Are Hollywood movies really that great? Are the screenwriters really that creative? Are they original? The idea of “Hollywood” dates way back to the early 1900’s and the first studio to be built there was in 1909. This “Starstruck Town” saw D.W. Griffith create the first motion picture which only turned out to be seventeen minutes long titled In Old California. By the 1920’s “Tinseltown” had become world famous center of the U.S. film industry. Everyone wanted to work in Hollywood. So, what happened? Where did all those original writers go?
A trend that has occurred in Hollywood as of late has been ripping off novels and putting their own spin it. Sorry, but this is not considered “original.” Granted these movies are good and let’s face it most of us would rather watch a movie then read a book. However, when 18 out of the top 50 movies according to AFI are based on books it poses the question, “What is going on in Hollywood?” Now that list is only up to the 90s with the exception of one movie from 2001, but on Moviefone’s top 40 of the 2000’s so far, 18 out of the top 40 are based on books. In 2009 alone, 45 movies were based on books. WHAT IS GOING ON?!
Aside from books turned movies, there is still the problem of remakes, same action movies, and the romance movies that are told thousands of times. Whether its Miley Cyrus in The Last Song, or Robert Pattinson in Twilight, they are STILL the same. They meet, fall in love, *Insert tragic event here*, and then they live happily ever after. There is the odd exception including Titanic and Romeo & Juliet, but honestly how often does that happen? Nicholas Sparks is an amazing writer, no doubt there, but don’t all his books turned movies seem like the same thing OVER AND OVER? As for remakes, Hollywood sees that if a movie was successful once then it will be successful again. Just change it up. Throw some young, hot stars in there and make millions. A lot of the time this RUINS the movies. For example, Godzilla, Planet of the Apes, and Poseidon are some of the worst remakes Hollywood has created. People love watching movies. People spend a lot on movies. People don’t want to watch the same movie over and over but with a different title. Armageddon was a huge hit but then a similar movie called Deep Impact was released. How many movies do people need to see about a comet headed to Earth? Are they trying to scare us? Then there was Dante’s Peak and Volcano. Of course they both had amazing actors and they ad a few differences, but the storyline was the same. Volcano errupts, people die, hero saves the day. That can only be tolerated a few times by people before they turn it off.
Hollywood, this is for you: hire some new screenwriters. Write something original, not something everyone has seen already. They want new. They want fresh. After all, if people are spending billions of dollars a year on movies shouldn’t they at least be good?
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Stereotypes? Or Harsh Reality?
Dr. Sax, a family physician, and founder of the National Association for Single Sex Public Education, who lives in Pennsylvania, previously wrote two books about gender differences on learning, and in his new book he argues that today’s tweens and teens look “confident on the outside but have a dangerously fragile sense of self.” In the interview “Inside the Dangerous Empty Lives of Teenage Girls” published May 10, 2010 in Maclean’s magazine, with Dr. Leonard Sax he discusses what he has researched, and believes how teenage girls see their lives. In the article he discusses the statistics of teenage girls inflicting pain on themselves by cutting or burning themselves with matches, then goes into further detail about what type of girls cut and why they do it. Furthermore, he discusses the growing problem of anorexia in a girls live and why they do that to themselves. Sax then goes on to talk about girls “viewing sex as a commodity” and once again why they do that to themselves.
The statistic of “one in five girls is cutting herself and/or burning herself with matches” seems to be somewhat accurate, but in reality that number could be much higher. A lot of teenage girls have self-esteem issues and they are embarrassed as to what they are doing, which means a lot of them would certainly not fess up to cutting or burning themselves. Therefore, that statistic can not be proven to a certain degree. However, when Sax discusses the reasons for girls cutting themselves he explains that “it is not a cry for help. Most girls don’t want adults to know they are cutting which is why they cut in places [they] won’t see.” These girls are not trying to kill themselves, they just have an enormous amount of pressure put on them from having to be perfect for everyone and they spend their whole life performing and haven’t been living. Which means that most of the time it is the girls that you would never expect to cut, are actually the ones doing it. According to Dr. Sax, “when girls cut themselves, they are getting a release of endogenous opiates – they’re actually getting high” which for many is a way to hide their pain.
Eating disorders have become a more commonly known problem in today’s society for teenage girls. The majority of teenage girls are obsessed with what they eat and how slender they are that many become anorexic. Many girls want to accomplish anorexia, and according to Sax “it is not a cry for help – in fact, they don’t want grown-ups to pay attention because they don’t want someone to take that achievement, that identity, away from them.” Girls convince themselves that anorexia is a lifestyle choice for them and see nothing wrong with what they are doing. They see images of famous celebrity women in magazines that appear to be skinny and perfect, and they want to be that. What they need to realize, is that it is not a healthy lifestyle and it is not something to be taken lightly at all.
