Sandlot

This is one of my favorite movies ever. It is about a kid who moves to this town during the end of school and has no friends. While he still has no friends he follows these kids to a sandlot where he watches them play baseball, well just practicing. One day he gets asked to come play and try to fit in. Well he does and he becomes part of the gang and gets into the biggest pickle of his life.

Cameron Krones

Pirates of the Caribbean

This movie is awesome. It is about pirates and the East India Trading Company. It's about how a bunch of pirates went and stole aztez gold and kept them for themselves, however, the is a catch; if you take the gold then you can't die and you are cursed. It is about the pirates taking over and killing people in order to get the last piece of gold in order to break the curse. It is an awesome love/adventure story. It is the best and only good one oout of the trilogy because the other 2 can be confusing and because it was the first one.

Cameron

Beer League

I watched Beer League the other day and it was the first time that I have watched it in about a year. forgot how hilarious the movie was. It is an awesome movie because what is better than being in a drinking softball league and not having any worries.

Cameron Krones

Serenity

Over the weekend I watched Serenity, a sci-fi action movie that is a sequel to the television show Firefly. It is directed by Joss Whedon, who has also directed Buffy, Angel, and Dollhouse.

The movie picks up where the show Firefly ended. There are six members of the crew on board now (two members have left but make appearances in the movie). One of them is River, a teenage girl. River was kidnapped and trained by the Alliance (the government) until she was rescued by her brother. Now the Alliance wants her back. Mal, the captain of the ship, decides to help her by continuing to hide her on his ship. Because of this, an assassin has been sent in pursuit of Serenity, and its crew. They realize that they must discover the secrets that River has learned about the Alliance while in their possession. They can use these secrets to save themselves. They go to the ends of space to find answers.

Far out in space, they find a planet that only River knows about. All the people are dead. It looks as though they just lay down and died. They crew finds a recording made by the last sane person on the planet. The recording reveals the Alliance put chemicals into the air to control the citizens’ behavior. It worked so well however, that everyone stopped caring about anything, including living. A few people had the opposite response and became insanely violent and aggressive. The crew realizes that this was the creation of Reavers (cannibals that are present throughout the television show). The crew broadcasts these findings all over the universe, destroying the Alliances creditability. Then the crew leaves immediately and is chased by both Alliance and Reavers.

During the final battle, members of the crew are killed. In the end, Mal and River save everyone they can. The movie ends with the funerals of their lost crew members, and the rebuilding of the ship. Fans of Joss Whedon believe that there may be another installment of the story someday.

I think the biggest issue in this movie is the stereotype of sexism. All of the women on the show are made to seem weaker than the men. Even though they are depicted as being strong, they still rely on rescue from the men. River is depicted as being extremely physical capable but mentally unstable. She relies on her brother to keep her safe. Zoe, the assistant captain, loses all will to carry on when her husband is killed. This is understandable, but I found it cliché that it was Mal who had to pull her through. Kaylee, the engineer, spends the television show and movie pining away for the doctor (River’s brother). I don’t think this movie is overtly sexist, but after watching it a few times along with the television show, I began to notice a pattern. I think however that if I had to pick the movie apart to find something remotely discriminatory, the movie is worth watching and I would recommend it.

Niki Habbe

Ratatouille

Even though this blog is supposed to be about romance, comedy, horror, and action; I decided to do one last movie and chose Ratatouille. Ratatouille is about a little rat that likes to cook. That is not the only point in the movie though. Through out the movie there are references to lessens that should be learned. For example, in one of the first scenes Remy steals from the old lady. Yet, once he sees Gusteau's figment it tells him not to steal. This theme is repeated through the whole film. Another not noticeable theme to the movie, at least not to little children, is Antone "Ego's" last name "Ego." This is shown because he was the restaurant reviewer and thought he was the top. At the end though he changes to the nice guy and his name does not fit him well.

As for class Linguini, Remy's caretaker, is shown as a poorer person in his little tiny apartment. Yet once he gets to own the restaurant he gets a fancy apartment with a beautiful view of the Eifel Tower. Gender is shown through the kitchen because there is only one woman in the entire kitchen so it is a male dominant movie I guess you could say. Even though it is animation and shown as a kids movie I think everyone should see it because animation has come a long way since I was a kid starting with Toy Story. Pixar has done a lot to make kids movies more enjoyable for older generations.

-Samantha Meyer

Crank

Crank is an action movie about a man named Chev, a hit-man, who gets injected with a poison. The poison will make him die if he does not keep his adrenaline pumping. So throughout the movie he does things to make him stay alive. Chev gets into fights with people, shocks himself with the paddles from the hospital, and even has sex in public just to keep himself alive. The movie full of action and I never really found myself bored or wondering when it was going to end.

