Invictus

This movie is based on John Carlin´s novel "Playing Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a nation". With regard on the film, it is set in South Africa having a box office success. Actually, it received a lot of nominations, including the "Oscars" awards. Therefore, it did not win any of them. The movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and the main characters were roled by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon playing Fracois Pienaar.

   In 1990, after his liberation from jail, Mandela rises to be the President of his country and decree the abolish of "Apartheid". Furthermore, his main goal is to accomplish a reconciliation policy between the black mayority and the white minority. In 1995, South Africa takes in the Rugby World Cup and Mandela takes advantage of this like an instrument in order to build the national unity.

   Broadly speaking, the characters are well-developed. It is Morgan who is pretty believable and he looks alike the real Mandela whereas Matt is likeable and convincing too. Not only is the acting natural but it is also powerful in some occassions. Talking about the plot, I had some doubts with it because I thought it could be boring and tedious. However, it is absorving, absolutely riveting and thougth- provoking. Moreover, the script is quite realistic, well-written plus moving. In that film there are no great special effects but the photography is entirely incredible and amateurish.

   To conclude and taking all of this into account, I have to say it is a really interesting and memorable film. It is for all publics (the youth could also learn about the history of a great plus extraordinary man) and it is well worth seeing it. I would throroughly recommend this film without any doubt.

Paralled Between Nelson Mandela & Obama

Hearing an interview with Richard Stengel and David Remnick ( editor of the New Yorker and author of a biography of Obama) on Lessons on leadership: Mandela and Obama, it is talked about a paralled between both leaders, Mandela and Obama. However, is it justified? Let's see my arguments:

First of all, both interviewees think about a leader is a mix of born and made. In other words, a leader has to former, he or she has to have an essence, though. With regard on that, Mandela and Obama had the character. Therefore, both of them became leaders in different ways. Whereas Mandela formed in jail, Obama was made in a modest life and education. No matter the paths, all of them are valid to shape strong leaders.

Secondly, the point of reconciliation is extremely important in this likeness, where Mandela and Obama tried to join blacks with whites, a pretty rough enterprise. That is true the period and the situation of each one is completely distinct: Obama was beneficed for the scandals of his opponents while Mandela had to grapple with a diverse language and a population entirely divided. moreover, most of it saw him as a criminal. And furthermore, Mandela had to forgive and forget, something important and absolutely complicated.

Thirdly, the formal gestures are also a marvellous parallel: both leaders played with smiles, calm (even on the difficult moments), and clothes. Mandela and Obama cared about wearing the suitable suits and clothes for every occasion. All the more, Mandela, for instance, had an especial instinct about how to grab the attention in the best moment. Another thing is how did they face the problems: Mandela took into consideration all the sides of a problem whereas Obama faces directly the situation.

To sum up, I strongly believe it is true that both leaders are diverse in form, not in essence. Not only it is important than leaders know all the problems and reality of their country, but it also is necessary population see them like humans, with their frightens and showing their real feelings. That's makes see them sympathetic plus near people.

Opinion Essay About Tattoos And Piercings

Are piercings and tattoos a fad or, in contrast, are they here to stay? This is an important question and the answer depends on multiple plus personal aspects. If you are really keen on tattooing and piercing, you probably answer "they are here for a long time", whereas if you are against that fashion, perhaps you will say "they are only depending on trend.

 

   First of all, I know artists nowadays are well trained on handling the equipment. Although tattoos and piercing studios are said to be cleaner than your average doctor´s office, it may be dangerous. Moreover, it could be pretty risky. Not only may it damage your skin, but you also can get infectious diseases like Hepatitis B, C or HIV.

 

   Secondly, It is said that it is cool to remind you an important date or event in your life, for instance yours wedding´s date or your actual partner´s name. However, have you taken into account the possibility of spliting up with your partner or even getting the divorce? Tattooing is permanent. Well now, there are some treatments to make dissapear that mark, but they are expensive and, what is worse, they are entirely griveous.

 

   Thirdly, it is style and originality what people who have on tattoo or piercing are looking for. Furthermore, they look for a way to express their individuality. That is the reason of youth, who just pretending to imitate friends os celebrities or simply wants to rebel against parents and society in general. What I want to mean is teenagers do not think about the consequences in the future. For example: they would be identified with the wrong "group", they may be pretty easily become judget and rejected or even tattoos and piercings could be an obstacle on getting a job.

 

   To conclude, I would like to say it is complicated to decide if tattoos and piercings are only a fad or they are here to stay. Personally, I have to say I am divided. I consider them a fad of a determined society and currently that group of people will not be extinct. So, they will be here for that kind of population.

European Championships of Figure Ice-Skating

Hi! I already spoke on the last entry that this competitión took place last week. So, I would like to share whit us some perfomances which stroke a chord with the fans.

Firt of all, Javier Fernandez was the champion again. Here is his programmes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRWHeP4mcG4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGhc3myTuZM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq-0CeB0OW8  Free program of maxim Kovtun, All of us suffered all the minutes for that fall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUdqTX43gNE  Aliona Aavchenko and her new partner Bruno Massot. First time they comited together in an important international competition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5meGqDQij8  Cristina Astakhova y Alexey Rogonov have a fantastic perfomance. Sorry for this Spanish link, but there aren´t any in English.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53eh7QZQ06Q   Tatiana Volosozhar a Maxim Trankov are the best pair for me, the are absolutely stunning and incredible. Pretty smart. The came back to the competition after a Maxim´s injured.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVFsitrPxTM Tati and Maxim again, their free programme. Music from Dracula...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt1WXIah7Dw  Ekaterina Brovoba and Dimitri Soloviev, fantastic coreography with Anna Karenina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ2W3pNjFHM   Anna Capellini and Luca Lanotte, with a beautiful programme, so vivid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mX42087N4Q  Gabriela Papadakis and Guillaume Ciceron, they are the actual european and world championships. They return to the competition after Gabriela recovered of a terrible accident practising this perfomance where she fall over the ice and hit her head seriously, last July. And then, they made this.... A piece of advise only, prepare the cleenex. They are moving, breathtaking and entirely vibrant.