United 93 is a sad, but inspiring film. It was almost unbearable to watch because of the depressing and brutal nature of what happened not only on that plane, but that morning in the United States. Theres nothing that makes me feel more uneasy than flying. Planes have always frightened me and this film just made my fear that much worse. The brave men and women who fought back that day should all be considered heros. It takes something deep down psychologically to be able to do what they did that morning. I can not imagine any situation that could be worse than knowing you were doomed to die on that plane. It hurts to even think about what may have been going through their minds. I am inspired by the will to save others in such a desperate situation. They knew they were going to die regardless of what they did, but they still fought back anyways. This is true perseverance, bravery, and compassion for human life. I probably will not watch this film again for a long time considering the mood it put me in after viewing it each morning. It honestly changes my perspective on human life and what the dangers that everyday life present. It was a routine day and a routine flight. No one expected to die the way they did that morning. This story makes me appreciate living and come to the reality that no one is really safe anymore, whether it is watching a movie in a theater or traveling on a plane. I really hope an event like this never happens again and that the people who lost their lives that day will always be remembered. The individuals on that plane deserve recognition for their actions and should be remembered for their bravery.
We should never forget the lives lost that day and the idea that in our modern society, danger is present almost everywhere. There has never been a more devastating tragedy in the history of the United States. September 11 reminds us that attacks can happen on American soil. Every year we remember the lives lost that day and appreciate our nation and life just a little bit more.

The Hurt Locker
This was one of the most suspenseful movies I have ever watched. I watched this movie previous to viewing it in class, however it never ceases to amuse me and keep me on edge. This film is definitely one of the top films we have watched this year and I'm glad I was able to watch it again. The bomb-disposal scenes are by far the most suspenseful and interesting scenes in the movie. This film showed the reality of the war in Iraq and the daily life of the bomb-defusal squad. I can't even imagine going through what they do on a daily basis, let alone even once. It takes a unique person and a brave mindset to be able to complete these difficult, life threatening, tasks. One thing I can't understand is the fact that in these modern times, humans are still the ones defusing the actual bomb. I could be overestimating today's technology, but drones and robots should be the main contributors in defusing and getting rid of the bombs, contrary to the small part they play in the film. This would decrease the chances of human casualty, but may also take more time and skill. This movie is based on a bomb squad in 2004, so drones may not have been as influential as they are becoming today and in the near future.

In my opinion, the most memorable scene is not one of the epic bomb-disposal scenes, but the scene in the hummer when two of the soldiers (don't remember exact names) had a conversation about their lives back home, specifically about their wifes and kids. One of the men did not have children, but the other did. This scene was so memorable because it really made me appreciate what these men are doing and the emotional costs that come with their job. These men are away from home for a very long time, sometimes with families of their own waiting back at home, hoping they come home alive. It was a sad scene, but I think it captured the reality of the situation. This applies to all wars in general. Many soldiers do not make it home alive to see their family and friends again. The last they see may be the dessert ground and this thought really stuck with me.

Its difficult to provide a specific definition of what I think is meant by "the hurt locker", however I do think it means a place no one wants to be. The hurt locker may mean being in the position where danger is present and you are trapped in that position to fend for yourself. Whatever a "hurt locker" may be, it is not a place anyone wants to be in.

Miracle
I've never watched a hockey game in my life, but I was thrilled by the film Miracle and consider it to be one of the best sports films out there. I had come into this class, having already seen the film a few times, but it did not dull my experience. The event truly was a miracle and this film backs that up by providing an accurate interpretation of the team's chemistry and hockey matches. The games were by far the most interesting part of the movie. The matches were action packed, short, and suspenseful. Maybe a little over exaggerated, but they still captured my full attention. I consider the 1980 U.S Hockey Team to be one of the most significant underdogs in the history of sports. No one could believe a team that struggled so greatly in the beginning could win the entire olympics. I think this is a lesson for everyone to keep note of. Sports may never see such a huge upset ever again, but the lesson must be kept that anything is possible and miracles can happen.
The 1970's were a turbulent decade in American history and the 1980 U.S Hockey Team provided some relief and patriotism for struggling Americans. American patriotism had been lacking as a result of  the defeat in Vietnam, the watergate scandal, the economic slowdown, energy crisis and foreign failures such as the hostages in Iran and invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviets. The Miracle on ice shifted public attitude in the United States and gave people a reason to feel good again. The U.S team came into the games expected to place 4th place at best. However, after a slow and rough start, the U.S team started to shock the world. The most influential and miraculous win in the games is considered to be the match against the Soviet Union, which resulted in a close 4-3 win over the Soviet Union. This is the match that gave the U.S the upper edge in the games and provided hope. After winning the Gold Medal, Americans had even more to feel good about. The success of the U.S team resulted in a resurgence of American Prestige .
I cannot provide a significant example of an event relating to sports having the same impact in my lifetime, but events such as what happened on September 11, 2001, greatly changed American attitude. After 9/11 American felt closer together and a greater sense of community. The event was not a positive one, but had some positive outcomes such as the increased security on U.S soil and the American people coming together as a nation in a time of grief.  

