Why I chose Blended for my movie review

This assignment for me has been a bit challenging, due to my recent surgery. I have found it hard to focus on my schoolwork while dealing with the pain and minor complications I’ve endured. That being said, at the last minute today I posted on Facebook asking for movie ideas on what to utilize for my review, and I got numerous different options. I had already seen a lot of them so right away that narrowed it down for me. I finally decided on the movie that’s titled Blended with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.

Upon viewing the previews, this movie really just seemed like an all American love comedy. With my unmotivated and very fatigued physical being at the moment I just felt like this light-hearted type of movie was a good choice for me, and it just so happens that Adam Sandler is one of my favorite actors! There is never a doubt in my mind that if he is in the movie it is going to be a great flick, usually full of comedy!

I am also a single parent and I can totally relate to the story they are telling in this movie. It is so common in our society today to have these blended families, and more often than not that means lots of yelling, fighting, tears, laughter, and love being shared between the individuals of each family before they blend into a smooth single familial unit. I feel like that was captured just in the few moments on the previews and I’m looking forward to getting to see more.

Movie Rave

My choice for my favorite movie comes from a very fond memory I have during my childhood. Initially, it was my father’s favorite movie, but after years of forming such memorable evenings solely based on this movie, it had become my favorite as well.

My father was a highly intelligent man who worked full days as an engineer and after long, grueling days at his manufacturing plant he needed some comic relief to relax and unwind. I can still recall the sounds of our hysterical laughter arising from the living room on the evenings we would watch it together (sharing special daddy/daughter time). I must point out to you that my father passed away several years ago, but this movie sealed the vision into my heart and mind. Sometimes it’s only just for a fleeting moment, but it’s amazing to just feel like I am there again – sitting on the old brown plaid sofa and my dad in his blue leather chair - both of us uncontrollably belly laughing.

My favorite movie is a family friendly feature that is extremely entertaining to any audience – young, old, male, or female.  This movie will provide whatever it is you are looking for.  Its versatility is appealing because it provides comedy, is action packed, has a stellar cast including three adorable children, and it even has a twist of romance.  I mean come on – everyone finds satisfaction in one of those categories.

I would suggest that anyone who is reading this publication right now, go home and get out your On-Demand  or Netflix and watch the Walt Disney movie “The Apple Dumpling Gang”, written by Don Tait.  Take an evening to enjoy good, clean fun that carries you through to the good ole’ days out west.  It paints a picture of the past that actually left me feeling as though I was standing at the swinging doors of the saloon watching the action take place.

So, give yourself a break, kick up your feet, and prepare to laugh. Hopefully, you will create an unforgettable evening.

Reflection of my Profile assignment

I really enjoyed this profile assignment. I do not struggle at all talking openly about my life when I know someone, but I have always struggled to make the initial contact and start conversation. This assignment really helped to start the communication and teach me to see past that "driver license" description that meets the eye. I think because I had a partner with such great personality it helped make it that much easier.

It is always more difficult for me to write about others since I can't look up facts, or it's not about myself where I know the facts. This definitely showed me that it really isn't as hard as it seems. I got all the information I needed from my partner through relaxed conversation; it wasn't like I had expected it be, like an uncomfortable news interview. I wouldn't mind doing an assignment like this again with another partner!

I had never used Google Slides or power point before. This was a learning experience for me in that aspect, as well. I quickly picked up how to navigate around the webpage and how to add design and pictures to my text. I feel comfortable now that I can utilize Google Slides for another presentation in the future.

Profile on Josh Polezhaev

The subject of my profile assignment is 19 year old Josh Polezhaev. Upon being assigned as partners I found him to be quite entertaining.  He was very open and easy to talk to though, on top of his humor. Josh is a very bright and animated young man. I don’t believe in the weeks I’ve known him that I have seen him with anything other than a smile upon his face. I can see that his happiness is contagious to the people around him.

 I didn’t want to take my focus of him completely, so I only added minimal bullets about his family, but he actually has a very interesting familial history. He comes from a very large family with A LOT of aunts and uncles, as well as the fact that he has 5 siblings. There were details about his parents’ transition from Russia to America that I found interesting, but again those weren’t as relevant to getting to know him. He chose a portrait of his siblings and himself for me to use on his profile, and in that picture he is the littlest, chubby guy in the front.
 

The link to view my presentation of his profile is:
Josh Polezhaev's Profile By:Michelle Rook

Reflection of the Literacy Narrative

On My literacy narrative I did the brainstorming bubbles to jot down all the different times I could clearly remember learning a new form of literacy. I then made smaller bubbles off of those with specific details to narrow down which topic seemed to be the most interesting to expand on.  I found it relatively easy to pick one by doing this.

I feel that peer revision was one of the most helpful tools I could have used for editing my paper. During the assignment I not only got suggestions on how to better my own paper, but I also was able to get my own new ideas from seeing  how others did their work.  I think the biggest thing I learned from it was the meaning of when Ms. Simonsen said for us to “show” the events. In another student’s paper I literally felt as if I was looking into her living room watching her with her “Hooked on Phonics” videos! I attempted to incorporate some of those details that she used into my own paper to give it the visual effect.

At first, after doing the short version of this essay, I was very worried that if I tried to just expand it that it may become redundant or lose focus. I actually feel like that happened in my first draft, but after the revision I felt like I was able to pull it all back together into one cohesive story. I really liked how many other details I incorporated besides just the literacy aspect. It showed the “bigger” picture but was still relevant to the learning of my topic of literacy, which was journaling.

I think everyone’s essays that I was able to read were very informative, and gave a very good idea of who each person was. I never thought I would thoroughly enjoy this assignment, but I really did!