Avainsana-arkisto: ENA5.1

The novel: Full Stop

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I read a nowel named Full Stop. It was written by Alecia McKenzie, and it tells about Carmen who is in thirties and her grandmother Scottie. They send letter to each others and for Carmen the reading is quite difficult and annyoing, because her grandmother doesn’t use any punctuation. They disscuss about normal every day things, about work and neighbours, but they also speak a lot about Carmens mother and about her brother.

Carmen was born when her mother was very young, so her grandmother has raised her. Carmens mother moved to England to get a job, and when Carmen was about two years old, she got a baby brother who also moved to her and their grandmother. I’m not sure where does their grandmother live but they talk about an iseland which in not in USA and I think it’s quite near to where Carmens mother lives (she lives still in England), so maybe it’s Ireland. Anyway Carmen lives now in New York and her brother Richard lives in California.

In every letter grandmother Scottie talks about ”Normy”, and when Carmen writes a letter back to Scottie, she sends kisses from Normy to Scottie. In one letter they talk something like Carmen would be pregnant and Normy and she are thinking about ”taking the baby”, so maybe Normy is Carmens boyfriend. Almost every letter includes money from Carmen to her grandmother, sometimes Scottie uses the money to paint her house and sometimes she puts it in to the bank.

God is very important to Carmens grandmother and she talks about it in every letter. Carmen is not so sure if God can save Scottie from falling out of ladders when she paints the house. Scottie also tells about thieves who are stealing her neighbours houses and Carmen wants her grandmother to put burglar bars to her windows. But still Scottie thinks that God will save her.

One of the things they disscuss in their letters is Carmens mother. Carmen feels that Scotties is her real mother because she is the one who raised her and her brother, and she is the one who always take care of them. She has seen her mother only once, but her mother keeps writing letters to Carmen.

The story was little bit hard to read because like I told Scottie didn’t use any punctuation. There is also many things that are hard to understand. And the end came very quickly, it just ended.

Gangsters Become Humans

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Evan Hunter’s short story The Last Spin is a cold summary about gang wars. The plot begins when two men from different gangs meet each other. The two men Danny and Tigo are told to settle the gangs´ relations because of last night’s shootings. The cruel fact is that Danny and Tigo need to play Russian roulette until the end.

First they both are very tough guys and they see each other only as enemies. The Russian roulette starts with only one cartridge in the revolver’s cylinder. Odds are five-to-one. Gangsters are lucky, again and again they target the weapon towards their own heads and pull the trigger coldbloodedly. Without noticing it themselves Danny and Tigo begin talking. The men realize how much they have in common. They speak about their girlfriends, families, and dream about joining the army one day. Gangsters from different gangs decide to be friends. They even notice that the real conflict between the two gangs concerns the gang leaders’ greed of power, it’s not between them. But the game goes on and they must add another cartridge inside the cylinder. Quitting is not an option.

Both of the men are young because they can’t join the army without their parents permission. They are also newcomers in their gangs. In my opinion they are insecure and vulnerable young men trying to find approval and social cohesion from their gangs. As the story goes forward Danny and Tigo slowly take off their masks of tough guys and the real humanity increases in these two ordinary fellows.

Though The Last Spin is only a short story it ties its reader firmly in his or hers seat. Evan Hunter uses colloquial language in the men’s dialogue. It has its own influence on building the atmosphere. Actually without slang language the feeling would be far from what it should be. The story forces the reader to think about chains set up by the surrounding community. Can you be what you want to be or are you just playing a role? Or how hard is it to take off the mask?

 

Christmas story

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Now you can believe in Santa Claus!

Joulutarina (Christmas Story) is a finnish film, which tells the orugin and life of Santa Claus. A film is directed by Juha Wuolijoki and written by Marko Leino. The film is released in 2007.

The story begins when Santa’s (whose name is Nikolas) parents and his sister died in an accident. Nikolas (Otto Gustavsson) started an orphan child’s life. Every family taking him for a one year and then moving him on to the next family. Nikolas starts whittiling toys out of wood as a gift for the children, whose home he has lived. The last year none of the families can not take him to home the next year. The villages hermit Iisakki (Kari Väänänen) take him to his home. Iisakki doesn’t like Nikolas. After many years Iisakki grows to love Nikolas as his own son. Nikolas makes toys out of wood every year more and more. He grows old and he becomes the figure know as Santa Claus (Hannu-Pekka Björkman).

The film is touching and wonderful. Especially the
film is suitable for children. If you do not need action, that film is right for you!

Written by Krista

Water For Elephants

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Water for Elephants is a romantic drama movie based on Sara Gruen’s historic novel. The film is directed by Francis Lawrence and it was released on April 21, 2011. It stars well known actors like Reese Witherspoon and Twilight saga star Robert Pattinson.

