Final Log.

My project, writing movie reviews, was enjoyable and meaningful work to me. I chose this project because I love to watch movies. Through out three months of working on the project, I'v learned many things that I'v never had chance to learn. Watching a movie and writing a review about it was not a simple work. Before starting the project, I thought my project would be so easy because watching movies was my favorite thing to do and it was what I do for every weekend. However, I didn't know about how to watch a movie properly. First, I had to know what are real good movies. I went to library and picked up two books. I read two books. One is David Thompson’s “Have You Seen…”, which helps me to understand the classic story and structure of American Hollywood films. It provided examples of past movies that were highly rated. Also, it gives me information about how to watch movie properly, such as good environment for watching movie. The other book, “Bowling, Beatniks and Bell-Bottoms” gave me basic idea about American 20 century pop culture, which tells me what kind of things appealed people in the movies. Reading these books really helped me and it involved some reading skills. The most important thing for my project was to choose movies. I tried to watch various genre of movies: action, thriller, comedy, romantic, horror, and SF. In order to pick good movies, I had to get some recommendations from my friends. Many people suggested their favorite movies. I watched some movies that played on the theater like 'The Avengers' and 'The Hunger Game". There was difference between watching movies in my room and in theater. When I watched movies in my room, I could  re-watch to capture important scenes, which made me enable to think more about the movies. However when I watched in theater, it was hard to catch all the scenes. It was harder for me because I watched both movies in Chunky's but whole movies required some listening skills. It was hard to catch all the actor's lines at first but it got much better at  the end. After watching movies, I wrote down my basic opinions on the movies and add summaries and my level 3 thinking about the director's purposes or themes. Reviews were about four to five paragraphs. I didn't try to write formally because I didn't want my readers to feel too heavy on their readings. Writing reviews definitely improved my writing skills and organizing skills. I involved my speaking skill during my presentation and discussion with my friends when I recommend movies to them. I needed thinking skills while watching movies and writing reviews.Overall, I think this project really helped me in a lot of ways. It helped me to understand what good movies are and improved my six English skills.  

Log-05.15.2012

Today's goal was to watch the important scenes of "Hurt Locker" and analyze them. I had to watch the movie again (skim) to find out director's message, theme and purpose. I think re-watch helps a lot to write good movie reviews. I can watch the part I may have skipped. During the study hall, I started to write the movie review of movie. I also organized the movie blog.

Log-05.14.2012

My goal for today was to watch "the Hurt Locker", which is the movie that Steven recommended. During the class time, I went back to my room and watched it. While watching this movie, I could feel that my listening and thinking skills have improved. I could catch almost every words from what the actors said. During the study hall time, I read some articles and reviews about the Hurt Locker. General rating for this movie was good. I also watched some highlight scenes of it.

Log-05.11.2012

Goal for today was to read AFI Movie Desk Reference from Publishers Weekly. It contains information about new movies and reviews about them. I read through reviews about The Avengers. Its rating was mostly good. Reading through reviews, I learned several strategy to write good movie reviews. In the class, I read couple of issue about movie Avengers: http://entertainment.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/11/11643793-was-avengers-joke-cruel-to-adoption-community. It was interesting that movie can make social issue. Outside of class, I downloaded the Hurt Rocker. 

Log-05.09.2012

Today's goal was to make a separate  blog for only movie reviews, which is for my final product. Because computers in the classroom were too slow, I had to go to library to do it. I copied previous reviews on my new blog from my old blog. I organized by order of I've watched. Outside of class, I posted Usual Suspects review on new blog. Also, I got Forest Gump and Hurt Locker.

Log-05.08.2012

My goal for today was to finish up the review for the Usual Suspects. Inside of class, I went to library and read some articles about the Usual Suspects. Again, it was a great movie and I was really shocked with the result of movie. Outside of class, I wrote review of movie. Because it was such a great movie, I wanted to write good paragraphs that includes a lot of information about movie and my opinion as well. I learned that I have to pay more attention on my grammar while writing because I found some grammar errors on my reviews that I've written.

