that he has to convince them to leave the place so the humans can find the expensive mineral and that suppose resolution of all humanity problems that exists on earth. Everything will be changing through Jake Sully’s mission. He will live new experiences like being able to walk and move his legs. That will change the mission’s purpose. Also he will meet Neytiri interpreted by Zoe Saldaña, the one of this race that is assigned to teach about the Na’Vi’s and falls in love with her. Through this Jake Sully begins a conflict with himself, he have to decide if defend his race or the Na’Vi’s.
In every aspect, this film completely captivates my attention. Although is a bit long, the film never bored me and kept me as in a hypnosis status during the three hours of action. All the environment of Pandora including the weird animals seems very real. The scenes that I liked most were those that show how Pandora looks in nights because the entire nature and creatures can been seen with a kind of fluorescence that gives to Pandora a magical characteristic. With that awesome costumes and makeup that gives to the Na’Vi’s a shiny blue color, James Cameron showed me how creative he can be and I admire him for that. Avatar has a lot of good special effects that makes the film seems more real. One of the things that kept me in that hypnosis status are these impressive special effects. More than the drama of the actors and actresses what I really liked is the respect and the love that Na’Vi’s shows to their environment and how are their relations with the creatures that live with them in Pandora. They demonstrate love to the water, love to the trees and love to the animals, for them, all in their nature is important because all of that is part of who they are. This is a good example for our humanity because we must begin to value our nature.
This film shows that because their selfishness the humans are able to do anything to obtain what they want even destroy civilizations without any compassion. Also tell us that we have to improve our behavior in our life and with others. Of course I recommend this excellent movie to all even those people who don’t like science fictions films like me. If James Cameron wanted to make a success with Avatar he definitely did. I loved the film from the beginning to end.
First Film Comment: Avatar
Certainly the science-fiction films that I like are very limited. I can say that those films aren’t my first choice when I go to the movies. Always I ask to people who have seen it so they can help me to decide if it’s worth paying to see the film or not. But definitely Avatar is the exception. When I heard that Avatar was available in theaters I had the same doubt because I was not really sure that the film could be interesting. Everything changed when I had the opportunity to see and enjoy that marvelous production.
Jake Sully, interpreted by Sam Worthington is a paraplegic marine that is selected to replace his brother on a mission that he couldn’t finish because of his death. Pandora, the location of the mission is habited by a race called Na’Vi who the mostly are living around a gigantic tree that is sacred for them. But the human’s interests are different. They want to destroy that beautiful tree so they can obtain a powerful and very expensive mineral to resolve many problems of the humanity. The mission scientists are mentally transported to Na’Vi’s bodies thanks to the technology and a kind of process with machines. That’s part of Jake Sully’s mission, through this process he learn about Na’Vi’s culture, manners, conduct, actions and how they do to survive in their environment so he could be one of them. After doing that he has to convince them to leave the place so the humans can find the expensive mineral and that suppose resolution of all humanity problems that exists on earth. Everything will be changing through Jake Sully’s mission. He will live new experiences like being able to walk and move his legs. That will change the mission’s purpose. Also he will meet Neytiri interpreted by Zoe Saldaña, the one of this race that is assigned to teach about the Na’Vi’s and falls in love with her. Through this Jake Sully begins a conflict with himself, he have to decide if defend his race or the Na’Vi’s.
In every aspect, this film completely captivates my attention. Although is a bit long, the film never bored me and kept me as in a hypnosis status during the three hours of action. All the environment of Pandora including the weird animals seems very real. The scenes that I liked most were those that show how Pandora looks in nights because the entire nature and creatures can been seen with a kind of fluorescence that gives to Pandora a magical characteristic. With that awesome costumes and makeup that gives to the Na’Vi’s a shiny blue color, James Cameron showed me how creative he can be and I admire him for that. Avatar has a lot of good special effects that makes the film seems more real. One of the things that kept me in that hypnosis status are these impressive special effects. More than the drama of the actors and actresses what I really liked is the respect and the love that Na’Vi’s shows to their environment and how are their relations with the creatures that live with them in Pandora. They demonstrate love to the water, love to the trees and love to the animals, for them, all in their nature is important because all of that is part of who they are. This is a good example for our humanity because we must begin to value our nature.
This film shows that because their selfishness the humans are able to do anything to obtain what they want even destroy civilizations without any compassion. Also tell us that we have to improve our behavior in our life and with others. Of course I recommend this excellent movie to all even those people who don’t like science fictions films like me. If James Cameron wanted to make a success with Avatar he definitely did. I loved the film from the beginning to end.
