Review #5- Kicking It

Kicking It is a powerful and moving documentary that follows the Homeless World Cup, which took place in South. The main purpose of this event is to bring motivated homeless men and women together for a common sport, and to celebrate their hard work. The documentary exposes the lives of several men from different countries, including Ireland, Russia, Kenya, US, Spain, and Afghanistan. This was something I thought made the documentary even stronger; the fact that the experiences shown were from men from different backgrounds. The fact that the stories behind each men were shown, created a stronger connection with the audience, providing a deeper understanding to their lives.

Sign Painters (Spring Break hw)

Sign Painters is a documentary that follows the lives of many sign painters throughout the country. Some are young, others more experienced, but they all share the passion for painting signs. The main goal of the documentary is to erase the misconceptions about sign painting, and present as more of a passion for many people. It defends the art concept delivered by these painters, while exposing the dangers it faces with technology constantly improving. Through the many experiences that all of these artists provide the audience with, one can understand the struggle that many painters go through, as they try to earn their living. Many people overlook this profession, but it is more valuable than people give it credit for.

Me @ the Zoo (Spring Break Assignment) #4

‘Me @ the Zoo’ was about an Internet celebrity named Chris Crocker who is openly gay and lives in Tennessee with his grandparents. In 2006 he decided to upload videos on MySpace in which he discussed topics, such as, sexual orientation, identify, artists, and personal struggles. He one day got really popular with one video called “this and that” in which he acted in an abnormal manner. Many people found him entertaining and comedic which then made them want to follow him online and send him feedback on his videos. The media then portrayed Chris as an attention seeking person who just wanted to be famous. He was then labeled an “overnight sensation” because people didn’t know who he was until that one video. One of the most watched videos he made was the “leave Britney alone” video, in which Chris Crocker cried over his idol Britney Spears. Numerous people found him hilarious, while others just hated him and decided to cyber bully him through their ignorant messages. The documentary shows all of Chris Crocker’s struggles while being famous, to him getting bullied, to downfalls, and to relationships with his family. It is a wonderful, beautiful, and entertaining film.

There was a bias in the film because it mostly talked about him, but there were also videos on how people hated him. In one scene, you see all of Chris’s fans uploading videos supporting him and loving him for who he is, but there are also people saying foul words and threatening to kill him. I think overall the directors and editors balanced out the bias in the documentary. But it is also important to concentrate on him because it is a documentary about him, so it’s well deserved.

Benji (Spring break hw #4)

         Benjamin Wilson aka Benji grew up in the tough and mean streets of Chicago. He grew up in the 80's when Chicago was taken over by gang violence and drugs, and it was very easy for a young man as himself to follow along with the negativity that was going on in his neighborhood. Benji was able to overcome adversity by playing the game of basketball, a sport that was well known in Chicago because of NBA superstar Michael Jordan. Benji attended Simeon high school where he won two state championships and was the number one player in the country going into his senior year of high school. Before the start of his senior season Benji was killed, NBA players and coaches both say if not for this tragedy Benji Wilson would have been one of the greatest players in the NBA to ever play the game of basketball.

             The only Bias thing that I could think of was, after Benji Wilson was killed some very ignorant people believed that it wasnt the killers fault that he killed Benji. Benji Wilson was 6'7 and the person that killed him was 5'8. And the killer made a statement that Benji was very tall and that intimidated him and essentually that is why he did what he did because he was not big enough to fight Benji. 

Spring Break Assignment - Writing Task #4: Deliver Us From Evil

The central idea of this film was to notify people of the clergy child abuse that has been going on for years and the little that is happening to terminate it. Deliver Us From Evil focuses on Father Oliver O'Grady, a "notorious pedophile" priest who molested and raped boys and girls of a young age in different California parishes. In the film he openly admits his actions toward his victims, specifically the ones who charged against him. A few of his victims are shown in the documentary including their family and they talk about their experiences with Father O'Grady. But two deeply affected victims look to put an end to the clergy abuse and they do it by writing a letter to Pope Benedict XVI, telling him about the issue. Unfortunately they were not let into the vatican because of the guards and their letter was left unanswered. Father O'Grady now resides in Ireland roaming free and wasn't properly punished for his hundreds of victims. This is occurring with many clergy members, some are still in their parish continuing to abuse children, who are keeping quiet about it that's why this film was made to raise public awareness.

Spring Break Assignment: Writing Task #4: The Last Days of Left Eye

            The central idea of this documentary was Left Eye’s cleansing and her trip to Honduras to “distance herself from her problems and make a film about her life” as said in the film. She had gone through a series of problems that caused her to need a break from everything around her. She wanted her friends and family to embark on this 30 day journey with her and cleanse themselves along with her in more ways than one. She had them on a cleansing diet, they would do yoga every morning and they would talk to each other frequently because they had no distractions around them. Left Eye had hoped that this journey would be the thing to cleanse her of all her problems. But unfortunately was the place where she would lose her life.

