Thank you all for coming out to see The Patriot. I think that most everyone thought it was a great movie - even if it is difficult to watch at a few points.
The Patriot is probably a perfect film to watch in order to think about the value of Hollywood movies based on historical events. One of the knocks that these types of films gets is that they play fast and loose with the history in order to draw big box office money. Making money is after all the job of Hollywood movie executives. So this is a legitimate complaint. In fact, it is a complaint that I hear from a few parents every year as we kick-off the History Film Festival.
My question to you here is; What is the value of this kind of big-budget Hollywood "history" film? Should it be judged just as entertainment? Or is there any academic value to watching the film? Does it lead viewers astray - especially those with a weak understanding of history? Please explain whether or not you think they have historical value. And why you think that.
Our next film will be coming up soon.
i think that viewing historical Hollywood films have value because it helps paint a picture in your head. When you watch a movie, you need to keep an open mind that not everything will be true. Sometimes it makes you curious and you want to ask a parent or teacher or look up something on the internet to see if it really happened.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this movie can be used for educating people who always wanted to know about certain things that happened in the past, also movies like this can also make people who don't know about these important events in history start to finally understand how it happened and what caused it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that big Hollywood history films can have historical value. Most of the time the movies are based on pretty strong fact with just a bit more drama and Hollywood glam. I mean how many people are just going to grab a history book and read up on historical events? Movies entertain people while still teaching them. I mean how many kids would no about the titanic if there hadn't been a movie made about it? The movies might not be 100% accurate but its better to have some historical knowledge that is true instead of no knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI'd say, it depend on what type of person that's watching the moving decides whether it's entertaining, academic, or whatever. Everyone thinks differently that's why were human, some people could hate it or love it or think it's okay. I guess someones understanding of something is their knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI say that the movie is entertaining,and is educational. Also not every one can watch those movies so then maybe its just entertaining in a very sad way.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Chika and Zoe, I think everyone has a different opinion and would have different perspectives of the movie but a big Hollywood historical movie can have educational value and also be entertaining i personally feel that although many people died and there was much killing i think it could be entertaining to some but at the same time inform them of what types of things went on in the war. If i was a Hollywood critic i would judge the movie as entertainment because as Zoe said there is a bit more drama than the actual events that took place but its there to entertain and suspend the person watching.
ReplyDeleteI think that the value of the film is teach viewers how terrible war is what really happens. I don't believe that there was excessive drama used. It could lead some viewers who don't like history astray. I think that this movie did have some more violent parts, but everything that was portrayed in the movie was events that could happen during war or trying to get revenge on people for a certain thing.I highly disagree that this movie is for entertainment, it does however have great educational value. I think it has historical value, because it is about a real war and shows battles that actually happened.
ReplyDeleteI believe that historical Hollywood movies are a really good way to get to the young and teenage generations. Even though the movie is very educational, it also is very entertaining so as the movie progresses, it doesn't get boring. I also think that the drama and extra glam takes you to how it actually is to be in that particular incident.
ReplyDeleteI think Stephens right its a good way to kind of get kids to want to learn more and is more affective then letting read from a textbook and not understand any f it.Its also lets you visualize an idea of what really happened aswell.
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ReplyDeleteThis is Anna McDonald. I would have to agree with Zoe and Stephen. This movie is suppoted with education and history. Movies are a good source of giving you a mental picture. Now I have a great idea of how people dressed and how way back when was. HollyWood movies are a very good way to let us know about school stuff (what we are learning in class)because the movies entertain us more than a book.
ReplyDeleteThat up there is Mine ( Anna )
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ReplyDeleteI think that the movie is educational while entertaining. It paints a picture in your head of what it was like in those times, the way things looked, familys, war, and killing, but of courese without all the drama added into the movie to make it entertainig. Like all Hollywood movies there was a bit of drama and some parts were unrealistic but that's a movie. Even though there is a lot of stuff that may be unrealistic it does have pieces of history and does refer to educational stuff and it does have bits and peices of truth. in my opinion this was a good movie.
ReplyDeleteThis is my fith time typing this!! I think that this movie wat entertainig while being educational. It painted a picture in your head about what it was like during that time, the war, killing, familys, life, but of course with some drama. It had bits and pieces of truth but was very entertainig. Of course with every movie comes drama and some stuff that may be unrealistic but does make it entertainig. I do think that this was a good educational, historic, and entertainig movie. MY NAME IS EVAN M. IT WOULDNT WORK UNLESS I DID UNANOYMUS. IM SORRY!!
