The Lord of the Rings

"Even the smallest person can change the course of a future."

 

 

Being that this is my favorite movie of all time (yes I count all three of these films as one because lets be honest, they are one movie) some might wonder why I haven't written about them before this moment. (well, maybe nobody but I like to humor myself) The reality is that I just have so much to say about these movies, and it is a daunting task for me because...I mean where do you start with the amazingness that is The Lord of the Rings.
I guess the first part is the world that J.R.R. Tolkien created. He didn't just write a simple story....he created an entirly new universe with a history that dates back to the creation of it all. There is not one thing in this world that you could not find an orgin for or that you could not find a connection to. He left nothing a mystery. Each race has it's own language complete with different lettering AND gramatical rules. There are maps and wars and ages. Tolkien left nothing out of this world. I think that is one of the reasons that this is such an amazing thing.
 
 
The Similirian is where one would find the hisotry of Middle Earth. All the way back to the moment that each elf was created and why. I found this book to be very dense and hard to get through because it was like reading one of our history text books, but I also found it to be even more rewarding than I thought because there was so much from the Lord of the Rings that I began to understand and even apprecaite even more. There are even more stories of the people of Middle Earth than just what one would find in the Similrian, The Hobbit, and even in The Lord of the Rings. This is amazing to me....
The second part is really directly related to the characters that J.R.R Tolkien created in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The fellowship is something that really resignated with me. I love the idea that this group of people, many of whom did not want anything to do with each other, where able to band togehter in the end and to become to loyal to each other. Someone asked me a few months ago who my favorite character in the story was, and I had to really stop for a minute to think about it because I love each character for different reasons.
I think that I would have to say that my favorite character is Samwise Gamgee. He is probably my favorite because I identify with Samwise more than any of the other characters in the story. Samwise is one of the most loyal characters throughout the entire story. He stand by Frodo through the entire journey. No matter how scared he is or how unsure he may be...he stays with Frodo and is willing to protect him not matter what. Even at the end of the story...as Frodo struggles to make it to the top of Mordor with the ring....Sam carries Frodo. He stays with him to the very end, even when he knows that he will not be able to return home. Even when he thought he friend had tossed him away...Sam stays... he never leaves Frodo, and I love that.

The character that I have to say that I wish I was would be Frodo. Frodo was willing to take on a task that nobody in the entire Middle Earth was able to do. He was strong enough to resist the ring and was strong enough to carry it though. Frodo was able to walk away from the fellowship because he knew that the ring would destory his friends and he could not let that happen. He knew that if he did not do what he was supposed to do, nobody would. I love that he struggled through the journey. He was not perfect and there where many times that he began to falter and that he didn't always make the right choice, but Frodo pushed and he went forward. He knew that this was his battle to fight and one that he never atticipated to take. I love that idea that things fall into our lives that we may not expect, and we can let then over take us and ignore them, or we can take up those challenges and push throught them. Frodo pushed through even through there where moments that he didn't want to.

The characters are not the only thing that make this story so amazing. There are so many messages that one can take out of them. I love the idea that everything happens for a reason. Gandalf talks to Frodo at one point about Bilbo meaning to find the ring and that means that Frodo himself was meant to find the ring. Each moment through the course of Middle Earth had lead to that moment. Had Frodo never gotten the ring, maybe Aragorn would not have risen up and taken back his thrown. Had Boramir not died, Faramir would not have been able to rise up and do what he needed to do. Each chain of events needed to happen in order for Frodo to be able to destroy the ring. No matter how awful those chain of events may have seemed at the time.
I also love that notion of holding onto hope and understanding that all bad things must come to an end. Nothing in this world can last forever, and no matter how horrible it may seem now. It will pass and a better time will come. Always hold onto that hope because it is that hope (no matter how small) that will grow and defeat that evil or that hopelessness. Each person in this world holds a purpose....
Peter Jackson did such a wonderful job of adapting this story from novel to film. It is such a detailed piece of writing and taking the story and keeping it's intergity is one of the most difficult things to do when adapting a novel for the screen. He took such care in taking what was important and leaving out the things that where not needed for the heart of the story. The fact that these movies are so long is a testiment to the idea that he tried so hard NOT to leave anything out. I feel that the things he did omit, where nothing that horribly changed the story.
I honestly cannot say enough about these stories. I have said it before, if all you are telling me is that they are long....all they are doing is walking...why don't the eagles just save the day....then you are hoenestly missing the point of this story. There is so much there. Maybe next time you have the chance, stop and open up or heart a little rather than your mind...because there are some things in this world that should be felt rather than thought about....and Lord of the Rings is one of them.

