The Hurt Locker

I thought this movie was very good but I didn't like it.  Now, that may not make a lot of sense but this is what I mean:

The actors did a fantastic job and the movie itself was well portrayed but the film as a whole was too heavy for me.  War really freaks be out and having to watch all of those suspenseful scenes bothered me a lot.  The movie made me feel sick through most of it and I thought the characters were very interesting.  I was shocked that he went back to war after having to deal with what we witnessed throughout the movie.  

I think the hurt locker symbolizes emotional pain.  Having to deal with what these men went through was physically and emotionally exhausting.  I don't understand how they were able to make it through without losing their minds.  The locker room is a place where men bond but in war, these men grow close with one another through unimaginable pain and hardships.  Personally, thats what I think "hurt locker" means.  

Captain Phillips

I have nothing bad to say about this movie.  I thought it was very well portrayed and I liked it a lot.  It was very suspenseful and you never really knew what was going to happen next.  I was at the edge of my seat until the last five minutes of the movie.  The acting was incredible and the emotion of the film was very raw and powerful.  It will have a lasting impression on me.  I learned a lot from this movie, things that I didn't know before.  I would completely recommend this film to others, I think a lot of people would enjoy it as much as I did

Argo

I loved the movie, I was the one who forced everyone to watch it!! It was very suspenseful to watch and I would totally recommend it to others.  This movie is very significant.  It gives us insight on how we deal with certain situations in the United States.  Although this movie was suppose to portray a serious event in history, it was funny at the same time.  I loved that about the film

Parkland

I finally finished it!!! I really really liked the movie.  I was very anxious during the entire film but I liked it a lot.  It was very powerful to watch and it will have a lasting impression on me.  I learned a lot more about the assassination of JFK than I knew before and it was very interesting.  I would totally recommend this movie to others.  I made my mom watch it with me and she loved it just as much as I did!!! My favorite part of the film was Zac Efron of course. But all in all, great film

Apollo 13

I thought this movie was awesome.  The acting was incredible and this event in history was portrayed very well throughout the entire film.  The characters emotions seemed very real and I was able to relate to them.  All of the different aspects of the film was very interesting and I liked that I was able to learn a little bit more about space and all of the effort that goes into sending people to the moon.  It was also cool to see how they came up with different things to help them survive.  It was so different from any other movie I've seen and I liked it a lot.  I have no bad things to say about it. 

I do think this level of funding should continue.  The more we discover about space, the more we are able to understand the Earth we live in.  Our planet is just a small aspect of the bigger picture.  Space goes on and on and if we have the right amount of funding, there are so many different things we can discover.  Learning more about space isn't damaging our us, it is helping us.  

I think that worrying about what other countries are doing is just going to create too many problems.  Yes, there should be a little competition but we should focus on our goals rather than try to beat out other countries.  I think that is the most important.  I think the United States,  is doing the best they can involving space and space travel.  Its a very dangerous journey.  We have still had the ability to discover so many other amazing things.  This is just the beginning of what we are going to learn.  

The Pianist

The movie was very hard to watch.  There were many emotional and traumatic scenes in the movie and it was filled a lot of heavy and heart wrenching material.  This movie will have a lasting impression on me.  Not only because it was so inspiring to watch his story and have him survive but because this is apart of my background.  I know that sounds kinda emotional, but I have family and family friends who have personally lived through this and watching what happens makes it more real to me.  

I think that Hosenfeld saw faith in Szpilman.  He survived over two years in hiding when so many people were being found, tortured, and killed every day.  There is something admirable about what he accomplished.  He never gave up and he always kept fighting.  Szpilman lost everything and Hosenfeld was aware of that.  I think the piece he chose to play spoke to Hosenfeld making him want to see Szpilman survive.  There are many people who were apart of the Nazi party.  Some joined because they didn't want to be ridiculed, ohers for work, and some because they genuinely did not like the jews.  I think that deep down, Hosenfeld felt that what they were doing was wrong and never really had a chance to show his true feelings until he found Szpilman on his own.  If he was followed by others, I don't think Szpilman would have survived that day by the piano.  I think that Szpilman realized that there was something different with Hosenfeld because unlike many others, he didn't kill or harm him right then and there.  He allowed Szpilman to show him what he was capable of and prove that he was not a waste of breath.  

