Saturday, December 14, 2013

Jason and the Argonauts




Jason and the Argonauts is a story inspired be The Quest of the Golden Fleece, a
historical Greek myth that shows bravery and courage showed by Jason, son of King Aeson

and Queen Polymele. The story recounts the old Greek myth in an exciting, eye-catching form of events. Jason’s quest isn’t all about capturing the Golden Fleece, but it is also about finding who he really is and it is a test about how much he can do in order to save his family and kingdom. This is a must watch for people who like action and love stories. 

The film Jason and the Argonauts is all about courage, bravery, love for family, and fulfilling one’s destiny. The film starts as a group of soldiers invade Iolcus, the kingdom ruled by King Aesto. Pelias, Aesto’s brother and the leader of the army, kills Aesto to have the kingdom and was about to kill Jason, Aesto and Polymele’s son when a guard takes Jason to a secret tunnel and leads him out of the palace.

20 years later, finally learning his identity, Jason aims to retrieve his birthright duty as the king, but Pelias was clever enough to blackmail him against his mother’s life. Jason then tells him he would get Pelias the Golden Fleece, a dream Pelias so badly wanted and so he sets Jason out with the best ship and made him find his crew. 





Later on, he finds Orpheus, Herules, Atalanta, Argo, and many other more. They were called the Argonauts.


During their journey, they went through many challenges, like the clashing rocks, harpies, and the Island full of evil women.


 Later on, Jason meets Medea, daughter of the owner of the fleece, and the protector of the fleece itself. She helped them retrieve the Golden Fleece, killing his own brother in the process.





Finally getting home, Jason fins out they have been tricked, so he killed his uncle Pelias. He them marries Medea.










         

Jason London plays as Jason, which I thought was amazing because not only did he share Jason’s name but he also played Jason from the myths so well. He was handsome and strong-looking. Jason was the star of the show, and I think he perfectly suits Jason.

Medea was played by Jolene Blalock, who was a good actress and I think her natural, mysterious, fierce look was the perfect face for Medea.
The other actors also were good at their parts, especially Brian Thompson, who played Hercules, who had this cocky face and big body like how I imagined Hercules would be










I also loved Olivia Williams, the actress behind Hera, who was really beautiful and did well portraying a goddess by convicting a strong yet lovely personality just like Hera.






         Like the original story of the Golden Fleece, the film Jason and the Argonauts captured the sequence of the story well. Every action scene was really exciting and scary. It plays from the easiest tasks (like the harpies, the giant of the sea) to the most difficult ones (like the kingdom full of women, and the clashing rocks). The twists were also good, like Medea killing of her own brother and betraying her own kingdom for Jason, and Jason’s brother betraying them but being killed by his own father. I also liked the fact that Pelias had a signature killing move but it was also what Jason did to him when he killed Pelias.

The music was okay. The background noises were fine too. But I didn’t like the sound effects so much. For example, the bull. I didn’t think the bull’s noise was realistic at all. It also makes this huge clanking sounds with his feet on the sand, which was too loud because it was just sand it was stepping on. The others were okay, though not perfect.

Because it was a year 2000 film, I didn’t really expect it to have good effects. I didn't like the camera views. The camera kept moving, especially on the bull challenge. It was really hard to focus on the film.

There were many bad effects, like the bull, the clashing rocks, and the giant on the sea. I especially hated the bull part. As you can see in the picture, it doesn't look realistic at all. I think this part is the worst in the movie. 

But I liked the harpies though. They were the only creature that looked realistic. 





The lighting was good. The movie has a bright lighting, which was good because bright lighting symbolizes hope and a happy and successful story.

          Overall, I think Jason and the Argonauts is a great movie. Even though it's a bit old, I believe it will capture everyone's interests. It was a great rendition of the real story of The Quest of the Golden Fleece. I thought it was amazing to fit a whole, long journey in an hour of watching. The ending was a shocker, with Pelias killing his own son, but I think the movie gives us lessons in the end, like we shouldn't trade our own family for our desires, and of course, we should do everything in our strength for the people we love.

