Critics Project: Week Four

Disclaimer: There were no new pieces this week so this critic is of an older piece. I will include the link below.

The world is full of technology; from phones to internet and computers to television to cars and tablets. Our society is constantly glued to a screen in order to be in the know. But what if we became glued to our screens for another reason? For love? This is the idea behind the movie Her, or as Edelstein calls it "the best movie of the year."
I've never seen or I guess read Edelstein while in such a happy mood. His critics are positive, he's funny and appreciative and genuinely likes the movie. There isn't a large amount of sass and sarcasm like his usual work which tells me that he actually enjoyed the film. Interestingly enough Edelstein calls the film director, Spike Jonze, a "romantic transcendentalist" which just so happens to relate back to class. Edelstein is also a large fan of the star actor, Joaquin Phoenix, someone that I've never heard of. But its refreshing and exciting to see Edelstein praise someone so now I want to see more movies with our star in them.
I'm glad there is a movie that David likes, it's a genuine piece and I'm willing to give this movie a chance now.

Movie review

Edelstein, David. "A Man And His Machine, Finding Out What Love Is." NPR. NPR, 19 Dec.         2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, A Man and His Machine, Finding Out What Love Is)

Factoid Friday #1

Bethlem Royal Hospital (Bedlam) is the oldest existing psychiatric hospital in the world, first opening it's doors to the mentally ill in 1337.

The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured, 1739 Alexander Cruden

Bethlem Royal Hospital. (2014, February 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:33, February 10, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bethlem_Royal_Hospital&oldid=594434196

Critics Project: Week Three

War movies have been on screens for a majority of time since cinema began. They are nothing new and cannot bring a unique storyline to the table. War movies are classics but according to Edelstein, Monument Men doesn't make the cut. This movie attempts to put a spin on the war movie theme by having the goal be to protect art, however attempting to protect art from both side may have been to big of a goal. The snarky commentary gives credit to the cast but having Clooney make art seem important to America was a mistake. Edelstein feels there are better actors out there for this role. The movie line has some holes, and the characters should have been developed better. The article attacks the movie for these things, in a bit of a rude manner. But Edelstein is just trying to get a point across, the movie is alright, not great. Maybe we should just wait for Redbox on this one.

Edelstein, David. "Masterpieces In Peril, 'Monuments Men' Protects, But Also Panders."NPR. NPR, 07 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, Masterpieces In Peril, 'Monuments Men' Protects, But Also Panders)

Link

Genre Project

For my project it's more of a theme and a motif instead of a genre. I'm going to be researching the use of mental illness and mental handicap in American literature. The main differences between these two is that mental handicap is referring to the ability to function that is below average that generally occurs at birth or during early development. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that affect the mood, feeling and thinking. Anyone can be affected with mental illness and these illnesses are treatable.

Mental Retardation is Different From Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.progress-inc.org/mrvsmi.html

Critics Project: Week Two

Foreign films are nothing new to American screens, some have even made it big here in the States. In fact, "Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Academy Awards in 2008. Not all films are this successful but Edelstein brings a new film to light, that just may have what it takes.  "Gloria" is a film out of Chile that focuses in on an older divorced woman. Edelstein is able to take a step back from his usual sassy self and was one over by the acting of  Paulina Garcia who plays Gloria. This movie keeping Gloria constantly changing her attitudes and opinions, something that's not always seen on screen. I believe that it was Garcia's acting that made this film successful and won the approval of Edelstein over the actual context. Her abilities are what' have transformed Edelstein from his sarcastic tone to someone truly endorsing a movie. "Gloria" is set to open in select theaters across the country soon. 

 "Gloria"

Edelstein, David. "Middle-Aged And Divorced, 'Gloria' Takes On Life's Uncertainties."NPR. NPR, 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, 'Gloria' Takes On Life's Uncertainties)

Last of the Mohicans: End Comparison

So the movie and the book end completely differently. In the book Uncas is deemed godly because of a small tattooed tortoise on his chest, which gives him power. Uncas is able to free Hawkeye and spare some prisoners but Magua would not compromise and ends up keeping Cora prisoner even after Hawkeye offers himself and his rifle. The Hurons hurry off  across a mountain, and when Cora refuses to continue and impatient Huron kills her. The Mohicans and Munro bury Cora and mourn all the dead. Pretty much none of that happens in the movie. The council splits up Cora and Alice (who by the way, is not mentioned in the last 3 chapters), Hawkeye gets Cora and keeps her safe. Uncas is killed by the Huron and in response Alice throws herself off a cliff instead of enduring the Indian torture. So basically a completely different ending.

Vocab Story: Juniors 3-4

My alarm clock blares out a repetitive scream for the fifth time this morning, and I have to stop myself from hitting the snooze button once again. I roll easily to the ground, remembering that my mattress is currently missing a frame. Looking around, I see avuncular paintings on the walls all around me and my little sister, still sound asleep, next to me in her own mattress. My only patrimony, a small, slightly singed, photograph of my parents at their wedding, is in it's frame next to me. All of my other belongings are still packed.
   Unwillingly, I find myself drifting through the path that has led me to the floor of the guest bedroom in my uncle's house. Well, luckily for you, unlikely happenings are a familial experience. We all have at least one to tell. This is mine.
   My parents were wed through a bigamous ceremony. Both of them were already married, and legally, they were never married to each other because their past marriage licenses still stood. Of course, this immediately brought up some difficulties for their relationship. Monogamy was the style of their relationship, though legally they had two partners. However, they only had eyes for each other. My father was utterly uxorious, and my mother was smitten. So when they decided to split last year, it was a disastrous affair. My mother tried to run from her feelings and somehow ended up serving a matriarchy in Guatemala. This left my little sister and I with my father, who wanted to keep our names patronymic to his.
   Of course my sister and I were upset about the breakup, but everything wasn't as rocky as it felt like it should have been for a few months after it happened. About two months ago, my father started spending copious amounts of time at the Chinese restaurant downtown. He seemed to be fraternizing with someone, and he became distant.
   Last Wednesday, my father called my fraternal uncle and told him of his plans to run away with the fortune cookie lady. When my uncle begged him to step down, my dad accused my uncle of patronizing him and stormed off. In some sort of rage, my dad's truck was set on fire, and my childhood home was consumed in a matter of minutes.
   My uncle was the only person able enough to pick up my sister and I.
   I sigh and put my hand out to shake my sister into consciousness. I guess we all have at least one crazy story to tell.