The Amazing Spider Man

Bibliographic Information: Arad, A., Tolmach, M., & Ziskin, L. (Producers), & Webb, M. (Director). (2012). The amazing spider-man [Motion picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures.

Plot Summary:  When a young Peter Parker walks into his father’s study, he discovers it has been ransacked.  Panicked, his parents take him to his aunt and uncle’s house to stay for a bit, but shortly after, his parents are killed in a plane crash.  Peter grows up and attends Midtown Science High School.  One day, Peter discovered his father’s concealed documents from the night of the ransack.  His father was working with Dr. Curt Connors at Oscorp, so Peter heads there to meet with Dr. Connors.  He and his father were working on a project to cure illness by combining animal and human DNA.  He arrives to find his school crush Gwen Stacy leading student interns on a tour of the facility.  While at the facility Peter is bitten by a genetically modified spider, effectively giving Peter his “spidey senses.”  When he discovers his superhuman abilities, he becomes a vigilante fighting crime street crimes, and starts to attract attention from the police.  Peter and Gwen’s relationship starts to gain speed, but she invites him over for dinner to meet her parents, Peter walks in and discovers Gwen’s father is none other than the police captain.  How long can Peter keep his identity as Spider-Man a secret?

Critical Evaluation: The Amazing Spider-Man is full of conflicts that move the plot along.  The first conflict Peter struggles with is the loss of his parents.  Growing up as an orphan causes him to question how he fits into society.  He knows his aunt and uncle love him, but he still misses his parents deeply.  This desperation is what causes him to become so intrigued in the documents he finds in his father’s old briefcase.  Seeking out Dr. Connors, who was his father’s partner, probably helps Peter feel connected to his father.  Peter’s experience through his physical transformation after the spider bite presented another conflict.  What was he to do with his new abilities?  Peter struggled to figure out his identity and purpose as Spider-Man.  Peter also struggles explaining his transformation and and new-found abilities to his aunt, often leaving her in the dark to wonder what he is up to.  The Amazing Spider-Man  is really a look into Peter’s coming-of-age story, and how he settles into his role as the crime-fighting Spider-Man.

Reader’s Annotation: One teeny spider bite bite transformed Peter Parker into a wall-clinging, web-shooting superhero.  This is going to be amazing!  

Information about the director: Mark Webb has produced and directed many films, but his most successful have been The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), and (500) Days of Summer (2009).  Webb also makes documentaries featuring music artists, and a plethora of music videos.

Webb grew up in Wisconsin, and then attended college at Colorado College where he received a degree in English (Wikipedia (n.d.).

Genre: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Romance

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. Where does Peter fit in?

Reading level/Interest age: 13+

Challenge Issues:  This movie contains “sequences of action and violence” (IMDb, n.d.)

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I included this movie: This movie was very successful in the box office, and it is popular among the young adult population.  The Spider-Man saga has been around for a long time and is appealing to those who enjoy comic books.  

References:

IMDb. (n.d.). The amazing spider-man. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Marc Webb. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Webb

Freedom Writers

Bibliographic Information: DeVito, D., Shamberg, M., & Sher, S. (Producers) & LaGravenese, R. (Director). (2007).  The freedom writers [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.

Plot Summary: Erin Gruwell didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she accepted her first teaching job at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA.  The recently integrated school contains a student population labeled “at-risk.”  On her first day in the her English class, she witnesses racial segregation, hateful speech, and violence.  When students stop attending her class and her department head fails to support her, Gruwell attempts to gain her students’ trust by giving them their own diaries to write in.  At first the students are hesitant to write in them, but over time they start sharing their stories of abuse, gang activity, and rough home lives.  Their stories touch Gruwell, and she takes on two part-time jobs to supply material and experiences her students badly need in their education.  Her husband is not happy with her decision and pressures her to spend more time with him.  Gruwell is up against a lot of roadblocks preventing her from doing what she feels passionately about- helping her students succeed.  

