Hollywood loves to depict history in such entertainment. Sometimes the films that are based on true stories fumble over the truth. For instance, American Sniper, Unbroken, The Theory of Everything, The Butler, Bessie, Fruitvalle Station and much more are all films supposively based on true stories. However, Hollywood loves to add a little fiction here and there every now-and-again.
I actually think there's nothing wrong with adding some kind of twist in the mix. But, if a film is based on a true story, it's only right that everything is true. I look at an awesome movie such as, American Sniper, which is about a sniper who takes his sole mission as a SEAL and becomes one of the most lethal snipers in American history. But it'll always be a thought dangling in my head asking, "does this Clint Eastwood film take aim at the truth?" It's almost as if we'd never know.
Unbroken is about a boy named, Louis Zamperini, who turns his life around, channeling his energy into running, and later qualifying for the 1936 Olympics. Having WW ll break out, Louie enlists in the military. After his plane crashes in the Pacific, he survives an incredible 47 days adrift in a raft, until his capture by the Japanese navy. And as amazing as this movie may be, it'll always be a thought prancing around in my head asking, "does the truth remain unbroken in this story of the Olympian and WW ll hero?"
The film The Butler, was inspired by Eugene Allen who is a butler who served every president from Truman to Reagan and weathered the worst of the country's brutal racial history was about to see the first black president of the United States sworn into office. Allen was a black man unknown to the headlines. Now, however, Allen's story is playing out on the screen in an Oscar-baiting film with a sprawling cast. In The Butler, Forest Whitaker's Cecil Gaines is a slightly factionalized version of Allen, one whose story-through very close to Allen's own- plays better as the stylistic, sweeping melodrama the film sets out to be.The Butler, with its Forrest Gump-like ambition to touch on every significant moment and movement in the country's 20th century racial history.
Speaking of Forrest Gump, such an amazing film. Hollywood really did a great job using technology to add extra things to history, like making it seem like Tom Hanks was actually in the actual events of the historical times. The actual events were real, but Hollywood created a fiction by adding Tom in there somehow. I think Hollywood creates entertainment for the films so that it wouldn't be boring or too educational. To me, I see nothing wrong with that, however, if a film is based on a true story, it's only right that everything is true.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Friday, June 12, 2015
Forrest Gump
I remember seeing this film when I was really little. None of the scenes made sense to me, but now I understand. Tom Hanks plays the role of Forrest Gump and he did an outstanding job. Even though he wasn't intelligent, he appeared in a lot of historical events and that's why I admire this movie.
In the beginning of the film, Forrest is sitting on a bench when a feather flies by him. I thought the feather (even though it was a short scene) sent a message because before it was blown away, it was going through a journey. Maybe like how Forrest was through his entire life. I believe the director, Robert Zemeckis, had a specific point that he wanted to make and if the audience paid any attention, they'd catch on. Because at the end of the film, the feather was still there after years ready to blow free in the wind.
Everyone underestimated Forrest because they thought he wasn't capable of walking. After a rough childhood, Forrest broke free from his disability and never stopped running. Just from his ability to run fast, he was recruited on the football team and the future for Forrest just began. Unfortunately, the only person holding him back was the love of his life, Jenny. She could never get her life together because of her childhood. And as her life got worse, Forrest's was better. He ended up appearing in multiple important events that lead him on the road to success.
To me, this film sent a special message for the viewers. A lot of scenes were strongly emotional, such as the lost of Forrest's loved ones. But, even though the tragedy would approach Gump, it would never defeated him. It only made him stronger. He conquered every thing that came his way, which was highly impressive. He basically proved all of his doubters wrong unintentionally... which is funny because most people intend to prove people wrong, but that's what drove people crazy.
Everyone underestimated Forrest because they thought he wasn't capable of walking. After a rough childhood, Forrest broke free from his disability and never stopped running. Just from his ability to run fast, he was recruited on the football team and the future for Forrest just began. Unfortunately, the only person holding him back was the love of his life, Jenny. She could never get her life together because of her childhood. And as her life got worse, Forrest's was better. He ended up appearing in multiple important events that lead him on the road to success.
To me, this film sent a special message for the viewers. A lot of scenes were strongly emotional, such as the lost of Forrest's loved ones. But, even though the tragedy would approach Gump, it would never defeated him. It only made him stronger. He conquered every thing that came his way, which was highly impressive. He basically proved all of his doubters wrong unintentionally... which is funny because most people intend to prove people wrong, but that's what drove people crazy.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
The Help
This film was directed by Tate Taylor. I believe her idea was to create a connection with the audience and the characters in the movie. By doing so, Tate focused all of his attention on the southern society and showing how separate things were between blacks and whites. Most blacks were innocent but mistreated and most of the whites were vicious and rude.
