Abdi Aden's the final blog

When we were kings is based on the fight between legendary boxers Muhammad Ali & George Foreman. The documentary is based on the build up of the fight. The fight takes place is Zaire, which is now present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. The film does a good job of trying to get you to take Muhammad Ali’s side that happens to be the underdog in the film. It also does an incredible job of giving you B-roll prior to the fight. There’s interviews and work out footages. The essence of the story is Muhammad Ali’s comeback to boxing after he was stripped of the title due to the Vietnam War scandal. Part of the scandal was the United States Army was attempting to force Muhammad Ali to enlist in the war in which he refused and was stripped of his world title. This documentary takes you back to his return to glory. Music also plays a role in the film too. Because the fight takes place in Zaire, there is a huge African influence. There’s a segment in the documentary when Muhammad Ali discusses about African culture and how everyone from the planet is really from Africa. George Foreman comes off as someone who doesn’t care about the African culture and kept to himself for most of the documentary. I personally wish I could’ve witnessed something as big as this event in Zaire. The people of Zaire were also thrilled when they overthrew their dictator. Here's a snippet of the film.

When 60 minutes interviewed Marshall Mather’s also known as Eminem, it was special. The interview takes us through Eminem’s recovery from drugs. Coincidently his album is also named “Recovery”.  Eminem doesn’t usually let the media into his personal and family life but through his music, he shares with us everything about his personal and family life. The interview was well done because they didn’t keep it to one location. They had parts in the studio, B-roll of his come back concert. One particular part that was very interesting was when Eminem shows Anderson Cooper his box full of rhymes he’s written throughout his life. I personally thought the questions that Cooper asked were interesting. In his new album “Recovery”, Eminem takes us through his drug addiction and how he overcame it.

 

Randall Dale Adams is a man that was falsely accused for the murder of a police officer. He served 12 years in prison and was actually 72 hours away from his death sentence when someone came forward with new evidence claiming his innocence. The 1988 documentary “The Thin Blue Line” covers this remarkable story. The way the film is made through reenactments and several interviews. This is one of those movies where it actually solves the crime. Eventually someone is caught and is sentenced to death for the murder.

 

 

Abdi Aden: Three-Peat

Bowling for Columbine is a 2002 documentary written, produced and directed by Michael Moore. The documentary shows the story of the Columbine school massacre where 2 kids walked into their high school and began open firing on students and staff. This massacre is similar to the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. Michael Moore explores America’s homicide rate and compares it to different countries one being Canada. In Detroit there were 500 homicides, but just over the bridge was Windsor and it has a very small murder rate. He also shows moments of how easy it is to get a gun in America. A bank in Michigan gives customers the chance to walk out with a gun if they sign up and deposit some money and pass a background check. Seriously? This is ridiculous, what’s next, getting a free gun for signing a library card? There are two sequences that I found very interesting and make the film much more eye popping.  There are 2 montages of the impact guns have had on politicians and people. After looking at the soundtrack the song that is being played in the background is a Beatles song called “Happiness is a warm gun”. I thought that was cool. The film also attacks the behavior of depressed or victims of bullying, and what they potentially can do if lets say people don’t listen or help them. The interview with controversial artist on his own, Marilyn Manson was very interesting. He said something that made me really think more about what less fortunate people have to deal with everyday. Moore asked him “what he would say to those kids before the incident?” and he responded “I wouldn’t say anything to them I would’ve listened and that’s what no one did.” I just said wow after that. The whole interview was well done.

The 9/11 attacks were extremely tragic. Over 3000 people lost their lives because of the attack. This film which is called “9/11”, originally explores the story of a fireman Tony Benetatos. Then suddenly the first plan hit the tower and the brothers were taping it. They captured all kinds of footage, which has shots of the mass panic in New York.  CBS aired the documentary 6 months later after the attack. This attack happened almost 10 years ago. Its funny how time flies by, but the reaction of civilians is what shocks me the most. I mean like if you seen this happen to your city wouldn’t you think it was Armageddon? 

Michael Vick was once a superstar quarter back for the Atlanta Falcons; his current team is the Philadelphia Eagles. This 60 minutes interview takes a deeper look at his fall in football. Michael Vick was accused of having dogfights in his home with his close friends. He later confessed to the crime citing “We used to kill the dogs, electrocute them, drown them and starve them if they lost a battle”. Animal Cruelty is a huge crime in society. He served a 23-month sentence for his crime. When he was released, he now is dedicating his life to helping others in need. He developed his own reality like TV show, showing himself in his new lifestyle. He was also re instated into the NFL and signed by the Eagles. He served as a backup quarterback, but in due time, he came starter once again. I like how they got the ESPN analysts to introduce the blogs and even ask him some of the questions. They got the former Indianapolis Colts coach, Tony Dungie to help rehabilitate Michael Vick as well as get him back into playing shape. The documentary uses extreme close up shots and well as still images to show Vick in his playing days.  There are also some wide-angle shots to show him speaking at a press conference. Even though Vick committed a huge crime, he has paid his debt to society. He is now dedicated 100 percent to football and helping others in need.

