THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED
The Greatest Game Ever Played is based on true story that ch
anged the history of golf forever. It is about how Francis Ouimet (pronounced Wee-Met) became a legend in the game of golf. Played by Shia LaBeouf, Francis Ouimet is born in 1893 to a working-class family in Massachusetts, USA. He becomes fascinated in golf as he grows up because his family is near the Brookline Country Club, a venue for the upper class to relax and to play golf. Ouimet becomes a caddy in this country club. During his spare time, Ouimet displays his awesome natural talent and his understanding of golf strategies. In 1913, regardless of his father’s objections, Ouimet becomes the first amateur to play in the U.S. Open, a golf tournament between American and British golfers. The tournament is held in Brookline Country Club. Ouimet’s presence is perceived to be little more than a novelty because golf was dominated by British players and was restricted to the upper class only. With Eddie Lowery, his 10-year old caddy, Ouimet faces the challenges that the golf course has to offer them. Harry Vardon, a British champion who won six tournaments and his opponent in this tournament, is expected to win. Ted Ray, another British golfer, is seen as Vardon’s only serious competition. During the U.S. Open, the game unexpectedly becomes a fierce battle between a seasoned champion and an extremely talented unknown. Amazingly, Ouimet wins the tournament. At age-20, Francis Ouimet becomes the first amateur golfer to beat a professional in the history of golf.
Francis Ouimet deserves to be called a golf legend because of his courage to reach his dream: to be a golfer. Francis journey to becoming a U.S. Open champion is full of setbacks. His first challenge is in his own home, where his father constantly discourages him to play or think of golf. Instead, his father insists that Francis should get a job, like everyone else. His father abhors golf because he believes that golfers, the rich, know nothing about earning their place; their place is already given to them. Fortunately, Francis stands up for himself and joins the tournament, regardless of his Father’s threat to disown him.
Ouimet's second challenge stemmed from the social issues of that time. Golf was a sport that was dominantly English. Also, this was not even in the U.S.’s mainstream because only the upper class could afford to play the game. The closest everyone else had to playing the game is by becoming a caddy. Despite these, Francis practices golf during his spare time. However, his skills would have been useless, unless he was given a chance to play in a golf course. Fortunately, an organizer of the U.S. Open offered him the opportunity to play in the tournament because he has heard of Francis’ great skill.
Ouimet’s last challenge comes from the other golfers at the tournament. During that time, the U.S. open was more than just a tournament. It was a battle between the British and the Americans. Consequently, the winner of the tournament would be a national icon. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray watched Francis in the crowd to intimidate him. With this much at stake, Francis was fortunate to have Eddie Lowery, a ten-year old boy, as his caddy. With Eddie’s help Francis was able to get himself out of difficult situations in the golf course. Eddie would cheer him by saying, “Read it, role it, hole it,” or ,”Easy peasy, lemon squeasy.” Thanks to Eddie, Francis was able to relieve some pressure off his back.
Due to Francis Ouimet’s victory at the U.S. Open, golf has never been the same. After his victory, golf was no longer perceived as a sport of the rich and old. Consequently, his achievement tore down a social barrier between the rich and the poor. This is manifested in the many public golf courses that have been made after 1913. Furthermore, he proved that one victory is not determined by one’s social class, but by one’s character. He did not have the latest equipment that the other well-off golfers had. All he had was his own set of wooden clubs, Eddie Lowery, and his skill. Francis Ouimet truly deserves to be called a golf legend.
The Pursuit of Happiness is one of the most inspiring movies ever
produced. It is based on a true rags-to-riches story. Cristopher Gardner, played by Will Smith, is a talented young African American. Along with his wife and child, he has many dreams to accomplish. Unfortunately, his dreams fade after a series of circumstances leave him unemployed. To make matters worse, his wife leaves him and his son because of their financial problems. Without his wife’s aid, he and his son are reduced to poverty and homelessness. From then on, their daily agenda was to wander through soup kitchens and seek shelter in any way they can. His poverty was so intense that he and his son had to sleep in a sub-way bathroom. With nothing left but his son, he is determined to do whatever it takes to provide some stability for his child. One day, he is introduced to the stock and bond market. Then, realized that there is a way to bring his life together: to become a stockbroker. He becomes a trainee for a prestigious firm. He is warned that only one candidate would be selected as a full-time employee, a stockbroker. Amazingly, he rises through the ranks of his training and he earns his managers’ trust. Eventually, his resourcefulness and determination pays off: he becomes a stockbroker. He achieved his happiness: to give his son financial stability.
