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About Me
- Anthony
- My name is Anthony Prato and I teach English as a Second Language at The City University of New York (http://www.qcc.cuny.edu/clip/) and Columbia University (http://ce.columbia.edu/node/295). I have been an ESL teacher for 6 years, and a teacher or trainer for 10 years.
15 comments:
Title
Ps. I love you
Length
126 min
Summarize
Holly is a beautiful, smart girl and marries a perfect man named Gerry, so she thinks. Unfortunately he dies from brain tumor. She is so painful and cannot help missing him so much. Her life became terrible without purpose because of the lack of his presence. When she is thirty, she receives a gift with a tape from Gerry and the tape came from Gerry. It says that he had written a lot of letters and she will get it everyday. After that, she really got a lot of letter in different surprising ways and every letter signs off in the same way “Ps. I love you”. Her parents were afraid that those letters would keep Holly stuck on the past, but actually they push her into future. With Gerry words as motivation, Holly lives back a regular life and works as a shoe designer again. After received the last letter, Holly releases herself and becomes active.
Reaction
It was so moving. There are very rare men like this in the world. I can’t stop crying.
Vocabulary
Urn
a tall, rounded vase with a base, and often a stem, esp. one used for storing the ashes of a cremated person
Flat
a shallow container in which seedlings are grown and sold.
Title
Pay it forward
Length
123min
Summarize
Trevor was a clever boy and his mother was drunker. He didn’t know about his father because he never showed up. His teacher Mr. Simonet loved him very much and gave out an assignment, which is to think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor had an idea named pay it forward which was to do favor for three people and ask them to do favor for other three people. Firstly he helped who was a drug addict and then he decided to let his mother and his teacher be together. The last person he wanted to help was his classmate Adam not be beat up and he did it without hesitation. As a result, pay it forward was passed by city to city and was noticed by a reporter Chris, who wanted to report it. Chris interviewed Trevor and in the video Trevor talked about his idea. Finally Mr. Simonet was with his mother, but Trevor was killed by a knife when he saved his classmate.
Reaction
I liked Trevor’s idea, but is it made by the truth story? Would people really do this big favor over the world? Maybe it just happened in the movie. However, it’s good to learn some new words.
Vocabulary
Fag
a male homosexual
Elite
a group of people considered to be the best in a particular society or category, esp. because of their power, talent, or wealth
Screw
Informal cheat or swindle (someone), esp. by charging them too much for something
Atrophy
(of body tissue or an organ) waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution
Utopian
Modeled on or aiming for a state in which everything is perfect; idealistic.
Title: Shooter
Length: 2 hours 20 Minutes.
Memphis
Summary:
Bob was a good at sniper in a special force in the U.S. one day Bob with his partner had a mission in Africa to protect a fleet who were working at a gas company but Bob didn’t know that they protected target for the gas company. Unfortunately, their enemy found Bob’s hide zone and killed Bob’s partner. After that, Bob left the special force and lived in a mountain. One day, Johnson who was a colonel went to Bob’s house want to Bob make a plan which was the president assassination but it didn’t mean that they would execute the plan because they wanted to prevent people who assassinate the President. Bob accepted the plan but he didn’t know that it is a trap. He indirectly helped Johnson to kill a religion but ever one thought that he was going to kill the President. Bob injured by gun shoot. When he wanted to run away to his partner’s girlfriend who was Sarah lived in Kentucky, he med a FBI novice who is Memphis and tell Memphis that he didn’t kill the President, it was falsely. Bob went to Sarah’s house to get help. At the same time, Memphis investigated the truth, he found that Bob wasn’t going to kill anybody, he was an innocent man. After a few weeks, Bob got much better and he wanted to find who background man was. He got help from Memphis and find that Meacham was background men, but he couldn’t do anything because behind Meacham had other biggest background men to control these things. However, Bob improved that he was innocent man.
Reaction:
The world really is dog-eat-dog world. If you hamper other people to make money, people would think anyway to kick you out. If I can have a quiet life, I would live in a deep mountain to keep away the cruel world.
Vocabulary:
Assassinate: to kill by secret
Convince: to satisfy by evidence
Outskirt: the outer edge
Tropic Thunder
Length: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Summary:
Tropic Thunder is about a bunch of actors that are working in the middle of a jungle in Vietnam. One of the actors (Ben Stiller) is not satisfy with the movie, so he decides to take to another level. The staff is not satisfied with the director’s work too, so they decide to leave the actors in the dangerous jungle were terrorist and drug dealers are everywhere.