Defiance

I LOVED Defiance.  I thought the entire movie was so inspiring and so interesting to watch.  The entire film was filled with emotion and I couldn't look away.  My favorite character was scholarly man.  He unfortunately died at the end of the movie while trying to throw a bomb but he attacked my interest the most. I learned that nothing is more important than helping those in need and doing whatever it takes to succeed and end up victorious.  Although there were many lives lost along the way, 1200 Jews were saved and hundreds of thousands were born as a result.  

Nazi Germany at the time was set out to kill every Jew.  What Tuvia means by "our revenge is to live" is that if they live and aren't killed, they overcame what the Nazis were trying to do.  Their revenge is to live because all the Nazi's wanted to do was to torture them and put them through hell.  Having them live, causes the Nazi's to fail. 

I do think that humanity and revenge can coexist.  It is only human to want revenge.  If harm is inflicted on you or those you love, it is only natural to want to get back at them.  People have weaknesses and if they are emotionally or physically harmed, they will want to inflict the same pain on the people who did the same to them. Revenge is an act of humanity.  Sometimes its good and sometimes its bad.  It really depends on what kind of revenge a person is trying to take.  The best revenge, in my opinion, is proving someone wrong and that is exactly what the brothers did.  They proved to the Nazis  that they aren't weak and that they can rise above. 

The Godfather

I did not like this movie.  It was very interesting to watch and seeing these famous actors at such a young age was very interesting to me.  But, I would not choose to watch this film again. I’m glad I finally was able to see the movie because how popular it is. I learned from this film that family is most important and that we should always keep our word. Although it was gruesome and filled with a lot of unethical acts, I feel that the moral of this story is love and family.  The events of this movie came from the Corleone’s  need to protect themselves and the ones they love.  I wouldn’t recommend this film to others but I know the majority of people who have seen this movie LOVE it.  The only reason I didn’t like this movie is because this sort of stuff doesn't interest me.  The concept and acting was great but I just wasn’t very interested

Vito Corleone is the moral center of the film because he always kept his word.  Whenever someone needed help, he never lied and always asked for something in return, their loyalty and friendship.  He had many connections and always tried to please the ones he loved.  He held a lot of power but didn’t abuse it.  He is also the moral center of this family was most important to him.  He always put his loved ones before himself and I find that admirable.  I think that after dying in the tomato plants, he became part of the world.  I feel that it symbolized that he was still there, with his family although he could not be there in person.  I don’t think that a “giant” passed because Vito Corleone, in my opinion, was not a giant.  He loved and he lost and he expressed his emotions throughout the entire movie.

I’m not very educated on organized crime but from watching this movie, I feel that what I have heard was very dramatized compared to how the “business” actually runs.  Yes, there were some gruesome events but before seeing this movie I thought of these people as heartless and uncaring.  After watching this movie, however, my mind has changed.  Some of the things that these families did were awful, but that’s what makes the world go round.  Without crime, how do we know if we’re following the rules? There needs to be a balance of crime and those who follow the laws because without one or the other, our entire system would be thrown off.  I do think that the way this movie is portrayed is what makes the movie such a classic.  It is so different from any other film I’ve seen and I think a lot of people enjoy that.  I do think it should be considered a classic because it is so original and unique.  Although I didn’t like the movie,  I respect everything about it.

Miracle on Ice

I really enjoyed the movie.  There was nothing in the movie that I didn't really like, I thought it was portrayed very well and the actors chosen to play the parts did a great job.  It was very emotional to watch and it made me feel very proud to be an American.  I learned that miracles can happen and to never doubt yourself.  You never know what can happen and as long as you try hard to achieve your goals, that's all that matters. I would completely recommend this movie to others, in fact, just the other day, I was telling my parents that we were watching the film in class and the next day they were watching it together.  I think that the moral applies to everything today.  Miracles CAN happen, as long as you try hard and do well, good things can result.  

