Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  Me Before You: A Monk, A King and A Disabled Metaphor Fallacy “I know this can be a good life, but it's not my life, it's not even close. you never saw me before, I loved my life. I really loved it. I can't be the kind of man that just accepts this.” “You're not giving it a chance. You're not giving me a chance.” “I don't want you to miss all the things someone else can give you.” -Me Before You, 2016 There is a deeply warranted sentiment in the disability community to not give Me Before You anywhere near the time of day. I couldn't agree more. This film, and the novel it's based on, severely misrepresent disability in all its varied forms. Crafting a story housed in the belief that life is only worth our physical prowess and selfish desires. Me Before You is ableism at Its most tyrannical and suffocating. It seems as if our world wants disability to vanish into oblivion, and Me Before You prolongs that horrific stereotype, with no care for its end....

  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 ...

  Thunderbolts* “I think everyone is better if I stay down here” I don't really care who this guy was, but I do care what he can become” It's what you said you can't out run the emptiness” -Thunderbolts* There is a delightfully pervasive charm and humor that weaves its way throughout the Marvel cinematic universe. From its first emergence, way back in Iron Man, to its current climb up the box office charts, this Marvel trademark shows no signs of stopping. It is certainly true that most Marvel films find their stylistic tentpole in how the screenplay presents the film's dialectic cadence. Is it different here? Thunderbolts* strikes the silver screen with rapturous Marvel enthusiasm. Yet, as with all good stories there is something more dwelling just below the surface, I don't know if I should call it a secret weapon or a hidden truth. In all honesty, it's akin to something much more mundane, a story well told. This film is the quintessential team movie. ...

  A Complete Unknown “A good song can only do good.” "200 people in that room, each one wants me to be someone else…They should just let me be" "Be what?" "I don't know... Whenever it is, they don't want me to be." - A Complete Unknown A Complete Unknown is a lively examination of the repetitive, and often unfulfilling nature of fame. As its title suggests, A Complete Unknown forgoes the classical biographical structure of the rise and fall. Instead, this film offers us a slightly more eccentric avenue of exploration as we try to see into the mind of Robert Zimmerman or should I say, Bob Dylan. Being a richly tapestried remembrance of the early 1960s,t his film is made all the more vibrant when you realize that Dylan's music speaks directly into the social and political issues of the era. Dylan’s weight as a musical touchstone of the 1960s is hardly surprising, given how his music is so often recalled as anthems for equality and social...

  Light and Magic, season 2 “I love making a movie that's not supposed to work, that's the magic. The adventure is, we don't know what's going to happen." “We're putting every dollar on screen, it's not going into polished brass door knobs.” “We've never been there before, let's go there together.” -Light and Magic , Season 2 Season 2 of Light And Magic is an engaged enthusiastic reminder that just because we take something for granted nowadays doesn't mean It has lost its heart. Joe Johnson and his former colleagues at Industrial Light And Magic bring us back to the start of the digital filmmaking age. From the ecosystems of entire planets to the tentacle beard of a mythical pirate, we see that in the digital realm, size does not always dictate the immensity of what is rendered on the silver screen. This three-part documentary series exudes joy and enthusiasm as it explores the creativity and passion housed in a single rendered frame. U...

  Jesus of Nazareth, 1977 “This is the king of Israel who will take away the sin of the world.” “A stable, I thought my brothers were mistaken. But now I see the justice of it, there could be no other place.” “Before kingdoms change, men must change." “This is your hour Judas, the hour of shadows." “Now it begins, it all begins.” -Jesus of Nazareth, 1977 The most impressive aspect of Jesus of Nazareth is not its scale. This 1977 miniseries is remarkable because of its simplicity. It is a simplicity born out of a grand idea to be sure. Though, whether it be coincidental or intentional, this six hour journey through the life of Christ is the quintessential example of a medium reflecting the inner reality of its primary subject. The smallest of places, housing the mightiest of kings. The television does not deprive us of spectacle in this instance. It eloquently calls to mind the true sacrifice that was made to save us from our sins Jesus came to earth to set all free. T...

  Win or Lose “You want to unpack that? We should unpack that right now.” “It's never been about being the best, it's about trying your best.” “Then a meteor heading straight towards Earth, oh no! It's going to hit the softball game. What do we do?" “Just relax and let the game come to you.” -Win or Lose Win or Lose is a microcosm of charm, delight and human struggle as only Pixar animation can render it. With a young co-ed softball team as its abiding center Win or Lose effortlessly translates the ever-present Pixar charm to episodic storytelling. Jumping from player to player and beyond, each episode encapsulates how each of us deals with this world we inhabit. The series is a thoughtfully insightful deep dive into the nuances of our personal coping mechanisms, and how we deal with our day-to-day struggles. From a delightfully enthusiastic sentient bead of sweat, to a 5-year-old's richly charming hand-drawn-esque imagination, Pixar's knack for playfully ...

