BECAUSE I SAID SO, YOU MIGHT NOT WANNA WATCH

I have nothing much to say about the movie “Because I Said So” except that, well, it was a complete waste of time.


I mean, it’s not even a nice family comedy to begin with. It is supposed to be about mother-daughter love but I just don’t feel it at all. It’s about a over-controlling mother who wants to find her youngest daughter a husband because she doesn’t want her daughter to end up alone, like her.

So, her mum enrolled in a match-making service, on her daughter’s behalf and set up her daughter with the guy she feels is right for her daughter. Of course the daughter then find someone else whom she felt that was more suitable but then had to in some ways please her mum. The dilemma…on and on…overall, it wasn’t nice at all.

It stars my favourite Lauren Graham and Piper Perabo but other than that, nothing. I am not a fan of Mandy Moore and this movie doesn’t help me like her at all. So if you really really have nothing to do and you want to watch a love story, you can opt for this one.

But don’t say I didn’t warn you guys. “Music and Lyrics” would be a better choice. ;P
My sis enjoyed it though...

p/s: All this hype about the movie & in the end, I was again let down. The poster itself isn't attractive. Sad...


TC-My Rating:







With LotSa Lurve,
TammyC

WRITING FOR FREEDOM

Time for movie talks. It's been so long since I blog about movies because for your information, I've been busy with my FINAL FINAL exams.

Now that the paper is finally over, I can continue with my movie-quests.

I highly highly recommend "The Freedom Writers". This is a very very very very inspiring movie, with a beautiful storyline. It's about how great this teacher is in integrating her students of different races in Wilson Highschool, in Long Beach California.



In that school, students were divided according to the colour of their skin. They are divided not by others, but themselves. They chose to stick to people with the same colour skin.

Gangsterism dominated the streets of Long Beach, California. Students in the school were exposed to violence everyday. They can just go out and if they trespass the racial borders, they might just get shot in the head. They risk death practically everyday just by venturing out on the streets.

Erin Gruwell, a new teacher and the heroine in the movie was only 24 years old when she was given a class full of students deemed ‘unteachable’. At first, she was the optimistic young teacher, ready to educate her students. Of course, the students at first gave her the usual wouldn’t-be-bothered attitude and showed absolutely no respect to her what-so-ever.

Erin Gruwell’s anger was ignited when she saw a piece of caricature of an African-American student being passed around the class. It reminded her of the depiction of the Jews during the Nazi German era. Propagandas using caricatures of Jews with big noses were transmitted around, propaganding the world against the Jews. She then touched on the Holocaust and found out that these students know nothing about it. But when she asked how many students have been pointed at the head with a gun before, all of them raised their hands.

“You think this is funny? Would this be funny if it were a picture of you?... I saw pictures just like this once, in a museum, only it wasn’t a black man. It was a Jewish man. And instead of the big lips, he had a really big nose – like a rat nose. But he wasn’t one particular Jewish man, this was a drawing of all Jews. And these pictures were put in the newspapers…by the biggest gang in history. You think you know all about gangs. You’re amateurs. This gang will put you all to shame…Take over neighbourhoods? That is nothing compared to them. They took over countries. You know want to know how? They just wipe out everybody they didn’t like and everybody they blame for their life being hard. And one of the ways they did it was by doing this. They print pictures like this in newspapers – Jews with big long noses and blacks with big fat lips. They also published scientific evidence that Jews and blacks were the lowest form of human species. Jews and Blacks were just like animals.So it doesn’t matter if they lived or died. In fact life would be a whole lot better…so what you’re saying is if the Latinos weren’t here, the Cambodians, the Whites or the Blacks, your life would be better?” - Erin Gruwell

I think what she means here is that racism happens because we just needed someone to blame for the injustice and hardshipes in our lives. I do believe that is true. For example in Malaysia, rich people do not ‘know’ racism. I think it's because they don’t feel the pressure or the injustice of the New Economic Policy. They don’t need to fight for their rights in education because they can afford education anywhere. The poors are the ones who feel the pinch. Therefore they are the ones who would complain about how the government gives the benefit to the Bumiputeras. I’m not trying to touch on sensitive issues here. But that is in some ways the truth. In America, people hate the Whites. Why? Because the Whites were the ones in power. They can create their own rules, do what they want because they have the authority to.

