Remembering Alan Rickman

This was just a huge shock today to learn of Alan Rickman's passing.  He really made the character of Snape come alive for me.  I am currently listening to the first Harry Potter book again, and even though we don't know Snape very well at this point technically, I feel like I have a much better understanding of him as a person because of the portrayal that Rickman had in the movies.  He is one of those characters that I think is better on screen--the body language really helps us to understand the character.  And honestly it was his voice too.  They could not have casted someone who would have done as great a job.

Today seeing all of the things online, I didn't realize that he was in a Sense and Sensibility movie, so I might have to see if I can track that down.  I was going to wait until I finished listening to the books all the way through again, but I might just break down and do a Harry Potter marathon while I grade this weekend so that I can honor the memory of a great actor!

My favorite quote that I ever saw attributed to him....to bad he won't ever get to be 80 in that rocking chair...

Day 8 #ReadingCram with Movie Cast

So I had planned to have today be a big reading day with baking--but then I ended up spending my whole night writing school reports.  And I wanted to start Northanger Abbey on Jane Austen's birthday and everything...oh well!! But I did continue to listen to my two audio books during my morning routine and driving.

Today's challenge is to pick a book and cast actors/actresses to fulfill the characters.  I decided to pick The Storyteller because it really hadn't been done yet.  But there are soo many characters....so I am going to just focus on a few of the characters.

For Sage

For Josef...if he can do a good German accent

For Minka

Movie Adaptation Challenge and Day 5 #ReadingCram

Today I had a great hour long discussion with my students about Jane Eyre....it was very fulfilling to see them be so excited to analyze a novel and feel like they knew what they were talking about!

I came home and read some of Insurgent---I really enjoyed Divergent and started this one pretty fast, but put it on hold so I could finish Jane Eyre with my students. I also continued reading/listening to the second Fablehaven.  I am hoping to finish Insurgent this weekend :) And hopefully starting Northanger Abbey on CD as I work around the house with Christmas preparations.

Today's challenge is to pick your favorite movie adaptation of a book.  I have always loved the adaptation of Little Women with Winona Ryder and Susan Sarandon. They did a nice job reflecting the book and I never felt like I was really missing.  The book really came alive for me with that movie.

Teaching Character Foils with Harry Potter

On Friday, I was teaching my students about foils in Jane Eyre.  Every time I teach foils, I find that it is helpful for students to have an example of a foil that they can see.  So I have been thinking about some more examples that are more student ready than using the book that we are reading so that they can come up with those on their own.  I think that's why on Saturday, when I was watching Harry Potter, these just came to me.  There are so many foils from J.K. Rowling!! (Warning if for some reason you have been under a rock and are not familiar with Harry Potter--there are spoilers below)

Okay the first one that everyone can usually think of is Harry and Draco.  This is especially apparent in the 6th book.  This is the book that Draco is chosen to kill Dumbledore--so he is a chosen one. And this is the book after the prophecy that reveals Harry Potter as the chosen one which becomes a major issue in this book. But of course Draco is trying to prevent the good side from moving forward; while Harry is trying to prevent the evil side from moving forward.

http://www.hdwallpapers.in/harry_potter_and_draco_malfoy-wallpapers.html

Another one people often think of is Harry and Neville.  Neville's parents, like Harry's are, taken out by Death Eaters situation when Neville is young. Neville could have been the chosen one--but he is always seen as the clumsy one.  But as Harry mentions--he is really just lucky. Neville is just unlucky with what he wanted to achieve.  In the seventh book, Neville finally comes into his own--and kills the snake--thereby ending Voldemort once and for all!

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Neville_Longbottom

One that I hadn't realized until I was watching the movies back again this weekend, but Molly Weasley and Bellatrix Lestrange are foils of each other too.  I didn't realize it until I saw Molly kill Bellatrix.  Bellatrix does everything to break up families--probably because her family (the Blacks) is all messed up with burn marks on the wall. She breaks up Neville's family, Harry's family, and the Weasley family.  But Molly does everything that she can to keep her family together.  She is the mother that Harry always wished he had.  She keeps track of them on her fancy clock.  She ultimately protects her family and that is when the foil comes to a head when Molly kills Bellatrix.

