The Godfather

This movie left me feeling not as satisfied as I thought it would.  When I heard we were watching the classic Godfather I was excited because I've never seen it and always heard from my dad how great it was and how much I would like it.  I think the reputation that it has excited me but I felt let down. After watching the film, I felt as though I didn't really like it because it was really hard for me to follow along.  The characters within each family were hard to place and I feel like I needed a character map to straighten it all out. Also, some of the scenes were pointless and the movie was dragged out way to long. I thought the acting by Don Corleone was really amazing, he played the part well and I think the action was acted out well.  I enjoyed the movie in a sense that it was told from the inside point of view rather than a narrator.  That was kind of interesting because it isn't often I watch movies about that and organized crime.  The ending of the movie kind of took me by surprise because after the Don died I felt the movie should have ended there. Overall, I wasn't in love with it but I didn't hate it.  I liked the idea being organized crime I think thats pretty cool but it was hard to follow at some points, but the explanations given in class certainly helped.

The Don Corleone was the center of the film because he was the real Godfather.  He was the head of the Corleone family and was in charge of taking care of people and protecting his family,  and also offering them deals that people couldn't resist.  The whole movie revolved around the Don because people were trying to protect him and his children and to protect his "throne" as godfather.  I think after he died, which in the movie also surprised me that he died so simply and not some dramatic hollywood way, the world was a better place.  Don Corleone caused most of the feuds within the other 5 families and caused deaths of his own child and the Tatalgia's as well. Instead of the movie there though his son Michael took over and continued the legacy of the godfather. I think once he died people took it as a breath of fresh air to not have to fear him and deal with him if they needed something because he was hard to deny.

Going into this film, I didn't know much about organized crime.  I have never really thought about it and pondered how could crime be organized because it's illegal.  This differs from many of the movies that I have seen because none are really told form the insides point of view.  I thought that was really unique and different and showed what really went on in organized crime.  I think this is what makes the movie a so called classic.  Being that people watch mostly movies where there's characters and then a narrator telling the story really made this movie stand out in a way because of who was telling it.  I think the movie is definitely a classic because of the way its told and the unique topic of organized crime.  I think thats why so many people love the movie because it's not like everyday stuff we see in theaters.  

Miracle On Ice

Overall, I think this film was my favorite so far.  I really enjoyed the plot and I felt I was really engaged in the movie the entire time.  Also, I enjoyed how we watched this film that had to do with the olympics right as the time the olympics today are going on and that our mens hockey team has done so well thus far.  I think the film was pretty predictable that USA would defeat USSR but I still think it was exciting and the coach of USA made it really interesting.  I think without the coach being who he was the movie may not have been as interesting.  The role of the coach played a major role to see the hardships and challenges the team had to work through to achieve greatness.  I think one of the overlaying themes was to never give up.  Even if chances are slim to keep working as a team and you can get through anything.  I have already recommended this film to several classmates and to my family to watch at home.

Miracle on Ice took place right as the height of the Cold War and the despair of the 1970's.  The country was feeling gloomy after several hostages in Iraq and this event was definitely a pick me up feeling.  The olympics was going on and the US formed a hockey team of collegiant level players that had to face several rounds of tryouts that were very difficult to preserver through.  The coach of this team was a strict yet intelligent coach.  He knew how to win and would do anything to get his team the gold.  Despite the hardships of drilling and skating till players felt sick they worked hard and even faced some injures but nothing could bring this team down.  After defeating the USSR 4-3 with an exciting goal at the end to get the lead the team held of the Soviets to win which was a rare occasion. After that game beating Finland was the outcome of the olympics to win the gold medal.  This film was important and shows how teamwork could get you through the hardest things in life like going through injuries, relationship problems etc.  Nothing stood in the way of this team.


Being that I'm still so young in life the only experience that I think was similar to having such an impact on American lives was the terrorist attack on 9/11.  This event was so tragic and upsetting to American's around the country and brought together people to unite and stand up to help those suffering from a lost one.  Although I was so young when this event happened I think 9/11 had a powerful impact on America by changing airport security and having more homeland security.  I think this impacted American's in a similar way to Miracle because it made people come together to face a goal and comfort those who need it.

42

42 was my favorite movie that we have watched so far.  I thought it was all around a fantastic film.  I think the quality and the purpose of the film was right on point with what actually happened when Jackie Robinson played baseball during that time period.  I thought the symbol of Jackie Robinson was bigger than himself. During the movie I would find myself so absorbed in the movie that at times when Jackie was hurting I would feel the same way.  I think the producers and film makers of this movie did an incredible job with portraying the events and struggles that took place when Jackie was trying to play ball.   I really enjoyed watching this movie and have already recommended it to several family members and friends.