In relation to class and gender you see Chev in a nice apartment in the beginning, so you know he makes a lot of money before they even tell you what he does. In relation to gender of course the hit-man is in fact a man. As for sex they show him as the dominant in the sex scene because he is the one who initiates the sex and then proceeds to dominate her. All in all it was a good movie and would recommend it to anyone.

-Samantha Meyer

Blood diamond

Blood diamond is about the civil war that is occurring in sierra lione that is being funded by diamonds. The main character Danny Archer (leonardo dicaprio) is a diamond smuggler, selling guns to the rebel fighters in exchange for diamonds. He comes across a man named solomon who was captured and forced to look for diamonds for the rebels. Solomon had found a huge diamond that he hid and Danny wants to try and help him get it back. Danny also meets a young reporter who eventually becomes his love interest. They all try to find the diamond in exchange for helping solomon get his family back. The woman, Maddy, gets everyone on a reporter convoy which eventually takes them to a military base where danny has friends who can help attack the rebel base.
This movie shows a large array of classes. It shows the struggle of the poor africans trying to get by in a war torn country, as well as the wealthy white guys profiting from the war. Also throughout the movie it seemed like the whites had more power and influence even in Africa. At one point Danny even says to Solomon he needs his help and without him, he would just be another black man in africa.
-Nick H

quantum of solace

Bond has always been a classic action norm, and I really like Daniel Craig as the new bond. Quantum of Solace is the second bond film he has been in, and it starts with his character bond kidnapping a guy he wants to question. Unfortunatly this guy gets away, so bond tracks him to a hotel room where he finds a briefcase, and is mistaken for whoever the bagman was by the main female character Camille. Camille is of course drop dead gorgeous in the movie, and is presented as a woman comparible to bond. Shes extremely beautiful and strong, can fight and fire guns and although she is presented as a strong woman, bond is still supior and has to help her throughout the movie. After some action scenes you eventually find out a group of wealthy investors (all are presented as old rich white men) are attempting to overthrow the Bolivian government and implement a general whome they can control. The general is presented as a foreign warhawk, looking much like sadam husein. Eventually we find out that the evil mastermind behind everything (a rich white guy of course) is trying to gain control of Bolivia's water supply. Bond and Emille head to the generals house to kill him along with greene (the main protaganist), and they do and everyone lives happily ever after.
Throughout the movie anyone and everyone portrayed as british is well dressed and well groomed, projecting a very high economic status of the brits. All the women in the bond film are extremely attractive as well, with the exception of M, who resembles a mother figure.

Land of the Dead

Land of the Dead is a zombie movie. Yet it is not your typical zombie movie because all the zombies remember what they did in their past lives. When the movie first starts there is a team of people killing all the zombie by distracting them with fireworks so they do not notice they are coming. One of the zombies in the group realizes that all the zombies are distracted and catches on fast to what the humans are doing. He gets a group of other zombies to follow the humans to the city where the humans are safe because they have built electric fences to stop invasion. Although the fences are there they begin to adapt and learn how to use guns and other weapons. Ultimately the people that are fighting them survive but the people in the city do not because they were not prepared for the event that the zombies would adapt to there defenses.

I think this movie, other than the acting, was decent. I am not a horror movie type of person, but this movie was barable compared to others. The only issues I saw in the movie was the issue of sex. The women were treated differently than the men because obviously they are women and show more emotion than men do.

-Samantha Meyer

Hot fuzz debate

I love Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead.  When I first saw Hot Fuzz, I really was not into it that much.  I don't know why I didn't like it but my roomate had it and one day I decided to watch it again and I realized how awesome of a movie it was and couldn't understand why I didn't like it before.  But I like the wittiness and the character of Danny is just brilliant.  Remember it's for the greater good.

-Cameron Krones

Lord of the Rings

I love the Trilogy of The Lord of The Rings.  I just got done watching the The Fellowship of the Ring and now I'm about to begin the Two Towers.  Then after that I will watch the Return of the King.  Now I have a hard time deciding which one I like the most, because they al have the magical feel to them and they are all amazing in their own way.  But I would amost say that I like The Fellowship of the Ring the most because it introduced everything and just the special effects and the music.   I love the story and I wish that Peter Jackson woulr direct the movie the Hobbit which is a prequel to the Lord of the Rings.

-Cameron Krones

Hot Fuzz

Last night I watched “Hot Fuzz”. It is a British action/comedy film produced by Simon Pegg , Edgar Wright and Nick Frost (also responsible for movies “Shaun of the dead” and “Run Fat Boy Run”). It is a spoof based on numerous action movies. The movie begins with Officer Nicholas Angel being brought into his superior’s office. He is a decorated officer and believes he is being offered a promotion. However, he is informed that he is being transferred to the country.