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=109987

The final foil is probably a bit obvious, but Voldemort and Dumbledore are foils to each other.  They are both very powerful wizards. But they naturally go about their power in different ways--but they both want Harry to be on their side--almost like Darth Vader and Yoda.  But Harry chooses to not go down either road.....which leads to an idea I have about allegories for a different blog post.

But now I have some great examples of foils :)

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Duel_in_the_Ministry_Atrium

Movie Review: The Hunger Games

So...yes this is an old movie. I hadn't seen it yet, and with Catching Fire coming out this week I figured it was time.

Summary: In a futuristic world, there were 13 districts that rebelled against their rulers---only 12 survived.  And as a reminder of this rebellion, each district sends two teenagers to fight in the Hunger Games. Katniss is sent from her district to fight and figure out how to be the last one standing.  Her adventure takes her to the shiny capital were she is now an instant celebrity, and she has to put all that aside as she enters the arena to kill 23 other people.

What Did I Love?

• How true to the book it was.  I didn't feel like I had missed anything and it was actually cool to have a more third person perspective--it allowed them to explain some more things.

What Did I Hate?

• Peeta was acted well--but I wish they had done a little bit more with his costume so that he was a bit more attractive!!! I really still root for Gale because I really like Liam Hemsworth---like a lot.

I have heard good things about the sequel...can't wait to see it.

Movie Review: Something Borrowed

Recently I watched this movie for the first time....and it was actually not too shabby.

Summary: Two best friends are really complete opposites named Rachel and Darcy.  Rachel is the down to earth book-smart one, while Darcy is the crazy party animal.  Rachel introduces Darcy to a good friend of hers from law school--Dex. Darcy and Dex hit it off and end up engaged to each other..but what about Rachel's and Dex's inner appreciation to each other.  Does Rachel stop the wedding or let Darcy and Dex be happy?

What Did I Love?

• The honesty...yeah it is a romantic comedy, but it had a flavor of truth to it....the fact that two people would never admit to liking each other seemed really true

What Did I Hate?

• Not a huge fan of the Marcus character....he is a random friend that no one seems to know what to do with...and neither do I! But he is important to the ending.....

Bottom Line...I watched it off my DVR which was great...might buy it on $5 DVD bin but you're not missing out hugely with this--just a cute romantic comedy.

Sounds like there might be a sequel at some point
which I will probably watch eventually

Top Ten (Five) Tuesday: Books That Should be Made into Books and TV Shows

Okay first of, I almost didn't do this question because I don't feel like a book should ever really be made into a movie/tv show. I am honestly not sure if I can think of ten....but I'll try.

1. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen--this book is awesome and would probably make a great movie.
2. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld--this whole series might get a good movie following like Hunger Games
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier--there might be a movie on this one already, but this would be a great one

Alright....so that's all I could think of but I did think of a couple that could use a remake...

1. Merry Wives of Windsor--I have only seen a BBC version and it is really not that great.  The play is better live and it would be nice to show students a better version if you can't go see the play.
2. Ella Enchanted--The current movie is a shame to the book...so it might be nice to see a new version.

What books can you come up with?

http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

Movie Review: Date Night

Last movie that I have watched recently, so last review for at least a little while. Of all three movies this was my least favorite.

Summary: Date Night is about a married couple whose relationship has become very kid driven and they aren't really romantic anymore.  They do this weekly date night but it ends up being just this stale boring thing.  A couple friend of theirs suddenly decides to separate and get a divorce.  They decide that they need to spice up date night.  The rest of the night becomes the movie, in which a case of mistaken identify, almost execution, corrupt officials, and police involvement.

What Did I Love?

• It was a decent plot line, and they kept us guessing well enough
• Funny one-liners
• Funny actors

What Did I Not Like?

