Avatar The Movie

Picture this. Packed movie theater friday night. A plan to see a 6:45 showing of The Blind Side. Standing at the complete end of the line at 6:47. I think we all know how the story ends, shows sold out, and my sister Megan and I decide to see Avatar. Although it was not our first choice, we still kept our positive attitudes. Neither of us had ever seen any episodes of the Avatar shows so we were a little iffy. But we heard all the talk about the, "unbelievable effects" so we were up for it.

I originally expected the movie to be a cartoon or a Pixar movie. I also thought it was going to be like the basis of the show and be about an Avatar that could air bend. But was surprised when the movie had been filmed and did not have anything to do with air bending. The movie is about a planet far from earth called Pandora where there are species of another kind that the humans want to be friends with so they morph humans into these animal-like bodies called Avatars. An ex-marine named Jake Sully gets the oppertunity to be an Avatar. But he then becomes attatched to living as an Avatar, meets new friends and falling in love. The original plan of the humans was to get avatars to befriend the indiginous species, the Na'vi race, and get them to move their home so they could get expensive metals burried below there home tree. But Jake Sully just can't do that to his new home away from home.

This movie is an interesting take on technology and material things. The indeginous species of Pandora live off the land. They pray when they kill animals or animals die and believe that everyone and every living thing has the right to live. They live in a sacred tree called the "Home Tree" and they would never cut down that or other trees. Us as humans cut down trees to make material things like fancy houses and an extremely large amount of paper. Why should we need these material things? The trees help us survive with there photosynthesis and release of oxygen. Not to mention a tree is a living thing. Think about if tree's took over our civilization and started killing us to make houses. If tree's did have feelings, which scientists are pretty sure they don't, I'm sure they would feel the same way you would.

The movie had incredible effects, done by computers, that were like nothing I have ever seen before. The computer captured as much of the animated character, as much as a camera could capture the real actor. The effects were so life-like. The fighting scenes were enthralling. It even shows the planes miscles coming towards the Home Tree and branches being crushed as the species of Na'vi are running through the forest. I didn't even see the movie in 3-d but I felt like I still felt like I was there!

Word Count: 508 words

Let the bell ring!

From the newspaper, to comic books, to television and now to digital animation cartoons have been altered. The 1998 movie, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: The Movie and the 2004 The Polar Express are Christmas movies that show a change in the different animation. Not to mention as children grow older, and people tell them different things about Santa and how Christmas works, they also teach valuable lessons about treating others with respect, to never stop believing in what you believe.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie or Rudolph is one of the classic type of cartoon comics. Although it is always a family favorite, the animation is good for the 90's but in this day and age, its not the most exciting thing to watch. Rudolph is about one of Santa's reindeer who has to guide the sleigh to each house on Christmas! At first, all his friends make fun of him but after he saves Christmas he gets the respect he deserves. Just like in the song, "Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight? Then how the reindeers loved him..." This song uses one of children's favorite holidays to show how everyone should treat each other. In my opinion, every parent should show this movie to their child around Christmas time to show what it really means to act correctly in different situations.

The Polar Express has incredible animation that blows me away. Robert Zemeckis, the director, had a great vision that worked extremely well. The Polar Express is a digital 3-D animation film that is so realistic it's like the characters were acted out by real people. Even a snowflake looked realistic. The Polar Express is about a true-believer of Santa clause who on Christmas evening takes a magical train containing other passengers who truly believe. When they reach the North Pole the boy is chosen by the man himself, Santa Clause, to receive "The First Gift Of Christmas". Throughout the movie there is a bell that only true-believers can hear ring. This movie teaches children to continue to believe what they believe and to not change their beliefs with what others stay. Because Santa is a big controversial argument on whether he is real or not, kids should learn to believe what they truly do and not what others tell them too.

Even if Santa Clause is different for every lucky child, the spirit of Christmas should never die. I will never regret all those Christmas' where I would look outside my window on Christmas eve for hours waiting for Santa and the reindeer all lined up in two by twos like in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. Rudolph leading with his red nose of course, then in pairs, Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixon, Comet and Cupid, Doner and Blitzen and last of all Santa in the sleigh himself. If those movies didn't teach me to keep believing, I wouldn't have ever enjoyed Christmas as much as I did, and still do.

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Is it Christmas time already?!