Writing Task #4 (Spring Break): Monica & David

The central idea of the documentary is all people are equal. Many types of people are stereotyped or told they are unable to do things that normal people do. This Film is telling the public that instead of stopping people from reaching their potential, we should help them to reach it. Even if Monica and David need help to do certain tasks at age 35, it does not mean they need to be looked down upon in the streets or tormented about how they stutter. They have found love and deserve to be happy, no one has the right to take that from them.

The only bias I could think of is how Monica’s parents did not really let the couple do things for themselves. They did go to a cooking class, and David did his own medicine once. However, they did not have there own honeymoon, because the parents were there. Monica and David are woken up in the morning and Monica doesn't comb her own hair. I wish I was shown more of them struggling or the incapability of Monica and David to do things instead of just being told they can’t.

Review #5

The documentary, Kicking It is very profound in it's message. Generally speaking, it's a sports documentary but it really shows underlying messages of exposing the serious homelessness issue that plagues many countries. What I liked the most about the documentary is that there was an emotional reach made. The establishment of the player's backstories and lives made it easy to sympathize with them. Another thing the documentary did that I liked is that it showed how teamwork and having a family of any sort can really help a person better themselves. Damien from the Homeless Irish team is a great example of that exactly having bettered himself and dropped his dependency and addiction soon after wining the third place cup in the tournament. This documentary was moving and tear jerking. A definite must watch.

Kicking It - Review #5

Kicking It was certainly a refreshing documentary to watch. The main story of the film revolves around the Homeless World Cup, an organization that was founded by Mel Young and Harald Schmied. On their quest to find a language that could bring together homeless people across the globe, the two finally decided to utilize soccer as their medium. Which, judging from the documentary, proved to be very effective. The different teams competed with each other, forming bonds and relationships and having the strength and determination to diminish their drug and alcohol addictions, as well as moving forward with their lives financially, emotionally and mentally.
We are taken into the lives of numerous competitors, including Damien, a confident 23 year old from Dublin, Ireland, and Jesus, 62, from Madrid, Spain. Allowing us to connect with these players on a more "personal" level, the film became more emotional as the Tournament was brought forth and the games began. I found myself cheering for my favorite teams, which surprised me, because if there's one thing I'm not a fan of, it's sports. However, it was enjoyable to watch these teams play, and see the significance that soccer had on their lives. The powerful combination of their love for the sport and their personal experiences and characters had an incredible impact on me. I was rather fond of the outcome.
I would definitely watch this documentary again. Beautiful and capturing film.

Kicking it- Review #5

I enjoyed the film, and I learned a lot of new things. I never knew that there was a homeless world cup to begin with.I think that it is a good thing to have and it may inspire people to get off the streets. Having different countries compete is also a nice aspect to a homeless world cup. I am happy that people are able to do things they love, no matter if they have a bed to sleep in at night. Some of the stories pulled at my heart strings and the outcomes of the players lives after the cup was good. For instance, Damien a male from the Irish team recovered form being a drug addict. Others learned the meaning of family and friendship which are good things to witness and feel. Some bad outcomes were drug overdoses which ended a players life. Having known real life people who has drug over dosed, I know that it was no one's fault but the individual  The issue of homelessness is now being risen and I think that is wonderful and people should finally be off the streets.

Review #5: Kicking It

The documentary "Kicking It," was such a great film because it taught us about the struggles and necessities that homeless people face in their everyday life. Soccer was a passion for many homeless people who suffered drug and alcohol addictions. Mel Young, the founder of the Homeless World Cup thought of the idea of playing soccer to relief pain and find solutions. This documentary presents the lives of 7 unfortunate people who sought solutions to their problems. Damien, a 23 year-old from Dublin, Ireland enters, then in Africa we meet a 29 year-old Alex who suffers from addiction and unemployment. From then on, the people organizing the World Cup start recruiting different people from around the world. Another player is Jesus, who is the oldest player. He is 62 and from Madrid, Spain. He knew nothing about his family for decades and has been incarcerated for 10 years and attempted suicide. This documentary is very inspirational because it teaches people about homeless and how they can grow into something greater. Even if you do not find interest in soccer, this documentary will still truly move you in the end.

Reflection 7

Neither of the gentlemen ever made it pro, but after doing research I found out that they both had shot to make it to the N.B.A. But both the men came up short William actually ended at one point training with Michael Jordan and had a shot to play for the Washington Wizards, but he ended up messing up his foot. Basically adding on to the injuries he already had in the past. Arthur also had a shot but he messes up all his chances, even a chance to work around the N.B.A as a sports commentator. Even though they both never went pro they both made money off the film. William ended up becoming a pastor at a church in Chicago, while Arthur came out with a hoop dreams clothing line. Arthur would also become somewhat of a spokes person for hoop dreams and would go to school to encourage student to do well so they can be successful. What shocked me was that both Williams brother Curtis and Arthur's dad Bo are now died, but I wasn't shocked to see how both the boys future turned out. I knew they wouldn't make it pro, but I am glad to see they are both doing well.

