Planes, Trains, and Automobiles #aysiastarr

Hughes, John. “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” (1987)

Steve Martin (Neal Page) and John Candy (Del Griffin)

When time is against you, what would you do? It’s the day before Thanksgiving and you are miles away from home on a business trip in New York City. Your meeting runs late, and you have little time to spare before your flight leaves. You finally catch a cab and rush to the airport only to find that all flights are canceled for the evening. No one is going anywhere! The airport is full of angry, tired travelers with nowhere to go. You have called all of the hotels in the area and none have vacancies. What do you do now? Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a comedic movie starring Steve Martin and John Candy. Steve Martin plays a character named Neal Page, an advertising executive, who is desperately trying to get home to Chicago for the holiday. John Candy’s character, Del Griffin sic, is a loud-mouthed, but lovable salesperson who offers to help Neal find his way home. The trip is anything but a smooth ride. Del leads Neal on a cross-country, wild goose chase that keeps Neal from his home. It is every traveler’s nightmare. The movie focuses on two very different men with very different attitudes. Neal Page is quiet, reserved, and enjoys his privacy. He and his family live in the suburbs of Chicago [Shermer, Illinois]. Del Griffin, on the other hand, is loud, obnoxious, and loves to talk non-stop about nothing. His conversations never seem to have a point and only comes off as a distraction to Neal. The two have an uncanny adventure, starting in New York when Del “steals” Neal’s cab that he called and the two end up not only on the same flight, but sitting next to each other for the plane ride. Just as Page thinks that his strange and even more aggravating interactions have come to an end, Griffin seems to, somehow, swing back around because he doesn’t seem quite done with melting Page’s cold heart. The underlying themes of this story is what drew me in.  It exploits the kindness that people are capable of feeling even under the most difficult and extreme circumstances. It also exposes that we all have faults, weaknesses, and a general need for human compassion to survive. This is what makes the film one I’d rewatch and one would recommend for others to watch and rewatch as well. It covers an important lesson, one we can all learn from. We all aren’t “perfect,” or as perfect as we’d like to think we are. We also can’t survive in harsh circumstances without the help of another being that can help keep our spirits high. For this reason, I hope you will watch this movie.

What's Sweeter? Our Dreams or New Beginnings?

Sugar. Dir. Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck Feat. Algenis Perez Soto (Sugar), Jose Rijo (Alvarez), Walki Cuevas (Alfonso) made in 2008.

         Sugar was overall an emotional cliche. That's not a bad thing because in a way, it might have brought more awareness to the conditions in the Dominican Republic and how real sports teams treat their players. Sugar was a young kid dreaming big like all the other kids in the Dominican Republic. He came from a poor family of many kids and life was tough. He wanted to make it out of the Dominican and create a better life for himself, a typical immigrant story. I will be honest and say I was not very fond of this film. I just found it basic but it did bring my attention to how professional Leagues operate, which I found inhumane. It really was portrayed as a business. It looked like the scouters were shopping for a new toy, in a way that scene looked racist from my point of view. If I had to pick my favorite part I would say when Sugar decided to leave the league and build a life for himself.

What really stood out to me was the message it gives people. Miguel Also known as sugar had a tough life, he was a kid that had big dreams and aspirations trying to make something of himself, soon he realized that taking the famous and unstable route ( Professional league) isn't for him. He ended up running away from his team before they threw him out like a broken toy. It's clear that Sugar wanted more in life and he was determined to get it one way or another. He took an okay job at a restaurant and worked his way up, he stabilized himself, made new allies like the man at the carpenter store. I learned that sometimes we don't always get what we dreamed of but sometimes what we're blessed with comes out far greater than what we yearned for. He found a great life in America he works and sends money to the family, found a new girlfriend and joined a league with all ex-professional baseball player just like him. He got the best of both worlds which not many people can say.

I would recommend this movie to an audience that is fond of a heartfelt story.  Overcoming obstacles, adapting to a new life, and making sacrifices.  This film can be interpreted in different ways, it can help open the eyes of people and give good life lessons when you look beyond just what the movie is about.

Alien (1979) - Jack O'Brien

Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott, is a British-American Sci-fi/Horror film. Alien was nominated for two academy awards, and won the 1980 Best visual effects Oscar.

Alien chronicles the story of the crew of starship Nostromo. The Nostromo is a commercial cargo ship tasked with transporting its load to Earth. All seems to be going well as the crew awakens from cryogenic sleep and prepares for a short trip back home. It is only when the ship receives a distress signal from a local planet that the true horror of the film is unveiled.

The crew are hesitant to respond to a foreign signal, but the newly appointed science officer Ash, insists they investigate on the grounds that company policy demands the crew respond to any and all distress signals, regardless of their origin. The crew snoops around old catacombs on the planet, and in a turn of events, Kane, the ship's executive officer, is attacked by a creature that fixes itself onto Kane's face, causing him to slip into a coma. Kane is taken into the auxiliary landing ship and given medical attention. Despite being a violation of quarantine protocol, Kane is taken into the Nostromo for further medical treatment at the digression of Ash, the science officer.