I believe there are two factors that led to Cristopher Gardner’s success. First, he is the exemplar of persistence. Persistence is the strong will to not give up. Without persistence, there would be no movie about Cristopher Gardner in the first place. I noticed his entire story is composed of a series of failures that eventually lead him to his success. When he and his son are cut off from the soup kitchen, he didn’t walk away. Instead, he pleads the manager to spare him a room for his son. The manager gives in.
Furthermore, his persistence was really tested when he was training to be a stockbroker. Even though potential clients reject him left and right, he realized that his job was a numbers game. He had to call more people in order to have more clients. So, he developed different techniques to give himself an edge. He observed that other people put down the phone after each call; he felt this was a waste of precious time. So he just held the phone’s button after each call and quickly dialed the next prospect. This gives him extra time to make more calls than everyone else does. Moreover, he didn’t give up when a doctor decided to buy his last machine, which was broken. He simply didn’t give up ---he fixed the machine himself and sold it to support his son.
The second factor is essential to the first: hope. Hope is a state of looking at all the possible beautiful things that can happen in the future. Without it, Cristopher Gardner’s persistence would not have been possible. I saw that he was full of hope whenever he was with his son. Whenever he had conversations with his son, he would not tell him about the ordeal that he had to go through to support him. Instead, he assured him that their quality of life will improve in due time. His assurance was manifested whenever he bought his son gifts.
I think that persistence and hope are essential to finding one’s happiness. Persistence entails action which eventually leads to one’s success. Having a goal without acting on it remains to be just a dream. Realizing goals and dreams are achievements. Hope on the other hand allows a person to see different opportunities to achieve one’s success. If one doesn’t see the bright side of life, then he wouldn’t realize that the answers to his problems may be right under his nose. Cristopher Gardner truly is an exemplar of persistence, hope and the pursuit of happiness.
- Sean General, UA&P student
I Share Happiness
anged the history of golf forever. It is about how Francis Ouimet (pronounced Wee-Met) became a legend in the game of golf. Played by Shia LaBeouf, Francis Ouimet is born in 1893 to a working-class family in Massachusetts, USA. He becomes fascinated in golf as he grows up because his family is near the Brookline Country Club, a venue for the upper class to relax and to play golf. Ouimet becomes a caddy in this country club. During his spare time, Ouimet displays his awesome natural talent and his understanding of golf strategies. In 1913, regardless of his father’s objections, Ouimet becomes the first amateur to play in the U.S. Open, a golf tournament between American and British golfers. The tournament is held in Brookline Country Club. Ouimet’s presence is perceived to be little more than a novelty because golf was dominated by British players and was restricted to the upper class only. With Eddie Lowery, his 10-year old caddy, Ouimet faces the challenges that the golf course has to offer them. Harry Vardon, a British champion who won six tournaments and his opponent in this tournament, is expected to win. Ted Ray, another British golfer, is seen as Vardon’s only serious competition. During the U.S. Open, the game unexpectedly becomes a fierce battle between a seasoned champion and an extremely talented unknown. Amazingly, Ouimet wins the tournament. At age-20, Francis Ouimet becomes the first amateur golfer to beat a professional in the history of golf.Francis Ouimet deserves to be called a golf legend because of his courage to reach his dream: to be a golfer. Francis journey to becoming a U.S. Open champion is full of setbacks. His first challenge is in his own home, where his father constantly discourages him to play or think of golf. Instead, his father insists that Francis should get a job, like everyone else. His father abhors golf because he believes that golfers, the rich, know nothing about earning their place; their place is already given to them. Fortunately, Francis stands up for himself and joins the tournament, regardless of his Father’s threat to disown him.
