Children Of Men

"Your baby is the miracle the whole world has been waiting for" Jasper from Children Of Men.


Children Of Men is a science fiction movie, but mainly an amazing apocalyptic movie made in 2006; six years ago. It is set in the year 2027, in a world where women can no longer have babies. Theo, the protagonist, has the mission to protect the only pregnant woman. He needs to protect her because the world is full of madness and destruction. If someone knew there was a baby, the reactions could be terrible. This movie shows the human kind self destruction; where the protection of a baby could symbolize the protection of hope from violence and human decay.

It is a Science Fiction movie because it is set in a futuristic time, the movie shows an interesting perspective of future, were technology is not the central element but human own destruction is; I think this could be a more realistic perspective if humans continue the way they are living now a days, the movie shows, then, a deep criticism of human kind. The other Science Fiction elements the movie present are the possibility of science of using this new baby to safe human kind; this technological advance can only be set in a world like the one in the movie.

I really liked and recommend this movie. I have seen it before, and I saw it again without problem. It is a movie that shows a deep critic to reflect on. As a Science Fiction movie, and after all the ones of this genre I have seen the past weeks, it shows another face and another possibility not to far away from reality of the future.

Images from:
http://cinemacriticsclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/children_of_men-poster.jpg
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Blade Runner

Blade Runner is a Science Fiction movie from 1982, thirty year ago. It is about a person named Rick Deckard that takes a case in 2019. He was a blade runner, a person whose job is to find replicants, and he has to be one again because six replicants have escaped. A replicant is a manufactured human that physically looks exactly like one, you have to have a very advanced method of asking questions to identify one from another. After six dangerous replicants had escaped, after killing one blade runner, Rick has the job to identify them in the city of Los Angeles and catch them. The replicants evil leader is called Roy Batty.

The movie has several and typical Science fiction elements such as flying cars; it is another way of seeing the future, from 1982 to 2019. But it also has one element that is different, the most important one in the film: the replicants. The idea of replicants, again manufactured people that cannot be easily distinguish from normal human beings, is an interesting Science Fiction element because is like a new way of seeing "robots". This element guides and makes the plot of the story work. It is full of suspense when you don´t know which person is fake or real and of surprises. So the story has an interesting development.

So I think it is a good movie. It has an interesting plot, interesting elements and it is full of surprises and suspense.


Images from:
http://naranjamagacine.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/1280x1024_br_09.jpg
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2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey; a Science Fiction movie of 1968. It is about a space mission. A group of people start a big journey; some of them are really in a hibernation state. There is an important element in the movie, found in the moon, the same element that gave the apes advanced intelligence. The spaceship is controlled by a machine called Hall-9000, which wants to secure the mission no matter the consequences.

The elements of Science Fiction are clear. It is set in a futuristic time, it was thought (in 1968) to be set in 2001, for them the future; for us the past, but a more advaced, in sapce traveling, past. That space traveling is a Science Fiction element because it deals with a technological idea that is not yet possible, traveling to Jupiter or any other planet is now a days impossible but in the movie it is possible. Another element is the thing they find in  the moon, it is an interesting hypotesis of human intelligence I would say, and it is also interesting to see how a movie deals with that kind of hypotesis and portraits it in the future, asking the question: What if we could get more of that that gave apes intelligence? I think is a deep idea of the future of human mind. At last, but not least, we can see the spaceship as a technollogical advanced element; but what calls my attention is the controler: Hall-9000. The idea of a controlling machine that does anything to acomplish something passing above humans works in lots of stories and movies now a days;  I mean this movie is old, and I don´t know if this idea was developed before, but if it wasnt, then this movie is an important influence. This machine is pretty much the same as the one from Wall-e, a 2008 movie. It shows the idea that future and technollogy will control humans, interesting idea.

I liked some of it´s futuristic elements and well developed topics. But I dind´t enjoy a lot the story as a movie, maybe because of the plot development or the special effects.

Images from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUC92tqCMOSCEDvE7dhHtMcf_bybmnO0tVQ7DpSUGUuUlwEh3WTOj-Nz7O-E7aCzwus3N7PiHEZr4IrfWFM2HG7JijFR-6JWW_XCQ56y2VX4Oe0blhNMJJ3H5oSQ6HY8Tyj88PTHOAiY/s1600/2001-a-space-odyssey-7-1024.jpg
http://www.filmcritic.com/assets_c/2010/02/2001-A-Space-Odyssey-thumb-560xauto-22997.gif

The Matrix

The Matrix I think is a fantastic Science Fiction movie. It was made in 1999, thirteen year ago. It is the first time I watch it, and I liked it a lot. The movie is about a computer hacker, that acts under the name of Neo; when he finds out the person he was looking for, he learns what reallity is, realizing that his hole life, what he thought it was life, was only sort of a dream. He must not only afford his new life but fight with a team to liberate people from the control they are living in, as he once did.

