Movie Review

Will Frozen Warm Your Heart or Leave You Out in the Cold?

            I recently saw the new Disney princess movie Frozen and I was pleasantly surprised. I was interested in this movie purely because Disney made it. If Disney hadn’t made it I probably wouldn’t have seen it because the commercials didn’t include enough details to tell the audience what the plot was. However despite the inadequate previews I thought it was a great movie.

            The plot of the story centers on the relationship between sisters Anna and Elsa who are left to rule Arendale. The main conflict begins when Elsa accidentally uses her powers to control ice that she has never learned to control to plunge Arendale in to an endless winter. It is then up to Anna to help her sister Elsa thaw the ice with the help of some unlikely companions while trying to keep the kingdom from falling in to the wrong hands.

            Kristen Bell who I thought brought youth and optimism to the character voiced the vivacious Anna. Broadway star Idina Manzel voiced Elsa and brought to the table not only killer vocals but compassion. Every good children’s movie needs a few laughs and the majority of the movies laughs were supplied by the bubbly snowman named Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad. As one of Anna’s love interests Kristoff was voiced by Jonathon Groff who made the tell it like it is attitude lovable.

            I think this movie is worth the hype; the music was beautifully written and composed. However I thought it was unnecessary when the main characters were singing their lines when hey should have just been talking. For example in the scene where Anna is at Elsa’s ice castle and is trying to bring her back and their fighting they did not need to have them sing what they’re saying. Even though this is a Disney movie they don’t have to sing everything that only works for Les Mis.  The movie was incredibly character driven and the love triangle, which is becoming a formula for popular movies these days, was a bit cliché and predictable but it worked because it is a children’s movie.

            I thought the morals and themes this movie taught were values I would try to teach my daughter if I had one. Unlike many children’s movies especially princess movies Frozen proposed the idea that two people don’t have to get married or even have an instant connection with each other right after they meet. Instead the movie suggested that two people should get to know each other before rushing in to relationship. The movie also majorly promoted self-empowerment and acceptance by making it the main message of the movie. Both of these themes have continued Disney’s shift toward modern morals and values.

            Frozen is definitely geared toward children and that comes across when watching it. Because this movie mostly lacks the not so subtle adult humor sometimes inserted in kid’s movies I would recommend this movie for any age kid. However it is a princess movie so it probably won’t appeal as much to boys. This movie is true to its PG rating. Not only do I think children would enjoy it but I think parents accompanying their children and other adults would enjoy the movie because its themes and the fact that it is not over the top childish. Overall I enjoyed the movie it definitely holds its own amongst its Disney counterparts, the music is perfect for the movie and the story was well developed.

Rating out of letter grades including pluses and minuses: A

Current Events Quiz #6.2

1. Why did the grand jury decide not to charge deputy sheriff Randy McMillian? Page A1 "No charges in taser incident"

Officials said Noe as acting aggressively and McMillan did not act out of order.

2. Why is the European court ruling about Google searches so interesting? Page A1 "European court: Google can be forced to remove links"
I find it interesting because i didn't even know they could do what they did, its also interesting because it would gives people more control over the media.

3. Why did Michelle Obama recently have a photo taken of her holding a sigh with the words 'Bring home our girls'? Page A4 "US aircraft aid in search for missing Nigerian girls" BE SPECIFIC
300 nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped and Nigeria said all options are open to bring the girls home.

4. Why was the discovery of a chronometer such a big deal? Page B2 "Researchers: Chronometer was 'Big Discovery'"
It is very old and probably very rare.

5. What will the iPad hopefully be able to do with the next software update? Page B8
splitscreen

REMINDER - Some of you are not writing enough here. A single sentence isn't enough. I expect you to expand upon your writing. If you think you have written enough, you haven't, write more. Be sure to answer WHY you think something.

Last week an inmate who was scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma was given the lethal injection, but there were problems with the drug mixture and it took him over 40 minutes to die. While observers and prison officials watched he writhed and struggled before finally succumbing to a heart attack. Lethal injections and the use of the death penalty have come under fire because of this event. The problems really started about a year ago because the main supplier of the drug combination went out of business and states have struggled to find replacements that are as powerful and work as well.

If someone has been convicted in a state that has the death penalty, what should the obligations of the state be when it comes to actually executing that person? I am not asking you what you think about the death penalty, just what you think the state should have to do when they are going to execute a person.

I think if a state is going to sentence someone to death than the criminals death should be quick or painless or both. If its quick than any pain they may feel will be over shortly. If it is painless than the death can be slower because they are not feeling anything. However the most preferable way would be a way that quick and painless so the death does not drag on and they are not in pain. i feel this way because even  if they are a criminal and did something that made them deserve death then death is punishment enough.

Movie Prep

1. Who are the main characters you would expect to see in the movie, based on the real life events?
Richard Phillips, Muse, and Mike Perry

2. Briefly, in 2-3 paragraphs, tell me what you expect the plot to be in the movie, based on the real life events?
I think the move will start with the announcement that no one should be sailing under 600 nautical miles near the soma lion coast. I think they all also include that Phillips and his crew were only sailing 240 nautical miles off the coast. This is important because thats probably why the ship was taken.
In the movie I think they will then show the ship being boarded by the pirates. Then the crew will over take one of the pirates and offer a trade. Next they will include the pirates taking the offer but not returning Phillips.
Lastly I think they will show Phillips in the couple days he was held hostage. Next it will show SEAL team six taking out the pirates. Finally they will show Muse's trial.

