There is a certain thrill as you watch the Olympics. The world is no longer about who is friends with who or enemies with who, but about the motivation and determination that enters our minds every day. For some that is winning a volleyball at school. For some it’s about beating as time. For some it’s about earning a gold metal. But’s it’s more than a promise of ice cream with friends if you win, more than a mention of your name in the local newspaper, it’s about perseverance, hope, and determination to win something bigger than yourself.

At least that’s what I think.

We forget everything in the world except for one moment, that moment. Whether you are a spectator, a coach, an athlete, you are in that moment.

As I watch them, I see the many years, many decades, many lives that have worked so hard to get to that moment, and yet, just one false move washes all of it away, gone forever. I see the few athletes in the world that were just one second away from being in the games. I see all the athletes in the world who try there best every day to succeed…

Can the world learn from the Olympic Games?

The Oscars-My Favorite Part of the Year

One of the things I might be when I grow up is in the film industry. The reason why is because of the Oscars, I love them so much!

Here are a few predictions according to IndieWire:

Best Picture: Gravity vs. 12 Years a Slave

Best Director: Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) vs. Steve McQueen

Ok, maybe I’ll  wait a bit before I start telling you everything, I mean we still have got a while…but seriously I know I’m getting a little too excited about the Oscars but seriously some people were planning for Halloween a year ago…

Anyway I’m very excited for the next few months because it is always the time when they’re are so many great movies…

Here is a list of my all time favorite movies in order (Oscar winning or not):

Life of Pi  

Sarah’s Key (so sad…it’s a book too)

Nim’s Island

Casino Royale (Eva Green was the best)

Mamma Mia (although maybe not after the 5th time)

The Artist 

Hugo Cabret (I watched it being filmed)

The Hunger Games (can’t wait to see the next one)

Skyfall

Les Miserables was first a French historical novel written by Victor Hugo in 1862. It was considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

The novel was written about a man named Jean Valjean, who for many decades has been hunted by a policeman named Javert, after having agreed to take care of a factory worker Fantine’s  daughter Cosette. This decision changes the way they  live forever. Beginning in 1815 and finishing in the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, the novel describes the life of many throughout the French Revolution.

Les Miserables has been popularized through out numerous adaptations on stage, television, and film. The most recent being the Oscar winning film in 2012.

It won three separate Oscars including:

• Supporting actress, Anne Hathway

• Make Up and Hairstyling, Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell

• Sound Mixing, Andy Nelson, Mark Patterson and Simon Hayes

It also won three Golden Globes.

There were many stars in this film including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Cater, Sasha Baron Cohen, Anne Hathway, Amanda Seyrfield, Eddie Redmayne, and Samantha Barks.

Directed by Tom Hoper and written by William Nicholson and Alain Boublil has been described as absolutely outstanding and breathtaking .

All the songs were recorded live on set.

Some of the most famous songs include:

I Dreamed a Dream

Do You Hear the People Sing

One Day More

Look Down

Castle on a Cloud

Master of the House

Stars

On My Own

• Film Review:LesMiserables