As a Science fiction, it presents a complete different and advance technology. In the "real world", or controlled word all things and devices are actually normal, even some of the devices (as it was made in 1999) are more technological now a days; cell phones for example. The real technology that the movie deals with is actually in the "real world". In this world, all humans are connected to a machine, they all are being used as an energy source; and they are all living in an imaginary world, what we called reality, what they called "the matrix". The whole subject that the movie is dealing with is a Science fiction element. It doesn´t deal with a futuristic time, but it deals with a parallel time that has really advanzed technology, even our reality is used as a technological element. This world also deals with other technological devices and objects, such as robots, ships and computer elements and softwares.

I think the movie is well done. It mages to tell a complex story through an interesting plot. The characters are well developed. The especial effects are really well done. And it keeps the audience attention with suspense and action.

Images from:
http://vialibrepl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/matrix1.jpg
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Metropolis

Metropolis is a science fiction movie. It was made in the year 1927, 85 years ago. It´s about a conflict with the worker´s class in a city named "metropolis", where a robot is used to replace a woman that can easily persued and convince the workers to act. The true woman wants a peaceful solution, while the robot receives the orders to convince workers to act violently.

This movie shows it´s own view of the future, from that time. We can find a complete futuristic city and some technological advances, such as the robot. The whole city works with a especial energy source, that is destroyed by the workers at some time, giving the city a technological dependence. On the other hand we have the robot, a technological advance that has the advantage of replacing a human being, wich can be used in different things in order to fool other people. All this technological advances are not yet working now a days. I mean, the movie was made 85 years ago, they should see the year 2012 as a date where all this technological stuff can be found, but instead we have different technology, such as cell hones, but we lack of intelligents and advanced robots.

I think the movie is well done. Eventhough is a black and white movie that has no voices, it manages to tell the story in a clear way. It seems funny to look at a science ficction movie, with all those technological advances, but being the movie itself too old. Its content is advanced but the movie effects are not, seeing it today. It´s a different movie from the ones I use to see.


Images from:
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The Fifth Element

The Fifth Element, another science fiction story. It was made in the year 1997, fifteen years ago. It is about saving life from evil using the power of the fifth element, now turned into a woman, that needs to be protected and helped by a taxi driver.

It presents a very different way to see future by lots of technological advances. I say "different" because, seeing this movie today, we can find that some elements still do not exist: flying cars, communication with aliens,
technological robots, etc; but we can also find elements that not only do exist but that are even more advanced, like televisions, phones and more. It is also interesting the whole view of this future that is shown; we usually imagined a "grey" future, but we see in this movie a colorfull one. We usually don´t imagine those clored settings, those clothes; clothes as the one the president in the movie dresses with. It does not only play with a futuristic time, but it also mixes it with a past; using some kind of legend. I didn´t enjoy the plot a lot, but still I think it is  intersting, and as I said, different the way in which the movie manages to combine action, comedy, adventure and of course science fiction.

Images from:
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http://www.wallpaperpimper.com/wallpaper/Movies/The_Fifth_Element/The-Fifth-Element-6-OZH9RQK6V6-1024x768.jpg
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/7300000/The-Fifth-Element-the-fifth-element-7390521-1680-1050.jpg

Science Fiction

My definition: Genre in which there are non-real, or non-yet real, scientific methods used to explain something that happens or takes place in the plot of a story.

Some examples: 

• Iron man
• Star wars
• Back to the future
• 1984
• Frankenstein
• Lost 
• Alcatraz
• The fifth element
• Minority report
• Terminator
• I robot
• Jurassic Park

Images taken from: 

http://imagenesextraordinarias.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/iron_man2.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3p4XTWBg9sxWYM3RdOf01zR-1NLXpI6QB8bhyphenhyphen9skOct9T940EJ152nIhwgcvhHtw2-Ohywy3IoIfhsGdQA3bDY0neTJS0vuRjwzkSte2SHdzVhv7As1H11l7Oi3UMjFxGQwVf4Vo0JT8/s1600/THE_COMPLETE_LOST_WALLPAPER.jpg

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Argentinan Contrast

Frank Sinatra

Biography: http://www.biography.com/people/frank-sinatra-9484810

Image: http://franksinatrafansite.co.cc/Images/frank-sinatra-1-.jpg

"In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad"

Reading this article I found out that it wasn’t a normal or classic one. It is new journalism. You will find a lot of background information, which sure took a lot of extensive research. But then you find a short story of a man named Lai. His story portraits the situation of a factory that builds ipads, Foxconn’s factory in Chengdu. So you will read an article full of facts, taken from long time ago, and a real story that shows them; exploring the power of a single worker experience. All of this information gathered makes this article as an important and interesting news report. A news report that sure took time and work.

