American History X

Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) is released from prison after serving three years for killing two young black men he caught breaking into his car. They are black gangsters who lose when competing basketball game with Derek team and they are not allowed to come use that basketball court again. After the release, Derek finds that his younger brother, Danny (the narrator), has chosen to follow his old ways in his absence and has become an active white supremacist in the group Derek led before he is arrested. The film focuses on Derek's decision to sever ties with his racist past whilst trying to keep his brother from following in his footsteps, as well as the events that lead him to change his views.

I dont understand why all the movies related to Civil Rights period have to be so tragic and violent. Like in this film, Danny is shot to death in the school restroom in the very end after he has chosen to be a good person, living all the neo-Nazi activities behind as his brother Derek asks him to. So is the part when Derek is killing one of the black guys who were trying to break into his car, i was grabbing my friend Alexia's hand while we were watchin it as it is too thrilling. In order to understand truely how black and white Americans hated each other, watching this film could explain to you a hell lot. Not just an ordinary one, it's extraordinary.

Guess Who

Guess Who refers to the Civil Rights period. It is a comedy movie about a love story between Theresa (Zoë Saldana) and Simon (Ashton Kutcher). She is black. He is not. This is not important to them. But is important to Theresa’s father Percy (Bernie Mac) who seems not to like Simon because he’s white.

Theresa takes Simon home to New Jersey to meet her parents, who are renewing their vows, and to surprise them by announcing their engagement. Her mother, Marilyn Jones (Judith Scott), is fine. It's Percy her father who takes the news as a betrayal. He can’t admit it and tries every possible way to test his son-in-law and have his daughter change her mind.

The movie is cute and funny almost through the entire story but there is a part where I find it very sad and depressing, which is a part where everyone sitting at the dinner table telling black jokes and white jokes. They go too far to get each other back until they both are mad with the jokes the other tells. It’s funnily scarstic I would say. I laughed my butt off with these jokes LOL This blog is rather short I know but there is nothing else I could write more and plus, I’ve already mentioned that it deals with the civil rights so you guys probably know what it is like.

Amistad

Amistad tells the true story of the Spanish slave ship, La Amistad, meaning The Freiendship (I know some Spanish, see? lol), that is bringing black slaves to America. On the way, however, a brave African warrior, Cinque, leads a bloody revolt. Only two members of the crew survive, begging for their lives with promises to sail the ship to Africa, but instead sail to America. There La Amistad is overtaken by the Navy and, when the survivors tell of the revolt, the slaves are imprisoned. Who really owns theses slaves? Where did they really come from, Cuba or Africa? Was it murder or self-defense? The judge has to decide. The freedom of 53 Africans isn't the only thing at stake. Heavy politics are involved, as Martin Van Buren's re-election campaign may be ruined if the ruling is unfavorable. It takes an ex-President, a struggling lawyer, and the courage and truth Cinque has to argue on the behalf of the slaves.

This movie is rated-R so you should be aware of some (many actually) violent scenes as well as the strong words. I remember watching it alone when I was young(er) seeing slaves being dragged down into the bottom of the ocean, tortured, chopped, killed, you name it. I couldn’t believe human being could be that savage to one another. Watch the movie and you’ll know what I’m talking about. It’s really depressing but awesome and worth watching I’m giving you a guarantee.

The Aviator

This movie is referred to the Industrial Age. I think it is based too much on true story that is why it’s kinda boring. I remember watching it twice and still didn’t get nothing much from both times. The story is good but somehow is confusing too. It discusses about the crazy life of Hugh Howard (Leonardo Dicaprio), an extraordinary guy who built up the entire aviation industry as well as the commercial airlines competing with Juan Trippe, another guy who owned another commercial airline, Southwest, I guess. (Take English for Airlines class and you would know lol) Howard is a little bit crazy I would say. He just keeps on repeating himself over and over again so many times when he says something. This is a secret his personal manager trying to keep away from the media because it would ruin his reputation. Hugh is a rich and very determined person. When he wants to get something, he needs to get something no matter how hard he has to try. His flying skill is also marvelous. When testing the new model his company his producing, he asks to go flying it by himself, even though he almost gets killed in the end.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

A. Cecil, I understand if you wouldn’t count this one as a potential blog but I still feel like writing it so the readers could have some more ideas about American Indian tribes in the past we studied before midterm. I deeply fall in love with this movie and I dare to bet that those who get to watch it would love it as well.

