Friday, April 4, 2008

Recommend or Not? "Of Mice and Men"

In a paragraph of 150 to 200 words, explain why you would (or would not) recommend the film to a friend. Be specific about your reasons. Please complete your paragraph by 6:00 on Tuesday night.

Be prepared to do in-class writing (test mark) for the film on Wednesday. The topic choices will vary and include writing an essay (if you choose).

13 comments:

Brad said...

A Compassionate and Simple Film

The filmed version of John Steinbeck’s novel, Of Mice and Men, directed by Gary Sinise in 1992, is a film I would heartily recommend. The story of two men, George and Lennie, travelling together in the harsh world of the itinerant labourer, is filmed with compassion and simplicity. Sinise shows us the great friendship shared by this unlikely pair. The final scene is beautifully filmed. When Lennie asks George to “tell it like you done before,” George asks him to “look over there. OK? I'll tell ya.” For a long time we watch George bury his face in Lennie’s shoulder, knowing what he has decided to do. The dogs bark, ominously close. Then, Lennie is gone. The sadness we feel at the death of this simple man is testimony to the strength of John Malkovich’s portrayal and of the sure direction and acting of Sinise. To end, Sinise brings us back to the heart of the film, George and Lennie lifting up the last barley bag of the day, then walking away, together, Lennie’s hand lightly touching George’s back. I have no doubt that this simple story would impress anyone, my friends included.—193 words

Aileen said...

A beautiful and sorrowful film

I warmly recommend the film, Of Mice and Men, directed by Gary Sinise, to my friend Sherrill. Sherrill and I grew up in a remote beautiful village of china. The film’s rural landscape and laborers working scene remind me of our hard work to reap rice under the broiling sun of the summer and smell the rice fragrance, and bring me back to our adolescent time. The film mainly narrates the great friendish of two men, righteous and compassionate George, and simple and insane but strong physical Lennie. George protects Lennie from hurting, and always warns him to keep away from the Curly and his wife. But Curly’s life actively approaches Lennie, stimulates him to touch her hair and leads to their tragedy because Lennie has no ability to control his behavior and strangle her. When all the Tyler ranch guys search Lennie, George killed Lennie. We can feel George’s deepest sorrow. The film brings me to ponder some social issues: even the humblest man like Lennie has his enjoyment and love such as loving the puppy, and people should not neglect his existence, and should care him; from ethic, killing lennie is right or wrong, it will be a big dispute. In one word, the film impresses me greatly; I hope you will also enjoy it. -207 words

Ken J said...

Too simple of a tragedy

I give 3 stars and half for “Of Mice and Men”. If four stars is given by a movie, friends are recommended to see it. Gary Sinise also played as Lt. Dan in the movie "Forrest Gump" (5 stars) in 1994. Through the compare of two movies, I would like to suggest friend to watch “Forrest Gump”. Gary Sinise have a relationship with a low-IQ adult in both movies. I prefer to recommend the story or movie which has a positive attitude toward our life. It is easy to overturn the whole thing by taking good care of Lennie. He should not be left unattended or alone by the bad trouble he already made. George should never leave Lennie out of his eyesight. George can ask Candy as a babysitter when he was occupied. It is not only a tragedy to George, Lennie but also for Curley’s family too. I like the movie, the actor, and how the movie being directed. But I don’t think it is a movie most people want to see. Words count: 174

Jeongsook said...

About ‘Of Mice and Men’

I would like to recommend the film to my friend and my kids because the story shows how human life isn’t easy and has eventful complicate problems. George and Lennie are connected by a special friendship that is deeper than brotherhood. Their intimate relationship makes aware of a very important understanding for the new generation especially egoist. No one can live alone but its idea is spawned by the postmodernism; moreover, the recent tendency brings the isolated individual thoroughly. George’s warm heart and Lennie’s pure heart is a good model of the preferable interpersonal behavior. In addition, there is a strong emotional lesson. Their dream looks despaired by the death of Lennie, but he doesn’t know at the moment of death but also he is talking about his favorite rabbit continually. The dream of Lennie is alive forever. On the other hand, George has to shoot his best company himself as Candy’s description about his old dog. Even though George remains a bitter memory, he will have a dream again and make it come true. I believe my recommendation will be regarded as an intelligent choice. (186 words)

grace said...