As foreshadowed earlier, Ash's decision to move Kane to the Nostromo backfires horribly. Kane, at first, appears to make a full recovery, but it is soon discovered that the opposite has occurred. During dinner, Kane begins to convulse and writhe until eventually, a creature erupts from from his stomach. The creature runs off and plays a game of hide-and-seek with the crew.

The Alien matures incredibly quickly, and one by one, kills of the members of the crew that dare pursue it. During this time, it is revealed that Ash, the science officer, is actually a "Synthetic Sleeper Agent", a robot with one goal in mind, bring the Alien home no matter the cost.

After all her fellow crewmates are killed, Ripley, the protagonist, makes a last ditch effort to escape by setting the ship to self-destruct and running for the escape pod. This scene is potentially more tense than the serious plot twist at the end of the film, as convenient writing allows for the escape pods to be located on the opposite side of the ship, resulting in a great sequence that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.

Ripley narrowly escapes the ship, explosion in the background, sigh of relief, Ripley is about to enter her pod and awaken on Earth. Credits roll.

But they don't.

Ripley must face one more challenge before she can be released from the hell she has lived. The Alien has snuck into her escape pod, and is hiding in an alcove. Ripley stealthily climbs into a space suit, and pulls the airlock latch, expelling the Alien once and for all.

I love this film. I love everything about it. I think it is a flawless example of modern day horror. The atmosphere of the film is claustrophobic and dark. It is a movie that is constantly threatening the viewer, leaving them constantly frightened of what is to come next.

HR Giger's artistry in creating the Alien elevates the horror of the film to a new level. Not only are viewers terrified of the monster, but they are intrigued. Giger creates a monster that viewers want to see on screen, but whose presence terrifies its audience. Giger is a master of his craft, and well deserving of his academy award for his work on Alien.

Overall, Alien is a masterpiece. It's captivating, terrifying, and thrilling. This film defines a generation of horror. Alien raises the bar for what a horror film should be, and forces other films to be better if they want to compete.

"Bring me some Sugar, I am your neighbor" - Jack O'Brien

"Sugar" directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck is a Drama that follows the protagonist Miguel "Sugar" Santos through his journey into professional baseball in America. 

"Sugar" was nominated for the 2009 ESPY best sports movie and won the 2010 AFI Awards best movie.  It was nominated for six other miscellaneous awards.

Sugar is set in two main locations: The Dominican Republic, and The United States. The story line unfolds across multiple places and states, but the specifics of location generally speaking, aren't important to this film's themes.

The film follows Miguel "Sugar" Santos and his Minor-League baseball career in America. Santos is seen as a prodigy in his home town, is quickly recruited by Kansas City, and promptly sent off to America to pitch professionally.

Santos seems to struggle with the American way of life, particularly, with the language. One of his first struggles as a character is his frustration trying to order food at a Diner. Santos at first, cannot seem to get a grasp on the language, and as a result, perpetually eats french toast, as that is all he can say in English. This frustration with himself is the first character struggle Santos undergoes in the film/

The next significant struggle Santos undergoes with himself is his performance as a player. In several consecutive games, he performed poorly, and struggles with his identity as a baseball player. Santos knows hard work is what put him in his situation, and cannot seem to put that work in anymore. As a result, Santos turns to performance-enhancing drugs in an attempt to remain competitive. This backfires, and Santos's frustration compounds.

The culmination of Santos's frustrations sees him leaving baseball and heading to New York. Santos does this to follow his friend and mentor, in an attempt to find something friendly in the hostile environment he has been in for his while time in America. Santos appears to find some sort of fulfillment in a working life, and moves baseball to the side as he works a normal job, in a normal life.

The film's ending is similar to that of Rocky, in that it isn't what you'd expect. I had initially expected Santos to succeed and make it to the big leagues, just like one would expect Rocky to win his fight. I think Santos moving away form baseball tells a different story, and not one that I dislike.  

Ricky Baloba [Balboa]

Rocky (1976)

Rocky is a fictional Drama starring and written by Sylvester Stallone and directed by John G Avildsen. The film can technically fall into the action genre, but the deeper themes and character conflict firmly stamp this film into the page of Drama. Rocky won the 1976 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best film editing, as well as best actor in a leading role (Stallone) [maybe I am wrong here  -  it did win the Oscar for Best Picture; however, Stallone was nominated but did not win] and best director (Avildsen).

Jack, Is your image meant to be ironic?


The film is set in the city of Philadelphia during the bicentennial year of  1976. The film's setting is used a a plot device that allows Rocky to turn his life around and develop as a character.

