Author: Justin Ynfante
Video Games do not cause real life crimes
Ever since video games became mainstream around the world, those in the upper class, including politics and even the president himself have deemed video games the main source of gun related crimes. No matter what, they are quick to jump the gun and blame video games as a whole, even if there are other reasons that a certain crime might have happened. Despite them saying all of this, many researchers took turns with this and found no link at all between those crimes and video games, especially violent ones. By nature, games would instead release stress and can calm you down depending on how you play said game. This not only affects those who create the games, but those who play said games and if they decide to ban these types of video games, the economy will then begin to suffer, as video games companyâs own a number of stocks in the market. The type of games that are mainly at blame are shooters and M-rated games, but politics are vague about it and say ALL games are to blame. A rating system exist to see if a game is fit for all ages or only for certain groups of people above a said age, say over 10 or 16 years old. The company the makes the games have to be within a set of guidelines in order for a game to have a certain rating on it, they are aware of whatâs in their game. However, they cannot predict crimes or shooting at all and all the time, the game has nothing to do with it. If politics blame that game for what has happened, it can destroy their reputation and cause them to lose money, even if it had nothing to do with them. This will in turn, also hurt the economy and those who play that specific game. A number of cases have been done by a number of origination’s to see if there is any link between violent video games and violent crimes.Â
When news comes out about a huge crime or incident, regarding either murderer or robbery, people and mostly politics quickly blame video games for the cause. In this case, those who play video games all the time are also to blame. If that were the case, then how come these types of crimes arenât at an all time high? Most of the time, it never has to do with video games. There are a number of factors that more evidence on what caused them to do said crime. According to a website on Forbes.com, a case was done back in February of 2019 where they tested a number of adults and teenagers (about 2,008) and gave them certain games to play and tested to see how they would react. In about everyone that was tested, nobody showed any kind of aggressive behavior when playing a violent game. This case was said more on the Royal Society Publishing website. There was just no link with violent video games and aggression, thus showing there is no link that video games cause gun related or murder related crimes. It just isnât linked at all. Donald Trump keeps saying that video games causes real life violence. As said on CNBC, back in 2018 after the Florida high school shooting, Trump says that video games are to blame as to what had happened. However, numerous people came out saying that video games should not be the only reason as there are a number of other reasons. Such as mental problems, bullying, abuse, etc. Even with all these case studies, a link can not be found with video games and real life violence. It is always something else.
This is to reach out to those who mainly play video games, whether it be for a living, for work or just for a hobby to do in your spare time. Even then, certain video games have been banned in a number of countries for different reasons. A major one is Manhunt 2, as said on Wikipedia for banned games, for having huge amounts of gore, blood, violence and how revolting it was. It was not banned however for anything related to gun violence, as this was banned way before the rise started. In this case, games are not banned for those reasons, and only for what is shown in the game. From what I see, there are no groups that want to ban certain games, as the government of that country already does that beforehand. However, so many people keep saying that video games are not to blame. Adults, teens and even some news outlets, like The New York Times are saying that video games are not why shootings happen. It should be the politicians job to fix what is going on, not us. Not things that have no link whatsoever and to stop ignoring those who are being bullied, abused and having mental problems all together, thinking it’s just a phase or they are lying. There are no lies there as everything that has happened is caused by someone being ill, and not getting the help for it. Video games are not to blame for everything just because they don’t like it. It was always the case when something new comes out that the newer generation uses. There is so much proof that crime does not come from video games, and if a game is deemed to gory for the public, it either never gets released, it is heavily modified or just flat out banned. Mental health, abuse and bullying are always options and people are getting tired of just 1 thing being ruled in instead of what else could have been the cause. Video games do not cause violence, they never had and even if something like that occurred, it was dealt with in a timely manner as those kind of people never get far. Video games are not to blame, people who cause these crimes are, they do not flue anything or anyone as it releases stress. Stop blaming video games, they are not at fault.
