Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Book Review: Island of the Blue Dolphins
Saturday, January 3, 2009
The story is written by Scott O'Dell. It is based on the true story of Juana Maria, the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas", a Nicoleño Indian marooned for 18 years on San Nicolas Island off the California coast before being rescued in 1853.
The main character is a girl named Karana ,who is marooned for 18 years. Her people live in a village called Ghalas-at on the island. One day, a ship of Aleuts, arrive and persuade the natives into letting them hunt sea otter on the island in return for other goods. However, the Aleuts lie to the islanders and try to leave without paying them. When they are confronted by Chief Chowig, a battle breaks out, taking lives on both sides. The tribe is devastated by the battle while the Aleuts leave the island, leaving little payment for the otters they hunted.
Later, an elder tribe member leaves the island for help. Eventually he is able to send a ship to bring his people to the mainland. Although Karana urges the captain to wait for her brother Ramo to return, the ship must leave before an approaching storm makes it impossible to leave. Karana jumps off the ship and swims to shore. The siblings live alone on the island for a while, hoping the ship will return.
Karana makes a life for herself. She builds a home, and even stocks a cave with provisions in case the Aleuts ever come back, so she can hide from them.One summer, the Aleuts return, She takes refuge in the cave she has stocked. She observes them closely, and soon realizes that there is a young woman among them who takes care of the domestic duties. Despite Karana's precautions, Karana and the young Aleut woman meet and befriend each other. Karana realizes how lonely she has been without other people.
One day Karana sees the sails of a ship. She goes to the shore to meet the boat. The ship sails away, bringing Karana to the mission in Santa Barbara. Karana realizes that this is part of her new life.
After finishing the book, i realise that its not easy to live alone. Losing the love ones and still be able to live through the agony and hardship. Karana is diligent and assiduous, living her life to the fullest. She never gives up on her life, perservering to the end. Constructing a friendship with the island's animals and reciprocating with the animals. Learning skills of the opposite gender, helping her to survive better in life. I hope to learn from her, being independent.
The main character is a girl named Karana ,who is marooned for 18 years. Her people live in a village called Ghalas-at on the island. One day, a ship of Aleuts, arrive and persuade the natives into letting them hunt sea otter on the island in return for other goods. However, the Aleuts lie to the islanders and try to leave without paying them. When they are confronted by Chief Chowig, a battle breaks out, taking lives on both sides. The tribe is devastated by the battle while the Aleuts leave the island, leaving little payment for the otters they hunted.
Later, an elder tribe member leaves the island for help. Eventually he is able to send a ship to bring his people to the mainland. Although Karana urges the captain to wait for her brother Ramo to return, the ship must leave before an approaching storm makes it impossible to leave. Karana jumps off the ship and swims to shore. The siblings live alone on the island for a while, hoping the ship will return.
Karana makes a life for herself. She builds a home, and even stocks a cave with provisions in case the Aleuts ever come back, so she can hide from them.One summer, the Aleuts return, She takes refuge in the cave she has stocked. She observes them closely, and soon realizes that there is a young woman among them who takes care of the domestic duties. Despite Karana's precautions, Karana and the young Aleut woman meet and befriend each other. Karana realizes how lonely she has been without other people.
One day Karana sees the sails of a ship. She goes to the shore to meet the boat. The ship sails away, bringing Karana to the mission in Santa Barbara. Karana realizes that this is part of her new life.
After finishing the book, i realise that its not easy to live alone. Losing the love ones and still be able to live through the agony and hardship. Karana is diligent and assiduous, living her life to the fullest. She never gives up on her life, perservering to the end. Constructing a friendship with the island's animals and reciprocating with the animals. Learning skills of the opposite gender, helping her to survive better in life. I hope to learn from her, being independent.
Movie Reveiw: I am Legend
Plot:
In a post-apocalyptic 2012, U.S. Army virologist, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neville is left as the last healthy human in New York City and possibly the entire world. A series of flashbacks and recorded news programs reveal that a genetically re-engineered virus created in 2009 as a cure for cancer mutated into a lethal airborne strain that spread worldwide and killed 5.4 billion people, 90% of humanity. Only 12 million possessed a natural immunity. The remaining 588 million degenerated into primal, aggressive beings referred to as "Darkseekers."