PLOT

The movie starts with old retired Jacob Jankowski who wants to see circus performance. Staff tells him that the show is over and offers to call retirement home to pick him up. Suddenly Jacob shares his own story about Benzini Brothers Circus.

The flashback takes us all the way to Jakob’s college time. First his parents die in a car accident and Jacob leaves home and all behind – he jumps on Benzini Brothers Circus train. Right then and there the real adventure begins.

The beginning in circus is not easy, Jacob tells he have studied veterinary science and he become circus’ vet. First thing he kills circus’ star attraction Silver(horse), because the horse is in huge pain. The owner August is not too happy about it and makes it clear to Jacob that his words are the law. For Silver’s replacement August buys an elephant, Rosie and names Jacob to train the elephant.

Marlena, August’s wife, performed with Silver, so now she had to also learn to perform with Rosie. This only brings Jacob and Marlena closer to each other. August gets frustrated with Rosie and beats her. After that Jacob notices that Rosie can understand only Polish. With that remark he becomes a hero.

Circus succeeds and August is happy. Suddenly he notices that his wife and young polish boy have fell in love. He gets angry and hits Marlena and then Jacob. Jacob and Marlena try to run away but they fail and August’s men find them. Jacob doesn’t give up – he returns to circus. That day, Benzini Brothers Circus’ last day, is full of action.

Rosie, the clever elephant kills awful August and the hole circus dies. Jacob and Marlena live happily ever after with Rosie.

The story ends and old Jacob asks for job in a circus.

 

CHARACTERS

Robert Pattinson as Jacob Jankowski – Sweet Polish boy who falls in love with Marlena – owner’s wife.

Reese Witherspoon as Marlene Rosenbluth – Beautiful performer, owner’s wife who falls in love with Jacob.

Christoph Waltz as August Rosenbluth – Circus’ owner, ruthless man who kills people and animals to keep the circus going.

There was plenty other people – circus’ staff, who became important to Jacob but they didn’t affect significantly on the plot.

 

CAMERAWORK

The filming is by Rogrigo Prieto. I liked the way the movie was shooted and I think it’s excellent.  It brought the needed feeling to otherside of the screen. Editing is by Alan Edward Bell. I think that also Bell done it well, none of the deleted scenes wouldn’t made the movie any better.

 

SOUNDTRACK

Film’s music is by James Newton Howard. As I said before the feeling came across the movie in filming but also in music. All of the film’s music was composed strictly for the film.

Wuthering Heights (2009)

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Wuthering Heights is a romantic movie and based on the novel by Emily Brontë (released 1847). This old love story has inspired many directors particularly since 1939, when the first film of the story was released. I watched version of the motion which was released in 2009 and directed by Coky Giedroyc.

Wuthering Heights is a traditional and unique romantic movie at the same time. It tells Cathy Earnshaws and Heathcliffs story. Next I’ll tell a little bit about the plot, so if you don’t want to know, stop reading! So, Cathy and Heathcliff are childhood friends, whose friendship turn into love. They can’t get married because Cathy has a highter social status than Heathcliff. Heathcliff goes away, and Cathy marries Edgar Linton. Later Heathcliff comes back, but Cathy is pregnant to Linton. Cathy gives birth to a little girl and dies herself in the birth. Cathy and Heathcliff both knew that they love each other, despite they both got married with someone else. In a sense they get each other in the end, in a sense not. Anyway, their love story is so touching, love between them is passionate and strong and it’ll never finish.

There are two actors who starring Wuthering Heights; Charlotte Riley (Cathy Earnshaw) and Tom Hardy (Heathcliff). Their roles have been criticized, but my own opinion is, that they suit quit well in their roles. I’ve red later that Riley and Hardy got engaged after the film, and you can notice their chemistry in the motion. Some scenes are a little bit too dramatic and make me smile though I must be touched. And other scenes make me cry, too.

Camerawork is usual and classic, I don’t have nothing to say about it. There aren’t any special effects in the film, too, and only a little bit music. At the beginning music creates exciting feeling and with the picture it’s nearly scary.

I can’t decide if I like the movie or not. I like it at the first sight, but when I watched it second time, I was more critical. I don’t believe I would watch the film third time. Nevertheless, the story is very beautiful, and I can recommend Wuthering Heights to everyone, who likes romantic movies. This is the motion, which worth to watch; but maybe one time is enough!

Moscow doesn’t believe in tears

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Moscow doesn’t believe in tears (Moskva slezam ne verit) is a Soviet movie that was directed by Vladimir Menshov and released in 1979. It is a melodrama about the life of three women who move from the countryside to Moscow in search for a better life. It was once a real blockbuster in the Soviet Union.

