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Yes, A Sequel Can Be Better Than The Original
By Bear Dever
Hello everyone! It’s been a while. Well, I just graduated college and I’m taking a breather month during May before I start working as a camp counselor in June. I need something to do so I’m gonna start writing some more BearVibe and I hope y’all enjoy it!
So, sequels. Most believe that it’s impossible for a sequel to a hit motion picture to be as good as the original. Well, that isn’t always true. Here are some of the best sequels I have seen that outshined their originals.
Thor: The Dark World
Yes, everyone loves Thor! He is a beloved member of the Avengers and made his debut in 2011′s Thor. This was a great film and did a great job introducing a character in a fish-out-of-water scenario. However, Thor: The Dark World is set after the events of The Avengers, where Loki of course leads an army to attack New York. The highlight of this film is seeing the evolution of Thor and Loki’s relationship. The plot keeps audiences on their toes trying to figure out if Loki turned good or not. They are enemies in many senses but they share a very special bond as brothers and seeing that relationship be explored was worth the price of admission.
High School Musical 2
Some may say this doesn’t count because it’s a made-for-TV movie but it’s a cultural phenomenon and deserves to be on this list. High School Musical redefined what a TV movie should be and this film continued to redefine it. This was 100% a theatrical-level quality film. Unlike a lot of Disney Channel content, this was not meant to be goofy. This film deals with legitimate drama between high-schoolers working at a country club for the summer. One girl has a crush on a guy and will do everything she possibly can to make sure he can sing with her in the talent show. The guy gets sucked into the life the girl is trying to make for him and forgets about the ones who really mattered to him. These are very intriguing plot points combined with incredible music and dance numbers and a production design that holds up nearly 15 years later!
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Nobody was expecting for The Hunger Games to explode in popularity back in 2012 when it was released. It stayed on the top of the box office for four weeks! This is a very rare feat in the film industry. Expectations were high for this film and it delivered the goods so well. This took the damage from one rebellious act between two tributes of the Hunger Games to a full-on national rebellion. Jennifer Lawrence gave an Oscar-worthy performance as Katniss who was sick of Panem’s government and wanted revenge- especially after the last scene. We get to see the 75th Hunger Games with so much action but like the previous two films I talked about, the draw of this film is the character development. This was the best film of an incredible franchise is should be regarded as one of the greats.
Grown-Ups 2
Sandler knocks it out of the park again, at least in my mind. This film was universally panned by critics for some reason I don’t understand. The first Grown-Ups was so charming. There were five hilarious men and their families staying at a lake house and causing a couple hours-worth of ruckus and laughs. However, there wasn’t exactly a plot. This film has somewhat of a plot. After all the grown-ups minus one move back to their hometown, it’s the last day of school. They put together a huge party that night like they haven’t done in years. There was even a full-on battle with some frat boys. This movie is great because of the one-liners and ridiculous occurrences that middle-schoolers would find funny. This movie isn’t for everyone but if you like Sandler’s level of humor it’s fantastic!
So these are some of the best I could think of. Feel free to comment more. Thanks for reading BearVibe!
#thor#thor2#thor the dark world#hsm#hsm2#highschoolmusical#highschoolmusical2#hungergames#catchingfire#grownups#grownups2#disney#marvel#lionsgate#sony
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Why the #BlackLivesMatter Movement Is So Important
By Bear Dever
The understatement of the year is that George Floyd’s death was uncalled for. However, it wasn’t in vain. Police brutality has been an issue in America for far too long, and it’s time to put a stop to it. Here are some reasons why I feel like this movement is so important for America right now.
1. All people are created equal
This should be obvious but not everyone believes this. Everyone has value just for being a person. I have never understood why some people believe that people are inherently less valuable than, or inferior to, the rest of society if they are have a different skin color. People are people and I have always been taught that all people have worth just for being themselves.
2. Torture is unethical
I don’t like torture. Especially when someone is innocent or just committing a minor crime. George Floyd may have committed a minor crime. They say that maybe he tried to buy something with counterfeit money. Even if the money was counterfeit, he really only deserved a small punishment and certainly not torture. Maybe they should have made him pay a fine or something like that. I believe that police should do what they have to do to protect people and cause no harm beyond that. Police are very important to society. There would be chaos without them. However, there is no reason for them to torture someone, and the fact that some people are born with a certain skin color is definitely not a valid reason. This is something we must stop from happening.
3. We are living in a time when we make real change
2020 has been quite the year. There are so many unjust aspects of society. The only good thing about this is that it brings us the opportunity for our voices to be heard. We are already making a change. Minneapolis is already restructuring their police department, and I bet many more will do the same. If we continue standing up for what is right, I even bet laws will be passed to stop police brutality. Right now is the time that we can start a better future. And I believe we will.
4. God can’t fix the world without our help
While I’m no pastor, I have grown up with church and know a lot about God. I believe that God uses His people to do His work. When Christians go out of their way to do something to bless other people, it is because they know God wants them to. If no one wants to step up for change, no change will happen. If our knowledge of God convinces us to do our part to make His world a better place, I thank God for giving us the motivation and courage to do so. I know not everyone here believes in God, but I know that a lot of us at least have the kind of motivation to fight for what is right. I encourage everyone, whether you are Christian or not, to peacefully protest for this cause if you feel safe doing so. We need to continue to fight so that African American people will stop being targeted, tortured and sometimes even killed by police. If you are a police, I thank you for your just service and demand that you to provide safety for all, including criminals.
Thanks for reading BearVibe everyone. And keep being the change!
