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The fierce voice that Misa Uehara brings with her to the role of the princess puts Carrie Fisher's unspectacular performance to shame. Nothing in any Hollywood action film is as exhilarating as seeing him hunt down two enemy soldiers on horseback with both his hands on the handle of his sword (not some oversized glow stick). The lead actors in Star Wars like Harrison Ford are rubbish and wooden compared to the commanding and mature performance given by Toshiro Mifune. The character don't travel in technologically advanced (and realistically impossible) pods or spaceships, but on horses and often by foot. Kurosawa's jidai-geki film does not take place in galaxies far far away, but in the mountains along feudal territory borders. The lesson plan includes discussion questions for the book.The film that inspired Star Wars is it's superior in every way. Maybe it was on a small level, such as battling a fear of the dark, and maybe it was a much bigger deal, like handling a death or other family challenge. Have students discuss times in their life when they had to be courageous. On a bigger level, she loses her life for a cause she believes in. On a simple level, she breaks silly government laws, like eating junk food. Luke sees Jen’s courage in different ways. He wants to live his life, just like the first or second born children. Even after Jen’s death, Luke vows to help finish what she started and not live in secrecy anymore. She is the most courageous person he knows, especially after he learns about her plan for the rally. Explore how friends can sometimes hurt each other, and even put each other in danger.Ĭourage: Luke takes a big chance going over to visit his new friend, Jen. Discuss ways that friends show they care for one another. When he meets Jen, he learns what friendship is all about, the good along with the bad. All his life he has only been around his family. Talk about population laws and their reason for existing, as in China.įriendship: Luke has never had a real friend. What are some of the laws they instill to make the people feel powerless? Discuss the differences between a totalitarian government and a democratic one. Government: The government is terrifying to most of the citizens. Is it a typical relationship? Is it a trusting one? Does family have to be about blood relatives? Think about Luke’s relationship with Jen. George Talbot: Jen’s father, a wealthy baron, top official of the Population Police Themesįamily Life: Explore Luke’s relationship with his parents and brothers. Jen Talbot: Luke’s neighbor, a third child, strong-willed, knows a lot about the real world Luke Garner: youngest brother, 12 years old, fair hair, small, soft-looking, a third child Mark Garner: middle brother, 14 years old, dark hair, tough-looking Matthew Garner: oldest brother, 15 years old, dark hair, tough-looking Garner: Luke’s mother, sensitive to Luke’s feelings, hardworking
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Garner: Luke’s father, hardworking, man of few words, very strict This law is strictly enforced by the Population Police. This law was created because of a food shortage some years before. The government has turned totalitarian and forces its citizens to follow some strict laws, one of which is that each family may only have two children. There is no specific time or place named in the story, but we can guess that it takes place in the near future in an American society. She gives him the courage to change his life, and maybe the life of all illegal third children. What would happen to Luke and his family if he were seen? One day his life changes when he meets another third child, Jen, his next door neighbor. He cannot be near a window, for fear of being seen. He must spend his life in hiding, fearful of being caught by the Population Police. Luke Garner is a 12-year-old boy who is a third child, illegal to exist in his government.
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