TOEFL

TOEFL

TOEFL, it is the main reason of my being right now. I assumed some person does not even know what TOEFL is. This is a test that foreign/international students need to do, if they want to study in US, where you proof your knowledge about the language (English). So, at end of every semester in ESL, we have to present TOEFL test. I did the last semester, and I did not do so badly. My score was 452 (to pass this exam your score must be over 500). I can remember that day; we have to be in the classroom at 9 am o clock.

I was really nervous; because my thought was that I would not understand anything, but I was wrong. My listening was not too bad; my grammar so-so and reading was really okay.

This year, I have to pass my TOEFL, so I need to put my best to pass it and I think I trust myself a little more about this test. I really think I am going to pass it.

Today, we have a TOELF practice (it was kind of simulation of the real one) and that still make me feel nervous. I think I did well, especially in reading and listening part. It was not to hard this time. I do not know my score yet, but I really want to know soon, it is making me anxious, I really want to know if I have same score or it was highest or lowest.

Whale Rider

Whale Rider

In 2002, Whale Rider was shown in Movie Theater, and then earned a nomination in the Academy Awards. Whale Rider is about the native culture in New Zealand, how change can be so hard sometimes.

It was filmed on the east coast of New Zealand, directed by Niki Caro and based on Witi Ihimeara’s novel and produced by South Pacific Picture. Around the world there are different stories that tell how women introduced themselves to the world. Witi Ihimeara wrote about how a little girl could change her native culture. Keisha Castle-Hughes plays as Paikea, the little girl who changes old ideas. This little girl does a great job as this character, I really enjoy how she acted, it was excellent, and I think everybody could feel her character. Rawari Paratene as Koro, Paikea’s Grandfather. His character in some way was grabbed by the old things, giving drama to Paikea’s existent. Paratene did a good job with his character, making Koro really conserve about his culture. And finally, Vicky Houghton as Nanny Flowers, Paikea’s Grandmother, who believe in Paikea and represent support to her granddaughter. Nanny Flowers was a really good character, in my opinion in every movie have to have a supporting character.

All work was really good. I do not know how they could give us a good whale image, seems so real every image. That’s one of the reasons that made me enjoy Whale Rider. Every dialogue was believable; the cast had a good chemistry. Setting was so beautiful. In my opinion, New Zealand has the most amazing and beautiful sets around the world. If you had seen “The lord of the ring”, you could remember the sceneries of this movie that had film on New Zealand, too. The only thing, I think they should have taken more images about the ocean at night and the moon there, because it could be beautiful images for this movie. Costumes and make up was appropriate, because they seem like native and really natural, and natural is one of the things that characterize native character.

Suitable viewer, in my opinion, could be anyone who is interested about culture, family movies and changing movies. It is not a movie for everyone, but anybody could deny that have a good effect, because I think every character could be feeling for viewers. Also every image was perfect, specially the whale’s scenes, because all whale’s scenes are really real, it does not have many effects.

So, Whale Rider was a good movie for me, I could really feel the movie, and I did not get bored in any moment. It has a big message about the change, about we are not in past, and every woman has the same power as men. That is the principal message about this movie and that means so much, because there are many culture that still believe that women are just tools for home, the only way is to have sons; something really stupid being in 21th century where women are so powerful. In some scenes I got frustrated about the idea that someone still believes that women cannot do the same as men. In fact, it could be because I am a woman, and that make me feel more the movie. Like I wrote before this is not a movie for everyone, but if you are interested to watch it, I think you will enjoy it like me.

Seabiscuit

Seabiscuit

Earning seven nominations to Academic Awards, another 4 winners and 32 nominations in others awards, the movie Seabiscuit was inspirited about a true story in United States, something that could move feelings of hope around all country.

Directed and Written by Gary Ross and based on Laura Hillenbrand’s book, Seabiscuit was showing on Movie Theater in 2003 with an extraordinary principal cast, three amazing actors. Jeff Bridges as Charles Howard, playing the millionaire man that had lost everything, but it is still looking to be successful. Jeff Bridges did a good job in this character. In my opinion he made this character a little bit confused sometimes, because I think spectators could lose what he wanted or what he was doing, but he was still brilliant as always. The second star was Chris Cooper as Tom Smith, the cowboy who lost his way in life, who lost the light about what to do with himself. Chris Cooper managed this character excellently, really, I cannot say anything bad about him, and I think it is the strongest representation was by Chris Cooper. And Tobey McGuire, known by Spider-man character, was Red Pollard the jockey. Red passed was abandoned by his parents, making his way unsuccessful, maybe depressive. Red Pollard was really big change from boisterous young man to a hero; he really takes to rags to riches.

But our story is based in Seabiscuit, a fierce horse that could do something to put together these men and made the entered country wanted to know about horserace. This Animal represents a hopes and success for three men that lost his ways and maybe part of their life. I think that was the point that makes this movie successful.

The setting was in earliest twenties, and those who made it did a great job, the men’s and women’s costumes were perfect. Sometimes eras (like twenties, thirties, etc) can be easy to make, but sometimes have some imperfections, but in Seabiscuit was an excellent job in costumes, set, make up, etc.

In this drama, I think the perfect suitable viewer will be whatever person is interested about how strong we can be, about horses, and about life. In fact, this movies is not a roller coaster in emotions, it is more going in the same line ahead in emotional way. If you are a person who is seeking for exciting movies, this one is not for you. If you are the person who is seeking for soothing and thinking movies, you will find this movie perfect.

In my opinion, I do not really love this movie, because it is too flat, it did not transmit any feeling to me; I need more emotion to make me feel the movie. Of course, I need to acknowledge that Gary Ross did a good job about filming this story that could move a mass of people in the twenties, but it was not enough to make me get into the story of Seabiscuit. Maybe it was the fact that it was a slow going story. But it is still a good movie and with good ideas about how we could do everything, how we can be successful despite that we were shattered sometime in our life. I cannot deny that it has a big message to people, so otherwise Academic Awards would not give them seven nominations, and people would have bad comments about this movie. A lot of reviewers have many positive comments about this movie, and a lot of them give good reason to see it, but it is still not a movie for everyone.