ReplyDeleteTHAT WAS EVAN IT WOULD'T WORK UNLESS I DID THAT NAME.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Hollywood history films can be entertaining and still be full of history. Just because its a good movie doesn't mean that it can't have a lot of historical value. I would much rather watch a Hollywood movie with historical value then just boring old documentary! These historical movies will keep you excited while it still teaches you. Recognizing the Historic Hollywood movies should be known as both entertaining but historical and educational, making watching these movies a win win situation.
ReplyDeleteLindsey R - This movie probably cost a lot of money because of the value. Since the movie was based on the French and Indian War, it is educational and has historical value. It should be judged on 75% academic value, and 25% on entertainment. Historical movies are supposed to be based on academic value to make students/adults watch it and have a little entertainment. People with a weak understanding of history should watch historical movies. It will help them learn history because they will be able to see the scenes, and it will be more interesting. The movie does have Historical value. At first before I watched the movie I didn't understand the acts that well, now I know the French and Indian War.
ReplyDeleteLydia R. - There is value to this film, because it shows how the war had happened and how much it damaged. It also shows how it ruined people’s lives and the movie shows how much people it killed during war. Which everybody needs to know what war was like so they would be against keeping the war going so they should know that it is best that we end war, because people are killing each other for no reason. It also can be judged as an entertainment movie if people just like to watch action movies, but I think it will be more of a history film. Well everybody has different opinions so everybody might have a different opinion on the film if it is a history film or just entertainment. Personally, I think that it can be both a history film and entertainment.
ReplyDeleteI think that watching a historical film helps because like Quinn says, it would help viewers watch the reenactment of something in history. Mr. Veliz always says that a picture is just as important as words itself and picturing things would help you understand it better. I think that the film can be viewed as an entertainment film or an educational film because I know that at a sleepover i would defiantly watch the movie. I think it depends on the perspective you view the film that makes it fun or educational.
ReplyDeleteThis movie really showed to me what the families and individuals went through during the war. Like Demi said this movie could be viewed as an entertainment or educational film. i looked at the movie in an educational way because it showed me how violent the war was. Also this movie was really straight forward, for example it didn't have you guess if the war was going to be bloody. It pretty much straight came out and told you. This movie was great and kind of like Caston said i would rather watch this than a documentary.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this movie. I especially like the character Mr. Franklin, the dad. I liked him because when they were fighting off the Red Coats, the American line started to break. Mr. Franklin grabbed the American flag and held the line together. His passion and commitment to their cause encouraged others to hold strong. Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in no matter what the cost, big or small. I think there is academic value because in these types of films because it shows the viewers historical events and creates characters that they can relate to. I think that draws people in to becoming more interested in history.
ReplyDeleteI agree with ethan. I think there is some historical value ithis movie. The character of Benjamin Martin is based of of amny historical people mostly to Francis Marion, a militia leader in South Carolina known throught the state known as the "Swamp Fox." This movie would mostly be educational because this is based off of real events that happened.
ReplyDeleteThis is J.C. who posted that comment!This is my 4th time trying to post up here!
ReplyDeleteI think that the big Hollywood movies can have a academic value to them. I think that Hollywood can twist the truth though on movies but with history movies they have to have some academic value or else they don't even fit the genre. I do admit though that adding a little Hollywood to a movie does make it a lot more entertaining. It also makes it so people with a less academic mind can watch a movie and understand it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this movie has great value to it because when you read a big fat on this you like zone out but when you watch this in a movie. It will blow your mind away because your seeing this right in your face . I believe this movie has great history in class.
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ReplyDeleteI think everyone should get a chance to see this movie because it shows how serious war is. all Middle schoolers should have the chance to watch this.
this was an educational movie because it showed both sides reacting to the war and ever thing that was going on at the time. but it was a very entertaining movie i love it
ReplyDeleteI think this movie serves as both an educational and entertainig movie. Reason is that someone who like history about America and shows how serious wars can be. I really liked this movie a lot. It's now one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteIt shows us the past in a different way.
This movie is filled with lots of historic value which makes it full of academic value. I also think that it could leave some viewers astray thinking they just made it to be an entertaining but violent movie with no history included in it.
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