Movie Review Reflection
Looking back at my Annotated Bibliography on Movie Reviewers talking about the different movies they each saw, there are some thing that I noticed that each one had something similar to each other. In most cases, they open up with something to get the reader up to par on what they are going to talk about. It may be on a movie before that one or what the first thought of it before seeing it. Another being how they point out specific people in each review. Among all of the however, they each give out points where the movie was good and where the movie was just down right awful, even sometimes saying that the movie has a whole was either good or bad, despite the actors or the plot. The last thing is that a job of a reviewer is to give insight on a piece of media or item, putting that online for others to see if they plan on seeing a movie, show or buying an item. It can change many minds, or change none. One thing that I did learn about looking about movie reviewers is each of them have their own saying on explaining a movie. None of them are really the same unless it is about what is going on in the movie. What I would still like to learn however is how did these people become well known with just speaking about a movie? Was it from luck? Or was it just spreading around like with the best movies of all time?
As I began typing out the Annotated Bibliography, I did learn that for a time, it looked like that I have kinda slacked towards typing up the Bibliography, as there are a number of stuff that I have left out from people reviewing things and who they were and also how they were able to get a look at it. I didn’t really find any sort of strength, besides having a little plan when writing this, with who I wanted to include in the Bibliography. I am good at planning since I still have the papers in my backpack where I had written who I was going put in the essay and what they have reviewed before hand. There are a number of ways that I would like to continue as a writer. One, I would like to have a better understanding on how to structure things, as I feel like it’s a bit all over the place still. Even with previously having Playwriting classes for about 2 years in High School. In some ways that I can enact these changes is to just keep writing a little more, day after day. Have a little bit of practice or just write whenever I’m feeling bored. I don’t really need anything to make this happen. What I do need however, is to invest time into it. Invest as much time into those problems so that I can keep improving and working on anything else that sticks out.
Movie Review – 6 Reviewers, 6 Movies
Any form of media, such as newspapers, music, videos, books and even movies are things people enjoy, as well as things some people donât enjoy. There are also people who canât decide and may need help with that. Luckily, there are people that help them decide by not just telling them, but explaining it, in great detail. Either by writing in a newspaper or a prompt on a website online. Sometimes, one person’s writing can change the minds of no one, or a million. It really depends on the audience they are trying to reach out to the most, and tell them how this one thing is good or bad.
A.O. Scott (Joker 2019):A.O Scott has been reviewing movies since 2000 and was later picked up by the New York Times where he can give his insight on movies to whatever audience the movie is towards. Joker is currently at the top of the box office as of October 10th, 2019, and people are saying it’s one of the best movies they had ever seen, some saying the opposite, with words such as bland or bleak and others saying not to take your kids to it. One reviewer opens up with “Are you kidding me?” As said in a post on the New York Times, the reviewer states that the title is at first just a boring title. Expecting the Joker to be much more dangerous and “clowney”, but instead says that it’s: “an empty, foggy exercise in second-hand style and second-rate philosophizing”. Also saying that the movie doesn’t come out of its shadow or is too scared to. He just finds the movie to be unfunny and boring, and wonders if that’s the joke hidden within the movie. Despite his claims on the movie being uninteresting, it went on to become the highest grossing R-rated movie of all time.
Roger Ebert (The Lost World: Jurassic Park 1997): Roger Ebert is one of the most famous movie reviewers looking at old and modern movies. He sadly passed away in 2013, but is still seen as the best that the industry had to offer. Back in 1997, Jurassic Park had received a sequel to the original Jurassic Park movie in 1993. On his website rogerebert.com, he starts off by saying that the movie doesn’t start with the same awe that the first movie had, how it doesn’t have that same feeling as what would happen if dinosaurs still roamed the earth and that how the humans in the movie didn’t deliver the same amount of input as they were just there for plot conventions or cheap action shots. He found the structure to be weird and didn’t enjoy it, thinking one thing was over but it wasn’t. He saw this movie as a disappointment to the first movie and thought that Steven Spielberg didn’t have enough time to revise it. Either way, he shows that he didn’t like it as much as the first movie and wished it could have been done better.