  Sunrise on the Reaping A Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins "All propaganda is lies, even when one is telling the truth. I don't think this matters so long as one knows what one is doing, and why." -George Orwell, BBC Broadcast, March 14, 1942 "A truth that's told with bad intent. Beats all the lies you can invent." -William Blake, Auguries of Innocence "Quoth the Raven “Nevermore." -Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven Choices, our choices have consequences. It seems rather morbid and frankly unaware to praise Suzanne Collins for Sunrise on the Reaping. Though, as I am thinking about it, if that statement is true then it should apply to all four of the previous Hunger Games novels. If anything is true about these novels, it is that truth comes at a cost. That cost may be a steep price to pay, sometimes it is worth it and sometimes it most certainly is not. This quandary is not the thematic focus of Sunrise on the Reaping, but it is one of many ...

  Disney's Snow White 2025 “That's why we fight in your father's name, your parents were brave.” “Because a hand needs a hand” .”It might have everything to do with you “ “"I remember, do you?” “"Where The good things grow.” -Disney's Snow White 2025      I don't want to mince words here. Disney's live-action reimagining of their 1937 animated classic is extraordinary. Snow White has never been more enchanting as she is in this film. From its painterly use of CGI to its meaningful parental thematic core I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that this is the best movie I've seen so far this year. This film is a storybook come to life. In short it is the embodiment of the Disney ethos with no self-important pride or saccharine overindulgence. It is classic Disney magic through and through. Its visuals enchant and its songs embed themselves in your ears with joyful wonder and meaningful thematic residence. As you can probably tell Disn...

  House of David “Master, where are we going now?” “To find a king.” “Deep calls to deep. Show me who I am.” “He is the great author of the story. Let him write it.” -House of David We so often disregard where we have come from and where we're going in pursuit of our own ambitions. Forgetting with ease that this world has value only because it is given from above. The God who made it has endowed it with his love and dignity. Yet, we seek after the pleasures of this Earth, constantly forsaking that fact. In that process we distort who we truly are as God's children. What is true power? House of David is a call back to an earlier time. A time of biblical epics built on the backs of larger than Life performances and visual spectacle. Though the series’s passion for this approach can be somewhat overwrought at points It use the form to great effect. Analyzing The many nuances of power as it is reflected in The show's two protagonists David and Saul. Power and desire to...

  As We See It "Why does nobody want me?" "I never should've taken that away from you, I'm sorry. I'm 29 Violet, I don't have this shit down. I don't know what I'm doing, I make mistakes, you know. And you know you need me, but I need you. You're my family Violet, you're my only family." “What's the big deal about normal?” -As We See It What is normal? It seems to me that normal is not a state of being in the traditional sense of the word. It is an equilibrium with ourselves. An acceptance of who we are in relationship to The God who loves us. Yet, normal is usually not understood in that way. Instead, the world's sense of normal is often derived from a cultural understanding of socially accepted behaviors. Though this interpretation precludes so many from the conversation. If those many are even brought into the conversation at all. Society frequently looks upon those with disabilities as people whose lives can be set as...

  Daredevil: Born Again “I made a promise to myself that I let the system handle it. All of it. Besides, I'm not him anymore, and I won't let myself be.” “I wonder if you're darker half would agree.” “Well, tragedy can transform a man.” -Daredevil: Born Again What defines a hero? Though that may not be the right question for a situation like this . The world of comics often struggles to find a way out for their iconic dealers of justice. The phrase exit strategy, It seems, is not in the vocabulary of those destined to protect and serve in the comic sense of those words. This truth is exponentially more true for those caught in the cycle of hate, sorrow and pain.      Daredevil Born Again 's opening pair of episodes is an intriguing start to the continuation of Charlie Cox's portrayal of this comic book vigilante. Born Again entices as it effectively uses the re-emergence as a thematic engine. Asking us the question: who is the real arbiter of justice, Matt Murdoc...

  Conclave "This is a conclave Aldo, not a war." “It is a war, and you have to commit to a side." "I think again of your sermon, I know what it is to exist between two uncertainties". -Conclave If you are Catholic this presentation of the election to the chair of St. Peter should give you pause. It is an election filled with political maneuvering and back alley deals for control of the College of Cardinals. In short, Conclave represents the Catholic Church at its worst and most human. Though it is through this human mess that Conclave is able to show its true Catholic core. A Pope is not elected by any political maneuvering nor corrupt committee. A Pope is elected by God, He alone has the final say. If we take this truth into account we will begin to realize that Conclave understands its subject far better than you may think. This film is a political thriller built not on the choices of men, but on the decisions of God. From its opening moments to its ...