Reflection #7

Aside from the that received from Hoop Dreams, neither William Gates nor Arthur Agee gained recognition for their basketball playing. Neither player made it to the NBA as hoped. After graduating from his Alma Mater, Gates became a real estate agent and a pastor at his local church. Agee played basketball for two years at his Alma Mater, Arkansas State. Long after graduating, Agee released a clothing line, Hoop Dreams, named after the documentary. Both men dealt with loss later in their lives. Gates' brother, Curtis Gates, seen in the documentary, was murdered on September 10th, 2001 and Agee's father, Arthur Agee Sr., too, was murdered on December 15th, 2004.
I am not too surprised at the overal outcome of these men's lives. While both of them had incredible talent playing basketball, neither of them exerted enough effort into launch them into fulfilling basketball careers. I am a little let down by the outcome of their lives, I would've hoped they reached their goals and made it.

Reflection #7

Arthur and William both didn't get into the NBA. Arthur, 39, now has a sports clothing line and teaches  a "Hoop Dreams" curriculum to middle-school students through his foundation. William is now a pastor with his own church in Chicago. Arthur and William both saw their family members get murdered in the years after "Hoop Dreams" was made. Nonetheless, William has four children and his sons are currently being recruited to play basketball. They didn't get into the NBA, but they seem happy doing what their doing now.

Reflection #7

Neither Arthur or William got into the NBA, but did do other things with their lives. Both men had children, four each and William is still with the woman he had a baby with in the film  Arthur had a couple of chances to get into the NBA but messed up for other roles like commentating on TNT. Both boys had gotten some type of money from the documentary being so popular, and that got Arthur and his family out of the ghetto. William had said he wasted some and gave the church, where he now works most of it. William is a pastor at a local church in Chicago. Arthur did a clothing line and had gotten some sponsoring from MTV and other companies. He mentors little children and works with them. William's brother Curtis who had a impact on him was murdered since the airing of the film. Other than that nothing else has exponentially happened. I was surprised to find out that Curtis died and that Arthur's father relapsed  Arthur's kids are from different mothers and that also surprised me. All in all I'm happy that the boys are healthy and happy.

Review #4: Hoop Dreams

Hoop Dreams is a documentary that follows to young men Arthur and William through their high school careers. These are to boys that both shared the same dream of making it to the N.B.A. But growing up in tough Chicago neighborhoods both these boys faced very hard times throughout their high school careers. With the added pressure to their shoulders the filmmakers show use the struggles that these to boys had to overcome while still trying to make their dreams come true. As a basketball player I was very interested in this film and was really able to connect to these two young men throughout the documentary.

Seoul Train review 3

Seoul Train was about people from North Korea trying to get to China for better opportunity's. These people wanted better lives and better living conditions for them and their kids as well basically. The documentary informs us on how these refugees were treated in North Korea and shows us what happened if they didn't obey certain rules that they had to follow. It also informed me on a lot of the hardships that a lot of peole in North Korea had to face. I feel like this was a great documentary because I feel like I learned a lot.

Reflection #3

I was a bit upset after watching the documentary because if you look at Harvey Milks life he had such a huge impact on so many people. He inspired people because of how he stood up for himself and fought for what he believed in. So essentially he was a role model to many people. So with that being said I feel like Dan White should have got a worse punishment because of two murders and that wasn't the case, I was a bit shocked at the end of the movie. Because no one deserves to die especially when they had a impact on people the way Harvey did.

reflection #2

Before I watched the documentary I didn't know anything about Harvey Milk. All I knew was that their was a movie out about him named Milk, and I heard that it was good from family and friends. But I am glad that I watch the documentary because it gave me a lot of information on a very important man that had a huge impact on society and I knew nothing about him, so I thought that it was cool.

Reflection #6

Throughout this semester we watched a lot of documentaries which was an eyeopener for us, since we did not know about world issues today. The genre all of the documentaries have in common is struggles and issues today. All documentaries had struggles in them, for example, The Times of Harvey Milk talked about gay rights and equality. The Day My God Died, talked about sex trafficking. An Inconvenient Truth talked about global warming, and so on. All theses documentaries gave me enough insight to understand the problems people and the world are facing. Problems that were not given enough attention and are not mainstream today. Some groups like global warming which was shown in An Inconvenient Truth are most serious and stronger issues because it affects the whole world. Global warming is killing a lot of animals and damaging the ecosystem, which is bad for the U.S. and other countries. All these documentaries have different issues that need to be noticed. I'm content that I watched these films because now I know more about world issues.