The List

Here is the list of the films that would benefit you as IB students and as educated individuals. Remember none of these films are mandatory. Please do not watch anything that you or your parents would find objectionable. The ratings range from G to R. If you watch any of these films, please blog about what you thought about them, and why you think they were included on the list. Have a fabulous Winter Break. You deserve the rest. I am so very proud of each and every one of you!

These films appear in no particular order.

1) The Star Wars movies (this has become our modern mythology)

2) Forrest Gump (a comedy, a tragedy and a history lesson all in one)

3) Scarface (a commentary on the American Dream. Gatsby for modern times)

4) Gone With The Wind (yes its four hours long but it is an amazing story. I want Scarlett's red dress. You will know the one)

5) Fight Club/American Psycho***(neither are for the faint of heart or squeamish. Especially American Psycho. Both are examples of post modernist films and came from amazing books)

6) O Brother Where Art Thou? (a retelling of The Odyssey)

7) I Am Legend (a social commentary on the race for cures with dire consequences)

8) The Last Samurai (Amazing story about the end of the Samurai culture in Japan)

9) Saving Private Ryan (a historical WWII film that is one of the best)

10) The Lion King (best Disney cartoon. Every literary element appears in this film)

11) Seven Pounds (the ending will leave you speechless)

12) Blade Runner (a haunting, visually stunning dystopian society)

13) Alien (one of the scariest movies ever)

14) The Graduate (life after college with no answers)

15) Moulin Rouge! (sappy story, amazing visuals. Same director remaking The Great Gatsby)

16) The Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller's Day Off (no better 80's movies exist that stand the test of time)

17) Psycho (Alfred Hitchock, the pioneer of horror movies)

18) The Silence of The Lambs (no more evil, creepy genius serial killer exists)

19) Legends of The Fall (amazing story of an American family post WW1)

20) Anchorman/Zoolander (ridiculous satire and just plain fun)

Start with these and I will publish Part II another time. Happy watching!

IBelieve

You have now completed your Group 4 project, an IA and your IOP's. Even though these were trying times and a tremendous amount of work, you should feel extremely proud of yourselves for your accomplishments. That being said, what have you learned about yourself? What have these tasks revealed about your strengths and areas that you need to improve on? Reflect on these tasks and what you have learned.