In today’s society it is starting to appear more common for teenage girls to be providing sexual favors to older boys, and although it is more common that does not make it acceptable. Teenage girls are so concerned about how they look and their social status at school that they would do almost anything to achieve it. Sax’s opinion on this is that it is “troubling that so many girls are using their sexuality in an instrumental way, in order to accomplish some other end such as raising their social status, but not as an expression of their own [feelings and desires].” The fact that this is happening seems to be appaling to most people, but facing the reality that it really is taking place is the hardest part.
Dr. Sax appears to be a very knowledgeable individual and appears toknow what he is talking about. His points may be offensive to many teenage girls but in the end, they are all true to a point. No one wants to believe it but it is a harsh reality. Teenage girls do have many problems they deal with, they just don't like to be analyzed and stereotyped because that want to believe they are none of them, while deep down they know some of it relates to them.
The statistic of “one in five girls is cutting herself and/or burning herself with matches” seems to be somewhat accurate, but in reality that number could be much higher. A lot of teenage girls have self-esteem issues and they are embarrassed as to what they are doing, which means a lot of them would certainly not fess up to cutting or burning themselves. Therefore, that statistic can not be proven to a certain degree. However, when Sax discusses the reasons for girls cutting themselves he explains that “it is not a cry for help. Most girls don’t want adults to know they are cutting which is why they cut in places [they] won’t see.” These girls are not trying to kill themselves, they just have an enormous amount of pressure put on them from having to be perfect for everyone and they spend their whole life performing and haven’t been living. Which means that most of the time it is the girls that you would never expect to cut, are actually the ones doing it. According to Dr. Sax, “when girls cut themselves, they are getting a release of endogenous opiates – they’re actually getting high” which for many is a way to hide their pain.
Eating disorders have become a more commonly known problem in today’s society for teenage girls. The majority of teenage girls are obsessed with what they eat and how slender they are that many become anorexic. Many girls want to accomplish anorexia, and according to Sax “it is not a cry for help – in fact, they don’t want grown-ups to pay attention because they don’t want someone to take that achievement, that identity, away from them.” Girls convince themselves that anorexia is a lifestyle choice for them and see nothing wrong with what they are doing. They see images of famous celebrity women in magazines that appear to be skinny and perfect, and they want to be that. What they need to realize, is that it is not a healthy lifestyle and it is not something to be taken lightly at all.
In today’s society it is starting to appear more common for teenage girls to be providing sexual favors to older boys, and although it is more common that does not make it acceptable. Teenage girls are so concerned about how they look and their social status at school that they would do almost anything to achieve it. Sax’s opinion on this is that it is “troubling that so many girls are using their sexuality in an instrumental way, in order to accomplish some other end such as raising their social status, but not as an expression of their own [feelings and desires].” The fact that this is happening seems to be appaling to most people, but facing the reality that it really is taking place is the hardest part.
Dr. Sax appears to be a very knowledgeable individual and appears toknow what he is talking about. His points may be offensive to many teenage girls but in the end, they are all true to a point. No one wants to believe it but it is a harsh reality. Teenage girls do have many problems they deal with, they just don't like to be analyzed and stereotyped because that want to believe they are none of them, while deep down they know some of it relates to them.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Ann Coulter
Ann Coulter has been followed around by controversy for many years due to her very controversial comments. She is a right-wing American conservative, author, and columnist who has no problem expressing herself. After 9-11, in 2001, she made a comment stating that all Islamic countries should be invaded, their leaders killed, and all the people converted to Christianity. Then again in 2007 she sparked controversy with her comment about if they took away women's right to vote then they would never have to worry about a democratic president again. It appears that she does not think before she speaks
Once again, Ann Coulter has opened her mouth and sparked controversy but this time in Canada. Organized by the International Free Press Society she was set to speak at three Canadian universities: The University of Western Ontario, The University of Ottawa, and The University of Calgary. During her speech at the University of Western Ontario, she made a comment towards a Muslim student about "taking a camel" as she has previously made comments that Muslims should not be allowed on airplanes. This prompted the University of Ottawa to sent Ann Coulter a warning letter in advance of her speech telling her to watch what she says at the university, and to respect the students at the school. Due to the amounts of protesters, the organization cancelled her speech at The University of Ottawa which led to another controversial comment from her. She was quoted in The Globe and Mail saying "I'm guessing the scores to get into the University of Ottawa are not very challenging." She continued to bash the University of Ottawa comparing it to Ivy League schools in the United States and then went on and claimed she was treated unfairly in Canada because she was conservative. As she continued her speech tour, the next stop was The University of Calgary. Protesters were out once again, but not in the strong degree they were in Ottawa. Coulter got to speak her piece, but did not raise too many reg flags except for one comment about Canada calling it "the least diverse country" as the majority of the students who came out were white.
