Journal #4 EDITED

With all the hype that's going around about Peter Jackson's new movie, "The Hobbit", most people may not realize that there might be another trilogy on our hands. Almost a decade after Jackson finished his last Lord of the Rings (LOTR) movie, he begins the journey all over again with "The Hobbit". At first Jackson only had two movies planned, which he stated in ‘The Hobbit’: Peter Jackson’s unexpected journey to three films. After showing Warner Brothers his ideas for the movies, they demanded that Jackson make a third movie. It's already stressful enough having to plan for a budget and figuring everything out, but then to be told that you basically need to scrap what you have and make room for a third movie, that's not something that just any director can handle. There are a few LOTR veterans that are coming back for the "Hobbit" films, which allows Peter Jackson to bring familiar faces on his adventure. For a while Jackson was worried about how he couldn't make three movies from Tolkien's short, one volume, book. Eventually it all came together for the director, despite the many ups and downs.

As a fan of his work, I'm really excited for "The Hobbit" to come out. I love how he makes his movies and the elements he puts into them to make them all the more enjoyable. Tolkien's books are very familiar to many people, so that adds even more pressure onto Jackson because he's taking a well know piece of literature and making it into a movie. Whatever Jackson does, I'm sure it will meet most everyone's expectations.

Source:  http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/11/02/the-hobbit-peter-jacksons-unexpected-journey-to-three-films/#/0

Journal #3 EDITED

With all the action movies that have been put out recently, actor Jeremy Renner has made his way into the lime light. The author of ‘Bourne Legacy’ star Jeremy Renner on ‘Avengers’ action and more, Noelene Clark, does a really nice job of asking Renner the right questions and getting him to open up to the readers. 

Although he's been in the acting business for 25 years, many people are seeing Renner truly for the first time. Throughout his career he has done many indie movies, which consequently hasn't gotten him the fame he deserves. While reading this interview article I learned about what Renner has to say about his new action roles and how he's adjusting to all of it. "I’m not used to doing that kind of cinema ("The Avengers"). Usually it’s a little bit more emotional or psychological or something, so I try not to have too much expectation out of that". Although it isn't his usual type of movie role, he excels at all of his roles, which makes his characters enjoyable and thrilling to watch. Renner also talks about how he's transitioning to more action and 'green screen' type of roles. He talks about how he liked his role in "The Bourne Legacy" because it was less 'green screened' than "Avengers'” was and that, to him, made it more realistic and enabled him to get into it more. While on the scene for "Mission Impossible", Jeremy Renner was able to learn more about action movies and what to expect from them, from Tom Cruise. "- he [Tom Cruise] was such an amazing mentor to me, and just so supportive and being so excited that I was doing some of these things. He gave me some really great advice about how to treat your body, essentially, how to take care of yourself." Currently, Renner is working on his new movie, “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters”, which he is excited about since it incorporates elements from previous movies he has been in. "It’s a bit darker, and it’s R-rated, and it’s not quite as light as "The Avengers", but he still enjoys it nonetheless.

I enjoy movies that have Jeremy Renner in it because he brings a lot to the table and adds that certain something that makes his movies all the more enjoyable. I also like that he does more of the action type roles, because he is really good at reading the scenes and getting the director's points across for each scene.

Source: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/08/06/bourne-legacy-star-jeremy-renner-on-avengers-action-and-more/#/0

Brief Screening Report EDITED

The film that I am doing this blog post on is Inception. I choose this film because I found it interesting and suspenseful throughout its entire duration. One scene I believe that is really important to the film is when Ariadne (Ellen Page) figures out that she is in a dream for the first time. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is looking for a new architecture for his team so he tests Ariadne to see what she can do and to see how she handles the idea of being in a dream.

     

When we see this scene, it opens up at a wide shot so you can see Cobb and Ariadne’s surroundings. They are sitting at an outside cafe surrounded by little shops and bakeries. The next shot is closer to them now, and you can hear Cobb and Ariadne's conversation; this allows the audience to feel like they are peaking in on this secretive conversation. After talking for a bit about dreams and what you do as a dreamer, Cobb lays a bomb shell on Ariadne which makes her realize that she is actually dreaming. Cobb convinces her of the reality of the situation by asking her how they had gotten to the cafe and why the dimensions and physics of this place seem off. Once everything sets in, there is a close up shot on Ariadne's face to show the audience her realization of what Cobb had just told her.

     

 After Ariadne figures out that she is in a dream, time seems to stand still while everything around them starts to explode. I found this a little symbolic in a way because when you connect a chain of events together it's usually not just a simple click, it's a giant bomb. The exploding that takes place around them symbolizes Ariadne's thoughts and feelings after she realizes that she had been dreaming all this time and she didn't even realize that anything was off about the situation. I enjoyed how Christopher Nolan (director and screen play) connected Ariadne's thoughts and realization to the explosions and the break of reality that was happening around them. 