Reaction:
Tropic Thunder is the classic American movies were the main idea is to make fun of important movies in film history. Is sort like a parody, were actors imitate some main scenes or quotes of other movies. In other words, tropic thunder is a war parody that lacks many points for making of it “funny”.
Vocabulary:
Sniper: 1. hidden shooter: somebody who shoots people from a concealed position
2. Skilled military shooter: a member of the armed forces who is trained to shoot enemy soldiers from a concealed position.
Pandemonium: chaos: wild uproar and chaos.
What Happened in Vegas
Length: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Summary:
This is the story of two different people that meted in Las Vegas. They discovered that they get married in sin city, so they decide to take this issue to court. The judge decided that the issue is not relevant so the couple has to live together for six month. If the couple is not satisfied with their marriage, they can divorce but the condition is if the couple can survive the heavy responsibility of marriage.
Reaction:
I don’t know what is wrong with me! Tropic Thunder and Then this movie, maybe I was not quite sure about my decisions on blockbuster. However, this movie is something that maybe is not of my style. Cheesy and ridiculous, this movie sometimes remember me the “novelas” of my country, a lot of stupid drama. In fact the movie was not too funny; maybe some funny situations that made me laugh but needs a lot of improvement.
Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi
Length: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Summary:
This is the story of Christian Hosoi, an icon of street skating and a powerful legend trough the 80’ to these days. This documentary talk about the rise, fall and rebirth of this skater, that money and fame was his life but drugs and alcohol was his death. Very famous in the 80’s Hosoi was well known for his strong personality and skate skills. Was very popular in California, Hosoi was a “chick magnet” and everybody loved him. The problem was when he started to use drugs and his life started to fall apart. He was arrested for trying to commercialize methamphetamine in Hawaii’s airport, 10 years in prison was his penalty. In prison he understood the power of God and the strength of the bible; he was a new man thanks to the teachings of Jesus. Now Hanoi is free and leaves a normal life, with her wife and two kids in the always warm California.
Reaction:
This documentary was really interesting! I had a lot of fun knowing about Christ and all his crew. I liked the 90’ It remember med me a lot of stuff, and by the way life was more fun in that period of time, I don’t know why. Was fun, I learned new things about this type of culture and especially knowing more of Gods power help me to understand that faith is a very strong essence in human’s life.
Crap out:. avoid doing something: to avoid or discontinue an activity, especially out of fear
Methamphetamine: stimulant: a derivative of amphetamine, used illegally as a drug. C10H15N
Shift: move: to move somebody or something to a different position, or be moved to a different position
Title: P.S. I Love You
Length: 120 minutes
Summary:
Holly is a beautiful woman married to her love for her life. She married to Irishman named Garry. But after they married few years Garry died from tumor cancer. After that time, it takes out of Holly’s life. But, at Holly’s thirty birthday party, she receives the tape record from Garry. He said he don’t want Holly upsets about his died. He proceeds to tell her celebrate herself in her birthday party and he wants Holly be happy in her birthday. In the weeks and months that follow, more letters Garry delivered are surprised. He tells her goes out grief in many ways. With his words as her guide, she knows how to turn the finality of death into a new life.
Reaction:
This is a sad and romantic movie. The husband tells his wife how to go out sob and begins her new life. Before he died, he already writes every word that he wants to tell her on the letters. He predicts her future life and tells her how to overcome problems. Although, this is difficult find the real case in the society. I think Garry is a good husband because he knows his wife can’t face the real life and tries to help her goes out the grief.
Vocabulary
Defy: disobey or refuse to respect
Tyrant: cruel, unjust or oppressive ruler
Obligation: duty; responsiblity
Title: Mad money
Length: 93 minutes
Summary:
Bridget lives with her husband, but they lost all of their money in one night. Both of them lost their job and all assets. Bridget thinks it is not a good idea that they just stay in the house. Bridget decides to find a job and she finds a job that it is a cleaning lady at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. She meets three people and decides to steal money from there. Because all of these three work in different part, they decide to use this to take out money. Finally, they stole much money and think about how to use this money. FDI found that why they have a lot of money immediately and they found they put this money in their house so FDI catch all of them. But one of person run away from the FDI and hire a lawyer to win this case.
