Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  The Chosen, season 5 “What have you done?” “It would have been enough." “But none of that's the point. The point is that you would have said yes to the world’s no.” -The Chosen, season 5 As of yet, I do not think the depths of human doubt and misunderstanding have been as eloquently and heart-wrenchingly explored as they are in the fifth season of The Chosen. It is extraordinary how this show about the life of Christ is able to revitalize our appreciation for the greatest sacrifice of all time. Most remarkable of all, by focusing mainly on human weakness and mistrust The Chosen situates its fifth season in the liminal space between belief and faith in that which we cannot and do not fully comprehend. This season is a marker, a demonstration of what separates the Chosen from its cinematic biblical siblings. It is a show that is willing to dwell in and on the difficulties of life and human frailty. Honing in on the necessity of human growth in times of struggle, rather...

  The Fantastic Four: First Steps "Are we safe? I don't know.” “Let me make the sacrifice.” “It's not yours to make.” -The Fantastic Four: First Steps      I honestly didn't think this would happen. If you asked me three months ago I would probably tell you that Marvel Studios was headed down a path of no return. A path, by all accounts, that seemed to be dominated by the pursuit of the ever present almighty dollar. Though, after seeing their recent slate of films, that may not be the case. I could be giving them too much credit, but credit is due where credit is due. In any case, Marvel's pursuit of money should not be a factor in a story like this. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a fascinatingly resident excavation of the themes of sacrifice and family. At first blink this film may just seem like a charming 60s inspired alternate future journey of a superfamily, coming to terms with their relationship with those they protect. In other words, What is more...

  Superman 2025 "Your choices. Your actions… That's what makes you who you are." -Superman 2025 Is there such a thing as too much charm? In this case, I don't think so. Superman 2025 blasts on to the big screen with a buoyancy that, by all the estimates of our modern eyes, should not work. Though, this film succeeds with flying colors. In my humble opinion, there is no wrong here. James Gunn’s take on Superman is exhilaratingly entertaining from moment 1. This film is a reminder of a golden age of comics in the best way possible, Superman 2025 should be the definition of wearing your heart on your sleeve in the dictionary. Even still, this film manages to evoke more than just pure delight. It is also an honest exploration of what it means to come to terms with who we truly are. It suffices to say that this film works on all its levels. It may be a bit too saccharine for some, but that sweetness is balanced with real life realities in such a way that the film n...

  Moana “We were voyagers." “It's called wayfinding princess, and it's not just sales and knots. It's seeing where you're going in your mind. Knowing where you are by knowing where you've been.” “Maybe the gods found you for a reason? Maybe the ocean brought you to them because it saw someone who was worthy to be saved.” -Moana You know when you think about it, it's delightfully inventive to tell a story about voyaging out into the sea by making water so visually enthralling. To be honest the inventiveness doesn't come from the water itself. It's the sheer artistic flex that is Moana. Joking aside, Moana is a true visual treat, the Disney artists have really outdone themselves this time. Though their skill is not just for show it wonderfully conveys the central theme of setting out on your own path, taking life as it drives you forward., Unsurprisingly this forward momentum can only be achieved if we understand where we are going and where we h...

  Jurassic World Rebirth "No one cares about these animals anymore, they deserve better." "One, two, three, coordinates. Go!" "What do we do now?" -Jurassic World Rebirth Imagine a world where dinosaurs have become routine. A world where these prehistoric creatures have become nothing more than sideshow novelties or expressions of corporate greed. To some this reality does not require imagination. To some, it's just the Jurassic film franchise on any given day. Though, if this sentiment is indeed true, then Jurassic Park Rebirth has achieved something remarkable. What is the phrase, "Life finds a way." The seventh Jurassic film brings us back to the beginning. Not chronologically of course, but back to a time where these marvels of creation are just that, marvels. Jurassic World Rebirth takes away the artifice and places these dinosaurs in nature. Now that's not to say that there isn't any tampering with reality, there cer...

  The Fault In Our Stars: The Charm Filled Wages of Suffering and Pain “All is as it should be. God wishes to see people happy. Where there is hope, there is life.” “It's a good life Hazel Grace.” “It's not over yet.” “But, you of all people know it's possible to live with pain.” -The Fault In Our Stars, 2014 There is an in perceivable quality in The Fault in Our Stars. A quality that reaches far beyond this quirky story of two young romantics as they face the travails of cancer. This something is always there, but we usually don't notice it unless it is missing. it may even come as a surprise, because it adds a sense of realism to a story that is already very real. To put it simply, it is a sense of normalcy. The Fault in Our Stars wonderfully, if that word can be used in this context, infuses a teens battle with cancer with the normalcy of life. Don't get me wrong here, The Fault in Our Stars compassionately understands the seriousness of a cancer diagnosis....