Hi Hum 1 :-),
Your assignment is to make a comment about the film Finding Forrester:
1) Your comment must be at least 200 words. Make sure to write your name in the comment.
And feel free to respond to other people's comments.
2) Your comment must be posted by Sunday, April 6, 6pm.
3) For extra learning, as part of your response, feel free to post an additional image, link, video or audio that you feel relates to the film or the themes/issues it brings up.
4) To make your comment, click on the word "comment" below.
Have fun,
Ms. Brown
32 comments:
From Josh: I think the movie so far is really like real life. I know a kid like Jamal. He's really smart, but he jokes around in class all the time so you wouldn't know it. It frustrates the teacher but all the other kids laugh so he keeps doing it. Outside of school, we have these super serious conversations so that's how I know he's smart. And if you looked in his book bag, you'd find a book he's reading, just like Jamal. Even though the kids think he's funny, I kinda feel it has a bad impact on the class cuz then they think the only cool thing to do in class is fool around and not learn. Also, I liked the scene when Jamal is playing basketball outside with his friends. Now that I think about it, Jamal's kind of like my friend. He's willing to play basketball and tell jokes and do dares for them, but he doesn't think it's cool to let them know he writes.
This movie is very interesting to me. I like how Jamal finds writing as an outlet for his father leaving him and his family. I think Jamal is a very confused student. He is very intellignet student but it seems that he does not want any of his friends to know; sort of like his grades intimidating his friends. I also like the irony of how a silly dare makes him realize how good a writer he really is. The only thing I really do not like about this movie is the language. To me it just draws away fomr the importance of the movie. The character in the movie that frightens me is William Forrester or as he is known on the streets, the ghost. I know that he has good intentions for Jamal, but spying on young adults is just plain creepy to me. It seems like Mr.Forrester has nothing better to do but watch others in their happy lives as he sits in his house doing nothinb but being nosey. If I were Jamal I would see this as werid, but I like how he is taking advantage of what he can learn from Mr. Forrester. This is what I precive about the movie so far.
~Roobvia Bernadin~
I like this movie so far, it’s really interesting, and a very inspiring that someone who hasn't had the easiest time can pick themselves up with dignity and conviction. I actually know of some people who are my good friends who are a bit like Jamal, smart but in the past wasn't able to apply themselves to get good grades. This movie kind of gives me hope that someone who has a lot of knowledge also struggles with things I have struggled with. I really hope that Jamal figures things out, and applies himself to his fullest ability. I am excited to continue the movie when we go back to school, I want to find out how things go for Forrester, and I hope he gets what he wants in the end: happiness and play pro b-ball. I hope this movie continues to be surprising and interesting with a silver lining. I am actually a bit surprised at how much I can connect to this movie, usually it can be hard to connect with something so much but when I started watching the movie it felt like I really knew what Jamal was going through, its hard to explain but in some ways Jamal and I have things in common, earlier in my life I felt weird showing if I was good at something but now I want to show that, and I hope Jamal or others who are like Jamal find that out soon and accepts who they are, and that others in their lives do that as well.
From: Rosemary Onofri
ps. here is the extra learning assignment:
http://www.ci.grapevine.tx.us/Portals/0/dreamstimeweb_162871%20basketball.jpg
"life isn't exactly easy, just like a jump shot, its hard but when you get what you want, its magic."
-Rosemary
(so you know my orginial comment was a mistake. its the second one that is the whole thing, the first one was the beginning, not the entire thing.)
pps. So you know above i gave the website for a picture but I don't know how to make it a link so if you want to see it go to that website....
thanks
-Rosemary
I really like this movie I saw it before. I can connect this movie with others I have seen . In this movie the main character Jamal is a very smart student but he tried to hide from it. When he transfer school things became different more decisions to make. As the decisions get harder to decide the only friend jamal can rely on is Mr Forrester. It's really interesting to see the relationship between Jamal and Mr Forrester is starting to become closer. The movie is getting good keep watching.