This movie is very important and represents the patriotism in America.  This event was a shocker to all and it brought the country together.  People were in distress, many ugly events have occurred or was occurring during the time and Americans weren't in a happy place.  After this miraculous win, however, things turned around.  A new hope was found and people came together instead of pulling apart.  

9/11 is an event in my lifetime that has a similar impact on America.  Although it was a horrible tragedy rather than a glorious win, the country came together.  Almost everyone around the United States dropped everything to help those in need.  This was a time in our countries history where extreme patriotism was shown.  The loss and destruction was horrible but the love and comfort people gave to other was incredible.  What happened shouldn't have happened, but how our country rallied together in this time of despair created an ever lasting bond between the American public.  

42

I know I've said this about every movie we've watched so far but I LOVED this movie.  I watched it with my dad last night and we both thought it was awesome.  They way the story was portrayed and the actors in the film really made it incredible.  It was full of emotion and excitement.  I do think Jackie Robinson helped this country.  Baseball is America's past time.  He was the first black man to be on a professional baseball team which opened the door for more people to join.  He faces scrutiny and danger but was courageous throughout.  Jackie Robinson stood his ground and didn't let anyone take  him down.  He opened the eyes of many people and helped to make the most stubborn people accept him and others.  This was a large step in overcoming the segregation faced by people of this time and it continued to better the country.  I think that we can learn from Jackie Robinson, with the courage, strength, and drive to accomplish his dreams, that anything is possible.  He was one of the most hated men in the country at that time and was able to change the way we play baseball and the way we treat other people forever.  I would use his values to better myself and people around me.  He never hurt anyone, although he was mentally and physically hurt himself.  He kept his cool and never gave up.  I think that the quote means that your life doesn't mean anything unless you try your best to influence someone else and to do better.  I completely agree with this quote.  Living life not trying to help others and impact their lives isn't really living.  We should do whatever we can to help other people. 

Cinderella Man

I haven’t ever wondered why we call certain events “Cinderella Stories” but I have always been curious as to why this movie is called “Cinderella Man”.  After watching the movie I have come to conclude that the meaning behind the title is because the story is so miraculous.  James Braddock came from being a washed up boxer struggling to get by to winning the championship. No one really believed he could do it and he succeeded.  It was a miracle.  I loved the story, it is my favorite movie we have watched so far.  It was upsetting and happy at the same time and thats what made the movie so exciting.  I did like James Braddock, he overcame many obstacles to achieve his goals.  Many people still live in poverty which is a large issue in our country and around the world.  The issues are different today because we aren’t in a depression but there are still people who are struggling to get by.  Our children will probably face similar issues.  Everyone is going to struggle in one way or another. 

I would totally steal is my family hadn’t eaten in a week or if my family’s ability to stay together depended on it.  I do agree that stealing is bad an unethical, but if I were put in that situation I wouldn’t think twice about it.   

I think that it was insensitive of the filmmaker to alter the like of Max Baer so much but I also think it added a lot to the movie.  You need a villain to create conflict and without a villain, a movie can be lacking certain aspects.  I don’t think it really takes away from the story of James Braddock.  It does alter a few little things but if anything, it took away from Max Baer which is unfair.  They should at least added extra information in the end to show who he really was.  

When Braddock went into Madison Square Garden to beg, I wanted to cry.  It was such an emotional and powerful scene to watch.  It takes a lot of guts to go up to certain people and ask them for help.  James Braddock had a lot of pride and it must have taken a tremendous amount of curious for him to ask.  I think that it shows he isn’t afraid to ask for help.  He was in a time where he couldn’t do anything to save himself and his family and he did what he could think of to help himself.  I think it is admirable.  Everyone was struggling but many were too scared to ask for help.  Braddock was in a tough situation and the extra money helped him a lot.  He had the courage to go up to all of these men who are much wealthier than he was and ask for money.  That’s inspiring.  In the story of Cinderella, she was a poor washed up girl and everyone treated her like she was nothing.  Similar to James Braddock, he was a poor man trying to get by and help his family but everyone looked down upon him.  Like Cinderella, he did everything in his power to over come the obstacles that have been holding in back.

