Disney Troubles

I never realized the drama that went into making films. After reading Unwanted: Studio chief job at Disney, my eyes were opened to the amount of effort that goes into just hiring someone to be the chief of the films. Equally as surprising was how undesirable this job is. The author proves how Disney is becoming separated with all the film divisions and how this Studio chief job is not the dream job for most as one would expect.

                Reading this article made me feel like the innocence of Disney is becoming a think of the past. I remember as a child that Disney was pretty much Disney there weren’t many divisions; I even remember when there was only one Disney Channel. Now it seems like there are so many divisions of Disney that it does not surprise me that no one wants to try to be the chief.

Yet another

How is it that Nicholas Sparks's novels continue to become movies? In general they are all very similar. While reading "'The Lucky One' Is Exactly What YouExpect" I couldn't help but agree with the author's argument that this film is very similar to other Sparks's novels that have been turned into films. From what the author tells this Film sounds a lot like Dear John. A soldier that falls in love but either side of the love has some problem that the lover tries to fix. The author states “It hardly seems worth running down the clichés that make the Nicholas Sparks formula so annoying and so profitable”. I couldn’t agree more. There should almost be a genre made for Nicholas Sparks novels, the broken soul and the love story that fixes it. Needless to say I will not be going to see this movie.

For the love of Jersey

I am both embarrassed and proud to say that I love watching Jersey Shore. However reading ”Why I'm Not Watching Jersey Shore (Anymore)” , I understand better why nearly all of my friends made fun of me for watching.  The article states that Jersey Shore does not have much variation. The go to the gym, do laundry, tan, pretend to work and get drunk. This very unchanging plot could cause a view to become bored with the show, as the author of this article does. However, the article also states how this unchanging plot may be what incises people to watch.  This is very true for me. I loved watching Jersey Shore because you were almost guaranteed with every episode for something stupidly humorous to occur.  You didn’t have to think about what was funny about Snooki in a Bunny Costume, you just laugh about it. 

                The article states that the character’s ways are unchanging and that makes them seem unread. I disagree, I think their consistency makes them seem more real. This article was written when the 2 season of Shore was beginning. My feelings on the consistency and realness of the characters could be due to multiple more seasons of watching the characters.

Response to Where Soldiers Come From

"Where Soldiers Come From" is a documentary about the lives of 3 friends who joined the National Guard together. They did this for money, for loyalty and friendship. The film shows the civilian life, war life and their difficult transition back into civilian life.

I enjoyed this documentary; it showed the real effects of war both at home and on the fighting line. Also I was able to make a connection with the characters. I know quite a few people who have joined the armed forces and their reasoning for joining were much like the boys in this film. They needed money and wanted to get out of the small town. However, I didn't like how they mainly focused on the negative effects of war. War is an ugly thing with long lasting effects, however without fighting for our rights and freedom we would have a queen instead of a president. I don't believe that everything that our country is doing overseas is pointless, as the film alluded to. I wish they would have shown more positive things of the war, though I understand that with the injuries that characters experienced positive thinking would be difficult to do.

Screening Report

                The beginning of the war starts at the Engagement party, during chapter 5 .The speeches are given and the maid of Honor, Anne is called to the stage. Anne gives a short, appropriate speech wishing Lillian and Doug a life of happiness.  Immediately following Anne’s speech Helen takes the stand, without an introduction, and begins speaking directly to Lil. This begins the war between Anne and Helen for Lillian’s friendship and the coveted maid of honor position. Helen begins telling intimate stories of her time with Lillian and uses inside jokes, trying to prove that she’s a better friend to Lillian.  As Helen states “Lillian you my best friend”, the shot goes directly to Anne. A very close shot showing her emotions of anger and the need to compete. The shot doesn’t go directly into her eyes rather it shows Anne clearly looking at Helen on stage. Anne combats Helen’s  speech reminding that Lillian and her are lifelong friends, like sisters and by clearly stating that she is the maid of honor “even though you had other choices”  as  Anne looks to the crowd, the audience can infer that she means Helen.  Helen then combats Anne’s “lifelong friends  speech” with stating that is rare to meet someone in adult hood that you can connect with so well, she is trying to show their mature friendship, and then attempts to make herself look superior by telling stories about extravagant trips and speaking in different languages. During her speech Anne keeps glaring at Lil with a look of disgust. Anne takes the stage again to go back to the her child hood with Lil and speaks in broken Spanish, which her and Lil took together in high school. The speech scene ends with a off tune singing of a song which neither of the girls end willingly.

                This fight presents the conflict that goes on for the majority of the film. Anne and her childhood with Lil vs. Helen with her adult friendship and money.

Favorite Movie

My favorite movie is Sweet Home Alabama. I'm normally do not really enjoy love stories, however I really enjoy this movie. My enjoyment of this movie comes from the good values of the film and my ability to connect with it. The majority of the film takes place in a small town setting. This setting reminds me a lot of the town I am from. Sweet Home Alabama really shows the one good and plaguing thing about small towns, you'll get away but something will always bring you back. This thing that brings Mel (Reese Witherspoon) back is true love, a love not based on money and politics. Mel's true love is defined though a love conflict between her hometown high school sweetheart and the rich big town politician. Everyone can guess that in the end the high school sweetheart wins. The cultural elements in this film are really great. It shows how love has evolved from a true emotion to something having to do increasingly more with money and status. Also, it shows the strength of small towns.

Aside from all the connections I can make and the good morals of the movie, I also really love the comedy. Some of my sisters and my favorite lines from films come from Sweet Home Alabama. "What did they run out of soap down at the Local Piggily Wiggly?" "Your hoyde toydee Yankee B***h and I'd like nothing more than to piss you off" I just love it, the simple comedy is perfect. The actors are also perfect for this film, Reese Witherspoon the queen of all chick flicks and Patrick Dempse the American hotty perfectly contrasted with the sexy yet simple Josh Lucas.

 Sweet Home Alabama is the perfect combination of morals, comedy and love.

The Believeing Game: For Jersey Shore

Jersey Shore, aside from many arguments is a humorous entertaining show. It shows a the ultimate life for a teen, party, tan and workout. These simple elements of their life along with the characters witty and sometime dumb personalities create many humorous events. “ I want to go as long in the tanning bed as a can twice” and Pauly D “Burns his face off”. The witty personalities of the characters make this event that normally would be rather depressing into something humorous.  I cannot disagree that some actions of  Gudios and Guidettes  are inappropriate, however  if you look beyond that you can see a strong family base which is a good role model for every teen. Jersey Shore is a show of simple humor.