Film Analysis

The Ultimate Gift

ORDINARY WORLD: Jason Stevens is a snobby rich kid who never works because his mom is rich and gives him all the money he needs. 

CALL: Jason's Grandfather passes away and leaves almost nothing for Jason's parents, and aunts and uncles, however, he leaves something for Jason. Jason has to go through a series of tasks to get what was left for him, the ultimate gift. 

REFUSAL: There are many times when Jason finds out what the task is that he must go through, or deal with, that he does Not want to. He gets frustrated and wants to give up many times. 

MENTOR: In this movie I think there are four main mentors. The first two I thought of are Mr. Hamilton, and Miss Hastings. These two characters help Jason to know what to do next. The other two I can think of are Emily and Alexia, Emily is very blunt and tells Jason what to do, he often listened to her. 

THRESHOLD: Jason decides to take his first task and go to Texas. This will lead him to many other places. 

TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES: To Jason, this would be everyone who is actually trying to help him. However, I believe it is his friends, and native villagers. 

APPROACH: Jason is in a foreign country and finds out more about how his father passed away. Also, Jason takes Alexia to have Thanksgiving dinner with his family. 

ORDEAL: Money is given to Jason 

REWARD: Jason is given money to do with as he pleases.  

ROAD BACK: Emily passes away.  

RESURRECTION: Alexia and Jason create, "Emily's Home" A place where families can go for help. 

RETURN WITH ELIXIR: Jason learns the value of money, learning, good friends, and more. 

The Journey

 Jake lives in Idaho, born and raised. He is an only child and feels like a lot is expected of him. He graduated from high school with a 4.0. Jake worked for the summer as a server, and often did yard work for his parents. Life was pretty boring, until halfway through the summer, that was when he met Charity. Jake ran into Charity while reading in the library, he didn't want to get behind over the summer, Charity works at the front desk. Every time Jake went to the library he would see Charity, they became great friends. They would go to movies, get ice cream, go on walks, talk. Towards the end of the summer Jake was deciding where to go to college. He was deciding between Harvard(parents choice, really), and Idaho State. Charity and Jake were talking one day, he asked where she was planning to go, she said Idaho State, this made the choice bigger. Should he please his parents and go to Harvard, or go to Idaho State where Charity was going? Jake goes to Idaho State. 

Hero: Jake.

Ordinary World: Idaho, whatever parents say.

Call to Adventure: Which college to go to. 

Special World: Idaho State, wherever Charity is. 

Hero

Name: Jake Cummings 

Age: 18
Race/religion/gender: white/catholic/male
Parents: Kim and Jared Cummings
Style of dress: conservative
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Marital status/family: single
Most embarrassing moment: slipped on ice when getting off the bus 
Greatest fear: disappoint parents
Strongest desire: be good at something
Job: Student, part time at a rest home as a server
Where he/she wants to be in 5 years: Married, successful
Guiltiest pleasure: helping people
Identifying marks: glasses, birthmark on left hand
Mannerisms/gestures: keeps to himself, quiet
What he/she was like in school: enjoyed classes, small group of close friends, quiet, smart
Favorite sayings: Fall seven times, stand up eight. -japanese proverb
Favorite quotes from songs: when you walk, walk with pride. don't show the hurt inside.
Favorite movie quotes: if there's no wind, there's nothing to blow the leaves around
Most valuable possession: journal
How he/she feels about love: love?
Philosophy on life: I just want to be something 

Adaption -Just to See You Smile, by Tim McGraw

My name is Spencer. My little sister Jane and I have been best friends since I can remember. Even when she was born I remember watching my mom pacing the halls of the house trying to keep her from crying, and then she'd start to smile, I loved it. Ever since I was old enough to hold her, I'd pace the halls untill the edges of her lips would turn up into a little grin. Seventeen years later, I was in my senior year and she was a sophmore. My year was busy, I was involved in student council, football, and studying. Sometimes I'd notice when Jane was having a hard day, first I'd ask her what was up. She would always say nothing, and that she was tired. After that I'd take her for a ride and we'd get ice cream and talk, to get her mind off things. When she forgot about her stresses, the edges of her lips would start to turn up into her little grin. 

Now we're both older, we have families. Jane came over the other day, she said, "Spence, remember when you used to take me to get ice cream?" I answered, "Yes." She responded, "I never said thank you for that. So, Thanks." And then she smiled at me. I looked at her, smiled, and said, "Yes you did, each and every time you smiled."

Blurbs.

Just To See You Smile (Tim McGraw)

Josh and Sierra are friends. Josh falls deeply in love with Sierra. When Sierra moves to Tennessee, Josh moves along with her. Sierra decides that she needs some time away from him. Josh lets her have some time alone, only to come back to her in love with someone else.

Concrete Angel (Martina McBride)

Young Emily is a student at Red Hills Elementery. She is a quiet, shy girl, who brings her own lunch and is often times found alone. Emily has a hard life at home, however no one knows of her struggles. One day Emily is absent from school.

Forever and Always (Taylor Swift)

Meet Autumn and Sam. Autumn and Sam were in love. They would sit in Autumn's room and listen to music, and talk. Not anymore, Sam, who said he'd always love her, doesn't love Autumn anymore. Autumn still loves Sam.

You Belong With Me (Taylor Swift)

Jenny, and Daryl are best friends. They do things together all the time, the problem is that Daryl a big football player and has a girlfriend. She's a jerk too. Secretly Jenny likes Daryl a bit more than just a friend, and thinks they belong together. Daryl can't see that.  

There Goes My Life (Kenny Chesney) 

Cory is a father, and likes it. However his story of becoming a father is less pleasant than he would have liked. Cory used to be a football star, he had a very bright future, until the day he was informed that his high school sweetheart was pregnant. But that was then. 

Story Song

Title: Just To See You Smile

Artist: Tim McGraw

Lyrics:

You always had an eye for things that glittered

But I was far from bein made of gold
I dont know how that I scraped up the money
I just never could quite tell you no
Just like when you were leavin amarillo
To take that new job in tennessee
And I quit mine so we could be together
I cant forget the way you looked at me

Chorus:

Just to see you smile
Id do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
Id never count the cost
Its worth all thats lost
Just to see you smile


When you said time was all you really needed
I walked away and let you have your space
Cuz leavin didnt hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollin down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin up to me with him
So I told you that I was happy for you
And given the chance Id lie again

(repeat chorus)

Id do anything
That you wanted me to
And all is said and done
Id never count the cost
Its worth all thats lost
Just to see you smile

Plot: This song is about a boy and a girl. The boy likes the girl and would give up anything, or do anything for her. He moves to where she is going to take a job, then when she needs some time, he steps out, and while he is gone she meets another guy and they fall in love. When he gets back she tells him about this new guy and that they are in love, and he lies and says he's happy for her. 

Character: Main guy (singer), girl, girls new lover. 

Conflict: They main guy lost what he loved most, just because he stepped away. 

Theme: Sometimes you have to let go. (Memoir) :)  

Setting: Tennessee. 

6 Word Memoirs

10. Cows on paper shouldn't be allowed.
9. Rode through a lost little town.
8. The page is always so empty.
7. Dark and cold is something new.
6. The wall is white and plain.
5. A word can tell a story.
4. Click the mouse and power down.
3. Looked back through the past yesterday.
2. Let's go walk for a while.
1. There will be a new day.