-Sozi
well i think the movie is really interesting so far because i can kind of connect with jamal because of the conflict that he is having by trying to act like something hes not and i kind of think that is really cool how he found and outlet by writting and im really excited to see how hes relationship with mr.forrester comes out so hope to wacth the end kimberly from miss brown clases
Aura : i think that the movie is very intersting... At first i thought because of the tittle i was gonna BE A WACK OLD SCHOOL MOVIE ABOUT NOTHING. but i was wrong i found my self waking up (juss kidding) When the movie started. I lik how Jamal has two different personalities in and outside of school kinda like how im goofy most the time but if i needed i could calm it down. He is very smart according tothe reactions of the people in the movie ...how he got an amazing offer to a private school that he didnt have to pay to go to.Iguess when he sees the artur of the book and sees he is familiar and researches him. Turns out the male arthur was the "creepy" man from the apartment he left his bag in.when he was trying to take somehting.But i dont know yet what will happen but i am very interested to finish watchin this Movie... in the movie he has these friends that dont look like they do the best they can but jamal he does it on the sneek tip when itz really needed. But its ashamed how he down grades him self in school so he gets a grade so he just gets buy with no suspition... right now in the movie i dont think it s the kind of movie u watch that teaches u something positive or perhaps a lesson.
This is an interesting movie, but there are many things I do not understand. Though this could be because I still have not seen the entire movie. A few points that I do not understand are, why Forrester sits at his window all the time and why he stays in his home. Overall, I feel that this movie, so far, is very good. The acting is decent and the story keeps my mind on the movie. Jamal seems conflicted, but not in any special way. He is very normal and his conflicts pretain to many kids today in urban places. I know many kids just like Jamal who are very smart, but do not understand the purpose of education in their lives. The strange thing about Jamal though, is that he, outside of school, educates himself through reading. Many kids are intelligent but do not have the will to take the knowledge from school or from their own personal lives. Jamal only takes it from his personal life through reading. Jamal also plays basketball, and sees it in his future, but it seems like after the loss of his father he feels more inclined to put his feelings down on paper instead of channeling them through basketball. I cannot wait to see the rest of the movie, and would really like to judge this movie teleologically.
-jackson
extra learning:
http://www.myspace.com/paranoidparkthemovie
this is another movie that i enjoyed. It was done by the same director Gus Van Sant.
I think this movie is interesting. I think a lot of people can connect to this movie. It is interesting to see how Jamal's relationship with each character in the movie is different. He makes a wall between himself and his friends when it comes to school and test scores. He doesn't want to be different, but at the same time he is looking for something.
At first, I didn't know what was going on. Mr. Forrester seemed like a weird guy, but as the story went on, I found out that he was a writer. Jamal gets into Mr. Forrester's world. It is interesting to watch their friendship grow and change. I want to know why Mr. Forrester wrote just one book. He told Jamal not to ask any questions, but I wonder why. I wonder if Jamal will be able to keep his promises and not tell anyone that he knows Mr. Forrester. I am looking forward to seeing the rest of this movie.
-Leah-
extra learning
about Jamal ...
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0114532/
I really like the movie so far because it connects to the world right now and because it uses Faull language. This movie reminds me most of my friends from middle school, because the taught there were to cool to show there intelligent or to learn. Also I think this movie is based on leadership because Jamal doesn’t know what he wants, he’s confused about weather staying at his old school or go to a private school were he knows he’s going to use his intelligence and have a bright future. This is a struggle for him because he doesn’t want to loose his friends or for them to make fun of Jamal. And it’s funny how Jamal keeps going to William F. for help and to learn more. I think William F. is a scary guy because all he does is look out the window and look at people walk by and observing animals. I’m thinking to my self why doesn’t he goes out side to do that what’s the problem for him to go outside? Is it because he doesn’t want people to know he’s an author? But anyways Jamal knows what’s right and what’s wrong for him for his situation. Hopefully he makes the right decision by going to the private school and keeping himself off the streets.
P.S what does this movie has to do with Ile Ife? I am just curious
-Fabi M.
I really like this movie. Its kind of typical with the "black teen from New York with dreams of making it in the NBA", but it also has this edge to it...he doesnt only have the basketball skills but he is also VERY intellegant writer. He loves to write and is a very good student. And when his friends dare him to go into Mr. Forrester's a.k.a the window's house he discovers a whole new world of literature. He see's many books and from then continues to go back. And when he leaves his writing book at Mr. Forresters house hes gets it back and its revised. He then continues to go back and pratically begs for Mr. Forrester to help him with his writing skills...Mr. Forrester told him to write 5000 words on why he should let Jamal in his house and help him. Jamal was so devoted that he actually wrote it. Also when he got accepted into a private school and was assighned to read one of Mr. Forresters books. He realized that he was a legand and that he really did need his help. I really like this movie and want to continue to watch it!
