GREAT DEBATERS (2007) – 1935, Marchall Texas, Slavery abolition has been declared but racism and segregation are still remain. Professor Melvin Tolson (Denzel Washington) from the Wiley College casts students to form the school’s debate team : Hamilton Burgees (Jermaine Williams) the talkative guy, Henri Lowe (Nate Parker) the rebel, Samatha Booke (Jumee Smollett) female student and James Farmer Junior (Denzel Whitaker) fourteen years old student. Professor Tolson knew how to emphasize their skills and so the team becomes unbeatable. Their course leads them to break down the wall between white and negro people. The team of four turns out to be the first negro debate team in U.S to face white debate team. But coaching the debate team is not the only Tolson’s activity, he has his own fight ….

The movie is based on a true story of Melvin B. Tolson’s life, a professor at Wiley College Texas who during hard time in America, he stood and fought against racism an segregation with non violence actions. The Academy Award winner Denzel Washington (Training Day, Déjà Vu) decides to relate his history in this amazing movie as being the director and also performing the leading role. Denzel Washington chooses another Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker (The Last king of Scotland, Streets Kings) to co-star with him.

Forest Whitaker and Denzel Washington

The movie talks largely about Debat. It’s a contest where each participant is doing a clash of arguments about a subject. Professor MelvinB Tolson resume it in few words “Debat is a blood sport. It’s a combat. But your weapons are words.” In fact, although your opponent try to disgrace you, you will be also judge on your knowledge, your strategy and you approach? So, your argument have to be clever, judicious and funny at the same time. Not easy! well, being a debater required to everything but shy and weak. It grows one’s knowledge, builds one’s personality and even changes one’s life. We can even say, it teaches. It’s an evidence that contest like debat improve not only students skills but also school notoriety.

In Madagascar, there are others contests at school such as essay contest, dictation contest, art public speaking, but they are not taken seriously. They are more games for fun and not a real competition. Whereas, it will be much more useful than a simple game.

The US Embassy will organize the “International Education Week” (IEW) on November, 18th and 19th at the National Library in Anosy. It is an educational event that the US education department and the US department commonly organizes every year throughout the world. For this year, the ICE CLUB will take part in it. So, we invite you to come! you will have the opportunity to know more about studies in the USA but also the ICE Club.

Dagomc, English Corner – Midi Madagascar – November, 12th 2009

That night, a violent storm attacks a town in Maine. The next morning, a thick mist is approaching from off the nearby lake. David Drayton (Thomas Jane), his eight-year-old son and his neighbor Brent Norton drive to town to pick up food and supplies. On their way to the market, they see the army and the police, heading toward the mist. As they are shopping, an old man runs in the market with a bloody nose and screams “Something in the mist!”. Everyone looks outside, the mist is moving to the supermarket. After a while, nothing can be seen but white smoke : the mist has completely covered the supermarket and may be the whole city . People doing their shopping, sellers, everybody get trapped in the supermarket. Suddenly, unworldly horrific creatures appear and people start panicking …

The story is based on Stephen King’s novel, considered one of his scariest book. Personally, didn’t read it yet (anyway, I’m not into books!!) but the movie is incredible. That’s surely because of its originality next the others horror like “Hostel” or “Saw”, bloody scenes with psychological struggle. Besides, Frank Darabont (The Green Mile ),the director, agreed to make the movie only under the condition that no matter what, they wouldn’t change the scripted. And it works fine. I was absolutely gripped during the entire film. I recommend it to all of horror fan.
The movie played with people’s mind : it describes how easily people can be manipulated, fooled when they are scared. Trapped in a place, not knowing what’s going outside. The 911 doesn’t answer. And then, monsters attack you, you don’t understand what happen, you don’t even know how to protect yourself. In that case, we are ready to follow whoever says “I got the solution”, although this solution is insane, … Your brain doesn’t work normally anymore, there’s no right and wrong, there’s no rational or irrational, you just think of what can make you get out of there, whatever the consequences are, whoever gets hurt. “I wanna get out of here, I wanna feel in peace, I wanna feel secured!” that is your aim. And whoever dare to stop you, or disagree with you, you will come to kill them if it needs to.
Human being are so proud to say “We’re different from animals, we’re more clever and conscientious”. But put them in a damn situation where they are facing danger and fear, or just make them believe that all the things they have will disappear. And then the animal in them will rise above! Sometimes, it’s worst and they invent politics and religions to justify their actions . How beautiful we are!