Snow on the ground - Check! Christmas decorations filling the room - Check! Tree put together (in my household we decided it would be neater if we just got a plastic one, shh its our little secret!) - Check! Supermarkets stocking up on hot cocoa- Check! And one last thing, Christmas movies all throughout T.V. guide - Check! Now that the Holiday Checklist is complete it's time to enjoy some Christmas movies including How The Grinch Stole Christmas and Elf. These are my favorite movies that I seem to watch more than a healthy amount of times every holiday season.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a lovely movie about a mean monster that tries to ruin the holiday season for the Christmas-obsessed town of Whoville. It's a classic tale of how a small town can stick together. Although this time, both comedy and musical talents are brought to the table. The Grinch says unforgettable quotes like, "6:30, dinner with me - I can't cancel that again" when the Who's (the townspeople of Whoville) invite him down for a christmas celebration. He and his dog Max take the presents from each house in Whoville on Christmas morning, but the vocals of Cindy Lou Who, who sings "Where Are You Christmas", "Your a Mean One Mr. Grinch" and the "Whoville Melody" brings the Grinch to the revelation of what Christmas really is. In my opinion, Christmas is a holiday where people can come together and appreciate all they have, their family and friends. Christmas is also a time to give back, and help people who aren't as fortunate. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is a great movie to show the essence of the holiday.

Another inspirational movie is Elf. It is about Buddy the elf, played by Will Ferrel, who is actually a human that grew up in Santa's Workshop. Papa Elf (the man who took care of Buddy throughout the years) encourages Buddy to go find his real father in New York City. Through his trials and tribulations from christmas crazy Santa's Village to strict upper class work-a-holics. Dressed as an elf walking through times square Buddy gets a lot of weird looks and glances. It seems that all the people Buddy meets he changes the way they think about the holidays. Buddy says, "The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all too hear." A girl who in the beginning could care less about the spirit of the holidays, later ends up singing carols with Buddy to help Santa's sleigh fly out of central park.

The difference between both holiday movies is simple. The main ideas are exact opposites. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is about a town who tries to change one man. Elf is about one man who tries to change a city. Even so, both feats are hard to accomplish as shown in the movies. Similarly, true love has an effect on both main characters of each movie. In my opinion, winter is the most romantic season with the holidays, snow and mistletoe. Also, in both movies the overall feats are accomplished and Christmas is saved!

Word Count: 523 words

New Moon Movie Deets

As the New Moon title filled the screen every girl in the whole theater screamed at the top of her lungs. This is what they’ve all been waiting for. As the movie began and the characters began fading in and out of the screen, the crowd would cheer at their favorite characters. Of course the audience was the loudest at the names of Robert Pattinson (who plays Edward) and Taylor Lautner (who plays Jacob). In New Moon, Edward decides to leave Bella thinking it will let her enjoy a normal life, but actually puts her into depression. During her depression she realizes when she is doing something dangerous she can see a figure of Edward telling her to stop or not to do it. This makes her want too keep doing dangerous things. One of these things includes building motorcycles with long-time family friend Jacob. Jacob uses his mechanical skills to help fix up two motorcycles one for Bella and one for himself. They then become close, making Bella having to decide whether to give up on Edward for Jacob or keep hoping Edward will come back. When Edward’s sister, Alice, comes for an unexpected visit saying Edward needs help, they go on a road trip to help him. This makes the decision for Bella even more difficult.

Now that Bella is on both sides of the fight (werewolves vs. vampires) it gives her greater protection. Especially because Bella has an evil vampire, Victoria, coming after her (because in Twilight, Edward kills Victoria’s soul mate so she wants to get back at Edwards love, Bella). Bella should feel extra safe because of the protection she has. With the protection of the werewolves, they will hunt, attack, and kill anyone necessary. They are big and strong creatures who will hurt an enemy if need be. With the protection from the vampires, they can chase, bite, and kill anyone who is a threat to Bella.

Bella likes what the vampire’s philosophy is better then the werewolves. This is because the vampires don’t kill anyone recklessly. There had been reports that a pack of giant wolves had killed some citizens of Forks, Washington (the town Bella lives in). This upsets Bella that the werewolf pack kills people without reason. Unlike werewolves, the vampires don't kill humans and don't bite humans. Bella likes the way the vampires live.

In terms of protecting Bella, the vampires could only help her in the dark, because in the sunshine they sparkle and that would reveal that theres a monster. But werewolves also can’t help her in public because the guys, like Jacob, wouldn’t be able to morph into a wolf in public because that would reveal who they are. That’s also why it is tough Edward, his family, Jacob and his pack too help keep the town safe, while staying undercover.

In the movies, the only way the vampires can die is if they go to the vampire council called the Volturi. But because the Volturi thinks Edward is too powerful to kill, he has to break the rules to see can die. He wants to die because he is under the impression that Bella died. So, the way he decides he wants to break the rules is too show his skin shining in the light in the middle of the city. So his sparkling skin is a weapon against the Volturi.

This movie was a 10/10 and I would recommend it too people who have read Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.

Word Count: 591 words

Teen Movies & Movie Stars

After finishing Up my third of the four Pixar animation movies included in the Top 10 movies this decade. I am still impressed with the incredible animation. Not only is the animation amazing but the story lines are funny, catch your attention, and keep you watching. Up has an exciting twist that reels you in to see what’s happening.

