Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 20-25

I found a lot of weird quirks and holes in logic in these chapters. First of all I think it's very odd and moderately hilarious that Hawkeye named his rifle. That's cute, I mean I named my car but I don't go around killing people with Reba. Then the whole thing with Hawkeye disguised as a bear made absolutely no sense. Have these people seen a bear before? I feel like native living in the woods would know what a bear looks like. And could clearly identify a fake bear. I just felt like it was a ridiculous plan that would not have worked in real life. I like that Alice has been saved but kind of confused as to why the girls were even split up. I don't know, these chapters didn't seem to make that much real world sense to me.

Critics Project: Step 2, Week 1

In Edelstein's review of  Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit he sarcastically mocks the movie throughout the entire piece. Struggling with the use of the word "franchise" Edelstein is quick to judge the movie and lack of appeal it has. There seems to be almost no positive feedback about this movie, with the exception of one scene, which is towards the end of the column. Edelstein seems bored of this movie franchise and it lacks a new sense of drama. I haven't seen this movie so I am unable to give my opinion but from this review I don't want to see it. It sounds boring and a typical spy movie. The entire piece is sarcastic and humorous but not to the point where I am overly intrigued.
Here's his review.

Edelstein, David. "Jack Ryan Gets A Makeover, And A Quick Trip To Moscow." NPR. NPR, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, Jack Ryan Gets A Makeover)

Critics Project: Step One

SO for this project I picked Davis Edelstein and his work is focused on movie reviews of popular movies. I like this one because it's about movies that I have either seen or at least heard of so it's more relatable. I don't have any previous experience with this author other than clicking his link in class. I picked him because it was first, and it talks about movies I know.

Here's his latest printed work.

Gothic Movie Example

So for this assignment I picked the movie Sweeney Todd (2007). Here's a link to a clip from the movie.
My Friends

Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 16-19

Okay wow, these chapters got intense. I still didn't love them because of all the violence but at least something dramatic and exciting happened. I was really and that the French and the Indians betrayed the English like that. England was surrendering and not putting up a fight, just trying to keep the clothes in their back, and boom! In come the French and Indians with a suprise attack. Great but evil move by them. I can't see the English being dumb enough to fall for their tricks again. I'm a little worried about Cora and Alice, hopefully they are with Magua and Gamut as the others think. I don't want them to get hurt. So yeah I liked this chunk a lot better even with the violence because this is the first giant act of betrayal and those are always complicated and fun.

Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 11-15

These chapters were alright I guess. There was more fighting and bloodshed but that seems to be a common occurrence so I guess I'll have to get used to it. The girls getting kidnapped stressed me out a bit but I was glad that Hawkeye decided to save them no matter the cost. The scalping thing grossed me out, I know it's a Native American thing but it is not a practice that I condone. I liked that even at war, Indians can respect  memorial sites, I thought that that was a nice touch. Finally the group makes it to the fort and that exciting because I still don't really understand why the girls were ever out of the forgot begin with. The flirtation ship with Heyward is a nice sideline that distracts from all the warfare.  I just can't seem to really get into this book yet, maybe it's coming.

Grand is the Seen: Walt Whitman

Grand is the seen, the light, to me--grand are the sky and stars,
Grand is the earth, and grand are lasting time and space,
And grand their laws, so multiform, puzzling, evolutionary;
But grander far the unseen soul of me, comprehending, endowing all those,
Lighting the light, the sky and stars, delving the earth, sailing the sea,
(What were all those, indeed, without thee, unseen soul? of what amount without thee?)
More evolutionary, vast, puzzling, O my soul!
More multiform far--more lasting thou than they. 

I like this poem because it celebrates the human soul. It first talks about nature and how sometimes its glory is forgotten but then moves into the richness of soul. And this big wide world can sometimes be frightening and intimidating, but everyone can overcome it because everyone is grand. 

I've been having a pretty rough week so I just liked this poem because it reminded me that I do matter and am a part of this big wide world.