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My Experience At Universal’s Passholder Re-opening
By Bear Dever
After three months of being closed due to COVID-19, Universal Orlando has finally re-opened. While Universal didn’t do a perfect job in regard to safety, they really put forth a lot of effort. Here are some of my thoughts.
As far as the temperature-checking line at the entrance, my experience went very smoothly. There are team members in the parking garages that take your temperature with a device that they hold to your head. There were markings on the ground (as seen below) to tell people where to stand that were six feet apart. However, some people have reported that this has not always been the case. I came early (around 8:00 AM) so there were not that many people. I can see how there could have been less space a little bit later than that, thus people were not following the guidelines.
When I got to the front entrance of Islands of Adventure, I waited until my entrance time of 9:45. When it hit 8:45 (the first group’s entrance time and the time when the Virtual Lines opened), I immediately got a return time for the new Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride.
Universal decided to use the Virtual Line system because they could not fit as many people in the queues due to the distance markers. I assumed they would not give many of these out but just enough to fit in the queue area. Well, I was wrong. The “virtual” line that I got in line at 10:20 was backed up through almost all the way through The Lost Continent area. If it had gone back much further, it would have gone into Seuss Landing. I was fine with waiting, but what bothered me a little bit was that there was not six feet between each party. It was average closer to two or three. This was the same in the line to be seated for lunch at Thunder Falls Terrace. Universal’s policy was to stand six feet apart, but they were not enforcing it very well. The reason I was only a little concerned was because we were all wearing masks so it would be difficult for the virus to spread.
Overall, Universal went out of their way to place these markings in queues and high-trafficked areas. In some queues, these symbols were even more than six feet apart. I am guessing that after these learning experiences, Universal will be more than willing to place more in the places they didn’t put them, such as in restaurants like Thunder Falls Terrace and the extended line for Hagrid’s.
I got to ride several other rides, such as The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, Fast and Furious: Supercharged and The Simpsons Ride. I was disappointed though that two of my favorite rides, Revenge of the Mummy and Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon were only using virtual lines, which there were none available when I checked throughout the day. Considering the park was at limited capacity and that these rides are not as popular as Hagrid’s, I assume these rides could have had a regular queue like a lot of the other rides and it would have worked out fine. I was also disappointed that the “flagship” attraction that made Universal the juggernaut it is today, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, was closed for construction because of the reconstruction of the locker room. Considering that I go rather often, not riding these rides were not a big deal for me, but I feel bad for those who are coming for their once- or twice-in-a-lifetime visit.
Other than that, I think Universal did a great job re-opening their parks, and I recommend for anyone to go back when they personally feel comfortable.
#universal#orlando#themeparks#coronavirus#HarryPotter#Mummy#JimmyFallon#Hagrid#thesimpsons#fast and furious#spider-man#marvel#safety#health#socialdistancing
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What We Can Take Away From The Spirit of Asgard
By Bear Dever
So, my birthday was yesterday. Some of my friends and I got together to celebrate (though there were fewer than 10 of us so we were following CDC guidelines). I was asked what movie I wanted to watch, and I thought Thor: Ragnarok would be the perfect choice because it’s a funny movie that a lot of people love. I had forgotten about how the film recognized such a strong theme of unity.
In the film, Thor has to make a decision about whether to save the physical location of Asgard, the realm he is king of, or to save the people of Asgard. Ultimately, he decides that the people are what really makes Asgard special. While physical spaces can have some sentimental value, what really made these places special is the time you spent with the people you were with in the space. Say, if I proposed to someone at a fancy restaurant. While the restaurant would mean a lot me, it would be the woman I proposed to that would mean the most to me.
Unintentionally, I picked a movie that represented what birthdays are supposed to be about. For me, birthdays are about unity and spending them with your friends and family to celebrate that you had another year in your life. It meant so much to me that several people unite to do what they could to give me a great birthday. This is also what life should be about, especially in times like these. We thrive on this sense of community, and since we can’t physically gather in groups larger than ten, it is more important than ever to stay connected. My friends realized this, and the ones who were out of town sent in a video message to tell me happy birthday. This is what the spirit of Asgard is, and I hope this spirit is being carried out throughout the world.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of death happening right now, and not everyone has all the people they love in their life right now. Two major sources of death right now are coronavirus and police brutality. I pray that these things dissolve, so more people can have their sense of community.
Things may not go back to normal for a while, but I am thankful to have social media and the friends I have in town. Thanks for reading BearVibe.
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22 Things I’ve Learned in My 22 Years
By Bear Dever
My twenty-second birthday is on Thursday, so I thought this would be an interesting blog post. I’m no life expert, but I’ve learned a thing or two. Some of these are supposed to be funny, but some of them are things I am genuinely serious about. Well, here they are:
1. Life’s not easy, and it takes hard work to keep going.
-I mean, you can’t get anywhere without trying your best.
2. Marvel movies are usually better than DC movies.
-No offense to DC, but this is usually true.
3. There is no shame in being a little out there.
-I certainly am, and I’ve made it this far.
4. People are worthy of love and respect regardless of race, gender, abilities, sexual orientation, etc.
-Nothing can change this.
5. It is good to take advantage of opportunities.
-If I get re-accepted to the Disney College Program, nothing will stop me from doing it because I may never get such a big opportunity again.
6. Showering is important.
-People around you will be thankful that you do.
7. Looking both ways before crossing the street can save your life.
-That’s one reason I’ve made it 22 years.
PC: SeayJae Crews
8. Trying your best doesn’t always mean succeeding, but it’s something to be proud of.
-You’re not always gonna win, but give yourself credit where it’s due.
