After posting about The King and I and Anna being a strong woman, I get to write about Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 and the strong women that is portrayed in this film- Black Mamba! Uma Thurman plays a bad ass chick in this film who is also know as the Bride. She is one tough cookie that would probably kill me (if she was not just a character in Quentin Tarantino's imagination) if she heard I referred to her as a tough cookie.
I like these movies because the story is well written and put together. The story kind of jumps around in a way that keeps things interesting but it is organized at the same time with chapters for us as viewers to keep things straight. Plus there are some great characters in this movie and AWESOME fight scenes. Lots of fake blood and sick death scenes. Some of it is unrealistic, ok well all of it is movie magic so not real. But I like to think that how O-Ren Ishii died is both realistic and movie fantastic. The over the top, graphic type of fighting and death with some sweet back flips and such makes movies like these pretty cool in my book.
The story is about the Bride and her almost untimely end at her wedding rehearsal. Then we follow the story about how she gets revenge against the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. Our Bride travels all around so there is a lot of different scenery to enjoy and she has some different kick ass martial arts skills that are fun to watch as well. Watching movies like this makes me think that I can kick some ass and when the movie is over I jump up with my hands now classified as deadly weapons. Anyone who touches my popcorn or gives me the stink eye-BAM-they are getting karate chopped to the face! The Bride, who we learn later is named Beatrice, has some complications with this Deadly Viper Squad. She and Bill seem to have had some previous "complications" in their relationship that makes the movies even more interesting.
Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2 really need to be watched together. So I did watch them together and I did not watch them in reverse order. I thought it would be odd to watch Vol. 2 before Vol. 1. But in retrospect these two movies are really just one long movie that bounces around so much that I could have watched them that way and it would not have made a difference!
As an RA planning this program there are lots of different ways you could plan this one. You could go the obvious route and teach some self defense or some mixed martial arts with these movies. Since there is so much violence in these films you should really be able to get some strong self defense moves out of it.
You could also think outside the box and maybe do a laundry program about getting different things out of ones dirty clothes- so much dirt in these movies too. Tobacco spit, black mamba venom, grave dirt, gun shot residue, blood, all of these things are in the clothes of these actors and we could all benefit from learning how to remove stains like these.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Et cetera, Et cetera, Et cetera
It is fitting that in reverse alphabetical order Lady and the Tramp comes right before The King and I. As there are two Siamese cats in our previous film and Yul Brenner plays the King of Siam in The King and I. There are many great musicals out there, but they just don't make them like they used to! Rodgers and Hammerstein were geniuses when it came to musicals. Their music and lyrics shaped my childhood as I was exposed to the film versions of their Broadway classics.
The King and I is no exception to this genius. The story is about an English woman who arrives in Siam to teach the King and his children Western ways. The King is very interested in making Siam a modern country with Western influence. There are some wonderful songs, my favorite being "Getting to Know You," which I sing about as frequently as "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain. It is one of those songs where you really only know the chorus but you sing it over and over again anyway. Singing in the Rain is missing from this blog because it is one of those films I own on VHS so it is not included in the project-- but maybe one day when I finish the DVDs I will have to move on to the VHS.
Part of Siam becoming a wise Western-like nation includes the King being challenged by Anna, our Western expert. When she first arrives the King's wives and others refer to her as "sir" because she is smart in a scientific way, unlike a woman. Well of course I have seen this movie before, but this part struck me this time. Maybe because it is March and its Women's History Month and I am a bit more sensitive to statements like that, or maybe its because I am older. Since assuming the Director role in my department in 2010 I have learned a great many things about the perception people have of a woman in charge. I did not observe this in any role I have had at the College up til now, I think it can be said that lots of roles in Higher Ed are occupied by women, until you get into the Director, Dean, Vice President spots.
That is most obvious when you travel to national conferences and see the Senior Student Affairs Officers lounges with lots of men in ties or the president of the College or University you are visiting is male. One of my former supervisors (well sort of supervisor:)) AnnMarie Klotz did her doctoral research about being a woman in the world of College Presidents and from what I read on her Twitter and blog- it is some good stuff! I encourage you to check it out.