Ouimet's second challenge stemmed from the social issues of that time. Golf was a sport that was dominantly English. Also, this was not even in the U.S.’s mainstream because only the upper class could afford to play the game. The closest everyone else had to playing the game is by becoming a caddy. Despite these, Francis practices golf during his spare time. However, his skills would have been useless, unless he was given a chance to play in a golf course. Fortunately, an organizer of the U.S. Open offered him the opportunity to play in the tournament because he has heard of Francis’ great skill.
Ouimet’s last challenge comes from the other golfers at the tournament. During that time, the U.S. open was more than just a tournament. It was a battle between the British and the Americans. Consequently, the winner of the tournament would be a national icon. Harry Vardon and Ted Ray watched Francis in the crowd to intimidate him. With this much at stake, Francis was fortunate to have Eddie Lowery, a ten-year old boy, as his caddy. With Eddie’s help Francis was able to get himself out of difficult situations in the golf course. Eddie would cheer him by saying, “Read it, role it, hole it,” or ,”Easy peasy, lemon squeasy.” Thanks to Eddie, Francis was able to relieve some pressure off his back.
Due to Francis Ouimet’s victory at the U.S. Open, golf has never been the same. After his victory, golf was no longer perceived as a sport of the rich and old. Consequently, his achievement tore down a social barrier between the rich and the poor. This is manifested in the many public golf courses that have been made after 1913. Furthermore, he proved that one victory is not determined by one’s social class, but by one’s character. He did not have the latest equipment that the other well-off golfers had. All he had was his own set of wooden clubs, Eddie Lowery, and his skill. Francis Ouimet truly deserves to be called a golf legend.
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
The Pursuit of Happiness is one of the most inspiring movies ever
produced. It is based on a true rags-to-riches story. Cristopher Gardner, played by Will Smith, is a talented young African American. Along with his wife and child, he has many dreams to accomplish. Unfortunately, his dreams fade after a series of circumstances leave him unemployed. To make matters worse, his wife leaves him and his son because of their financial problems. Without his wife’s aid, he and his son are reduced to poverty and homelessness. From then on, their daily agenda was to wander through soup kitchens and seek shelter in any way they can. His poverty was so intense that he and his son had to sleep in a sub-way bathroom. With nothing left but his son, he is determined to do whatever it takes to provide some stability for his child. One day, he is introduced to the stock and bond market. Then, realized that there is a way to bring his life together: to become a stockbroker. He becomes a trainee for a prestigious firm. He is warned that only one candidate would be selected as a full-time employee, a stockbroker. Amazingly, he rises through the ranks of his training and he earns his managers’ trust. Eventually, his resourcefulness and determination pays off: he becomes a stockbroker. He achieved his happiness: to give his son financial stability.I believe there are two factors that led to Cristopher Gardner’s success. First, he is the exemplar of persistence. Persistence is the strong will to not give up. Without persistence, there would be no movie about Cristopher Gardner in the first place. I noticed his entire story is composed of a series of failures that eventually lead him to his success. When he and his son are cut off from the soup kitchen, he didn’t walk away. Instead, he pleads the manager to spare him a room for his son. The manager gives in.
Furthermore, his persistence was really tested when he was training to be a stockbroker. Even though potential clients reject him left and right, he realized that his job was a numbers game. He had to call more people in order to have more clients. So, he developed different techniques to give himself an edge. He observed that other people put down the phone after each call; he felt this was a waste of precious time. So he just held the phone’s button after each call and quickly dialed the next prospect. This gives him extra time to make more calls than everyone else does. Moreover, he didn’t give up when a doctor decided to buy his last machine, which was broken. He simply didn’t give up ---he fixed the machine himself and sold it to support his son.
The second factor is essential to the first: hope. Hope is a state of looking at all the possible beautiful things that can happen in the future. Without it, Cristopher Gardner’s persistence would not have been possible. I saw that he was full of hope whenever he was with his son. Whenever he had conversations with his son, he would not tell him about the ordeal that he had to go through to support him. Instead, he assured him that their quality of life will improve in due time. His assurance was manifested whenever he bought his son gifts.
I think that persistence and hope are essential to finding one’s happiness. Persistence entails action which eventually leads to one’s success. Having a goal without acting on it remains to be just a dream. Realizing goals and dreams are achievements. Hope on the other hand allows a person to see different opportunities to achieve one’s success. If one doesn’t see the bright side of life, then he wouldn’t realize that the answers to his problems may be right under his nose. Cristopher Gardner truly is an exemplar of persistence, hope and the pursuit of happiness.