Jason and the Argonauts

Jason and the Argonauts

This movie is so inspiring, it can be watched by children and elders, it gives hope to the people who was given up on their dreams.

Jason, the heir to the kingdom of the ancient Greece, witnesses the murder of his father by his uncle, Pelias. After saved by one of his father's men, Jason goes back to his home to reclaim the throne of his father. When he returns, Pelias sentence him to death. To save his life, Jason promise to deliver the Golden Fleece to Pelias and save himself and his mother. Jason escorted by the Argonauts, he embarks on a journey to capture the Fleece and fulfill his destiny.

The theme is all about love and dedication, because Jason was very dedicated to save his beloved mother and his right to get the throne and he took the risk and quest to get/claim the Golden Fleece.

I don't think Jason London, who starred as Jason was formidable to this movie, because of his lack to act on that particular scene. The scene where Jason London acts bad, is the scene where the minoan bull attacks him. He does not look like struggling from his fight to minoan bull and he seems like he wins easily from the minoan bull.

The editors and the staffs did a great job on editing this film. Because of the editors, the movie was a success, without them, the movie could be worse. Even if the actors and actresses did not perform nicely, the editors will do the job and make the film success.

The Sound Engineering didn't do a great job on this film. The Sound Engineering did a bad timing on the part where Jason should have defeat the minoan bull and the sound is too loud and busted that makes the viewers cracked. But overall the sounds was great and timing too.

The lighting was good and it was based on the mood of the scenes on the film. Some of the graphics and effects was not good, like the minoan bull, it's not realistic, it's like a floating object in disguise, but the other scenes on this movie did a great job on lighting and it based on the movie, it goes with flow and the graphics and effects was really great.


Saturday, October 12, 2013

Worship Experience



          Going to church is a conscious obligation we must make every Sunday as Catholics. Conscious, because we must really mean it if we want to go to the church to worship God. An obligation, because it is the best way we can show our love and appreciation to Him.
            One Sunday, I attended Sunday school at Jesus is Alive Community with my nephew, Liam. I am a Catholic, but I prefer attending Christian Sunday school. The topic was about the popular story of the Prodigal Son. This story is taught to almost all of us since kindergarten. It is about a boy who demanded his father to give him all his shares of property, and later ran away to spend it on useless things. But finally, with no money left, he went home filled with remorse and guilt, and fell into his father’s awaiting arms.
            Needless to say, I already knew the story well. But the pastor related it to us teens in a very convincing way. He told us that the prodigal son is no different to us; we, teens, are too blinded by the riches of this world. We forget that money doesn't grow on trees, and we forget that our parents earned them by working hard and sacrificing so much to feed us and send us to school. We just take and take, not even bothering to thank and appreciate them.
            These words, said by a pastor I barely know, really did give me an impact it was intended to do. I remembered the times when I, too, was also blinded too much by money and possessions. I thought of all the things my mother worked hard to give me, yet still, I wasn't contented and kept asking for more. Sometimes, I don’t even think of her feelings. The pastor make me realize that whatever sins I have made, my family will always welcome me and forgive me wholeheartedly, and I shouldn't abuse their kindness and love. I learned to appreciate my family more, and to never again make money more important than them.







Friday, October 11, 2013

Retreat Experience

“Live a life of LOVE.”

            That was the theme for our retreat last September 18-19, 2013, at the Capuchin Retreat Center in Batangas. It was an overnight retreat with our teachers to renew our faith and fulfil our soul for God. So here are the happenings & my experiences in the retreat.
            All 4th year and Grade 6 students were told to be at school by 8am on September 18 for our preparations on the upcoming retreat. My friends and I were sooo excited, so we came at 7:30am. Our shirts were given, and we were all happy with its design, and the quote that was written on it. “Live a life of love.” it said. Of course, we didn’t know the true meaning of the quote at that time.

            We left at 9am, and the journey was kinda boring, yet you can hear little whispers about the students’ excitement. When we got there, it was lunch time already. We got out of the bus and were immediately caught by the beauty and peacefulness of the place. 