In 1999, the Civil War consumed the Sierra Leone. After the rebels attacks his village, Solomon Vandy, a fisherman, get separated from his family. He was forced to work in the diamond field where he discovers a huge pink diamond. While hiding it, the Commandant of the Rebels sees, but the rebels are attacked by the government army and Salomon is arrested. In jail, the commandant tells the prisoners that Salomon found a priceless stone. The African mercenary smuggler, Danny Archer who witness all the scene, proposes Solomon his help to find his family in exchange of the diamond. To reach his goal, Danny uses Maddy Bowen, an American idealistic journalist which aim is to get information about diamond smuggling. Each one of them were linked to that pink diamond : The Commandant of the Rebels : to fund their actions, Archer : to get out of Africa, Maddy : to track down diamond smuggling and Solomon : to get his family back…

Edward Zwick is not (The Last Samurai, Glory) at his first war movie. They couldn’t find a better director to combine History and fiction into a magnificence drama story. And, the actors were also well cast. Leonardo DiCaprio, the handsome guy from the blockbuster “Titanic” becomes a mercenary with a perfect South African accent. I have to say that during “Titanic” phenomenon, I never thought he can play such a character. But, his movies tell far more about his talent : The Beach, Catch me if you can, The Departed. Nevertheless, despite of his great job, the eyes turn on Djimon Hounsou (Beauty shop, Gladiator), his physical presence and his drama acting just mean. And not to weightless Jennifer Connelly (Hulk, A beautiful mind) , she was pretty convincing in the journalist who wants to make the difference. The movie was nominated for five Oscars in 2006, including : Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Leonardo DiCaprio and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Djimon Hounsou.

“Blood Diamond” is based on truth events that happened in Sierra Leone. To refresh the history, The Sierra Leone Civil War began in 1991, initiated by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF). The R.U.F. used the diamond field to fund their union. Smuggling, massacre, terrorism and many other atrocities were done by the rebels during 9 years of conflict. Tens of thousands died and more than 2 million people were displaced and became refugees attempting to escape the civil war. It was officially declared over on 18 January 2002. But till now, there is still 200 000 child soldiers in Africa

Politic steadiness is one of main bases to an economic development for a country. Unfortunately, political power is the most unstable in Africa. In Madagascar, for many times, the country was destroyed by conflicts between the government and their politic antagonists : 1972, 1991, 2002 and 2009. The situation nowadays is not as terrible as a civil war described in the movie. But if things still go that way, it may lead to a civil war. I hope I’m wrong. “TIA” they said in the movie, which means : “That Is Africa”. Are we that lost ?

Let me present you : Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson). He is an ex-secret agent. He finds a job as a bodyguard. He’s divorced and have a 17 years old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace). During her holidays, Kim asks permission to her father to go on a trip to France with her friend Amanda. Skeptical about that idea of her daughter flying away from him, in a foreign country, he lets her go anyway. Arrived in France, at the airport, Kim and Amanda is approached by a friendly guy and proposed them to share the cab fee. In the house, Kim was on the phone with her father when, from the windows of the bathroom, she sees men enter in the house, attack and kidnap Amanda. Still on the phone, Bryan gives her instructions but aggressors finally find Kim and kidnap her. Later on, Bryan discover that his daughter was kidnapped by the Albanian mafia in human trafficking. He has 96 hours otherwise he would never find his daughter anymore …”

