I was impressed with the overall story-line of the movie and since it's based on the real life events of Michael Oher I was really hoping that they stayed as true to reality as possible. I didn't need some over the top wrinkle to add some "flash" because that takes away from credibility. The writers made it through. Well, actually they didn't. They made it about 80% of the way through the movie before they scraped together this unrealistic scene.
After growing frustrated with the NCAA's questions about his recruitment Michael stormed out of the office meeting, confronted his "new mom" and somewhat (pardon the pun) blindsided her with the question of "why did you do it", "was it for me or was it for you all along" thing and walked off. Later that night somehow he ends up back on the "other" side of town where he grew up and when faced with the difficult decision of waiting for his mom alone outside or entering the drug den (good vs evil) he makes the one bad choice of his life and it turns into a mix of a Snoop Dogg video, a clip of Scarface and backyard brawls 2. I won't spoil the rest. My point is it transitioned awkwardly to where they needed but they could have done a much better job without losing the sincerity of the entire movie.
All in all I really enjoyed the movie though. It conveys a great message of perseverance and hard work can make anything happen. Obviously this unbelievable story is something that's a 1 in a million type of thing but hey better then 1 in a trillion right?
I'm going to rank it a 7/10 on my just created tonight grading scale which will be patented shortly(so don't get any ideas Siskal and Ebert! what the heck is a scale that only goes up to 4? There is a HUGE difference between a 3 and a 4 i'd think, ya gotta get some more stars guys)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
Causes.com Website Review
My
first thought when I stumbled across a “friends”(I use that term
lightly since the inception of Facebook after seeing ppl with friends
hitting 6-7 digits.) CAUSES PAGE was
a mix of amazement and skepticism. After digging a little deeper
through the about page, how it works, and seemingly endless
possibilities and uses I'm left with the same thoughts.
I
find that fact incredibly sad. What an amazingly great, wonderful,
creative idea. Sometimes I really just sit back in amazement at the
sheer numbers of talented, ambitious, hard-working.....and the list
of superlatives goes on and on and on to describe the ppl out there.
Now,
how pitiful is it, that as quickly as my mind goes from there to
worrying just how many evil ppl across the world are exploiting
something so great, and turning into some shady story of loss all the
while hiding a shameless grin behind a computer screen. Sitting in a
posh hotel with friends, “creating” page after page, cause after
cause, banking on the kindness of strangers. Just waiting for someone
like myself who tries to find non-profits, charities, or a need that
isn't publicized nationally, something that really means or says
something to me at that moment.
As
quickly as I make the decision to give the little that I'm able, they
bang out 4 more “stories” each and before my money is even in
their pocket, a few other good Samaritans hop online and so it
continues....and endless loop of caring, research, giving, research,
caring, research, just hoping that you made the right decision this
time, that your part, went and actually did some bit of good to put a
smile on someone's face, somewhere out there.....this time.
Now,
Speaking about CAUSES.COM SPECIFICALLY; regardless
of the possible dishonest, greedy, scumbaggish, loser,
good-for-nothing assholes that can turn anything that involves money
into something evil, CAUSES.COM has both great intentions and a great
set-up which has been integrated with facebook to allow for
“spreading the word” along with “liking” quickly and
easily....if that's where you want to do your “spreading of the
word”
It's
my understanding that users are able to set up “causes” as
anything from a well known charity to gather money and make a
donation in honor of a loved one, local business in need, struggling,
etc or even a friend or neighbor that has fallen on hard times. A
broad spectrum of possibilities exist which is part of what really
makes this such a great tool with seemingly endless possibilities and
uses many different ppl, types of businesses, charities,
non-profits, and organizations.
If
you just take the time to browse through one of the hundreds and
thousands of categories you will see just how creative and unique
users have become. The best part though, at least for me, is reading
the stories and touching summaries some have written as to why giving
to this particular organization is meaningful or important to them
personally. Whether it's in honor of a loved one who fought through
and overcame cancer, spreading the word about helping get funding for
Alzheimer's research, continuing development of knowledge in regards
to aids or supporting organizations helping our veterans reintegrate
into society, find gainful employment, or even something as simple as
getting housing located close enough to the soldiers home that they
can get the care they need.
These
are sometimes things that are forgotten because we just figure it's
OBVIOUSLY TAKEN CARE OF, I MEAN, HOW COULD YOU LEAVE THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO ARE COMING BACK FROM SOMETIMES YEARS LIVING IN A WAR ZONE
TO FIGURE ALL THIS OUT FOR THEMSELVES?? Well, guess what? It's not
taken care of. There are services that help, but there isn't someone
waiting at the airport with a list of all the services they will need
and new cell phone with minutes and a taxi driver ready to start
getting them situated. I know it may seem like I'm making light of
it but this is just one example of thousands of charities out there
that need funding, need volunteers, etc from everyone.
Obviously
I got a little off topic of the website review at the end here but
it's a message that is very important to me personally and it's
something I think everyone, that means whether your rich and don't
have a care in the world or getting assistance like food and housing
from the state, needs to really think about every once in a while.
Just because you don't have the extra income to give away $500 to buy
some stupid brick at your sons school doesn't mean you can't do
something meaningful in your own way. Pick one morning every month or
every other month and spend a few hours helping give out food or
collect food for your local shelter or food pantry. Take your kids
with you if they are old enough, that's the kind of values and traits
that can be instilled in your kids for the rest of their lives.
Just
imagine how it would feel 20 years from now when you read in the
paper about a local school doing a food drive for the church and see
your son is running it with your grand kids. It didn't cost you a
penny but you probably helped 15-20 families that didn't know where
they were going to be eating or if they were going to be eating when
they woke up. Now that's something to smile about.
Spread
the word, it's worth it.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Toys for Tots.....Western Massachusetts Location
It's important to remember around the holidays, while we are picking out presents for our family, planning what to bring for the big dinner, making plans with relatives that live out of state that there are a lot of people out there that can't even get together with loved ones.
No pile of cards to open from aunts, uncles, cousins and more stuffed with $20, $50, and $100's. No waking up to the living room so full of presents they have to open them from 6am to 1pm and take a break to try out the new 4 wheeler. Maybe just happy with finding the cookies and milk gone filled with the thought that Santa must've loved them because they got a jacket finally so they can play outside during recess.
We all are finding ourselves in a tough spot sometimes but sometimes we should just sit and reflect on just how lucky we are; whether it's parents, siblings, grandparents or kids, spending holidays with family is the most important thing and there is ALWAYS someone out there suffering much more then we are....at least more then anyone who has access to a computer and internet so they can read this....
just my thinking at least....
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