Matthew Owens' Summer Assignment :D :) :P :O

The Missing
   
    Examples of the trafficking and exploitation of woman can be found throughout history. Undoubtedly a horrible and ruthless crime committed for money, and in some cultures respect. The Missing by Thomas Edison brings to light this cruel and unforgiving trade. Interestingly enough he portrays it as beautiful and horrible at the same time. Though the movie touches on elements of the story line, it fails to bring into detail some of the most important aspects that build the relationships between characters in the beginning of the book.

The year is 1889, Maggie, a mother of two daughters, created a peaceful life as a doctor on the outskirts of town. One day, an Indian man; tired and old, strolls into town looking for the help of a doctor and going by the name of Samuel Jones. Revealed in the beginning of the book as Maggie father, who left her when she was a little girl to become one with the Indian tribes. Maggie wants no part of him in her life, until her daughter Lily is taken by traffickers. In a desperate search for her daughter, Maggie joined by her Father and daughter, Dot, ride deep into the deserts of New Mexico.

From the book's perspective, Dot's relationship with her grandfather Samuel has a lot of tension at first. Only through days spent with Dot does Samuel realize his passion for his little granddaughter. The movie fails in this sense: it builds this key relationship on the road, and not in the beginning to help give a better understanding of the back story. Another element missed in the relationship and bonding of these two characters in the movie, Samuel's dog, to whom Dot becomes friends with from the start. Samuel's dog blindly cut from the movie completely in an effort to save money, destroyed a crucial character that brought these two protagonists together. The final animal character that made its way through the book as a bonding tool was Samuel's horse The Grey. Though cut from the movie, he was a tender loving soul that drew Dot in, showing Samuel's softer side, in turn also helping Maggie as well. Without the Grey, the viewer misses yet another fundamental piece of the larger picture.

Just as Dots relationship with Samual could have been strengthened with just a few simple key elements, the same can be said for Maggie and Samuel. In the movie, everything happens so quickly that it doesn't give the viewer enough time to digest what's going on. Maggie goes though mood swings, at times being very happy, and at others to the point of throwing Samual out. In the book, their relationship establishes itself in the beginning with attention to the back story. Samual stays with Maggie in her barn for a number of days as opposed to just one in the movie. This gives their characters time to bond and the reader a sense of establishment to their relationship in the past, which helps mold it in the future. The book helps illustrate a clear rising tension in the beginning between the two, that is slowly transformed into a partnership by the end of his stay.

Within the pages of the book, a clear spiritual representation of Samuel's life is depicted through his Indian rituals. This helps give the reader a clear understanding of his past and helps the reasons why he left when Maggie was just a child. With his faith throughout the book, he creates a bond with Maggie and Dot unlike any other. Through the spiritual sense characters are drawn closer to one another, something the movie failed touch upon completely.
       
As the story concludes, Samual finds his missing granddaughter and returns home to live with Maggie and her family until he passes away. In a movie, a clear understanding of back story creates an elegant flow throughout the film. The Missing as a film could learn a thing or two from the book. All it would take were a few key aspects that in turn could make the movie much more understandable in the beginning. To the eyes of the movie audience, having not read the book, they are blind and confused. They are only able to see the light of the true story if they pick up the pages. Through the book they are never left with a sense of wonder, and all loose ends are tied down firmly in the glory of a excellent beginning.

P.S - This looked a lot better in MLA Format

I knows it.

Introduction: List some examples of trafficking and exploitation of woman, stories that made the news/headlines to bring it into perspective for the reader, showing real world situations.
In what cultures does it gain respect? How does this relate to the book/movie? Expand on how the author portrays the trafficking of woman as horrible and beautiful i.e How does that even work?
Maybe cite some lines from the book that help bring that concept into words.

Introduction Pt. II: Expand on the story line a little bit more, I talk about how important a good back story is... without giving MY reader a good back story of the book/movie.

Body #1: Passive Passive, Passive.... create a stronger point. Thesis was restated again, save it for the introduction and focus more on key points. In retrospect.... have more key points. -_-
Workout some odd language, less words (passive) and help give the reader a better understanding. MORE EXAMPLES!

Body #2: Longer - Dive into more detail about the relationships between characters.
Passive. Whats the rising tensions between the characters - elaborate a little more.

Body #3: Not enough information, again, cite passages from the book to expand on the subject and bring in some perspective. Longer x2

Conclusion: Odd wordings, not very easy to follow... Stronger ending, wrap everything up. Possible ending quote from book (might be cheesy)

Overall: Stronger points, more examples to help the direction of the paper flow. Some grammar work. Getting rid of the passives. More content in general, that's mostly where the paper is lacking and it needs better connections between paragraphs (transitions need some work). AGAIN, MORE CONTENT! Examples, cite passages from the book to strengthen them!