Without a question Jackie Robinson helped this country.  Robinson had such a positive aspect on our country that in fact he broke the color barrier in baseball.   The viewers who watched this film got so many messages out of it like motivation, commitment, courage, and teamwork.  Jackie Robinson playing baseball was legendary because not only did he achieve his dreams of playing pro baseball, but helped so many Americans in the future who went through similar things.  Jackie taught millions of Americans so many valuable lessons on how to stick through things and that it could change the world forever.  By breaking this barrier, and for him to play baseball served as a goal as many African Americans to no longer accept that they can't play with the white guys and that they deserved the same treatment and equality as everyone else.


Jackie Robinson has such incredible values that were portrayed in the movie that affect my life too.  The one value that sticks out to me the most is persistence.  Jackie literally and figuratively faced many curve balls throughout this whole experience and not once did he give up and just walk away from his dreams.  Even though so many times did he want to give up he knew he couldn't and fought through to finally be accepted on a team and be accepted by the community of others.  Another great value that effects me is courage.  Jackie had to commit several acts of courage to do what he did.  Being hit with balls and sworn at day after day takes a lot of courage for someone to get back up and keep going.  Not everyone can plow through the negativity like Jackie did and that will forever be memorable to me.  The next time I have to face a challenge I will definitely think of the times when Jackie struggled and wanted to give up but with courage and perseverance achieved greatness.


The quote, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." to me means that each individual was put on this earth to help someone else and not be selfish with the things we are given but to help everyone in need.  I strongly agree with this statement because I think it is important to have an impact on other people.  Selfishness is unfortunate that we have in our world but to help other people be happy and healthy what greater accomplishment in life is there?  I think by helping other people eventually good things will come to you.  Helping others in time of need is what we were made to do. 

Cinderella Man

At first I was confused as to why this film is title the way it is.  Later on after pondering the title a little more I think a "Cinderella Man" is someone who starts off with nothing and with hard work and dedication finally moves up to a better life or standard of living.  This is the case with James because at first the movie starts and the Great Depression has seem to really affect his home life.  Especially having to send his children away to make sure they are fed and kept warm.  James and his family go through many struggles throughout the entire film battling to survive on very little. As the film progresses James turns into more of a  Cinderella Man through the fights he does and makes money so he can provide a better place for his children and wife.  I really liked this movie and thought it sent several good messages to people.  One of the messages that I came across that was really powerful is how Braddock family had very little and was still able to remain happy and tried to have a positive attitude on life.  This film was a roller coaster ride for me because of the emotions and the events that took place where the family was struggling to survive then finally made it and had enough money to eat and live in their home.  In the movie the "handouts" were given and people were embarrassed to take them because it was a sign of defeat.  I think that connects with today's world because many people chose to suffer and not get help from the government for things like welfare and food stamps because they think it is looked down upon or embarrassing so to speak.  Knowing that history repeats itself, hopefully in my children's life a depression doesn't occur because by that time what if our government has no money to help people and offer relief to those in need. Overall, I thought this was a real feel good movie and made me realize how important it is to love your family ad be there for them even in the hardest of times.  

Desperate times call for desperate measures is one belief that I will always carry with me.  If my family hadn't eaten in a week and they were getting sick and needed food or else they could possibly not survive I honestly think I would steal for them.  However, I believe stealing is not morally correct by any means but in a situation like this where someones life depends on it then yeah I would go out of my way to steal to make sure my family is fed and could remain alive until eventually they would have enough money to buy food themselves and they could repay the store or person they stole from.  On any other circumstance I would definitely not do this but as I said desperate times call for desperate measures.

I could easily understand why Max's family would be so upset about portraying his character as a villain.  However, Hollywood now a days usually a good story has a villain in it.  Unfortunately, Max Baer had gone through trauma with dealing with how an opponent died in the ring with him.  Most movies now have a hero and a villain and for James to be a hero Max had to be the villain.  I do think it's unfortunate that Max had to play this role considering what he was going through previously, but film making is film making people are going to produce what people want to see.  I don't think it took away from James story in any way I felt maybe if producers knew that if Max was going through a hard time they could have easily picked another boxer to play the character and the movie would be just the same.  I don't think Max himself had that big of an impact as much as the villain character plays a role in the movie.

I think the scene when Braddock goes into Madison Square Garden to beg for money from the same people who wanted to end his boxing career portrayed a lot about his character.  I think it was an admirable thing to do because it shows how in times of need Braddock will go to anyone who can help provide for himself and most importantly to him, his wife and kids.  I think Braddock asking for money was in no shape embarrassing at this point.  People were in desperate need for money or some sort of relief just to maybe get by. The country was in a state of depression of course Braddock should ask for help if he wants his family to be able to live in their house and to be able to have dinner on the table.  I think this scene helped define how Braddock is a cinderella man because he started from the bottom with nothing having to ask the same people who were out to end his boxing career for money and then eventually boxes and comes to the top and has money to provide for himself and his family and doesn't have to ask them anymore.  Starting from the bottom and coming to the top shows how Braddock became a cinderella man especially in this scene where he was in desperate need of relief but eventually succeeds in his boxing career to no longer need the help from people he usually would never ask for help from.

