The 1955 movie Rebel Without A Cause has one of the most timeless kissing scenes in film history.  Under a moonlit sky, Judy (played by Natalie Wood) apologizes to Jim (James Dean) for the way she acted that morning and how she easily got swayed by peer pressure.  She says, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I treated you mean today. You shouldn’t believe what I say when I’m with the rest of the kids. Nobody, nobody acts sincere,”  After her apology, Jim suddenly kisses her for the first time, on the right side of her forehead.  When she asked him why he did that, he replied, “I felt like it.” To that, Judy said, “Your lips are soft.”

One of the best films ever written, this movie is about hope and how one can make life as wonderful and as beautiful in a child’s eyes despite its cruelty. Directed and acted by Robert Benigni, the entire film itself is truly memorable for its creativity. Two significant scenes however surely appeal to the hearts of many. One, when Guido (Robert Benigni) translates to his son the instructions of a German soldier as if they were in a game. In this scene he starts to create an imaginary story to his son to shield him from what is really happening. The scene will make you laugh and find yourself in the spell of Guido. Another is towards the end of the movie when Guido was captured. He was about to be killed yet he still acted as if it’s a game so his son who is looking and hidden inside a wooden cabinet will not be afraid. In this scene, anyone will be touched as to Guido’s self sacrifice for his son.

This movie based on the famous novel of Victor Hugo is not highly acclaimed by critics for it is not exactly like the book. Yet looking at the movie for its own merits, this film is ten times highly recommended than many more critically and multi awarded films. It is filled with good moral messages which strongly enlighten its viewers of the wisdom of repentance, forgiveness and redeeming one self. One significant scene which will truly appeal to anyone of Christian faith is when the Bishop handed the candlesticks to Jean Valjean (prior to this scene: the bishop accommodates Jean Valjean despite the fact that he is a convict. He provided him shelter and food. But despite his goodness Jean Valjean stole from him and ran away. However, he was captured by the police and was brought back to the bishop together with the candlesticks that he stole) and told him these lines ‘ Jean Valjean, my brother you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I have bought your soul. I have ransomed you from fear and hatred, and now give you back to God.’

Wild Australia: The Edge brings us into a world full of exotic and unique flora and fauna through the eyes of explorers. The movie is filmed in Australia’s largest city, featuring in all its glory Australia’s Blue Mountains wilderness. The film takes us to waterfalls, canyons and underground rivers and allows us viewers to marvel at the delicate wild life that this natural treasure houses. The Edge was a Heliograph Production and was released in 1996 by Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. The film became an important eye-opener for every tourist who would want to take the opportunity to explore this beautiful place on earth.

“A math teacher’s presentation to other middle and high school teachers”

This site is a companion to the presentation “Math in the Movies – Using movie clips for motivation and mathematical connections.”

Movie clips are known to attract the interest of students and are often considered as efficient and real-life applications of mathematical topics since they are more fun, creative and more engaging. Using three-minute clips from well-known movies, one can determine the stage for a lesson or show a problem to solve for the students. The presentation will consist of different movie clips currently being used as learning materials with ninth and tenth graders.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, makers of ‘The Sound of Music’ have left so many wonderful songs in this most popular musical film of all time. One of the most beloved songs written for this film is the love song Edelweiss (a white flower found high in the Alpine Hills). Accompanied with a guitar, Capt Von Trapp(portrayed by Christopher Plummer) sung the song towards the end of the Saltzberg concert as he offers it to his fellow Austrians saying these lines ‘ I would like to sing for you now…a love song. I know you share this love. I pray that you will never let it die.’ Capt. Von Trapp became emotional towards the middle of the song that Maria joined him and the people sung with them. The Germans have no idea that it is a patriotic song and the Austrians are singing it out of great love for their country. Edelweiss was the last song written together by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The latter died of a terminal stomach cancer. Edelweiss as popular as it became was mistaken to be the national anthem of Austria.