9. It is a bad idea to take a walk when the weather forecast says it might rain.
-Let’s just say I learned this one the hard way.
10. Being overweight is not something that anyone should shame anyone for.
-If someone doesn’t like you for being overweight, they have things they need to work on.
11. It’s pronounced Levi-OOOOOOOOOO-sa, not Levio-SAAAAAAAA.
-I mean, you can’t argue with Hermione’s brilliantness.
12. As I learned through High School Musical, it’s okay to have multiple interests and hobbies.
-I’m a theatre guy and a theme park fan, and I think that makes me pretty cool
13. Everyone is worth more than their grades and competition scores.
-I used to get down on myself because I wasn’t getting Superiors at theatre competitions (though I finally did my senior year). Now I know that there is much more to my worthiness than that. Even if I didn’t get that Superior, I would still love myself now.
14. Being a jerk is a bad thing.
-If nobody is trying to harm you, don’t go out of your way to harm anyone else.
15. Not being a jerk is a good thing.
-Really, don’t be one.
16. Animal names are cool.
-I mean, I have an animal name and I’m pretty cool.
17. Love is the most valuable intangible thing out there, but it doesn’t have to be romantic.
-Being single gives you time to grow as a person.
18. Fettuccine alfredo tastes better than spaghetti with tomato sauce.
-Neither one is bad, but fettuccine is better.
19. People are far more important than things.
-I would rather have friends and family than a billion dollars.
20. Watching a movie marathon is much easier than running a real marathon.
-Let’s just say I’ve only done the easier one. But who knows? Maybe I’ll do the more challenging one someday.
21. Bad things can happen to you, but nothing you can’t work through.
-I’ve gone through a lot of really difficult things in my life, and so have a lot of people. But I’ve worked through them and I’m surviving and thriving now.
22. God is taking care of us.
-He really is.
Well, those are my two cents. Thanks for reading BearVibe.
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Some Thoughts I Had After Watching The Lost World: Jurassic Park
By Bear Dever
I finally got a chance to see The Lost World: Jurassic Park, the sequel to Jurassic Park. My local drive-in was playing it, so I was like, why not? This was the only film I hadn’t seen yet in the franchise, and I thought I might as well complete it (especially since I’m a Universal fan). It wasn’t my favorite in the franchise, but I still got a lot out of it. I had some thoughts while watching it about cherishing the moments you have while with friends and family, and I’ll dive into that in this blog post.
After the horrific events of the first movie, John Hammond (creator of Jurassic Park, played by the late, great Richard Attenborough) sends a research group to Isla Sorna, an island near Jurassic Park where the dinosaurs were bred. Dr. Ian Malcolm (played by Jeff Goldblum) thinks this is a bad idea and goes to rescue his girlfriend (who was on the research team) from this island of dinosaurs. Of course, it doesn’t go as planned. I thought it was a good movie, but not a great one. There were definitely some compelling moments, but my main complaint was that the lighting was a bit off. Spielberg must have wanted it to be really dark, and I commend him for taking a risk. But it was hard to tell what exactly was physically going on during the dinosaur attacks, so I lost a bit of focus. Maybe that’s just me, but it was something that took me out a bit toward the middle. But this is a positivity blog, and I want to focus on the heart of the movie, which there was a lot of.
The heart of the movie was centered around Ian and his daughter Kelly (played by Vanessa Lee Chester). Kelly’s mom and Ian had gotten a divorce, and it was clear that Ian had not been keeping up with Kelly very well. She sneaks into this RV-like research center that is brought to the island with Ian and his crew. When Kelly came out of the RV, and Ian saw her, he was angry, but he knew he had to do whatever he could to keep her safe. That experience brought them closer, and truly made them cherish each other more. This can really make people think about their relationships. Am I devoting as much time and energy I should into my relationships? I definitely try, but I could do better. We are social creatures and we thrive off our relationships. They are very important to our overall well-being, and really make our lives what they are. No one is perfect at keeping up with relationships, especially during these pandemic times. I’m not trying to put anyone down in any way. I know it’s very difficult, but I think it’s something to think about and keep in perspective.
Well, thanks for reading BearVibe. Stay safe out there!
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What I Want to See in the New Percy Jackson Show
By Bear Dever
It’s official— Percy Jackson is coming to Disney+! I’ve loved the Percy Jackson series ever since my fifth grade class was assigned to read The Lightning Thief. I knew literally nothing about Greek mythology before then, and reading Percy Jackson was very educational, while being super enjoyable. I was psyched when the film came out when I was in sixth grade, and it was so much fun to see the characters I had loved reading about on screen. It took a few years but Fox finally came out with Sea of Monsters, and I loved that one too, even though it wasn’t as well-received. It was disappointing that the series wasn’t continued— especially since the second one ended on a huge cliffhanger— but I’m so happy to see it being revitalized. Here are some things that I would enjoying seeing in the new adaptation:
Younger Cast
One of the major gripes about the original movies was that the actors were cast at around the age their characters were in the final book. This made it difficult to keep the series going, but it brought a whole new mature vibe that I thought was awesome. I especially loved the casting of Logan Lerman, who did a great job playing Percy. While I thought the older vibe was great, I really want all five seasons of the show to happen. So it would probably be best to cast young actors so they won’t be too old in five years.
