If I had to choose another movie to view in English 339, it would have been the Godfather. This movie would have fit right in with many of the other films that have been viewed so far this semester. The main films it would have went well with were Goodfellas, Scarface, and even Double Indemnity. All of these films incorporate similar themes and have close story lines.
One of the main things that these films have in common is violence. There are murders in all four of these films. Godfather has many people die in it due to gang wars. Goodfellas is the same way in that people are killed because the gang needs it to be done. Scarface is another gangster film and involves many killings. Double Indemnity is the only film that is somewhat different. This film is not about gangs, but it does involve murder and violence.
The other thing that these films have in common is the use of cars. These films rely on scenes that use cars and there are many important happenings that occur in cars. All the films except for Scarface have murders take place in the car. Cars are almost used in every scene of these films, lots of driving around and talking.
These similarities combined with the fact that it is one of the most recognized movies of all time is reason enough to show Godfather in class. It is a film that most people can enjoy. Even though it is a gangsters flick, it is not bloody or gory at all. This film shows all aspects of the lives of gangsters: taking out rivals, running businesses, and family life. If I had to choose between Goodfellas and Godfather, I would choose the later. Most people would probably do the same.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Boyz In The Hood
Boyz in the Hood was a very interesting movie, in that it lesson being taught. This lesson was that violence and gangs were not the solution to your problems, the only way to get out of their horrible situation was through school and special talents like Ricky. While teaching this lesson the film was going through the lives of a few characters. Each of these kids had different roles. Some were gang members, athletes, or school smart. As the film went on, the audience was able to how their decisions affected their time in the hood and their futures.
I really enjoyed the mix of the characters, it showed with a small sample of people the options they have to get out of the hood. The variety of characters made it easy to understand the story and the situations that they were in. Although I did not like a few of the characters, such as Ricky and Doughboy's mom and the crackhead lady who let her kids wander the streets. These women were just sad to watch because they were not doing anything to help their kids have better lives. Ricky and Doughboy's mom just sat at home and did nothing and was going to tag along on Ricky's football career. The crackhead mother just wanted drugs and her kids meant nothing to her, this would just make it easier for these kids to get into trouble and get right back into the cycle.
In the introduction to the movie on Tuesday, I was under the impression that this movie would be all about gangs, especially the Bloods and the Crips. Although there were scenes with gangs, there were no mentions of the names. This movie was mostly about the struggle of the main three characters and their pursuit to get out of the hood and do something with their lives. The only thing that made me sad was Ricky getting shot. Other than that, the movie was pretty good.
I really enjoyed the mix of the characters, it showed with a small sample of people the options they have to get out of the hood. The variety of characters made it easy to understand the story and the situations that they were in. Although I did not like a few of the characters, such as Ricky and Doughboy's mom and the crackhead lady who let her kids wander the streets. These women were just sad to watch because they were not doing anything to help their kids have better lives. Ricky and Doughboy's mom just sat at home and did nothing and was going to tag along on Ricky's football career. The crackhead mother just wanted drugs and her kids meant nothing to her, this would just make it easier for these kids to get into trouble and get right back into the cycle.
In the introduction to the movie on Tuesday, I was under the impression that this movie would be all about gangs, especially the Bloods and the Crips. Although there were scenes with gangs, there were no mentions of the names. This movie was mostly about the struggle of the main three characters and their pursuit to get out of the hood and do something with their lives. The only thing that made me sad was Ricky getting shot. Other than that, the movie was pretty good.
Monday, April 5, 2010
English 341 Review
This class has probably been one of my favorites while I have been here at WSU. There hasn't been a day where I have not looked forward to going to this class. The books that we have had to read are interesting for the most part and the discussions are very entertaining to say the least.
Although I really enjoyed the class, I would have liked it if there had been more assignments or other things to do with the reading. I feel like this would have kept me and the others in the class on top of the reading and more willing to participate in class discussion. Another thing that could have made the class better was less chit chat from the ladies of the classroom, I know we were supposed to be discussing, but not what drinks we had over the weekend.
Other than that I really liked the class and could not have asked for more. You as the teacher were very helpful if we had questions and kept the mood of the classroom light which I appreciate. If I have friends who ask about this class I would definitely recommend it to them. But if I could make just one change, it would be to take out Almanac of the Dead, this book is very hard to get into and difficult to follow.
