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.