Movies

Ian's movie post, and selections inspired me, so we went on a movie blitz during the last few weeks, and it was so refreshing.

We all got to see 'Ratatouille', and I loved it! First, it's a rare original story; not a sequel or adaptation. But was it good? I thought the movie snowballed, getting better and better, really hitting it's stride in the third act. It also has one of the best monologues on criticism I've ever heard. 3.5 stars

We rented Rocky Balboa, and watching it for the second time was better than I expected. I love how the movie takes it's time, and has dialogue both inspirational and satisfying to Rocky fans. I thought it was as visually interesting and symbolic as the first (notice the meat plant reflecting Pauly's life). And I liked how the steadycam and high contrasts made the film feel authentic like the first. (Rocky was the first feature film to use steadycam). 3.5 stars

We rented Casino Royale also. I really liked the first scene, the last scene, the poker games, and Daniel Craig. I didn't love the length, and thought it felt crammed with too much. 2.5 stars.

Lastly, we saw a Benji sequel. The 70's costume design and music was awesome. Mary gives it 3 stars!

Rickroll

I feel bad about my last post. I played with the hearts of Ender's Game fans to demonstrate the rickroll, but thought I'd stop so both of my readers won't get upset.

Similar to viral videos online, this is a kind of viral online practical joke - to offer a link to something highly anticipated leading to the awesome 80's music video by Rick Astley below. This link (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070516182851AArhHWu) explains the rickroll gaming roots.

I love this video. Mary, my 2 year old, started dancing to it the other day, and I'm trying to teach her to move her arms like Mr. Astley.

Ender's Game Trailer

Awesome.

Ender's Game

Family Media: Part ll

Comments on my last post by Darth Spencer and Rob were so good that I decided to respond in another post.

First, I feel I was kind of unfair towards the National Institute on Media and Family. They are working to help families avoid media pitfalls, and do a very thorough and useful job. I've used some of their tips, and I think Mary and our whole family have benefited. They condone family-media use on a basic level (http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/tips_tametube.shtml).
They are not anti-media - though they give that impression, as the picture below demonstrates.

Still, the Institute could do more in addressing the next step. That's my beef, and why I feel kind of critical when going through their site. After a family has media use under control in the home, then what? Are there good teaching techniques parents should try?

That said, Spence, I agree that video can do things (like demonstration) too well to be ignored. The Institute seems to define media primarily as video games, computer & internet, television, and music. I think they'd say that media/books like you describe are outside of the dangerous media boundary. It would be nice if they recommended things like that.

Rob, as I read your comments I recalled that the research I did this last semester were all on families in which there was a lot of parental involvement with children consuming media. I studied ideal examples of family media use. I agree that especially with children, human interaction is key to learning and benefiting from media like computer games and television.

I like the phrase "learning at an accellerated rate with media". It rings true that watching a movie or playing a game is kind of like a concentrated dose of something. The brain takes on so much so quickly, that parental briefing and debriefing with their kids about media might be important for learning.

So I am advocating family media use - given that it is under control in the home. I also wonder if family media use could help to control media in the home.

Media has such negative influence, as the Institute lays out, and thankfully fights. Media also has positive influence, and yet we don't hear much about that.

Family Media: Friend or Foe?

After a semester of observing families play computer games, and interviewing mothers about their children's media habits (from a grounded theory approach), I found what I'd call positive results (I am viewing all of this mainly from a learning/education perspective). The two families played Disney's Toontown Online, and both parents felt their kids were learning positive things (like community building and literacy skills, such as reading and computer). The four mothers (3 from U.S. and 1 from India) all generally felt t.v. and video/computer games were culturally and instructionally useful, but also consistently reflected that after 1-2 hours of media a day, kids behavior would get negative, selfish, and defiant (these were 2-5 year olds). There's more to all this to report, but that's the summary.

The interesting thing, though, was what I found in my literature review. Maybe I shouldn't be suprised, but I'd say 90% of what I found was paranoid advice. With all the positive family-media experiences I witnessed, it's logical to me that parents should be informed on educational/cultural strengths of media so they can take advantage of them for their children's benefit (as well as the whole family). I saw parents helping siblings to teach each other gaming strategies - and the sharing working - and I saw children excitedly taking direction from their parents. Positive interactions any family would want.

So I was suprised when I found groups like
The National Institute on Media and the Family who bleakly give the impression that no media is the best media. They give parents strategies on how to police their children's media habits and limit consumption. This is important, as media is dangerous and parents are wise to limit and be aware of what their children are seeing. But where is the pro-active approach? What about examining what good things happen when families spend time together with media? And then creating ways to share and teach best practices? In any case, the academic approach to family media habits seems pretty lopsided right now.

Comments? I'd be interested to hear what others think (especially disagreements) about media in the family setting.

Which Super Villain are You?

Your results:
You are Mystique

Mystique 52% Dark Phoenix 46% Apocalypse 40% Juggernaut 40% Venom 36% Dr. Doom 35% Riddler 32% Lex Luthor 32% Magneto 32% Poison Ivy 29% Catwoman 27% The Joker 26% Two-Face 24% Kingpin 23% Mr. Freeze 14% Green Goblin 0%

Sometimes motherly, sometimes a beautiful companion, but most of the time a deceiving vixen.

Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz

Superhero Personality Test

Rob Au's blog led me to this test. Pretty accurate.

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 80% Spider-Man 75% Green Lantern 70% Hulk 65% Robin 60% Supergirl 53% Catwoman 50% Wonder Woman 48% The Flash 40% Batman 35% Iron Man 35%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...