Critical Comment I Disagree With Shaylinn Gentry

Davis, Nick. “Freedom Writers.”

Nick’s Flick Picks 8 Aug. 2007

06 May 2010 <http://www.nickflickpicks.com/fwriters.html.>

“Ironically, the film features almost zero teaching.  Despite much pedagogical posturing, it doesn’t teach us much, either.”

I disagree with Nick’s critical comment because Mrs. Gruwell teaches the students they are similar. She also teaches them to get along with each other and put aside the racial differences. I also disagree because the film teaches us, the viewers, corrupt childred can be changed and are not a lost cause.

Pilar’s Disagreeing Post

McDonagh, Maitland. “Freedom Writers” TV Guide

27 February 2007. May 6, 2010

http://movies.tvguide.com/freedom-writers/review/285211

“But it’s undeniably affecting, in large part because of Hilary Swank’s gawky, intensely chipper performance as quintessential daddy’s girl Gruwell, who chooses teaching over law because she believes education is the key to keeping ghetto kids out of jail, and who elects to work at troubled Woodrow Wilson High School out of admiration for her father’s (Scott Glenn) involvement with the Civil Rights movement.”

The naive Mrs. Gruwell may “believe education is the key to keeping ghetto kids out of jail”, this may not be true. Maybe if she was more aware of the environment she was teaching in she would understand this is not the case. Mrs. Gruwell got her message across to the kids and let them know she cared and they had a purpose in life. But then look at how many educated people go to jail for petty crimes. I disagree with her thinking because no matter what type of school or level of education one might have they make mistakes and go to jail. Even if they did live in the ghetto all of her students weren’t accustom to the life style. Take the white student for example, he was terribly afraid of his gang affiliated classmates.  Yes Mrs. Gruwell educated the kids but they have to decide if they want to live the life of crime or to live life going in the right path. Her job was to show them they had to make the choice for their futures.

Justin Farrar

Brussat, Frederic & Marry Ann. “Freedom writers”. Spirituality and Practice. 16 January 2007. 6 May 2010. http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/films/films.php?id=16443

“An inspiring drama about an idealistic teacher who breaks down the walls separating her students from each other and enables them to celebrate their unity in diversity.”

I agree with this comment because I truly beleive that Ms.G was a very inspiring teacher. An example would be when they played the tape game and she would ask them questions and they would have things in common and at the begining of their sophomore year the students read out loud in class about what they did over their summer break.

Agreeable Critic Review-Kimy Thai

Kimy Thai

Urban, Andrew. “Freedom Writers.” Urban Cinefile 16 March 2007. 05 May 2010 <http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=12902&s=Reviews>.

“The encounter changes them all, and the film is the story of how that change occurs, what pain it brings and what it achieves.”

I believe in this comment by the critic Andrew Urban.  He makes a good point about how painful change can bring and what it can achieve.  This is a great way of explaining the transformation of the kids in the class.  They went from learning everything they know from the streets and justifying what they do and how they act by what is expected of them. But they learn that there is a better way to live and make decisions through Erin’s (Hilary Swank) teachings and understandings.

Critical agreement by Francy Chavarriaga

Berardinelli, James.  “Freedom Writers (2007)”.

Reel Views  01 May  2007.

4 May 2010 http://www.reelviews.net/movies/f/freedom_writers.html.

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“Freedom Writers delivers the expected messages about hope and the ability to change one’s destiny, and does it in a manner that it is emotionally and intellectually satisfying. This isn’t a great movie, but it is effective drama where the big emotional scenes more often feel real than contrived.”

I agree with the movie critic because in the  movie we can see how a inexperienced young teacher can change the course of her students” lives. She sacrificed her personal and professional life for them because she believed that  they could be success as a student and different as people.

David Moreno Critic Agreement

 Schwarzbaum, Lisa. ” Freedom Writers.”

Entertainment Weekly 10 Jan. 2007.

4 May. 2010 <http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007976,00.html>.

“Freedom Writers is one of those movies — square, sincere, and proud of it.”

I agree with this coment because the version  shows the realistic  way of how a teacher supossed to act to confront a  racial sitution in American schools. Especially in the state of California. where the movie was filmed. I hope this movie gives  motivation to other teachers in the U.S.A. So that racism will decrease and there will be a friendly environment in any educational campus.

Critic Agreement–Ana Quintanilla

Keller, Louise. “Freedom Writers.” Urban CineFile  22 Mar. 2007. 4 May 10. <http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=12902&s=Reviews>.

“Hilary Swank is all heart in this uplifting film about kids from the wrong side of the track who become inspired to learn and do the right thing. Racial prejudice and discrimination are the key issues, with Swank as the idealist teacher driven by her desire to make a difference.”

I absolutely agree with this statement because in the beginning she tries her hardest to get the students to like her, so they can enjoy class. As she expresses her concerns about the students not having new books, she decides to get an extra job to pay for them.  Once she gets enough money she buys them their notebooks so that they can start writting in them. Slowly, the students begin liking her because she is putting forth so much effort.

Pilar’s Agreeing Post

Smith, Anna. “Freedom Writers.” British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

27 February 2007. May 4, 2010

http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2007/02/26/freedom_writers_2007_review.shtml

“But Freedom Writers has its inspiring moments – especially given the true story – and some tense, dramatic scenes amid the speedy montages of confusing gang action.”

Some of the inspirational moments in the movie are towards the end when the students then realize they can learn and work together regardless of race or where they come from. The students began believing in themselves and knew they could make it in their type of life style. Instead of being hopeless, the students looked towards a future. After a school year a lot had changed for them. They became more positive and respectful to adults and mainly Mrs. Gruwell. They had respect for themselves and fellow classmates as well. Survival didn’t mean watching your back all the time. It had a different meaning as they saw they had a long life ahead of them to look forward to living.

Amber Hamilton, Online Quote and Documentation

Online Quote and Documentation

Turner, Matthew.  “Freedom Writers (12A).”  View London.co.uk.  28 Feb 2007.       04 May 2010.  <http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/freedom-writers-film-        review-18478.html.>.

“An inspirational teacher movie that is moving, thought-provoking and succeeds in being genuinely inspiring.”

In reading his movie review, it is apparent that Matthew Turner and I have similar opinions of the movie Freedom Writers.  I agree with with his review, Freedom Writers is a feel good motivational film.  It is one of those movies that urges you to get up and do something, it inspires you not only want to make a difference in the world it also challenges you to make the difference. For example, in the movie when Eva decided to go against the societal norm and testify against her own.  This part in the film was very inspriational because it challenges you to do what is right even when it is not popular.

Quote I Agree With Shaylinn Gentry

Smith, Kyle. “Freedom Writers.”

New York Post 5 Jan. 2007

04 May 2010 <http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/item_MIwKOx1LPQsu3ujZitA6J;jsessionid=0106BE4BCB26892.>

“ONE teacher can make a difference in a troubled students life.”

Critic Kyle Smith’s comment is agreeable because Hilary Swank as Erin Gruwell proved in Freedom Writers troubled students lives could be changed.  She convinced them they could be more than they believed they could.  Erin taught the students to think outside the box and expand their minds to broader prospectives.  She encouraged them to read and write more.  The students turned from corrupt to respectful,  started to have a peace of mind.  Gruwell was amazing as she helped the students remove the hatred and racism from their lives.  They were troubled by the lives they lived and Erin helped them look beyond all the evilness around them and move forward.