Justin Chang (Terminator: Dark Fate 2019): Justin Chang is a known movie critic for the L.A Times, getting early showings of movies that aren’t out yet to give some early insight to those who may want to see the movie or not. Beforehand, he worked for Variety before being picked up by the L.A Times. Recently, he reviewed the newest Terminator: Dark Fate movie that is set to come out on November 1st, and says on the L.A. Times, probably the best Terminator sequel in 20 years. He says that the movie is a tie in to the 2nd movie back in 1991, almost 30 years later giving it the proper sequel that it deserves. He goes on to explain that it is a good movie in which Schwarzenegger is once again back onto the acting scene with his signature terminator character.
Michael Cavna (Finding Dory 2016): Michael Phillips is reviewer for the Chicago Tribune, in which here reviewed Finding Dory, which is a sequel to Finding Nemo released back in 2003. On the Chicago Tribune, he explains how he saw the movie in his own words. To start off, he found it to be a satisfying follow-up, explaining that bringing back old movies can still bring back good memories to the original, even if itâs bad. He also finds the personality very vivid and bright but not so much with story with some errors, stating that going from a marine institution to dry land was a weird change of pace for some action. Which was absent in Finding Nemo with only the ending having to do anything with dry land. He finds the movie fantastic and a great follow up from the 2003 movie, as well as him stating that it deals great with those who have disabilities in a charming way. This is a good movie for those with disabilities as it shows how they can impact oneâs life in a good and funny way and not in a patronizing way, making them seem annoying and unpleasant. Here? They do it in a good way according to Michael.Â
Leonard Maltin (Toy Story 3 2010): Leonard Maltin is a well known critic for his work on reviewing old popular movies. In reviewing Toy Story 3, on his own website, he begins by saying that it is one of the greatest movies of its time. The amount of work, creativity and imagination that is possible with it is what made Toy Story 3 great in his eyes. He finds its strongest aspect to be the main stars, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Mr. Potato Head, all the familiar characters from previous movies, still the same and funny as ever. Even finding the ending quite dark and pulling on peopleâs heartstrings, he found it to be a really good tie in towards the Toy Story series. Even with the story changing tones very fast along with new characters having a bad meaning, it always seems to come out with a wholesome or good ending to leave a movie with. Maybe even the whole series as people thought 3 was going to be the final one. Leonard Maltin does review the 4th one, but thatâs for another time. He gives the movie a good rating with its amazing plot and ending.Â
Pauline Kael (GoodFellas 1990): Pauline Kael was known for her quotes about certain movies, such as the GodFather, JAWS and GoodFellas. For this one, she reviews GoodFellas, a 1990 crime movie loosely based on the GodFather. Some people gave this movie a good rating, however for Pauline, she didnât find the movie all that great with a number of reasons. On the New Yorker, she first asks the question if it is a great movie. She doesnât think so, but finds it to be a triumphant piece of filmmaking, having each frame just being active and vivid, as well as knowing that the director loved what he was making when these pictures were moving. She likes how it looks, but not how it is structured with its characters. One point is with a guy named Henry reacts to Tommy and Jimmyâs act of violence with a puzzled expression, and not scared or angry one. Another with Joe Pesciâs character shooting a teenager who was slow with serving a drink. She didnât like how they were, which is what caused her to not find the movie all that great to those adults who want to see it.Â
Scott, A. O. â’Joker’ Review: Are You Kidding Me?â The New York Times, The New York Times, 3 Oct. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/movies/joker-review.html.
