Monday, September 30, 2013

Review: Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore was created in 1996, featuring Adam Sandler as the main character. Like most of Sandler's films, Happy Gilmore is a comedy. It has also been listed under the category sports, as the plot is a hockey player, wanting to go professional, was rejected. He gets the idea to start golfing by Chubbs (a former pro golfer), although he hates it at first, it is a way to collect money. This money is used to attempt to save his grandmother's home, he is only given three months to come up with the money. Happy Gilmore is Adam Sandler's character, he is very aggressive and short tempered while not only playing hockey, but golf as well.

Happy is always up against Shooter, who usually wins first place. Although Happy usually doesn't place well, he has caught every one's attention. People are interested in him because of his humor and non traditional playing. Because of his aggressiveness, many people want Happy off the tour; because the ratings have dramatically increased, and he hasn't broke any technical rules he is allowed to continue to play.
The movie wouldn't be complete without romance. Throughout the film,  Happy begins to fall for tour PR head Virginia Venit. At first she overlooks his attempts to ask her out but she finally agrees and romance begins to blossom.

The film was extremely successful money wise, on its release weekend, it was ranked second in the box office, with $8.5 million in revenue. The movie was inspired by Adam's friend Kyle while growing up. Kyle wanted to be a hockey player but was extremely talented at golf. He joined a golf league and won the championship.

Adam Sandler is a common name in the comedy world. In Happy Gilmore, he has yet again created a hilarious film. Viewers are entertained by his funny antics but also by the anticipation of watching Happy compete in each round. You see Happy's sensitive side when talking to or about his grandmother, and also his relationship with Virginia. I would recommend watching this movie, available on Netflix. It is rated PG-13 for some language and comic sexuality. Because of this, preview the movie before letting younger kids watch it.

Thanks for reading,
     Emily

Review: Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Keeping Up With the Kardashians is a reality TV show broadcasted on E! network. Although there are now 8 seasons, Netflix currently only has seasons 1 through 4. This TV show is rated TV-14 because some situations may be unsuitable for children under 14 years old. Because this reality TV show has an extremely large audience, the family receives tons of criticism for their actions, apperance, etc. They are often shown on the covers of magazines and on television shows. Even with the cruel critics and paparazzi, the family continues to live their lives with the cameras watching their every move.

Many people are familiar with the popular Kardashian family. The family contains 3 sisters (Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe), their brother Rob, and their 2 half sisters (Kylie and Kendall). The family has a busy schedule filled with clothing lines, perfume lines, stores, photo shoots, appearances, as well as their everyday life. For Kris, the mom and Bruce Jenner (father of Kylie and Kendall) they deal with raising their family. Also raising a family is Kourtney and her boyfriend Scott, who have a son Mason, and now a daughter Penelope. Kim recently had a child with Kanye West, named North.

There is also spin off shows based on different members of the family such as: Khloe and Lamar, Kim and Kourtney take Miami, Kim and Kourtney take New York, Kourtney and Khloe take Miami, etc. These TV shows include the members of the Kardashians in different situations and different times in their lives. While each member has their own struggles, the family always ends up being there for each other, no matter what the circumstances. People find it easy to connect with the different characters and the family in general. Viewers may discover a favorite character throughout the seasons. Personally my favorite is Khloe, she is funny and is always full of life. She has a strong will and can usually bring the family back together during hard times.

Although the whole family has collected a lot of money and is very wealthy, they don't have it easy. Though some viewers may forget, they are just people. Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney's dad had died when they were teenagers, which was very hard for them, because of how close they were to him. Also, Khloe has had issues with getting pregnant and has had a lot of people look down upon her because of her weight. Kourtney has dealt with alcohol problems with her boyfriend Scott, and him not being a good father. They are all trying to figure out life just like all of you, but they do with cameras present.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians is an entertaining programn, showing the ups and downs of not only their personal lives, but also what it takes to run their professional lives. It is a reality TV show of the struggles and benefits of being famous and how they have developed throughout the seasons. I would recommend Keeping Up with the Kardashians if you enjoy other programs on E! television or reality TV in general. Although you may not learn new scientific breakthroughs, or the story of world war two, you will become more aware of the situations they are put in before you judge them, the next time you see "Kardashain" on the cover of People magazine.

