Water for Elephants: A Refreshing Pachydermal Adventure

Movie Review by: Fantastical Kritic  Katie Fischer

                                    Jacob's fate is being decided by August the psychotic circus owner

A beautiful adaptation of the novel, Francis Lawrence's Water for Elephants is sure to blow you away. Sarah Gruen's novel shows the grittiness of the Depression and romanticizes a story of an ivy-league almost graduate who ditches finals and hops a train in hopes of escaping his sorrows. Unbeknownst to Jacob, it was a circus train and he finds himself on a wild adventure that intertwines him with a dwarf, an elephant, and Marlena, the love of his life.

In the novel Gruen shows the dirty life of the circus in the 1930's and the Depression that affected everybody. The circus was an illusion, tricking and scamming people into spending their money.
In the movie Water for Elephants, Francis Lawrence captures the grittiness and genuinity of the book, casting great characters for Jacob (Robert Pattinson), Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), and August (Christoph Waltz), and perfectly capturing the theme and emotion of Gruen's novel.

The movie purely reflects the book and the mood of the story. This romanticized, pathetic story of two individuals brought together by fate, battling against all odds, is put to picture and beautiful cinematography. I truly fell in love with it. I hated August, pitied, Rosie (the circus's elephant), and was scared for Marlena. I was right in all the action as if I was standing right there beside Jacob when he first met Rosie, or when he lashed out at August. I felt the emotion of Jacob when his friends were redlighted. I got an inside look at what life in the circus and the Depression was really like. From a well written and researched novel came a wonderfully captivating film. 

The plot was a close as a two hour movie could be to it's novel. It kept the same rising and falling action as well as the same resolution. Reading the book and watching the movie do not ruin the other, only compliment eachother. And I would highly reccomend this movie to all.

...thoughts from Marlena...

Dear Diary,
     He did it again. He's subtly punishing me. The elephant act was almost a disaster if I hadn't saved it, but at my own expense. That seems to happen a lot these days. And now I'm unable to walk my feet hurt so badly. So I've decided to write instead of grovel in what my life has become. I feel sometimes like the horses are the only thing keeping me from leaving the circus...and August. But other times I make a stand with a strength I didn't know I possessed. If only my act could become my life. Maybe then I could escape. Escape this masquerade and this offstage sideshow act of a life. 
                                                             -Marlena

~Running Away to the Circus~

I want to get away
Away from it all
To not have to think
Ignorance is bliss


My circus is any backwoods gravel road
One that I can walk on till it ends, if ever'
A road that I know not where it goes
So I may walk without worry
Resting in the peace of the unknown

The known
What I know is what drives me to this circus
Things I'd wish I'd never heard
Words I'd hop I never heard
Things I'd rather been left unsaid

I want to get away
Away from it all
So I'll run away to the circus
I'll walk down this road
Till it all goes away

"Life is like a box of chocolates..."

      I think Winston Groom wanted is as readers to view people in a different way. Too quick are we to judge others or to form opinions based on their circumstances. Each and everyone of us are big ol' two-legged piece of potential no matter what may be our obstacles.
     People looked at and treated Forrest differently because of his disability. They saw him as only an "idiot" or tool to use at their own disposal. They failed to see him as an individual. Forrest achieved great things throughout his life. And even greater when it was his desire. He found love, made good friends, and did right by his ma.
     Forrest overcame and so can we. We don't need to let peoples views of us, their opinions, or our circumstances limit us. Forrest sure didn't. I think that's what Winston Groom was trying to get at.

Mama Gump

Dear diary,

     I don't know where to start. Ever since my husband died, I've been fighting. Fighting to keep the house, fighting to keep Forrest out of trouble, fighting to put food on the table, and now I'm fighting to bring our troops back. I hated with all my heart to see them take my little boy away from me. 

     That poor idiot over there probably has no idea what's going on. I sure hated to see him go. It wasn't right for them to take him away from me like they did. The last I heard of him he had gotten shot. I don't know where he is now. I pray every night for him. Well I best be on my way.

