The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries chronicles the events that led the famous Che Guevara to become the rebel leader of the Cuban Revolution. Che and his best friend Alberto Granado set out on a cross country motorcycle trip to make it from one side of South America to the other side before Alberto's 30th birthday. Along the way Che and Alberto encounter many different cultures and people that ultimately shape Che Guevara's philosophical, political, and spiritual ideals.

The Motorcycle Diaries is a film that will make you think. It challenges its viewers to look at themselves in the mirror and figure out what their purpose in life is, then go and fulfill that purpose. Instead of sitting on the couch watching TV or playing videogames, go out and help at a homeless shelter or visit the patients at a nursing home or in the ER. Whatever it is, The Motorcycle Diaries challenges you to make a difference in your community and ultimately the world.

Real Steel

Real Steel is the story of a man named Charlie Kenton, a former boxer whose career gets sidelined when human boxing is banned and robot boxing is put in its place. Charlie is reduced to hauling around old robots that have passed their prime to small-town fairs and other underground circuits to make a little cash. This life suits Charlie just fine until he gets a call that his former girlfriend has just passed away and he has to take care of their son. He tries to get out of fatherhood responsibilities by accepting an under the table deal with his son's aunt and uncle that would let them take his son off his hands after the end of the summer. As the summer goes by though, Charlie begins to rethink his decision and starts to believe that he may be cut out to be a father after all.

Real Steel is a pretty powerful story about redemption and the bond between father and son. Hugh Jackman does a very good job as the dead-beat dad who doesn't want fatherhood responsibilities. Newcomer Dakota Goyo plays Charlie Kenton's son Max, and he does a phenomenal job. One scene that stuck out to me was where Max and Charlie just had an argument, Charlie exclaims "You deserve better than me"; then Max looks tearfully up at Charlie and says "I want you to fight for me! That's all I ever wanted." That scene begins Charlie's journey to redemption and make up for all the mistakes he had made by not being there for Max and his mother. My only issue with Real Steel was the language. Even Max lets out quite a few curse words and Charlie doesn't reprimand him for it. Despite the problem with language, Real Steel is definitely worth checking out.