A Memorable Movie

Nowadays, I am having a great time because watching a movie "Of Mice and Men" by Gary Sinise. I enjoyed the film, so absolutely I would like to recommand to my sons and my friends. There are several reasons why I want to suggest to others the movie. My favorite thing in the movie is that all actors and a actress are selected well.George is very smart but his determination in the last scene is given me compassion to George and Lennie. On the other hand,Lennie is ridiculous and out of control man for too strong. Lennie's acting is very real, I misdout that Lennie is a disable person? When Lennie copies George's action, Lennie loos like a baby.

According to scene is changed, my heart is pounding because Lennie might be make some problems again, then their friendship and companionship would be broken;It comes true. Also, I will never forget the last scene that George has tragedy heartache toward Lennie and his dicision. Coming weekend I will enjoy the film with my son.
Give it a shot!(124 words)

teresa said...

An Affecting Film

I would recommend the film to my friends because the friendship between the two men, a smart guy and a big childlike guy, is very affecting. I see the sacrifice, trust, and love between them. In the film, after Lennie’s aunt died, George takes the responsibility to look after him; Even though Lennie always brought George troubles, George doesn’t abandon him. For Lennie, he only remembers George’s goodness and follows what he told; George is as a guider for him because George always knows what is going to do when he got into troubles. George loves Lennie. George gets Lennie as a partner on the way of chasing his dreams, a partner who is simple, royal, and strong. Even though George shot Lennie at the end, which is also a way to show his love to Lennie.

Renee said...

What a Beautiful Tragedy

Normally, I wouldn’t recommend the tragedy to my friends, but Of Mice and Men is an exception. The whole film is including the gorgeous rural landscapes, the excellent actors’ performance and the deep realistic meanings. From the camera lens, you can see a golden sunshine spreading to the whole farm. Dogs, chickens and horses are running across the field freely. Workers are busy to reap the rice under the burning sunshine, which their sweats are filled with their uniforms. What a real farm picture! The two actors are my familiars, too. Gary Sinise also played in famous films named “Forrest Gump” and “ Apollo 13”. John Malkovich is good at the drama. Gary performs as George, who is an extremely complicated role. He takes care of Lennie; meanwhile he complains Lennie as a heavy burden getting so many troubles for him. When Lennie kills Curly’s wife accidentally, the feeling of George is so complex —sad, angry and helpless. Gary shows them successfully through his face tiny expression. John Malkovich plays as Lennie, which is a challenging role —an intellectual disabled person. Obviously, his performance is perfect. We really see a lovely, simple, and sometimes an uncontrolled, crazy guy, who makes us laughing and pitiful. The film shows many significant meanings such as a real friendship between two entirely different persons, and what a harsh world we are living. Although George finally killed Lennie in person, I believe he is compelled to do that because he loves Lennie and doesn’t want to Lennie killed cruelly by Curly. This is a tragedy — a kindhearted tragedy. (263 words)

yuwin said...

A Nice Film

The film, Of Mice and Men, is a good enough to recommend to my friends. Although the film described a small ranch, it was shown many different roles in different ways by the director. Everybody had to do something for their dreams in the ranch . The dream won’t come true even you work hard, but you did not give up it.For example, Curley’s wife dreamed she could be movie star, but she was married to Curley, the boss’s son of the ranch. She got a husband, but she was lonely. She was always to wait or find her husband. George and Lennie had a dream to buy their own ranch. They worked hard, and they could save enough money in a short time. When Lennie killed Curley’s wife, meanwhile, their dream was broken . Candy had dream with George and Lennie together also won’t come true because of Lennie. In our life looks like the people in the ranch have to face some adversity that we could not avoid, but we still keep going toward our future life. I think nothing is impossible with confidence, perseverance, and courage.
(193)

Shadow Shu--Beatirce said...

Of Mice and Man is a good movie, talking about the story happens in a ranch, between two unlike friends—George and Lennie. This is a movie about friendship, love and scarifies spirit. There are many highlights in the movie. Firstly the acting, Lennie’s actor is amazing, his delicate acting of a mentally handicap man is so alive, we can almost touch a real Lennie from his little gestures and eyesight; Curly’s wife, gives us another remarkable performance to show her loneliness and naive personality. Secondly, the real ranch’s life is brought to us by the proper arrangements of lights, background music and even those real ranch workers participating in this movie. Thirdly, the classical last scene of Lennie’s death is so heart-broken and unforgettable. Finally, the moral questions the director wants to express. Do we really have the right to control and dominate others’ life? Like Culson kills Candy’s dog and ignores his pain. Curly treats his wife as a belonging and pays no attention to her dignity and desperation. This movie also has some shortages, like the character George is being sainted, a more “human being” George is more acceptable to me. The character Crooks has obviously something more to dig like going through the discriminations…
I won’t recommend this movie to any of my friends, this is a realistic world and people like entertaining movie only, this type of movie is only suitable to be shown inside classrooms.