• A very awkward scene in a stripper bar.....I would not watch this with children because of this scene...like I really wanted to fast forward

Bottom line....the awkward scene really kind of ruined it for me....so if you don't mind that then this movie would probably would be great for you

Movie Review: Safe Haven

I mentioned yesterday that I had lots of movie reviews for you guys.  This is another movie I watched this weekend--having finished the book.  (Check out that review here)

Thank you to
http://www.joreviews.com

Summary: The plot is basically the same as the book--there are some differences.  Katie escapes her abusive husband and runs away to a small town in North Carolina.  She meets Alex and his two kids, and she and Alex eventually start to date.  Her husband though does not give up looking for her, and eventually her past starts to catch up with her.


What Did I Love?

• I liked that they picked the leads they did...Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough did a great job.
• I also liked the girl they picked for the daughter--she was the right amount of cute :)

What Did I Hate?

• A key plot change in how Alex finds out about Katie's previous life and how the neighbor relationship shows up
• The son was too young
• The changes to Alex and Katie's overall relationship--I liked what they had in the book with the trust issues and this just changes that
• They should have given Josh Duhamel grey streaks

Bottom line: I might own it eventually, but if you watch it just recognize that the book is SO much better!

Movie Review: 42

So...yesterday I did not blog :( I had a very busy day and a very late night and wouldn't have been able to blog until after midnight this morning.  So I am writing two today---we are doing a 365 blog posts in a year to make up :)

This weekend I watched three different movies so we are going to do one of them reviewed today...this one is my favorite!

Summary: 42 is the recent movie that discusses how Jackie Robinson broke the racial barrier of Major League Baseball.  We meet the people that supported him through it all: a reporter, his wife, and the owner of the Dodgers--Mr. Richie.  This was apparently all Mr. Richie's idea, which was interesting to me.  He suffered lack of support from fans, team members, and fellow baseball people.  He had to stand up strong against all the diversity.

What I Loved?

• All of it!
• Absolutely loved Harrison Ford!! He acted so very well in this movie.
• The story....they really wrote a great movie.
• I learned a lot...and I hope it's all true :)

What I Did Not Like?

• That the Internet told me that the end bio things were wrong :(
• It dragged occasionally and had the typical end with all the music and slow motion and the clapping

Bottom Line: I want to own it!!

Thank you Wikipedia

Movie Review: Thirteen Days

Currently in my US History/Government class we are talking about the Kennedy Administration. Last week, I told you about great resources to use with the Bay of Pigs.  After teaching Bay of Pigs, I switch to the Cuban Missile Crisis and I show this clip from Thirteen Days. Until today I hadn't actually seen the movie, and I will start showing it to my class tomorrow.

So I thought I would do a movie review....

Summary: Kenny O'Donnell serves as special assistant to the president when the intelligence community realizes that there are missiles being built by the Soviet Union in Cuba.  They realize that these missiles can hit 1,000 miles away--and Cuba is only 90 miles away.  These missiles will be operational in 12-14 days, so this is not a good thing for the U.S.  They have to decide whether to do an air strike and then invade.  Secretary of Defense McNamara suggests doing a blockade, like a quarantine--which buys them some time.  What will the President do and how do we end up avoiding war?

What I Loved:

• I loved how much history you could just tell is in this---now it is still a dramatic representation. Apparently Kenny O'Donnell is not that big of a character in real-life, but I think that helps
• It really examines how a president makes a decision and the amount of people that really weight in on this 
• If you didn't live in the 1960s, you cannot really completely comprehend the fear that we had about going to war again....with the Soviet Union. This movie really puts that into perspective

What I Didn't Like:

• Kevin Costner's accent--heck everyone's Boston accents--holy crap awful!! Like there were moments where I wondered if we suddenly switched to British accents and there were moments where the same actor would pronounce the same word two different ways
• The acting overall was kind of lame...but not horrible
• They would go into black and white to color sometimes....at points it made sense but at other points it made no sense.

Bottom Line: I am excited to see what my students think and I definetely recommend it to history teachers and geeks everywhere!

Book Review: Safe Haven

Title: Safe Haven
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: 4.5/5....seriously like one of my favoriteist books ever!!

Why Did I Read? I wanted to see the movie so I needed to read book first and I found it on audio!