While Anna was in Siam she was challenged in her views about women and their role in society as she met and taught the King's wives and also in her interactions with the King. There is some humor built in as the King teases her in parts about her head not being higher than the King's. There is also a mini story line about a woman who was a gift for the King but she loved another man and we see that unfold. Even though it is not an overtly obvious love story, the King and Anna develop a strong appreciation and fondness for one another. Anna challenged the King and as viewers we are lead to believe that Siam becomes a better country for it. It can also be argued that Western influence and its perceived superiority should take its imperialistic attitude elsewhere and leave countries like Siam alone. But I am choosing to focus on the love story :)
Anna is a kick ass kind of lady that makes me smile. I enjoy watching films that highlight women like her and in 1944 when the book Anna and the King of Siam came out there were probably not too many books that highlighted women like that. It gets even better that the book and then subsequently the musical were loosely based on a true story about the real life Anna Leonowens. I often think I was born in the wrong era- it would be been quite interesting to meet women like Anna in real life.
Again I am going to break with the spirit of the blog and skip the RA program with this film. Instead I want you to read AnnMarie's blog or spend some time celebrating Women's History Month today!
The King and I is no exception to this genius. The story is about an English woman who arrives in Siam to teach the King and his children Western ways. The King is very interested in making Siam a modern country with Western influence. There are some wonderful songs, my favorite being "Getting to Know You," which I sing about as frequently as "Good Morning" from Singing in the Rain. It is one of those songs where you really only know the chorus but you sing it over and over again anyway. Singing in the Rain is missing from this blog because it is one of those films I own on VHS so it is not included in the project-- but maybe one day when I finish the DVDs I will have to move on to the VHS.
Part of Siam becoming a wise Western-like nation includes the King being challenged by Anna, our Western expert. When she first arrives the King's wives and others refer to her as "sir" because she is smart in a scientific way, unlike a woman. Well of course I have seen this movie before, but this part struck me this time. Maybe because it is March and its Women's History Month and I am a bit more sensitive to statements like that, or maybe its because I am older. Since assuming the Director role in my department in 2010 I have learned a great many things about the perception people have of a woman in charge. I did not observe this in any role I have had at the College up til now, I think it can be said that lots of roles in Higher Ed are occupied by women, until you get into the Director, Dean, Vice President spots.
That is most obvious when you travel to national conferences and see the Senior Student Affairs Officers lounges with lots of men in ties or the president of the College or University you are visiting is male. One of my former supervisors (well sort of supervisor:)) AnnMarie Klotz did her doctoral research about being a woman in the world of College Presidents and from what I read on her Twitter and blog- it is some good stuff! I encourage you to check it out.
While Anna was in Siam she was challenged in her views about women and their role in society as she met and taught the King's wives and also in her interactions with the King. There is some humor built in as the King teases her in parts about her head not being higher than the King's. There is also a mini story line about a woman who was a gift for the King but she loved another man and we see that unfold. Even though it is not an overtly obvious love story, the King and Anna develop a strong appreciation and fondness for one another. Anna challenged the King and as viewers we are lead to believe that Siam becomes a better country for it. It can also be argued that Western influence and its perceived superiority should take its imperialistic attitude elsewhere and leave countries like Siam alone. But I am choosing to focus on the love story :)
Anna is a kick ass kind of lady that makes me smile. I enjoy watching films that highlight women like her and in 1944 when the book Anna and the King of Siam came out there were probably not too many books that highlighted women like that. It gets even better that the book and then subsequently the musical were loosely based on a true story about the real life Anna Leonowens. I often think I was born in the wrong era- it would be been quite interesting to meet women like Anna in real life.
Again I am going to break with the spirit of the blog and skip the RA program with this film. Instead I want you to read AnnMarie's blog or spend some time celebrating Women's History Month today!
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Another Departure from Film, sort of...
