The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Normally, when writing a film review, I like to start with a thought provoking sentence or catchy phrase. However, for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, no such phrase or sentence can be had. The only thing I can think of is how the movie should have been called The Bad, Bad, Bad. Not only are all the characters "bad" but the movie is perhaps the worst I have seen. Yes, it has some symbolism but woop-de-do. Any director can throw some white clothes or pink umbrellas in a scene and that does not make anything a classic. Do I recommend this film? No, go call crazy Aunt Gerty.


The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly was filmed in 1966 by director Sergio Leone. This movie is considered a spaghetti western because it was shot in Italy, not the American frontier. For all I care, the movie should have only been released in Italy. Although this movie is quite terrible, it does have some bigger names. Clint Eastwood was the Good, Lee Van Cleefs the Bad, and Elli Wallach the Ugly.


The movie starts out  set in the civil war and has a classic western scene with men slowly walking towards each other with a western tune most people know in the background. The music was the only aspect of the film I could handle for more than 15 minutes; 15 minutes is also how long some scenes last with no one saying a word. Intense and riveting or a good time for a nap.

This film is all about the triumphsand tragedies of the three characters mentioned above. They are all rough and tough cowboys with their own little niche  in western law-breaking. These characters are all intertwined, meeting throughout the film trying to help or get back at one another. For most of the film, The Good (blond hair and lighter clothes) and the Ugly (shorter and stalky with brown hair) are working together. The Ugly has a ransom on his head and the Good usually turns him in, getting the reward money, then releasing him from the noose later. I know, the character that breaks the law and lets criminals go is the Good?


However, for a little while the Good and the Ugly have a little spat and go their separate ways. Get the kleenxes out, not because the scene is sad but because you know the movie will have to show their resolve...Taking even longer. Eventually everything works out in the end and the director leaves the movie with a bang. Ok, more like a small fizzle. 

After you get done calling crazy Aunt Gerty, instead of watching this movie I would then cut the entire lawn with a finger-nail-clipper, wash my car with a tooth brush, and watch a 7 day documentary on the effects of growing grass. I hope I made it clear how I feel about this movie. If I didn't make myself clear, watch it for yourself. However, I warn you, take all sharp objects away. You will want to shove them in your eyes and ears. Safety first.

Special Thanks to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good,_the_Bad_and_the_Ugly
http://www.activebuilding.com/Portals/73279/images/The_good__the_bad_and_the_ugly_by_AtixVector.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/45/Good_the_bad_and_the_ugly_poster.jpg/220px-Good_the_bad_and_the_ugly_poster.jpg

My Top 10 Movies

10. Devil Wears Prada

9. Anchorman

8. Princess and the Frog

7. Shawshank Redemption

6. 27 Dresses

5. Grease

4. Hairspray

3. The Notebook

2. Bridesmaids

1. Chicago

V for Vendetta

When watching the news, one is likely to hear how the country and world is going to hell. Gas prices are rising, inflation is growing, and trust in government is the only rate going down. Individuals, specifically Americans, love complaining about government rules and dumb spending. However, after viewing V for Vendetta, one will likely appreciate the government and laws the country has. Do I recommend this film? Ya Sure You Betcha!

V for Vendetta was filmed in 2006 by director James McTeigue. This film portrays a futuristic government in the United Kingdom where strong rules and regulations reign supreme. The America as we know it today, is gone and groups like homosexuals, Muslims, and anyone not white and British, is persecuted. This film shows how the life of a regular British woman, Evey Hammond played by Natalie Portman, and a revolutionist, V played by Hugo Weaving, intertwine.

V is never seen entirely as his face is covered with a Guy Fawkes mask, his body with a black cape, and his hands are only seen once. However, from what is seen, his body has been ravaged from previous encounters. V hates the controlling government he lives under and does everything in his power to defeat the High Chancellor Sutler played by John Hurt.

The Guy Fawkes mask

High Chancellor Sutler came into power by some "coincidental happenings" and can be considered a modern day Hitler. He wants his citizens to be fearful of the government and will do anything to make sure the people are put in place. British citizens are brainwashed by the government controlled news media always stretching the truth.

