Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  From the World of John Wick: Ballerina “But, we all live with the decisions we make” “It is two sides to the same coin, to kill to save.” “In the end, we are who we are.” -From The World of John Wick: Ballerina The John Wick franchise is action cinema at its most streamlined and eloquent. The films are built on the strength of an often overlooked discipline of the creative filmmaking process, choreography. The structure of an action sequence is as much a part of its impact as the stunts or the violence depicted. In fact, now that I think about it, one of this franchise's greatest skills is that it brings out the beauty inherent in these mesmerizing dances of death. The action sequences are the story, and the violence is its thematic core. That's not to say that these films glorify killing, far from it in fact. A consistent counterpoint to John Wick's world of suave assassins, is a desire to escape this world of death dealing, and so it is with Ballerina. Eve's...

  The King of Kings, 1927 “I come a light into the world–that whosoever believeth in me shall not abide in darkness." “Truly, this man was the son of God.” “O God–give us back the light.” -The King of Kings, 1927 There is something tremendously mesmerizing about Cecil B. DeMille's silent biblical epic. The King of Kings is at once, a marvelous achievement in cinematic storytelling, and a deeply meditative look at the life of Christ. All, brought on by the techniques inherent in the construction of a silent film. It makes me smile to think that our old friend has returned. Once again, simplicity is the driving force behind the consistent depth of visual storytelling. “The secret impresses no one, the trick you use it for, is everything.” -The Prestige It is generally surmised that movies nowadays have lost their sense of purpose. Wonder has given way to the doldrums of familiarity. In other words, films have lost their luster, because we've become immune to the mag...

  Kingdom of Heaven director's cut “What does that say?“ “What man is a man, who does not make the world better.” “I pray the world and Jerusalem can accommodate such a rarity as a perfect knight.” “If this is the Kingdom of Heaven, let God do with it as he wills.” “When you rise again, if you rise, rise a knight.” -Kingdom of Heaven, director's cut The director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven, is a cinematic presentation of history at its most dense and vibrant. Designed as a vehicle to explore perceptions rather than a chronicle of historical events. Kingdom of Heaven is a deeply agile search for the true meaning of Crusade, history intermingles with theme and narrative to great effect here. Seemingly in an effort to challenge the common conceptions of the Crusades, as well as enrich this lavishly constructed view of history, with a sense of real honesty and pathos. Offering us a lens into the Crusades that seeks for meaning, beyond the perceptions of tainted motivati...

  Dragon The Bruce Lee story “Linda, I forgot something.” “What?” “I forgot to tell you I love you.” “You know, I don't think you've ever said that to me. before.” “Yeah, but I meant it everyday.” -Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story What we leave behind in this world is a culmination of the life that we lead, The people we encounter and the love that we impart. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a moving example of The abiding strength of love, and the legacy it leaves behind. At first glance Dragon may seem out of place to our modern eyes. Not because the film shows its age, but because its age is seemingly inconsequential in its ability to lead us to all the desired emotional outcomes. Offering us something beyond a simple chronicle of the life of Bruce Lee. Dragon is a richly layered tapestry of family, love and honor. All of which is intermingled with a powerful defeat of socially motivated racial prejudice. Dragon's emotional depth surpasses a tendency to be overly ...

  Risen “Have you come far?” “All that for peace, Is there no other way? “You look for something you'll never find Tribune. You look for the wrong thing.” -Risen There is something surprising about a single moment. In these instances where our life changes course, a single moment becomes the culmination of all our experiences up until that striking clarity of vision. Risen captures that uniquely human reality with a simplistic complexity that enriches the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in an intriguingly compelling way. Built on the unknown, Risen is effectively the story of The Resurrection as seen through the eyes of a criminal investigator. It is a murder mystery told in reverse. The film eloquently conveys the power of the moment to forever alter our perspective. Taking this idea of powerful change and applying it over time Risen demonstrates the true nature of change, that of a continual journey throughout life. The power of a moment is not housed ...

  The Pitt “Everybody seems to know exactly what to do, is this kind of thing normal?” “Thankfully no, but preparing for the worst and hoping for the best, it's what we do.” “A wise man once told me, you learn to live with it, learn to accept it and find balance if you can. I hope we all do.” -The Pitt I've always wondered what makes a medical procedural such an engaging watch. You may think it is some sort of grateful voyeurism. That is, a window into a world of situations that you are thankful you are not part of. We are enthralled by danger and sorrow. Yet, at the same time we know the importance of distance, and we appreciate the safety of our daily lives. These realities emanate from the core of The Pitt. Though, it seems to me, that this shows’ central premise receives most of its momentum from a far more mundane conceit, Time. Chronicling a single 12 hour shift at a Pittsburgh trauma Center. This medical drama sidesteps the common dilemma faced by most medical ...