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron talks about the lives of the West in the past, both of men and horses through the eyes of a stallion named Spirit. It was a period where there was only a few of British settled in. The Whole wide west was still belonged to the wild horses and other wild animals. Spirit is narrated by my favorite Hollywood star Matt Damon. In the film, you can see uncountable breathtaking scenes (since it’s an animation they can make it whatever they want). Even though there are not many conversing parts in the movie since the main character is a horse, but it is not boring I am telling you. I can guarantee that the movie shows you about almost everything A. Cecil taught in class, for instances, the Indians (Kiowa I think), tee-pees, the interstate railroad construction, and how peacefully Indians’ lives were before the American came. (you can even see the Grand Canyon as well) Oh my gosh, I can’t seriously put all these into words. Nobody can. You just need to watch the movie yourself. The other thing you can fall in love with is the musics, (it's "wicked!"), which is sung and composed by Brian Adams who did an incredible job performing it. Whoever has this film's soundtrack, lend it to me. I've been lookin for it for years but i still cant find it no where. (It's that great... trust me for once!)

King Kong

Only the introduction part of this movie that is related to the period of Great Depression. The rests are just all about poor King Kong! Between the first 10 – 20 minutes, the movie displays how American, particularly in New York, lived during the Great Depression. People were homeless and jobless. Hunger is wandering along with the people. The poor even need to look for food in the trash can and whatever they see they think they can eat, they will eat ‘em just for the sake of survival. There was also a scene where you could also see people queuing in line waiting for a small portion of free food just like the picture A. Cecil showed us in class. People wearing the same kind of dress having the same, unfortunate facial expression. The movie also focuses on the leading character Anne Darrow (Naomi Watts) about how sad and suffering she is when her whole acting team is sacked and that she needs to look for a new job alone coz her uncle is planning to leave to Chicago.

Anyways… now enough with the story. let’s come listen to what I wanna say which is way more interesting… hopefully! LOL Personally I like this movie very much and I’ve seen it for like 5 times already! (2 in theaters and 3 on dvd… ahh I know you don’t care but just read! LOL) The most impressive part is the construction of modern tall buildings as well as the part where Kong fights with T-Rex. Whoo hoo! They rock! Peter Jackson the director is incredibly unbelievable!

And the Children Shall Lead

Initially I didn’t think I would personally like this movie very much, seriously. First from its name and later when I found out that it’s a really old movie. But my mind is changed after watching it for a while. So is yours if you watch it I can guarantee. Anyways... let’s get down to business. This one-hour, civil-rights movie talks about the lives of black and white people in the past, about the legal right for the black to vote and have the equal right as the white, through the story of one family and their neighborhoods. Since there’s nothing much in the movie, besides the kids playing and fighting (as well as adults) I’m just gonna skip talking about the real story or what happened in the movie and talk about its main theme instead. Somehow the white believed that as being white, having white skin color, they were superior to the black. Believe it or not, in the old days, the black were not allowed to use the white’s public toilet and there was the sign said “COLORED” posted in front!! Also, they were not allowed to drink from the white’s faucet and I could see the sign read “WHITES ONLY”!!! If the black violated the law, they could and would be thrown in jail. People were (or perhaps still are) so racists. They made such a big deal out of different skin colors.

For those who have time, you may go search for this nice, meaningful song by Sarah Connor to enjoy. It was the first and the only song that popped up in my mind after finishing the movie. It’s one of my favorites. Here’s the lyric…

Sarah Connor

Love is Color-Blind

It don't matter if you're black
white or yellow, if you're brown or red
let's get down to that

love is color-blind

Verse 1:

I remember when

I was a child and couldn't understand

people having fun

discriminating all the different ones

mama just used to say

when you grow up you'll maybe find a way

to make these people see

that everything I do comes back to me

Bridge:

You gotta live your live

we're all the same, no one's to blame

they gotta live their lives

just play the game and let love reign

Chorus:

It don't matter if you're black

white or yellow, if your brown or red

let's get down to that

love is color-blind

you're my brother, you're my friend

all that matters in the very end

is to understand

love is color-blind

TQ:

I remember as a young boy

I watched my neighborhood go up in flames

I saw the whole thang thru tears of pain

and a situation's rackin' my brain

I wish I could fly away and never come back again

we need some love y'all

we need some real deal help from above y'all

I mean the kids watchin'

and I just can't see it stoppin', I don't understand

I mean we all bleed the same blood, man!

