Journal #6 - Least Favorite movie

Bloggers Choice: Least Favorite Film Genre

Gory Horror Movies

Ever since I was little I’ve never enjoyed horror movies, especially gory ones. Movies with gore get too carried away with slaughtering  of people and showing all the different ways you can torture a human and they drift away from the plot of the story.  The plot is another part in horror movies that I don’t like. In horror movies, it seems to me that the plot is only one dimension.  The only thing I get out of the simple plot is that usually someone is trying to kill or torture everyone else. 

            Specifically one series of horror films I don’t like is Chucky.  First of all the doll of Chucky just creeps me out and secondly it’s too gruesome and scary for me.  One horror film that I can somewhat stand to watch is the movie Silence of The Lambs.  This movie has a really good plot about how the FBI is trying to figure out the case but when the bloody scenes come, I just fast forward through all the gore.  Silence of The Lambs is rated one of the top ten scariest movies, but I think it can attract  people like me because of its great plot.  So overall the plot is important to me in any horror film!

Jurnal #5- Bloggers choice

Journal #5-

Film Analysis on Disney Movies

In my opinion Disney movies are the best classic films of all time.  They’re targeted towards children but without a doubt parents get a kick out of them too.  The writer of these Films has a way of slipping in adult humor but while still appropriate for the children.  Each individual Disney movie consists of colorful animation along with characters your children will fall in love with and dress up as on Halloween.  Disney movies add educational value to the experience of watching a good movie.  They have stories about family, friends, adventure, courage and the importance of perseverance.  If you haven’t watched a Disney film recently, I highly suggest you do.  Nothing is better than watching your favorite fairy tale like Tangled, or Tinker Bell or just a comedy like Monsters Inc. and The Incredibles with your whole family or your friends!

Journal #4 Screening Report- We bought a zoo

Journal #4: Screening Report

The movie “We Bought a Zoo”, Directed by Cameron Crowe stars Matt Damon and Scarlett Johansson. One of the most important scenes in the whole movie is depicted when Dylan, the son of Benjamin, finally understands that his father bought a new house for the good of the whole family, but it just so happens to be far from his friends.  Benjamin explained to him that they all needed a new start after their mother died and he thought this house with an extravagant backyard of a zoo would help them move on.  Benjamin is then faced with a decision that he never saw himself facing in his life.  He had to decide when it was time to let their old loved tiger ‘Spar’ go. He finds himself talking to Spar like a friend and thinking about what the best thing to do is.  He is surprised to see Dylan walk and sit down by him to offer support.  They then walk out together and let the trainer know that its time. This scene leads to Dylan starting to help out with the huge project of trying to get the zoo up to par before the inspection and opening day.  Spars face, that Dylan sketched personally, became the logo for their family zoo. 

After watching the whole movie I picked this scene as the climax point because of two main reasons. One is Dylan finally understood that they are all going through a hard time after losing someone so close and they just have to figure out a way to adjust, and secondly the remarkable approval by the inspector which allows for a successful opening day! This scene happens about two thirds of the way through the movie and left room for the inspection and opening day.  

Journal #3- Film Analysis

Journal #3

The Blind Side is a very good movie in my opinion. I think I like it so much because of the setting and character type.  In the movie there is a very clear line between the upper and lower class. 

The main character Michael Oher has trouble getting into a very nice school because of his past educational background and in my opinion by the way he looks.  The mother of the family that takes him in is played by Sandra Bullock; she has a big effect on why I like the movie so much.  I’ve always liked her as an actress in all other movies she’s acted in.  There’s a scene in the movie when Bullock and some of her regular friends meet for lunch.  It is there when her very elegantly dressed friends find out that she is actually serious about helping this boy get on the right track, and she will so anything to help. Her friends quickly change the way they are thinking and say “you’re changing that boys life” and she says, “…No he’s changing mine.” The way of thinking between the upper class is expressed a lot differently between her friends and Sandra herself as a character. There’s an aspect of the movie that leaves you wondering how this kid with no family actually makes it to the NFL, that kind of context intrigues me when it comes to movies.     