We all said the same conclusion; the retreat center looked like an academy. You know, like the schools where Hollywood actors shoot at on their films. Then we ate at small cottages outside, and had fun playing and looking around the venue. After, we went into the session hall and were given the rules and regulations for our stay. We were given our keys for our rooms, which I share Sofia and Gail, then again went back to the hall.





The pastor was introduced. He was a friend of our school's CE teacher, Sir Ian Lana. At first glance, he looks like a... normal dude. He didn't look like a pastor. We even thought he looked like Bam Aquino (hihi). But when he started to speak, he immediately caught our attention. He turned out to be a nice, God-fearing but funny pastor.




 
          We had a lot of activities during our retreat. There was a game called 'Samson, Delilah, and the Lion' or something like that. Then there were lessons and and stories that made us cry and realize the importance of our parents to us. And of course, the most emotional event, our sharing about our problems and heartaches to our advisers and classmates. That even made us, made ME, understand each and everyone more. After that, students apologized to each other, hearts and spirits were lifted, and of course, it bonded us closer to each other.
          The next day, we had our final lesson about purity. It was meaningful and had been such a great impact to most of us. And then, that was it. Our retreat was over. We went home with renewed faith and happy hearts.
          What I have learned the most in our retreat  was about understanding and learning to appreciate other people. Everybody has problems, and we shouldn't judge others without knowing them first. LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE. This retreat made us be closer to each other, and of course, love each other more.




Life Verse

“The Lord is my SHEPERD, I will NOT be AFRAID!”
                                                                                      Hebrews 13:6

The first time I heard the verse Hebrews 13:6, I was in 3rd year high school. I heard it from my 5 year old nephew who learned it from his school. When I heard the verse, it immediately got stuck on my mind. “The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be afraid.” I didn’t know why, but it immediately became my personal motto in life. Since then, it helped me a lot in my times of challenges in life.
            Why the heck haven’t I thought of this?” I asked myself. Through all of my problems, through all my fears, never have I reassured myself that, it’s okay, God is with me, even when no one else is. This verse became my reminder everytime I feel afraid of something.
            Like a shepherd takes good care, loves, and gives protection to his sheep, God does the same to me. He is my guide, my foundation, my rock. With Him, everything is possible. Hebrews 13:6 also taught me that with God, I can achieve my dreams. I used to be scared of pursuing my dreams on broadcasting, because I thought I wasn’t physically fit for it. But then I though, nothing is impossible if I have God with me. And now, I passed a scholar in Trinity University of Asia, and I am also eager to try out new schools and take on broadcasting. For I know, God is my shepherd. I have Him; He will take good care of me. I WILL NOT BE AFRAID! :)


Life Verse

Life Verse


Life Verse
"I have loved you with an everlasting love"
Jer. 31:3

I know that God loves us, but did I return all the favor to our father? All the things that I do cannot be changed in a matter of time. All the things that I have done wrong has been replenished by our loving and forgiving God.

He loves us, he take care of us and he forgives us for all the bad things that we done to him. He showing all his love to us because we wants us to return to him with all our heart and our clean minds showing that we love him. 

We must love God with all our hearts and minds on it. Like the love he gave us all. We should nourish all the love he gave to us and make his love be strong and think we could carry all the hatred that we experienced from the past. And thinking that God might help us to forget all the hatred that we encounter.

I must thank God for all the good things that he gave to me, and I am grateful that he gave to me all my supportive, loving and joyful family and friends. 


Worship

Worship Experience
Before I enter the church, I do the sign of the cross with holy water, it's like a sign of respect and love for God. Before I enter the church, I see many sculptures of God, his son, Jesus and his disciples. I also see see how huge the church from outside.

I go to church with my friends because I like them to be with me. It's like making my friends be religious and help them to love God and I want to influence them to go to Church. Like my friends at trinity, They influenced me to go to Church every Tuesday just to have fun and serve God.

When I am at the Church, the priest started talking and discussing something about God, it makes me and my friends happy. And the words that the priest talk about making me inspired. Sometimes the stories that the priest tells us to make us laugh and sometimes cry. The moment when I am at the church and leave the church made me very inspired and very happy. All I learn is to love God and nourish all the things that he have done to us.

Mural Painting

Mural Painting