This theory actually applies to other stuff in life. For example in the movie, there’s this ridiculous male teacher (who I would really fire if I were the head of the school) who simply blame his students for the school’s plummeting reputation and results. You see, Wilson Highschool was a reputable school with great students until the government made it an integrated school. What made the teacher angry is he feels that students who want to be there couldn’t because they have to make way for stupid, useless kids who doesn’t want to or are forced to be in the school. You see, he’s again blaming others for his lack of responsibility as a good teacher. I don’t see Erin complaining.

I think that part of our lives and how it is depends on us. Like my dad always said, “You ride on what you have and for what you don’t have; you double your effort to keep up.” I really really treasure this advice because I find these words of wisdom. We don’t need to feel sorry for what we don’t have. We don’t blame others but rather work hard to compensate it. I guess in some ways, that is also what Erin is preaching.

Back to the movie, Erin then rode on this discovery (her students not knowing about the Holocaust) to teach her student by introducing to her students books like “The Diary of Anne Frank”. She feels that the character in the book has a lot in common with her students.

She introduces her students to diary writing, whereby she asked her students to keep an account of their lives and their stories, just like Anne Frank. They can even write poems, songs, whatever, the only condition is that they have to write everyday. She told them she is not going to read the diary/journal, unless they wanted her to. And she wouldn’t grade them, because how can she said, “How can I grade an A or a B for one writing the truth, right?”

Indirectly, she got her students to start reading and writing.

We also see how Erin in some ways challenged the school’s system. The school wouldn’t give new books to the students in her class because they feel that these children are hopeless anyway. There’s Ms. Campbell, (I forgot her post in the school) a lady who wouldn’t let Erin use some of the new books in the library even though they are just sitting there because she said the kids wouldn’t know how to read them and will damage them anyway. Why waste time? It’s like she didn’t even give them a chance. She just wrote them off. She said the school will only give them old, torn books because these students don’t know how to take care of books. This scene in the movie, I find Erin’s words extremely meaningful.

Ms. Campbell: “No, not the books…this is what we give them. It’s Romeo and Juliet, but the condensed version. But even these, look how they treat them. You see how torn up they are? They draw on them…

Erin: “Ms. Campbell, they know they get these because no one thinks they are smart enough for real books.”

And in a later part of the movie, she said:

“Dr. Cohen, why should they waste their time showing up, when they know we’re wasting our time teaching them. We tell them, go to school, get an education and then we say, well, they can’t learn so let’s not waste resources. You don’t treat students with respect and trust…how are you supposed to teach them? Besides, the books are just SITTING THERE. At least try and let those kids, maybe somebody can benefit from them."

Later, Erin Gruwell worked 3 jobs in order to buy new books for her students since the school is not sponsoring even though they have the resources. Later she also managed to convince the School Board Chairman to let her take her kids out on a trip to the Holocaust Museum, again using her own resources. During the trip, the students also got to speak to some real Jewish victims who suffered during the Nazi German era. The students stayed in a beautiful hotel. See, Erin treated her students like they were gentlemen and ladies, she didn’t see them as worthless students who cannot be taught or guided. You earn respect by giving respect.

Erin has another point which I totally agree with. How can you expect them to study if they have so many other things in life to worry about? We only see on the surface that they are students that wouldn’t care about their studies, but we never get to the root of their problems. They all wanna be somebody too, but maybe they don’t know how or they don’t think they can without someone to guide them. That’s when Erin comes in.
The students, inspired by their teacher later changed and started believing that they can achieve almost anything. For example they did fundraising in order to get enough money to invite Miep Gies, a kind-hearted soul who helped hid Anne Frank to their school.

What I really liked about this movie is that it is actually based on a true story. I didn’t know that racial discrimination was such a huge and disturbing issue in the US until I watch this movie. All the stories of the characters are real, based on the real-life students. And there is really this honourable teacher, Erin Gruwell.

The real Erin Gruwell, the heroine

Some of the freedom writers

So why “Freedom Writers”? Towards the end of the movie, Erin wanted her students to compile all their stories into one. And they named themselves “Freedom Writers” after the Freedom Fighters/Riders. The book was later published, so yes, we can actually read that book if we want to, if we buy it. In 2007, a movie was made based on the story. And guys, go check out the Freedom Writers Foundation website – www.freedomwriters.com

The book: The Freedom Writers' Diary

Overall, I think this is by far one of the best inspirational movies I’ve watched this year. Well but then it’s only the 20th of January haha. Hopefully more good movies await me.



TC-My Rating:




With LotSa Lurve,
TammyC

BACK 3 BACK MOVIES

Recently, to reward myself for the endless hours of burying my face in laptop in order to complete my assignments, I watched 3 movies: - “The Midnight Meat Train”, “Wild Child” and few hours ago, “The Number 23”.