Kids at the Casino
There is a scene in The Lightning Thief where the trio— Percy, Annabeth, and Grover— go to a casino in Las Vegas to find the jewel they are looking for. But they get under a spell and get super engrossed in casino life that, by the time they remembered what their task was, five days had passed. I think it would be funny to have kids at the casino and have to mess with security (only in a movie though, not in real life). I think it would be funny to see kids using a slot machine and playing poker. It wouldn’t fly in real life, but this is fantasy.
Good Visuals
The Percy Jackson movies had some really compelling visuals. They weren’t quite as high-budget as say The Avengers movies, but still looked like they were worthy of the big screen. I would hate to see the budget go down significantly enough that the visuals look cheesy because it’s on Disney+. For example, Wizards of Waverly Place, a show in which I love, had a very poor quality dragon-looking thing in the final episode. It looked as if it came from a video game, but that was because it was a low-budget sitcom. I know that the budget for this show can’t be theatrical, but I hope the visuals are adequate enough to pass.
Cliffhangers at the End of Episodes and Seasons
Most streaming shows do this, but I’d love to also see this for Percy Jackson. Many of the book chapters end on cliffhangers, and this would work great for a TV show. I want to truly anticipate the next episode every week. There probably won’t be an episode for every chapter, but I hope that the production team makes good decisions as to where the episodes end.
More Build-Up to Kronos
This is a big one. Kronos coming back to power was a big element in The Battle of the Labyrinth book. However, I suppose the production team thought they weren’t going to be able to make five movies due to cost restraints, so they had Kronos resurrected in The Sea of Monsters movie. My theory is that the third movie would have been the final one if it had been made. I think they had to push up Kronos’ resurrection in order to build a cliffhanger to the finale early so they could finish the series as strongly as they could. I would love to see all the build-up to that in the third and fourth seasons that we got to read about in the books.
I am super pumped for this Percy Jackson show on Disney+! I’m hoping that the team takes some of these ideas and gives us five awesome seasons. Thank you for reading BearVibe!
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Three Celebrities I Find Inspirational
By Bear Dever
Everyone has people they look up to. Whether it’s someone you know, it’s someone you somewhat know or it’s a celebrity that a lot of people are inspired by. These people impact our lives and what we do in the world and for other people.
Tyler Perry has made some brilliant films and plays. In my opinion, Madea is the funniest character I have ever seen on screen- even funnier than Adam Sandler’s Jill from Jack and Jill. I love energetic, in-your-face comedy, and Perry’s Madea is the epitome of this. This incredible man not only inspires me artistically, but his humanitarian work is insane (in a good way). One time I heard that he saw a news story about someone totaling their car in a wreck and he literally bought them a new car that night. He’s donated millions to many charities that help the poor and struggling. He has made a huge impact on so many peoples’ lives. He is a true people-server. I wish I could even do a fraction of what he’s done for the world.
I learned of Noah Galloway through one of my all-time favorite TV shows, Dancing with the Stars. This show has the ability to bring the light to some of the world’s most incredible people and inspire the millions watching. Noah is a veteran from the Iraq war, something I respect to the nth degree. Unfortunately, he was severely injured in attack back in 2005, and he lost his left arm and leg. He entered into a depression, but came out of it swinging. He started working out and got into incredible shape. Dancing on DWTS was certainly a challenge for him, but he pushed through and landed in third place, even beating Olympic gymnast Nastia Liukin. He is someone who proved that you can really do anything you set your mind to, no matter the obstacle.
tobyMac is an incredible talent and he uses it to inspire many, many people through infusing Christian themes into his pop/hip hop music. A lot of people who aren’t even into this kind of music listen to him because of the style. Even non-Christians can get positive themes from songs like “Speak Life,” which is about spreading positivity in our daily speech. His career, in itself, is something I have always admired him for. However, there was something he did that inspired me even more. Unfortunately, his young son passed away last year. Going through such a tragic event is something that would be extremely devasted about. However, weeks after his son passed, I got to see him perform at Universal Studios for Rock the Universe. He was even able to do his work of inspiring people through music when he was having such a hard time. This was incredible to see and Toby should be commended.
Well I hope y’all find these people as inspiring as I do. This is WhatBearThinks.
Stay healthy out there y’all!
#inspiring#inspirational#celebrity#celebrities#tyler perry#madea#veteran#respect#people#speaklife#dance#dancing#injury#dancing with the stars#dwts#tobymac#christian#christianmusic#hiphop#popmusic
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The Vast of Night is Thrilling
By Bear Dever
Last night, I was fortunate enough to see a screening of The Vast of Night at my local drive-in. It will be released on Amazon Prime on May 29 and I definitely recommend it if you want something that is thrilling.
Set in the fifties, A teenage girl named Faye- played by Sierra McCormick who some of us 2000s Disney kids know from A.N.T. Farm- works as a switchboard operator. She comes across a sound that she thought was curious on one of the frequencies. She radios it to Everett, a radio show host, and he finds it so intriguing that he records it and plays it on his station and some people who have some information about it call in. I won’t spoil the ending but I’ll say that the chaos ensues from there.
Going into the movie, I knew that it was categorized as a thriller, and boy was it! Now I don’t like horror movies, and this isn’t scary enough to be one, but it is THRILLING! Watching it outside added to this thrilling effect. The movie has a lot of face-to-face and phone conversations. These are stories connected to the sound. Them telling the stories sounded a lot like a summer camp counselor telling the kids a scary story in their cabin before the kids go to bed. You could hear the crickets outside, and the voices were soft and dramatic enough to make you truly feel creeped out that there may be something scary coming. This movie is very unique as in that there is little action and that the plot is very simple but effective for what they were going for. It’s the kind of conceptual movie that the Academy loves. The visuals were simple but very fifties-style horror (even though it’s not as scary). My only real gripe about the movie was that, at times, particularly towards the end, it becomes a bit too dark to really see enough of the action. The cinematographers get the point across, but it is still hard to see.
