Movies that Move

Lord of the Rings : The Fellowship of the Ring

My second favorite movie scene. Gandalf's profound quote is a tender reminder that life is short, and it is important not to dwell on the little things that have come and gone, but to focus on making our journey ahead.

Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers

My number one favorite movie scene. Samwise Gamgees heartfelt speech taught me that there will always be both good and evil in the world; however the good will always outweigh the bad if we choose to see the light in every darkness.


~ Both of these movies, along with The Return of the King (the final installment to the trilogy) all have one thing in common: the power to enthrall anyone who's watching to make differences, no matter how big or small. The Lord of the rings trilogy is the story of a group of companions who embark on a quest to save the world as they know it. Middle earth is on the brink of destruction, and it is up to two little hobbits to change the course of the world's fate. Elijah Wood stars as Frodo Baggins and does a brilliant portryal with his captivating emotional complexity and heartfelt speeches. I give all three of these movies 5 stars out of 5. If I had to choose one, however, it would have to be the first (The Fellowship of the Rings) because it is the one that had me coming back for more. The books are even better, if you can believe it. If you would like a sneak peak into what you might expect in these books, watch the movies. They will serve as a trailer to one of the greatest stories of all time. 

Impossibly Small

The impossibly small, 1st generation iPod nano

Visual ads tend to be powerful images that capture the consumer’s eye with a number of techniques. Apple chose a simplistic image, recognizable to many. Their message is powerfully subtle. In this particular advertisement, apple is presenting their 1^st generation iPod nano – a brilliantly successful portable MP3 player, capable of carrying 1 GB of music (about 1000 songs.) The hook to this advertisement, along with many of their ads, is simplicity. They rely heavily on their brand name to speak for itself. This is the best approach in advertisement because they need not list a load of persuasive language to sway buyers. Their products are capable of selling themselves.

        How in the world can something so tiny, so effortless, have the capacity to hold so many songs? If your thinking the same question, then this ad is a success in itself. This is exactly what Apple wants you to think when you indulge in their products – your getting nothing less than the greatest, no matter what. The phrase, “impossibly small,” creates an illusion that this MP3 player is a breakthrough in technology. Compared to similar products, many competitors focus on the little things, rather than the big idea, which is the functionality of the product in the users hand. This is one of the main reasons why Apple soars above the rest of the competition. This in turn, allows them to create simple advertisements that work. Users are expected to bring the knowledge to the table that Apple produces nothing but the best.

        The ad targets anyone who has a passion for music and for the latest and greatest devices of technology. Overall, I feel this ad is extremely successful for one of two reasons. One, Apple is known to One-up all of its competitors year after year. Therefore their ads are successful without much effort. That’s the beauty of their advertisements. They can be so effortless and subtle, yet attract so many people season upon season. And two, they nailed it with the slogan "impossibly small." This leaves the consumer thinking, "we did it! We finally made the world's smallest MP3 player, how do I get one?" The feeling of breakthrough. Nothing compares. Although some could argue that it’s just another MP3 player, think about how difficult it would be selling as many units as they have with nothing but a black backdrop, 4 words, and a picture of the product. Good luck.

[Chapter 2 – 106]

5 Looks on a Book

The Giver; "Gallant, inspirit, venturesome, exhilarating, and righteous"

G allant - A brave heart; destined for greatness.

I nspirit - Enlivens the soul; inspires those on the edge of surrender and conquest.

V enturesome - Seeks new refuge beyond where life has thought to end.

E xhilarating - Exciting in every sense, but eery at the same time

R ighteous - Genuine observant of the principles of life.

You Don't Have to Move a Muscle!

Advertisements are everywhere. From billboards on the streets of LA, to the very television's in our homes. Advertisers want the attention, now. Many do this by proposing an easy way out. Who doesn't want the product that makes all the decisions for us? Sign me up! My ad is a parody on many ads we see today that guarantee easy solutions to not so easy problems. Ads for things like weight-loss supplements and diet programs use this method to persuade buyers into trusting them. The buyer's fate is put at the mercy of the product. Many people choose products that dumb down our everyday obligations so "YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE A MUSCLE!" My advertisement is selling a community to all the lazy people out there who want things now - fast and easy - without having to put the necessary work in. Ads like mine sway people by pretending to care about their well-being. They don't. In fact, they just want your money. The hand manipulating the manikin signifies the lack of choice and decisions people actually have when they rely so heavily on advertisements to improve their lives. Sound familiar? A society like this may seem unrealistic, but perhaps this is the very society we've already become.

 The hand manipulating the manikin signifying that choice becomes corrupted when your faith is put into the wrong hands.

GIVER THOUGHTS - Closing Impressions

Jonas thrives while everyone else remains in place. He flourishes while they fill time. His perception is full of competence while theirs of inadequacy. He lives amongst those who merely survive. Jonas is real. His memories are real. And although this sequesters him from the rest, he’s got one thing they don’t have – something worth living for. 

Jonas hangs like the apple from a tree. Dangling with life. Pulling away from the tree - from the community