Bridge:

You gotta live your life

better than our fathers did

let's make some love, baby, have some kids

they gotta live their lives

and I don't care what color they are, or u are, or we are

it's all love, baby!

C-Part:

You could have been my mother

you could have been my brother

what if you were my sister

if you were my father?

you could have been my fella

you could have been my teacher

what if you were my friend?

would be so nice to meet ya

Verse 2:

take it out to the world

tell every boy and every little girl

be proud of yourself

cause you're as good as anybody else

put away your prejudice

open your mind, don't need a stick to this

try to make this earth

a better place without a racial curse

TQ:

Yeah, it's time for some changes

[Chorus]

Pearl Harbor

You all have probably seen this Hollywood movie before, or at least you probably have heard what it is all about I hope. It simply shows the tragic situation when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and later the American got them back worse. The movie is also combined with the triangle love story between three major people; two good friends Rafe McCawley and Danny Walker (Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett) and a girl Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale).

Rafe and Danny grew up together and learned to fly in the dangerous aviation practice of crop-dusting. Both men joined the U.S. Army Air Corps where Rafe fell in love with a beautiful nurse Evelyn before volunteering to fight alongside the English pilots in the Battle of Britain. (Evelyn did Rafe a favor while examining his visual test by passing him. He could read poorly, therefore, he was not qualified to be a pilot. This is where they started to like each other.) Rafe left behind Evelyn and Danny who were soon stationed together at Pearl Harbor.

Since they both thought that Rafe died during fighting in Britain, they stayed close to each other and helped healing one another’s heart. Then they fell deeply in love and suddenly Rafe surprisingly returned from death. Rafe was mad at both of the two but before starting to make thing clear, it came the attack from the Japanese. After the Japanese pulling back, the two men, who were the greatest fliers, were put in the top secret mission, by Colonel Dolittle to fly to Japan and take revenge on the Japanese. In the end, sad-but-true, Danny died and right before that, he acknowledged the truth that he was going to be a father because Evelyn was pregnant.

Well... this is pretty much about it. This summary is not that interesting and encouraging that is why you guys need to watch the movie by yourself. It is absolutely awesome! Trust me. Even though some websites say that it’s inaccurate, but I’m sure you will learn a lot from it as I have myself. So go watch it, go, go, go!

Say's Law

Say's Law, also known as Say's Law of Markets, is named after Jean-Baptiste Say (1767-1832), Say's Law argued that an economy is self-regulating p[rovided that all prices, including wages, are flexible enough to maintain it in equilibrium.

In a more simplistic, and showewhat inaccurate form, Say's law states that supply creates its own demand and over-production is impssible. This theory has major implications for how governments respond to periods of high unemployment or widespread underemployment.

Say's law was accepted as a major plank in classical macroeconomic theory until English economist John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946) challenged its applicability in modern economies.

Jean-Baptiste Say was born in Lyons to a family of textile merchants of Huguenot extraction. In 1787, after spending two years in England apprenticed to a merchant, Say took a job at an insurance company in Paris run by Claviere (later to become Minister of Finance). An ardent republican, Say was overjoyed by the French Revolution. He served as a volunteer in the 1792 military campaign to repulse the allied armies from France.

It was around this time that Say read Adam Smith's book and the work of and fell into with a group of laissez-faire economists, known as the ideologues, who sought to relaunch the spirit of Enlightenment liberalism in republican France. From 1794 to 1800, Say served as the editor of their journal, La Decade philosophique. His 1800 essay, Olbie, was submitted to a contest run by the Institut de France. Say's eminence grew such that he was nominated to the Tribunate in 1799, sitting in the finance section.