Movie Comment #1: Cowboys and Aliens
Back in the wild old west in Arizona, on 1873, we have cowboys and natives fighting against an alien invasion that is planning to end the human race as they have done before with other species. This movie I found it to be very original because, at least I have never seen a movie combining aliens of high technology with cowboys. I like it a lot, is a good action movie and has a good screen picture. The screenplay is written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Damon Lindelof, Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, and it is directed by the same director of Iron Man, Jon Favreau. This movie involves the lives of an outlaw Jake Lonergan played by Daniel Craig, a very mysterious woman Ella Swenson played by Olivia Wilde, and a very rich business man Woodrow Dolarhyde played by Harrison Ford. This movie is called to be “wickedly original, unlike anything you’ve never seen” (Jake Hamilton, fox-TV Houston, TX).
Jake Lonergan, (Daniel Craig) stranger to himself, not even remembering his own name, founds himself in the outsides of a desert with a strange technological bracelet stuck on his wrist. He is looking for answers and is helped by the courageus and strong Colonel Dolarhyde (Ford) and the mysterious woman (Wilde) in the meantime of the movie they found themselves along with outlaws and natives, in danger by an alien invasion. Lonergan is trying to remember who he is and apparently lost someone he loves and he with Dolarhyde and Ella along with the native and outlaws find having a common enemy that is the responsible for their losses. They have to put their past aside to defeat that powerful enemy they all have.
This film I like to watch it over and over again, is very entertaining, there is dialogue but is interesting, not boring, and there is a bit of suspense and a lot of action and surprises. I recommend this film for those who love sci-fi (science-fiction) just like me, and it would be the best if its watched in Blu-ray, the picture is amazing. This film inspired me to create and draw characters of my own imagination and to write about them, this movie inspires it is awesome and I really recommend it. The thing that I love about it is the clearly shown message, in the union there is survival, there is strength, and no matter what race you are in the union there is always hope. This is a great message for society to put aside the racism, because at the end we are all the same, humans living in community with others like us.
Ring Leader’s Motion Picture Thrill Ride: Robots
By:Carlos A.Cardona Cabello
Salutations and greetings, children of all ages, and welcome to a new major attraction located in your local internet service provider,the Motion Picture Thrill Ride. I am the Ring Leader, your tour guide for films that should be rides. We begin our newly anointed series with Robots, a film that gave aspiring imagineers a new aspect to believing yourself by painting bright colors & cramming in so many pointless cameos than any other animated movie.
We knew that ever since PIXAR’s Toy Story, it became the first animation studio to utilize 3D computer-generated animation to create feature films. Apparently in the 2000s, Hollywood wanted to join in on the 3D animated bandwagon. Time after time, more animation film studios used the CG movie party wagon, and brought films like Final Fantasy:The Spirits Within and studios like Imagi, but they were improving the graphic’s qualities and capabilities to newer levels of ingenuity. Now we go to the main attraction. How does 20th Century Fox’s Blue Sky Animation succeed with Ice Age? Preferably a sequel in the 2010s, but this is Robots.
Rodney Copperbottom of Rivet Town dreams of being an inventor after seeing Bigweld on T.V. He decides to invent a robo friend to help his dish-washing dad, but his boss was unimpressed. He and Wonderbot decide to go to Robot City to work for his idol’s company. Once getting there, he sees that a new robot, Ratchet, plans to make bots everywhere shiny and upgraded by ceasing all production of spare parts. He meets up with Fender multiple times and joins him along with the Rusties with Aunt Fanny, evading the Sweepers that take them to make the new material for upgrades . He fights back the upgrade revolution by fixing the broken bots roaming the middle-class area. Gakset, whose actually his mother, notifies Ratchet of this revelation and inquire about the bot who fixed the outmodes. Rodney does the same in the Bigweld Ball and is almost arrested after Cappy takes him in. At his home, Bigweld tells Cappy and Rodney that he lost all hope when Ratchet, his dad,outworn at this point, cheers Rodney up and Bigweld has a change of heart as they start the climactic battle with Ratchet and Gasket. The movie ends with a big “Junk” dance party in Rivet Town.
