“Social Media”

The influence of social media is taking over our lives more and more.  As the days continue to fly by, social sites such as “Facebook,” “Myspace,” and “Twitter” are taking over the world by storm.  Personally being a user of “Facebook,” I have come to love the fact that I can talk to my cousins that live across the country.  The ability to know what is going on with them, in more of a recent update, has been an amazing feeling.  Moving back to California in the third grade, I was separated from majority of my family that live in Pennsylvania.  My family was really saddened to leave, but also were very excited to live in the consistently warm, beautiful, and coast of beaches that we did not have while living back east.

Social media, becoming much more popular in the recent years, has allowed me to get back in contact with them though just a few clicks.  This ability has been really great to stay in contact  (along with my some of my friends who go to school out of state).  I actually don’t have a

“Myspace” (anymore) or “Twitter” account, but the constant ability to see what a friend is doing, or even a celebrity, on “Twitter” I think is rather interesting.  The only thing that can be wrong in that area of social media is the fact that people can be pretending to be someone else without you even finding out.  It is in a big way rather scary because you may think you know someone, but then again they could be saying they are someone you know.  Be careful!

“Learning to surf!”

Recently, I have picked up learning how to surf.  For many of you that don’t know, surfing is much harder than it looks!  The art of actually staying balanced on the board in (the freezing cold water) alone is a challenge.  Over the past few weeks, I have been able to almost stand up, but falling over and making a mess of myself has been my friend.  Surfing is really something that I have always wanted to master, along with a number of other sports, because I think it is a really amazing talent to have and to do something different than just going to the movies.

The instant cold of the ocean (even in a wetsuit) makes your body shiver.  Then, wave after wave that comes for you before you get on the board is a whole different adventure.  Recently, the waves have been rather big with a number of rips in them so I haven’t been able to go out for about a week and a half, but I know as soon as they get better it will almost be like starting from scratch.  Surfing really is a fun experience, and I encourage anyone to try it out if they are ready for a challenge!  With summer coming up pretty quick, hopefully the water will warm up just a bit.

The influence of a celebrity endorsement

Yesterday in class, we touched on the topic of what it means when a celebrity uses a product.  I have always wondered if that celebrity actually uses that product or has that product.  When it comes to athletic endorsements like Nike for example, the athlete usually results in wearing the shoe or has the logo somewhere on them during a game.  On the other hand, when it comes to other celebrities likeCarrie Underwood (promotes Olay), Natalie Portman (promotes Miss Dior Cherie), Drew Barrymore (promotes Covergirl), and Katy Perry (promotes Proactive) if they actually have the product and use it.  I have always wondered how much their apparent use of a specific product influences a consumer’s thought into purchasing that single item.

I know for myself, the use of a product starts with whether it is good or not.  For many though, their purchase of an item involves the influence of who uses it.  The process of promoting a product for a celebrity usually involves a photo shoot and/or commercial that is put together for the public to see.  This form of media, however, has been so influenced in our lives since we were born that some of us will go out and purchase that item no matter what.  In some cases, I guess, that the influence of a celebrity using a product does help an item reach more sales because for the amount we have come to love and obsess over our favorite actress or singer we want to be just like them.  On the other hand, the use of a celebrity might be a downfall because the other group of people (like myself) would rather see actual people talking about how great the product is and the benefits behind what it can do for them.  This also has its downturn because who can actually tell if the ‘real person’ has used the product and is speaking freely.  The influence on weather the use of a celebrity is good or not all depends on the consumer at the end of the day, but in some cases we will never really know.  What are the criteria bases that you have for purchasing a product?

 

“Bridesmaids” Review

I recently went with my mother and sister to go see the ridiculously funny film “Bridesmaids.”  At first, I didn’t have much interest in seeing it, but as word of mouth continued to grow it became a must see (holding the number 2 spot in the box office as of 5/26).  The influence involved endless posts on Facebook of “‘Bridesmaids” is the funniest film I’ve ever seen” to “I have never laughed so hard while watching “‘Bridesmaids,”‘ I had a feeling it must have been great.  These statements are what really grabbed us to go and watch this film.  To me, this really shows how much the media, even if it is just a friend, can influence you into thinking that something is so funny they could hardly see straight when in reality it was only partially funny.

While I was sitting watching the movie, I will say that it had its great moments.  With a cast of: Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Chris O’Dowd, Maya Rudolph, Ellie Kemper and Melissa McCarthy, the comedy from a partially filled “Saturday Night Live Cast” made the most crazy scenes possible.  From simple things such as facial expressions from Kristen Wiig, the girl fights over the most attention from the bride to 4/5 of the “Bridesmaids” and Bride getting the food poisoning in a dress fitting comedy was made.  The journey that Annie (Kristen Wiig) not only has with herself but realizing that she will find the love her best friend has is breathtaking.  Displaying how hard it was for her though out the entire film, especially when her most recent friend Helen (Rose Byrne) started to take over the Maid of Honor duties, she began to act out.  In the end, she really knew what she wanted for herself and her friendship and she knew what she needed to do with the help of new friends along the way.  Overall, it really was a good film even though it’s not the funniest out there.

