Quality Equals Balance

  “When people ask me where they should begin in looking at classic films, I never knew what to say,” claims Roger Ebert a well-known movie critic. “Now I can say,” He continues, “’Plunge into these Great Movies, and go where they lead you.’” This commentary comes from Ebert’s self-titled column in 2000 where he comments on his view of what a great movie is. He now provides a listing called Great Movies on his website, where a variety of different film genres are represented. One such movie entitled Rio Bravo is one of the films he recognizes as great and I believe it is deserving of the ‘classic’ stamp. After sitting through almost two and a half hours of 1959 old-western style film, I arose with a greater appreciation for the craft and a stronger confidence in Roger Ebert’s criticing abilities. Undoubtedly, Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo is rightly classified as ‘great’ because of it's all around qualities, and its age has nothing to do with it.

    One particular scene in the movie features a beautiful, gambling women who had travelled from out of town and the main character Sheriff Chance, played by John Wayne, reflects the classic love connection in all chick flicks. She is in desperate need of a lover because hers was killed in result of a bad gambling pursuit. He was in need of a companion because his troubles carrying the load of the city were getting to him. So they both needed each other and their love affair was amusing. Another noteworthy relationship in the movie was in the friendship between the Sherriff and his long time, usually druck friend Borichan. He and the sheriff once fought and shot with great ease, contending with any enemy who would try, but during the first scenes of the movie, he had been taking over by his alcoholism. However, by the end of the film, the Sheriff, through his fatherly demands for him to get over his depressions, was able to coach Borichan into a strong character, not giving in to his temptations. 

    Finally, the movie provided a beautiful action element that could not be ignored. Towards the end of the movie, the plot took a turn for the worst. Borichan, while still weak in his character, was knocked off of his horse and kidnapped by the intruding cowboys, who were in search for their imprisoned brother. "The brave sheriff takes a stand against the outlaws who threaten a town.... a familiar Western situation," Ebert comments about this scene. For me, even though the movie seemed to be coming to a halt, this scene created a whole new twist, and I was engaged even more.

    When posed with the responsibility to watch a movie that, because of its age, would otherwise be considered useless, I did not hesitate. I have always enjoyed older films especially those with an entertaining element that includes singing or dancing. While I am not exactly a film snob, my mind has not been tainted by the media and its powerful suggestiveness of what is quality and what is not. Rio Bravo, produced and directed by Howard Hawks in 1959, depicts the life of a small town Sherriff who is having trouble protecting the citizens from a group of terrorizing cowboys. By the end of the movie he triumphs with the help of his long time friend, Borichan (Spanish for drunkard) and a young feisty cowboy played by Ricky Nelson.  I was moderately surprised at the quality of this movie because of its sophisticated plot. It was filled with compassionate relationships, the classic action of a western film and humorous wit.  

    A well-known playwright, actor, and multi-million dollar movie director named Tyler Perry was once harshly criticized by the likes of movie critics like Roger Ebert. Tyler Perry’s film reviews received such bad commentary that he refused to acknowledge them and continued to develop his movies under his own approval. When I realized how the relationship between a movie critique and the success of a movie are not dependent upon one another, I began to question the authenticity of film critics like Roger Ebert. However, after watching Rio Bravo, one of the films on his list, I realized that there is a great difference between good film and bad film. Tyler Perry’s film lack universal expression, depth of thought and fluency of scenes. After watching a critic approved film I can appreciate the expertise. Good film should be relative to all audience members. Thus, the relative quality of a film is within the balance of human experiences. Because of this, though I am not an avid movie watcher, I would dive into Ebert’s Great Movie List again and again.

Huffington Post Co-Founder Gives Penn State Students Leadership Advice

Cynthia Hill – crh246@psu.edu

“There is such a thing as decision fatigue.” Arrianna Huffington, co-founder of internet news site the Huffington post, said during a series of talks at a Pennsylvania college Thursday.

She attributed the lack of rest in our nation's leaders to irrational thinking stating and as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series, Arianna Huffington encouraged a few hundred Penn State students and affiliates Thursday while conveying her unique political message of ridding America of executive burnout, and encouraging students to seek to become societal leaders.

 

Huffington hails from Greece and moved to the United States in 1980 and later divorcing from her former-politician husband, Michael Huffington. While raising two children and caring for her mother, Huffington left to New York to later co-found the Huffington Post and develop a sustained career in politics and communications.

During her speech in the Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State’s campus, she conveyed her experience living the American dream, juggling children and work, and strongly, almost harshly, emphasized the need for women to take leadership roles in society. 

Huffington insisted women were better leaders than their counterparts. So much so that during the question-answer period at the event's end, only young women proceed to the microphones to asked questions and after answering a few she said, “This is an amazing time to be a woman.”

 

“I like the last response about life not being a straight path,” Georjanne Williams said, reflecting on Arianna’s encouraging words about overcoming hard life issues.

When asked if she saw any fault in Huffington’s comment about women being better leaders for America, she said, “I do think we don’t honor empathy and nurturing as leadership qualities.”

Students Plan to Vote, Because They Can

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State students plan to vote this election, and some for the second time, but students were found to be uninformed about candidates and issues.  


“I wouldn’t necessarily say that I would be qualified, but I have the right to vote so I’m going to use [it],” said Sophomore Deepal Patel who is majoring in Finance. He’s registered Democrat and said he joined the Democratic Party because of his parents who vote on the regular basis. And when his friends sit around arguing the issues, he just zones out. 

Patel is a typical example of the current Penn State student voter: uninformed, careless, unenthused, but voting.  Though there are a few more months to decide an opinion on certain issues, other students have also reported similar reasons for voting.

Megan Peiffer, a Bio-behavioral Health major, said she’s voting, “…Because I can. I would be mad if I couldn’t…since I can; I will,” even though she said she knows nothing about the recent campaigns or the primaries.

For the past few months Republican candidate Mitt Romney has dominated the Republican primaries, and has tackled issues that could potentially affect college students like college funding and student loan reform. But the way things are going Penn State students may not be informed enough to make educated decisions.

With Rick Santorum, a Penn Sate alum, and Newt Gingrich lagging far behind Romney, he will likely be Barack Obama’s Republican opponent in November.

And students are aware of that. They are aware of Romney as close competition against Barack Obama and are planning to vote, some for the first time, but when asked about certain issues or even why they are voting there is no preparation of thought.

“Come election time I will probably be more focused,” said Alexandra Adeshile, a junior majoring in Biology. She went on to explain that her parents always vote. “Every year even for the smallest little community elections they vote,” she said. With her family as a backbone, no matter the amount of information she has about the candidates this year she is voting, too.

What is the solution? How should students be voting and are there any information sessions on campus or voting clubs for them to takes advantage of?

Yes, there are several political party groups on campus: The College Democrats, The College Republicans, The College Libertarians, and The College Independents. Some could take time to actively inform the student body voters and educate an uninformed population who plan to vote without the tools they need to do it responsibly.

22-year-old Erica Drayer, senior in bio-behavioral health who voted in the last presidential election will and who will be voting Republican this year said it’s important for college students to vote because, “I feel like we are the majority right now.” And the issues that most concern her right now are health care and taxes because she will soon be in the workforce. 

Cynthia Hill is a Junior in the College of Communications at The Pennsylvania State University, majors in Journalism and plans to graduate May 2013. She can be contacted at crh246@psu.edu.