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!