When sergeant arrives to the small town of Sanford, he is astonished at the lack of policing. Sanford seems like the perfect town however, with no crime. As the movie progresses, accidents began to occur. These accidents are very obviously murder to Nicholas. He and his partner, the action movie obsessed Sgt. Danny Butterman set out to solve the murders and uncover a conspiracy.

Towards the end of the movie, Nicholas discovers that all the key members of the town (also the Neighborhood Watch Alliance) have formed a group that kills any person who attempts to disrupt the peace of the town. He and his partner ban together, and take the bad guys down… this are achieved through a montage of famous action movies with many hilarious spoofs. In the end, Nicholas decides to stay in Sanford, realizing there is plenty of crime and excitement in small towns!

The clearest negative aspect of this movie is the stereotypical depiction of small-town life. I have lived in large cities my whole life, and have made a few of these assumptions myself. After living in Carbondale for a few years, I realize these are all generalizations. Hot Fuzz depicts the Sanford police force as being bumbling idiots. They make bets about citizens, sexually harass the female police officer, and allow the Neighborhood Watch Alliance to make all decisions concerning crimes. The only actor and actress in the town are depicted as being sexually promiscuous and air-headed. All of the citizens are made to seem untrustworthy, suggesting that small towns are corrupt and bent on hiding the ghosts in their closets. However, the movie makes these stereotypical jokes to poke fun at those who make generalization about small-towns. I really enjoyed “Hot Fuzz”. I suggest that before watching it, you watch “Shaun of the Dead” by the same production group.

Niki

Rush Hour

Rush hour pairs Jackie Chan with a complete opposite loud mouthed partner played by Chris Tucker. In the movie, a foreign leader's daughter is kidnapped and held for ransom. Agent Lee (Jackie Chan) comes over from china to aid the FBI in the investigation. The FBI, wanting to handle the case on their own, attempt to pawn off Lee on Carter (Chris Tucker). In their first interaction, lee pretends to not understand english. Carter is portrayed as a bit ignorant by yelling his words in an attempt to make Lee understand. Carter first takes Lee to china town to talk to the first of many contacts he has. In china town the asian tourists are all portrayed stereotypically, becoming fastinated and snaping hundreds of photos at every little thing happening. Later, while driving the music tastes of these two opposite races are commented on. Lee turns on the beach boys, and being the uptight out of touch asian he is, he loves it. Carter of course critizices Lee and changes the channel to a rap station. Eventually the duo is able to find the hideout of the mastermind behind the kidnapping. Upon entering the building a huge brawl breaks out and, as they are often portrayed, every asian knows kung fu. Carter attempts to keep up and help out, but all of the fast paced acrobatic fighting is done by the asians. The mastermind Jin Tao escapes unfortunatly and the chase continues. After pursuing further, they find out that jin tao is actually british, not asian. This reinforces the idea that behind everything is the man, and whitey runs all. This trend continues throughout the cast with all the FBI agents and police supiors are the typical white middle aged man. Fortunatly enough in the end, everybody bad dies, and everyone that is good lives, giving us a happy ending,

The ways in which the main charectors are portrayed is stereotypical for their respective heratiges. Lee is a calm quite respectful asian who, like all asians, knows awsome kung fu. Carter is set up as the typical loud mouthed fast talking black guy. Carter also owns a gaudi corvette and for some reason always loves to dance. Although their pairings are very different and result in hilarious consequences, neither are taken seriously by their supiors because they are both minorities. Rush hour pairs two stereotypical minorites for a action packed comedy filled movie.

-nick h

Smokin aces

Smokin Aces is an action movie about a mob boss who puts a million dollar hit out on a rival mob boss, Buddy Isreal. Many of the mob characters are protrayed as the fat italian mobster with much in the same way the sopranos portrays italians. Buddy Isreal is a vegas showman who became involved in the mob and is portrayed much like Frank Sintra, living a high class life of partying, prostitutes, and cocaine. When the word about the massive bounty on his head, a whole slew of contract killers start competeing to get to Buddy first. There are also FBI agents attempting to keep Buddy safe so he can testify against the mob. All the police and FBI agents are portrayed as upper class white males, also known as "the man". Some other charectors fit stereotypical roles such as hugo, the polish baffon portrayed as a sleezy track suit wearing, european ganster who is buddy's right hand man. The tremor brothers, a group of contract killers are a group of 3 white trash brothers. being from a poor background they are shown as stupid and crazy, going on rampant killing sprees as they listen to death metal. The brothers white trash background is further reinforced by all three being stepbrothers, with one mother in common. The few women in the movie are the two african american female killers. Their black backgrounds are reinforced with a hiphop wardrobe, and the use of slang. Although they are strong independant women, they still use a more subtle and seductive appraoch to getting to buddy isreal, as opposed to the brutal killing sprees the male killers use throughout the movie


- Nick H