Thanks for reading,
     Emily

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Profiles

Netflix has created the profiles feature for its users, in order to customize their Netflix. A maximum of five profiles can be created per account. These can also be connected to Facebook to get recommendations from friends. Although the profiles can be used to separate different user's feeds, you can also create different profiles for different moods, just like you would create different playlists on your iPod. You can now have specific suggestions for your taste, rather than a mix of every users taste. You can create profiles under the "manage profiles" tab. You can also set a different icon for each user, that will appear such as a profile picture on a social media site. If the profile is connected to Facebook, your Netflix profile picture will be the same as on Facebook. For more information on how to create, customize, or any other aspect of Netflix profiles, click here.

Thanks for reading,
     Emily

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Review: TLC

TLC is a broadcasting network for many popular television shows. Although the majority of the series are categorized as reality TV, they are far from most people's view or reality. The shows include Breaking Amish, Hoarding: Buried Alive, Extreme Couponing, Toddlers in Tiaras, and many other shows that show how different other's lives can be. This helps make people aware of the situations that people are put in by money, emotions, or by mere choice. Though not everyone accepts these lifestyles, and may judge the people or families on the show, each has an interesting story. Each of these shows are available on Netflix along with many others shown on TLC network.

Breaking Amish is a reality TV show about Amish young adults, leaving their homes and traveling to big cities to decide if the Amish community is right for them. With a dramatically different lifestyle and much more freedom than before, some become very lost and get consumed within parties, drinking, and drugs. Others find that they would like to return home and become a part of the Amish church. Although the teens should be given more freedom to make sure they want to commit to the church for the rest of their lives, i don't believe that is an excuse to act immaturely or inappropriately. The newly found freedom can become overwhelming for these Amish teenagers and the series captures many different aspects of different people's lives, while living on their own.

Hoarding: Buried Alive follows the stories of many men and women who struggle with the problem of hoarding. Hoard is defined as: "to accumulate for preservation, future use, etc., in a hidden or carefully guarded place,". Though hoarders hold onto items, usually for "preservation", they are not used in the future or hidden. The objects consume the owner's whole life. They fill the home, car, storage unit, etc. Holding on to these objects may have been caused by a traumatic event in the owner's life, or could also be caused mentally. Death, abandonment, etc. are examples of causes of hoarding. Being a neat freak, the show personally disgusts me but I understand that these people are struggling, and emotionally can't get rid of their belongings. Many people have heard of, or used the word hoarding but you don't fully understand how extreme the conditions can be until watching Hoarding:Buried Alive.

Extreme Couponing is a very difficult concept to me. These people save thousands of dollars a year by strategically planning what coupons to use, when and where. Each shopping trip must be planned out and double checked to make sure the buyer gets the most savings possible. Because there is a large variety of coupons, the couponer usually doesn't work and spends their time finding and clipping coupons. The television show shows the planning that has been completed and the shopping trips that the buyer performs. Typically, multiple carts are needed to carry the shopping items. The couponers store the items in stock piles around their homes. In these stock piles there are items such as canned food, boxed food, cleaners, laundry detergent, tooth brushes, soap, etc. Anything that has a coupon, the buyer usually purchases whether they need the item or not. The most amusing part of each episode is seeing the total drop dramatically, and seeing how much money can be saved by using coupons. Couponing has become more popular since the show was aired.

Toddlers in Tiaras is very comical; the contestants are usually little girls, although some boys participating in pageants. Competing in a beauty pageant takes a lot of money, time, and in general.. work! The families of the contestants have given a lot to their little ones to compete. Along with the work, sass is necessary to compete in the pageants.  The kids bring humor to the show with their funny actions and expressions. Each episodes the preparation and the final product (the actual pageant) of each child. Some may think it is wrong for parents to have their children participate in beauty pageants like those shown on each episode but I believe, as long as the child is having fun and not extremely pressured, that they are fine. Again, reality television gives others the chance to judge other's lives.