Journal #6 Edited

16 years after Pokémon first debut, the franchise has never been stronger. Kids from all around the world can connect with theses lovable characters that have become one of the most famous shows of all time. In the article, Pokémon puts players in the game … literally, it tells the readers how Pokémon first started off as a manga, and then was turned into a T.V. show. From there on Pokémon has evolved into world of fantasy and friendship. Children and adults of all ages still enjoy the world of Pokémon today, but on a different level than before. Over the years the Pokémon franchise has put out many different Pokémon games to coincide with the show. This allows gamers to feel more connected to the show and allow them to interact with other Pokémon fans. Over the years there have been many tournaments held around the world to let gamers compete to become the World's Pokémon Master. There are three categories separating the competitors: four winners in the junior division, four in the senior division, and four in the masters division. Within these divisions, trainers have to battle their way to the top to be able to claim the title of Pokémon Master. The Pokémon franchise had given the winners of each division the honor of becoming a character in the new Pokémon Black 2 and Pokémon White 2. The winners are made into avatars of their likeness with their winning Pokémon team and strategies, and then are immortalized into the games.

This is a huge honor to win the title of Pokémon master first off, but then being immortalized for people from all over the world to battle you in the games, that's the best prize to be awarded ever. Gamers who are that dedicated to be even invited to the tournaments take the games and Pokémon very seriously and to heart. So when they find out that they're going to be in the games, that's a dream come true. To many Pokémon enthusiasts the show, games, movies, and trading card game, are a lot more than people think it is. This is a part of their childhoods and the times that made them feel invincible. There isn't a greater feeling in the world that makes you feel the way that you do when you are recognized by the creators, saying that you're one of the best and that you are now a part of it, forever. 

Source: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/11/15/pokemon-puts-players-in-the-game-literally/#/0 

Journal #6 Becoming A Real Pokemon Master

16 years after Pokemon first debut, the franchise has never been stronger. Kids from all around the world can connect with theses lovable characters that have become one of the most famous shows of all time. In the article, Pokémon puts players in the game … literally, it tells the readers how Pokemon first started off as a manga, and then was turned into a T.V. show. From there on Pokemon has evolved into world of fantasy and friendship. Children and adults of all ages still enjoy the world of Pokemon today, but on a different level than before. Over the years the Pokemon franchise has put out many different Pokemon games to coincide with the show. This allows gamers to feel more connected to the show and allow them to interact with other Pokemon fans. Over the years there have been many tournaments held around the world to let gamers compete to become the World's Pokemon Master. There are three categories separating the competitors: four winners in the junior division, four in the senior division, and four in the masters division. Within these divisions, trainers have to battle their way to the top to be able to claim the title of Pokemon Master. The Pokemon franchise had given the winners of each division the honor of becoming a character in the new Pokemon Black 2 and Pokemon White 2. The winners are made into avatars of their likeness with their winning Pokemon team and strategies, and then are immortalized into the games.

This is a huge honor to win the title of Pokemon master first off, but then being immortalized for people from all over the world to battle you in the games, that's the best prize to be awarded ever. Gamers who are that dedicated to be even invited to the tournaments take the games and Pokemon very seriously and to heart. So when they find out that they're going to be in the games, that's a dream come true. To many Pokemon enthusiasts the show, games, movies, trading card game, are a lot more then people think it is. This is apart of their childhoods and the times that made them feel invincible. There isn't a greater feeling in the world that makes you feel the way that you do when you are recognized by the creators, saying that you're one of the best and that you are now apart of it, forever.


Source: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/11/15/pokemon-puts-players-in-the-game-literally/#/0

Journal #5: Would You be Scared of a Lego Sauron?

I realize that this is the second Lord of the Rings (LOTR) blog post that I've done but I feel that I shouldn't stop a good thing. In this interview Nick Ricks, executive producer at TT Games, was asked about the challenges he and his team faced while they turned one of the most infamous books and movies of all time into a quirky and lighthearted game. Nick states that at times it is hard to turn a serious book about the fight over Middle Earth into something that a younger gamer would play, but after they got rolling it came easier to them. One of the new aspects of the game which was stated in ‘Lego The Lord of the Rings’ delivers a lighthearted Middle-earth, is that there are now voices to the players. Lego's games previously had mute players that just used actions and gestures to get their points across, but in this game, voice actors from the LOTR movies are voicing their Lego selves. By doing this, it appeals to a lot of people's liking and makes other gamers want to play this game that they wouldn't normally play.

As a long time LOTR fan and gamer, it is nice to see a lighthearted version of one of my all time favorite series. In the past, Lego's games haven't appealed to me because they don't seem like a serious game or challenge, and I felt like it wouldn't hold my attention. After reading this interview article thou, I feel like I have been swayed to give this Lego game a shot.