Tombstone

This movie in my opinion was a disappointment.  When I heard we were watching a movie about the wildest I was excited because I don't know much about that time period.  However, I found this movie to over exaggerate the content of which the film was based on.  I felt like events and battles like the last significant battle was too far fetched to be true to what the old west was like.  I found the movie to be confusing because the characters sounded and looked alike.  Although, I found the movie hard to follow I think the characters Doc Holiday and Wyatt were good actors and portrayed their character well.  I don' think many themes were present throughout the entire movie as much as I feel it was for entertainment.  I would recommend this movie to someone who has lots of prior knowledge to old west and is interested in guns and that sort of thing.  Even though I didn't enjoy this film as much as the others I still think the plot was decent and somewhat entertaining.  I just think the switching between characters being cowboys and always being drunk was a bit confusing because I could never tell what character was being real and what character was drunk.  I think this film would have interested me more if I could follow along better and if I knew more about the wildest before watching.


A legend is someone who is a well known/liked person that succeeds in efforts of what they're trying to accomplish.  I think an event that is legendary is something that many people will carry with them and remember this event and pass it on to the many generations to come.  I don't think any event was legendary or any person in particular was a legend because I felt it didn't have much significance in history.  Maybe this time period was important in American history but I felt the story and its characters were not legendary.  To me, if something is legendary you will remember it always and it made a lasting impact on me.  I didn't think any events or characters really made me feel that way in which I would remember them and think back about them.  When I think of the wild west I think of guns and cowboys.  However, this subject does not intrigue me as much as other history topics do.  I would like to know more about the wild west and what it really was like instead of the glorified movie version.  The wild west is definitely something people from that time period will always remember but I'm curious as we grow as a generation will the wild west have that much of an influence of American society today as did other events in history like the American Revolution, Enlightenment, and also the civil war.

Glory

I really enjoyed the movie "Glory", and thought it had a lot of value about the 54th regiment.  I felt the movie did a great job of portraying the fact that blacks were unequal during this time period, and that even during times of war there was still racism present.  I think the movie did a wonderful job showing how even though blacks were still thought of as unequals that they were able to participate in combat led by Matthew Broderick.  I think the way the movie was casted was perfect to who the characters were in the movie.  I really enjoyed watching Morgan Freeman in the movie as a black Sgt. because that isn't the usual role he plays in movies.   However, at first I had mixed feelings about Col. Robert Gould Shaw, because he was treating the black soldiers poorly and with little respect. As the movie progressed I realized that this man was a hero and did amazing things mentally and physically for these black soldiers who were fighting in war.  I realized that he truly gave these guys a chance to be the soldiers he knew they could be and for them to be successful in combat.  The movie made me feel like I was taken back into that time period when prejudice was an issue and made me realize that how big of a deal the 54th regiment really was. I thought the movie was really interesting and gave me a lot of information I had no idea about regarding the 54th regiment.  


All throughout history you hear about men and women who served their country at great risk to their own lives and who died as a result.  I think people are willing to die for their country because many Americans have a sense of patriotism and feel so deeply connected to America that they are willing to do anything, even die, to preserve our country.  I think the people of our army are all heroes because every day they put their life on the line for millions of Americans in order to protect the people and our nation as a whole.  In "Glory" I feel that Shaw is definitely a hero.  Although, he was skeptical at first of blacks fighting and partaking in military forces, but realized he could really do something for these people to give them the chance to die for their country.  Shaw armed these men and gave them the knowledge the black soldiers needed to fight for their country.  I also think the men of the 54th Mass. regiment are all heroes.  During this time period when there is severe racism and prejudice surrounding the world and these men are still willing to fight for the white men who don't ever want to give them a chance.  These members of the 54th want to give up their lives and fight for their freedom so how could they not be considered heroes.  They were ready with high hopes of winning battles and ready to fall for their country at any given moment.  I think the people who are willing to give up a part of them for their country should be considered heroes due to the fact they're so loyal to their country and to its citizens.  

This movie had a lot of significance because of the valuable events that took place throughout the story.  Just alone the 54th regiment had several significance in history. The first black army itself has a lot of importance as well.  The most significant part of the movie had nothing to do with the attack of Fort Wagner although they lost the lost Shaw, their leader.   Losing that battle was not the most important part of the story. The most valuable part was that these black soldiers were finally able to fight for their country and participate in combat.  Yes this battle was an important one but the people fighting in it were far more important than the actual battle itself.  I think the 54th regiment will always go down in history as one of the most remarkable things to happen in history.