TLC is a network focused on reality TV, other TLC shows that appear on netflix include:
-Say Yes to the Dress
-Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta
-Say Yes to the Dress Randy Knows Best
-Cake Boss
-Sister Wives
-My Strange Addiction
-Addicted
-DC Cupcakes

Thanks for reading,
     Emily






http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hoard

Monday, September 16, 2013

Review: DC Cupcakes


D.C Cupcakes is in the category of reality TV. It is similar to the show Cake Boss, for those of you that have seen it. D.C Cupcakes take place in Washington D.C following the stories of two sisters Sophie and Katherine. They had quit their jobs to follow their dreams of baking and created Georgetown Cupcakes.The show is aired on TLC.

Although there are only 28 episodes, it is amazing to see the variety of creations that the bakery can produce. Sophie and Katherine are extremely creative when it comes to making up new flavors for the shop or putting together a creation for an event. Although D.C cupcakes shows large products, the store is also open for regular customers and smaller orders. They have a large variety of flavors shown on the different episodes. Because they are sisters, and working together Sophie and Katherine have many arguments. Throughout the episode, they solve many problems within the cupcake world but also in their relationships.

If you enjoy cooking shows, reality TV, or sweet treats, i would recommend the show D.C Cupcakes. It is appropriate for all age groups and the creations are always amazing!

Thanks for reading,
     Emily

Below are some images of the Georgetown's finished projects.


Saturday, September 14, 2013

Recommendations 1

This post will feature brief recommendations for various age groups and interests, available on Netflix. I hope that you will all find something worth watching.

*Ages 5-10, Boys: Younger boys would enjoy Disney shows like Austin and Ally, Phineas and Ferb, cartoons like Hey Arnold, The Magic School Bus, Spongebob Squarepants, and movies like Spy Kids, The Avengers, and Rango.

*Ages 5-10, Girls: They may also enjoy the boys recommendations but more specific for girls would be TV shows like Dora The Explorer, Good Luck Charlie, and the variety of Disney movies such as Hercules and Fox and the Hound.

 *Ages 13-18, Boys: Boys of this age might also like How I Met Your Mother and various crime shows. Also, movies that include super heroes, like The Avengers. They may also like various movies like Super 8, End of Watch, and Restrepo.

*Ages 13-18, Girls: Many girls enjoy the series How I met Your Mother, various crime shows, Glee, and Pretty Little Liars. Older girls may like series such as Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, and 90210. They may watch many movies such as Footloose, Matilda, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. They may also like the Disney movies.


















Thanks for reading,
     Emily

Review: Bones

Bones is a crime, comedy-drama series that first premiered on Fox in 2005. It was created by Hart Hanson. The show is based on forensic anthropology, with the main characters being FBI agent Seeley Booth and forensic anthropologist Dr. Brennan, who Booth calls Bones. Although there isn't any new episodes, the series has been renewed for a ninth season. This will be premiering September 16th, 2013. There is also a spin off series called The Finder. The Finder is about Walter who has suffered brain damage over seas and is now very skeptical and has the ability to find anything. The two overlap in a couple episodes. I have started watching the finder after completing Bones. I believe that both are very interesting but I find that so far, I prefer Bones over The Finder.

Bones is interesting because throughout the seasons, many characters and viewers see how in love Booth and Bones are, but they fail to see it. Their relationship throughout the show is one aspect that makes Bones worth watching. If you find science, like the human body interesting then you can learn a lot by the dialog between characters. Also, you can learn a lot about the science behind crimes like murder. It is much more complicated than it seems on most crime shows. Although, it isn't all crime or science, there is detail on each character's relationships and lives. Another factor of the show that I find interesting is how much information about a murder you can find out by just looking at their bodies. In Bones, Dr. Brennan is the best in the world, so she works with a variety of problems. No crime is ever the same throughout the seasons but there is episodes that are related, such as the same murders. She is also an author of crime novels that are very successful. But all of her success is a result of hard work but also a rough childhood that causes Bones to be very rational-thinking. This can come in between her relationships with people. As the show continues, she finds out more about her past and how to love people, and not just her job.