- Sean General, UA&P student
I Share Happiness
FOREST GUMP
Who would ha
ve thought that a nitwit would be able to change the world for the good? I didn’t know it was even possible! Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies because it has an unusual plot. It has become popular for “Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, you’ll never know what you're gonna get.” Gump, an intellectually challenged man, was able to change the way people’s lives without even realizing it.
The film begins as Gump waits for the bus that would take him to his best friend, Jenny. He sits on the bench as he patiently waits for his ride. He kills time by narrating his life, from the time he was born to how he arrived at the bus station, to people who would sit beside him. It turns out that this “incapable” man was a college football star, a hero in the Vietnam War, an owner of one of the largest shrimp fishing companies in the USA, and a famous long-distance runner.
Amazingly, he achieves all this by being self-less. Since his bullies chased him with a car whenever he was around his best friend and love interest, Jenny, he develops enough stamina and speed to be in his college football team. When he was sent out into the Vietnam War, he becomes a hero after he saves a dozen soldiers from the American troops, including his commanding officer, Lt. Dan, from heavy Vietnamese fire. After his friend, Bubba, dies from the war, Gump decides to fulfill his friends wish: to be a shrimp boat captain and start a business, which becomes the most successful one in the shrimp fishing industry. Gump took Jenny to live in his home because he loves her but Jenny runs away. Gump then runs across the country (USA) to keep his mind off Jenny. He eventually becomes a famous cross-country runner.
Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. I didn’t understand it the first time I watched the movie because I was still young then. However, I got teary eyed when I saw it again last year. I was touched by what was shared by the intellectually challenged man: Forrest Gump. This story proves that one doesn’t need much wit to make others and himself happy. More than anything, many times, all it takes is to have a heart.
- Sean General, UA&P
I Share Happiness
ve thought that a nitwit would be able to change the world for the good? I didn’t know it was even possible! Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies because it has an unusual plot. It has become popular for “Mama always said life was like a box a chocolates, you’ll never know what you're gonna get.” Gump, an intellectually challenged man, was able to change the way people’s lives without even realizing it.The film begins as Gump waits for the bus that would take him to his best friend, Jenny. He sits on the bench as he patiently waits for his ride. He kills time by narrating his life, from the time he was born to how he arrived at the bus station, to people who would sit beside him. It turns out that this “incapable” man was a college football star, a hero in the Vietnam War, an owner of one of the largest shrimp fishing companies in the USA, and a famous long-distance runner.
Amazingly, he achieves all this by being self-less. Since his bullies chased him with a car whenever he was around his best friend and love interest, Jenny, he develops enough stamina and speed to be in his college football team. When he was sent out into the Vietnam War, he becomes a hero after he saves a dozen soldiers from the American troops, including his commanding officer, Lt. Dan, from heavy Vietnamese fire. After his friend, Bubba, dies from the war, Gump decides to fulfill his friends wish: to be a shrimp boat captain and start a business, which becomes the most successful one in the shrimp fishing industry. Gump took Jenny to live in his home because he loves her but Jenny runs away. Gump then runs across the country (USA) to keep his mind off Jenny. He eventually becomes a famous cross-country runner.
Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. I didn’t understand it the first time I watched the movie because I was still young then. However, I got teary eyed when I saw it again last year. I was touched by what was shared by the intellectually challenged man: Forrest Gump. This story proves that one doesn’t need much wit to make others and himself happy. More than anything, many times, all it takes is to have a heart.
- Sean General, UA&P
I Share Happiness
PAY IT FORWARD
Have you ever had that one assignment in grade school where you were asked to think about how you could make the world a better place? Haley Joel Osment's character, Trevor, was given that very task when his Seventh grade class teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Space) challenged him and his classmates to come up with a way to change the world.
It is amazing how little minds work and how they seem to think free of anything corrupt. Trevor comes up with his "pay it forward" idea. It basically goes with doing something good or doing a favor for someone but instead of getting a favor back, the person that you helped has to pay the favor forward to someone else. And so a chain of good deeds begins and spreads to even outside cities and out of state areas. It traces an amazing following that was sparked by an amazing young man.