Apollo 13
Apollo 13 was an exhilarating film that provided suspense and excitement. I enjoyed the two different perspectives, one being from the astronauts standpoint and the other from Houston. Both were vital to the mission and reputation at stake. The crew encountered problem after problem and even in the most desperate of times, including when most electrical power was shut down and co2 was at extreme levels, the crew with the technical assistance of ground control, persevered to bring the astronauts safely back to earth. Lives and reputation were at stake and it would have been big news around the world if these astronauts had failed to survive. What I really liked about this movie was the overall excitement of encountering difficult and many times complex issues and finding a way to stay positive and fix the issue. There really wasn't a dull moment in this film. It was interesting to see how ground control operated and their significance to the survival of the astronauts. Most of the time they worked together, with the exception of some rash decisions being made by intelligent individuals, that actually turned out to work. I really hope to see humans on the moon again in the next 10-15 years. It is crazy to think that the United States, let alone any other space exploration team, has not gone to the moon in decades. I also want to see humans someday reach mars which would be a huge milestone for our advanced technology. It will happen, but the question is when.
As I mentioned above, I think the main theme in this film is perseverance. There were so many times in this film where the astronauts were on the brink of death, but somehow ground control and the crew found a way to solve the issue and not give up. There were so many things going wrong and it was easy just to say that they were doomed. However, Houston never stopped working to improve the situation and the Crew never once quit on themselves or mission control. Problem after problem, solution after solution, the team persevered and this is the only reason they were able to return safely. The lesson learned from this mission was that failure is not an option. It sounds cliche, but it really does mean something. So much was on the line in this case and everybody did the most they could to ensure no lives would be lost.  

Parkland
Parkland was a solid movie that provided me with a different perspective relating to the events and hours after the initial assassination of John F. Kennedy. It was clear from the footage that the president was not going to survive the sniper shot to the head, but it was still interesting to see how he was treated at Parkland hospital and the reaction of many Americans. It was a somber day for almost all Americans regardless of their party affiliation. Presidents are rarely assassinated and already with the social and political turmoil of the 60's, the assassination further more added to the chaos in the United States during that time. The one thing I wish this film provided were the conspiracies surrounding the assassination of JFK. I find the conspiracies involving his death somewhat convincing and interesting, but the film fails to provide that side of the story. Regardless of what many believe, the film accurately portrayed the events that occurred and for that, this film deserves recognition. We may never know if Oswald assassinated the president without orders from other individuals (or even if he delivered the kill shot), but we do know that his assassination impacted the hearts of many Americans for years to come. I am glad we watched this film because I had not known much about the assassination of JFK before watching and discussing this film.  

The Butler
Cecil Gaines had the opportunity to serve 8 presidents during his time at the white house. The film was adequate, but there were some great aspects, including the incorporation of his later years and the election of the first black president. After watching this film, I felt a new respect toward black Americans and specifically those who have contributed to the on going civil rights movement (African Americans are still not completely equal even today). The Butler made me realize how far we have really come. Just 50 years ago the Civil Rights movement was in full swing and Cecil was not provided the same opportunities and rights as hes provided today. As time progressed in the white house, he saw the changes taking place from an even more interesting perspective. Lastly, the election of Barack Obama must have been an epiphanic moment for not only Cecil himself, but for all African Americans familiar with the past and history of the United States. Although this film was not one of my favorite class films, it did help me realize the importance of having a black president for the first time, and the effort and emotion that came with it, even many years before his time in office.

The Helper 
Although a touching story, this film did not capture my interest. There was just too little happening. Other films have been able to grab my interest without including much action and interesting scenes, but this film failed to do so. The one thing this film does right is the accurate portrayal of African Americans in that particular geological area, during that time period. This film does not mask any of the true characteristics of African Americans during that time, including speech and behavior. This is a truly honest portrayal of southern African Americans and I appreciate that.
The Jim Crow Laws in the south are today considered inhumane and ideologically wrong. Black and White humans were truly separate according to the laws and execution of the laws. Many white southerners justified these laws by saying yes they were separate, but EQUAL. However, equality did not exist among the races in the south and even today we see similarities. For example there was a law that stated whites could not marry blacks, but today we laws that exist that don't allow for same-sex marriage. Although not supportive of homosexuality, I do believe people should have the choice to make decisions involving sexual preference and marriage. Every human should be treated equally, and although African Americans have come a long way, America has still not excepted everyone.

Today, you could make an argument for either side answering the question "are African Americans truly better off today than they were previous to the Civil Rights Movement. In my opinion African American's still face unfairness and inequality in many different aspects of life, but are provided with equally biased opportunities as well. For example African Americans have a much better chance of getting accepted into colleges and graduate school (like Med school) solely based on race. Disagree or agree, America has come a long way (We even have an African American President!), but challenges still exist for many minorities living in the United States.