In 1803, he published his most famous work, Treatise on Political Economy. Say's distinctive approach to economics was an outcome of the muddled marriage of Condillac's utility theory of demand and Adam Smith's cost theory of supply. Value, Say claimed (with some inconsistency), was the outcome of the interaction of these two. In this respect, it departs considerably from the Classical Ricardian School, where value is determined purely from the cost side. Say's approach was taken up
by French Liberal School and he can be considered a precursor of the Marginalist Revolution. Like Cantillon before him and the Austrian School after him, Say also placed great emphasis on the risk-taking entrepreneur and even tried to include him as the "fourth" factor of production in his analysis.

It was also in the Treatise that Say outlined his famous law of markets. Roughly stated, Say's Law claims that total demand in an economy cannot exceed or fall below total supply in that economy or as James Mill was to restate it, "supply creates its own demand." In Say's language, "products are paid for with products" (1803: p.153) or "a glut can take place only when there are too many means of production applied to one kind of product and not enough to another", (1803: p.178-9.). Or:

"It is worth while to remark, that a product is no sooner created, than it, from that instant, affords a market for other products to the full extent of its own value. When the producer has put the finishing hand to his product, he is most anxious to sell it immediately, lest its value should diminish in his hands. Nor is he less anxious to dispose of the money he may get for it; for the value of money is also perishable. But the only way of getting rid of money is in the purchase of some product or other. Thus the mere circumstance of creation of one product immediately opens a vent for other products." (J.B. Say, 1803: p.138-9)

The radical laissez-faire notions expounded in the 1803 Treatise caught the attention of Napoleon Bonaparte himself. Summoning Say to a private meeting, Napoleon demanded that Say rewrite parts of the Treatise to conform with his attempt at creating a war economy, built on protectionism and regulation. Say refused. Napoleon proscribed the Treatise and had Say ousted from the Tribunate in 1804.

Although offered another post as compensation, Say was too disgusted by the imperial regime. He moved to Pas-de-Calais and set up a cotton factory at Auchy-les-Hesdins. He grew fabulously rich. In 1812, Say sold his shares and returned to Paris, living as a speculator.

After the fall of Napoleon in 1814, Say finally published the second edition of the Treatise. He then spent some time in England, met David Ricardo and Goodwin, and, upon his return in1815, published his 1815 reflections. The Bourbon restoration government showered Say with numerous dignities and honors. In 1816, he was invited him to deliver a course of lectures on economics at l'Athenee Royale, a private college. In 1819, he was appointed as Chair of Industrial Economy at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers. His popular lectures were published in 1828.

Say's law of markets came to divide economists in the General Glut Controversy around this time. Say joined in the fray, attacking the underconsumption thesis in his letters to Malthus (1820) and in his 1824 exchange with rival countryman Simonde de Sismondi in the Revue Encyclopedique.

In 1831, Say was granted a chair (the first in economics) at the prestigious Collegeede France. The French Liberal School which followed up on Say maintained an even more intimate connection with the establishment.

Saving Private Ryan

General Marshall: My Dear Mrs. Ryan, it’s with the most profound sense of joy that I write to inform you your son, Private James Ryan, is well and, at this very moment, on his way home from European battlefields. Reports from the front indicate James did his duty in combat with great courage and steadfast dedication even after he was informed of the tragic loss your family has suffered in this great campaign to rid the world of tyranny and oppression. I take great pleasure in joining the secretary of war, the men and women of the United States Army, and the citizens of a grateful nation in wishing you good health and many years of happiness with James at your side. Nothing, not even the safe return of a beloved son, can compensate you or the thousands of other American families who have suffered great loss in this tragic war. And I might share with you some words which have sustained me through long, dark nights of peril, loss and heartache. And I quote, “I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom. Abraham Lincoln.” Yours very sincerely and respectfully, George C. Marshall, General, Chief Of Staff. This is the whole part of the message said by George C. Marshall to Mrs. Ryan that I’ve taken from the movie. I find it very downhearted and think that it probably would give you some idea; the same idea I have, that war is absolutely good for nothing.