Critical Evaluation: What makes Freedom Writer so good is that it is based on a true story.  Opposition is a major theme throughout the movie, and it is overcome with a lot of hard work, dedication, patience, and love.  Erin Gruwell is a classic example of how believing in someone can give them the motivation to change.  Gruwell’s students were rough, they were not fond of her, and she refused to let them run her out of the classroom.  There were moments in the movie that were so painful to watch, because of how badly the students treated her.  It really is amazing that through all the opposition Gruwell experienced from her administration, department chair, family, and students, that she continued with her efforts to make a difference.  Eventually her students saw this dedication and realized that she genuinely cared about them.  Gruwell’s hard work eventually pays off when the students think of and treat each other like family.  In this environment, Gruwell was able to prepare students to graduate and attend college, a feat many others thought to be impossible.  

Reader’s Annotation: Sometimes all someone needs is a little love, a little hope, and a little writing to become free.

Information about the director: Before beginning his career as a film director and producer, RIchard LaGravenese studied acting and experimental theater at New York University.  He struggled to make ends meet, so he transitioned into the film community and saw success rather quickly.  The Fisher King, his second screenplay, earned an Oscar nomination (YAHOO Movies, n.d.).

    LaGravenese other well-known films include The Bridges of Madison County (1995), P.S., I Love You (2007), and The Chronicles of Narnia: They Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).

Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama

Curriculum Ties: English (writing)

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. Read a diary entry from one of the students.

2. Describe the student population.

Reading level/Interest age: 13+

Challenge Issues: This movie contains “violent content, some thematic material and language” (IMDb, n.d.).

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I chose this movie: This movie is a feel-good story that young adults love to watch.  It is based on true events from the teaching career of Erin Gruwell.  The movie show that through a lot of determination, many obstacles can be overcome.  It also shows how support and love can encourage people to better themselves.

References:

IMDb. (n.d.). Freedom Writers. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/

YAHOO! Movies. (n.d.).  RIchard LaGravenese- Biography. Retrieved from http://movies.yahoo.com/person/richard-lagravenese/biography.html

Juno

Bibliographic Information: Halfon, L., Malkovich, J., Novick, M., & Smith, R. (Producers) & Reitman, J. (Director). (2007). Juno [Motion picture]. United States: Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Plot Summary: When sixteen-year old Juno MacGuff finds herself pregnant with her friend’s child, she decides to give the baby up for adoption.  Her parents, although shocked by the revelation, are supportive of Juno and her decision for adoption. Juno searches the Pennysaver ads with her friend Leah for a suitable family to raise her unborn child, and selects Mark and Vanessa Loring.  Juno makes a few visits to the Lorings home where Mark works, and they discover common interests.  The visits take on more emotional meanings for both Juno and Mark, and during one visit Mark discloses his plans to leave Vanessa, because he isn’t ready to be a father.  Juno freaks out, and leaves, scared of what lies ahead for the Loring family and her baby.  Juno starts to realize that she has feelings for her child’s father, Paulie Bleeker, when he asks another girl to prom.  When she shares her frustration with him, Paulie brings to light that Juno’s actions have broken his heart.  What will become of her relationship with Paulie, and does Vanessa still want to adopt her baby without Mark in the picture?

Critical Evaluation: Juno provides a humourous take on the theme of unplanned pregnancy.  While teenage pregnancy is no joking matter, it showcases the decisions a young girl faces with an unplanned pregnancy.  Initially, Juno opted to have an abortion, but upon arriving at the abortion clinic was met by a protester stating,”All babies deserved to be borned!”  When the protester tells Juno that her baby already has fingernails, she realizes she can’t go through with the abortion, and starts her search for a couple to adopt her baby.  Juno also has to deal with her feelings about her baby’s father, Paulie Bleeker.  Initially she plays cool about the situation, distancing herself from Paulie, but she realizes her true feelings for him when he asks another girl to the prom.  This compounds the issues she has with her growing body, raging hormones, and funny stares from her classmates.  Eventually, Juno is able to admit her love to Bleeker after a heart-to-heart talk with her father.  The adoption process doesn’t go very smoothly either.  When Mark tells Juno he is going to leave Vanessa, she is left worried Vanessa won’t want the baby anymore.  Teenage pregnancy is a tough situation, but Juno shows that with support and options, the teen mother will survive.

Reader’s Annotation: Take a look into the life of Juno MacGuffy- sixteen, and pregnant with her friend’s baby.  A night of boredom never turned out so wrong!

