Journal Post 6: Writer’s Choice

     Similar to my last post, this article is by Geoff Boucher as well and is about the much-anticipated film “The Avengers”. Joss Whedon is the director and screenwriter of this Marvel action piece. The article focuses on the Jeremy Renner’s performance in the film playing the part of Hawkeye, an archer known as the “World’s Greatest Marksman”. Renner does a magnificent job of portraying Hawkeye and living the part. Boucher interviewed the director Whedon, ““I love him because he really could not be less of a team player,” Whedon said. “He’s a sniper. That’s the first thing Jeremy ever said to me — it’s this guy’s job to be removed from everybody else and just to watch. So for him to throw in is a very personal thing.””. It seems like he played the part so well which makes me want to see the movie in theaters when May 4 comes around.

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/04/16/avengers-joss-whedon-says-jeremy-renners-hawkeye-is-a-loner/

Journal Post 5: Writer’s Choice

     This is an article about the new film “The Amazing Spider-Man”. Geoff Boucher did an excellent job of intriguing the reader. However, the best part was how he gave enough information to make me want to see the film, but not so much as to give away the story. Boucher gave crucial facts like release date, introduced the actors, and even gave a brief overview of the plot. Blonde Emma Stone does a wonderful job according to Denis Leary, playing the typical red head Mary Jane Watson. Andrew Garfield from “The Social Network” plays Peter Parker. The most interesting thing about the two being lead actors is how they are now dating in real-life. Overall, it was a great article and made me want to see the movie. I look forward to the release on July 3 and will most likely see it in theaters.

http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2012/04/24/amazing-spider-man-denis-leary-dazzled-by-real-deal-emma-stone/

Extra Credit: Ben Percy Reading/Q&A session

     I attended the Ben Percy Reading/Q&A session on 4/9 at 7pm. It was enlightening to hear from an accomplished author, especially because I read his graphic novel Refresh, Refresh. One of the most surprising things I noticed was the tone of his speaking voice. It was probably the lowest voice I have ever herd. The whole meeting lasted about 45 min and was very interesting. He read from his soon to be released novel “Red Moon” which he said will be released about a year from now. With a page count of 680 pages, it is one of the biggest novels he has ever written. There are approximately 40 characters in all and four main characters that the story focus’ on.

     During the Q&A session, I learning a lot about his personal writing habits/styles along with general things all writers do. For example, he did not discover he wanted to be an author until he was a junior in college. His soon to be wife encouraged his writing abilities and he listened. For having such a serious writing style, I was surprised how comical the meeting turned out. He told many jokes and kept the audience’s attention. Overall, it was an interesting and insightful presentation that I enjoyed.

Journal Post 4: Refresh, Refresh

     The impact of digital communication in war overseas is shown in the graphic novel Refresh, Refresh and the documentary Where Soldiers Come From. Soldiers used to write letters to communicate with family back home and vice versa. Now it is much easier, a simple email or IM can be sent in a matter of seconds compared to the days it takes a letter to be delivered. Refresh, Refresh gets its name from this modern day digital communication. In the story, there is three boys names Josh, Cody, and Gordon whose fathers leave for war and one of them keeps clicking refresh on his email with hopes to hear back from his father. They eventually decide they want to go to war like their fathers and after a troubling incident make an impulse decision to enlist. In the end, I thought the novel was well written and the pictures helped tell the story. The only drawback was how it was so pro going to war. It was as if I was reading a recruiting novel because it made me want to enlist.

To purchase Refresh, Refresh click here.

Journal Post 3: Brief Screening Report

America is notorious for our war and action films. Flags of our Fathers is one of the best representations of American war history you can find. One scene that sticks out to me is the literal raising of the second flag at the top of the mountain. It is not necessarily the climax of the film; however, it is what the entire film is based around. Director Clint Eastwood does a wonderful job of making the viewer feel like you are watching the literal raising of the flag as if you are there. There is so much work and effort put into a simple minute long scene. From camera angles to timing and background, the scene is perfect in every way.  It is no wonder that it influenced me so severely. The mood is serious and profound, with little time for thought because the action continues with more war scenes. It leaves the viewer to digest the scene and the back of your mind. For me, the freeze frames of the actual shots were the most impactful parts of the scene. It sent shivers down my spine. It was as if I were the photographer taking the famous pictures and fueling the moral of America with one single image. Even though the men who raised the flag were considered heroes, the true heroes were the men who gave their life to protect America. Throughout the film, the raisers of the second flag deny being a hero because they feel the same way. Seeing all of their friends die and then they get sent back for raising a flag. They are ashamed and do not feel like heroes at all.

Journal Post 2: Favorite Movie

     One of my favorite movies is Saving Private Ryan because it is one of the greatest war films ever made. It is rated online by some of the nation’s top movie critics as one of the best, if not the best, war films of all time. The plot is elaborate and intriguing, the acting is superb, and the action seems like it never stops. However, the reason why I like Saving Private Ryan the most is that it has meaning and significance beyond just WWII battles like other war films. It is about a group of soldiers trying to save Private Ryan because all of his brothers died in the war and the government sent out a group of soldiers on a humanitarian mission to recover him before he perished as well.

Journal Post 1B: The Believing Game - SOPA, Against

Though it seems like the act is a great thing that would do nothing but good, it comes with many problems. The main problem of the act is the potential for a “big brother” like country. SOPA allows the government to access all internet activity from your computer, and then control what websites you can view.  Many worry that if the act passes, the government will start to attach laws onto the bill. They will be able to filter whatever they want from the public and have control over the world’s most powerful utility, the internet.