Summary: A girl named Kate shows up in a small town with no relation to it at all and tries to stay off in the background.  We eventually find out that she is running away from a very abusive husband.  However, she is able to find some semblance of normal as she meets Alex and his two kids--Kristen and Josh.  Of course you can guess that Alex and Kate fall in love...but what about the husband? What is he going to do about all of this?

What Did I Love?  I loved the story...and I loved the premise.  It was not your typical Nicholas Sparks book and that is what I loved. It was beautifully written and I loved listening to it.  The narrator told it beautifully...though I wish I could remember her name! I love how she changed voices for the characters and how it is not abridged!

What Did I Hate? I didn't like the end twist with the best friend...I won't spoil it but seriously it was a little lame.

I want to see the movie..but on the other hand I really don't want the book to be ruined....anybody seen it?

Top Ten Tuesday: Movie Adaptations of Books

http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

Today's Top Ten Tuesday link up is all about movies that took our books and made them new....for good or ill so here is my list

Top 5 Best (for the record, I don't know if any movie will really replace a book)

1. The Pelican Brief--This actually is a pretty good adaptation, but I still like the book better.

2. The Notebook--Stays so close, and I felt like I was reading the book when I watched it!

3. Angels and Demons--Again like DaVinci code it follows it very well, I think even better than DaVinci

4. DaVinci Code--It actually follows it very well.

5. The Time Traveler's Wife--This was a great movie adaptation to a book. (though I highly recommend reading it first! I think it will help the movie make more sense)

Top 5 Worst

1. My Sister's Keeper--This movie made me SO mad!! They changed the ending!!!! Read the book then see the movie if you really want to.

2. Harry Potter #5--Holy crap I could barely recognize the book in the movie

3. The Count of Monte Cristo--I honestly I am not sure why I didn't like this movie....but it really didn't remind me of the book at all.

4. Bourne Identity, Supremacy etc.--I haven't read the books, just seen the movies--my husband has read the books and he has told me that all the movies stole was the basic premise--a spy named Jason Bourne that doesn't remember anything.  That's it! I have been meaning to read the books because apparently they are SO much better!

5. Twilight movies--They really aren't that bad, but the acting leaves something to be desired compared to the books.

Movie Review: We Bought a Zoo

This movie came out in 2011 starring Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson.  Brian and I had wanted to see this movie for a while, and we finally got a chance to.  So here is the run down!

Summary: After the death of his wife, Benjamin and his two kids need a fresh start.  Benjamin goes house hunting and ends up finding the perfect house.  Well almost perfect...there is a zoo on the property that you have to buy if you want the house.  So, Benjamin jumps in head first.  The zoo needs a lot of help, so they spend a lot of time and money trying to fix it up and their lives.  Will they make it?  You should watch the movie to find out.

What I Loved?

• It is a really really sweet story!! And I love how it is based on a true story!
• They picked a great actor for the son....he really could be Matt Damon a lot younger
• The daughter is ADORABLE! They wrote her really well and she delivered the lines perfectly.

What I Hated?

• Had a lot of characters that they only partially developed...it would have been nice if they had done more with all of them
• Not much else...it is a pretty good movie!!!

So bottom line...Great movie! Totally find it and buy it!

From Wikipedia!

Movie Review: The Terminal

So this is what I watched tonight...should have been grading but oh well! This movie came out in 2004 starring Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Stanley Tucci.  Seriously with that list of stars it will be a good movie.  And it was directed by Steven Spielberg! So now we're even more set.....and yes it was a great movie!

So summary....Tom Hanks plays a man from an Eastern European country. When he arrives in NYC, his passport is denied.  While he was in the air his country was overthrown and his country no longer existed.  He was literally a man without a country (reminds me of a certain current event right now).  So he waits until his country is recognized by the U.S. Where does he do this? In the airport.

What Did I Love?

• The story line is awesome!
• The writing was tremendous.  It was very witty--there were so many moments where I was laughing out loud.
• The acting was great too!  Tom Hanks' accent is awesome and Stanley Tucci plays a great "bad guy"

What Did I Hate?

• Umm....I can't think of anything!