The movie revolved around the sentimentality of youthful innocennce and the preservation of what is good in everyday deeds, big or small. Socretes and Plato talked of "service." Jesus talked of "love your neighbour as yourself." Helping our fellow man has been a message of love and self-giving since the earliest years of moral philosophy. I believe it is the golden rule. Now wouldn't the world be a better place if we only practiced it?
- Kit Palabyab, UA&P
I Share Happiness
Happiness Is Not Just An Emotion. It’s A Mindset.
For three years, I’ve found it difficult to make myself happy. For most of these years, I usually blamed others for my misfortunes. I blamed my mom for not giving me the genes to be tall. I blamed my dad for not giving me enough money to go out. I hated myself for not having many friends outside of school. I was very insecure of myself.
One night, a friend sent me a link to a video, and all that changed.
The Secret is a documentary that inspires its viewers to “Always look on the bright side of life,” as Monty Python puts it. The Secret is the Law of Attraction. The Law of Attraction simply states that the universe will give you more of what you are thinking. Just as gravity will pull anyone, regardless if male or female, to the ground, the universe will give you whatever occupies your mind, whether you want that thought or not. However, thoughts are not enough for the universe to respond to what you want. How you feel greatly affects this law. The Secret focuses on a more significant aspect of happiness: the mindset. It teaches its viewers to be content with what they have now in order to get what they want.
I was only able to watch the first part of the Secret since the rest of the video was unavailable online. Despite my curiosity to watch the entire documentary, I decided to apply whatever I learned from that portion of the documentary. For a whole month, I kept positive thoughts: contentment with my height, with the things I had, and with the people I met. Instead of keeping a gratitude rock, I wore a cross around my neck and thanked God for simply being alive.
I noticed a drastic change in how I lived life. I became calmer in stressful situations. I began to notice and appreciate the little things that make my day interesting.
After that month, I was chatting with a friend in school about our plans after college graduation. Unexpectedly, he brought up the Secret. He then told me that he had a DVD copy of it and that he would gladly lend it to me! This freaked me out because I never told anyone about what I was applying in my life!! I then got what I wanted: to finish watching the Secret. As plain as this is, I know that I attracted that opportunity into my life and that the Secret is working.
The Secret has really changed the way I look at things, whether good or bad. (Technically, now I see these as good and good.) I wanted to share this documentary because it lets you in the secret to being truly happy. If it works for me, it will work for you.
If you wish to view the movie clip, click this link>>
- Sean General, UA&P
I Share Happiness
i like all the movies that you have reviewed... they truly are good movies! great choice! :)
Thanks,movie buff. You're free to review movies too, as long as they make you feel good and promote values. :)
i like the movie review on pursuit of happiness. but i must say, i'd like to add another factor that led to will smith's happiness. that is humility. he was never embarrassed when he went to work without a shoe. He even lined up to a place full of homeless people just to get shelter.
Thanks for your insight, anonymous. I'm glad you brought it up. :)
haaayy.. when can we have a really good movie here?! i hate movies!
@ movie hater
i suggest you make your own movie review so that you would think it would be a good movie. why are you here movie hater?
yeah, i suggest you check out other blogs than go to this blog. this blog is about happiness. please maintain that
guys let's not fight and concentrate on this blog
i love the review on forest gump! applause for the writer!
i never fully understood the movie forest gump. i thought the guy was just a weirdo but this review changed my mind and i saw how insightful the movie really is. thanks writer!
The law of attraction simply states that the more positive you are, the more things are attracted to you but the more negative your are, the more everything repels. that's the scientific way of looking at it. haha
I loved The Pursuit of Happyness and Forrest Gump.
Awakenings and Safe Passage are a bit uplifting too, though in a roundabout kind of way.
why don't we make our own movie reviews here? is that possible? anyone watched jumper already? what did you think of the movie and the guy who spent his whole life "jumping "to different places to get all the money and materials he needed?
i've watched the movie jumper already. it sucks! the concept is good but the plot is so forced.
i also don't think they made a good choice for the lead roles. what's his name? the one in star wars who turned evil?
hey
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