 “TAKEN” (2008) is an action movie as I like: a hero solid as a rock, reaching for his goal and killing some bad guys on his way.  If you are a fan of the series “The Bourne Identity” (Matt Damon) then you shouldn’t miss this one. The director, Pierre Morel (Banlieu 13), and the writer, Luc Besson are French. It was  predictable because most the scene were in France. But, it seems like French people can make good action movies as well as comedy. The action scenes were really realistic : car races, gun shots, and my favorite : the hand to hand fights. More surprising is Liam Neeson (The Haunting, Schindler’s list), I never saw him playing that tough and unshakeable guy before. He is incredible. One of my favorite quote is : “I’m retired, I’m not dead”. His character’s motivation is so honorable that we hope that he would kill more.

The movie touched also a warm matter : human trafficking : it’s kidnapping girls and forced them to be sex-slave and prostitute. Actually, it’s the third illegal trade which paid most after drugs and weapons ($10billion per year). As one of the trafficker says in the movie: “It’s not personal, it’s just trade”, those people don’t have any scruple to use other people as an object, a stock to sell. They are well organized (corruption,  money laundry, mafia) it takes years to crack their system down. And even if one of those traffic is dismantled, ten groups, worst than those before is raised. Over 2 million people are trafficked per year. Their victims are young girls and children. Internet is one of their means to attract them. And there are some who kidnap children too.  The 96 hours mentioned in the movie is also true : once you’re out of the country you were kidnapped, it’s almost impossible to find you. Their network extend all over the world : Europe, US, Mexico, Asia, Africa, everywhere. Unfortunately, if you travel alone, your missing may be not declare only after the 96 hours.

In  Madagascar, the trafficking most deal with children. There were several times when in the news papers, we can read an article about a child kidnapped. Report from an US investigation says that family members, taxi drivers, friends, tourist guides can sometimes an accessory to the trafficking, due to our poverty.  Knowing those injustice, I am so for the death penalty. My advice is to be careful : do not trust easily people you just met.  Other movies about human Trafficking :

 Human Trafficking (2005): directed by Christian Duguay, with Mira Sorvino, Robert Carlyle

In the trailer, “BICENTINNIAL MAN” 1999, was present as the next Robin Williams’ comedy … that is so wrong, cause a 13-15 child cannot understand the complexity of this movie. It is so much more than just another “Ha ha” comedy. There are a lot of subtle message in each part of the movie.

The Martin family receives delivery of a NDR-114, a servant android (Robin Williams). The Android, named Andrew, begins to display some personal interest as curiosity, compassion, … feelings that a robot shouldn’t have. Mr Richard Martin (Sam Neil), the owner, noticed his difference and decide to teach him, time was endless for Andrew, he can be whatever he wants to be. Time pass by and Andrew is growing up. Despite his intelligence and knowledge, the way he perceives things changes. He discovers life, friendship, death, freedom, and love. He becomes as complex as a human can be…

“Bicentennial Man” is based on Isaac Asimov’s book.. The story take place in a near future and it last like 200 years … compress in 1H 30.  The directed, Chris Columbus (he did Rent!!!) and his crew made an excellent job : the vision effect and the make up are astounding. It’s unbelievable how realistic they made the age advancing make-up. Robin Williams (Jack, Flubber), is one of those actor having the ability to make people laugh and cry at the same time. And a special bravo to James Horner (Titanic, Braverheart) music composer for the soundtrack, it is just amazing. Personally, I prefer the classic version, but Celine Dion’s performance for “Then you look at me” is not that bad.

This movie can’t be assimilate as a “Pinocchio” fairy tale. It arises a delicate subject as the definition of humanity itself. Isaac Asimov, the writer, has a complete different vision of our future.FYI, the movies A.I. and I Robot were based on his novel as well. He open up our eyes to something new, a new vision : the point of view of humanity from a robot. It shows how complex and beautiful we are, that even a robot which time is endless and knowledge is unlimited, envy us. Our capacity to feel and to love is the best gift given to us, that makes us so special, no more, no less. So be proud whoever you are, cause you are unique.