Although I really enjoyed the class, I would have liked it if there had been more assignments or other things to do with the reading. I feel like this would have kept me and the others in the class on top of the reading and more willing to participate in class discussion. Another thing that could have made the class better was less chit chat from the ladies of the classroom, I know we were supposed to be discussing, but not what drinks we had over the weekend.
Other than that I really liked the class and could not have asked for more. You as the teacher were very helpful if we had questions and kept the mood of the classroom light which I appreciate. If I have friends who ask about this class I would definitely recommend it to them. But if I could make just one change, it would be to take out Almanac of the Dead, this book is very hard to get into and difficult to follow.
Prison Writings
After reading this book, I have decided that I really like the layout. One of the things that I like about it is that at the beginning of the book it goes over the court case. This allows a reader who otherwise would not have known about Leonard Peltier and his story, to catch up and be able to go right into the actual book. It was nice having seen the film of this story in class, because I could get both sides of the story, instead of just the defendants side as is in the book.
Once the case is gone over at the front, it goes into the story after Peltier is convicted. Life did not seem very fun. It is hard to read Peltier's troubles in prison and then look at the picture of his cell. It is interesting to me that he can have so many personal belongings in his cell. From the looks of it, he is at a minimal security prison, which seems weird since he was charged with two counts of murder. To me it seems as if the government is saying here have a nice place to live since we screwed you over.
The main thing that won me over was the chronology in this story. I like it when a story is easy to follow and there is not a lot of hopping around. I really enjoyed these last two books more than the first three. I don't know if it is just me, but the picture of Peltier really reminds me of Ron Jeremy. It is just the long hair and the creepy mustache.
Once the case is gone over at the front, it goes into the story after Peltier is convicted. Life did not seem very fun. It is hard to read Peltier's troubles in prison and then look at the picture of his cell. It is interesting to me that he can have so many personal belongings in his cell. From the looks of it, he is at a minimal security prison, which seems weird since he was charged with two counts of murder. To me it seems as if the government is saying here have a nice place to live since we screwed you over.
The main thing that won me over was the chronology in this story. I like it when a story is easy to follow and there is not a lot of hopping around. I really enjoyed these last two books more than the first three. I don't know if it is just me, but the picture of Peltier really reminds me of Ron Jeremy. It is just the long hair and the creepy mustache.
Class Video with Leonard Peltier
I really enjoy class videos and this video of the story of Leonard Peltier was no different. One of the main reasons why I liked this video is because I am a history major. This story was right up my alley, I love learning about old stories like this where different people or groups had showdowns with the government. The beginning of the video was very catchy, but as the video wore on I became more and more angry with the story and how the government could charge an innocent man in my eyes to a lengthy stay in jail.
The government officials in this documentary pissed me off. It seems to me as if they knew this man was innocent but still made up lies about Peltier and his friends just so they could frame someone for the deaths of their coworkers. One of the officials bothered me in that he was smiling when talking about Peltier being charged and put in jail. It was as if he had been brainwashed or something into believing all the lies that had been made up to frame this man.
Not only was Peltier charged wrongly, but he has been given the shaft. I think it was you who said that Clinton had promised to release him from jail, but he got preoccupied and did not end up doing it. I would be so angry if I was told I would be released and then not let go. I also don't think this is all the governments fault because Peltier knows who killed the officials yet he will not tell the government who. This just seems dumb to me, but I am not an Indian and from what the men said in the video, they don't tell on others.
The government officials in this documentary pissed me off. It seems to me as if they knew this man was innocent but still made up lies about Peltier and his friends just so they could frame someone for the deaths of their coworkers. One of the officials bothered me in that he was smiling when talking about Peltier being charged and put in jail. It was as if he had been brainwashed or something into believing all the lies that had been made up to frame this man.
Not only was Peltier charged wrongly, but he has been given the shaft. I think it was you who said that Clinton had promised to release him from jail, but he got preoccupied and did not end up doing it. I would be so angry if I was told I would be released and then not let go. I also don't think this is all the governments fault because Peltier knows who killed the officials yet he will not tell the government who. This just seems dumb to me, but I am not an Indian and from what the men said in the video, they don't tell on others.
Two Old Women
This book was probably one of the easiest readings that we have had to do for the class. I also enjoyed this book more than the others so far. This story was interesting in that it was the most like the Native American stories I have heard, in that it has a moral to the story. The other books we have read so far are just written by Native Americans, this one has the feel of a real Native story. I found it mean that the group of nomads left the two old women to fend for themselves, but I also understand the decision because the group did it to survive. I feel that if I were in the situation I would have had a hard time leaving them there, knowing that they were almost certainly goners.
