Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  True Grit (2010) “The wicked fee when none pursueth” -Proverbs 28:1 “I was just 14 years of age when a coward by the name of Tom Cheney shot my father down.” “He could have walked his horse, for not a soul in that city could be bothered to give chase… No doubt Cheney fancied himself scot-free but he was wrong. You must pay for everything in this world one way an’ another. There is nothing free except the grace of God.” -True Grit (2010) It is remarkable how much you forget as you grow old, as you begin to see the world in a different light. It seems as if we lose the ability to remember who we were and who we wanted to be. The story of Mattie Ross and a journey of revenge is a heart wrenching, yet beautifully exuberant immersion into pain and drive of loss. True Grit 2010 in essence, is childhood in microcosm with all its joys and sorrows intact. It is a tale of vengeance for sure, though that vengeance is as much a stand-in for the encroachment of adulthood, as it is a remin...

  James Cameron's Avatar: Countering the Ableism Narrative to Discover Who God Wants Us To Be “One life ends. Another begins.” “She says, all energy is only borrowed and one day you have to give it back.” “I see you” -James Cameron's Avatar James Cameron's Avatar is simplicity at its most mesmerizing. I've always wondered how Cameron's films manage to do what they do with so little. To be fair, "little" is not really the proper word here, economic would be near the mark. Avatar has such a streamlined approach to storytelling that I would guess the film comes across as simple to most. A simple story bolstered by a profound knowledge of technological and visual wonder. In short, all visuals and no substance. However, as I have mentioned in other places, simplicity does not indicate a lack of depth. This reality remains resolute with Avatar to a tremendous degree. The story of paralyzed Marine Cpl. Jake Sully and his coming to terms, quite literally...

  As Dusk Falls (2022) “The truth is there's still too much to forget." “I won't sleep much tonight, I never do. I'll try again tomorrow.” “We just cover up one mistake with the next one.” “Wherever you run your problems, run after you.” -As Dusk Falls Choice, when you think about it, choice is a remarkable thing. Even the smallest of decisions can lead to the most unforeseen circumstances. Circumstances that are by all estimates out of our control. That is a quintessential promise of interactive storytelling, choice. A driving barometer in the interactive media space is its willingness to give us the freedom to choose. To give us in a sense, the opportunity to decide an outcome or a person's fate without real world consequences. We want to be given the ability to experience someone else's life without the detriment of mental or physical anguish. Though perhaps with a bit of irony, it strikes me that video games are not really the proper avenue for choice ...

  Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World “My God, what can we do? He has us by the hip." “You forget yourself doctor." “"No Jack. No, you forgot yourself.” -Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World It never ceases to surprise, and perhaps that is the point, especially in this case. Even the simplest of stories has the capacity to hide a depth that outpaces the most rigorously detailed of explorations. Simplicity is indeed a marvel. So, the circle continues. The combining of simplicity and depth to create an eloquent dance that surpasses all expectations. In the case of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, the film is one of the finest cinematic examples of that particular narrative economy. Intermingled with a rich understanding of its historical setting, this film is a quintessential starting point for the concise power and nuance of the filmic image. In other words, Master and Commander is indeed a picture of multiple thousands of words....

  Triumph of the Heart “So help us God.” “Did your song save her? Did it!” “Maybe not from her pain, but maybe it shows her that she is not alone.” -Triumph of the Heart The greater the pain, the more profound the love. Taken at face value this sentiment often seems naive, if not downright flippant of the agonizing weight of sorrow. Mingle this mental agony with physical trauma and the above statement seems to be nothing more than air calling after the wind. This sentiment has no place in our reality, or does it? While it is true that pain is a difficult consequence of human experience, it does not mean it has no place in it. Perhaps that is the shining light of the Triumph of Heart. This film's ability to distill the meaning of suffering is rather impressive, and that's saying nothing of the impact of the film's central protagonist, Catholic priest Maximilian Kolbe. Triumph of the Heart chronicles the last two weeks of Kolbe's life as he takes the place of a m...

  Lilo & Stitch 2025: The Art of Conversation and the Love of Family “Now make up with your sister, yeah. If you need anything just ask okay. We're not just neighbors. You know, we're ohana." “People treat me differently.” “Aww baby, they just… they just don't know what to say?" “But you… didn't mean what you said, did you? ” “No, of course not, you're my sister and I'll always be here for you, got it.” -Lilo and Stitch, 2025 To be honest, it must be difficult to be a filmmaker, extraordinarily so, in today's popular climate of remakes and reimagining. This has to be exponentially more true when taking into account the legacy of an intellectual property or film studio. Where does one start in reimagining a classic, when from all angles you know in your heart of hearts it will turn out to be a fruitless endeavor. Mocked by fans of the original and chastised by newcomers as simple and uninspired. By all appearances you are trapped in the cy...