投稿類別：英文寫作類 篇名： 青少年的《攻其不備》觀後感 Love and Courage in The Blind Side 呂昕樺。員林家商。外三乙班 柯儀琳。員林家商。外三乙班 黃婉柔。員林家商。外三乙班 指導老師： 黃襦慧老師 Love and Courage in The Blind Side I. Introduction According to the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary, the definition of love is a strong liking for something, and the definition of courage means bravery or fearlessness. Nowadays, our connection with each other is tighter and tighter but it seems that love no longer lives in our life. Most people care only about themselves, which causes a lack of love in our society. We start to forget how to love and it is paradoxical to say love and express our love. In addition, courage is an important part in our life. Life is not easy for everyone; therefore, each of us needs to be equipped with courage. Just as Leigh Anne treats Michael Oher with love and courage no matter what happens to Michael. As a consequence, we decide to discuss love and courage based on the movie The Blind Side in order to explore the thoughts of teenagers. II. Thesis II-A. An Introduction of The Blind Side picture1: the gallery of The Blind Side http://www.theblindsidemovie.com/dvd/index.html#/Gallery The Blind Side is an adapted movie based on a true story of a struggling man. It is about a boy named Michael Oher. Since Michael is big, everyone calls him “big Mike.” However, he does not like this offensive nickname. Michael, one day, comes up with Leigh Anne Tuohy in the street. At that time, he only wears shorts and T-shirt in winter, and he does not know where to go. Leigh Anne notices that Michael is one of her daughter’s classmates; therefore, she takes Michael back to her home without any hesitation. Since then, Michael has stayed tightly with the Tuohys. Although Michael is black, the Tuohys do not look down on him. Instead, they treat him well. Both Michael and the Tuohys learn a lot from each other. They prove that love and 1 Love and Courage in The Blind Side courage break down the wall of the color of skin. II-B. An Analysis of Characters in The Blind Side II-B-1. Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) Nobody cares about Michael Oher until he meets Leigh Anne Tuohy. Quinton Aaron makes his debut in The Blind Side a big success. Aaron also plays in episodes of "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." In other words, Aaron is paving his way to stardom little by little. II-B-2. Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw) Sean Tuohy is mainly responsible for supporting the Tuohy family. Tim McGraw is one of the most successful artists in the music industry. He has sold more than 40 million albums and had over 30 chart-topping singles worldwide. McGraw has earned three Grammy Awards, fourteen Academy of Country Music Awards, eleven Country Music Association Awards, ten American Music Awards and three People's Choice Awards. II-B-3. Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) Sandra Bullock is one of the main characters in this movie. Because of her excellent performance, she wins the best actress in the Academy Award. In The Blind Side, she is such a kind woman that she helps Michael a lot and regards him as her child. For the Taiwanese audience, she has been a household name since her cooperation with Keanu Reeves in Speed in 1994. Sandra Bullock is one of the Hollywood's most popular leading ladies. II-B-4. Sean Tuohy Jr. (Jae Head) Sean Tuohy Jr., or S.J., is a little boy who likes Michael and considers him as his big brother. He is really an interesting character in the movie. Jae Head wins the best young actor in the Critics’ Choice Award. As a young Hollywood actor, Jae Head has worked in both films and television. II-B-5. Collins Tuohy (Lily Collins) 2 Love and Courage in The Blind Side Collins is the older sister in the Tuohy family. She is Michael’s classmate. She views Michael as her family though Michael is welcome with nobody. Lily Collins is a rising young actress, as well as a teen host and journalist. In 2008, Lily Collins received the Best International Model Award at the 2008 Spanish Glamour Awards in Madrid. She was also presented with the One to Watch Award at the 2008 Young Hollywood Awards. II-B-6. Miss Sue (Kathy Bates) Miss Sue is a teacher who helps Michael with his schoolwork in order to get him into a good college. She unselfishly helps Michael a lot. Kathy Bates has been honored many times for her work on movies and television. She won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe on Misery, based on Stephen King's novel. In 1999, she received Oscar, Golden Globe and won a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics Choice Award for her performance in Mike Nichols' Primary Colors. II-C. A Discussion of Love and Courage II-C-1. Love According to a dictionary, love is being unconditional and limitless. In The Blind Side, Michael displays his love by saving S.J. from a narrow escape. To welcome Michael, Leigh Anne and Sean buy a car for him. He drives with S.J. and sings happily. To their surprise, they have an accident. After a while, the police tell Leigh Anne that S.J. is very lucky. Those kids are hit by airbags and therefore, they are easy to have an injury even die due to the power of the sudden blow. Fortunately, Michael stops it. In our opinion, normal people protect themselves first in any emergency. But, Michael chooses to protect S.J. from upcoming danger. His action is based on love, so he would get hurt himself instead of S.J. Another example is Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun. Throughout her life, she does what she can do to help those in need, such as the poor, the homeless, the sick and so on. She inspires the whole world that love goes beyond anything. As a result, Michael tells us a lesson of unconditional and limitless love. II-C-2. Courage According to a dictionary, courage is being brave and able to deal with difficulties. It is easy to say than to do. For example, Michael in The Blind Side wants 3 Love and Courage in The Blind Side to be a great football player, so he practices more than others. Although the process is toilsome, he never says no. He believes that he will reach his goals. Nowadays, lots of teenagers and youth are criticized as Strawberry Generation, as weak as strawberry and not courageous to achieve objectives. For instance, those who like to sing just look at Susan Boyle and Chang Yu-hsia (張玉霞). Boyle has a good voice but she does not have a model-like appearance. However, she is brave, fights all the difficulties in the British TV talent show, and earns a contract. For the blind street performer Chang Yu-hsia, she is a registered as a low-income resident in New Taipei City, is courageous to take part in the China TV talent show, and attracts a tremendous attention either in China or in Taiwan. In a word, Michael tells a lesson of being brave to stand up to frustration or obstacles. II-D. A Comparison of The Blind Side with Its Counterparts II-D-1. The Bind Side vs. Holes Everyone needs friends, especially teenagers. In The Blind Side, Michael wants to study in the library. When he enters the library, most of white people gaze at him scornfully, except Collins. As a friend and family member, she does not care what her friends say and tells Michael to feel like at home. What is more, Collins organizes a cheerleading squad to praise him for a good balance between studies and football practices. Similarly, in Holes, Hector Zeroni is despised and nicknamed as Zero, implying nothing inside his head. Stanley thinks otherwise. Mr. Pendanski’s first introduces Zero and Stanley shows his friendliness by smiling back and playfully shaking Zero’s shoulder (Sachar, 19). After getting along with Zero, Stanley understands that Zero is not stupid and that he has a talent for math. So, Stanley teaches him to read and even keeps him concentrated by spelling when he is on the verge of coma in the Big Thumb. In our opinion, everyone is special in this world regardless of skin color or family background. Finally, Collins and Stanley approve the meaning of friendship, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.” II-D-2. The Blind Side vs. The Help The world will be increasingly worse if some people are not doing right things without asking reward. Leigh Anne Tuohy of The Blind Side and Skeeter of The Help are examples. When everyone is astonished at Leigh Anne’s plan of adopting Michael 4 Love and Courage in The Blind Side and thinks it ridiculous, she is very sure and serious about it. Michael is not totally understood and he is worth being treated well. In the end of the movie, she touches every heart by saying that “Michael changes my life.” Her sincere response is moving and she knows that time proved and will prove it. As for Skeeter, she is raised by a black housekeeper. Unfortunately, in the 1960s, America was full of invisible scorn at the black, especially the south. Skeeter is a college graduate and goes back to her hometown, Mississippi for a job.