The story begins when Katja (Vera Alentova), Ljuda (Irina Muravyova) and Antonina (Raysa Ryazanova) move to a university dormitory in Moscow. They all came there for a good education, job and a husband. It turns out that life doesn’t always go the way you wanted it to go. Katja doesn’t pass the exam to a university and has to keep working in a factory. Katja and Ljuda fall in love at a party and after dating for awhile Katja becomes pregnant. When Rudolf (Juri Vasiljev) finds out that Katja has been lying to him  about her life including her job,  education and financial situation, he dumps her. At this point Antonina and Ljuda are married and Katja is raising her baby girl alone.

The movie is divided into two parts. The second part starts after about 15 years. Katja is a director in a factory, her daughter is a teenager and she lives in her own apartment. Only one thing’s missing from Katja´s life; a husband. Later on a local train she meets her future husband, Georgi (Aleksei Batalov). When everything is finally going the right way, Katja’s ex-boyfriend turns up demanding to meet his daughter. Because of this Georgi gets hurt and  disappears for a week.  Later Ljuda’s husband found Georgi, had a proper conversation with vodka and anchovy, and Georgi decides to come back to Katja. The movie ends with Katja saying twice “How long have I been looking for you” .

The actors of the film are the best I’ve ever seen. The way they act is something you rarely get to see nowdays. Especially Irina Muravyova’s performance stood out in a good way. Also the casting was well considered. The roles were like made to the actors.

There are no special effects in this movie and I personally think that it doesn’t even need any. It’s plot, great actors, beautiful music and sarcastic Russian humour do the trick all by themselves. I would recommend this movie to everyone who wants to see something different than usually.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

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The third movie of The Fast and the Furious is Tokyo Drift. This movie is Japanese-American illegal street racing action film. Tokyo Drift was released in 2006 and it was directed by Justin Lin. The movie was shot in Tokyo and parts of Los Angeles. This third movie part of The Fast and the Furious is very different from earlier movies of The Fast and the Furious,because this movie has changed for example all actors and film crew ..

The plot tells a young boy, Sean Boswell, who likes drive to really fast. Sean’s passion is driving fast and that is the reason why Sean get into trouble with the police. Sean’s many strifes with the polices lead  to that he had to move to his father to the other side of the world. When Sean moves to his father to Japan, he avoid prison. Sean should stop to drive fast by car but he get to know drift in Japan. He meet also a girl and her boyfriend. Boyfriend doens’t like Sean and that’s why he challenge Sean in many different and dangerous drift-race. So, how does it happen, it have to see..!

In my opinion the actors of the movie is good even many people says that the actors of the movie sucks. I don’t no why…I can’t  maybe look the actors critically but i think the actors suit their own roles. Camerawork and special effects of the movie have really successful. The movie has really cool tuning cars, while slide down radical curves. That movie is also filmed really well, excellent perspectives. Soundtrack is good and suit to scenses. Stunts and amazing race acts  of the movie get viewers to enjoy and get to feel a few extra heartbeat. In my and many other people’s opinion the movie is known for cool tuning cars, amazing races and half-naked women.

 

 

The Naked gun 33 1/3

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The Naked gun 33 1/3 (released 1994) is the final movie of The Naked gun series. It was directed by Peter Segal. The movie is an exhilarating comedy which contains lots of humour in all forms. Leslie Nielsen as officer Frank Drebin has retired from the forces just when he is most needed. A rumour is spreading that a terrorist act will occur in the near future, but no one knows for certain who is going to perform it and where.There are quite few special effects in this movie but it is also good because this movie doesn’t require much special effects.

The movie starts off with a short and humorous intro which is typical for The Naked gun movies. The plot of the movie was pretty simple but not in a boring way. First Frank retires from the police forces, but keeps investigating this one case. His wife Jane finds out that he haven’t quit his job which enrages her and causes her to move out of the town. After his wife gone Frank is sent to infiltrate a prison, because the rumour tells that the terrorist attack will be controlled from prison. In prison Frank ends up to the same cell as Rocco Dillon the mastermind behind the terrorist’s plan. After gaining the trust of this crook Frank escapes from the prison with him. Rocco’s mother is also involved in their scheme and she transports Frank and Rocco to their hideout. When they’re in Rocco’s hideout Frank finds out that the target of the terrorist act is the academy awards ceremony. In the meantime after ”a slight misunderstanding” Jane realizes that she was wrong and rushes to find Frank. When Jane finally finds Frank she is captured and forced to be involved in the scheme. Their plan is to blow the ceremony up with a bomb hidden to the anvalope of the greatest film award. Once the bomb is pulled form the anvalope it will detonate. Frank turns the ceremony into one big chaos but manages to get the anvalope without detonating it. The movie ends to a scene where Jane gives birth to their first-born.

Leslie Nielsen as Frank Drebin, the main character. Nielsen suits to his role perfectly. A little absent-minded but a decent police officer who tries his best to fight against crime even when he is retired. His age however remains a mystery in this movie.