My favourite among the three? - “Wild Child”.

Okay I’ll admit that “Wild Child” is another teen flick, with the same standard storyline that you’d basically predict in most teen flick.

THEMES: - Love, School, Hot boys, Friends, Rebels…Beyotch, Beyotch and yeah, more Beyotch… that’s about it. But if you don’t like teen flicks, well, just watch to check out how hot Emma Roberts is.

I don’t think that I need to tell you in detail the storyline. Basically, it’s about a rebellious American girl who was sent to boarding school in England by her dad. As usual, she hated the school at first…bla bla…then met some friends and then…impressed the hottest guy in school…and finally realized how much she actually liked the school. Needless to say, it’s very predictable. But then again, who says PREDICTABLE cannot be equivalent to NICE right?

OH MY GOD! Another teen flick? Whatever~

So overall, I like that it’s simple and in some ways very inspirational, especially the last part, when you see how proud her father was with her. I personally was holding back tears when watching that part. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this movie to you, especially when you’ve had a rough day and you just want to watch something not too heavy. Plus, the lead guy, Freddie, is so sweet. He's not like the super handsome kinda guy, but he certainly has a certain charm that makes girls adore him.

Fun, entertaining, and decently hilarious...

TC-My Rating:

My next pick would be “The Number 23”. Yes, I am aware that many reviews have only bad things to say about this Jim Carrey thriller/mystery movie. I mean, Jim Carrey in a non-comedy? To me, it’s definitely gonna be weird.

Well, I love movies with twist, and this one has got one. It is somewhat similar to “Secret Window” actually. It’s just that it sort of links everything with the number 23. In the movie, the number 23 is like a curse. So if your life is in any way connected to this number, you’re cursed.

Actually, I think it’s all in your mind. In the movie, Jim Carrey is too obsessed with the number and therefore, he just keeps linking stuff to number 23. But if there is a number that is linked/related to my life, it has to be number 11. I was born on the 11th, and my house number is 272 = 2+7+2=11, and in every way, I just love the number eleven. But 11 to me is more a lucky number than a curse.

The problem with "The Number 23", for me, is that it’s too draggy. There were a lot of elongated sex scenes in the movie that are unimportant. I mean, I understand that in some ways, sex (or violence) sell and usually both comes together. However, when you inject too many of these elements into the movie that doesn’t contribute to the storyline, the movie automatically become seen as trash.

Where is your Number 23 jersey? Used to be Beckham's right?

One thing effective about this movie is definitely, I think, the sound effects. Many times I was shocked by the sudden thuds and crashes. Either it’s because I have a weak heart, or because the effects were really good.

The good thing about this movie is that it has a good ending. At least, to me, it is good. But, overall watch it when you really have extra time to waste.

TC-My Rating:

Lastly, “Midnight Meat Train”. For me, I would advice you to watch this movie only when you are DESPERATELY BORED and THERE IS REALLY NOTHING LEFT IN THIS WHOLE WIDE WORLD THAT YOU CAN INVEST YOUR TIME ON.


Is it that bad? Well…sadly, in my point of view, yes!

It is a psychoanalytic film that fails in terms of a worthwhile storyline. Psychoanalytic movies are all about extreme violence and sex. I could be immune, but I think that the violence in the movie just doesn’t work for me. I mean, yeah, some parts are definitely gory and blood and not to mention, revolting. But for me, I don’t really get satisfaction watching scenes like these. They say psychoanalytic movies fulfill your pleasures because when you watch those actions, it somehow releases your inner desires to commit such acts in this world but can’t due to the moral institutions set by a realistically driven world.

I have no date and so I kill for fun

I would say I’m biased because this is not exactly the kinda movie genre I like, but, I’ve watched psychoanalytic movies that at least have better meaning than this one. I mean, the ending of “Midnight Meat Train” seems so… forced. It’s like, something that is suddenly created just so the movie has an explanation for the ending. Nothing at the beginning of the movie provides indications that lead to the ending. It’s like, anything can be the ending. I don’t know but I just don’t enjoy that the mystery behind the killings is such a lame and uncreative.

But then again, I guess psychoanalytic movies all have simple storyline and meaning because the main point is to excite viewers, not inspire or awe. But truth be told, if you just want to watch this movie based on how exciting and brutal this movie is, I can tell you that you can find many more violent and insane movies out there – eg: The Dentist, Silence of the Lambs. You won’t need this one to excite you at all.

I don't like this movie, no! But you might have a different opinion.




TC-My Rating:







With LotSa Lurve,
TammyC