Overall, this movie is just THRILLING! It is so much fun to be on the edge of your seat not knowing what is gonna happen in the mystery of it all. The plot twists always keep your mind wondering what will come next.
I highly recommend watching this movie if you want to be thrilled and have a fun time but not get nightmares. It is currently playing in drive-ins and I would even go out of my way to find one. It’s a movie that really should be watched outside, so I think it is really cool that it’s playing in drive-ins. It will also be available on Amazon Prime on May 29. You could even play it on a projector in your backyard if you wanted and it would really add to the effect. Well, thanks for reading! This is WhatBearThinks.
Stay healthy out there y’all!
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Some Thoughts I Had While Re-watching Wonder Woman
By Bear Dever
Ah, yes. Wonder Woman. The 2017 cultural phenomenon. I remember how popular it was during the summer I worked at Regal. People came in droves for it pretty much the entire summer. It meant a lot to a lot of people, and still holds up perfectly three years later. My local drive-in decided to play it this week because there weren’t many new movies coming out and they thought it could generate them some profit. So, naturally, I went to see it again! (Just to point out: it was safe as we were all social distancing in our cars.)
First of all, one of the things that makes Wonder Woman so important to society is that it is one of few female-led superhero movies out there. The first female-led movie in the DC Extended Universe. In my opinion, all people are people and should be treated as equals. Women are in no way, shape or form inferior to men, and I’m glad that there are more female-led superhero movies coming out now. This movie takes place during World War I, which was a time when women weren’t as valued as they are today. Not that they are as valued as they should be today, but it was even worse in those times. Diana (Wonder Woman) is convinced that Ares, the god of war, is behind all the death and destruction of the war. For most of the movie, people did not believe her. I feel like it was partly because of her gender. Nonetheless, Diana kept on fighting. This also reflects Gal Gadot’s journey, as she went from an actress with little experience, to the leading role in such a major motion picture. This is a great message to women out there to keep fighting to be heard, and I appreciate that Warner Bros. let this message be told to such a wide audience.
However, after re-watching it, there was an aspect that bothered me about this movie. Some may disagree with me, and that is okay. Opinions are subjective. In an early scene, Steve (played by Chris Pine, and this is nothing against him as an actor) is seen mostly naked coming out of his bath. Diana came in and noticed that that was what a man looked like (she had never seen one before). Steve said he looked like an “above-average” man. It was obvious that he meant this because he was in shape. I do not believe that how one’s body looks correlates to how good of a person they are. I believe that people should be judged by their actions, and not by how they look. Say if someone were not in shape, but they were very nice to people and treated everyone with respect. They would be an above-average quality person.
Anyway, I have strong opinions about how people should not feel less worthy of anything because of their body image. Overall, this is a very well-made movie that really highlights how women should be respected and heard. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out later this year! This is WhatBearThinks.
Stay healthy out there y’all!
#wonderwoman#feminism#femaleempowerment#bodyimage#dc#dccomics#warnerbros#positivity#film#movies#galgadot#chrispine#superhero#positivty#actors
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6 Tips on Going Back to the Theme Parks Once They Reopen
By Bear Dever
Unfortunately, the Central Florida theme parks were closed for the past two months due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. Luckily, they are supposed to open in phases in the coming weeks and months. Disney Springs is partly opening on May 20, and more opening dates are to be announced. Going to theme parks will be a very different experience in the times of COVID-19, so I thought I would give some tips on how to stay healthy and have a good time at the parks in the midst of all these changes.
1. Do Your Best to Social Distance
You’ve probably heard this term a million times in the past two months or so, but it really is important. It’s best to stay six feet away from people not in your party and/or have your mask on. It may not be possible to be six feet apart constantly, but please try your best. There are people like me with health problems that compromise our immune systems. We are not supposed to go before Phase 3 of opening, and I won’t, but some vulnerable people will. This isn’t to scare anyone but I’m just saying it’s good to be aware.
2. Manage Your Expectations
As most things are different than they were two months ago, how the theme parks are run is no exception. Surveys that Disney and Universal have put out suggest that not every ride will be open and live entertainment may not be happening. It’s best to accept this ahead of time so you don’t get upset on the day. You can still have a great experience with the limited offerings, but you just need to go in with that mindset.
3. Wait in the Lines
It is not clear how large the crowds will be. The parks will be at lower capacity, meaning there will be fewer people, but the rides won’t load as quickly because they will have to clean the vehicles. These factors could keep the waits consistent or make them shorter or longer than usual. We really don’t know yet. If they are long, go ahead and get in line! It will be worth it because it’s better to have to wait in line a long time and get to ride than not be able to ride at all.
4. Maintain Hygiene
There will be many sanitization stations across the park. Please take advantage of them. You never know if you touched a COVID germ, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
5. Be Nice to the Cast/Team Members
As some of you know, I was accepted for the Disney College Program for this coming Fall Advantage semester. It was cancelled due to the state of the times, but I still sympathize with the cast/team members who will be at the parks during these times. They will be scrutinized for enforcing the rules they’re required to enforce. Just be understanding and maybe even thank them for what they’re doing.
6. Have a Positive Attitude
This is the key to having a good time. If Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is closed but Escape from Gringotts is open, be happy that you get to ride Gringotts. You’re blessed to be able to be in the parks at all. Some people never get to go at all. If you can come back at a later date to ride Forbidden Journey, look at that as a blessing.