Bottom Line: Buy it, find it, if you haven't seen it you need too!

http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/diego-luna/images/930597/title/diego-luna-terminal-screencap

Movie Review: Premium Rush

So this isn't one that has just come out, but an older one.  Premium Rush came out in 2012 and stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt.  He plays a bike messenger who is assigned a tricky delivery.  He doesn't know that the package he is carrying is worth a lot to many different people.  So everyone wants to have it.  And then there is the drama that life just creates all around him.

So what did I love?

• They did a really nice job with the graphics 
• I have a greater respect for people who live in New York City...seriously, I don't think I could live there!
• Cute love story
• Okay so lets be honest ladies, he is attractive...so that doesn't hurt.

So what did I hate?

• It really had NO plot line! There is enough of a plot line to call it a movie, but seriously this was not a very complex plot at all.
• It is flashback, flashforward...and they give you the time that the scene is starting with and you have to pay attention!!

Bottom line...do NOT pay for this movie.  Get it for free..we watched it off a cable movie channel..that we have for free for a couple of days.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/movies/premium-rush-starring-joseph-gordon-levitt.html?_r=0

Movie Review: Inside North Korea

http://www.amazon.com/Inside-North-Korea/dp/B004HFKPOK

So I was thinking about something to review today and I wanted to share what we have been doing in class recently.  So not only is this a great movie review but it is also a great lesson plan idea for when you want an easy day.  This movie is done by National Geographic.  This follows Lisa Ling into North Korea as she films a documentary about a Nepal eye surgeon. He is going to heal 1,000 people of cataracts.  While they are there, they can film the culture around them.

So why do I like showing it in class? It is a great visual for the students of what North Korea is like.  They have trouble understanding the US tension with them and concern we have about the nuclear threats until they see this video.  They also have trouble understanding the truce between North and South and the DMZ.  If you don't show anything else from this movie except the clip of them at the DMZ then that would be worth it.  You can really understand what it is like there.

http://torrentbutler.eu/51376-national-geographic-inside-north-korea

Concerns to have as a teacher: So as always, every good teacher should preview the movie/clip they are showing in their class because you know your students best! But the biggest concern that I have had every time I show this video is creating a prejudice against the people of North Korea.  I emphasize with the students that we don't know how much choice the people of North Korea have so they might not really "hate" us.  I also emphasize difference of culture and though we view them as "strange"/"odd", they might find us strange and odd too. So we talk about accepting diversity when we watch this movie.

Another thing to keep in mind too is that this movie is now dated.  It was created before the death of Kim Jong Il, and his son is now the third dictator of the country--Kim Jong Un.  (Not to be confused with Kim Il Sung the original dictator) Getting this straight in your head and student's is also really helpful for when watching.

While Watching: I usually have a set of nine questions that I wrote for my students to answer.  They get a lot out of just watching and asking questions so sometimes I have them just respond to the film at different points too with questions and statements.  It is about an hour long so great for a classroom but usually we end up watching in about an hour and a half because I pause and clarify things, answer questions, and ask questions.

Oh p.s. I first just showed this to my US History classes because of the Korean War in US History class.  However, I recently showed it in all of classes with the World History spin with communism, Government spin of foreign policy, and World Geography spin of the theme place/region.  Overall,  it is a great way to connect current events with history too.

W is for While You Were Sleeping

One of my favorite movies is While You Were Sleeping. Sandra Bullock (as Lucy) does a great job acting in this movie.  I love how we can totally get on her side the whole movie! You are rooting for Lucy to get the Peter (Peter Gallagher) character because she so wants him at the beginning.  But as soon as she meets Jack and we start to understand that Jack (Bill Pullman) really likes Lucy, we start rooting for Jack to steal Lucy.  Lucy is wanting to be apart of a family so much but she can't stand to tell the truth.  If you haven't seen this classic you are truly missing out! It has a great happily ever after...which to me makes it a great movie.  

It also has some greats in the movie world...like Peter Boyle (from Everybody Loves Raymond), Glynis Johns (from Mary Poppins), and Jack Warden (from All the President's Men and 12 Angry Men). 