Log-05/07/2012

My goal for today was to finish up my Usual Suspects reviews. However, I wanted to watch the important part  of the movie again. During the class, I went to library to research about other viewer's opinions about the movie. Reading and thinking through them, I could find out that the movie was highly rated to most of people. Outside of class, I rewind the movie and watched the important part again such as Roger turned out he was Keysor Soze. I also recommend this movie to Steven Cheng and Brian Lee.

Log-05/03/2012

I didn't have class today so during the study hall time, I worked on my check list of my six English skills. I think my project is perfect for improving those six skills.

Log-05/02/2012

Inside of class, I went into online movie review website and read some good reviews about the Usual Suspect. I was able to learn different form of review and different opinions about movies. Outside of class, I finished the Usual Suspect.

Log-05/01/2012

I got my check-list sheet during the day and I put descriptions about 6 English skills. Outside of class, I started to watch the Usual Suspect. It was hard to find movie file on online and took me long time to download.

Log-04/30/2012

I finished the two reading books. It helped me to understand about the American Hollywood films. Outside of class, I took movie recommendations from friends in my dorm. I think I am going to watch Snatch or Fight Club for my next movie.

Log-04/27/2012

In the class time, I presented my project to class. Even though I had to look at my note card a lot, I think it went well. Classmates seemed like they were interested in my project. Outside of class, I watched another movie, the Usual Suspects. It was a awwesomeeeeeeee. I want people to recommend good movies to me. I learned that I need to follow schedule I've planned because it is going off little bit.

Log 04/26/2012

During the class I listened and watched my classmate's presentation. They did very well. Especially, Mike's project, making cook book was awesome. I really want to try his food at the end of term. I learned many things from their presentation. Compared to their my presentation wasn't good enough. I posted reviews that I've written on my blog and edit them during the study hall. I wish I can do well on presentation tomorrow.

Movie Review- Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol

Mission Impossible 4 (2012)

Director: Brad Bird

Genre   : Action

Cast    : Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Anil Kapoor

General Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Review:       

Coming from a guy that hasn't seen any of the previous MIs, "Ghost Protocol" was nothing short of an awesome movie. From start to finish, it offers heart-pounding action and jaw-dropping special effects that will leave you in awe. 

One thing that bothers me about these kinds of movies is the way that you can never give the actor any credit for being so badass; there is usually (with exception of a few actors) a stuntman who creates what people watch action movies for: the action. I really appreciated this movie because Cruise actually IS that badass. Most of his stunts are actually done himself. Being able to both watch him fight, jump, and free-fall AND see his face at the same time was somewhat special. I really enjoy the little things. 

The rest of the actors did an admirable job as well. Pegg assumed his usually goofy character, and as tiring as he was, it was funny. Renner was definitely a great asset to the cast; he also knows his action. As long as you can tolerate a minimal amount of cheesy dialogue (most of which is provided by Pegg) you will enjoy it. 

Another recommendation would be to see this one in IMAX if you get the chance. The sound effects in this one are fantastic, and can only be appreciated to the fullest in such an environment. Plus, they will most likely show the prologue for "The Dark Knight Rises". Not to take anything away from "Ghost Protocol," but that prologue was the highlight of my night. 

In a nutshell, Tom Cruise delivered, and it was much better than expected. If you're an action-lover, you won't want to miss this one.

My Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Movie Review- Man on a Ledge

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Director: Asger Leth

Casting: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell

General Rating: ★★★(3/5)

Review: As you'd expect, "Man on a Ledge" is a Swiss-cheese plotted heist and "prove his innocence" movie but taken as just that, it's quite an enjoyable movie. I suppose after having seen enough of these kinds of movies, I shouldn't expect perfection in how every plot thread is tied up since very few movies manage it. However, what the movie does excellently is setup the plot and build up the situation perfectly. Just starting as a literal man on a ledge, we see subtle layers added until we get this full on crescendo of diamond heists, negotiators, cops, convicts, bad guys, good guys all happening on in a single block in New York. So, given that you're willing to suppress your tingling plot-hole sense, it can be an enjoyable movie.

The cast is quite good and the acting and tension is par for the course. The leads Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks do a great job. Seeing Worthington as an ex-NY cop, ex-convict and Banks as a negotiator/psychologist with a past is surprising on paper but they manage to pull it off very well. However, Jamie Bell is one of the heist-team but his opposite who plays Angie make for some cringe-worthy comedy, like some Sofia Vergara slapstick in the middle of a tense situation. Ed Harris looks emaciated but equally sinister as the villain and there are a host other minor NY characters.