Last night I was escorted to Ghost: The Musical. Initially I was curious as to how they were going to make the 1990 classic into a Broadway musical with song and dance. I really enjoying going to shows like that- where you have to pay attention to the songs as they are telling the story- not just a great Disney movie with songs that compliment the story. Ghost did not disappoint. Had it been appropriate I would have danced along more than I did from my seat. The key to seeing shows like this is to go with people who will not be embarrassed when you do a little dancing and such, lucky for me I had a pretty great date for the show :)
I recently watched Ghost the movie in preparation for the musical. I wanted to see where the stage production followed the movie and where it differed. Plus there are things that are difficult to make come to life on stage but easier on film. Like the parts where Sam's ghost hand is unable to touch things and eventually he is able to go through a door- this is easy with movie magic- but I needed to see how they were going to trick me in front of my eyes.
Well all this thinking about bringing the story to life on stage reminded me of when I saw Les Mis in the 7th grade. I was in the school choir and in both 7th and 8th grade we held fundraisers and took back our neighbor's pop cans in order to raise enough money to travel to see cool shows. Les Mis was my first stage production of Broadway caliber. We learned the story in choir then got on a chartered bus and headed to the Fisher Theater in Detroit. When Inspector Javert jumps off the bridge to commit suicide in the show, there were lights swirling to make the stage look like a pool of water and from my orchestra row seats I really thought he was jumping into water! The actor disappeared in a trap door in the stage and I was terribly impressed. I have a strong appreciation for the art that goes into set design and making stage productions work for the pure joy of us as audience members.
Ghost did not disappoint in this regard. My favorite part was probably when they were on the subway train car and Sam is "talking" with the subway ghost. There was a series of translucent screens that had images of the train projected on to them and it realistically looked like the actors were on a subway car. There were also sweet movable set pieces so at one minute we had a sideways view of the subway car and then we were looking at it from the back end. The orientation switch was seamless and pretty cool.
If you have seen the movie Ghost then you know what happens, the stage show does not deviate too much from the original story. Sam and Molly are our main characters and they love each other (or ditto each other if you prefer). Sam is murdered and we find out it is part of a plot because his friend Carl is in debt deep with what I think are mobsters and Carl needs Sam's access to accounts at the bank. Sam does not "cross over" and we see him learn how to be a ghost and solve his murder. He protects Molly and we can feel that loss and grief through the story as well. I was struck in rewatching the movie and now seeing the musical how genuine I felt Molly's grief to be after experiencing my own loss.
Adding songs really did add to the experience- Oda Mae Brown's character was really emphasized with song. As impressed as I was with the set and the moving parts traveling through the show, I was even more impressed with that actor and her performance. Pure joy. Whoopi should be very proud. Overall I recommend Ghost: the Musical and would encourage at the very least a little bit of youtubing to hear their versions of Unchained Melody and With You.
I recently watched Ghost the movie in preparation for the musical. I wanted to see where the stage production followed the movie and where it differed. Plus there are things that are difficult to make come to life on stage but easier on film. Like the parts where Sam's ghost hand is unable to touch things and eventually he is able to go through a door- this is easy with movie magic- but I needed to see how they were going to trick me in front of my eyes.
Well all this thinking about bringing the story to life on stage reminded me of when I saw Les Mis in the 7th grade. I was in the school choir and in both 7th and 8th grade we held fundraisers and took back our neighbor's pop cans in order to raise enough money to travel to see cool shows. Les Mis was my first stage production of Broadway caliber. We learned the story in choir then got on a chartered bus and headed to the Fisher Theater in Detroit. When Inspector Javert jumps off the bridge to commit suicide in the show, there were lights swirling to make the stage look like a pool of water and from my orchestra row seats I really thought he was jumping into water! The actor disappeared in a trap door in the stage and I was terribly impressed. I have a strong appreciation for the art that goes into set design and making stage productions work for the pure joy of us as audience members.