Mavis said...

A Film Making You Thinking

I intensively recommend this film to my friends. The film told a tragedy story in an easy way. George and Lennie are in poverty situation: no money, no wife, and no capital; but they have dreams. George dreams to own a farm, Lennie dreams to own lots of rabbits: red rabbits, blue rabbits, and green rabbits. They work hard to save money for their dreams. Their dreams are so simple, so realistic. But sometime, you can’t control your fortune as like Lennie can’t control his hands’ strength. Lennie made a trouble again. He killed Curl’s wife just for stroking her hair. This disaster destroyed their dreams again. This time, it is not easy to resolve their trouble, they have to face Curly’s strong and ruthless. George made a hard decision: he triggered the gun on Lennie’s head behind Lennie. It made Lennie avoid the pain might put by Curly, and stopped all the troubles from Lennie. This is a surprised end. It is also the climax of the movie. The film makes me think about the fortune of human being, the friendship between people, and the society responsibility to disabled people. It is a nice film worth to watch.

-----199 words

Brad said...

From Kenny:

I will recommend to see the film “Of Mice and Men” to my friends. The reasons to recommends are the film shows us a real hardship of peoples, humanity between man and life of a lonely woman all together.

From the beginning, two young men are chased desperately by a group of armed horse men. After succeed or escape they have to sleep in field with carried blanket and looking for a job of farm worker to earn money. The barley harvest works in a ranch would be very hard works for them. During works many people suffer from wound and became disabled for life.

Not only hardship but the film shows humanity between George and Lennie during severe hardship. George are caring Lennie, who has a limited mental ability. At last he shoots Lennie to avoid a painful death at the hands of mob led by Curley.

In the movie, there is a death of lonely women too. As a woman who is not satisfied from her husband, she wants to receive a love or concern from near by men. But nobody respond because she is a wife of boss’ son who was pre-boxer. It is ended by tragedy.

Additionally the fact that the film was come from Nobel Prize wining author John Steinback’s novella “Of Mice and Men” and the background of the novella are similar with “The Wrath of Graph” was one of the reasons to recommend to see the movie.

lisa said...

The film Of Mice and Men is very worth to watch. I will recommend this film to my friend to watch because it s very interesting and exciting. Even though it is a tragedy, it warms people’s hearts since the friendship between George and Linnie is very strong. They are not brothers, but they are closer than brothers. Linnie has some mental problem; however, George helps him like a father. In the beginning of the film, George and Linnie’s hard situation made me admire their brave. When they work on the ranch, they see the hope that they could have their own ranch. Unfortunately, Linnie gets in trouble again that he kills Curley’s wife because he can not control himself when he is exciting or angry. Especially when he touches soft things. This time, it is hard to escape for them as they do not have enough time. Also, it is hard for George to make a decision because he really wants to together with Linnie to reach their dream and help Linnie a whole life. However, this time he has to choose to shoot Linnie by himself as he does not want to give Linnie to Curley so that have more pain on him. It is cruel, but it is logical. It makes me to think our real life. If we can have this friendship, it is worth to die. Please take time to watch it.

Unknown said...

To Live Another Life

I definitely will recommend this movie to my friend. This is a warm, heart touching movie; attracts the viewers to follow the steps of the two leading actors walking into an expected ranch, walking into a hopeful new beginning. Its era was once upon a time-a time most of us had never ever been through--work is hard to find, life is so difficult; and a bright future is some descriptions of a distant dream. Though, people at that time still worked towards their dream. This movie will be quite a inspiration; a window of a different world opened. Movies are often been viewed like living in some other’s life. For us, we can sit back to feel and learn the sorrowful tragedy from this movie “Of Mice and Men” and don’t have to experience it, and won’t have to sleep on the sadness of it, for the director didn’t want us to. There is a hint at the ending of this movie; leaves the viewers lots to think.

Word count: 172