Reaction:
It is a fabulous movie. When you work in the bank, it is not mean it is easier to get out money from the bank. But these women get huge money from the Federal Reserve Bank. Actually, I don’t believe this movie will happen in the real society.
Vocabulary
Under surveillance: to monitor
Intervene: interfere so as to prevent something happening or to change the result.
Snitch: inform on somebody; sneak
Title: The shawshank redemption
Length: 2 hours 20 Minutes
Summary:
Andy was a banker, but he killed his wife when he found his wife with other man slept in the bed at his house. Therefore, he has to prison at shawshank jail for twenty years. When he prison at the Shawshank, he met a person who was Red. Red has stayed in shawshank jail over twenty years because of he stayed over twenty years, he could get anything, include rock hammer. Rock hammer was wanted by Andy and Andy got it from Red. Also, Andy wanted a big playbill because he wanted to cover a hole which was in his room to escape out shawshank jail after twenty years. He steps by step to hole his wall at night and moved rock out when he let out for exercise. One day, the Shawshank of boss wanted some prisoner to resurface a license-plate factory and Andy, Red and some other prisoners got this job. When Andy was resurfacing the factory roof, he heard that a police was complaining that he had to pay extra tax for inheritance. Andy helped the police to save his money. After that, a lot of polices asked Andy about financial questions, of course that included the boss. The boss wanted Andy to make corrupt money becoming legal. After eighteen years, shawshank jail came from some new prisoners. Tommy was one of new prisoners. One day, he told to Andy a story which was about his partner. It is that the partner killed a banker’s wife and person who slept with her. Andy thought that he was innocent prisoner, and he tried to tell the boss, but the boss was very angry and kept Andy in alone room and made a trap to kill Tommy. Andy thought that it was time to escape out of the shawshank. After few days at night, the weather had heavy rain, lightning and thunder. Andy prepared a six feet rope and a big plastic bag. He tried to escape out of the shawshank jail and he successful escaped out of the shawshank jail.
Reaction:
When I was watching the movie, I thought that our debate of resolution ‘’ death penalty’’. If Andy judged death penalty, undeniably he never got a chance to improve that he was innocent prisoner. Now, I think again that do we really need death penalty in our country???
Vocabulary:
Rehabilitate: to restore to sound operation
Inspection: careful
Delivery: transfer
Title: 007 Quantum of Solace
Length: 2hours
Summarize:
James Bond(Daniel Craig) came back. In the Last movie 007 Casino Royal, he lost his lover because of her problem. So he decided to revenge to the people who made her tragedy. He tried to find intrigues and finally he found it, however there is a big intrigue about that bad groups. He had to stop their plan to protect the world. Finally he killed the chief of the group and forgot memory of his love.
Reaction
There is a formula. James Bond never die. So I could watch 007 without any tension even though this is an action movie. And there was a hot bondgirl. Also she never die with James Bond, hahaha. Quantum of Solace's plot is terrible. Casino Royal was so fresh that I enjoyed it however this is awful. If you want to watch this in movie theater, you will waste your money. Borrowing DVD and buying food is much better than this movie. For me, it was hard to understand because of the English and Australia accent.
Vocabulary
Quantum
In physics, quantum theory and quantum mechanics are concerned with the behaviour of atomic particles.
Title: Cops on Tru tv
Length: 110 min
Summarize
There are a lot of criminals in the America. This is about their life and accidents when they make in custody. Sometimes they chase cars, catch speeders, and help people who is in trouble. The video worried about the crimes and especially in the big city, there are so many crimes.
Reaction
I couldn't believe my eyes. There were a lot of crazy criminals in America. They shot their gun to police and ran away. Is it possible? I saw that he got more than 50 years in jail. And there was a criminal on the high way in LA. He ran away from cops and their chase was in downtown. Even though there were a lot of cars, the criminal didn't care of it. He drove his car with 100 miles per hour in the downtown! I was in a big tension. The lesson of this program gave me that I must take care by myself.
Vocabulary
Imprisonment
the state of being imprisoned.
Arrest
If the police arrest you, they take charge of you and take you to a police station, because they believe you may have committed a crime.