Waiting for Superman

"One of the saddest days of my life was when my mother told me Superman did not exist.... I was crying because there was no one coming with enough power to save us."

 

I am 27 years old and I am a special education Language Arts teacher in a middle school. I have been teaching for almost 5 years. I love what I do, but it does not come without it's share of daily challenges. There is not a moment that goes by that I am not thinking in some way about how I can help my students. There is not one hour that passes in which there is not that nagging worry in the back of my mind that constantly asks if I am doing what is best for my kids. Am I doing what is needed for them to succeed.
I am not naive to think that what I do doesn't matter. I know it does, and I take that responsibility to heart. I know that what I say and do can affect a child for the rest of their lives. I wish that it didn't, but I would be a fool to not understand that and to know that this is the truth. I can make or break a child. How they do in life can depend on me. I could be their crossroads. Whether they decide to go left rather than right. This scares the living day lights out of me, and yes...it is one of the many things that I lose sleep over on a daily basis.
The documentary, Waiting for Superman,  focused on the public education system and how it is failing our students. Being a teacher this is an issue that I am directly involved in. This is something that I battle with everyday. It is so frustrating to see all of these young children struggling. It kills me everytime I hear a public official say that this is "All about the kids." The reality is...no it isn't about the kids. If it was about the kids, so many of our students would not be going through the public education system 2 and 3 grade levels behind in reading and math. The reality is that if you are behind in reading and math, you are going to struggle in other areas as well. How are these students making it through? How are they graduating? Who is failing these students?
There are so many factors that go into a student being successful. This film touched on the ones that involved effective teachers, and administrations doing what is necessary for the students rather than focusing on what the adults need and want. Being on the other end of this, the teaching aspect,  I would be a fool to say that these are some of the problems for sure, but these are not the only ones that are failing our students.
The parents are a huge factor in the lives of the students that pass through the education system. It has been a proven fact that parents with involvement their their students school work will have more productive students. Also, I have seen in just my 5 years of teaching a a decline in the responsibility factor of the students and children in general of today. Many of the student want to see the work done for them, they do not want to take responsibility for their actions and many parents make excuses for their children. These excuses are not helping them. Children have this sense of entitlement, a sense that they deserve to get the good grades and do so well just because they have shown up. They don't have to work for it. This is a problem and one that many people don't seem to want to talk about or to address.
So many people are looking for the person to blame. The people to point the finger at. The reality of this, is that there is not just one person to blame. Everyone has had a hand in the decline in the public education; administration, teachers, parents, and students alike. I do not that any real change will be able to occur until everyone stops pointing their fingers and begins to look at themselves and start to accept the responsibility.
This is not just any job. When you enter the world of education, you have to realize that you are entering a career that your choices are not entirely your own anymore. What you do matters, what you do affects every single one of those students that crosses your path during the course of a day. It is not a choice that anyone should enter lightly or one that should be entered into for the wrong reasons. As much as we don't like it, sometimes you classroom has to come first, your kids come first, because No it isn't JUST a job.  School is the first step for the rest of these child's lives. This is where you will lay their building blocks. This is where they will prepare for a world outside of their homes.
Yes, the education system needs to be reformed. There are problems, but not one person or group is responsible. Change will only come when all parties can come together and understand that it IS ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.
I would defiantly recommend this documentary if you enjoy watching things like this. As an educator this made me sad because I want so badly to be that superman all of these kids are waiting for....maybe one day...

Lady in the Water

 

 

"Man thinks they are each alone in this world. It is not true. You are all connected. One act can one day affect all."

