Shawshank Redemption

“Shawshank Redemption” is a movie filled with adventure and many underlying messages. This was one of my favorite films because of all the symbolism and hope that fills this movie. This movie was about a guy named Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) who was convicted for murdering his wife and her so called lover, but he was always pleading his innocence. Unfortunately, no one listened or believed him. He is then sentenced to a life term at the Shawshank State Prison.

Another main character in this film is Red (Morgan Freeman), who also has to serve a life term in prison. Red acts as someone to look up to in the film. It seems as though everything looks at him for advice and he seems very knowledgeable. Red and Andy become exceptionally great friends and Andy seeks for advice in him and vice versa.

As Andy discovers the horrible life at prison he realizes that he is going to need to stand up for himself and not just be a pushover. It also seems that prisoners at that time really had look and listen for ways to impress the guards. Andy finally got his chance. He had the opportunity to tell the guard that he knew a lot about banking and documents and everything so he would be able to help him out. After that the guards treated Andy a little better. As time went on, Andy seemed to become more of a slave than a prisoner. The Warden always made him do the records for the prison and even clean his shoes. Finally, Andy had enough of that.

Throughout this film, there is a variety of symbolism that takes place. For example, the rain in this movie was a big symbol of cleansing and freedom. Also there is was an underlying message of hope. This movie was kind of like an allegory because this movie wasn’t really about just prison and what happens within those walls, it’s much more than that. I think that the underlying message was based on hope, and that if you lose hope in yourself, you are basically giving up on yourself and everything in life. You always need to keep hope because without hope, you have nothing. Throughout this film, Andy and Red always show hope and seem to never give up no matter what. Even though they are in prison, they have so much determination to someday get out of that awful place.  

I would rate this movie a 4.5 out of 5.

V for Vendetta

“Remember remember the fifth of November gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder, treason should ever be forgot.” In London, this rhythm has much more meaning to it than what you think. On the fifth of November in 1605, Guy Fawkes was caught in the cellars of the Houses of Parliament with several dozen barrels of gunpowder. He was tried as a traitor against his country and for plotting a terroristic attack against his government. Guy was sentenced to death and the form of the execution was one of the most horrendous that has ever been done. The movie V for Vendetta is based off of that tragedy. I thought this film was simply amazing. With all the symbols and fascism, it really does put more meaning to the movie.

From the very beginning of this movie, you are hooked. It is filled with so much action and mystery that you won’t want to look away. The main actors in this movie are V (Hugo Weaving) and Evey (Natalie Portman). The government in London is basically going crazy. They thought that their country would be better off with a curfew, so they had guys called “fingermen” out on the streets watching for people who were out past curfew. Natalie was one of those people who got caught and the figermen were going to do some awful things to her, if it wasn’t for “V” it would have happened. That is how V and Natalie meet and after that, they become very close, even though, they don’t know anything about each other. He helps her and she helps him in many different ways throughout the movie.

In this movie, there are many different symbols and different forms of fascism. The number 5 plays a huge role. It seems as though everything is based off that number. When the government people are talking to the Chancellor, there are 5 of them. When V is at his house, and is going to play this music player, there are over 200 songs he could have picked, and he picks number 5. Also, when they show the statue, there are 5 people that are on it. A very creative and interesting symbol was when Natalie is at V’s house eating breakfast, he serves her this piece of toast with an egg in the middle, and when she is at Gordon’s house, and he serves her the same thing. What this symbolizes, is when Natalie is in the jail cell, she has to wear this orange shirt, and she is laying in the middle of the floor in the fetal position and when the camera angle is facing down, it looks just like the breakfast that V and Gordon made her.

This movie was one of the best movies I had ever seen. It has a great underlying message and is filled with many symbols and shows a lot of fascism. I would definitely recommend this movie to people who are older because it is rated R, and there are some violent scenes. Knowing the background to this movie, made the movie even better and really put more meaning to it. I would rate this movie 4.5 out of 5.

The Simpsons Movie

5 Examples of Irony: 1.“The book doesn’t have any answers”--Homer
2. “If you can’t believe in me, believe in America”—Homer (all the Mexican restaurant signs and Chinese signs are around when he said
that)
3. “Don’t look where I’m pointing”—Random lady
4. Bart is drinking and says, “I’m troubled, I’ll
stop tomorrow”.
5. There is a sign that says “God Bless this house”;
meanwhile it is being destroyed into the sinkhole.

5 Examples of Puns:
1. Dome Depot
2. Dome Sweet Dome
3.Grand Theft Walrus
4. We are domed!
5.Trapaccinio

Top 5 quotes:
1.  “Maybe we should kiss to break the tension” –
Homer
2. “ The government actually found someone they
were looking for”—Some guy on the computer
3. “We have a great life here in Alaska, and we're
never going back to America again”—Homer
4. “If you can find a greasier sandwich, you're in
Mexico”—Krusty the Clown
5. [after the Simpsons' house collapses into the
sink hole] They're China's problem now “—Chief Wiggum

6 Examples of Parody:
1.The Green Day stage was sinking, like the Titanic.
2. The monkey off of the Phantom of Opera.
3. Snow white—when all the deer, squirrels, chipmunks
undressed Homer and Marg
4.How the Grinch Stole Christmas—When Homer was
running up the hill mushing the dogs in Alaska
5. When Bart put a bra on his head, which imitated
Mickey Mouse.
6.Harry Plopper—as in Harry Potter
7. Spider Pig—Spider Man

6 Examples of Satire:1. “The government actually found someone they were
looking for”
2. Stuck between a rock and a hard place
3. The president is blindly choosing what to do
4. “I was elected to read, not lead”
5. They guys says “Code Black! That’s the worst color!” Then he turns to the black guy next to him and says “sorry Carl”. Then Carl says, “it's ok I get that a lot”.
6. When Marg says to her daughter who is angry, “You’re
a woman, you can hold onto it forever”

PHS PARADISO

 "Once a Yellowjacket, always a Yellowjacket"

This quote and picture show that we are who we are, and where we come from stays with us forever.

Trying our best will make us go far in life, and will help us to succeed in our future endeavors.



Wheather we are coming or going, we will always have PHS memories in our hearts.

Opening and closing these lockers in Senior Hall signify the effort and struggles it takes to reach what we  strive for; graduation.

As we grow up, we ascend like the levels of "The Box"; empowering ourselves to become mature adults in life.



No matter where you are in life, you will be faced with tradegy and tears, only to make you stronger.

We entrust others to help us go forward in life in order to bring us to where we need to be.

Leaders. They are what it takes to achieve and believe!