*Dwijuana Reid*
In the movie Finding Forester it started with a boy named Jamal and his friends were playing basketball. They noticed that a guy was looking out his window. and thought he was looking at him. So at nigh time they went to the house. Jamal got dared to go up insde his house and he had to take something ot from his house as for proof he really went inside he house. he go caught and he left his bag in his house. in when he went in front of his house the guy dropped the bag on the ground. He looked insted his bag then he noticed that he corrected all his work and stuff. A couple of scenes later he keeeps going to the guys house and frinds out the truth about him and he is a book writer and a bird watcher. See as this show that people gossip all the time until they find out the truth about them then they have a diffent out look on things. So this movie is very interesting so far i hope we will be able to finish this movie.
In this movie, the main character: Jamal appears as such a smart kid in a school where intelligence is not considered cool. But lucky for him, he is granted free access to a school, just right for his abilities. He also starts visting an old man who he always sees peering through the window at him and his friends while playing basketball. Naturally, he is curious and eventually his friends dare him to sneak into the old man's place and look around, supposedly for a knife he used to kill a girl in his building. I find this movie really interesting in a sense of all the mystery. Jamal alway going to visit the man time and time again to get his impressions on his writing. Whom of which we later find out that the old man is William Forrester, an old writer who had only written one book, for a reason still not verified. I can't wait to continue the movie to find out what happens next. :)
From: Lydia
from kareem: I think that the movie is really intresting. I think that it relates to a lot of teenager around their high school year. I also really like that there is a black main character that is trying to do something with his life. Because most of the movies that i see have black males as bad characters. And to see a film were they are showing a black male doing something positive with his life really puts a smile on my face. I like the movie because it was not what i expected at all. But the main character jamal seems to be under a bit of peer pressure with his friends. He also does not want his friends to know about how hes getting really good grades on his test. I think that it has a lot to do with him not wanting his friends to thing any differently about him. I also think that he could be extremelly intelligent if he did not care what other people thought. I also feel like he feels that he has to protray this certain image in order for him to be down with his friends. which is not true because he could be setting an example for them by getting good grades and trying to become something in life. I also love the the fact that the old white guy is trying to help him with his writing so that he could become a better student. Next thing that i like about the movie is that jamal has a really supportive mother that tries to give him good advice on what he should do. She also lets jamal give his own thoughts about the two schools and where he should go. I think that it is really important to know that you have someone behind you in all situations.
I really like this movei and even found myself thinking about it the other day,i almost rented it form blockbuster.i perdict that jamals friends will probaly find out about his good greads and make fun of him. witch would be a character to character conflict. then i think jamal will want to keep his friends and have to make a desishon to keep his friends and go back to his old school or get good greads at his new school and forget his old friends.i hope he keeps writing and choses to stay in the new school,its the best thing for him.my favoret character is mr.forrester i think he is a deep person. hes kind of confusing. but its mysterious and it makes me want to know more about him.in respons to people thinking hes creepy for staring and spying on people,he does a little but hes a bird watcher also. i think hes just a bord old man and has no thing eles to do.i cant wait to finish the move and see what jameal ends up chosing to do,and if that even happens. maby his friends wount care that is smart.im also looking forword to find out more about mr.forrester.
-Ariana Brenner
At first, i thought the movie was like, a documentary. I have no idea what it has to do with Humanities. We didn't get to see much of it but its okay so far, kind of neutral. I'm waiting for the real conflict to occur. The movie seems pretty predictable, as it lags on. But, like I said, we didnt get very far in the movie. Its hard to determine what the main conflict is, because all the subjects I pick are not necessarily conflicts. Even though I do not like this movie, I really want to know what Mr.Forrester,or Mr.Johanson's..book is about and why he is so ashamed and does not step foot outside his house. Also, I have to add that the whole inner city undercover genius is a bit clique. Actually, so far, I think the whole movie is made up of cliques, like bits of the scenario have been in other movies, t.v. shows, and documentaries. But then again, maybe that's what the writer was aiming for, something that people can relate to. Rob Brown, has other characters similar to Jamal, inner city kid succeeding. I googled him and I did not know he was in Take the Lead & Coach Carter! Anyway, i really want to know what Forrester's book is really about, and what happened to his family. Yeah, thats all I have to say.
--AIXA
Oh yeah, and extra learning..
