I just saw the Dark Knight for like the third time. It was still probably one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. The quality story line, the music, the suspense were all huge factors of why i like it so much. Some of the effects used in it are amazing. I think Ledger should definitely receive an award for his performance, it was really good and he did a great job, even better than Jack Nicholson i think.

I recently watched "HOme Alone" for probably the fifteenth time, and i did it because my video is going to be on booy-trapoing. And i recognized that the movie is really cool when you're little, and believe in everything. But the fact is that it could never happen, which was a huge let down of the movie.

Blazing Saddles

I just watched Blazing Saddles for my essay, and forgot how good it was, it really captures all a parody can be. It makes fun of the classic Western, as much as a movie could. I really like Jim, because he is very relaxed, and doesn't have many worries. But when Bart needs him, he is there. Also it made the essay easier because of how it portrayed characters like Bart and Jim. Mel Brooks did a terrific job on this one, and makes me think about another favorite of mine that he made, Spaceballs. Spaceballs is the parody to the Star Wars era. Both are great movie and must sees.

Blog 1: Western Genre and me

This week we learned about the "American Western" after finishing Citizen Kane the american classic by Orson Welles. After learing a little more about the Western genre, i've become more interested in it. Some of my personal favorites are "The magnificent seven", "Outlaw Jose Whales" and "The assasination of Jesse James". They've interested me because i think that they represent america, thats sort of the type of movie we are known for. Americas move west has been put on the silver screen for years. Waht fascinates me about them is not only the action but that now there is characterization, and a good story line. "The Assassination of Jesse James" appeals to me because it true but it was interesting. It was just a tell about his life. It had action and dialogue and everytihng i feel there need to be to have a good movie. "the magnificent seven" i think is good just becasue of the mix of action and storyline. Seven men save a village, what could be better? and then finally "the outlaw jose whales" is good mainly becasue when i tihnk western i think Clint Eastwood, but the story is good, and again theres action but it isn't the main focus. And that i why i like the Western Genre.

Intro

This is about film, and about the art of making film, it's techniques, and how producers make their movies. I like film a lot and thats why i created this blog. Film is really fascinating, it's been around for a while making the wonderful movies we learn about and watch today.

Top Ten List

Top Ten List

1. Tony Dungy: Tony is significant because he is the author and main character of the book. This is his Memoir. At a time when Tony had just become a Super Bowl champion, he wrote this book. Beginning when he started his coaching career at Tampa Bay.

2. Football: Football is something you should know because it surrounds Tony in the whole book. This is the sport that Tony has poured his heart and soul into and made his career. This is the lifestyle Tony has known since high school. Football has been apart of Tony all his life. This is very significant if reading this book.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This team is important because it is where Tony received his first professional head coaching job. This is also important because he describes Tampa Bay as the place where he grew exponentially as a head coach and made both mistakes and breakthroughs. He also describes it as a place where his kids laid there roots but were uprooted when Tony went to Indianapolis.

4. Indianapolis Colts: The Indianapolis Colts football franchise is important because this was the second team that he became the head coach of. It is significant because he talked about how the owner has treated him like family and that this was the team that stuck with him to the end and won the Super Bowl.

5. African American: Tony being an African American thought expected to be fighting the odds his whole life. He didn’t expect to make such a big splash in a big pool, by becoming the fist African American head coach to ever win the Super bowl in 2007. This is also important because he spoke of how he felt when he would accomplish something and that it would be so much more meaningful to him, like winning the super bowl.

6. Minnesota: Minnesota is important because this is where Tony went to college and played quarterback for the University of Minnesota Gophers. This is where Tony made his first sound when he was a quarterback for Minnesota. And he made connections in this state that he refers to over and over in the story. This is also important because he talks about how much he learned when he was on coaching staffs here.