Besides Pixar movies which are favorites of people of all ages, movies that are popular with teenagers are ones like John Tucker Must Die, Mean Girls, She’s The Man and Fired Up. These movies all encompass different parts of an exaggerated teenage lifestyle. John Tucker Must Die is about John Tucker who is the “man of the school”. He is a sports legend, with great looks and an abundance of friends. Mean Girls is about a clique of three “mean” girls who rule. What they wear is what is “in”. That’s how the school is divided. So, there is an in crowd, and then there’s everyone else. She’s the Man is more down my alley because it’s about a girl (played by Amanda Bynes) who will do anything it takes to play soccer. At her school, the girls’ team gets cut because there’s not enough funding, and they don’t let the girls play with the boys. So, she dresses up like a boy and goes to her brother’s school so she can play the sport. Her brother, meanwhile, goes to Europe to play with his band in a concert and Viola (Amanda Bynes) pretends she’s him. This shows how dreams are most important to every teenager. Lastly, Fired Up is about two guys who go to a girls cheerleading camp, just like every teenage guy wishes he could. Most teens love movies that relate to what they are going through because that’s what they’re interested in instead of old movies about the wars or unrealistic things that could never happen. They want to know what could happen, and what’s possible. It sometimes even gives them hope for the future.

Two of my good friends this past Thursday got the chance to meet one of the stars from Twilight, and the sequel New Moon. His name is Kellan Lutz and he plays Emmett who is a vampire. My friends said he was kind of funny and how he told them before he was casted in the movie; his younger sister read all the Twilight series (a series of books that the movies are based on by Stephanie Meyer) and was obsessed with this vampire prince charming Edward Cullen. Kellan Lutz plays Emmett, the main character’s brother, so that must have been a pretty cool experience for Kellan’s younger sister who got to see her brother playing up close and personal with this Edward Cullen character. Twilight, the first book in the series, is about a girl Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart) who has two boys vying for her attention. These boys are a vampire named Edward Cullen and a werewolf named Jacob Black. Of course, both boys going after Bella are mortal enemies and have been for centuries. In Twilight, Bella goes for Edward, the mysterious vampire who tries to do anything in his power to figure out everything about Bella. But, since I read the books, I know that in this upcoming movie New Moon, Edward leaves for a while and Bella and Jacob get close. The trials and tribulations of love in these movies are absolutely enthralling and makes you keep reading, or in this case keep watching!

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Movies, Movies and More Movies

Movies have been around for many years. There are so many different types like documentary, comedies, sci-fi, horror, romance, and combinations of them all. Movies have changed a lot over the years from the Wizard of Oz to new movies like Up and Twilight. Here are some of the Top 10 movies of this decade so far, Up, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Wall-E. These moves are all Disney Pixar movies. They all are 3 dimensional cartoons, which is definitely popular with both children and adults. They also are both adventure and comedy which is a pretty universal genre that all will enjoy.

I recently watched some of the movie, which just came out on DVD, Up which was voted the #1 Animated Film of the year. This movie is about an elderly man named Carl whose wife passes away, he wants to have one of his last adventures fulfilling one of his childhood dreams. So, he ties thousands of balloons to his house hoping to fly to where his dreams take him. But as he sets off on his journey, an 8 year old Wilderness Explorer is at the wrong place at the wrong time and is on Carl’s front porch as it is rising thousands of feet into the air! Although, I would be excited to see this movie, I have a habit of falling asleep during every movie. So, I am still unsure with what exactly happened to Carl and Russell (the Wilderness Explorer) I am excited to eventually, hopefully sometime soon, finish the movie.

I have seen Finding Nemo and The Incredibles though. Both are definitely great movies you can watch with your family. The animation in these movies, just like with Up is absolutely incredible. Animation has evolved from simple cartoon pictures too now with now with the complicated process of making Pixar Films. On the computer, they make each character have different parts that can be changed to change what they are doing or the way the say something to make the character more realistic. Finding Nemo has especially good sets of the deep blue sea. With the school of fish, and all the different plants and sea creatures you would see in the ocean they make it very realistic. Also, in The Incredibles, all the high tech gadgets were very intricate.

A new movie that I have been absolutely dying to see is the sequel to Twilight, called New Moon. The Twilight movies star Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke and Peter Facinelli. With my recently bought tickets for Friday’s opening of New Moon, I remember about a year ago when my friends and I pre-ordered tickets for Twilight. We all got picked up straight from school, reading all the magazines featured on Twilight, and anxiously waiting in line to enter the movie theater of two hundred twilight fanatics. The second showing (the first was at midnight the night before) was definitely eventful because when each of the famous cast made there first appearance on the screen the fans would cheer and it would unite every one of the different people in the theater all sharing there love and devotion for the twilight books and now movies.

Word Count: 540 words