Source: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/11/13/lego-the-lord-of-the-rings-delivers-a-lighthearted-middle-earth/#/0

Journal #4 How Many Hobbits Can Fit in a Movie?

With all the hype that's going around about Peter Jackson's new movie, "The Hobbit", most people may not realize that there might be another trilogy on our hands. Almost a decade after Jackson finished his last Lord of the Rings (LOTR) movie, he begins the journey all over again with "The Hobbit". At first Jackson only had two movies planned,which he stated in‘The Hobbit’: Peter Jackson’s unexpected journey to three films, but after showing Warner Brothers his ideas for them, they demanded that Jackson make a third movie. It's already stressful enough having to plan for a budget and figuring everything out, but then to be told that you basically need to scrap what you have and make room for a third movie, that's not something that just any director can handle. There are a few LOTR veterans that are coming back for the "Hobbit" films, which allows Peter Jackson to bring familiar faces on his adventure. For awhile Jackson was worried about how he couldn't make three movies from Tolkien's short, one volume, book. Eventually it all came together for the director, despite the many ups and downs.

As a fan of his work, I'm really excited for "The Hobbit" to come out. I love how he makes his movies and the elements he puts into them to make them all the more enjoyable. Tolkien's books are very familiar to many people, so that adds even more pressure onto Jackson because he's taking a well know piece of literature and making it into a movie. Whatever Jackson does, I'm sure it will meet most everyone's expectations.


Source: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/11/02/the-hobbit-peter-jacksons-unexpected-journey-to-three-films/#/0

Journal #3: Just Who is Jeremy Renner?

         With all the action movies that have been put out recently, actor Jeremy Renner, has made his way into the lime light. The author of ‘Bourne Legacy’ star Jeremy Renner on ‘Avengers’ action and more, Noelene Clark, does a really nice job of asking Renner the right questions and getting him to open up to the readers. 

          Although he's been in the acting business for 25 years, many people are seeing him truly for the first time. Through out his career he has done many indie movies, which consequently hasn't gotten him the fame he deserves since indie movies aren't advertised as much as other movies. While reading this interview article I learned about what Renner has to say about his new action roles and how he's adjusting to all of it. "I’m not used to doing that kind of cinema ("The Avengers"). Usually it’s a little bit more emotional or psychological or something, so I try not to have too much expectation out of that". Although it isn't his usual type of movie role, he excels at all of his roles, which makes his characters enjoyable and thrilling to watch. Renner also talks about how he's transitioning to more action and 'green screen' type of roles. He talks about how he liked his role in "The Bourne Legacy" because it was less 'green screened' than "Avengers' was and that, to him, made it more realistic and enabled him to get into it more. While on the scene for "Mission Impossible", Jeremy Renner was able to learn more about action movies and what to expect from them, from Tom Cruise. "- he [Tom Cruise] was such an amazing mentor to me, and just so supportive and being so excited that I was doing some of these things. He gave me some really great advice about how to treat your body, essentially, how to take care of yourself." Currently, Renner is working on his new movie, “Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters”, which he is excited about since it incorporates elements from previous movies he has been in. "It’s a bit darker, and it’s R-rated, and it’s not quite as light as "The Avengers", but he still enjoys it nonetheless. I enjoy movies that have Jeremy Renner in it because he brings a lot to the table and adds that something that makes the movies all the more enjoyable. I also like that he does more of the action type roles, because he is really good at reading the scenes and getting the director's points across for each scene. 

Source: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/08/06/bourne-legacy-star-jeremy-renner-on-avengers-action-and-more/#/0

Brief Screening Report

   The film that I am doing this blog post on is Inception. I choose this film because I found it interesting and suspenseful throughout its entire duration. One scene I believe that is really important to the film is when Ariadne (Ellen Page) figures out that she is in a dream for the first time. Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is looking for a new architecture for his team so he tests Ariadne to see what she can do and to see how she handles the idea of being in a dream.

      When we see this scene, it opens up at a wide shot so you can see their Cobb and Ariadne’s surroundings. They are sitting at an outside cafe surrounded by little shops and bakeries. The next shot is closer to them now, and you can hear Cobb and Ariadne's conversation; this allows the audience to feel like they are peaking in on this secretive conversation. After talking for a bit about dreams and what you do as a dreamer, Cobb lays a bomb shell on Ariadne which makes her realize that she is actually dreaming. Cobb convinces her of the reality of the situation by asking her how they had gotten to the cafe and why the dimensions and physics of this place seem off. Once everything sets in, there is a close up shot on Ariadne's face to show the audience her realization of what Cobb had just told her.