“The Unnoticed Death”

I know that the huge hype in the media is about Arnold Schwarzenger, but I think other stories should receive more attention.  Tragedies come from all over the world, from car accidents, shootings, misstated words, and so on, but one in particular stood out to me.  The life of an up and coming actress Yvette Vickers back in the time of B movies were around  was a major heart-throb.  From her love affairs, the most resque centerfold in Playboy, to taking on supporting roles in films, such as, the 1958 Attack of the 50 ft. Woman and the 1959 Attack of the Giant Leeches, Vickers was found dead in her Los Angeles home this past week by her neighbor.  With hardly any movement from her home, besides rodents, for quite some time her neighbor became curious.

Upon climbing though a broken window, her neighbor, Susan Savage, found the sight to be horrifying.  Unsure if she was lying on her back or not, the sight of blond hair was all she could see.  Gaining a strong case of loneliness and dementia over the years, the case became even worse after Vickers marriage and divorce to Don Prell and her second marriage to Dylan Cannon.  Believing she had a number of stalkers, she would write what she saw in the margins of her cookbook.  From thoughts of a “suspicious red corvette with black top stops and turns to go,” to other outrageous stories of thought to be stalkers were all noted.

One would wonder how someone so gorgeous, and known for her roles, became unnoticed in the last few years of her life.  The sight inside her house was hardly explainable.  For the last twenty years, Vickers house was a complete mess.  From plaster, wooden boards, clothes, and a giant plastic cylinder, shivers went up and down Savage when interviewed.  Unknown to wat the cylinder was used for, the unnoticed death is what truly made her known.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides”

Since 2003, Pirates of the Cariabean has taken over the world by storm with its legendary cast.  Consisting of Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, and Geoffrey Rush just to name a few, the history of Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swan, and Captain Hector Barbossa still lives on today.  With its fourth film coming out next weekend, I begin to wonder how it will be without it entire original cast.  Adding on Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Gemma Ward, Sam Claflin, and Keith Richards, I wonder how the new cast will begin to tell the story.

Focused on the genre of action, adventure, and fantasy, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will continue the tale of Captain Jack Sparrow and how he continues to find his way to the “fountain of youth.”  Still continuing on the story for the end of the last film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, the history of sticking with the same plot will appeal to the viewers that have fallen in love with the tale.  Being a fan of the films myself, I hope that even without the entire original cast the movie will still have the same effect.  The effect that it has placed on myself, among other viewers (I believe) is a story where you hope in the end Captain Jack Sparrow no matter what will find his way.

The consistency of the same type of film is still alive though costumes, action, voice, sounds, and visuals.  Holding the same genre as before, the old styles of the “pirate-type clothes,” language, and movement that they each bring to the film will help the story still hold its consistency.  That consistency will help save the film in more ways than one, I guess we will just have to see next weekend what people have come to think of the next film.

“Water for Elephants”

This past weekend, I went to see “Water for Elephants” with my favorite actress Reese Witherspoon.  Always being a fan of her work, the performance she delivers in this film was amazing (just like her other films).  Taking on the roll of Marlena, the hardships she finds in her marriage, finding true love, and protecting her animals, Witherspoon’s performance is so strong that you begin to feel the pain she ends up receiving.  Walking into this film on the other hand, was not at all what I expected it to be.

Thinking that a love story was going to unfold right before my eyes, after a few moments I had a feeling the journey to find that love was going to be a challenge.  Upon the death of his parents, Jacob, Robert Pattinson, runs away from veterinary school and stumbles upon a train going through the local forest.  Not realizing what it was to begin with, the men on board begin to get in his face but then become close friends shortly after.  After a few days pass, Jacob begins to learn the ropes of the circus and begins to fall in love with the woman he can not have.

Doing anything he can, no matter what it takes, he fights for her and wants her to run away with her so she can have a better life.  She beings to see that the life she has isn’t so great, which results in her having to make a decision.  Upon her husband finding out, August, Christoph Waltz, tries to take control of the situation with anger and strength that almost ends many lives.  The tragedy behind how much they went though to be together was heart racing, but the story along the way allowed them to finally have the lives that they always dreamed of.  Overall, the movie was great for the story it told and the use of a perfect color scheme (costumes for the late 1900′s, background, etc.) allowed your eye stays focus on the story unfolding right in front of you.  Amazing film!