Pop-Culture Journal #2, Book or Movie?

Journal: 2

Which is Better, Book or Movie?

In the article, ‘In Defense Of... Adapting Books, Such as 'The Hunger Games', to Film’ by Colin McGuire, he talks a lot about why certain people like books better than movies and vise versa.  People argue that if you choose not to read the book you’re missing out.  They say you’re not getting the full story.  Or some might just consider you to be lazy. 

Personally I feel that it all depends on the order you choose to do them.  If you’re planning on reading a book that has a movie to go along with it, you should read the book before the movie.  This allows your imagination to do the work of developing the characters and the plot as you read the book.  I can see how the majority of fans like the books better of big franchises, such as: Twilight, Load of The Rings, and The Hunger Games, simply because of the extravagant detail the talented authors put into their work. The way the authors make you interpret every scene can’t help but draw you in more and more.  In a movie there is no way of recognizing every detail explained in pictures unlike in words.

My suggestion is to plan ahead, if you know you’re going to be reading the book, read then watch the movie! This will allow you to compare your imagination to the movie directors instead of having the images given to you before you even pick up the book.

The Hunger Games- Book vs. Movie

Baked potato

Baked Potato

Writen By: Sarah Vitale and Karen Irish

The perfect baked potato for any meal has evenly brown skin with a white and fluffy inside.   Baked potatoes are easily prepared, inexpensive, and a nutritious side dish that will fill you up. This recipe is for a simple baked potato.

Ingredients:                 



Main ingredients

Baking Potatoes
Olive oil, vegetable oil, or butter
Coarse salt or sea salt (optional)
Additional toppings (optional)

Step 1

It is recommended that you use a Russsett or Idaho potato.  Russett's have brown skin and are kind of starchy potato. The starch is what gives the potato the characteristic of a fluffy inside.

Purchasing the right potato for your meal is an essential step in baking the perfect potato. The ‘right potato’ is the perfect combination of great color and texture.  Potatoes are very inexpensive and easy to grow.  At a store you want to pick out a potato that is firm and smooth, you want to avoid all potatoes that are wrinkly, have cuts on the surface or have green sprouts growing from them.   

Step 2

Wash your potato with cold water while using a scrub brush. Pierce the potato deeply with a fork and then place on a baking pan or in tin foil.  

Washing potato with scrub brush

Piercing potato with fork

A scrub brush can be used for any type of vegetable.  They have soft plastic bristles at the end of a handle.  Piercing it with the fork allows the steam to be released so the potato doesn’t become mushy or explode while cooking.

Eating the skins of the potato is where most of the vitamins and minerals are found.  You can coat the potato with olive oil and salt to give the skins more of a taste with a crisper texture when cooked on a baking pan.   Another alternative is wrapping the potato in tinfoil for more of a steamed potato instead of having a crisper skin.  The tinfoil contains the steam, allowing the potato to be more moist.  Eating the skins of the potato is where most of the vitamins and minerals are found.

Potatoes wrapped in foil in oven

Step 3

Set the oven for 400 degrees for 45 minutes. You may want to adjust your oven rack so it sits in the middle of the oven.

Potatoes covered in sea salt and olive oil

In a regular oven, not a convection oven, the heat is produced at the bottom therefore the middle rack supplies you with the most even temperature of air. The hotter the oven the less time needed to cook. Make sure you set a timer so you don’t burn your side dish.

Step 4

Lastly, test potato occasionally by poking it with a fork until the desired potato is done.  You can then add as many topping as you want.   Sour cream, butter, bacon bits, cheese and onions are the most common.

Finished product with optional toppings

As you can tell baked potatoes and broccoli and cheese are easily prepared and nutrient rich.  These recipes are appropriate for any day of the week or holiday!  If you’re interested in making this a well-rounded meal with another side dish, a main dish of breaded pork chops, drinks and desserts, follow these links: Breaded Pork Chop  Broccoli and Cheese Pineapple Juice Chocolate Truffles .

How to Prepare two Side Dishes