Ghost did not disappoint in this regard. My favorite part was probably when they were on the subway train car and Sam is "talking" with the subway ghost. There was a series of translucent screens that had images of the train projected on to them and it realistically looked like the actors were on a subway car. There were also sweet movable set pieces so at one minute we had a sideways view of the subway car and then we were looking at it from the back end. The orientation switch was seamless and pretty cool.
If you have seen the movie Ghost then you know what happens, the stage show does not deviate too much from the original story. Sam and Molly are our main characters and they love each other (or ditto each other if you prefer). Sam is murdered and we find out it is part of a plot because his friend Carl is in debt deep with what I think are mobsters and Carl needs Sam's access to accounts at the bank. Sam does not "cross over" and we see him learn how to be a ghost and solve his murder. He protects Molly and we can feel that loss and grief through the story as well. I was struck in rewatching the movie and now seeing the musical how genuine I felt Molly's grief to be after experiencing my own loss.
Adding songs really did add to the experience- Oda Mae Brown's character was really emphasized with song. As impressed as I was with the set and the moving parts traveling through the show, I was even more impressed with that actor and her performance. Pure joy. Whoopi should be very proud. Overall I recommend Ghost: the Musical and would encourage at the very least a little bit of youtubing to hear their versions of Unchained Melody and With You.
Mr. Peabody and Sherman
It might not be obvious, but I am a sucker for a great animated flick. I decided to see Mr. Peabody and Sherman last night and I was not disappointed! It was very cute and heartwarming, I also found myself laughing out loud at points! There is something perfect about Ty Burrell's voice as Mr. Peabody too. It is great to hear him as Phil Dunphy and his "Phil"osophies on Modern Family and then to hear him as the world's smartest dog.
There was so much to love about the film, I do not remember the Rocky and Bullwinkle shorts very well but I remembered enough to be excited to see this film be released. First of all the animation is cool, the physical look of it. Julie went with me to see it and she commented on Mr. Peabody's nose- which I would have commented on too but one should limit movie theater conversation as to not disturb the other patrons. :) Similar to my fascination with how Pixar is able to animate things like Sully's hair in Monsters Inc. I was impressed with Dreamworks and their ability to bring Mr. Peabody and his nose into focus for me.
The movie also took us through history and other lessons that we all should have learned in school just like the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons and that was very entertaining. Peabody, Sherman, and Sherman's friend Penny were moving from crisis to crisis and problem solving all over the place with the right amount of historical drama and comedy. Penny was an interesting addition as a kid who teased Sherman in school because he had a dog for a dad and in the end learned all about what makes a father and son relationship and it does not matter if one is canine and the other a little boy. That part was quite touching, I was concerned that Julie would take the message of the movie seriously and try to convince me, again, that she needs a dog in the residence halls.
I still disagree, even if that dog is your dad.
There was so much to love about the film, I do not remember the Rocky and Bullwinkle shorts very well but I remembered enough to be excited to see this film be released. First of all the animation is cool, the physical look of it. Julie went with me to see it and she commented on Mr. Peabody's nose- which I would have commented on too but one should limit movie theater conversation as to not disturb the other patrons. :) Similar to my fascination with how Pixar is able to animate things like Sully's hair in Monsters Inc. I was impressed with Dreamworks and their ability to bring Mr. Peabody and his nose into focus for me.
The movie also took us through history and other lessons that we all should have learned in school just like the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons and that was very entertaining. Peabody, Sherman, and Sherman's friend Penny were moving from crisis to crisis and problem solving all over the place with the right amount of historical drama and comedy. Penny was an interesting addition as a kid who teased Sherman in school because he had a dog for a dad and in the end learned all about what makes a father and son relationship and it does not matter if one is canine and the other a little boy. That part was quite touching, I was concerned that Julie would take the message of the movie seriously and try to convince me, again, that she needs a dog in the residence halls.
I still disagree, even if that dog is your dad.