Now on the plus side, the background,music and pacing doesn’t disappoint audiences from start to finish- The Blue Man Group know how to make a Robot Philharmonic soundtrack, and the celebrity voice choices work seldom well with the multiple characters and scenery, mostly Robin Williams and Amanda Bynes who always get the kid show card on their resumés. Clocking in at 91 minutes, It’s a blast for everyone, and to me, it holds up as something for the family room movie collection for moderate viewing pleasure, but it’s also tiring for an average movie-goer. The downside seemed to be everything else: it’s as generic and one-dimensional as a modern Disney knock-off would be with intense foreshadowing,clunky pacing,repetitive dialogue,pointless celebrity cameos and a tact-on message at the end. The characters are colorful and exciting to watch, but they come of unoriginal and clichéd: The Big Dreamer Rodney, Funny Comic Relief Fender, Piper the Tomboy, Big Lug- been there,done that. Please, show more dynamic characters than these dime-store cookie cutters. As far as most 3D animated films are concerned, it’s exciting to watch them go through dynamic changes at the final hours of the film, even so, Rodney is the main character- Like Drake Bell said, it’s just acting-you say you’re lines and go home . Here are some fun facts: during pre-production, it was supposed to be based on William Joyce’s Santa Calls, best known for Rolie Polie Olie, but instead, along with director Chris Wedge, made this story. It was also one of the last film to be sold in VHS until DVDs became marketable.
From my experience, this movie was entertaining around the early-2000s after Ice Age, and after Meltdown, I liked Robots more than this and other 3D animated films. Plus I sticked to some regular animated films and live action ones, and yet this movie is better than Ice Age. This film may be made by the same people who did Ice Age, but even that movie has the same flaws as I described before- an OK plot with major writing issues, amazingly repetitive characters and uncouth humor. While Robots seems to be the kind of movie that says one message but hides another in between, and it should say “While you shine no matter what you are,you’re dents are forever”.
Final Thoughts:B+: It’s best to watch it after a hard day of work and you just want to just sit down with the kids for a while. Please exit to your right and we’ll be seeing you again with another Motion Picture Thrill Ride.
In between the pop-art cinema of Almodóvar and Buñuel’s surrealism, Carlos Saura was the Spanish auteur. Speaking on behalf of a long-repressed, newly liberated people — Franco’s regime would soon fall —, Saura is widely known for his dance films (Carmen, Bodas de Sangre). However, Cría Cuervos… is his definite masterpiece — one of my favorites.
Released in 1976, the film is a haunting portrayal of an equally haunting child: 8-year-old Ana, who has recently lost both parents. Armed with unusual grieving methods and a stoic persona, Ana’s tale unfolds within the seemingly haunted Madrid mansion she calls home. Enclosed from the outside world yet willingly (overtly) exposed to adult situations, it soon becomes clear that Ana’s situation mirrors that of Francoist Spain: silently clawing its way out. Ravens, if you will, vengeful and needy.
Featuring outstanding performances by both Ana Torrent and an ethereal Geraldine Chaplin, this drama is nothing short of perfection. In the vein of his musical career, Saura masterly uses the impact tunes such as “¡Hay, Maricruz!” and Jeanette’s “Porque te vas” have had on Spaniards to his advantage. Incidentally, the latter also uniquely fits the narrative: much like the singer, Ana’s mom’s voice is accented, soothing and Anglican.
Reasons for my loving this film are long and varied: the stunning cinematography (color palette, editing); tremendous acting; and heartfelt (if not subtly political and allegorical) message, for which it wholeheartedly deserves a spot on any film enthusiast’s must-watch list. Do I recommend it? My honest answer is no. This film evokes struggling portraiture, thus falling under the category of art house, a portrayal I feel not many would appreciate. Nevertheless, it would be wise to give this story a chance, if not for its content, then perhaps for its expertly mapped out trajectory of a nation emerging from the shadows. “Cría cuervos y te sacarán los ojos.”
Christian, I found Agora a bit disappointing. For an Amenabar film, I was expecting more. The story is one that needed to be told and the principal actors are excellent in their parts. However, I found it a bit superficial , as it didn’t explore fully the importance of this woman, who was able to enter the world of knowledge and men at a time when this was virtually impossible.
Blog Comment #1: Agora Critique
With the dawn of the 21st century a decade behind us we have seen the world to through many amazing things. From catastrophic disasters to miracles in medicine and advancement in technology, we could say that the world has come a long way. However, many things still plague us as well, and continue to do so to this day. The spreader of hate, the starter of wars, and the cause of most the pain and anguish in the world, ignorance. If ever there were a better movie to comment on the topic it would be Agora.
Story wise, a flawless drama, the film focuses on one woman’s struggle to the understand the secrets that the universe has in store, while simultaneously commenting on the simplistic nature of homosapiens. Truly, demonstrating both sides of man’s coin; our innate uriosity of the unknown and our potential for destruction. Mans quest for higher purpose, but the unfortunate truth that we are still animals.
Not only was this movie a five star story, but also a visual masterpiece and an example of great acting. However, personally, some of the crying scenes regarding the male cast did seem a little forced amuse and mad the scene amusing rather than dramatic. Regardless, Agora remains an excellent critique of the human condition, an excellent cinematic experience, and a film that I would highly recommend any one to watch.