Abdi Aden's Blog: The Sequel

This is the story of Vincent Lamar Carter. Currently on his 5^th team, Vince was once a Toronto Raptor. Vince’s athletic ability and eye-popping plays were a huge reason why the city of Toronto even has a team. I mean, look at what happened to the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1996. They didn’t have a star player that could create a buzz and a fan base. Ultimately, the team was moved to Memphis. His performance in the 2000 dunk contest was unparalleled. No player has since come close to the performance Vince Carter put on in Oakland. The Raptors first appearance in the playoffs resulted in a sweep by the New York Knicks. However, the following season it was the Raptors that put a hurting on the Knicks in the playoffs resulting in the franchise’s first playoff victory. The eastern conference final was just 1 shot away in Philadelphia, but all good things must come to an end. Vince missed the game winning shot. The following season showed promise but injuries plagued the Raptors resulting in a bust season. Frustration grew as Vince demanded a trade and was on his way to New Jersey. What came back for us was pathetic, but the welcoming boos that Carter received on his return to Toronto is incomparable.  Being a fan of basketball, most importantly a fan of the raptors, its safe to say that Vince carter was the best player in Toronto Raptor history. Fans can talk all about how Vince was a quitter and a crybaby, but it doesn’t hide the fact that without his spectacular dunks, eye popping plays, and most importantly his dunk contest performance, the city of Toronto would only have the Maple Leafs to root for. 

Supersize ME is a documentary film about Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker who decides to go on a McDonald’s only diet. We all know what eating fast food consistently does to our bodies but Morgan has more guts than I do. I would never do what Morgan did but hey somebody had to try it right? Never did I think a McDonalds only diet would do so much bad to you so quick. No wonder now any McDonalds you go walk to, you can’t get anything supersized. Obesity is no longer a title the United States can hold on to because it’s spreading everywhere. Parents must take control of what there kids are doing in school/private life, but also what they put in their stomachs.

The wiki leaks founder Julian Assange, and his accomplices would hack into private mainframes and expose video/important information regarding to wars and exposing the truth. They released a clip of Iraqi civilians being murdered by the US army. Wiki leaks wasn’t popular at first, throughout time it started gaining the attention of the world. Some are calling the founder an online “Robin Hood”. It’s a shame that the truth has to be exposed rather than publicly told. Wiki leaks shows Guantanamo bay a famous prison in Cuba its tactics to get their prisoners to talk.  This is a travesty and now people are much more open-minded to how specific governments work and what there true intentions are in this world.

Abdi Aden Blog

            Beyond Scared Straight is a documentary show that airs on Thursdays on A&E. The basis of the show is to scare young boys and girls to avoid prison time at any part of their lives. The guests are introduced to convicts, which they then begin to share their stories with them. One particular girl has an interesting story. Her own mother is incarcerated in the prison and she pleads for her daughter to not commit the same mistakes she did. Although the young girls are brought together, each ones has a significant story to share. In one segment, they are paired up with the inmates and they give these girls the motivation they need to keep them out of the prison system.

            The fifth estate is a very popular show on the CBC network, which is on every Friday night at 9pm. One particular episode that caught my eye was “The life and death of Abdinasir Dirie. He’s a young man whose family emigrated from Somalia to escape the civil war. After completing high school, he suddenly decides to leave to Alberta where the economy in Fort McMurray is booming. Being Somalian myself, this was a common trend amongst families in the city. Along of the young Somali kids would tell their parents that there going there to work but end up selling drugs, which was the harsh reality for Abdinasir Dirie’s family. All this resulted in 30+ unsolved murders, all Somali. One particular moment that shocked me in the show is the following hours before Abdinasir’s death. His own friend lets some people into his apartment, knowing that Abdi wasn’t close to these people. He then leaves him alone with these people only to come back and find his friend dead. He then calls the police and fled. Being Somali myself, all I can say about this is the young Somali adults have to understand that life is not worth fast money. It’s much better to earn it legally and live to tell about it.

            Sicko is a documentary by famous filmmaker, Michael Moore. Once again he attacks America’s government on health care. His previous installments were Bowling for Columbine & Fahrenheit 911. Sicko attacks America’s poor health system. He goes to different countries and compares wait times and service, with the United States ranking last in almost all categories. Being Canadian, I feel absolutely blessed that I can receive health care for free. In the United States, if you don’t have insurance, your sent packing. That is absolute travesty that Americans can be bleeding to death but the doctors have to check to see if you they got insurance first. Only then can the help you. Unbelievable.