Favorite Quotes:

Lucy: I'm having an affair. I like Jack.

Jerry: Who's Jack?

Lucy: Peter's brother.

Jerry: So?

Lucy: So he thinks I'm engaged.

Jerry: To who?

Lucy: To Peter.

Jerry: Lucy, I really don't have time for this.

Lucy: No, you have to tell me what to do.

Jerry: Tell the truth.

Lucy: If I tell Jack I lied to his family he will *never* speak to me again. And Ox and Midge and Mary and Saul.

Jerry: Saul? Who's Saul?

Lucy: The next door neighbor. But you know what? Actually, he knows.

Jerry: Lucy, you are born into a family. You do not join them like you do the marines.

Lucy: So what should I do?

Jerry: Pull the plug.

Lucy: You're sick.

Jerry: I'm sick? You're cheating on a vegetable.

Lucy: Peter once asked me when I fell in love with Jack. And I told him, "It was while you were sleeping."

Ashley: Peter Callahan is engaged to me. I object to this wedding!

Priest: Get in line.

Ashley's husband: And I object to your objection.

Mary Callaghan: Who's that?

Peter: Ashley's husband.

Midge Callaghan: You proposed to a married woman?

Peter: Yes. And I'm in a coma when my brother makes a play for my- sort of my fiancée

Character Thursday: Wanderer from The Host

Okay I mentioned in my book review of The Host about the movie that was coming out on this book.  And with that movie coming out tomorrow, I have had The Host on the brain.  So I thought I would do a Character Thursday about my favorite character from the book--Wanderer.  I actually had originally thought about doing Wanderer/Mel because I love their relationship--that is what really made the book for me.  But if you really read the book-they are two different characters, so maybe a different day.

Okay first of all a little bit of background for people who haven't read the book in a while/seen the movie preview/etc.  Wanderer is also known by her nickname Wanda, but she is the alien species that takes over Mel's human body--the host.  As a result, Wanda doesn't view the humans as we do, she views them as a species that has their own problems as the other species she has been with.

My favorite thing about Wanderer is her ability to think out of the box.  A lot of times in our current society, people stick with their original opinion.  They are not willing to put themselves in the other person's shoes.  Wanderer literally does put herself in the human shoes by being a parasite, but with Mel still there and around Wanda learns from Mel andWanda really starts to change her mind about what to do.  This gets even better with how much we learn that Wanderer is a very smart "person".  She serves as the equivalent to a college professor and tells lots of stories of her previous "lives".  We often see the more educated as less likely to change their minds...but I think it speaks volumes to her character.

What will be interesting is how she will be portrayed in the movie....and how they will show this change?

P.S. A sequel is for sure in our future...I wonder when http://www.hypable.com/2013/02/21/stephenie-meyer-reveals-what-she-is-writing-next/

If you see this...let me know I want to know what you think!

Movie Review: Street Angel

The original movie poster from Wikipedia 

I am taking class through Coursera right now about film history. We watch movies that reflect a change in Hollywood.  This one was called Street Angel.  It was made in 1928--so it is a silent movie. However, it was made at the beginning of the world of talkies so it actually had the music come with it because it was synced to it.  The professor warned us that it was an emotional movie...and he wasn't kidding.

The movie starts with a girl whose mother is dying. She needs money for her mom's prescriptions, and she just can't get it.  So she decides to try to be a prostitute.  However, she is not having any luck getting a guy to pick her up.  So she tries to steal money from someone instead, but she gets caught and sentenced to a year in prison.  She runs away and goes back to her mom, who has actually now died.  She joins a circus troupe and lives for at least a little while away from the police.  She meets a boy and they fall in love--despite her fighting it.  They move back to her original city, and she lives in fear of the police for a long time. I won't spoil the end...but you should really watch it to find out if they get to stay together.

A great still from imdb.com

The best parts of this movie: the acting is incredible--the expressions that they can portray really is a lost art in Hollywood today. And it is really well written.  I don't think I have anything to really say that they could have done differently...I am really use to the faster paced of today's Hollywood movies.  It is only about an hour and 45 minute movie but it felt a lot longer than that.