Priscilla Presley as Jane Drebin, who is Franks wife. She would want to have a baby with Frank but he isn’t so excited about this idea.

George Kennedy as Ed Hockey, Franks good old friend from the police department. He was devastated when Frank had to retire.

O.J.Simpson as officer Nordberg, also Franks good friend from the police department. A rather silly character.

Fred Ward as Rocco Dillon, the bad guy of the movie. A somewhat skilled bomber who works for Papshmir.

There are also very hilarious parables e.g. ”I had to stand on my toes, like a midget on a urinal.” which of course meant that he had to be very careful. In my opinion it is delightful to watch the movie over and over again because of the little things you might and will not notice on the first time you watch it. All in all it was also very easy to follow beacause of the relaxed and smooth tempo of events in the movie. I would recommend this movie to anyone who has anykind sense of humour. References to other movies can also be seen for example:The scene where Jane and her men-hater friend leaves the town is referated from a movie.

Transformers

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Transformers

Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg the film Transformers which premiered in the summer spectacle in 2007 enacted the first Transformers movie.This science fiction / action film carried out by the drawing of the characters of the famous cartoon animation series of 3D animated version. Idea for the movie based on the famous animated cartoon series, which was one of the most  famous animated series  of 80-90 centuries

Plot of the movie is based on the two kind of alien race coming out of space which are heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons, as well as mankind’s struggle for human freedom and Autobots against the Decepticons.

The main character in the movie is acting  Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Josh Duhamel.The main character Sam (Shia LaBeouf) is a teenage boy who has a crush on Mikaela (Megan Fox) who is the hottest girl in the school. Sam buys his first car, an old Camaro.In the long run it clear that this car is one of the Autobots. Before he can even notices he has a mission to save the human race fighting alongside with Autobots against Decepticons which ones have a plan to conquer the earth with changing its machines to the new Decepticon army.In my opinion, the actors take the character of the exhibition what’s best. They perform dramatic scenes so well that I actually like feeling involved.The movie is set just the right actors to play the roles.The film appears Autobot and Decepticon characters in the animated series of the Autobots and Decepticons like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron.The appearance of the robots and the target transformation is carried out well in my opinion, even though it has been given to the negative criticism. because many think that they differ so much from the original cartoon versions.Personally I like the most Bumblebees, and Optimus Prime, the new car transformation objects more than the old versions of the cartoon.

The special effects are most completely successful and the implementation of a robot character animation has been selected the best animators animate them.None of the robot animation has not been used for a second time, but each scene and the transformation is animated separately, which is rare and difficult.

Soundtracks are incredible. The most popular soundtrack in the movie is – Arrival To Earth by Steve Jablonsky. The soundtracks really gives me the goose pimples :’D At the end of the movie is played in Linkin Park’s song – What I’ve done

The film has action, drama , humor, and a great storyline and excellent animation, special effects and characters that make the movie perfect in my opinion. That’s why it is my favourite movie. 🙂

I admire this movie so much.I recommend it for everyone to watch who like to, enabling fast and noisy cars, great animation, robots, action and emotional as the movie can be. :’)

Changeling

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Changeling (2008) is an American drama movie based on a real story of Christine Collins, a single mother who loses her son in 1928. The movie is directed by Clint Eastwood and written by J. Michael Straczynski.

On March 10th 1928 in Los Angeles while Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie) is unexpectedly called into work, her nine-year-old son Walter goes missing. She puts her faith in the Los Angeles Police Department from whom she five months later receives news that her son has been found. Christine doesn’t identify the boy and but for the police it’s important to just look like they have found the missing child.

Christine speaks to press and starts to fight against the police and ends up being in the psychiatric hospital. She gets out of there with a help of a minister Gustav Briegleb (John Malkovich) who battles against police corruption. Christine believes that Walter is somewhere and decides never to give up finding him.

I would say Clint Eastwood cast the movie very well and many characters are strong. Angelina Jolie as Christine Collins I think is a perfect choice for the role because she does drama well and she can be emotional in front of the camera which was needed for the tough role. John Malkovich as Gustav Bliegleb has a smaller role but I think he managed in his role well and as a minister he had pretty funny way to speak. Other than Jolie and Malkovich, the performances are not that special even though many of the child actors were super cute.

Not only me but also the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences liked the movie – it received Oscar nominations from three different categories: Best Actress, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. I think the movie is a great story of justice and I’m sure it wakes people up thinking what the time was like in 1920s when corruption was on the air and the status of women was poor. I don’t think the movie would have been so believable if it hadn’t happened for real. I’d also say that the costumes really affected the movie’s believability in some way because they were just like at that time: straight and simple lines without any details.

At least Changeling affected me and made me think as a girl how cruel the world was before.