7. Dr. Wilbur Dungy: Dr. Wilbur Dungy is Tony’s father. He is important because early on in the book Tony refers to him often. He talks about how his dad taught him many things. Tony says that his father had a great deal of influence including that it is very important to go to college. Which Tony always thought about and did finally attend the University of Minnesota after graduating high school.
8. Lauren Dungy: Lauren Dungy is Tony’s wife, and major supporter. She is significant because throughout the whole story Lauren is by his side supporting and going along with him. Tony talks about how big a part of his life his wife is to him. And that she made it so much easier when they went from Tampa Bay to Indianapolis. And that she has been there every step of the way in his coaching career.

9. Children: This is important because family is important to Tony. Throughout the book Tony makes mention of his kids in small sections. An important section would be when you find out that one of his sons dies. He doesn’t talk about it very much but it is defiantly a significant part of the book because of the values that family has to Tony.

10. God: God is important to the story because religion is very important to Tony. All through the story Tony makes references to God. One example is on page. 241 when he says: “I don’t have the strength or wisdom to get through a single day without the guidance and grace from God” and when I read this particular quote it really emphasized how much Tony turns to religion.

Week 6 Post B

-This section was more or less about hiring and firing. Tony describes the hiring of offensive coordinator Les Steckel and the firing of Mike Shula. A major subject of this is the playoffs. A significant quote form this section would be…

“So the Bucs’ success was great-kind of. One year after I had been fired by Tampa Bay, my family and I were in Tampa for the Bucs’ magical three-week run through the playoffs. Super Bowl frenzy was everywhere-in the paper, on the radio, on television, in everyone’s conversation. The comment we kept hearing was, “Thank goodness Jon Gruden came along to finish the job for Tony Dungy.” That was painful to hear.”

When I read this I was thinking to myself, how would I feel if I over heard that about me? And I truly and thoughtfully put myself in his situation. And I concluded that I would have felt deeply hurt. This is the team and state that I poured my time and energy into for a long time, and when I’m gone, one man comes along with my team and makes it look easy, and I hear a comment like that. A thought to leave you with would be: put yourself in his shoes, how would you feel or react to a comment like that?

Week 6 Post A

-An emerging theme form this section would be learning from experience and trust. Tony talks about how he must trust the personnel he hired, and how he learned form his old head coach Denny Green.
-“I knew from watching Coach Noll and Denny Green how I wanted to do things as a head coach. I hired top-notch people, trusted them to do their jobs…” In this quote Tony talks about trust, an emerging theme in this section

Week 4 Post B

This section was really good. Tony talks a lot about trying to be a good coach and at the same time, a good husband. He also talks about success and how he and others define it:
“God’s Word, however, presents a different definition of success-one centered on a relationship with Jesus Christ and a love for God that allows us to love and serve others. God gives each one of us unique gifts, abilities, and passions. How well we use those qualities to have an impact on the world around us determines how “successful” we really are” (143).
This is both the same and different how I measure success. I also measure it in if I give something my best effort and know that I truly tried my hardest, and then I am successful in everything that I can apply those rules. I also measure success by my abilities and weather or not I use them, either to benefit myself or others. In this section there are many pictures of Tony from the past leading to the present. But all help paint a picture that he is trying to tell. From playing high school basketball to college football, and finally the big show: the NFL and is coaching career. I last quote to leave you with would be when he is talking to his assistant: “No, Warren, I whispered. Remember what we talked about. We’re the tornado. Unknown. Until it’s too late” (163).

Week 4 Post A

• "Not only was 1997 special for our team, it was a good year for my family as well. Lauren and I were really having fun discovering the Tampa Bay area"(131). This was significant because it really shows that not only was he trying to be a good coach but how he was trying to keep close to his family.
• An emerging theme in this section would be balancing family with work (coaching).

Week 3 Post A

Vocab:
Tacticians:(96)- tactical, representative, PR manager, mediator, someone who mediates and is tactical.

Frugal:(102)-fiscal, worried, careful, "penny pincher"

An emerging theme in the book would now be don't jump to conclusions. Because one of his coaches was shy and stand offish and he stuck wit him and turned out to be a great coach.