I can hear the Hollywood pitch for the movie in my head, "it's like The Negotiator combined with The Italian Job but happens in NY and instead of a hostage situation we have a jumper." And, essentially it's just that – a movie that heavily recalls other movies from the past except perhaps for the man on ledge. On a side note, it seems that every NY movie nowadays has a reference to the OWS movement and what a typical OWS protester might look like.

The movie is at its best when it clamors for our hero who desperate and is fighting all odds to clear his name as he shouts from his ledge, "I am innocent and this is my retrial." The movie is at its worst when it's ungainly roping in all the plot threads it cast out but can't seem to put it together. Overall, it's a good enough movie for people who like these kinds of movies. If you've caught yourself bitterly berating the many plot holes in heist movies, maybe this isn't for you.

My Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

Movie Review- The Hunger Games.

 

The Hunger Games (2012)

Director: Gary Ross

Casting: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth

General Rating: ★★★★(4/5)

Review: I was excited to see this film based on all the hype from my friends. I haven't read the books, but thought the story was interesting based on the one-line explanations I got from others. I went into this film expecting to see something similar to the Twilight films (teen obsession over book turned film), but better. What I got was much, much worse.
First off, I want to say that I thought the acting was great. The actors did a great job of portraying their characters. What WASN'T so great was the lack of character development. The death scenes, even those meant to be emotional, didn't affect me at all. I am one who isn't afraid to cry like a baby at a movie, and I often do. But while the others around me were sobbing, I was just ready for the scene to be over with.

Another reason I strongly disliked this film, has to do with my title. It seems like 95% of the shots in this movie were closeup on the characters faces. These are fine, to an extent, but you begin to wonder after a while if the actors aren't all just bodiless floating heads. The fight scenes were quickly cut together, which could work, if you weren't zoomed in so much that you have no idea what was going on.

For a film with a supposed 100,000,000 dollar budget, this came across as a low-budget independent adaption of the book. They could have done so much more to improve the visual aspect of the film as well as make the characters more likable.

Overall, I would give these film 4 stars, mainly due to the great acting and costume design. Everything else was horrible.

Log 04/25/2012

I've received my comment card on my project. I got horrible grades on my logging. I should pay more attention on it. During the class, couple of classmates brought their grand parents to class. Each of us introduce our projects to them. I also got a tip from Mr Igoe about how to write the logs on the blog. I should upload my reviews on the blog. Outside of class, I kept made my presentation for tomorrow.

Log 4/24/2012

Since end of this week I have my mid-term presentation, I started to organize my project on my blog. During the class I finished up writing my reviews on the Hunger Games. It took less than 30 minutes. Outside of class, I start to make presentation page on my project. I will introduce my project to class with detail plan. I realized that I should manage my time more practically. I shouldn't spend my study hall time for watching movie.

Log 04/23/2012

Goal: Re outline review form and write review about Hunger Game
Inside: re-outline review form
Outside: Start writing review of Hunger Game
What I learned: High general rating of movie doesn't always mean good movie for me. (Hunger Game sucks)

Log 04/22/2012

Goal: Finish Man on Ledge review
Outside: Finished Man on Ledge review

Log 04/20/2012

Goal: Write review on Man on the Ledge
Inside: Write review
outside: Write review, Watched The Hunger Game in the Chuncky's
Learn: I need more organized formation.

Log 04/20/2012

Goal: Write review on Man on the Ledge
Inside: Write review
outside: Write review
Learn: I need more organized formation.

Log 04/19/2012

Goal: Finish the review
Inside: Wrote review and finished it
Outside: Watched Man on the Ledge
Learn: I should pay more attention while watching movie and I think I need more quiet environment.

Log

4/18/2012
Goal: Write reviews
Inside: Wrote review of Mission Impossible 4
Outside: Wrote review of Mission Impossible 4
What I learned: I need more information to figure out what is a good movie

Log

04/16/2012
Goal: Making outline for movie review form.
Inside: Read the David Thompson’s “Have You Seen…”.
Outside: Watched Mission Impossible 4
What I learned: Organizing is important.