I hope these tips will help you have as good of a time as possible when you go to the parks. This is WhatBearThinks.
Thanks for reading and stay healthy out there!
#themeparks#disney#universal#waltdisneyworld#centralflorida#universalorlando#universalstudios#reopening#covid19#coronavirus#florida
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Why I Hope Movie Theatres Come Back
By Bear Dever
COVID-19 has changed every aspect of our lives. Almost all the theatres in America are closed right now to avoid community spread. AMC, the largest theatre chain in America, has even considered bankruptcy due to not having any business during this period of time. While going to the movie theatres is not a necessity, it gives people a lot of joy. There are many reasons why our lives are better with them, and why it would be a shame to keep them closed after COVID-19 is over.
Now I recently wrote an article about how important streaming is during this time. Streaming is great, but it doesn’t compare to the full movie-going experience. Movies on the big screen provide even more escapism. There is nothing on the walls and phones aren’t allowed so your focus is on the world of the movie. When you’re streaming at home, there is so much that can distract you. Most people even pause their streaming and leave the experience to come back to it later. In the theatres, there is a sense of immersion that just can’t be topped.
Movie theatres being open also does a lot for the economy. I actually used to work at a theatre. My co-workers and I survived on the money people paid for tickets and concessions (but mostly the concessions). By coming to the movie theatre, you are helping someone survive. Without the job opportunities that the theatre companies offer, there would be fewer jobs and more people would be unemployed. We really are helping the economy by supporting these businesses.
These theatres are a part of history. It would be a shame for the next generation to not get to experience such an important aspect of our generation. I recently spent a few nights at the Ocala Drive-In Theatre for their Harry Potter marathon (it was completely safe as we were in our cars). I find it sad that one form of movie theatres has largely gone away. I am lucky that I live near one, but a lot of people don’t. This generation largely doesn’t get to appreciate the drive-ins, and it would be really sad to see the modern-day movie theatre go out of style too.
The movies also facilitate social events. So many people have a reason to spend time with each other because they’re interested in seeing a movie. Also, action films are so much more epic on the big screen. There are so many reasons why these theatres should re-open when the time is right. Hopefully, the theatres will stay. This is WhatBearThinks.
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Five Movies I Find Inspirational
By Bear Dever
A lot of the time, I want to see a movie that is inspirational. When I’m having a bad day, I like to see something that reminds me how precious life is or how to push through a hard situation. Now this is just my list, and some people may not find these movies inspirational. Everyone sees everything their own, which is the beauty of the subjectivity of film. Some of these were meant to inspire (such as Christian films), while others were made more for fun but with a dash of something that really struck me. Without further ado, these are the top ten movies I find inspirational:
1. All Saints
All Saints is one of those movies where everything seems to be going wrong, but eventually turns out alright. Michael Spurlock (played by John Corbett) is a priest that is sent to a church that was soon to be closed due to low funds and attendance. However, a group of refugees from Burma were at the church, and they were willing to start planting a garden in order to start generating revenue for the church. They came into countless problems, but ultimately God took care of them. This is a good movie to watch if you’re going through a hard time. God always takes care of people, even if it seems like your life isn’t going right.
2. High School Musical
I’ve talked about High School Musical on here before but it’s worth talking about again because it’s just so inspirational! This is a movie that comes with a strong message that some people overlook, but I really took it to heart. The message is that it’s okay to have multiple interests and even to co-mingle with people that aren’t in your social group. It’s really true. Going out of your comfort zone will take you so much further in life. This film inspired me to start being involved in theater, which has been a great way to express myself for so many years. I don’t know what I would have done without it.
3. 90 Minutes in Heaven
This is a movie about a priest named Don Piper who literally died in a car accident, went to heaven, and came back to Earth ninety minutes later. This is so inspirational for people who don’t believe, are struggling in their beliefs, and even people who have a strong faith. It’s a reminder that no matter how stressful your life is, it will ultimately lead to something unimaginably fantastic. It’s definitely hard to watch considering the hospital scenes and graphic injury images, but I definitely recommend people to watch it at least once.
4. Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie
Okay, hear me out. This is a movie that makes you appreciate your family. This movie is based on the Disney Channel sitcom, Wizards of Waverly Place. The Russo family goes on vacation in the Caribbean, and there is a lot of tension between Alex (played by Selena Gomez) and her mother, Teresa (played by Maria Canals-Barrera). Teresa won’t let Alex use her magic during their vacation. Alex eventually tells her mother that she wished that her parents had never even met. This comes true due to her magical powers, even though it wasn’t her intention. This film makes people value my family even more because we know that we won’t have them forever.
5. I Still Believe
Unfortunately, this film came out about a week before we all had to go into quarantine. So few people actually got to see it, but I was lucky enough to. I Still Believe is a biographic film about Christian singer Jeremy Camp’s life. Jeremy (played by KJ Apa) went to college, and fell in love with a young woman named Melissa (played by Britt Robertson). As their relationship was on the rocks, Melissa came down with ovarian cancer. Jeremy comes to the hospital to show he cares, and they eventually got married. I won’t say what happens in the rest of the film, but Jeremy’s faith is tested but he knew that God takes care of people even when they go through adversity. He writes the song, “I Still Believe”, about the whole situation, and everything works out for him. This is another example about how when it seems that the worst thing you could ever think of happens, God still gives you a path forward. This is something people need to be reminded of in all times, but especially COVID-19 times. I hope that reading this reminds people that God will take care of you.