Ebert, Roger. â’The Lost World: Jurassic Parkâ Roger Ebert, Roger Ebert, 6 Jun 1997, https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lost-world-jurassic-park-1997
Chang, Justin. âReview: âDark Fateâ is the best âTerminatorâ sequel in over 20 yearsâ Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2019, https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-22/terminator-dark-fate-review-arnold-schwarzenegger-linda-hamilton
Cavna, Michael. âHow âFinding Doryâ and âFinding Nemoâ deal beautifully with disabilitiesâ Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jun, 2016, https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-finding-dory-finding-nemo-disabilities-20160617-story.html
Maltin, Leonard. âFilm Review: Toy Story 3â Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin, 17 Jun 2010, https://leonardmaltin.com/film-review-toy-story-3/
Kael, Pauline. âTumescence As Styleâ The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 17 Sep, 1990, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1990/09/24/tumescence-as-style
Movie Review: Joker (2019) [Prompt]
Joker is currently at the top of the box office as of October 10th, 2019, and people are saying its one of the best movies they had ever seen, some saying the opposite, with words such as bland or bleak and others saying to not take your kids to it. One reviewer opens up with “Are you kidding me?” As said in a post on the New York Times, the reviewer states that the title is at first just a boring title. Expecting the Joker to be much more dangerous and
“clowny”, but instead says that it’s: “an empty, foggy exercise in second-hand style and second-rate philosophizing”. Also saying that the movie doesn’t come out of its shadow or is too scared to. He just finds the movie to be unfunny and boring, and wonders if that’s the joke hidden within the movie.
PlayTrains
There was a time around 2nd grade when I was a small kid and I vaguely remember having a writing assignment that my class had for spring break. It was to write a small book or story about anything that you want. It could be on what you did over the break, what is your favorite food, book, movie, etc. Before given this assignment, I went downtown to visit the transit museum with my aunt because I really had an interest for trains. Everyday when going to elementary school, middle school, my first year of high school and even college, I would always ride the train. Not just going to school though, pretty much anywhere else going downtown or uptown. By myself or with my family. Although, I did lose my interest in trains a while ago because of video games and learning that working at the MTA doesnât make you that money, it just sort of drifted off. Itâs still something I hold close to me. I went down to the transit museum during one weekend and had a look around of how the trains worked and even saw some old model trains from when the system first began. There was also one part for the buses but that wasnât what I was into. A little while after leaving, I started working on the book about trains and what I learned about them. At this point, I donât recall what I wrote on it and Iâm not sure if I even have the book on me anymore due to the amount of spring cleaning from then to now. All I know is that upon giving the book, the 2nd grade teachers were excited and loved the book. I did like writing sometimes when I was younger and I still do now to a degree, especially in high school when I wrote plays for playwriting class. In high school, I had playwriting for about 2 years. It was getting a little repetitive around the 2nd year, but I sucked it up and went along with it. In playwriting, we had free reign to write plays about anything we want, with the expectation that there isnât too much cursing in them. My teacher didnât really like cursing being overused, however using 1 or 2 is fine. During my time in that class, I had wrote about 4 plays and even had some of them performed by other classmates. Sadly, it never really made it to be a fully acted play as other plays were favored because of friends, but I still enjoyed making them. I took my time with them making sure if made sense, no grammar errors, soft flowing, everything. The longest play I made was around 22 pages. I still have thankfully due to them being on the internet, so if I need any inspirations, Iâll just look at my old plays. I did learn over the years that  I can write anything I want whenever I want. Even if it makes no sense or questionable, itâs me writing it, not anyone else. Playwriting really opened that up for me as I enjoyed writing plays. Hopefully, I can learn a lot more about structure in this class.
Personal Essay
During my time in school, mainly around elementary school, I used to write little comics during my spare time in class, sometimes at home but mostly in class. I don’t really remember the grade when I started, but I was always into writing those little comic strips and writing these stick figures getting into little adventures in modern times. It was fun. Come high school, I was in a play writing class for about 2 years. I enjoyed it, even if it was the same recipe for both years but it was fun. Fun to act, fun to judge, fun to watch other people act, overall it was a class I enjoyed. Writing these long prompts for plays that would be over 10 pages long, sometimes 20! I still have my play writing prompts somewhere on google and I like looking back at what I wrote back then. I’ve had some sort of a thing for writing if I’m given enough time to complete a task. Finishing it up, getting those errors fixed and even adding some more detail to the writing if I see that something is missing from it. Essays can be a pain sometimes but they pretty easy to write once you know what to put down on that paper or keyboard. I like writing, it lets me express myself and to really just pass the time if I’m bored. It’s a hate/love thing, but I can handle it. Looking forward to see what this year will make me write about.