                                                                     Sincerely, 

                                                                                  Mama Gump 

~Lest We Forget~

I'd like to think that I am safe
From danger and from harm
And people everyday, somewhere
Fight and take up arms

To fight for freedom, glory, home
And all for which they stand
Those men and women die for us
This soil and this land

But as we go through everyday
Do we spare a thought
For how much blood and lives were lost
As these soldiers fought

Do we stop to think about
Those families left at home
Wives, husbands, children too
Are left behind, alone

I wonder how they make it through
A day there on the front
To leave their loved ones all behind
And here I must be blunt

Too easily we all forget
The sacrifices made
So you can stay here behind
Not alone, not scared, safe

~Shakspeare in the Schools: Stage Combat Training~

"Uh! You're wearing the same dress as me!" she spits out, with a disgusted look on her face.   

       "Well I look better in it!" I reply to Melanie. The carribean blue went amazingly with my own blue eyes and long chocolate brown hair. She quite honestly looked gorgeous with her dirty blonde hair and faded blue eyes. But there was no way I was going to let her get away with that attitude. I'd probably bought mine first anyway.             
       The look on her face is priceless until she takes a swing at me. I dodge before her fist can hit my face. I'm appalled! All I did was speak the truth. Now I'm mad. How dare she try to hit me.      
      "I can't believe you just..." Before I can stop myself I take a swing at her stomach and miss. Melanie's face is red and flushed and I know I'm in for it.            
      Melanie takes a step towards me and before I can react, I take a blow to the gut. Pain surges through my stomach as I recoil. People are starting to notice the commotion and are walking over. I ignore the pain, knowing that I can't let her get away with that.      
      "Now you're in for it!" I yell as I lunge towards her. I catch her off balance as my fist strikes her upper left cheek. She hits the ground moaning and holding her face. The battle has obviously been won with me as the reigning champion.             
      "Boom!" I say as I turn to walk away. I hear people behind me helping Melanie up and muttering to themselves. I realize that with this battle I may have just started a war. 

It isn't fair...

      It isn't fair that everyday I have to go to school, eat 3 square meals a day, and that I have a closet full of clothes to choose from. It isn't fair that I know both my parents and have a house to live in. It isn't fair that I have religious freedom and my bible can go wherever I do. It's not fair that I am privileged and blessed with all these things and that while I'm writing this a child somewhere dies of starvation.
      It's twisted that proper clothes are a rarity and that school is just another dream dead. To me it's not fair that kids don't have both parents to love them; that some kids don't even have  parents at all. I feel guilty knowing that I have a warm bed to sleep in while others have to settle for a slab of concrete or a cold alley somewhere. I can't imagine not being able to go to church on Sundays and worship the Lord or not be able to even own a bible. I don't know what I would do. It's not fair. It's just not fair.

A Royal Rumpus

      Once upon a time in the far away land of Sweet Grass County High school, there lived three princesses. The names of the three princesses were Carladeeda, Kateetootentah, and Meloopdeeloop. All during the week the princesses would slave over their royal loads of homework, put up with royal crap, and work on other royal duties .
      Being a princess required you to eat healthy food, be lady-like and be everlastingly stressed. One day Meloopdeeloop decided that she wanted to take a break from being a princess so she invited Carladeedah and Kateetootentah over to her castle to shrug off their royal duties for the night.
     Now this was no uncommon occurrence for these princesses. This was a tradition that was never to be broken. It was almost a sacred event and it consisted of a couple requirements. There was always to be the royal watching of the three most amazing movies ever: Easy A, Ten Things I Hate About You, and of course Mean Girls. There was also to be the not-so-royal pigging out which of course required cool ranch Doritos in ranch chip dip, and popcorn dipped in salsa con queso. And lets not forget the royal doing of the Dew.
      Now on this particular evening only one royal movie was watched and an early evening was to happen, well atleast that was the idea. The princesses started to talk about their royal messes. At one point princess Meloopdeeloop decided to tickle Carladeedah. Now this was the most unfairest of all, for Meloopdeeloop was not ticklish at all and when Carladeedah tried to take vengence it ended only more tickling. Carladeedah and Kateetootentah decided to take up an alliance and take on Meloopdeeloop together. They attacked! Squealing and giggling the princesses were everywhere trying to tickle and rasberry eachother. It was a royal rumpus! The princesses didn't end up going to bed till 3:30 the next morning. So it can be said that the princesses were very tired for their royal duties the next day. To this day the princesses are great friends and still have royal rumpuses whenever they can. And so is the story of the royal rumpus.

