English Reading Logs

English Reading Logs

Reading Log #1
Text Type: Visual Text
Text Title: Gridiron Gang
Author/Director: Phil Joanau

Gridiron Gang

'Gridiron Gang' is a movie directed by Phil Joanau which is based on a true story about a counselor at a a juvenile detention facility who decides to turn the  inmates in his charge into a football team so they can learn a sense of self respect, social responsibility and how to get along with one another.

In Gridiron Gang there is a heavy theme of never giving up throughout the film which I relate to strongly, Like Coach Porter, he gets fed up with Willie being too scared to run into opposing players, so he puts on football gear and tells Willie that they aren't leaving the field until he knocks him over, at first Willie struggles and wants to quit but with his teams support and encouragement Willie runs right over coach porter. This shows that we all need a little bit of support and encouragement so that we don't give up. I relate strongly to Coach Porter because I never like to give up even if I have to keep going for hours. This is similar to 'The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift' When Sean Struggles to learn how to drift, but Han helps him and eventually Sean beats DK.

I also relate to the theme of teamwork, which can be seen numerous amounts of times throughout the film. Like when Willie and Kelvin get over their differences and begin to work as a team. This shows that no matter who you are and where you're from you can always get along with other people. I feel like I can relate strongly with the two of them because I have been in situations where I've had to work with people I didn't like and after awhile we began to get along with each other. This is similar to the beginning of the TV show 'Prison Break' when Michael first enters prison he has no friends just enemy's but after a while he makes friends with other fugitives and he reveals his master plan to escape.

The final aspect of the film that I relate to is the theme of brotherhood which is the strongest aspect of the film. Like when Willie betrays one of his own gang members just to save Kelvin, a member of Willies football team. This shows that you will always be able to get along with someone if you are passionate about the same thing. I feel like this really portrays the main aspect of the film represents. This is similar to 'Saving Private Ryan' when Captain Miller and his men go on a massive journey and risk all of their lives to save Private Ryan.

'Gridiron Gang' is a movie which is very relatable and has an extremely gripping story line which makes you want to keep on watching. I  recommend this film to teens and young adults so that you can see that we all make mistakes but if we come together as one we are stronger than ever.'


Reading Log #2
Text Type: Visual Text
Text Title: Saving Private Ryan
Author/Director: Steven Spielberg

Saving Private Ryan

'Saving Private Ryan' directed by Steven Spielberg is a film set during the Normandy landings of WW2 about a man named John Miller Who is a Captain in the 49th infantry of the US military. He takes his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat.

Each man travels into  and uncertain future and triumphs over an with honour, pride and bravery.

In Saving Private Ryan there is a strong theme of determination, like when Captain Miller and his squad got tasked with the special mission of bringing the young brother-less Private home, they never gave up  no matter how much they wanted to go back and fight the war. This shows that even though they may have wanted go back and win the war for their country, they were extremely determined to save Ryan and bring him home. I relate to them because I am always determined to finish anything I start just like captain miller and his squadron. This is similar to the Shawshank redemption when Andy spends over 20 years of his life digging a hole in his prison cell wall and waiting for the perfect moment to escape.

Another relatable aspect of the film is the theme of pride throughout the movie, like when Private Ryan refuses to leave the battlefield so that he can stay and fight for what his brothers died for. This is a great example of having pride and fighting for what you believe in. I can relate to the feeling of pride, like when I finish writing a song that I have been working on for a long time, I feel extremely proud of myself. This is similar to Gridiron Gang when Willie knocks over  an opposing player for the first time, like Ryan his whole team becomes very proud of him.

The final and strongest theme in the film is bravery which can be seen throughout the movie various amounts of times, the scene that portrays bravery the most is when Captain Miller has his final stand  against a squadron of Nazi soldiers. This shows that he was willing to die for his country which is incredibly brave and noble. Being brave isn't everyone's strongest suit but everyone has to be a some point in their life, from being scared of the dark when you're a child to undergoing operation to death we are all afraid of something at some point. Another film where bravery is portrayed is Forest Gump in the scene where he runs into the middle of a bombing target to save his friend who eventually dies.

Saving Private Ryan is a very historically accurate film which represents the gruesome and bloody details of the Normandy Landings or D-Day as most people know it. I would advise before watching the film to realise that it is extremely graphic and possibly too much for some people to handle, but it is also a very meaningful and emotional movie which I think most people will enjoy.




Reading Log #3
Text Type: Short text
Text Title: Unbound (The Wild Ride)
Artist: Avenged Sevenfold

Unbound (The Wild Ride)

'Unbound (The Wild Ride)' is a song written by Avenged Sevenfold about how life can odd and ridiculous at times but no matter what we shouldn't let ourselves be held back because we have to continue living our lives to the fullest.

A constant theme throughout Unbound is overcoming obstacles, this can be heard in the first verse of the song when the lead singer sings "Searching for the way, push harder every day It's deep inside, That shining light yeah, But I'm scarred, By barriers placed in my path", meaning we live our lives but sometimes we get brought off course and have push through the hard moments. I can relate to this part of the song because sometimes I get really angry or upset over something that I feel like I will never overcome, but eventually I will get over the obstacle that has been driving me down and continue with my life. This has similar meaning to the song 'Through the fire and flames' by Dragonforce during the chorus it says 'we feel the pain of a lifetime lost in a thousand days, through the fire and the flames we carry on, meaning we will get over the bad times and carry on with our lives.