Week 2 Post B

A significant quote that I pulled out of this section would be: “Of course, being back in Minnesota was like being home for me, even though the weather was painfully cold” (79). This is significant because I feel the same way, except Minnesota actually is home. But no matter when I go or travel to, I always love being in Minnesota just like Tony Dungy. If I was writing a letter to the author (Tony Dungy) here is what it might look like:
Dear Mr. Dungy,
I’m writing you as a reader of your book. I think it is wonderful so far, but I’m wondering how you felt after you were fired? You didn’t go into much depth in your book. Right now I just finished reading about your experiences with Herm Edwards. Also I know how you feel when you returned to Minnesota from Kansas City, I love it here as well, and yes the cold in painful, but its part of what make Minnesota unique. Also I’d like to know why your wife liked Kansas City so much, what it was for her that made it so special.
That would be my letter to Mr. Dungy. Over all this section to me was good, he packed it with details and I felt that I made a personal connection with it. To me this is the first good book that I have read in a long time, and I so far I would recommend it to everyone.

Week 2 Post A

Vocab
Spontaneous:(63)v. Acting in spontaneity, outgoing, outrageous, action that wouldn't be the norm of that person.
Ramifications:(81)n. Repercussions, consequences

An emerging theme in this book would be that friends last forever. This is significant because Tony starts out meeting all new friends as a player who later on become people that help him get coaching opportunities.

Post B week 1

A quote that I pulled form this section would be:
“Everyone in the Tampa viewing area would have multiple opportunities to see Tony Dungy, former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, placing boxes into his SUV in the pouring rain”(6). This gave me a sense that he was in a way wounded or powerless now, the rain also contributed to that feeling, and he describes the people as if they want to see him this way. As the section goes on, He tells what it was like growing up a Dungy. A quote I pulled from this section was:
“Growing up in Jackson, to my way of thinking, was the way growing up was meant to be” (7). This gave me a sense of how Tony felt about his childhood. It goes on and talks about how much he loved where he grew up, and that he loved even more that he got to coach near by, in Tampa Bay. Something I really like about this book is that at the beginning of each chapter he puts a quote from someone on the first page. I think this is interesting because I wonder what prompted him to do that, and I concluded that maybe because some of these quotes changed his life.

Post A week 1

Vocab:
Prognosticators pg.3: People who antagonize, who provoke
Bewilderment pg.6: bewildered, astonished, dumbfounded

A rising theme in this book would be that hard work pays off. This is shown when Tony describes how he became a coach, and how when he was fired he recovered.

My Book

• Quiet Strength, by Tony Dungy
• 2007
• Nonfiction
• 300
• This book is sufficient because the reviews are mostly adults, it's a recent book, it's over 200 pages which i usually don't read, and it seems like an interesting book
• I chose this book because it's about one of the great coaches of our time, Tony Dungy, and it's about sports.

Sea Inside 3

There were scenes that i thought were most significant.



1. When in the court, there is a high angle shot looking down on Ramon.
-this made him seem belittled small and powerless, this meant that there was no changing their decision and that this was the way it was going to be.



2. When they're filming Ramon's video, there is an eye level shot.
-This shot gave me the feeling that i was there talking with Ramon... and filming it myself. This is significant because he was going to die, and they didn't want to give the feeling of power or powerless but they wanted to make him equal.

3. In the scene where Ramon is arguing with his brother about wanting to die there is a mid-shot
-This is important because it gave me the feeling that no matter what he says it's still Ramon's decision and that there is equality there, even though hes the paraplegic.

The Sea Inside 2

Some similarities between Diving Bell and Sea inside would be that both people were paraplegics and both had people around them who loved them very much. But a huge difference is that one wished to die the other did not. In my opinion i tihnk that the diving bell and the butterfly was more powerful becasue he was trapped inside and it was a far more worse situation, he used his disadvantage to his advantage and wrote a book.... with one eye.

