Homework

Your pencil scratches across the paper, filling line after line. The lead on your pencil is worn farther and farther down, until the wood of the pencil hits the page. You sharpen it, taking your time as you watch the shreds of wood float into the trash can. Flipping to the next page, you continue, once again filling line after line after line...after line...it goes on and on. It seems as if a whole notebook could be filled. And in some cases, it will be filled. By the end of the trimester, a small tree has been used up for each class. Worksheets are stuffed into folders. Notebooks are covered in writing, lines filled. Spanish words, German phrases, paper review, calculus...it doesn't matter which you fill the page with, it all falls into the category of homework.

Cub Bagging

Bagging groceries is always an interesting job. You shuffle awkwardly up to the next person in line and work up the courage to ask if they would like any help bagging their groceries. When bagging before Thanksgiving, there is usually a turkey somewhere among the piles of food that are being slid through the counter. It always presents somewhat of a challenge. You have to heave it into the air and slide it into a bag without creating too much of a ruckus, because then the person purchasing the food may believe you aren't treating their food with care. When you try to bag the other items, it is often like a puzzle. The boxes and cans go on the bottom, then the items that can stand to be slightly squished, and then the bread or chips, or whatever fragile items may be laying on the counter. You at a pace somewhere less than frantic, hurrying to finish the bagging before the purchaser is done paying. Gently laying the bags in their cart, you flash your biggest smile and say goodbye. And move on to the next customer, and the next, and the next...until your shift is finally over!

Hugo Cabret

The movie Hugo Cabret had educational value, artistic value, and entertainment value. The theme of the movie was thought provoking, as it was about purpose. In one line, the main character Hugo states, "A machine always comes with the exact amount of pieces it needs- nothing more. I think of the world as a big machine. And since there are never any extra pieces, I must be a part of that machine for a reason." That quote shows how the theme of purpose isn't too cheesy, but it is deep. Also, another theme is fixing things- machines and people alike. The artistic value is also amazing. The set of Hugo's home and the views of the camera are all well thought out. The lighting is different to create different moods; once, when Hugo is trying to follow an old man who stole his notebook, they pass through a churchyard, where the statues have dark shadows, giving a feeling of doom. In another scene, where Hugo is with his new friend and they are walking through a train station, the lighting gives a soft glow to everything around them. The entertainment value was very high. The plot was intriguing, while not being too unrealistic. My disbelief was suspended throughout the entire movie, and I felt as though I was a part of the world of Hugo Cabret.

Thanksgiving

It happens every year. Turkeys are purchased, thawed, and cooked. Stuffing is mixed and set out in bowls. Mashed potatoes are whipped by beaters. Cranberry sauce and deviled eggs are prepared. After all of the cooking and preparation, the meal is finally ready. Families gather around the table, joining together to give thanks. For some, it is stressful, due to the amounts of cooking and planning that must be done. For others, it is a chance to eat and relax with friends and family. For still others, it is simply another regular day of the year. To some it is important, while to others it is no big deal. Either way, it is recognized nationally. Going back to the times of the Pilgrims, this holiday is a symbol of being grateful. So people celebrate while they can! Happy Thanksgiving!

Hugo Cabret

Tonight I went to go see the new movie Hugo Cabret. It was quite a good movie! The cinematography was amazing! During one of my favorite scenes, two of the main characters are standing inside a clock tower, looking out over the city. The lights of the buildings and the falling snow created a magical scene. The special effects were very well done also! I have read the book, which includes illustrations, and I noticed that the actors picked to play the main characters looked very similar to the drawings of them in the book. The actor who played Hugo covered the part very well. The actress who played his friend did slightly worse at times, but her performance was still great. The plot was like that of the book, with a few side plots added. These extra plots added to the story and helped with character development. The actors and the characters they played were all realistic and likable. The angles of the camera were amazing and added to the magic of the movie. The make-up and set design were thought out, the design especially. All in all, the movie was amazing, and I would certainly recommend seeing it!

Film Review Practice

I watched the movie "From Prada to Nada" and found it to be an okay movie. It was exceedingly average. I thought the plot was amazing, but there was too much going on at different points. Plus, it was difficult to tell just how much time was passing between scenes. The set designs were done very well, in my opinion. The make-up was alright, but there were definitely moments where it was subpar. In one section, a girl asks her sister "What happened to you?" It is supposed to show that her sister is very distraught and tired, and although the make-up showed hints of some of that, the sister pretty much looked the same as she did during the other scenes in the movie. I originally thought this movie would show the different classes that Mexican Americans have in America, seeing as the main characters begin as wealthy children and end up living in the "ghetto." However, it was about much more, including being proud of family and heritage. The actresses playing the two main characters did very well, especially the one who played the smarter of the two sisters, Nora. She did very well in expressing emotions and tackling lines that were not always written very well.

How to Train Your Dragon Movie Review Practice

This movie is animated, but the animators use subtle changes throughout the movie in order to convey points. For instance, Hiccup, the main character, is portrayed as being much skinnier and smaller than his peers. He has long reddish hair, and when the animators want to give him a look of shock, they show his hair blown backward and his eyes wide. The actor who does the voice of Hiccup typically plays the wimpy, shy, or nerdy character in movies, and generally has a love interest who he considers to be way out of his league. So I consider him to be well-casted in the part of Hiccup, as Hiccup is supposed to be kind of wimpy and he has a crush on a girl considered to be out of his league. The background music is also well chosen. The movie is about a Viking clan, so the music has a Scottish hint. Bagpipes blare when there is a showdown between Hiccup and a dragon, and drums beat when the scene gets intense. Also, the animators played with the lighting and set design to show emotions. In one scene, the Viking chief throws a torch into a cave filled with dragons. As the spinning light catches on the wings of the dragons, the viewer gets a sense of anticipation, wondering what will happen when all of the dragons take flight. In another scene, Hiccup is riding a dragon, and the view is supposed to be magical. The Northern Lights flare in the darkness, and the sunset casts colorful shadows on the clouds on the horizon. The music in the background is dramatic and inspiration, in order to show the feelings of awe that Hiccup is experiencing.