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prschroeder
Reviews
(Un)Well: Essential Oils (2020)
Shows both sides of this issue
This episode starts off positive showing all the legit uses of essential oils and supplements. It has a few anecdotal stories of how they have helped people with special needs and others. Then it transitions to a story of how a person got very sick using an essential oil and how the cure wasn't more essential oil as her community of users suggested. Finally, a good section of this episode is dedicated to the multi-level marketing practices in this industry and how it is not a lucrative career for most who get involved with this. (Some of the companies and individuals profiled in this industry complain that this is edited to paint them in a bad light but this is for you to decide as I have done, reading their rebuttals found elsewhere on the web).
Body Human 2000: Love, Sex & the Miracle of Birth (1999)
It's sex education-lite
Pretty good for showing my high school health students after they have had a review of the basics and some discussion about anatomy. This is not a serious documentary in the style that PBS or National Geographic does, but it is nevertheless, informative and entertaining on it's 4 to 5 stories that they cover.
More could have been done on the identical twins that were different in sexual orientation, but even to bring up a unique story such as that is quite interesting. Also, a condition called "vulvadynia" was important to alert many women to this physically painful and emotionally confusing condition.
James Brolin does a nice job in narration and his on-camera work, neither calling attention to himself in any way good or bad. As it should be, he takes a backseat to the stories he presents.
Lifestories: Families in Crisis: Dead Drunk: The Kevin Tunell Story (1993)
Helpful to use in the classroom
I teach 9th grade health in Los Angeles and can tell you this movie holds their attention. I had a senior stop by yesterday and he saw I was going to be showing it and he remembered it very well. It also shows that "health" is a lot more than physical. Showing the mental and emotional anguish of the lead character is a powerful way to remind students that health is a lot more than just exercise, diet, and wearing your seat belt.
Also, when I originally started showing this in maybe 2000 not many people knew Sam Rockwell. The fact that he is much better known today for recent movies also helps hold student attention.
Finally, an appearance at the end of the film by the real Kevin Tunnel drives home the point that this is closely based on a true story. I remind them that you can learn from your own mistakes, or by watching the mistakes of others. This film is a powerful reminder that learning by others mistakes can save you a lifetime of pain and anguish.
Get Him to the Greek (2010)
This is a laugh out loud movie!
If you liked Russell Brands character in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, then you will enjoy this movie. Jonah Hill's character is also morphed and expanded from that earlier movie and also very enjoyable as the nerdy intern caught between hero worship and trying to do his job.
Sean Combs (aka. Puff Daddy, P. Diddy...) is great as the amped up - stressed out boss of Hill's character and provides many laughs but in a slightly smaller role than Brand and Hill.
It was nice to also see an actress playing Hill's girlfriend that I didn't recognize - Elisabeth Moss. She has one of the funnier scenes later in the film that helps give it the R rating. What else gives it the hard R rating is some nudity, language and a lot of drug use.
Overall, I would rate it an 8 or 9 with the only drawback is that my friend that I saw it with - we both thought the film sagged a bit at the end, but then brought it back with a closing funny scene that referenced something earlier in the film.
Finally, the film "works" in the grand outrageous style of The Hangover, Borat, etc. I will see it again.
28 Days (2000)
Useful to show my health class re: treatment for alcoholism
I teach 9th grade health in Los Angeles and in our unit on mental health we get into addictions, drugs, alcohol, etc. With some reading out of our textbook on 12 Steps and counseling, especially denial, the film shows beautifully. We all enjoy the interesting characters, the abundance of humor, and it reinforces the idea that alcoholism is a family problem. It probably doesn't hurt that Sandra Bullock is quite popular and is now an Oscar winning actress. My 15 year old students really enjoy this film and there is enough content and teachable moments to stop the DVD and discuss that it's quite useful.
As far as just sitting down with a friend to watch it, yes, it's entertaining enough on it's own without the educational message. There are many poignant scenes with Sandra Bullock that it's easy to see why she was finally given the award for Best Actress this year. The character of Gerhardt (Alan Tudyk)is also hilarious and though I worried about homophobic comments in my class, there were none. Gwen's roommate Andrea, played by Azura Skye, is also a realistic portrayal of a 17 year old that lives in fear of leaving rehab and going back to the temptations and stresses of "real life". Overall a great "dramedy" long before they were in vogue as they are today.
Meteor (2009)
Not as bad as everyone says if you like astronomy
People like me that like astronomy, and read a few hours a week or month on the subject, don't really watch films like Meteor for the stellar dialogue or plot twists. We watch it because we like to see comets, asteroids and so on and that's primarily our interest. While the film and script might be lacking in certain areas, that's not our primary concern. It's also a fictional account of something that is very real and will happen again sooner or later.
I enjoyed all types of these films from this genre and while Armaggedon might have had bigger stars and better special effects- not to mention a more implausible story line, it was nevertheless entertaining. When I am seeing a disaster film I do not necessarily look for Oscar material.
CBS Schoolbreak Special: No Means No (1988)
good film to foster discussion on date rape
As one of those health teachers, I will say that although my 9th graders groan at several lines of dialog, other lines of dialog are "spot on" perfect, like when the older boy is sweet talking and manipulating the younger, impressionable girl. And though the girl is never to blame in these situations, we have a nice discussion of all the mistakes she made, and all the warning signs she ignored that led to the (date) rape. Though this film is dated, it is a helpful film on an important subject.
As far as acting and production values, the acting is neither outstanding or horrible, it doesn't call attention to itself in either respect so it is fine. Also, there is an added bonus or point of interest with Lori Loughlin starring in the film as she currently is featured in a TV show that is on (as of 2005) and recognized by many of the students.