Tuesday, March 31, 2009

To Kill a Mockingbird



http://video.aol.com/video-detail/to-kill-a-mockingbird-1962/4067904238


Based upon the 1960, Harper Lee story, To Kill a Mockingbird has been a Oscar winning film, a Pulitzer winning novel , and a great black and white movie.
This film had adventure, drama, action, and humor. It is strongly connected to the Harper Lee novel, but they organized it to flow. This movie has scenes that flows or connects together. It's not a movie where the scenes are loosely connected and the story doesn't make sense , but a movie with a great plot line, a good story, and great acting.

This film starts out unusually, but as the movie progresses, we start to see that the objects shown in the beginning have strong ties to the story. I like the firm and assertive voice over along with the dramatic music.
The music is very memorable.
The acting of Scout was my absolute favorite because Scout acts like a boy , but her character and personality is still a girl. Scout is the main character and girl that introduces her town called Maycomb county. I love how Scout calls her father,"Atticus, Atticus."
She uses a very cute accent to say it. That is why I will never forget Scout. I may forget the movie.

Then there is Jem,he is a childish boy at the beginning , but as the years progressed, I can tell he has matured. he gone from a boy that played childish games with Charles Baker Harris or Dill to being more mature. I can see the character maturing as I watch the trial of Tom Robinson.
, but Atticus and Scout I will not forget.

Last, but not least is Atticus. Atticus played by Gregory Peck has really empathized the meaning of a lawyer. My favorite part about him was when he was defending Tom Robinson and was talking to the Jurors, he was very firm and serious. He gave a very important speech.

This movie has really enhanced my understanding of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. It may be an old black and white film , but an award wining black and white film which I think is the best out of black and white films.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

30 Days




What if you had to step into somebody else shoes? What would you do if you worked minimum wage for 30 days?

The television series 30 Days starring Morgan Spurlock shows people like you and me what it is like working minimum wage. Morgan Spurlock was the actor of the Oscar nominated movie, Super sized me. Currently, Morgan is working on his reality TV show called 30 Days. 30 Days is a show where Morgan will live someone Else's life for 30 days. It might be living 30 days in prison, with a Muslim family in America, or working minimum wage.

This month's challenge for Morgan was to live off of minimum wage. He has talked his fiance in doing it with him. He has travelled to Columbus, Ohio to do his television program. He has stayed with his brother's family for several hours and then he and his wife has gone apartment finding. They have about 350 dollars in their pockets. They have found lots of apartments and all but one were way to expensive for them. This movie shows great persuasion that Senator Ted Kennedy needs to raise the minimum wage.

Senator Kennedy has wanted to pass the bill that raised the minimum wage because the minimum wage has not raised a cent since 1997, but the cost of living has been raised. For every year the bill was introduced, it was turned down by congress. The minimum wage was introduced in the 1930s during the Great Depression because it was supposed to cover the bear minimum of living, but since the cost of living has risen, the minimum wage no longer does what it was intended to do.

Living off of minimum wage was extremely difficult because there was water bills, electric bills, hospital bills and rent for their apartment. By the end of the month , both Morgan and his wife had two hospital bills from the emergency room and Morgan's cost was 1000 dollars while his treatment was only a 40 dollar bandage."That's bu shit,"said Morgan.

This is ridiculous because minimum wage is barely enough to cover the cost of a couple. What if they had children? The parents would have to take care of them, pay for their schooling, medical cost, and child care. (Medical cost would include the basic vaccinations before the children arrive at school.)Morgan and his wife worked 8 hour jobs everyday , but a couple with children can only have one work an 8 hour job if their on minimum wage. That would make it even more difficult to make a living.

If you've had a good life, with fancy cars, television, Ipods, or good schooling, then I strongly suggest you to watch this episode of 30 Days. That way you can step into an minimum wage family's shoes and see what it it like working on minimum wage during a recession.