• "In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad". The New York Times. 01, 25, 2012. World. Web.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html?_r=4&pagewanted=2&hp 
• Image from: http://2experts.expertsdesign.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/apple-logo-sketch.jpg

Fictional reality

"I believe that if you go deep enough into characters they become so real that their stories feel like make-believe, they feel like fiction. I want to evoke the fictional current that flows beneath the stream of reality" Gay Talese

When I read this quote I thought of the stories I would expect to find when reading Talese. It is clear that he wants to find the fictional side of reality. I think it will be interesting because I think I would find something that is extraordinary, but at the same time realistic and believable. Finding the real side of fiction must be interesting.

Image from:
 http://www.k-state.edu/womenscenter/Violencework%20Advocacy/Womens%20Center%20Materials/Materials/Images/Literature1.jpg

"Capote" The movie and the class

This movie, "Capote", from Bennett Miller, is very connected with the topics seen in English class. The movie is about the way in wich Capote starts to write his story: "In Cold Blood".  We can see how he uses journalism to write novels. His interviews with Perry, for example, mean a lot; not only because these are journalistic actions but because we can see that the closer he gets to the criminal, the closer he can understand him and describe him. Only with actions and interviews he is able to make a complete and deep description of a character. Capote manages to create a long story with facts and testimony, a book that it is always atached to what really happens. But at the same time a very deep and descriptive writting. A non-fiction novel.

Image from:
http://www.dvdsreleasedates.com/posters/800/C/Capote-movie-poster.jpg

A letter to Capote

February, 2012

Truman Capote:

I read the first chapter of your book "In Cold Blood": "The Last To See Them Alive". I think that it is a very interesting novel. You can connect with the reading, finding it realistic and descriptive. You can follow the plot of the story with no problem. And also have deep fellings, symphathy and rejection, towards every single character; all of them complex. You have done a very good job writting it based on journalistic facts. The choosen news is very strong, why did you choose it? It must be difficult to write and research about such a crime scene. I think you have done a very good job as a writter and as a journalist. 

Carlos A. González

Image from:
http://static.oprah.com/images/201106/omag/201106-omag-in-cold-blood-284xFall.jpg

A News Report

 I found a report named "Stormy Seas Delay Recovery of Liner’s Fuel". This report follows the conventional rules because it answers the wh questions. What? The draining of the fuel from the half-sunken cruise ship had   been suspended. Where? In the coast of Giglio Island. When? This week. Why? Because of winds and rough seas. Who? The officials said the work of draining fuel had to be stop. It is important to drain the fuel to avoid devastating spill.

News report link: 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/world/europe/stormy-seas-delay-fuel-recovery-from-costa-concordia-ship.html?ref=world

•  Pianigiani, Gaia. "Stormy Seas Delay Recovery of Liner’s Fuel. The New York Times. 01, 28, 2012. World. Web
• Images from:  

-http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/world/europe/stormy-seas-delay-fuel-recovery-from-costa-concordia-ship.html?ref=world
-http://editingwithpaige.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/newspaper.gif

Defining journalism and literature

What I think is journalism and literature:

Journalism is a way of narration, in wich a true story is told from the author's experience.

Literature is every writting or narration in wich something is told under an especific style, depending on how and what the author wants to write about.

Image from: http://www.armenianweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/journalism.jpg

Truman Capote

1. What motivated Capote to write?
The kind of childhoud that he lived. He felt that he was different from the person he was surrounded


2. What kind of stories did he write?
He mainly wrote short stories, at the begining of his experience and in most of his works.


3. What are his influences?
He was influeced by many writers that most wrote short stories; Virginia Woolfe, Carson Mc. Cullers, Chekhov and Faulker.

Image from: http://www.deathdyinggriefandmourning.com/Death-&-Dying-Images%2080-100/98-Truman-Capote.jpg

God's gift and whip

"When God hands you a gift, he also hands you a whip; and the whip is intended for self-flagellation solely." Truman Capote

I find this quote, from Truman Capote, interesting because it shows how a gift can become something bad. If you have a gift, this have some frustating elements that can even hurt you. In the case of Capote, for example, writting about him must remind him of sad memories, experiences and feelings. It´s interesting to see that a tool you have to good at something has also disadvcantages and challenges to face, where you have to sacrifice something. Thats why he talks about self-flagellation.

Image from: http://www.twakan.com/numero19/images/Capote6.jpg