      After Ariadne puts together that she is in a dream, time seems to stand still while everything around them starts to explode. I found this a little symbolic in a way because, when you connect a chain of events together, it's usually not just a simple click, it's a giant bomb. The exploding that takes place around them symbolizes Ariadne's thoughts and feelings after she realizes that she had been dreaming all this time and she didn't even realize that anything was off about the situation. I enjoyed how Christopher Nolan (director and screen play) connected Ariadne's thoughts and realization to the explosions and the break of reality that was happening around them. 

Journal #2: Writing About Movies

      Time after time Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki have delivered amazing and heart warming stories that have reached audiences all over the world. One of my all time favorites is Kiki's Delivery Service. I first watch this movie when I was very young, and its lessons and morals still rings true to this day. Kiki's Delivery Service is about a young witch who is coming-of-age, and has to spend a year away from home to continue her training. Along the way Kiki goes through many challenges that show her that it's not all fun and games all the time, and that you have to take responsibility for yourself and the things you do. As a young girl, I found this movie really appealing because Kiki, the main character, was around the same age as I was when I first saw this film. Being young and impressionable, I related what was happening in my life, to what was happening in Kiki's world. When I watch Hayao Miyazaki's films, I really focus my attention on the art. Since his movies are animated, it is really interesting to see how Miyazaki makes his films life like all while giving you the sensation that you are in the movie itself. I also find it fascinating to see what cultural aspects I can see in the film now, that I didn't catch when I was younger. Kiki's Delivery Service is just one of those movies that I can pick up any time and just watch it until the very end, and still have the same feelings of enjoyment as I did when I first saw it. 

'Winning Actually Isn't the Only Thing' Response

David Maraniss is the author of the article ‘Winning Actually Isn't the Only Thing’. In this article Maraniss illustrates his frustration about the Green Bay vs. Seattle game, in which he believes that the call by the replacement refs was a poor one. After the game ended Maraniss stated that it took him awhile to cool down and see what the real problem was about. Upon looking back at the game David Maraniss realized that the real problem was about the motives and integrity of the fans, coaches, and refs. He realizes that if it had been a different situation, he may have acted differently and may not have gotten so upset about the call. I believe that he realized that most people get blindsided by the idea of winning and do whatever it takes to win. Mataniss begins to wonder if this is what it has come to; if people put their desire to win first and put their ethics and reasoning last.

I agree with David Maraniss position on this issue. As human beings, we are competitive people by nature; we don’t like to lose. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the game that we forget what it’s all about, and only believe in winning the game. It was apparent in this last game that the desire to win was stronger than the desire to be fair and play the game with the rules in mind. When the pressure is on and it is a close game, tensions become higher and higher, thus making it difficult at times to see what actually happened and what you wanted to see. 

If you had watched this specific game, do you believe the call the refs made was an accurate one? Also, do you agree that at some points during games, players only think of winning and not about playing the game?

Believing Game Part B

I believe that electronic reading devices are far better than paperback books for many reasons. When you are on a plane, a car, a bus, or in a poorly lit area, electronic books make it possible for you to read without trying to find a light source and disturbing the people around you. With electronic books it is possible to make the font and the lettering size bigger and easier to read. Unlike paperback books where you have to squint and struggle to read the tiny print on the page, you just have to click, and the text is instantly easier to read. When you buy paperback books, you are paying a fortune for them. If you need a book for class and you are never going to read that book again, why spend unnecessary amounts of money on it when you can download the book, for much cheaper, and then delete it from your personal library when you’re done with it. Another benefit of electronic books is that it is virtually weightless compared to paperback books. If you were to download all of your text books onto your electronic reader, it will take a lot of excess weight off your back; saving you from aches and pains, and possibly future back problems. For this reason, I believe that electronic reading devices are far better than paperback books.

Believing Game Part A

I believe that paperback books are far better than electronic reading devices for many reasons. When you open the cover of a book and flip through the first few pages, you are feeling what the author of the book wanted you to feel; the smells, the pictures, everything. When you pick up an electronic reader, you do not get that same feel as you would with the actual book. With a paperback, you can take it virtually anywhere. There’s no need for Wi-Fi or an outlet, all you have to do is crack open the book and begin. Unlike electronic books, you can take notes and highlight passages for discussions and for studying purposes. If you were to drop a paperback there would be no problem with the book. Whereas with an electronic book, dropping the book could end up scratching it, cracking the screen, or even break it for good. When a friend asks to borrow a book you can just lend it to them, but with an electronic reading device, you would be lending your entire book library. Which in that time period, you may have to access other books in it while it’s still being loaned out. Also, books are great memorabilia, especially if you get it signed by the author. Unfortunately, the author of your favorite book cannot sign your electronic copy. For these reasons, I believe that paperback books are far better than electronic reading devices.

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