Must See List

Okay, I know that I am a little late but considering the movie of Catching Fire was released on DVD last friday I thought i should finally talk about my thoughts. I have read the book twice so far and have also read the series twice. I thought that this movie was exceptionally well done. I was slightly skeptical going into the movie because I thought that the first movie was a dud. The first movie lacked a certain charisma that the book portrayed. My vision of the districts and capitol was not lived up to. I thought that the movie did not do the book justice. I also believe that the movie did not follow the book completely. There were many small details that were overlooked. But, I went to see the second movie anyway because the second book was my favorite book in the series. The movie was amazing. There was more color, action, and it followed the book almost to a tee. The first reason that I enjoyed this movie is because of the special effects. The makeup artists were amazing. My favorite part of the movie was when Katniss blows up the arena. I thought that they portrayed it in a plausible way, whereas I was picturing it to be all computerized and pixels. The second reason I enjoyed this movie is because of the comedy within the characters. The actors that were chosen for these roles played their characters especially well. They added a certain comic element to the dark and depressing world of the games themselves. Joanna has to be my favorite new addition to the cast, and the actress that plays her does an exceptional. I also continue to enjoy the love triangle that ensues between Peeta, Katniss, and Gale. When I was reading the book, and still unknowing to what happens in the end, I was enthralled and utterly confused with the love story. In this book especially the love triangle goes deeper and plays a major part in Katniss' life. There were some flaws that they missed and I felt that the movie still stood strong without them. All in all this movie was exceptionally written and carried out onto the big screen. I would give this movie FIVE stars!

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Towards the end of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Shu Lien says to Jen, "Promise me one thing: whatever path you take in life, be true to yourself." When Shu Lien says this I believe that she is saying telling Jen to not make the same mistakes that she did in life. After losing Li Mu Bai, Shu Lien realized all that she had missed out on. When she tells Jen to be true to herself I think that it surprised Jen. We were all expecting a big fight because ultimately Jen is the reason Li Mu Bai died. But, instead Shu Lien is humbled by his death and gives Jen a piece of advice that changes the whole story. Jen did exactly what Shu Lien asked her to do. She followed her destiny by following her own path. She did not stay with the man she loved but she simply disappears into her own bliss. She was true to herself. I believe that she realized that she really did not fit in anywhere so she left to a place unknown. All in all I believe that Jen did exactly as Lien told her to do. And I also believe that Shu Lien was extremely kind and merciful towards Jen by giving her this advice.

Looking for a Meaning

Recently I have read a novel called Looking for Alaska. The book was very similar to another book I had read over the summer: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The two books focus around a group of teenagers who are not the most popular and find their place with a group of like-minded people. They also both end in some form of a tragedy. In Looking for Alaska Alaska dies in a mysterious car accident and in Perks Charlie turns out to be a mental patient. The main difference between these books is within their similar endings. In Perks, there is a resolution and you know what happens. You figure out that all along he was writing to himself from the institution after his mental breakdown. But, in Alaska's story you are left kind of searching for a meaning behind it. At some points I think maybe it was suicide, but then as I think about it more I do not really know at all. When you read the novel, you begin to identify with Alaska and believing that she killed herself contradicts what you believed. I really enjoyed this novel, but the ending threw it off for me. I think that I fully enjoy a book when it comes to a complete end. I need a final resolution. This novel did not have a concrete ending and I think that turned me off. The novel taught me something new about myself in a way. I learned that I really enjoy books that have a resolution and am not a fan of those books that make you devise your own ending. But, I would recommend this book to anyone because of the great story of a group of teenagers that are a little quirky but real. It is a fresh take on how life really happens for people that are completely different from you, or that you can identify with.

Traveling to Wild Places

Recently, I have been working on a research paper in which the topic is Zulu tribal folklore. In my research, I came across a book that describes the oral tradition of the ancient tribes of Africa. A woman who is a visitor in a specific Nguni tribe tells this story. The most influential part of this book for me was the way that it took me to Africa. I felt as though I was really there. The novel paints graphic pictures of storytelling around at night. The story also talks about these beautiful folk stories that tell the history of their culture along with the history of all of humanity. The stories truly make it seem like you are there, and the sheer beauty of the situation and culture has sparked my interest in the African tradition. Also, what sparked my interest the most is how, even though we are miles and miles apart, I could identify with some of the situation. I can remember being around a bonfire when I was younger and everyone attempting to tell stories. Even though it seems like African and I are worlds apart, I learned that we are not that different. If you think about many of the stories and folktales that we tell in our society today, we use many of the same morals, characters, and themes as the Nguni tribes do. They mainly use animals as main characters and so do we. Think of stories such as Winnie The Pooh. The African tribes have stories about a certain mongoose that gets himself into trouble just as Winnie does. The similarities between our culture and theirs are not so different after all. I also have learned the true beauty of language and storytelling. Before starting this paper i did not realize how much a tribe, culture, or society needs storytelling. These stories preserve the history of that group and without them they would be lost. All in all, I learned a valuable lesson through this book about culture. I also got the treat of traveling into an exotic world that is thousands of miles from me.