The Sea Inside 1

I thought that this was a good movie but kind of sad. I think that his request for suicide was his wish and that he had a right do do what he wanted, I also feel though that the court had no right to interfere like that. This was his wish and that Ramon felt what he said... living is a right not an obligation and if this is what he believed and that is what matters because the courts aren't the people who is wishing to die. As for the friends who helped, i mean he did tell him that if they truly loved him that they would help him die, so after a statement like that its hard to say because some of them might have felt pressured into it. But they wanted what was best for him and Ramon thought that death was what was best.

ESSAY ON FEVER PITCH

English 10
25 October 2007
Play by Pitch

Whenever someone asks me: “who is your favorite college football team?” I always respond with “I bleed cardinal and gold for USC.” I give them that response because I’m a really big fan of their football team and I mean an enormous fan. And Only a true fan knows what it’s like when your favorite team loses a big game, of feels that pain the team does with the agony of defeat, which is why Nick Hornby wrote Fever Pitch, to acknowledge a life long fixation about the Arsenal football club and that he is a true fan of the game. He tells us just how much a true fan he is using word choice, game references and his personal life.
Sometimes what people say can be misinterpreted by the words you use. Nick Hornby leaves nothing to be misinterpreted in Fever Pitch because word choice is a huge part of his description and tribute to his obsession with the Arsenal soccer (football) team. This is demonstrated on page 13 in the quote: “It might not be too fanciful to suggest that it was an idea which shaped my life. I have always been accused of taking the things I love-football, of course, but also books and records- much to seriously.” When I read this I focused on his word choice of “love” because it describes his true feeling about the sport in reference Arsenal. Another good example of Nick using word choice is in the quote: “In a way Brazil ruined it for all of us. They had revealed a kind of Platonic ideal that nobody, not even Brazilians, would ever be able to find again”(30). The words here that jumped out at me were “platonic” and “ruined it for us all” because

Heck 2
“Platonic” makes it sound like it was more that it actually was and you can really feel the emotion in his description that just adds to his tribute to the team. When he talks about “ruined it for us all” he makes it sound like he is more than a fan, that he is almost a player and the way he says it is to create a more dramatic feeling to the praise. A last example of word choice would be on page 73 when he is talking about a tragic loss, and he uses “we” as in “we lost” describing that he is more than just a fan that he is a part of the team and that he would be honored to be an actual part of the team, which creates more prestige about Arsenal. All of these examples of word choice have shown the emotion Nick Hornby has put into his book, and how he felt like he was more than just a fan.
It helps a lot when you take notes in school, so you can look back on the topic with detail. That has to be what Nick Hornby did when he wrote this book because he uses game reference with good details to add to the tribute. Some good examples of this would be on pages 85, 93, and 104. In all of these situations Nick uses good descriptive details as if he were writing everything down back then when he was watching the game. This is significant because it shows that he cared back then and he cares now, that this book is truly a tribute to this team.
Sometimes we get sidetracked from our goals, or forget the things we love. Nock Hornby does not; through all the events of his personal life he still follows the team. In the near beginning of the book, his parents begin the process of getting divorced, this is a personal issue, that almost clouds his viewing for a while but recovers and the team is kind of what gets him through the divorce. Arsenal’s stadium was like Nick’s home away
Heck 3
from home during the divorce. This is noteworthy because it shows that this team is as though the team is personal to him. A last but just as good example would be when he broke up with his long-term girlfriend (unnamed). He tells us about how important to the story she is in the quote: “She is a part of this story, I think, in several ways…” (93).This quote is significant because he basically comes out and says she is important to the story. An event like this can cause someone to get sidetracked, but Nick doesn’t seem to, he stays strong and gets through it with his team… Arsenal.
In all I liked this book, it showed that true fans truly love their team. Nock’s personal experiences, word choice and game references made this book into a 239 page tribute to the Arsenal football club. And as long as I bleed cardinal and gold I’ll feel the same way he does.