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/finding_forrester/
SEE?! CRITIC SAYS ITS PREDICTABLE TOO!!!
--Aixa
I thought that this movie was an adventure. Jamal is a very intelligent student but he chooses to do bad in school so he can "live up" to reputation as a basketball player. This movie was really interesting to me because I found that Jamal started to write because of his father's absence to the family. I predict that Jamal would eventually find live up to the dream he always wanted and that he would make his mother really proud.
Stephanie Pham
The movie I personally think is great. I think that it shows the sides of the country that people don't see in usual movies. What I mean is that "usual" movies have setting in rich places and having people struggling to do things. What makes this movie so intersting is that it sets in New York, not in New York City either. It shows how differently people act, by talking, moving, doing different things in different places. I think in this movie, racist is a huge issue (but we didn't finish the movie yet). It already shows it at the beginning of the movie. The white guy drove his car and he locks it right away. He acts like he's not racist towards black people but Jamal proved he was by saying these info about BMW, which shows the bias of how people think that black (or colored) people are uneducated and only white people are. I also think that it's interesting how Jamal stumble apond the author and the author teaches him all these great stuff on english. I'm still wondering why he had only written one book and then went hiding. I also wonders what's gonna happen at the end of the movie... what about his basketball career? Oh and at the beginning of the movie, I think it's stupid for him to go into the house and did a B&E. He could of just choose the high road and not did it, but I guess he did it for a reason and that's how he met the author.
------------------------------
Extra Learning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Van_Sant
information about the director Gus Van Sant
He had directed a movie called Gerry and it's great
-Peter
I was gone on Friday on a VA trip, but I've seen the film before so I'll go from memory...
I find the film to be an inspiring piece about how even a great writer bursting with brilliance can have flaws. In the movie, Forrester has not been outside in public for a good amount of years, and when Jamal takes him to see a game out in public and it brings him down completely. It shows how even the teacher, filled with knowledge, can learn from the student, and how anyone can learn about themselves from somebody. It shows how a person can teach another individual about themselves.
I also enjoy observing a writer's work with great talent, and absorb inspiration from it. It helps me to learn and improve myself as a writer, and if the writer's work really makes me think, it improves me as a person and expands my mind.
I also admire Jamal's ability to juggle his old culture, the new one, the racial differences between himself and his new environment, his old friends, and basketball. He is a great student yet has a personality that is separate from the stereotypical good student.
~Victor Trede
Here's a trailer to the film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRnRy_rLQPw
I think this is a good movie and is starting to get addicting. what makes this movie good, is that it's very realistic. It descibes the everyday peer pressure many people face in the real world. I believe this movie is not only about a teenager struggling with the world around him, but also with himself. He seems like he's afraid to be turned into an outcast if he were to show his true self. This movie so far is filled with a lot of stereotypes and prejudices, which makes it even harder for Jamal to be himself. For the time being, Jamal is a lost teenager, confused about what his true desires are. I think of all the people around him, Jamal should start believing in his own abilities. He has the skills, but lack a bit in his confidence. O(^o^)O
I think this is a good movie and is starting to get addicting. what makes this movie good, is that it's very realistic. It descibes the everyday peer pressure many people face in the real world. I believe this movie is not only about a teenager struggling with the world around him, but also with himself. He seems like he's afraid to be turned into an outcast if he were to show his true self. This movie so far is filled with a lot of stereotypes and prejudices, which makes it even harder for Jamal to be himself. For the time being, Jamal is a lost teenager, confused about what his true desires are. I think of all the people around him, Jamal should start believing in his own abilities. He has the skills, but lack a bit in his confidence. O(^o^)O
[sorry, i forgot to put my name]
~Karen Phung
The end of the film was very predictable, and wasn't very interesting. It seemed like most other movies about this same sort of conflict. But there was a slight difference between this and other movies in that it felt a little more real than many others. It felt more like you knew the characters. Anyway, this movie woul be good any day to raise some spirits in inspiration.