“As a robot, I can live forever but I prefer to die in dignity as a human being”

At the beginning, “Rent” 1996 was a show performed on Broadway by Taye Diggs (Benny), Wilson Jermaine Heredia (Angel), Jesse L. Martin (Collins), Idina Menzel (Maureen), Adam Pascal (Roger), and Anthony Rapp (Mark). Created by creator Jonathan Larson, this rock opera got a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony Award just then. Ten years after, Chris Columbus adapted the story on the big screen with the same cast (except Rosario Dawson as Mimi).

This musical begin with all the cast lining up, performing the first song : Season of love.

Just at the title, you can imagine what kind of movie it will be : those dim-witted romantic movies … You’re  all wrong. In reality, “Rent” tells the story of a group friends living the Bohemian life in New York City between 1989 – 1990. Among the group are :

Mark Cohen : love-struck filmmaker and penniless but still hope for a better life.

Roger Davis : HIV-positive musician and former junkie, trying hard to reconnect with music,

Maureen Johnson : Mark’s former girlfriend, artist in her free time

Joanne Jefferson : Harvard-educated public lawyer and Maureen’s girlfriend

Mimi Marquez : HIV-positive drug addicted dancer and Roger’s new girlfriend,

Tom Collins : HIV-positive computer genius, Mark and Roger’s former roommate

Benjamin Coffin III : a former member of the group who married for money…

And the last but not the least, Angel : HIV-positive drag queen street musician and Collins’ lover

To tell you the truth, I’ve never been in New York, so I can’t tell you how it was at that time (neither nowadays!) But, I’m sure the fear of AIDS, the shame in drug addiction or the pain of losing someone you love, those feelings are still the same. That makes this movie never outdated. Anyway, life is not easy for our bohemians : they are broke and still have to pay the rent, or it’s Christmas time and the only place where they can find friendly faces is at the  HIV-meeting. But in the middle of all that misery and pain, they still can find love and hope. How? Not just by singing (their songs are really fabulous!!!) but by showing that they love to be alive, they are proud to be different (That’s where “La Vie Bohème” song  take place!)

What would you do, how would you feel if you get to know that you have just one year left on earth? It makes you think about the way you lived and the way you want to live, right? Well, let me tell you, you never know what could happen, so don’t be anonymous, stop being so boring, try, make mistakes, dare take the risk, live each day intensely as if it was the last. The only regret we should have is not having enough time to live.  

“There’s only us
There’s only this
Forget regret
Or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but today” 

Hi there !!

Self introduction is always a delicate step. Finding few words that describes you the most for people who never met you, it’s not easy. And plus, I’m not into word : just to tell you that I prefer Math than any literature course at school. So, don’t be surprised if you find some childish writing! Besides, the truth came from children’s mouth.  

Like Bridget Jones said (yes, in the movie with Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth) : “introduce people with thoughtful details” like : “This is Mark Darcy, Mark’s a prematurely middle-ages prick… with a cruel-racedex-wife. And Perpetua’s a fat-ass old bag … who spends her time bossing me around. …. Maybe not!”

So, dear readers, my name is Diana, a.k.a. Dago Mc. I’m Malagasy and I’m a movie addicted. … I think it’s enough thoughtful!!

Explanation of movie addicted : when you watch at least five movies a day. (from the president of “Iris”, a famous movie association here in Antananarivo, actually they are short movies producers)

In my case, before my boring work, I used to watch movies a lot, maybe not the five score but let’s just say, three. But once, one sleepless night, I watched the same movie four time in one night… Yes, I am a movie addicted.

So, it’s just to tell you that most of my blog  will relay on movies, not critics, just some comments or messages that I’d like to share. So enjoy it!