Well, these are five movies that inspire me. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and that you stay safe and healthy during these hard times. I highly recommend each of these. This is WhatBearThinks.
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Nine Things I Want to Achieve in the Next Nine Years: Part 2
By Bear Dever
This is part two of what I want to achieve by the time I’m 30. This could be seen as somewhat premature, but I’m always willing to be flexible because I know from experience that God can change your plans. Anyway, here and numbers five through nine.
5. Strengthen and Build More Relationships
For the past few years, I have been really focused on building a bigger friend group. I have been part of two on-campus organizations, and I feel like I’ve done a decent job of this. I want to continue doing things like this and be open to a romantic relationship. I don’t count on it happening immediately, but it is always good to be open to whatever God brings you. I used to let it bother me that I’m single, but now I know that God will present a relationship to me at the right time and that it’s okay if it takes a while.
6. Lead A Healthy Lifestyle
In 2019, I decided to start leading a healthier lifestyle. I started working out and eating right and lost about 40 pounds. However, I ate a little too much around the holidays and haven’t been able to the gym since the pandemic started, so I have gained some of it back. When the University of Florida opens back up, I plan to go back to the gym. I don’t necessarily want to be as muscular as The Rock or anything, but I want to have a healthy amount of muscle.
7. Be Involved in Church
I definitely want to stay involved with church. I have been going to church since before I was born. My mom worked for the Kentucky Baptist Convention when I was a kid, and she took me around the state to different churches almost every weekend. She and her colleagues taught about Christian children education at these churches, and helped the leaders develop the knowledge they needed to teach Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. I met a lot of great people and had a great time, so I want to do similar things now in Florida. Church is practically in my DNA. I want to find a church in Orlando or wherever I end up and serve God in some capacity and meet amazing people along the way. I’m not saying I want to be or a priest or anything, but I want to share God’s Word in some way.
8. Enjoy Life More
Life is stressful, but every bit of joy you can find out of it has a positive impact on you. I hope to learn to become more easy-going and count my blessings more. We are so blessed to be alive! My life is not perfect. Some people are fortunate in ways that I am not. But I am also fortunate in ways others are not. I want to try to thrive more on the ways I am blessed and appreciate the situation I am in.
9. Bless People
This objective ties into a lot of what I’ve been talking about. I feel like God puts people on Earth to bless people, and I try to do this every day in some capacity. Sometimes, it can be as simple as smiling or opening the door for someone. Other times, I go out of my way to put on an acting performance for people to be enlightened and entertained by. Everything I will do at Disney, I plan on doing for the guests. While I definitely have to prioritize myself at times, I feel called to do things for others.
Well, there you have it. I have a lot of goals and a lot to work on in the next nine years. I may not accomplish everything, and that is okay. Some people may have a totally different list and that’s fine. No one is the same. You may not even know what you want to accomplish, and that is fine too. Stay healthy out there y’all! This is WhatBearThinks.
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Nine Things I Want to Achieve in the Next Nine Years: Part 1
By Bear Dever
With my Disney College Program being delayed, I’ve been thinking a lot about my future lately. I am gonna be graduating in Fall 2021 (most likely) so I feel that it is time to really make some more tentative plans for the time until I am 30. It may seem a bit obsessive since I am only 21, but I’m a planner. Also, I know from experience that plans change. Not everything I’ve wanted to work out in my life has, so I know that I have to be flexible. Everyone is different, so I am by no means trying to tell others what they should plan for their life, these are just thoughts that work for me. So here you go:
1. Participate in a Disney College Program
If you have been following me on social media or know me in real life, you know that this is a major goal for me. Earlier this year, I applied for my first Disney College Program, and remarkably got in as an Attractions Cast Member! I was thrilled because it sometimes takes people several times to get in. Unfortunately, my program was cancelled about a week and a half ago due to Coronavirus. But I’m keeping my chin up and applying for Spring Advantage in August!
2. Graduate from UF with my Theatre BA
I’ve been working very hard on my getting my degree for a few years now, and I’m going to graduate. I took a little extra time because a lot was going on. A lot of people do that, and I feel like it was a good decision for me. I feel like it’s good to have a bachelor’s degree for me even though I don’t plan on getting my Master’s (at least for a while) and it looks good on resumes. I’m not saying college is for everyone, and I don’t believe there is any shame in not having a degree. I just feel like it is a good life step for me.
3. Nail Down a Disney Job and Move to Orlando Permanently
Personally, I feel like God is calling me to work at Disney. That may sound funny, but I just do. I feel like I will be serving Him by making other people happy. Someone may be having a bad day or be having a rough time in their life for some reason. I want to be part of something that has some kind of positive effect on people. Also, it is only two hours away from Gainesville, and I want to keep close so I can keep up with some relationships.
4. Get a Puppy
This is something I have been wanting to do for a while, but I’ve just always felt like the timing wasn’t right. I want to be done with my Disney College Program(s) and settled into life in Orlando before I do this. I really want a sweet little Havanese dog that could be a blessing to my life. It would also give me more of a sense of adult responsibility. My immediate family is on the smaller side, and I feel like this new addition would mean a lot to me.
5. Be Involved in Theatrical Productions
If you know me, you know I love acting, and I have for many years. Particularly comedy and making people laugh. It gives me such a great feeling. While it used to be my only real career goal, I have more ambitions now. I don’t want to give it up entirely, but I don’t wanna jump in and commit just yet because I’ve found this other calling. So yes, I definitely want to do some more acting, but I also want to do some more things.