 

 

Before I could even begin to talk about the movie Lady in the Water, it is first imperative that I talk about fairy tales in general. There is not a better story to be told in this world than your classic fairy tale. Looking closer into the definition of what exactly is a fairy tale was a bit overwhelming. It is amazing to see exactly how much is out there regarding defines these stories we all loved as a child. Without being any sort of expert, the conclusion that I have come to is that a fairy tale is any story that has its roots set in some sort of oral tradition. They contain some sort of magical element and clear characters set for good and evil. Many times there is an element of 3 or 7 somewhere in the tale. There is also always some sort of conflict that is presented and needs to be solved. Many fairy tales where presented with lessons or morals that directly related to the society which the story originated from. Last but not least, most all fairy tales begin with some sort of special beginning words like "Once upon a time..." or "A long time ago..."
"Once" is exactly how M.Night Shyamalan's 2006 movie, Lady in the Water, begins. The movies prologue talks about an ancient time when man and the people in the water being linked. It gives us our history with the Blue world and why it was so important to us. It goes on to talk about how man became disconnected with the people and the water because we forgot how to listen, and we became even more separated from these people who inspired us. The prologue tells us that the people in the Blue world are still trying to reach us by sending out their young who are hunted by beings that  wish to stop them from connecting with the humans again and inspiring us.
What is so frustrating when discussing this movie with people is their ignorance towards it. Many people went into this movie believing it was a horror movie of some sorts, and when they walked out of the theatre, they hated it and couldn't understand what it was that they had just watched. What Night does not get enough credit for is his wonderful ability to tell an amazing story. This movie was nothing more than a modern day fairy tale with a simple but important lesson.
The basic plot of the movie focuses around Clevland and his journey to help this mythical creature who has fallen into his lap named Story. Story has come to our world from the Blue world so that she can inspire her vessel who will help to create great change within our world. Simple story with a strong message that was so wonderfully delivered.
The overall message that Night was trying to get across was about the connectivity of all people and how each persons actions affects the others. All of us have a purpose, but it is many times not clear to us what our purpose is. What I thought was so amazing, is that as the characters around Story begin to find their purposes in life, Story too begins to understand just how important she is. She says that she is nothing special, but it is Story that will in turn inspire the man who will create the drastic change that is needed in our world. She will return to her world as a Madame Narf., one of the most important narfs of her people. She is realising her purpose, and it scares her.
This fear that Story holds is one that we all hold. Many of us are afraid of our own destiny's, we are afraid of failing, and we are afraid that we are not good enough. It is often times hard to see the impact that you are having on the world and your importance in it. We are all important no matter how insignificant you may feel. This is what Cleavland also learns through the story as he feels that being the buildings Super, he doesn't really matter. In fact, Clevland matters a great deal to the people around him and the job that he is doing.
It is an amazing lesson and a beautiful story that we told is such a wonderful way. Night is such a talented story teller and I feel that he truly has been lost behind this idea that all of his movies need to have twists and turns. He pays true homage to Hitchcock in his ability to bring characters to life, and make you feel for them. This particular story was very close to his heart because it began as a simple bed time story that he was telling to his young children.
There are all the fairy tale elements that anyone could hope for. There is your mythical or magical being in the narf, Story. There are clear good and evil characters with the people of The Cove (the apartment complex in which the story centers) and the  evil scrunts that are there for kill Story. There is the number 7 when the gilded is called upon to help save the day, and of course their over all moral.
The characters and actors in this film did such an amazing job. Bryce Dallas Howard was a breathtaking Story. Everytime she talks you cannot help, but want to hear what she has to say. Even with her silences she says so much. Paul Giavani was fantastic as Clevland. There is one scene that makes me cry everytime. When he finally begins to face his past. It is so heartfelt, so genuine, so raw, and so beautiful.
There is so much that can be said about this movie, and I know that I am all over the place. There is not one detail that Night overlooked. Each thing had a meaning and a purpose, from the blank slated apartment complex, to the positioning of the pool, to the blue world itself, and the use of the eagle was not mistake. The eagle symbolizes many things, freedom, inspiring, revitalization, and healing, are just to name a few. That was no random bird that he placed that the end of the story in order to take Story back to The Blue World.
As many people will argue that Night is an over rated director, I will continue to stand in his corner. I think that he is trying to do old things in modern times, and people have truly lost sight of what movies are. I can only hope that he will continue to make movies through the years, and that one day people will look back and appreciate what it is that he has done and understand that THIS is what movies are about.
So take a break from reality for a bit and become a child again.....all it takes is a little "Once upon a time..."