Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

5.  Twisters 2024 “Nature's masterpiece.” If you feel it, chase it” “You don't face your fears you ride them” All right, I'll just say it, Twisters is an exhilarating experience. It is one of the most well orchestrated summer blockbusters that I have seen in years. Yet, it is also a film that never forgets the vehicles of utter power and destruction that it illustrates on-screen. Perhaps that is the film's strength: it is able, in a real tangible way, to convey these acts of God with respect and reverence for their awesome power. It does this, without losing, for one second the thrill and wonder of the chase. Twisters is a roller coaster ride in the best sense of the phrase. It has heart, meaning and poignancy in every inch of its special effects filled plunge, into the thrills and difficulties of storm chasing. On that note it is a movie that uses all of the available filmic and auditory tools to the greatest effect. At least to my ears Twisters is an exh...

  The Nativity Story 2006 “Do you know when we'll know?” “Know… know what? “When he's more than just a child.” “The greatest of Kings born in the most humble of places.” -The Nativity Story 2006 What do you get when you combine the director of Twilight and the screenwriter of Secretariat, with the acting talents of Oscar Isaac? Surprisingly, one of the most well-rounded proclamations of the birth of Jesus. It seems an impossible task to depict the birth of God in any real meaningful way. Now, I'm not saying that it can't be done. It certainly has, many times in fact. What I'm trying to get at is this, it seems impossible to three-dimensionaies the lived human experience of witnessing the birth of Christ without diluting it down to the inconsequential struggles of a human life. In other words, in comparison to the birth of the living God who are we to complain. Yet, that is precisely the point isn't it? The reason why this reality is so profound, is...

  Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim “I am the man your father made me.” "We will find a way to survive, and we will do it together." “Don't you understand, this is all I have. Without vengeance I have nothing.” -The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Revenge, what does it gain you, save the dissolution of who you once were. It is a parasite on the human person, an instrument of pain that affects you more than it affects the person you so desperately despise. Revenge is a liar. It disguises itself as strength. though in truth, it is little more than a distorted manifestation of despair. If that is revenge. What is true strength? The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is strength personified. Yet it is not a strength that overpowers, it is a fortitude constructed out of its own willingness to protect. It is a natural outgrowth of this tale rather than a forced representation of resilience. From richly produced art to its methodical anime sty...

  My Old Ass “He's like this weird mix of being so lovable that I just want to protect him, and being so basic, and I want to punch him and his weirdly symmetrical face.” “No more boat rides with Chad, promise?“ “It was really nice to meet you…Chad.” -My Old Ass Time, time is short. Memory, memory is what keeps us going. As we travel through the twists and turns of life we often misjudge the importance of our future and discredit the impact of our past. In the end, we fail to see either in the proper light. Our future and past become tinged with regret. Regret for what we could have done better and for what we should be doing now. It is an endless cycle unless....We learn from our past, and begin to appreciate our new future. My Old Ass is an irreverent, unique and insightfully humorous tolling of the bells. The film frequently entreats us to be aware of the time we have, and it wonderfully illustrates how that awareness reverberates in every moment of our lives. This is a...

  Star Wars Skeleton Crew “Jedi 1,to Jedi 2. I have found something amazing, but don't tell the girls.” “Whatever it is, don't touch it!” “What are those?” - Star Wars Skeleton Crew Remarkably delightful, wonderfully engaging, tremendously enthralling. You know, I've always wondered what hyperbole and superlatives were really meant for. I guess my wondering is over. I like to be as honest and forthright as I can be when it comes to approaching entertainment criticism. I never want to be overly emotional or reactionary. In essence, I want to allow the piece to speak for itself, to take myself out of the equation and allow you to experience the story as it wants you to. So, I won't beat around the bush, Star Wars Skeleton Crew is childish enthusiasm come to life. There are times when one must forgo their most solemn rules for the betterment of the entertainment loving public. Like this rule: never review a TV series until it has completed its current season. That ...

  Out Of My Mind “I know the name of her condition doctor, but a person is so much more than a diagnosis on a chart.” “She's the one with the true intelligence.” “But there's nobody else like me, it's like I live in a cage with no door and no key.” -Sharon M Draper, Out of My Mind There are so many things that you don't know until you know them, so many life events that affect you in ways that you do not expect. When it comes to disability this is doubly true. We are often not given the opportunity to experience life as we know we can. Now, I am certainly not pointing fingers here, though the need for experience is a necessary part of the disability conversation. That is why Disney's adaptation of Sharon M Draper's Out of My Mind is such a delightful and heartfelt journey through youth. A journey to be known, and seen for who we are and who we long to be. This film meaningfully depicts disability, not as a detriment to life, but as a vehic...