Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  A Little Princess (1995) “It's all right Papa. I'm going to be fine.” “What are you doing? memorizing me by heart?” “No, I already know you by heart." -A Little Princess (1995) It may come as a surprise that the most eloquent of stories often present themselves in the most eccentric of ways. Children's stories especially offer us a unique vantage point into the art of storytelling. They grant us a pattern to follow. A script that allows their young audience to engage effectively in the message or lesson that is presented. However, for adults, these patterns are well worn and easily detected, frequently lessening the impact of the story for this older subset of narrative consumers. That is an issue. This narrative malaise from an older audience consistently robs these stories of the relevance they deserve. It strikes me at this moment, is there a way to engage both sets of this captive audience? Indeed there is, it's happened many times. Though, to steer u...

  Ken Burns's The American Revolution (2025) documentary series= “We the people.” -The United States Constitution “I wish the Constitution which is offered had been made more perfect. But I sincerely believe that it's the best that could be obtained at this time. And as a constitutional door is opened for amendment here after, the adoption of it is in my opinion desirable.” - George Washington “Our government daily acquires strength and stability. The union is complete. Nothing hinders are being a very happy and prosperous People. Provided we have wisdom rightly to estimate our blessings, and hearts to improve them.” - Abigail Adams There are certain moments in history that are emblazoned onto the popular consciousness. It is fascinating to me that these moments become so accepted as pivotal components of the human experience. They are monoliths that become untethered from time and obtain a mythical status. However, this untethering disallows these moments to maintain thei...

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) “What is she wearing?” “She brought something from home. She said if she was going to do this she was going to look like the real Mary. They look like refugees.” “Yeah, they do.” -The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (2024) In all honesty, it's easy to take the holiday season for granted. From Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year's. The holiday season is something we experience every single year, and we will continue to experience it for the rest of our lives. It strikes me that even during this time of the year, we often forget that the holidays are not about our feelings or even the feelings of those we love. In truth the holidays are about people and how they have affected our lives for the better. Even when those people are not as pristine or perfect as we may want them to be. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever beautifully encapsulates this idea, by reminding us that life is life; it's not a perfectly pristine painting or a stain...

Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) “Believing something does not make it true." “Choice is the seat of the soul. The one gift God granted us." “Understanding, in those eyes I saw pain and what is pain if not evidence of intelligence.” -Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (2025) We all know the tale, or at least we think we do. One man's attempt to become God creates a monster that ultimately becomes his downfall. Frankenstein is in some ways synonymous with Men's ambition reaching far beyond the grasp. Though is this story truly that concise in its quandaries or is there something more? Is Frankenstein's monster truly a "monster" or is he a creature searching for purpose and meaning? There is something remarkably poignant about Guillermo del Toro’s adaption of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It is a film, at its core, about creation. Though, unlike its many predecessors Del Toro's adaption of this Gothic classic is not about crea...

  Coda (2021) “So the goal is to find the elective that asks the least of you.” “Choir, are you high?” “Do you have something to say?” -Coda (2021) Sometimes our greatest fears stem from the fact that our normal may not be as normal as we think it is. Though, when it comes to it, we realize that the uniqueness of our normal is what makes it so worthwhile to others. Coda is a wonderful encapsulation of this idea. The idea that what separates us is ultimately what will connect us with the world, and grant us a perspective and voice that others don't have. As it seemingly always does, simplicity hides a depth here that is so inviting that it is almost missed on first watch. The story of Ruby Rossi, and the challenges of being the only hearing child in a family of deaf parents as well as a deaf sibling, Coda is a film that seeks to break down barriers. Even though those barriers are invisible to most, they are still glaringly obvious to a world that is not designed to accommoda...

  Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) “God be praised.” “Good idea O Lord. “ “Of course it's a good idea.” - Monty Python and the Holy Grail There is something uniquely special about being one of the most elaborate LARPing (Live-action role-playing) campaigns that you have ever seen, or will ever see for that matter. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a quintessential example of how to do comedy that respects itself as much as it respects the subject matter it’s lampooning. In every well-designed sketch throughout Holy Grail that comedy is an education, In both the comedic sense and the historical sense. That though may even be going too far. It may be taking Monty Python and the Holy Grail too seriously for its own good. That isn't to say that we shouldn't take comedies seriously. All I'm saying is, you do not need to take them seriously in order to gain their full measure of importance to the societal framework of filmic satire and popular zeitgeist at the ...