Rocky Balboa is more or less seen by his peers as a bum. He makes his money fighting at a local boxing club and working as muscle for a loan shark. Rocky attempts to act as an example to the local youth of what not to be, made clear when he yells at a teenage girl for hanging with the wrong crowd of kids. This shows that Rocky is aware of his "bum" status, [not necessary here  -  it is a dependent clause that follows] and does not seem to be making any effort to improve himself. Rocky is supposed to be a film that promotes the notion of an "American Dream", the idea that in America, anybody can pull themselves up by the bootstraps and achieve success. Rocky [the character] only does this to a point.

Rocky seems to enjoy the status quo. He is a compassionate person, who appears to be trapped in monotony by his own doing. That story is told by his boxing coach, Mickey (Burgess Meredith). When Rocky finds his locker has been taken by new young blood at the gym, he confronts his coach. When confronted, Rocky is told that he is old news. We learn that Rocky had potential and that his job with the loan shark had derailed his future in boxing.

The fact that Rocky seems content to maintain the status quo, making just enough to get by, seems to challenge the notion that Rocky is a prime example of the American Dream.

It is not until Rocky is picked from a hat by Apollo Creed, the heavyweight champion, for a showcase match, that Rocky picks himself up. While it is true that the opportunity does present a wake up call for Rocky to turn his life around, there were several other opportunities for Rocky to do so prior in the film, especially when criticized by his coach.

Rocky, on the surface, appears to be a tale of a man turning his life around and going the distance. The film can also been seen as the tale of an average Joe who is dragged into the limelight by circumstance, and must quickly turn his life around in the face of humiliation on a national stage.

All of this aside, the film is fantastic. Rocky is new classic that is not only dramatic, but inspiring. Rocky is a complex character with an interesting agenda. The film has an iconic soundtrack, and is very much deserving of all of its awards. 

Who's Really The Psycho?

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Writers: Joseph Stefano (screenplay) Robert Bloch (novel)

Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh. Vera Miles

In 1960 a crazy, game changing film was created and it was called Psycho. The movie got you to think because of the mystery it brought to the audience. It definitely grabs your attention on what might happen next. 

SPOILER ALERT!!! Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) and her boyfriend Sam Loomis wanted to run away and get married together. But because of his debts they couldn't. Marion later that day went to work and was asked to deposit $40,000. Was she that crazy to steal it? She ran off with that money so her  [she] and Sam could live the life she wanted. Marion was nervous, but after her interacting with the police officer and the used car salesman, it makes you wonder if she's the psycho one. Marion needed to rest after all she went through. She comes across Bates Motel where she meets the last person she will ever talk to. 

That night she checks into the motel in a different name [the alias Marie Samuels], and Norman becomes attracted to Marion. He's nice to her and even makes her food. They stir up a conversation where we find out he has an interest in taxidermy. In 15 minutes Marion's life was going to be gone. Norman's mother killed her while she was in the shower. Stab after stab. Was she the psycho? We later find out that Norman's mother has been dead. The whole time Norman pretends to be his mother by dressing up as her and making conversation with his mother like she is still alone [alive]. Psycho? Yes, I believe so. Norman was the crazy one all along. 

This movie was good, and I would recommend it to people who are into drama and mystery. It kept you thinking on what will happen next. I never knew who the real psycho was in all honestly. If you ask me, they are all crazy. But Norman showed his psycho side the most. When Marion died you realized that the whole time it wasn't her. The movie was quick but not too quick. I thought that was good because it got to the point. Movies that drag can loose people's attention, but Psycho didn't. This movie definitely brings up some questions, but that's the point. It makes the audience want more!

Rocky

Blog #1

Rocky

[No image  -  relevant or not]

The film Rocky was created in 1976 by Sylvester Stallone, who had writen the film, and John G. Avidsen had directed it. Some of the main characters in the film are Rocky, Apallo [Apollo] Creed, Micky, Gazzo, Adrian, and Paulie.

Rocky Balboa is a struggling boxer from philidalphia whose only dream is to make it big and be successful in the boxing world. As soon as everyone starts losing hope in Rocky, an amazing opportunity is brought his way when pro boxer Apallo Creed makes his way to Rocky's home town  [one word] looking for an amateur boxer to fight. After Rocky decides that this could be his chance, he is miraculously chosen to be Apallo Creed's competition. With everyone expecting an easy win for Apallo, Rocky understands he really needs to step up his game and win this fight because if he doesn't, he has no chance of making it as a professional boxer. Rocky begins training again with his trainer Micky in order to prepare for the fight.

In the midst of everything that is happening, Rocky actually finds himself a girlfriend after making a visit to the petstore, and quickly getting close with a young lady he had met there. Fight day is approaching and after plenty of training, Rocky is ready to prove everyone wrong. He is ready to unleash his hidden talent as a boxer and make his dreams come true. Rocky gains alot of respect for himself after coming such a long way and working towards what he wants for his future. He gets to prove to everyone he is a boxer at heart and he can be the fighter he always knew he could be. After everything Rocky had been through, he goes the distance to become the new heavyweight champion after his win against Apalo Creed.