-jackson
Finding Forrester I loved the movie especially because of the message it conveyed .After seeing it two times I never get tired of it. I like that a person in this case a teacher can push you so far that they end up bringing out in you the part you thought no one would accept. I relate this movie to my favorite book Tuesdays with Morrie the story of a dying teacher and his old student .Both teachers in this case would talk to whom they considered their students in a way that opened their eyes it would be like talking to someone who knew who you were and would not let you forget who you were. My favorite part of the movie was the ending when William read Jamal’s paper and everyone thought it was his It had me believing how sometimes a person in their own weird way show that they care for you . I liked the modern feel of the movie the fact that it had a way of hiding the message instead of giving it away like other movies or stories tend to do. Last but not least I like that it connects with the lives of many of the teens now a days.Laura Tabares
from quonedell i think the movie so far is a very good movie . i like the whole concept of the way the movie was made with the boy and how he's from "the hood". and he gets acepted to a major school and when he gets their he goes through many obsticales nd challanages. but there is some one who helps him with that but also as well helps himout with his school work. i like how the guy in the movie (his mentor) helps him advanced his skills in writting and reafding more , and how one of his teacher is puzzled bye how he has advaced so quick in his skills . so his teaacher questions his work and has him from there on to do his essay. and im enterested to see what happens next !
:quonedell brown
I really enjoyed the movie finding Forrester and I think it would be a good movie for a lot of people to see. Finding Forrester was enjoyable for me because it overcame so many stereo-types that people have about inner- city black males. People have these images in their heads that associate urban youth with drugs, violence, and crime. It’s important for people know that’s not always the case. It’s not okay to let one experience define your view of a group of people. It was refreshing to be introduced to a character who really took his love of basket ball and literature and ran with it with the help of some friends despite his background.
The scene where Jamal and Forrester are at the baseball game and they get separated was memorable to me. It was memorable because the two characters were so used to being alone and doing things on their own that when they separated they discovered that they needed each other. It was a reality check of the glue we have in our lives. When the glue is gone things seem to fall apart.
- Quela J.
Well for me I think Finding Forrester was a good movie, and I think a lot of people should watch. Reason I say this is, often times people view young urban teens as one who really doesn't have much education. Though in this movie it showed how Jamal, a young african american male, was an ispiring basketball player. While at the same time was a brillant writer, and had such great comprehension skills. Soon after he was reconigzed, and was offered a scholarship to a private school. Once there one of his teachers under estimated Jamal, and how well he is able to adapt to his environments. Jamal proved to his teahcer, not only was he a better writer, but was a humble kid.
Jonathan Anderson II
i think that finding forrester was a grate movie and it has alot of stario types. cut most of them are true. they make it seem like the private schools are alot better then public and it is tru but its not becouse of the way of learning its becouse of the attitueds of students. also the fact that kids want to learn is true in real life becouse kids do want to learn. Also i think learning styles are no different in a public school and private school. at first in the movie it was alittle creapy when the old guy was watching him in the street but then i liked how he was coaching him to be a better writer and also i like how he showed him that its not only about color its about knowing. having knoledge!
tizy
i think that finding forrester was a grate movie and it has alot of stario types. cut most of them are true. they make it seem like the private schools are alot better then public and it is tru but its not becouse of the way of learning its becouse of the attitueds of students. also the fact that kids want to learn is true in real life becouse kids do want to learn. Also i think learning styles are no different in a public school and private school. at first in the movie it was alittle creapy when the old guy was watching him in the street but then i liked how he was coaching him to be a better writer and also i like how he showed him that its not only about color its about knowing. having knoledge!
tizy
I liked this movie finding forrester a lot. I liked it because for once I got to see how a young black man stands up for himself and shows he has smarts and all men are equall no matter what skin color. He showed this in a variety of different ways, like in the begginig when a white guy told him that he knew nothing about his car and Jamal gave him a lesson on the car which ended up being more then the guy actually knew. Also when he finished his teachers every sentence in his class because he was under estimating his smarts. I admire this movie for that reason and its not often that you would get to see a smart black man in a movie. Usually we would see the young black peole as criminals and gang members always shooting each other. This movie is a great inspiration and makes young people like myself want to do better in school and also become a better writer. ~Jaheem A.~
the movie Finding Forrester to me is a very interresting movie, but the thing i dont get is why was he watchin and whating tell Jamal came 2 him, and how did he know all that stuff about him. But other than that its a good influince for the young african american males because it shows wat u can do wit ur self is just pay attention and act right and not like a clown you can make it in the world that was not dised for them in earlyer times but not today where you can choose what you want 2 do and most people choose not to make someting of thereself, on like jamal where he just wanted to get a basketball scholarship and to do that he had to go to a privat school and he got in because of his test scores, but he lost the playoff game because him and Robert got into a fight a day before the game . but it was an excilent movie.
*Kiel Applewhite*
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