I liked how Tate didn't really cherry pick for the characters. There was multiple main characters with different stories that were told. Skeeter is played by Emma Stone and her performance was amazing. Her character, Skeeter, is returning from college with dreams of becoming a writer. To me, I can relate more to her because she never really cared what others thought. For instance, when her friend, Hilly, spoke her opinion on separate bathrooms for the help, Skeeter spoke up. It took a lot of courage to stand up to Hilly because none of the other females did. Even when she had an idea to write a book about black women who has spent their entire lives raising white families.
Viola Davis plays the role of Aibileen who is a black housekeeper of Skeeter's best friend. She's the first person to talk to Skeeter and help create the book. I looked at her character as a leader because she brought other helpers in to talk to Skeeter. It made a big change as far as creating the book. Many of the members had a lot to say about their experiences with white families.
Based off the film, it took place around the 1960's during the civil rights movement. Slavery was obviously over, but apparently blacks were still not equal. According to Hilly, blacks didn't even deserve to use the restroom in the same house. Her idea was to have them use it outside in 90 degree weather. So, those scenes were to portray the actual situations people had to go through.
Hollywood kind of created their own twist to the movie by having bad things happen to the villain. They basically wanted the villain to be tortured mentally. So, it was a good idea to have the housekeepers get their revenge by publishing the book and exposing Hilly. Even though, it probably never happened in the 60s.
Being as though I've seen this film a dozen times, it is always something surprising me. And if I was to rate it, I'd give it a 5 out of 5.
I liked how Tate didn't really cherry pick for the characters. There was multiple main characters with different stories that were told. Skeeter is played by Emma Stone and her performance was amazing. Her character, Skeeter, is returning from college with dreams of becoming a writer. To me, I can relate more to her because she never really cared what others thought. For instance, when her friend, Hilly, spoke her opinion on separate bathrooms for the help, Skeeter spoke up. It took a lot of courage to stand up to Hilly because none of the other females did. Even when she had an idea to write a book about black women who has spent their entire lives raising white families.
Viola Davis plays the role of Aibileen who is a black housekeeper of Skeeter's best friend. She's the first person to talk to Skeeter and help create the book. I looked at her character as a leader because she brought other helpers in to talk to Skeeter. It made a big change as far as creating the book. Many of the members had a lot to say about their experiences with white families.
Based off the film, it took place around the 1960's during the civil rights movement. Slavery was obviously over, but apparently blacks were still not equal. According to Hilly, blacks didn't even deserve to use the restroom in the same house. Her idea was to have them use it outside in 90 degree weather. So, those scenes were to portray the actual situations people had to go through.
Hollywood kind of created their own twist to the movie by having bad things happen to the villain. They basically wanted the villain to be tortured mentally. So, it was a good idea to have the housekeepers get their revenge by publishing the book and exposing Hilly. Even though, it probably never happened in the 60s.
Being as though I've seen this film a dozen times, it is always something surprising me. And if I was to rate it, I'd give it a 5 out of 5.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Top Gun Movie Review
Top Gun
Tony Scott's (the director of this film) goal was to make 'Top Gun' about the air force. The genre was drama/action which occurred in previous wars that took place in the past. I acknowledged the director's idea as far as including romance in the mix of the military.
The Top Gun Naval Fighter Weapons School is where most of the scenes took place. Top Cruise's character is Maverick. He's much cocky and he doesn't really fit in with the other pilots, especially with Iceman. But Maverick isn't only competing to be the top fighter pilot, he's also fighting for the attention of his beautiful flight instructor, Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). And like I said before, I liked the idea of the director for adding romance.
For most people who's interested in the military, I'd recommend this film to them. This film shows leadership on Maverick's part as well as bravery. For example, one scene shows his wingman is clearly out flown and freaks on almost no fuel. Maverick is able to talk him back down to the carrier. When his wingman turns in his wings, Maverick is moved up in the standings and sent to the Top Gun Naval Flying School.
Although Maverick struggles to be the best pilot, stepping on the toes of his other students... he basically proves to be the best at the final scene. I thought this film sent a great message to the youths and veterans of America. In my opinion, this movie deserved a 4 out of 5.
For most people who's interested in the military, I'd recommend this film to them. This film shows leadership on Maverick's part as well as bravery. For example, one scene shows his wingman is clearly out flown and freaks on almost no fuel. Maverick is able to talk him back down to the carrier. When his wingman turns in his wings, Maverick is moved up in the standings and sent to the Top Gun Naval Flying School.
Although Maverick struggles to be the best pilot, stepping on the toes of his other students... he basically proves to be the best at the final scene. I thought this film sent a great message to the youths and veterans of America. In my opinion, this movie deserved a 4 out of 5.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Forrest Gump Activity 1
Elvis Presley: Elvis Aaron Presley was an American singer and actor. Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll", or simply, "the King". In the film, he was seen on television dancing like Forrest.
Bear Bryant/ Alabama Football: Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. In the film, he was seen at the football field, impressed by how fast Forrest was.
George Wallace: George Corley Wallace, Jr. was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Alabama, having served two nonconsecutive terms and two consecutive terms as a Democrat: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. In the film, they showed the desegregation of University of Alabama where George Wallace had his speech.