Information about the director: Jason Reitman is no stranger to Hollywood.  His father, Ivan Reitman, directed the 1984 hit Ghostbusters.  He started by directing commercials before making satirical shortfilms.  Some of his other films include Thank You for Smoking (2006), and Up in the Air (2009).  

    After a failed semester studying pre-med at Skidmore College, Reitman transferred to USC to study film.  His work on Up in the Air starring George Clooney earned him a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay (YAHOO Movies, n.d.).

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. Teen Pregnancy statistics

Reading level/Interest age: 13+

Challenge Issues: This movie contains sexual content and language, and reference to abortions.

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I included this movie: Juno  is a great addition to my movie collection because of the self-discovery Juno makes during her pregnancy, and subsequent adoption of her baby.  

References:

YAHOO! Movies. (n.d.). Jason Reitman- Biography.  Retrieved from http://movies.yahoo.com/person/jason-reitman/biography.html

A Knight's Tale

Bibliographic Information: Black, T., Helgeland, B., & Van Rellim, T. (Producers), & Helgeland, B. (Director). (2001). A knight’s tale [Motion picture]. United States: Columbia Pictures.

Plot Summary: In this Cinderella tale, a destitute squire named William assumes the identity of his deceased master, Sir Ector, in a jousting tournament.  William wins the tournament and splits the earning with his fellow squires, Roland and Wat.  William comes up with an idea- continue competing to win more money.  Roland and Wat do not think this is a very good plan since only nobles are allowed to joust in tournaments, and the risk seems high, but William convinces them to go along with the plan.  On their way to their first tournament they enlist the help of Geoffrey Chaucer (yes, that Geoffrey Chaucer) who helps forge a patent of nobility for Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein-- William’s new identity.   The group experiences much success, and William, under the guise of Sir Ulrich, falls in love with a noblewoman named Jocelyn.  In the jousting ring, William encounters Count Adhemar, who become his rival not only for the tournament prize, but for Jocelyn as well. If William is to continue jousting, he must keep his real identity a secret from everyone, including Jocelyn.  How long can he continue this act?

 

Critical Evaluation: A Knight’s Tale repeatedly touts the theme of changing one’s destiny.  This theme is played out in many scenarios.  When William was a young boy living in London, his father encouraged him to “change his stars,” so he left his peasant lifestyle and father behind to squire for Sir Ector.  Back in 14th century Europe, social class defined one’s lifestyle, and it was not easy to improve social status like it is now.  William sacrificed his relationship with his father for his first opportunity to change his stars.  His second opportunity came along when Sir Ector unexpectedly died and William assumed his identity in the jousting tournament despite the risk of getting caught.  William’s actions show us that changing our stars is going to require sacrifice and risk-taking.  

The movies also contains many allusions to literature and modern pop-culture, thus helping the audience to relate to the middle ages.  The biggest allusion is that of Geoffrey Chaucer, the writer who wrote The Canterbury Tales in which “A Knight’s Tale” appears first.   The movie also contains a soundtrack full of 70’s classic rock music tracks like “We Will Rock You” by Queen, and “You Shook Me All Night Long,” by ACDC.

  

Reader’s Annotation:  William finally has a chance to change his destiny.  Assuming the identity of Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein, William is going to rock the Middle Ages with his jousting skills.

Information about the director: Brian Helgeland has wrote, produced, and directed A Knight’s Tale. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island to Norwegian immigrant parents.  Helgeland received his undergraduate degree in literature from Dartmouth in Massachsetts, and then studied film at Layola Marymount University in L.A.

    Helgeland wrote and co-produced L.A. Confidential (1997), and earned an Academy Award for his work.  The day before the Academy Awards ceremony, he received a Razzie, an award honoring the worst in film, for his work on The Postman. Some of Helgeland’s other well-known works include Conspiracy Theory (1997), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), Robin Hood (2010),  and Salt (2010) (YAHOO! Movies, n.d.).

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance

Curriculum Ties: Social Studies/History (Middle Ages)

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. Changing your stars.

2. Geoffery Chaucer’s perspective

Reading level/Interest age: 13+

Challenge Issues: This movie contains “action violence, some nudity and brief sex-related dialogue” (IMDb, n.d.)