Title
Investment Banking on google
Length
1 hour
Summarize
The more global economy improves, the more Investment bank's roles become important. This video explain what IB is. Investment bank is like a bridge between companies and inventors. IB work on Equity capital market and Dept capital market. They help the company to issue equity or bond. they valuate those based on sum of the parts, discounted cash flow, dividend yield and dividend discount. In addition, they help them sale these financial products. And there are other fuctions of IB. they advise about funding and M&A which is selling or buying companies, and provide information.
Reaction
I really want to get a job in IB, so I found this video on google. some experts, who are working in IB, explain what IB is. IB's role is very important. They can help companies solve financial problems. And their works are very complicated and difficult. I have studied about IB. However, I didn't understand perfectly. so if I can, I will re-watch and study about that.
Vocabulary
acquisition
If a company or business person makes an acquisition, they buy another company or part of a company.
transaction
A transaction is a piece of business, for example an act of buying or selling something.
execute
If you execute a plan, you carry it out.
valuation
A valuation is a judgment that someone makes about how much money something is worth.
Title
PES 2009(The game of Platstation)
Length
3 hour
Summarize
The new version of PES was released several days ago. It is a soccer game. There are all nations and soccer clubs in the game. I payed by the clubs. I chose Brcellona in Spain league, Manchester United, Liverpool in premire league, and Inter millan, AC millan in Italian League. There were also casters, so we can hear commentary about the game.
Reaction
I think this game is the most similar to real soccer game. What I'm able to control a lot of famous players is very interesting to me. In addition, the commentary make the players feel they are playing real soccer. Most men in Korea like this game. This game is one of the most popual game.
Vocabulary
possession
If you are in possession of something, you have it, because you have obtained it or because it belongs to you.
accuracy
The accuracy of information or measurements is their quality of being true or correct, even in small details.
Title
Forest Gump
Length
120 min
Summary
Forest Gump’s IQ is 75. Although he had leg problems also, his mother had strong passion for him to be educated like every other kind, she would sacrifice anything. Forest met a friend, Jenny, and attended school. One day, running away from school bullies, Gump started running fast. Then, accidently, he ran through the foot ball stadium. Football coach noticed him, so Forest finished high school and college with full athletic scholarship. However, Jenny who was abused by her father since she was young, joined hippies to achieve her dreams and had an impoverished life style.
Forest Gump joined the Army and saved fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War, and received a medal for bravery. And, he accidently became an American national ping-pong player.
In order to achieve the dream he had with Verve who died in the War, Gump started shrimp fishing with Dan who was his lieutenant in the Army. About that time, he heard that his mother was very ill, so Forest came back to home town, and lieutenant Dan invested money to the Apple Company and became a millionaire. Forest Gump gave money to hospital, church and family of dead soldiers, and wait for Jenny. Jenny came to visit Gump, but she left him soon. So, Forest ran whole America for next three years, and became nationally famous. Watching him on TV, Jenny called him and told him that he has a son and she has AIDS. They got married but she died soon after. Gump and his son lived like that. Gump reflects his life at the Jenny’s grave.
Reaction
I think this movie is a masterpiece. This movie shows the recent history of America through Forest Gump’s life, and shows people’s lives and dreams in America. Also, this movie humorously shows some of historical events such as Apple Company, Water Gates and so on. This movie may be giving a message that as Gump who followed the rules and became successful, we need to follow the rules. This is such a well know movie that anyone who enjoys watching movies knows.
Voc
millionaire : A millionaire is a very rich person who has money or property worth at least a million pounds or dollars
grave : A grave is a place where a dead person is buried.
Title
Italia Seria league
Length
2 hour
Summary
This game was Ac Milan vs Juventus. They are very popular soccer club in Italia. So I expected this game since 1 month ago. At first, Juventus forward Del piero made a one goal, and also forward Amauri made two goal. And then, AC Milan midfielder Ambrosini made an one goal, and Pato made an goal. Finally, Juventus forward player Iaquinta made a gola, so game was ended by 4 - 2, Juventus won.
Reaction
In fact, I apply extra TV cable for watch soccer. This channel made by England, so I can hear a lot of English from this. I use a lot of time to watch games, and it was very excited. I have a preference for Juventus than AC Milan, because I like soccer player who named Del piero. He was so amazing!
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