Saving Private Ryan, directed by Steven Spielberg, basically shows the cruelty, loss, as well as the sacrifice taking place during the World War II through the eyes of Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks), who was ordered to go save and bring back Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) home since he had already lost three brothers during the war and the government didn’t want his mother to suffer any more. (losing three sons is more than enough I believe!) Many of Captain Miller’s soldiers died during the journey and the captain himself died at the very end. Besides all the depressing parts, the movie itself is very interesting. Spielberg did really a great job by making it so realistic. It’s like you could feel all the gunshots running through you right at the same time as all the soldiers felt in the movie. The blood, the corpses, the gushing intestines all looked so real. I even jumped once when the German soldiers appeared and fired the M-16 at American soldiers. I remember I went to watch this movie by myself when it first came out in the theater years ago. How brave! LOL I was really petrified. Had never seen this kind of cruel-but-real movie before by that time. It’s really good, as worth spending almost 3-hour time watching. Watch it so you’d know that I’m not just babbling.

This part has nothing to do with the movie but I just feel like sharing it with you guys. LOL There’s also Vin Diesel starring in this movie, just so you know. Believe it or not, he’s nothing like in the movie XXX I have seen. He was someone far from the word “muscular”. Couldn’t recognize him myself but I just saw his name on the casting list. Hahaha

most sincere apology

dear a. cecil and all my lovely classmates,

i apologize for bloggin all my movie summary thingies so late. i seriously had hard times figurin out how to work it for weeks. when i was at the home page, thought i had to go sign in at "the old blogger" in stead of the new blogger google thing or whatever. anyways, i've succeeded posting almost all my movies now. you guys enjoy reading, analyzing, and criticiszing 'em, alright? one last thing, i havent got a chance to watch North and South yet as i've been preparin myself for midterm exam lately so i really have no time for it. therefore, you guys will still have to wait ok? lol gracias y adios!

Surviving X' Mas

Surviving X’ Mas is a very funny story of an eccentric millionaire named Drew (Ben Affleck), taking place in Chicago, Illinois. Drew had no family coz his father walked away when he was young and his mother died when he was 19 so he had nobody to spend his Christmas with. He couldn’t be with his girlfriend also because she wanted to be with her family instead. So he, then, rented the Valco family to spend his Christmas with for 250,000 dollars. The Valcos are Tom; father, Christine; mother, Brian; brother and the story got even more fun and sophisticated when Alicia; sister (Christina Applegate) arrived and didn’t want to play along. Drew also hired more crazy-people to play in this Christmas show of his. It somehow ended happily with Drew falling in love with Alicia and Tom getting back with Christine as they were about to get divorce. Wanna know how cute and hilarious the movie is… you guys gotta see it by yourself :P Merry X' Mas to you all!

Nevada Smith

Nevada Smith is a story about a boy named Max Sand (Steve McQueen) whose father was white and mother Kiowa Indian were terribly killed by three bandits when he was young. (Not that young actually, more like a teenager) Since he had nobody else left, he wanted to take revenge for his parents by hunting those three men and killing them all and what he got with him were only a gun, a horse and 8 bucks in his pocket. On the way to his success, Max did everything he possibly could to find those men. He was stolen his horse and his gun by three strangers. Later a guy named Jonas Cord, whom at first he was trying to rob (with an old, rusted short gun he found in the sand), saved his life by giving him food and teaching him how to shoot a gun. Once he killed the first murderer Jesse Coe, with help of a Kiowa girl named Neesa, he kinda threw himself into jail by attempting to rob a bank in New Orleans so he could meet the Kiowa Indians lived in this part. They all spoke perfectly American English as well.) Anyways, after already killed Bowdre while escaping from the jail in the swamp, Max went all the way back to the west (Nevada), where he changed his name as Nevada Smith, again to find the last murderer Tom Fitch and finished him there. He didn’t practically kill Fitch. He just shot him a couple of times and left him on the river bank so he could feel all the pains and torture his parents felt before they got killed and hung. What I also learn from this movie is that acting in the past kinda sucks. LOL It doesn’t really seem real or natural or whatever. But anyways, you guys should watch this movie I suggest and you’ll all like it.