V goes on a killing campaign and murders the evil rulers of the British government one by one, going from low to high. Evey Hammond eventually gets tangled up in V's web of lies and is imprisoned by his "radical" ideas.

After mental anguish, Evey has a breakthrough and is no longer afraid of the government and believes the government should be afraid of her. She goes out in the world, with a criminal record, and somehow is never caught.

After viewing V for Vendetta, one will appreciate the society we live in today. The laws and regulations of the American government are far from perfect, but far from the fascist government in this film. Does this country have problems? Yes and they do need fixing. However, as long as I do not have to worry about severe regulations or fingermen around every corner. I will be grateful I was born in this country. This film will make one think about the direction our country is headed and understand what needs to be reformed.

Special Thanks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta_(film)
 http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/165/513/v-for-vendetta-v-popup.jpg
http://johnnysaturn.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/v_for_vendetta_ver3.jpg

The Great Debaters

If one is looking for a feel-good movie that will inspire change in the crustiest of people, The Great Debaters should be on your short list.  This movie instills a sense of pride in the people involved in the civil right movements and makes one shamed to look at America's past. After viewing this film, one will better understand the hardships African-Americans have faced less than 50 years ago. Do I recommend this movie? Ya Sure You Betcha!

This movie was filmed in 2007 and set in 1935. It was directed by the great Denzel Washington who also stared as the intelligent and witty Professor Tolson. Professor Tolson is a teacher at the all black Wiley College in Marshall, Texas and coach for the debate team. His team consists of 4 members: Henry Lowe played by Nate Parker, Samantha Booke played by Jurnee Smollett, James Farmer Jr played by Denzel Whitaker, and Hamilton Burgess played by Jermaine Williams.


The debate team is renowned in Texas and went undefeated for quite a while. However, with the praise for the debate team rising, hatred for Professor Tolson was mounting. Tolson wanted to form a farmer's union for sharecroppers, white and black, in the south. Word around town was Tolson was a communist and the only thing worse than being black, was being a communist; he was both. Mr. Burgess ends up leaving the team because of Tolson's political beliefs, which he adamantly keeps to himself.


The team is shrunk to Booke (with and "E"), Mr. Farmer, and Mr. Lowe (also with an "E"). The two players are connected with their last name and that will foreshadow future events. The trio keeps winning until Lowe makes some mistakes and the fourteen-year-old Farmer has to debate. The team witnesses common occurrences for the Jim Crow south which only makes them stronger.

The team left to right:
Burgess, Farmer, Booke, Lowe

Mr. Tolson is sending word of his debate team to many colleges around the country, all white and all black. Eventually, one of the most prestigious universities, Harvard, invites Wiley College to debate. However, with this momentous occasion, heartache is felt by the difficulties the team faces.

The Great Debaters is a must see film, appropriate for most of the family. This film will open history books in ways people have never opened them. When watching, hearts will be touched and former opinions changed. After viewing, I realized the hardship African-Americans faced once relieved of their owners. This movie presents a message relevant in today's society, and will be relevant until all unjust laws are changed.

Special Thanks:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Debaters
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTQqVo3jb9Pv9LE6zcOubV-DufDoLRRcQwWlMEGv9jyPdf6XDNO9s6JE4CA99hEWmvJ6lypTGqkmHwNxLKvWek8HnPB6GpVlYuJY4xKeBOpH2DEdEyXU65lQ8-46fkrx0FKUNvFqqN1Us/s1600/The-Great-Debaters-(2007)-picture-MOV_b726c816_b.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9Nd1UhAeT_ncvsASYVCe-VzVW-ZpqMXNAGHC6vaWfR_zNooxdfmxqb9ZhotcpO5qloTncELNf3A-_2w9Cdsuic7nq3ggcrVxcChdDEGmRrOgdBETvtUVba2ekc-BFituhrRiOO19l80/s1600/2007_the_great_debaters_007.jpg

PHS Paradiso



Depression. This photo captures the
despair felt by many students

The Main Artery
If this gets clogged, you're screwed

The Bee
Bzzzzzz!