Monday, March 17, 2014
He's a Tramp But We Love Him
Wikipedia (the most reliable source online, of course) tells us that a tramp is a long term homeless person. There is another definition used in current times, that a tramp is a harlot or a slut. While watching Disney's Lady and the Tramp I was thinking critically about these definitions. At times it could be argued that I have the mind of a 15 year old boy, especially when it comes to dirty jokes. So naturally I have always thought, even as a kid, that Tramp was the kind of dog that had lots of female dog "friends" for a short time, often only one night, and he finally met the one that convinced him to settle down in Lady. But actually I think Walt and his pals over at Disney were using the first definition when they named our young, male, canine lead. Lady and the Tramp was released in 1955, before the word was regularly used to describe floozies. But then again we hear in the dog pound about how Tramp has been around the block a few times... I just cannot decide. But I suppose that a double meaning to something is exactly what Disney and Pixar are known for- an adult line of humor built into family friendly films.
The film follows Jim Dear and Darling, our faceless human owners of Lady, a loyal and beautiful Cocker Spaniel puppy. We see how Lady grows up and falls in love with the neighborhood mutt, Tramp. There are some lovely other characters in this film as well, Trusty and Jock are the older dogs next door. There is Aunt Sarah and her Siamese cats and a whistling Beaver in the story too.
This is another Disney classic where animals sing, dance, and eat spaghetti. Peggy Lee did some of the voices in this movie, including Peg, one of the dogs in the pound. Peg sings the famous song "He's a Tramp" and since rewatching Lady and the Tramp I cannot get it out of my head! When doing some research about the song I learned that Peggy Lee also did the voices of Darling, and the Siamese cats in this movie too. That explains why all the songs are so great!
RA programming with Disney movies is my favorite thing to think about! Even though I am convinced I would be the only person in attendance. It would of course make sense to have a program about love or family as those are primary themes in the movie. But instead I think we should look at the importance of the dog licenses in the movie. Lady is so proud, and so is Tramp for that matter, when they get their licenses that prove they are proper adult-dogs. That can be compared to the "real world" things that a college student is soon to receive that also resemble adulthood. Things like an apartment lease, the first utility bill, their first mattress and box spring can all be considered shiny examples of growing up. Having a program where the RA brings the Sunday paper ads and maybe a laptop for some Craig's List so that your residents can plan out their adult budget. Researching the real costs of rent in their ideal city, the average cost of living and utilities in that area, as well furnishing that apartment would be a valuable lesson for all college students. It could be a pleasant reassurance that students have realistic expectations or a rude awakening!
The film follows Jim Dear and Darling, our faceless human owners of Lady, a loyal and beautiful Cocker Spaniel puppy. We see how Lady grows up and falls in love with the neighborhood mutt, Tramp. There are some lovely other characters in this film as well, Trusty and Jock are the older dogs next door. There is Aunt Sarah and her Siamese cats and a whistling Beaver in the story too.
This is another Disney classic where animals sing, dance, and eat spaghetti. Peggy Lee did some of the voices in this movie, including Peg, one of the dogs in the pound. Peg sings the famous song "He's a Tramp" and since rewatching Lady and the Tramp I cannot get it out of my head! When doing some research about the song I learned that Peggy Lee also did the voices of Darling, and the Siamese cats in this movie too. That explains why all the songs are so great!
RA programming with Disney movies is my favorite thing to think about! Even though I am convinced I would be the only person in attendance. It would of course make sense to have a program about love or family as those are primary themes in the movie. But instead I think we should look at the importance of the dog licenses in the movie. Lady is so proud, and so is Tramp for that matter, when they get their licenses that prove they are proper adult-dogs. That can be compared to the "real world" things that a college student is soon to receive that also resemble adulthood. Things like an apartment lease, the first utility bill, their first mattress and box spring can all be considered shiny examples of growing up. Having a program where the RA brings the Sunday paper ads and maybe a laptop for some Craig's List so that your residents can plan out their adult budget. Researching the real costs of rent in their ideal city, the average cost of living and utilities in that area, as well furnishing that apartment would be a valuable lesson for all college students. It could be a pleasant reassurance that students have realistic expectations or a rude awakening!
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