January 20, 2015
By Bess Murad and Sophia Ferlenda
Staff Writers
Unbroken
“Unbroken” is the uplifting story of a WWII war prisoner and Olympic track athlete, Louie Zamperini, portrayed by Jack O’Connell. Zamperini survived in a raft for 47 days after his plane was shot down. Zamperini and his two crew members survived the plane crash struggling through harsh conditions to stay alive. Soon after a Japanese war ship captured the remaining men, attempting to get answers. Eventually they were separated and sent to two different Japanese prisoner-of-war camps where they were tortured and taught to behave like Japanese soldiers. Zamperini was brutally abused by the leader of the camp “The Bird” because Zamperini’s defiant personality. The movie follows Zamperini’s struggle and how he survived through everything. Junior Sam Mueller along with many other Jamesville-Dewitt High School students think that this movie is “inspirational” because they can relate it to their own lives. “It makes me want to work harder at the things I do and the sports I play,” Mueller said.
Annie
“Annie” is the modern remake of the original movie made in 1982. The modern remake starred Quvenzhané Wallis, an African American in the main role as Annie. Freshman Riley Cappelletti thought the movie was “pretty good” although she prefered the original version. Cappelletti’s favorite part of the movie was at the end, when Annie decided to be adopted by Mr. Stacks. Junior Maddie Behan was not a fan of this movie because other than the main character there was “bad actors and bad singing.” Although it was the same storyline as the original Behan believes there is “no comparison between the two movies.”
The movie follows Annie, an orphan who is treated cruelly by Ms. Hannigan, played by Cameron Diaz, the orphanage owner. Annie is one day selected by a millionaire Will Stacks, played by Jamie Foxx in an updated version of Mr.Warbucks, to come with him to public functions to boost his image as a nicer guy. Mr. Stacks didn’t want to be a part of Annie’s life at first, but as they began to spend more time together in their home, New York City, Stacks fell in love with Annie. He began to treat her like his own, and before he knew it he wanted nothing more in the world than to adopt her. Annie however still had faith in her birth parents coming back to adopt her one day. Eventually she realized Mr. Stacks was her dad even if it wasn’t her birth dad and agreed to be adopted.
Into the Woods
“Into the Woods” impressed many with its plot of intertwining classic Disney movies that bring familiar characters into a musical that takes place in the woods. Sophomore Livvy Behan said, “it wasn’t just another Disney movie.” As the result of a curse put on them by a once-beautiful witch (Meryl Streep), a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) are childless. They were given three midnights to venture into the forest to find the ingredients that will reverse the spell and restore the witch’s beauty: a milk-white cow, hair as yellow as corn, a blood-red cape, and a slipper of gold. During their journey, they meet Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel and Jack, each one on a separate journey to do something for themselves.
Viewers were impressed at the complexity in the costumes and sets. Sophomore Livvy Behan was extremely impressed by Cinderellas ball dress because of how beautiful it was and how, “it looked amazing on Anna Kendrick(Cinderella).” The music in the movie also blew people away. Junior Meg Parker was very impressed by the maturity of Daniel Huddlestone’s voice and acting as Jack. Parker attended the movie because of her love for Meryl Streep. The favorite song overall was “Agony,” the song two princes sang together about their struggle of not being able to be with the girls they love. Behan loved this song because “the actors were attractive, and the song itself was very catchy.”