3. Why was this story important?
It is a story about courage, bravery, and staying hopeful.

4. Why did the pirates try to take the ship?
The pirates wanted what supplies was on board.


1. List the five most important actors in the film.
*Barkhad Abdi
*Tom Hanks
*Yul Vasquez
*Faysal Ahmed
*Catherine Keener

2. What is the movie rated?
PG 13

3. Who directed the movie?
Paul Greengrass

4. Who was the producer?
Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti and Michael De Luca

5. What awards did it win?
*Barkhad Abdi for Best Supporting Role at BAFTA Awards, London Film Critics Circle Award, and Black Reel Awards
*Christopher Rouse From American Cinema Editors and San Diego Film Critics Society
*Oliver Tarney and the producers

6. How much did it cost to make?
55 million

7. How was it received by audiences?
It was very well received critically and in the box-office

8. What did other movie reviews think about the movie?
It was deemed critically Acclaimed by Rotten Tomatoes.

Movie Reviews

Captain America:The Winter Soldier

1. Name of the publication

Entertainment Weekly

2. Name of the writer
Owen Gleiberman

3. Grade or score the movie review on a 1-10 scale in your opinion
9

4. High Points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)
Chris Evans portrayed the role believably and the plot was praised because Captain America found himself up against almost all of government agency S.H.I.E.L.D.
 
5. Low points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)
They tried a little too had to remind the audience that it was connected with the rest of the Avengers and it was too long.

6. Quote a paragraph from the review that you think expresses the overall opinion of the reviewer about the movie.
"What works here is setting up Captain America in a ­battle against…America."

Divergent

1. Name of the publication

Entertainment Weekly

2. Name of the writer
Owen Gleiberman

3. Grade or score the movie review on a 1-10 scale in your opinion
7
4. High Points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)
Shailene Woodley and Theo James's performances and the plot was thrilling.
5. Low points of the movie (performances, cinematography, plot, etc.)
The second half of the movie had a bit too many meaningless combat scenes that didn't have much to do with the main conflict.

6. Quote a paragraph from the review that you think expresses the overall opinion of the reviewer about the movie.
"Her character, Tris, spends most of the film learning to leap and toss knives and risk death like a badass, and when she puts those skills to the test battling her society's corrupt leaders, there's no doubt that she's a superior, market-tested YA role model, like Katniss in The Hunger Games. But she is also, as Woodley plays her, an intensely vulnerable and relatable character."

Newspaper Design

Current Events Quiz #6.1

1. Why did members of the group ADAPT protest at the Texas State Capitol over the weekend? Page A1
They were left out of a different  civil rights movement.

2.  Why is it so important that the Austin milk bank get a new home? Page A1
Because the provide milk that saves a lot of lives.

3. Why are dog owners unhappy about proposed changes at Auditorium Shores? Page B2
Because they are making it so there is only a certain section that dogs will be allowed off leash

4. What makes Pinterest popular? Page B5
People are able to purchase or find out where they can purchase the things they see and like on Pinterest.

5. What would you see if you went to the show "Sputnik"? Page D1
A combination of puppets, theater, and animation to tell a story about the environment.

REMINDER - Some of you are not writing enough here. A single sentence isn't enough. I expect you to expand upon your writing. If you think you have written enough, you haven't, write more. Be sure to answer WHY you think something.

A. Recently a ferry ran aground and sunk in South Korea. Many of the people on board who were killed were high school students on a field trip. As the investigation has continued a number of people have been arrested and will be charged with a crime. Among those are the captain of the ship who was reportedly one of the first off the ship and was on one of the few lifeboats that got away. The ship had been modified to carry more passengers and this may have contributed to its sinking (which was very quick, some reports say as fast as 10 minutes). It has spread to the government of South Korea and the Prime Minister of the country resigned over the weekend. What do you know and think about this event? AND (please don't forget this part) Who should be held accountable, the captain of the ship, the owners of the ship itself, the Prime Minister of the country (this would be like President Obama resigning over an airplane crash that killed 300 people because he withheld information about the crash for some reason)??? Why??

I think the captain of the ship should be held accountable because at the end of the day he was in charge of the ship's fate. I mean the government and the company wouldn't have been able to much if the ship really sunk as fast as it did. However if the Prime Minister was withholding information than he should be held accountable. 

Sports Current Event

 Step 1: Find a recent interesting sports article from the Austin American-Statesman. (20 points) Provide a link to the article so I can read it.
http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODE/AustinAmericanStatesmanNIE/

Step 2:  What is the headline? (10 points)
Joeckel's Transfer Leaves QB Void

Step 3: Summarize the main point of the article in one or two sentences. (20 points)

The article is about how since Johnny Manziel is going pro and Joeckel is transferring from A&M there is a question as to who will be the new starting Quarterback.

Step 4: List any sports jargon (technical words related to a specific sport). (10 points)

*highly-touted

Step 5: List any adjectives (descriptive words about players, games, etc.). If none, write N/A. (10 points)

*highly-touted

*unexpected

*fifth-year senior

*great

*up-tempo

*complicated

*indefinite

Step 6: Identify the type of article you found and explain why it matches one of the formats below: (20 points) News update - a news focused piece about a recently news worthy sports happening because it is a pretty brief article about an open position> It is not in depth or about an out come of a game.

Step 7: Provide at least one example of how does your article handles one of the following: (10 points) Rankings because it describes the rankings of the players that would have been chosen but are not available to play quarter back and the rankings of those who are eligible.