Native Indians - Dances with Wolves

This great Indian movie is about the story of Lieutenant John J. Dunbar, who became a civil war hero and requested himself to go stay at the Fort Sedgewick where Indians were. He was first alone since there was nobody else in the area but later he made friends with the very friendly, harmonic and knowledgeable Sioux Indians. The hardest part was the communication as John (or all the whites) did not speak Sioux and the Sioux did not speak any English as they do today. But somehow they could communicate and understand each other practically through gestures and became good friends. Oh wait! There was a white woman named Christine, in Indian as Stands with a Fist, whose whole family was killed by the Pawnee Indians and was raised by the Sioux, who could still speak communicative and understandable English. She played a major role in helping both parties translating their languages and later married John, whom were called Dances with Wolves as the Sioux saw him dancing around the bonfire with a wolf (named Two Socks) beside him. John helped the Sioux killing the savage, uncivilized Pawnee who were coming to invade them by providing the army firearms. He then was called a traitor by the U.S. Army and while being sent to Fort Hays, he was rescued by the Sioux. All Americans were killed. (Hooray!) [Thirteen years later, their homes destroyed, their buffalo gone, the last band of free Sioux submitted to white authority at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. The great horse culture of the plains was gone and the American frontier was soon to pass in to history.] This movie is really interesting and impressive and I recommend everyone to watch it. It’s even more interesting about how they are named. (Take for examples, Kicking Bird, Wind in His Hair, Smiles a Lot, Ten Bears, Two Socks, and Black Shawl) It has all of what the A. Cecil said about the Indians in class. I guarantee that you’ll be deeply touched by “Dances with Wolves” for sure. Thank you.

Western Expansion - Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp is a story dealing with the bond of Earp Brothers as well as the civil war within the states in the past. The movie first took place in Arkansas where all the Earps lived. It started with Wyatt (Kevin Costner) wanting to go to war following his two other brothers James and Virgil. He was stopped by his father who always told them that “Nothing counts so much as blood. The rests are just strangers.” While they were having breakfast at the table, the father mentioned to everyone about moving to California, where Wyatt could study law with his grandfather Judge Earp and that’s also where the movie went a little bit complicated coz not all wanted to move and they started going separate ways. Wyatt came back to Lamar and married a lady named Eurilla(?) who later died with typhoid together with Wyatt’s baby inside her womb. This is what drove him mad and turned himself to a drunkard and a horse thief. He was sent to jail and was bailed out by his father who told him to keep riding a horse until he was out of Arkansas coz if he got caught, he would definitely be hung coz that’s the punishment given to the horse thief back then. Later he met Bat (Bartholomew) and Ed Masterson who worked for him as skinners. Blah blah blah… This movie is very long itself and I’m not gonna make this blog as long so better cut this short. Wyatt was first appointed a Deputy of the town Dodge City, Kansas and later a Marshall in Tombstone, Arizona working together with his other three brothers Virgil, James, and Morgan as well as his friend Doc Holliday (Dennis Quaid). The movie ended when his brothers Morgan was killed and Virgil shot in the arm and of course, all the bad guys were killed. (Man, this is hard!)

Colonial - Pocahontas: The Legend

I was assigned to watch two Colonial movies and my second one is Pocahontas. It’s probably unnecessary for me to tell you about the story of Pocahontas again coz A.Cecil had already talked about it in class many times. (The British went to American. John Smith claimed that Pocahontas, the Indian girl, saved his life, later it was revealed that it was all a lie. Blah blah blah.) Personally I don’t like this movie very much. They made the movie so boring and unrealistic comparing to “Dances with Wolves.” In terms of communication, it shouldn’t been that very easy for both the British and the Indians to communicate coz none of them could speak the other’s language. (I know it’s just a movie but still. I spent time watching it!! lol Watch Dances with Wolves and you’ll know whatta heck I’m trying to say here.) In the end, I was surprised that Pocahontas didn’t board the ship and leave to England with John. (Teacher said that she did and later died of diseases at young age, right?) How come? Moreover, in the movie it was like John Smith and Pocahontas felt so deeply in love with each other and that annoyed me so badly, especially when I know that it was all false. You know what I mean? Anyways… nothing else to say. Thanks for reading this, quite crappy, blog. Peace!