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I included this movie: I chose this movie because of the allusion to Chaucer and his work, The Canterbury Tales, and because of it’s historical setting.  The main character, William is a good example for people who want to change their position in life.  I also think the modern soundtrack appeals to the younger generation and helps this film shed the reputation of a “boring period piece.”

Super 8

Bibliographic Information: Abrams, J., Burk, B., & Spielberg, S. (Producers), & Abrams, J. (Director). (2011). Super 8 [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures.

Plot Summary:  Fourteen-year old Joe Lamb just lost his mother in a factory accident.  His Deputy Sheriff father, Jack Lamb, blames her co-worker, Louis Dainard, for whom she was covering a shift.  A few months after the accident, Joe’s friend Charles enlists his help to make a zombie movie for a film competition.  Together with a group of friends, among them Alice Dainard, Louis’ daughter, they head towards the train depot to film a scene.  While Charles is filming, a pickup truck drives onto the tracks and heads straight towards the train.  When the train and truck collide it causes a wreck of massive proportions.  Joe and his friends escape unharmed, and as they investigate the scene, they find a pile of white cubes.  They walk up to the wrecked truck and find their biology teacher, Dr. Woodward, was the driver.  He warns them to leave and forget everything they saw.  The kids heed his words, and as they flee the scene the U.S. Air Force arrive to survey the damage.   After the crash, strange events start happening in the town, and when the boys watch develop their film, they see a large creature escaped from the train.  What is that creature, and how was Dr. Woodward connected to it?  The boys need to solve this mystery in order to save their community.

Critical Evaluation:  The conflicts between the Joe and Alice’s fathers creates a very interesting situation between them.  Joe’s father blames Alice’s dad for his wife’s death, and forbids him from seeing her.  Alice’s dad does the same thing, but more out of guilt.  Despite their father’s demands, Joe and Alice continue to socialize, and when Alice goes missing after the train wreck, Jack Lamb and Louis Dainard are forced to put aside their differences and rescue Alice.  Super 8 explores the theme of extraterrestrial life.  Because of the mistreatment the alien experienced at the hands of scientists, like Dr. Woodward, the alien took revenge on the community by kidnapping various citizens to use as food.  When Joe, Jack, and Louis find Alice and attempt to free her from the snare of the alien, they are trapped, and the alien grabs Joe.  Joe speaks compassionately to the alien, telling him that “Bad things happen.”  Joe tries to counteract the cruelty dealt to the alien, and who better knows the meaning of “bad things happen” than Joe himself?

Reader’s Annotation: While making a super 8 film, six friends witness a catastrophic train wreck.  Afterwards, strange things happen in their community.  Will the footage of the wreck solve this mystery?

Information about the director:  J.J. Abrams has worked on a number of successful movies like Armageddon (1998), Mission Impossible III (2006), and Star Trek (2009).  He is also the creator of several hit TV series like Alias (2001-2005), Lost (2004-2010), and Fringe (2008-2013).  Not only does he write, produce, and write movies and TV shows, but he also composes music for many of his projects.

    Abrams grew up in Los Angeles, graduated from Sarah Lawrence College, and has won many awards for his work.  The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror Films awarded him Best Director for Super 8 (Wikipedia, 2013).

Genre: Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties: N/A

Booktalking ideas (one or two):

1. Description of train wreck.

Reading level/Interest age: 13+

Challenge Issues:  This movies contains “intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and some drug use” (IMDb, n.d.)

To defend challenged material I would:

1.    Read/watch/listen to the material to become familiar with the content.

2.    Familiarize myself with the Arizona Common Core curriculum standards http://www.azed.gov/azcommoncore/teacher/ to defend how the material can support the learning of these standards.

3.    Refer to the Library Bill of Rights: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

4.    Refer to the collection policy of my library.

5.    Collect reviews from staff/students/patrons who have used the material

Why I included this movie: Super 8 is a great sci-fi movie for my collection because of its focus on young adult characters.  J.J. Abrams does great work capturing the eerie events that take place in film, which is appealing to young adults.  

References:

IMDb. (n.d.) Super 8. Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1650062/

Wikipedia. (2013, May 12). J.J. Abrams. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams

YAHOO! Movies. (n.d.). J.J. Abrams- biography. Retrieved from http://movies.yahoo.com/person/jj-abrams/biography.html