Looking Back
The light is coming near

Senior Hall
Rounding the corner one last time

The Simpson's Movie

Three Puns:
1. "You can canvas me as long as you want." Milhouse Van Houten
2. "My boys are always praying through the knees." Ned Flanders
3. "Whenever my boys make up a batch of frownies." Ned Flanders


Five Satirical/Political Comments/Actions:
1. Itchy, Hillary 08' sign on The Itchy and Scratchy Show.
2. Town meeting titled "An Irritating Truth."
3. "Black, that's the worst color there is." Lenny
4. "I was elected to lead, not to read." President Schwarzenegger
5. "Russ Cargil, most successful man in America, to head the EPA, least successful government agency." Russ Cargil


Five Ironic/Mocking Comments/Actions:
1. In opening music, Apu turns 2006 expiration date to 2008.
2. Green Day attempts to talk about the environment and residents of Springfield sink the stage.
3. Green Day plays violins and quotes the movie, Titanic, as the stage is sinking.
4.  "This book doesn't have any answers." Homer looking at the Bible.
5. "The Clogger, if you find a greasier burger, you're in Mexico." Krusty the Clown. 

Special Thanks to:
 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIcQIQE-IVWweh6iGpsT2dzpN0-9QnLbu4j0FETYUQ5mS6zB55h6flJCS1pxFGXzeqESwtHLJp_muoJ7VtmcQ2BWrVTWKRlA5R_BY2XRwF0AlbyvPmwY9cdI5IKXeuBc0ypQQMKjqNh9s/s1600/Ned-Flanders.jpg
http://assets.huluim.com/shows/key_art_the_simpsons.jpg

The Graduate

Go back to a simpler time; a time when sons played baseball after school, daughters joined FHA (Future Homemaker of America), and parents were happily married. The whole family attended church on Sunday and afterwards, mother would make a pie while Pa and the boy played catch. This simpler time was the 60's. However, it was also the time of expecting mothers drinking, protests, and youth thinking about the old ways. The Graduate filmed in 1967 portrays the second version of the 60's. Do I reccomend this film? Ya Sure You Betcha!

The Graduate was directed by Mile Nichols staring the young and handsome Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock alongside the cougar, Mrs. Robinson played by Anne Bancroft. Ben is a young college grad that moves back home for the summer, trying to find his way in life. He's not the regular recent graduate seeing as he doesn't "sew wild seeds." He can barely talk with females let alone "sew" with them.


Here's to you Mrs. Robinson

Mrs. Robinson, one of Ben's parent's "best looking friends" has her eye on the awkwardly cute male lead. Her hormones rush and his face blushes as she disrobes, starting their physical relationship  Eventually, Ben and Mrs. Robinson galavant in a local hotel regularly with a no strings attatched policy. Well, one is string is attatched. Ben must never date Elaine, Mrs. Robinsons daughter played by Katharine Ross.

Right after Mrs. Robinson makes Ben promise to never date Elaine, any movie lover knows what will happen. Ben and Elaine end up dating and Ben's attention is moved from mother to daughter. The two kids have a jolly good time, while Elaine decides she must do the expected. She breaks the relationship with Ben for a more stable relationship with Carl Smith played by Brian Avery. Notice how entirely generic Carl's name is.

All the while Ben's parents wonder why Ben lays around all day by the pool and Mrs. Robinson's marriage crumbles, husband and wife sleeping in seperate beds like Ricky and Lucy on I Love Lucy. However, this seperation is not for censorship.

The 1960's. A simpler a time? A time when college graduates sleep with older women and plastics is the next big thing. A time when norms were changing, whether parents liked it or not. The Graduate reveals the historical changes with Simon and Garfunkle narating the story. If the 60's were a simpler time, I'm glad today is more "complicated."

Special Thanks to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Graduate
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6a/Graduate.jpg/200px-Graduate.jpg
http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/dvd/grad6.jpg