Another theme is living life without fear, this is shown in the third verse when it reads,"Some live so wrong, with what we do is each his own, But living in fear, endless shame for countless years, I never lived in fear I knew I'd die another day, I never viewed my life as something... slipping away", this means that we should never be afraid and continue living life without regrets. This is similar to the song I am bulletproof during the chorus the singer references that we have to continue living and never give up because of little things.

The last aspect of the song that I want to go over is bad things turning out good. In the song the chorus relates to this aspect when it says "This ride that takes me through life leads me into darkness but emerges into light", this means if things go wrong don't give up because they might just turn into something good. I think that this is very true as things turning from bad to good is a really common aspect of life, like when you break a bone and It grows back stronger than before.

Unbound is a really intriguing song to listen as it many different instrumental elements as well very relatable and impactful lyrics. I would recommend this song to people who feel they are having time with their lives as it is very relatable and lyrics might just help someone feel like they aren't alone in this world.


Reading Log #4
Text Type: Short text
Text Title: Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Artist: Green Day

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' is a masterpiece song off the album American Idiot by Green Day. It's about being alone and going through a really hard time in life with no-one helping as you carry on through the endless struggle. The album charted at number one in 19 countries and sold 16 million copies worldwide.

The main meaning to the song 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' is loneliness which can be clearly seen in in the first verse saying "I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known, don't know where it goes but its home to me and I walk alone. Upon first hearing this song I quickly realised that this was a very depressing line which made me feel sympathetic towards anyone who feels like they're alone in this world because there isn't anything worse than going through hard times by yourself. I feel like I can strongly relate this part of the song to another song called 'Lonely Day' by System of a Down which can once again be clearly seen in the first verse of the song where it says "Such a lonely day and its mine, its the most loneliest day of my life.

Another line in the song which represents loneliness is the chorus which says "My shadows the only on e that walks beside me, My shallow hearts the only thing that's beating. This means that he is so lonely that the only living thing other than himself is his shadow and the only thing making sound is his heart's lonely beat which is a very upsetting line. Sometimes I feel alone in this world so I feel like I can relate to this line and I can feel empathetic towards this character. This line has similar meaning to the song Hollow by Pantera which is about the lead singer losing his best friend which leaves him feeling alone afterwards.

The last line of that song that represents the feeling of loneliness is the 2nd verse which reads "I walk this empty street, on the Boulevard of broken dreams where the city sleeps and I'm only one and I walk alone". Loneliness is portrayed very clearly through this section of the song especially the part where it says "Where the city sleeps and I'm the only one and I walk alone" which describes how he feels lonely by stating that while everyone is asleep he is dealing his problems and being lonely. This part of the of the song could relate to people who are having a hard time after losing a loved one or dealing with the pain of separation or loss.

I would definitely recommend this song to teenagers because it is quite emotional, like teenagers, and being a teenager myself I know that it will have the most meaning to people inside my age group. And despite 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' being a quite negative song it is extremely catchy.


Reading Log #5
Text Type: Extended Text
Text Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth

Divergent

Divergent is a extended novel by Veronica Roth about a futuristic Chicago where society is split up into five different factions. Abnegation the selfless, Dauntless the brave, Erudite the intelligent, Candor the honest and Amity the peaceful. When all teenagers turn sixteen they must choose to stay at their faction of birth or move to a new faction.

A main theme theme throughout Divergent is bravery which is shown plenty in the novel like when the main character Tris decides to leave Abnegation, her home, so that she can move to Dauntless the faction of the brave. This shows she was very brave for being able to move away from her family for the rest of her life. I can relate the theme of bravery to another book called The Hunger games written by Suzanne Collins when Katniss volunteers  as tribute for her sister in the Hunger Games.

Another theme in Divergent is difference which is clearly shown through the main character Tris. Upon reading the first few chapters I quickly realised that Tris was very different but it was most clear when she found out that she was applicable for Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite instead of one faction like a normal person. I can relate to this aspect of the novel, as sometimes I feel different from other people but I never let it bother me. This is similar to the movie 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas' where Bruno realises Shmuel is different because he's a Jew.

Reading Log #6

Text Type: Extended Text

Text Title: Save Me From Myself

Author: Brian Welch

Save Me From Myself

'Save Me From Myself' is an Autobiography written by Korn guitarist Brian Welch about what his life was like growing up and how he freed himself of drugs and found religion instead.

A constant theme in 'Save Me From Myself' is addiction which is a constant subject throughout Brian's life. Throughout the book Brian talks about his addiction to speed (a form of methamphetamine's) and how it ruined his life and all his relationships. This is upsetting because plenty of people live with addiction problems and don't feel like they have anyone to talk to or anyone who can help them. I can relate this to the song Can't Stop by The Red Hot Chilli Peppers which is about Anthony Kiedis's drug addiction and how he felt like he just couldn't stop.

Another theme throughout 'Save Me From Myself' is Hope which can be seen through Brian.
During Brian's time in Korn he starts to give into meth and give up on himself until he finds religion which he uses to rid himself of meth within a few days. This is very empowering for someone to rid themselves of a extremely addictive drug within only a few days.