Shortly thereafter, he is ensnared in a trap after investigating a mannequin posed in the street. Neville finally gets free, the Alpha Male releases a pack of infected dogs to attack him, one of which bites Sam .After Neville and Sam manage to kill the dogs, Neville takes the wounded Sam back to his lab and administers part of the cure he was working on. Neville's attempt to cure Sam fails and she begins to bite him while still in his arms, he strangle her. Later that night, after Sam's funeral, he recklessly attacks a group of infected in an attempt to end his life and in revenge for what happened to Sam. They overwhelm Neville and nearly kill him, but he is rescued by a pair of immune survivors, Anna and a young boy named Ethan ,who have traveled from Maryland after hearing one of his broadcasts. They take the injured Neville back to his home
Neville sets a snare trap and captures an infected woman.Back in his laboratory, Neville treats the infected woman without success.That night, the Alpha Male leads a group of infected in an attack on the house, having followed Anna and Neville back the night before. They overrun its defenses and force Neville, Anna, and Ethan to retreat into the basement laboratory. They seal themselves in with the infected woman, where they discover that Neville's treatment is working. Neville realizes that her blood contains the cure and gives a vial of it to Anna. He pushes Anna and Ethan into an old coal chute, and then sacrifices himself to save their lives.
Anna and Ethan escape to Vermont, and locate the survivor's colony, where Anna hands over the cure. In the closing voice-over, she states that Neville's cure enabled humanity to survive and rebuild, thus establishing his legend.
Cast:
Will Smith -- Robert Neville
Alice Braga -- Anna
Charlie Tahan --Ethan
Salli Richardson --Robert Neville's Wife
Set Design:
Production began in 2006 in New York City, filming mainly on location in the city, including a $5 million scene at the Brooklyn Bridge, the most expensive scene ever filmed in the city at the time.
In a post-apocalyptic 2012, U.S. Army virologist, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neville is left as the last healthy human in New York City and possibly the entire world. A series of flashbacks and recorded news programs reveal that a genetically re-engineered virus created in 2009 as a cure for cancer mutated into a lethal airborne strain that spread worldwide and killed 5.4 billion people, 90% of humanity. Only 12 million possessed a natural immunity. The remaining 588 million degenerated into primal, aggressive beings referred to as "Darkseekers."
Shortly thereafter, he is ensnared in a trap after investigating a mannequin posed in the street. Neville finally gets free, the Alpha Male releases a pack of infected dogs to attack him, one of which bites Sam .After Neville and Sam manage to kill the dogs, Neville takes the wounded Sam back to his lab and administers part of the cure he was working on. Neville's attempt to cure Sam fails and she begins to bite him while still in his arms, he strangle her. Later that night, after Sam's funeral, he recklessly attacks a group of infected in an attempt to end his life and in revenge for what happened to Sam. They overwhelm Neville and nearly kill him, but he is rescued by a pair of immune survivors, Anna and a young boy named Ethan ,who have traveled from Maryland after hearing one of his broadcasts. They take the injured Neville back to his home
Neville sets a snare trap and captures an infected woman.Back in his laboratory, Neville treats the infected woman without success.That night, the Alpha Male leads a group of infected in an attack on the house, having followed Anna and Neville back the night before. They overrun its defenses and force Neville, Anna, and Ethan to retreat into the basement laboratory. They seal themselves in with the infected woman, where they discover that Neville's treatment is working. Neville realizes that her blood contains the cure and gives a vial of it to Anna. He pushes Anna and Ethan into an old coal chute, and then sacrifices himself to save their lives.
Anna and Ethan escape to Vermont, and locate the survivor's colony, where Anna hands over the cure. In the closing voice-over, she states that Neville's cure enabled humanity to survive and rebuild, thus establishing his legend.
Cast:
Will Smith -- Robert Neville
Alice Braga -- Anna
Charlie Tahan --Ethan
Salli Richardson --Robert Neville's Wife
Set Design:
Production began in 2006 in New York City, filming mainly on location in the city, including a $5 million scene at the Brooklyn Bridge, the most expensive scene ever filmed in the city at the time.
Cinematography:
The concept to use computer-generated imagery (CGI) behind the infected was that their adrenal glands were open all of the time. They needed to have an abandon in their performance that you just can’t get out of people in the middle of the night when they’re barefoot. And their metabolisms are really spiked, so they’re constantly hyperventilating. The actors remained on set to provide motion capture.The film's producers and sound people wanted the creatures in the movie to sound somewhat human, but not the standard.In addition, CGI was used for the lions and deer in the film, and to erase pedestrians in shots of New York. Workers visible in windows, spectators and moving cars in the distance were all removed.
Moral Of Movie:
Do not lose hope even you are the only one left. Strive for the future......
Friday, January 2, 2009
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