Well, here are the first five. I should be getting out the next part soon. I wasn’t planning on releasing this in two parts, but I’m just really thorough with my planning and I thought it would be easier to digest in two parts. I’m not holding myself completely accountable to achieving these things, but I feel like it is good to set goals. This is WhatBearThinks.
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Dealing with Disappointment
By Bear Dever
Everyone goes through some disappointment and even grief. Recently, I experienced some major disappointment when my Disney College Program was cancelled because of Coronavirus. This is what had to happen, and I’m not blaming Disney. But it is still disappointing. In this blog, I’m gonna give some tips on how to deal with disappointment. While I am not a therapist, I do have some life experience. I hope these tips help others whose DCP got cancelled or are going through some other form of disappointment.
Face the Facts
If there is nothing you can do to change the situation, it is best to accept that it exists. It may not be easy, but when there is truly nothing you can do to change the situation, try to stop coming up with ideas to do things to stop it. There is nothing I can do to stop the spread of Coronavirus on such a massive scale and get my college program to happen, so I accept that this is true.
Feel the Feelings
It may not be fun, but it is best to feel the emotions you have. For instance, I was sad that my DCP was cancelled. I accepted that and allowed myself to feel sad. If I had told myself that the fact is true but tried to convince myself that I was not upset about it, it could have come back later in an unhealthy way.
React to Your Feelings in a Healthy Way
Mr. Rogers always emphasized that it is normal to have feelings, but you need to learn how to deal with them without harming yourself or anyone else. I am not an aggressive person, and I try not to take my feelings out on anyone else. Now I’m not saying not to tell supportive friends and family members, but don’t yell at or attack them for something that is not their fault. Maybe go in your room and beat up a pillow or something like that. Maybe go work out (but don’t push yourself harder than you’re capable of). Maybe even just take some alone time to process the situation. As long as you’re not harming anyone or thing, you can find anything something that gets your feelings out in a healthy way. It could seriously help a lot.
Plan for How You Are Going to Continue On
Some disruptive events can be life changing. Say there’s a basketball player that breaks their arm. It’s always good to process what happened but it’s also important to figure out how you will move forward. You don’t want to just do nothing with your life because one path was taken away (rather temporarily or permanently). So the basketball player comes to a road block and needs to know what to do with their life in the time before they can go back to basketball. Maybe they take up a new hobby, like bird-watching or board games. Or focus more on another aspect of their life like their schoolwork. If the injury would require them to stop playing basketball altogether, it is good to find a new career path. Luckily, my situation was just a temporary setback. I had to figure out what to do with the seven months I would have been doing the DCP. I decided to really focus on my schoolwork and I’m actually taking some classes in new areas for my electives. I have also been taking walks and watching a lot of my favorite movies, and even watching some new ones. This is good for me because I’m a theater major. I definitely plan to apply for the Spring DCP, so it helps knowing that I will probably still be able to achieve my dreams eventually.
This is not easy, and I’m sure there have been entire books about how to deal with disappointment. I hope this helps people whose path is put on hold during this uncertain time.
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My DCP Bucket List Part 1 - Fall Advantage 2020
As some of you know, I have been accepted to the Disney College Program Fall Advantage 2020 season! I will be taking a semester off of school to work at Walt Disney World as an Attractions Cast Member. Assuming it doesn’t get pushed back because of Coronavirus, I will be arriving on June 1. I know a lot of people come up with a bucket list of what they want to do during their program, so I thought I would do the same. Originally, I was going to do it in one blog, but there was just so much stuff! So here is part one!
1. Ride Everything
This may be an obvious one, but I LOVE theme park attractions. I love classic rides that so many love like Space Mountain, Test Track, and Tower of Terror. I love slower rides like Carousel of Progress, Peter Pan’s Flight, and It’s a Small World. I love some of the less popular rides like Living with the Land, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Figment. I’m sure I will love the newer rides that I haven't been on yet like Avatar Flight of Passage, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Slinky Dog Dash. I don’t think there is a single ride at Disney that I don't love! So this is a big one for me.
2. See the Stage Shows
As a theater major, I really enjoy seeing live shows with live actors. Not everyone goes to Disney to see these kinds of shows, but I do. I love shows like Finding Nemo The Musical, The Festival of the Lion King, and Up! A Great Bird Adventure. I have yet to see The Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the Beauty and the Beast live shows, and a lot of the Epcot performances so those will definitely be on my list.
3. Look at More Resorts
My family would always stay at Disney’s value resorts and go to the parks so I’m not very familiar with many higher-class resorts. I hear they are fantastic, so I will definitely be taking a look around them.
4. See Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
I love movie-themed lands, including Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter of course. Well Disney has taken another classic fantasy franchise and made a land out of it. I hear great things about it, particularly about how Rise of the Resistance is awesome ride. As of now, Hollywood Studios is blacked out for cast members, but if it doesn't get lifted, I will definitely be saving up for a ticket.
5. Go to the Water Parks
Disney’s water parks are so much fun and relaxing! Not everyone goes to them, but I have a few times and they were so worth it! I love taking in the thrill of some incredible water slides, and even the water coaster, Crush n Gusher. I also love to relax in the lazy rivers and just take everything in. Disney has a lot of things to do, but sometimes it’s nice to just sit back, relax, be moved by the water, and process that fact that you really are at the Happiest Place on Earth. I wanna take the time to pinch myself and thank God for giving me the incredible opportunity. Sometimes you just need to rest, and that is definitely something I will have to prioritize when I’m in my program.
Well, this is WhatBearThinks. You can look forward to the remainder of my bucket list soon! Thanks for reading, and I pray that everyone stays healthy during this hard times.
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