What Would I Do?

Hello! It's great to finally write another formal letter.

It's cool that you're learning English from shows like What Would You Do and Wife Swap. Personally, I recommend the Simpsons if you want a satirical look at American culture. There's also a lot of pop culture references which you might find interesting!

One thing to keep in mind about shows like Wife Swap is that the two families are both part of pretty extreme American subcultures, and don't necessarily represent the norm. What kind of 'out there' ('out there' means extreme/strange) subcultures are there in China? However, there are some more common problems in American culture highlighted in this show. Many children here are heavily pressured to be perfect, being punished for having normal grades and treated with indifference for having great grades.

Also, as was found in the 'redneck' family, there is a problem with the over idealization of violence and individualism. A lot of movies and video games focus on a single person solving problems with violence instead of nonviolent group discussion and action. Individualism in our culture is complicated, and comes with benefits and drawbacks. The main problem, though, is when it is used as an excuse to look down on those who need help from others to survive.

That said, there are things I like about American culture as well - I am an American, after all! There's an emphasis on being friendly to others and standing up for what you believe to be right. We also come up with all sorts of unhealthy but delicious food! What kind of snacks do you have in China? I'd love to exchange recipes at some point, on an unrelated note.

America, despite what some in my country like to say, is a multicultural country. We have Spanish, French, Mandarin, Korean, Thai and many more languages spoken in this country besides English (even if it is the most common). I prefer it that way, personally. It is lovely to meet people with all sorts of backgrounds.

Overall, how is China similar and different to what I described?

All the best, Victoria.

Movie Quotes!

Reel Life Answers

It's very hard to say what my favorite movie is, so I'll just make a small list.

1. The Ring/Ringu - Very scary and, in my opinion, creative. I've loved horror stories involving the latest tech at the time the film was made ever since, such as One Missed Call (the original Japanese movie, not the remake), White: Melody of the Curse, Shutter, etc... And looking at these films, I guess it also gave me an appreciation for Asian horror movies, too!

2. Pulp Fiction - I'm kind of a ridiculous Quentin Tarantino fan anyways, but this is by far one of his best films. I love the oxymoron of a colorful film noir story, with the grotesque characters (more personality wise) and stylish atmosphere. It's also way cool to see a young Samuel L. Jackson. I had trouble picking between this movie and Kill Bill, however.

3. The Heat - This movie is a guilty pleasure. It got pretty good reviews from critics, but it isn't the most high brow in all areas and I disagree with how they handled some subjects. However - if I get in the right mood and am willing to be receptive to the funny, this is a movie I like to watch over and over again. Plus, it's so rare to see a female buddy-cop movie.

4. Repo! The Genetic Opera - I'll come right out and say that I love musicals as much as I love Quentin Tarantino films, it's very hard choosing a favorite. I'll be the first to admit that the story doesn't make sense, the music is off at some points and overall it's just a very strange movie. But I love the style so much and I can't think of another movie quite like it.

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There are only a few genres I don't really like, and even then, there's usually going to be some exception. In general, I like good movies, not good genres. 

But there are two exceptions to this rule about exceptions. I hate all feel good yet sad movies about dead pets. Old Yeller, Marley and Me, Hachi, etc... won't ever stick around to watch them, and I never will. Sometimes 'feel good' moments make me cover my ears due to being overwhelmed (not as much as I used to, since I learned that that's not socially acceptable), but that's more of an autistic thing, I think.

 I also hate torture movies like Saw and Hostel, which I think ruined the horror genre for a while (mostly the mid/late 2000s?). There is never any suspense, any restraint, any atmosphere - just gore to pander to people who don't really understand horror and think they're super edgy. 

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I've been watching more films recently. It's a combination of feeling the need to watch classics/must watch movies I've never seen before (such as Rec, Pulse, Ghostbusters, etc) and a lot of good movies coming out in general. I missed out on Straight Outta Compton when it came out, and I plan on watching that soon. The Visit was really good, which is surprising for Shyamalan. I also want to see It Follows.

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Depends on the kind of movie I'm watching. Some films are really fun to watch with others, especially if they haven't seen the movie before. Rocky Horror Picture show is probably fantastic with a group of friends, or even a theater audience. Same thing with Repo! The Genetic Opera.

Other movies I watch alone and appreciate just the same.

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If I remember correctly, the survey said I watched movies for nostalgia, sensation or... I can't remember what the other one was. I can agree on what I remember, though.

Exciting movies can distract me when I'm sad, whether they be horror or action. It's a delicate balance, though, since I can be overwhelmed. I've been known to cry during tense scenes (like in The Call), but I still end up liking the film. And some horror movies get so deep into despair that it just leaves me in a worse state.

I felt deeply betrayed by the movie Nightcrawler, though. But that was the film's intention.

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If someone made a movie about me... It'd be very boring. And kind of sad, but mostly pathetic. Audiences would get tired of my character quickly! They'd be like, 'Why isn't she doing anything yet?' and 'Seriously stop whining.' and 'Is this character supposed to be acting like a normal human? Cause she's not. What a weird way to deliver those lines.'

I'd imagine about 50% on the Tomatometer, with half of audiences thinking it was pretentious nothingness, and the other half calling it a 'cerebral drama'.

I hope you can make sense out of all my rambling!