Bear Bryant/ Alabama Football: Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. In the film, he was seen at the football field, impressed by how fast Forrest was.
George Wallace: George Corley Wallace, Jr. was an American politician and the 45th Governor of Alabama, having served two nonconsecutive terms and two consecutive terms as a Democrat: 1963–1967, 1971–1979 and 1983–1987. In the film, they showed the desegregation of University of Alabama where George Wallace had his speech.
Friday, May 22, 2015
Operation Hollywood
In almost every Hollywood movie, there's always a villain and hero, conflict and solution. Films are very much cliche or very similar. Especially, if it's a war movie involving the military. Hollywood and the Pentagon have different sides of the argument concerning assistance from the military in the development of films depicting war.
The film producers calls the Pentagon to read over the scripts of movies. Hollywood producers didn't like he idea of "Lassie" and the plane crash accident. They didn't want children believing that the military created crappy equipments. The military hated the movie, "Platoon" which had no cooperation. They disliked the fact the the soldiers had a mind of their own to disobey the leaders. Any film that the military assists says that war is good. Any film that isn't assisted says the war is bad. Hollywood try's to glamorize the military so that people would join, but by the time soldiers flew to Iraq and saw it wasn't too glamorous, it was too late to turn back.
"Pearl Harbor" was like a recruiting film for the military. The film would reawaken the audience to that time period. It kind of showed the audience a lot of unreliable events. Events that probably never happened, but Hollywood knew it would catch the audience's attention.
The media has savaged the military. "Top Gun" a military war movie. "The Longest Day" another military war movie. For almost three decades when people thought of a Great War movie it is likely that they immediately thought of Darryl F. Zanuck's, "The Longest Day". The film meticulously recreates the events preceding and during the invasion of Normandy. " 'The Longest Day' is more a film of tragedy, glory, and courage involving one very important day and the hundreds, even thousands of lives that were forever changed. And even though the filmmakers who produced the movie were mainly American and English, the movie portrays the Germans fairly. Without some of the stunning visuals that the five directors put in the film, it would have been impossible to comprehend the scale of the invasion.
"Pearl Harbor" was like a recruiting film for the military. The film would reawaken the audience to that time period. It kind of showed the audience a lot of unreliable events. Events that probably never happened, but Hollywood knew it would catch the audience's attention.
The media has savaged the military. "Top Gun" a military war movie. "The Longest Day" another military war movie. For almost three decades when people thought of a Great War movie it is likely that they immediately thought of Darryl F. Zanuck's, "The Longest Day". The film meticulously recreates the events preceding and during the invasion of Normandy. " 'The Longest Day' is more a film of tragedy, glory, and courage involving one very important day and the hundreds, even thousands of lives that were forever changed. And even though the filmmakers who produced the movie were mainly American and English, the movie portrays the Germans fairly. Without some of the stunning visuals that the five directors put in the film, it would have been impossible to comprehend the scale of the invasion.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Zero Dark Thirty
Zero Dark Thirty deals with one of the most significant achievements in our history. I only seen it once, but I'd watch it again any day. This film is a dramatization just like similar films that were watched in the past. Not everything is a realistic portrayal of the facts.
CIA is on the hunt for Usama Bin Ladin, which was a decade-long effort that depended on hundreds of officers. It is the work of a dedicated and persistent female operative Maya who locates Bin Ladin. The truth is that multiple streams of intelligence led CIA analysts to conclude that Bin Ladin was hiding in Abbottabad. In May 2011, the Navy is set to kill Bin Ladin, will they be successful?
As far as the actors and actresses, of course, I think the main character did a good job. Jessica Chastain plays the role of Maya. I can relate to her empowerment and she's very fierce in the film. When she wants something done, she's very determined to get it done. Not only that, but Maya was focused on that specific case.
The film creates the strong impression that the enhanced questioning techniques that were part of the former detention and questioning program were the key to finding Bin Laden. I liked the determination of Maya who depended on herself to solve the case. The whole scene of putting a tracker in the phone to track down Bin Laden was creative.
I would recommend this movie to everyone. I thinks it should be mandatory for the youth and elders to learn. There's not one person I wouldn't recommend this film to. The MPAA rating is rated R. My final word for the film is that it was good.
RATING SYSTEM: 👍👍👍👍
As far as the actors and actresses, of course, I think the main character did a good job. Jessica Chastain plays the role of Maya. I can relate to her empowerment and she's very fierce in the film. When she wants something done, she's very determined to get it done. Not only that, but Maya was focused on that specific case.
The film creates the strong impression that the enhanced questioning techniques that were part of the former detention and questioning program were the key to finding Bin Laden. I liked the determination of Maya who depended on herself to solve the case. The whole scene of putting a tracker in the phone to track down Bin Laden was creative.
I would recommend this movie to everyone. I thinks it should be mandatory for the youth and elders to learn. There's not one person I wouldn't recommend this film to. The MPAA rating is rated R. My final word for the film is that it was good.
RATING SYSTEM: 👍👍👍👍
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