Author Archives: Christian

A Look into WW2

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I remember watching this movie years ago in high school and thinking how sad but real it was. Re-watching it years later brings similar feelings. Looking back, it’s very shocking the way the Holocaust took place and how many people died. One of the reasons why I enjoy seeing these kinds of movies and learning about history is because it allows us to take a look into the past and learn from those mistakes.

I do think it’s important to watch these films due to the impact they had and the truth they hold till this day. Another aspect I found interesting is how the main character’s love for music and piano really kept him alive. The movie perhaps also tries to make an interesting point about how a couple of Nazis did not really want to be in that position and perhaps were just following orders and the mass. However, I still think it’s important to hold them accountable due to all the terror and deaths they caused.

They are hidden figures no more

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Hidden Figures is one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen. I also think it’s an eye-opening movie. It’s a reminder that racism pretty much still exists, as these events happened relatively not too long ago. Black women helped put the first man on the moon, and yet this is rarely discussed in history books. Even though these women faced discrimination on a daily basis, they did not care and kept working hard. That’s why they succeeded. I took a positive message at the end of the movie too, and that is when we put our differences aside, the human race can create amazing things.

I strongly believe that diversity and representation is incredibly important, so I hope we’ll get to see many more unheard stories like this on the big screen.

A Love Story and Climate Change

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I remember watching WALL-E for the first time at a friend’s birthday party years ago. At the time, I just saw it as an animated movie with an interesting plot. But as years went by, I started realizing just how relevant and clever this story is. Watching it again reinforced this feeling. This is a love story that takes place in the midst of climate change and how humans have abandoned earth. The way the first third of the movie works without any sort of voice over is particularly fascinating; they creators’ use of visuals and music was fundamental in making this work. More than anything, you are drawn by the interactions between WALL-E and EVE and their development as a couple.

Then they take you into space and it makes a commentary on global warming. Humans have left the Earth and it’s believed that there is no salvation down there. But a tiny ray of hope, like a plant, can change the course of a civilization. Humans needed to be reminded of the beauty of Earth and how we have damaged most of our world. We must take responsibility for the use resources and vegetation before it’s too late. But perhaps it’s never too late, as WALL-E, EVE and the captain showed us throughout the movie. Now that I’m older, I appreciate the story and overall film achievement a lot more.

The Power of Conviction and Being Afraid of the Unknown

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Wow. I thought this movie was so powerful on many levels. For me, the main theme was conviction and the willingness of an individual to stay true to his values and faith. Desmond Ross was bullied and humiliated, and yet, he refused to use or hold a gun while being at war. Ironically, some might say that this also made him the bravest and most valuable person on the battle field, given how many men he ended up saving. But to me it was expected to happen.

Since the beginning, one could see how good of a man he was and how he wanted to help as a medic. People tend to judge based on beliefs and what’s unknown to them, and that’s exactly what happened. When we don’t understand something, we judge and sometimes even attack others. I believe this movie is a reminder for people to be more open minded and accepting of those that are different to what we consider “ordinary” and believe in different things. Get to know people before judging them, you’ll be surprised to know that you have a lot in common and that at the end of the day, they are a human being just like you and me.

A Happy Ending

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The first thing that came to my mind after watching this movie is, “Wow, they actually ended up together and none of them died”. Most LGBTQ movies that I’ve watched usually have a tragic ending, so I was so surprised and satisfied that in this movie the male couple reconciled and stayed together. I thought it was kind of similar to Brokeback Mountain in the sense that the wilderness sort of intensifies this animal sexual behavior.

It was also interesting how the movie displayed this lonely character and that it just takes one person to change your whole life. Gheorghe showed Johnny how to truly be with somebody and this shifted his life forever. Even the relationship with his dad improved once this loneliness was filled with love. Overall, I just think this is such a refreshing and positive movie.

Effective Emails

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So in this little seminar we learned about the best methods to properly contact a professor or potential employer. Things like the subject, grammar and length of the email can make a big difference in getting a response. Just as important is the content of the email, so do your homework and get to know the person you are emailing by looking at their social media, e.g. LinkedIn. I thought it was very insightful and now I feel more encourage to reach out to people knowing that my emails will be more effective.

Gender Roles and A.I.

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The movie Ex Machina had quite a few themes laid out. One of them was about the dynamics between man and woman; it was trying to display the social construct that still persists in many communities to this day. Caleb had this whole idea of deciding and inciting Ava to escape with him and do as he’d like. In the end, however, the robot Ava (woman) liberates herself and goes on to explore the world on her own, not having to be subject of these men (Caleb and Nathan) anymore.

At the same time, the movie discusses the role of technology in our society and how dangerous it can be if we lose sight of reality. Caleb started to develop feelings for Ava during their first session and Nathan was so trapped in this “world” that he never considered that Sonoya (another robot) could betray him as well. Artificial Intelligence is tricky, and we must be careful in order to take the right precautions. After the movie, I just thought about the possibility of people around me being robots and not realizing this because they are in disguise, just like Ava at the end of the movie.