I also think that if the two women were my relatives I would have left them things behind, just like Ch'idzigyaak's grandson left his ax for the women. If I didn't leave anything for my relatives I would feel horrible and probably be haunted of the decision to leave them there.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when the two women hunt a moose. I get the funniest picture of old women sneaking up on a huge moose and then ambushing it and chasing it around. Knowing my grandma's I don't think they would ever be able to get the guts to do something like that.
The last thing that I like about this book was that there was actually a happy ending to it, all the other books we have read have been dark and had unhappy solutions for the most part. These two women are pretty bad ass in my opinion.
I also think that if the two women were my relatives I would have left them things behind, just like Ch'idzigyaak's grandson left his ax for the women. If I didn't leave anything for my relatives I would feel horrible and probably be haunted of the decision to leave them there.
One of my favorite parts of the book is when the two women hunt a moose. I get the funniest picture of old women sneaking up on a huge moose and then ambushing it and chasing it around. Knowing my grandma's I don't think they would ever be able to get the guts to do something like that.
The last thing that I like about this book was that there was actually a happy ending to it, all the other books we have read have been dark and had unhappy solutions for the most part. These two women are pretty bad ass in my opinion.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Bonnie and Clyde
Bonnie and Clyde was probably the most violent movie that has been shown in class so far. There were many scenes that went over the line set by the Code Committee. Besides breaking the code in many places, the movie was made in color, and based more on history.
The first thing that I noticed when watching the movie was the lack of care for the Movie Code. Even though it said that the shooter and the victim can't be in the same shot, this movie did it anyway. The first time that this happened was when the man who worked at the bank jumped on the get away car and Clyde shot him into the face. Another time was that this happened was when the cops were shooting up the house in Missouri and everyone bails. Buck has to keep the cops from attacking him, so he shoots one in the belly with a shotgun.
Another way that the makers of this film broke the code was through partial nudity and scenes that could be considered sexual. This happens right at the beginning of the film when Bonnie is naked and moving around in her room. Although the audience never sees her naked due to well place props in the room, we can assume that she is naked. There are scenes later in the film that give the audience the idea that sex is happening, like when Bonnie and Clyde are out in the field and then we come back to the scene and Clyde is buttoning his shirt up.
The only thing that I didn't like about the movie was that it was not very accurate. In the film it made it seem as if they were not making (stealing) a lot of money, when in reality they were able to acquire lots of money. Another thing that I didn't like about this movie was that the gang was always hanging out in houses and buildings, a good portion of this gangs time was spent out in the countryside hiding in caves and other things. These hideouts were also where they would hide their loot. I'm not positive on whether the ending of the movie was accurate, because I have heard that the two were going to pick up the mail and were ambushed at the mailbox. I could be wrong but that is what I have heard.
Overall though I liked this movie, it was full of action and had its funny moments. With a little more accuracy with the history, I believe the movie would have been better, but this could be my historian side coming out.
The first thing that I noticed when watching the movie was the lack of care for the Movie Code. Even though it said that the shooter and the victim can't be in the same shot, this movie did it anyway. The first time that this happened was when the man who worked at the bank jumped on the get away car and Clyde shot him into the face. Another time was that this happened was when the cops were shooting up the house in Missouri and everyone bails. Buck has to keep the cops from attacking him, so he shoots one in the belly with a shotgun.
Another way that the makers of this film broke the code was through partial nudity and scenes that could be considered sexual. This happens right at the beginning of the film when Bonnie is naked and moving around in her room. Although the audience never sees her naked due to well place props in the room, we can assume that she is naked. There are scenes later in the film that give the audience the idea that sex is happening, like when Bonnie and Clyde are out in the field and then we come back to the scene and Clyde is buttoning his shirt up.
The only thing that I didn't like about the movie was that it was not very accurate. In the film it made it seem as if they were not making (stealing) a lot of money, when in reality they were able to acquire lots of money. Another thing that I didn't like about this movie was that the gang was always hanging out in houses and buildings, a good portion of this gangs time was spent out in the countryside hiding in caves and other things. These hideouts were also where they would hide their loot. I'm not positive on whether the ending of the movie was accurate, because I have heard that the two were going to pick up the mail and were ambushed at the mailbox. I could be wrong but that is what I have heard.
Overall though I liked this movie, it was full of action and had its funny moments. With a little more accuracy with the history, I believe the movie would have been better, but this could be my historian side coming out.
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