There is eight seasons each with around twenty episodes. It is under the genres of romance film, crime fiction, comedy, procedural drama, police procedural and mystery. The cast includes Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, T.J Thyne, and many more. I would highly recommend the series Bones, i really enjoyed it and if you aren't interested in watching the whole series, it usually isn't necessary to watch the previous episode to understand the murder, but it may be necessary to understand the character aspect of the show. I am looking forward to the new season because the ending left me wondering what happens next. I am excited to see how things work out.

Thanks for reading,
           Emily


Monday, September 9, 2013

History of Netflix

Netflix is a word you may hear around high schoolers, throughout the conversations of sports teams, even the workplace. Netflix has had a dramatic increase in the number of subscribers recently. It is a very popular company, with over 37 million streaming members globally, with many of us are included in that number. We are all able to enjoy the services... But what is Netflix? How did it start? Where did the idea come from? How much is it? What is available? These are many common questions I hope to give you the answers to.

In August of 1997 Netflix (originally NetFlix, with a capital F) was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, to rent and sell DVDs over the Internet. Hastings had come up with the idea when he was forced to pay forty dollars in late fines for a movie. At first the company's goal was to send and sell DVDs to others because few video stores actually carried DVDs. The company could have low prices because shipping costs were low, but also guaranteed that the movie would be in stock.

The company opened on April 14th, 1998 with only 30 employees and 925 titles available. In September 1999, Netflixed offered the subscription option. This optioned allowed customers to pre-select 4 DVDs with no late fees or due dates for around $15. In February, 2000, Netflix started recommending titles. At this time, the company was distributing more than 100,000 DVDs a week.

In February 2003, Netflix had hit one million subscribers. By 2005, they we're shipping over a million DVDs a day and had over 35,000 titles to chose from. Finally in 2007, Netflix offered an on demand option. At first there was no charge for this service. In 2007-2011 Netflix experience dramtic growth as a business but in order to have extra services, it was going to cost them.

Today customers pay a monthly fee of $7.99 for unlimited movies and tv episodes streaming over the Internet. You can watch Netflix on devices like PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, smartphones, tvs, and computers. If you are not sure about joining Netflix, they offer a free trial period. You can try Netflix free for a month. Also, you aren't stuck in a contract. You can cancel your subscription at anytime with no cancelation fees.

Another benefit of Netflix is that you may rewind, fast forward, pause, and reply and tv episode or movie. Both that contain no commercials. During suspenseful movies I find this very beneficial so you don't have to watch a commercial when you are really excited to see what happens next. Netflix offers old, new, and original series and movies. Some of my favorite are the classic Disney movies they offer from when I was younger.I also enjoy the Netflix original series that are available to watch. To subscribe to Netflix, visit www.Netflix.com to sign up. You will need a credit card on account for your monthly fees to be paid.

Throughout my blog I will post more information needed about Netflix and the memberships, I will start reviews and recommendations soon! I hope you found this information helpful, or at least interesting.

Thanks for reading,
   Emily

Introduction

Bored of watching ordinary TV? Want to watch your favorite shows when, and where you want? Try Netflix. Netflix offers a wide variety of television shows and movies. People enjoy Netflix because it is easily accessible on any device with internet. Many teenagers spend a lot of time of their free time watching TV series or popular movies. Some find it fun to find uncommon shows or movies to share with others. Since becoming members of Netflix, my family and I have spent less time watching TV and more time watching Netflix. The "just for kids" option is great for younger kids, like my three brothers because it puts only appropriate content on their screen. One negative of Netflix is you can only be logged in on three devices; with a family of nine with many iPhones, iPads, and TVs this can cause a lot of tension.

I started watching Netflix with friends about a year ago, my family recently got a membership about three months ago. While watching Netflix I have completed the series of Bones, watched various episodes of Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, Flash Point, and many movies. Throughout the year, i will be continuing to watch more series but movies as well. My sister, Lily just finished the series of, How I Met Your Mother.

In my blog, I will review many movies and TV shows available on Netflix but also give more information about the memberships, the history of the company, and other information. I will also give recommendations from my younger siblings (2 brothers: 6, 1 brother: 10, 2 sisters: 13) but also teenage friends, and older family members such as parents. Given the wide range of ages and interests, there should be ideas that each reader will find interesting.

Thanks for reading,
     Emily