Tombstone

Personally, I loved the movie! I thought the characters who were chosen to play each part did a great job.  The mustaches were a little odd, but I understand that they were meant to portray a certain time!! It was cool to see Dana Delaney in a different part other than Desperate Housewives and its always good to see John Corbett. Doc Holiday was my favorite part of the film, his character was so interesting to watch.  It will for sure have a lasting impression on me because its so different from any other movie I’ve seen in a while.  I don’t think it applies to anything today but it did have a lot of influence on how our country is run.  I would totally recommend this to other! I think that there are certain things that make an event legendary.  For example, an event that is legendary must have a lasting impact on the country and the people who were there to witness it.  It must be something huge for people to recognize it and talk about it after the fact.  I think that anyone can be a legend.  If someone makes an impact and stories are told about them after they die, that’s legendary in my opinion.  Even if it’s a normal, average, every day kind of person.  These kind of people can become legends in all sorts of ways.  I think that the events in Tombstone are legendary as well as the Earp brothers and their friends.  They’re still talked about today and that is what makes them legendary.  The Wild West appeals to me in many ways.  It is so different from todays society and the clothes that were warn look like costumes.  Its very cool to see how far we’ve come and how much has changed.  

Glory

My favorite part of the movie was the growing bond between Shaw and the other men.  It was very heartwarming to watch and it seemed very genuine.  I disliked the amount of loss and devastation in the movie.  It’s understandable though because the movie is suppose to portray real life events and I think it did a good job at doing so.  The movie made me proud to see how far our country has come and the obstacles we have overcome since.  My favorite character was Denzel Washington’s character.  I feel like he played his part very well and made a lasting impression on me.  It was extremely emotional to see his character progress throughout the movie.  I have learned that there will always be fighting in one way or another but there will always be success as well and as long as we get good results from the bad, then I think we’re doing a decent job.  I think that others would really enjoy this film because it does relate to world events today.  We are still experiencing racism and discrimination and taking a look on the past will help us to better understand the present.  Themes of this movie, in my opinion is freedom, friendship, and growth.

People are willing to die for their country because they have so much faith in what our country, as a whole, can do.  One person can do big things and the more people step up, bigger and better things can result.  Our country gives us many opportunities that others don’t and most people value that a lot.  I think that the men of the 54th Massachusetts are heros as well as Shaw.  They risked their lives to better our country and without them, our country would be much different.  

The significance of the story is that the 54th is the first all black group of men who fought in a war.  The leadership of the 54th was very important as well because it showed that people were starting to look at these men as equals and friends rather than beneath them.

My Introduction

Hi, My name is Sydney!

•  A word that describes me would be loud.  Sometime I don't know when to be quiet.  It's a problem. 
• I love to bake, after college I wan't to go to culinary school. 
• My favorite thing about school is socializing and getting to do activities like this!
• I don't like tests! I have some anxiety issues. 
• I like friendly and funny teachers.  Someone who isn't afraid to tell it like it is but is also very understanding and relatable.  
• It really depends on the history I'm learning! I'm very excited for this class, that's for sure. 

I am both proud and disappointed in humanity.  I think there are many things that could be fixed but I also think that we have come a long way.  The way our world works right now is very different than what it was like in years past. Although we are still facing discrimination, racism, and a lot of other horrible issues, most of us have taken steps to better the world.  People were more skeptical of certain things years ago.  As time has gone on and as more things have been discovered and proven, most people have found a common ground and understanding of the events that happen in this world.  There is always going to be conflict.  There cannot be peace without conflict.  But every day there are steps made to better a little part of this world.  Progress has been made.  There are some people who I do disagree with, but there are others I admire.  There is still a lot of work to be made and nothing is ever perfect.  There is always going to someone, or a group of people who disagree with others.  Thats how the world works, but the success we have seen and the steps taken to improve our world is very impressive in my eyes.