A Movie Review ~ A River Runs Through It

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. I find it necessary to say that Robert Redford outdid them all with this movie. He captured excellently the essence of the book. The beautiful Montana countryside and the cast came together wonderfully to create an absolute masterpiece. Now I would not say these things if there was not evidence to prove it. For those of you who have not seen A River Runs Through It I implore you to watch and read it but ask that you not read on for I wish not to ruin it for you! Now, as I was saying, I would not speak so highly of this movie if there was no evidence within the film to deem it so. For instance, one particular part of the movie displays the character contrast between the two brothers, Paul and Norman. The boys are sneaking out of the house to hang out with there friends. Exiting the second story of the house, Paul proceeds to jump off the roof, feet first, and without a second thought as to the results. Norman follows by crawling down the side using the drainpipe and some vines. This scene shows Paul's outgoing nature and Normans more reserved personality. These opposite characteristics start an ongoing theme throughout the movie. We see the natures of the brothers shape their lifestyles as they grow older. Norman gets a job and wife and, although stated quite bluntly, Paul ends up dead. With much building action in between that keeps you intrigued and entertained, Robert Redford gives life to the story that touches the hearts of all who encounter it. I give my greatest appraisal to the outcome and suggest the film to all.

Journal Prompt #9 "You can love completely without complete understanding."

     Wow. To love completely without complete understanding. Those are some pretty powerful words. Sometimes I think that we all get wrapped up in who we think people are instead of just letting them be who they are. Getting to know someone and the little things that make them their own are what people fall in love with. But if we started appreciating and loving someone before we really got to know them. Would that change our view of them. Definitely. Maybe it's someone who's already in your life, someone you already know. No one person is perfect. We all struggle, we're all tempted, and it's inevitable that at some point the road will be rough. As much as we like to think we do, we really don't know all that is going on in some one's life. We don't know, we can't relate and we can't help. All we can do is just stand by and love. Lome them all the more. Love them even when you can't understand completely.

~A nUrSeRy RhYmE aBoUt An ArT oF mInE~

I opened up my binder today
To see what I could find
And I decided to write my journal
Like a nursery rhyme

If you had hair just like Rapunzel
Please entertain this thought
What would you if you found it to be
In a horrible tangled up knot

Or what if you had almost no hair at all
Like Gollum in Lord of the Rings
Or maybe your hair was like Bob Marley's
Which was constantly caught up in strings

You see there's a tactic when making a part
In the morning whilst doing your hair
Some people may not think that it is an art
But frankly, I really don't car

It's frizzy, too curly or constantly dry
Maybe there's not much at all
I think that I can master your hair
I'll prove it just give me a call

Journal Prompt #4 ~The Voice of Fear

       Once upon a time I went cliff jumping.  Now one might think that I was scared to jump off that 50 foot cliff, but oh no.  I love the adrenaline rush as I'm flying through the air and the jolting smack when I hit the water.  You see, what really had me shaking in my pants that day was the deep water I was treading in waiting for my fellow "jumpee" to clear the cliff.  Now that I look back on it, the situation was a wee bit backwards and definitely humorous, but I tell ya what, that water had me ready to pee my pants I was so freaked out. 
      Sometimes I can hear the voice of fear and it's opinion on the matter of that fateful day. "Well Katie, I'd have to say that you are definitely one of my most interesting clients.  I would not have guessed this outcome.  I had imagined you a bit more nervous at the top of the cliff, not the bottom.  I expected to hear a squeal of fear as you flew through the air, not as you sat in the water.  Ha, I dub you as crazy.  Nevertheless I still did my job that day.  Good work Katie, good work."