Coulter is one who clearly does not care about freedom of speech, however with her recent actions questions have been raised as to whether she is violating that free speech. In Canada, there is freedom of speech but there are also limitations to that. What you are publicly saying cannot bring down another minority group, or conflicts with others views and beliefs especially religion or race. Alot of what she says is hate speech. Sure, she can voice her opinion, but to the point that she is bringing down a person, or even a whole race? Anyone who holds a public voice, should know better than to tear someone down the way she has before.
Once again, Ann Coulter has opened her mouth and sparked controversy but this time in Canada. Organized by the International Free Press Society she was set to speak at three Canadian universities: The University of Western Ontario, The University of Ottawa, and The University of Calgary. During her speech at the University of Western Ontario, she made a comment towards a Muslim student about "taking a camel" as she has previously made comments that Muslims should not be allowed on airplanes. This prompted the University of Ottawa to sent Ann Coulter a warning letter in advance of her speech telling her to watch what she says at the university, and to respect the students at the school. Due to the amounts of protesters, the organization cancelled her speech at The University of Ottawa which led to another controversial comment from her. She was quoted in The Globe and Mail saying "I'm guessing the scores to get into the University of Ottawa are not very challenging." She continued to bash the University of Ottawa comparing it to Ivy League schools in the United States and then went on and claimed she was treated unfairly in Canada because she was conservative. As she continued her speech tour, the next stop was The University of Calgary. Protesters were out once again, but not in the strong degree they were in Ottawa. Coulter got to speak her piece, but did not raise too many reg flags except for one comment about Canada calling it "the least diverse country" as the majority of the students who came out were white.
Coulter is one who clearly does not care about freedom of speech, however with her recent actions questions have been raised as to whether she is violating that free speech. In Canada, there is freedom of speech but there are also limitations to that. What you are publicly saying cannot bring down another minority group, or conflicts with others views and beliefs especially religion or race. Alot of what she says is hate speech. Sure, she can voice her opinion, but to the point that she is bringing down a person, or even a whole race? Anyone who holds a public voice, should know better than to tear someone down the way she has before.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Yet another argument with the parentals.
Got home from school. Mom sat me down yet again for another talk, but she is fighting a losing battle.
"Got a phone call from you're school today. Seems that out you were caught red-handed spray painting your name onto the back of the school last wee---"
"Mom--"
"Bite your tongue. You are walking on thin ice mister."
Mom always overreacts about these kind of things. She always tells me that I am digging myself a hole, and that I've bitten off more than I can chew. However, I think it's just water under the bridge and there's no point in crying over spilt milk. She never listens to me though. Its like I am talking to a brick wall. She is always telling me that if I don't smarten up she is going to kick me to the curb. I know she won't though, her bark is worse than her bite. She is constantly fighting with me is always looking for some reason to open a can of worms. But, I put my foot down and tell her that those are fighting words and to just go with the flow. That usually makes her more angry and has an axe to grind. That is when I pull out my favorite line that she hates the most: "Live and learn mom. Just live and learn."
"Got a phone call from you're school today. Seems that out you were caught red-handed spray painting your name onto the back of the school last wee---"
"Mom--"
"Bite your tongue. You are walking on thin ice mister."
Mom always overreacts about these kind of things. She always tells me that I am digging myself a hole, and that I've bitten off more than I can chew. However, I think it's just water under the bridge and there's no point in crying over spilt milk. She never listens to me though. Its like I am talking to a brick wall. She is always telling me that if I don't smarten up she is going to kick me to the curb. I know she won't though, her bark is worse than her bite. She is constantly fighting with me is always looking for some reason to open a can of worms. But, I put my foot down and tell her that those are fighting words and to just go with the flow. That usually makes her more angry and has an axe to grind. That is when I pull out my favorite line that she hates the most: "Live and learn mom. Just live and learn."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Invisi.....what?
Invisibility. Reading minds. Walking through walls. Flying. These would be the most common superpowers that people would choose. I, however, would choose something more unique. Everybody wants to travel. Europe, Asia, the North Pole. Everyone has that one place they would like to be. Now, what if you could be in that place with just a snap of your fingers? SNAP! You're in New York. SNAP! You're in Paris. SNAP! You're in Rome. You could travel to all these places and wouldn't even have to pay a cent for the flight. Talk about saving money. You could even save on gas. SNAP! You're at the grocery store. SNAP! You're at school. No more waiting in traffic, no more spending money on gas. This is the superpower that I would choose above all the rest. I mean, sure, flying and being invisible would be rather eventful, but to be able to travel anywhere, just at the snap of your fingers! That is something I would want to do.
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