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...

  Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story “I feel that while I'm sitting down I've actually landed on my feet.” “I think the game is worthwhile, I really do." “The catastrophic event was probably necessary to change my perspective. I needed to break my neck to learn some of this stuff.” -Christopher Reeve, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story It is difficult to nail down what Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is trying to say. Don't get me wrong, Christopher Reeves' journey from before and after his quadriplegic injury is well explored in this documentary. It is a harrowing tale of loss, acceptance, family, triumph and love. It is all of these things and more. The film is a document of how an actor became the real life embodiment of his most famous on-screen persona. He became a real life Superman. An example of perseverance and fortitude. Mingle all of this with Reeves' ever present struggle with his flawed humanity, and you have a powerful mixture t...

  Dune 2021 and 2024 “Dreams are messages from the deep.” “Power over spice is power over all.” -Dune, Part 1 and Part 2 “Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse.” -C.S Lewis, Mere Christianity “Religion is a sign of an oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people." -Karl Marx, from a critique on Hegel's Philosophy of Right Very rarely do we get films that evoke such a sense of wonder and mystery as Dune. Director Denis Villeneuve etches his passion for this Frank Herbert sci-fi rosetta stone Into our ocular nerves with depth and richness. Dune enthralls, bringing to mind the large-scale biblical epics of the 1950s and '60s. Its vistas are vast. and its people emblematic of long forgotten races. These films are a snapshot of the popular conception of antiquity housed in a marvelously unique take on the cosmos, and the planets that are spread throughout its...

  A Man for all Seasons “And when we die, and you are sent to heaven for doing your conscience and I am sent to hell for not doing mine, would you come with me… for fellowship?” “I have no window to look into another man's conscience. I condemn no one.” “Be not afraid of your office. You send me to God.” -Thomas More, A Man for all Seasons “Poor child, you expected too much of him. He was only a boy… Kings too are made of clay, and God forbid you locked him away from the world as your father did with you.” -Jane Seymour to Henry VIII, The Tudors Season 4 There is an image that has been etched into my brain for years now. The image is of a frail older man in a cavernous great hall. The man, weak and burdened by life, stairs up at a larger than life portrait of himself. As he contemplates his younger visage I cannot tell what the man is thinking. Perhaps, the truth is I do not want to know, because if I did, what would that say about me? This man is King Henry VIII, and the ...

  The Remarkable Life of Ibelin “Well.. I fear I don't matter.” “I remember thinking, if only… if only I wasn't handicapped.” “You proved us wrong.” There are moments in life where our perceptions change. I never thought this would be one of them. It is providential that we are given what we need exactly when we need it. I didn't know I needed Ibelin’s story until I did. I could go on and tell you about the importance of story and the impact of connection. I could also tell you about the power of overcoming our limitations and finding hope in the unforeseen. I could write about all these things. Though in this case, the more left unsaid the better. I do not want to sound hyperbolic. However, when a film like this comes along it is extremely difficult for me not to be as uplifted as I am right now. This film is a privileged glimpse into a world far too easily overlooked. A world trapped within a failing body, but ignited by a vibrant mind and an exuberant heart. It...

  Joan of Arc 1999 Limited Series “We are all in God's hands, even those who choose to think otherwise.” You are leaving because I denied you forgiveness? “No papa I'm leaving because I have a calling, because this is what God meant for me to do.” “Our Lord first served.” The 1999 miniseries chronicling the story of Joan of Arc is surprising in all accounts. In the 25 years since its original airing, I believe on CBS, The only thing that has aged really is its format. It's been relegated to DVD. Sadly no HD transfer for this one. That said, at its core it still holds up tremendously well. Its last hour especially is a real reminder that age never dictates quality or the lack thereof. I know, it shocked me as well, when I realized that a miniseries from 1999 may be considered old, though I digress. This miniseries defies expectations. It is a prime expression of humanity, and its extraordinary strength in the face of great difficulty. Elevating the story of Joan of ...

  “Survive.” “Look at you. Without revenge and anger driving you, you are nothing” “Promise me something, don't make the same mistakes he did. If this is the life you've chosen, don't do it because you’re running away from the things that are hard. The people we love are the treasure you will never find in a tomb.” I think there's something to be said about learning from our mistakes. Not just a. reorientation of knowledge, but a true change that allows us to grow and succeed in areas we could not before. If you grew up in the 90s, as I did, Lara Croft may not come across to you as the most wholesome and upright of examples. Her adventures were sold to teenage boys on the grounds of sex appeal and edginess that screamed 90s attitude. In short, if you were a teenage boy these were games you would never show your parents. At least that is how publisher Eidos wanted you to think of them. How they got the games into your hands. Though in reality Lara's advent...

  “You're right, we don't get to choose who Riley is.” “Joy… Riley wants you.” “Every bit of Riley makes her who she is, and we love all of our girl. Every messy, beautiful piece of her.” Control, we so often think we have it. We think it is in our grasp, however more often than not it escapes us, vanishing into the ever present taunt of failure. Though, what if we learn to let go? What if we allow life to play out as it will? Inside Out 2 in short is a delightful kick in the proverbial pants. A reminder to stop fixating on the future and appreciate the present. This current moment is our reality, it is where we belong. If we forget that we forget to live, and appreciate the people and places that surround us. It is interesting that a film about embodied emotions ultimately brings us to the realization that our emotions do not control us. We are the ones that regulate them. “Regulate” is the important word here. I do not want you to think that Pixar has diluted the ch...

  Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice “The hardest battles are fought in the mind. That is what Dillian taught her.” “For every battle won a greater battle takes its place, and so it goes until we fall.” “Be ready to face horror in the eye like I have. To find your answers.” “You're not a monster.” “How can the gods understand us if they refuse to die themselves?” “You found your own way back, all you needed was a little help. A little hope.” “Because a life without loss is one without love.” Words at this point seem hollow, pointless. They would accomplish nothing, because they cannot accurately illustrate the psychological journey necessary to accurately convey the nuances and poignancy contained in a single frame of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice. Maybe that is the point. Maybe that is why Senua's story is embodied in the interactive medium it calls home. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is an interactive touch tone of the highest order. A vehicle for understanding...

  “Greatness from small beginnings.” Simplicity done to perfection. That is the best way to describe Astro Bot. I can assure you there's no hyperbole in that sentiment. This game is a gem through and through, a surprise to be sure, especially coming from me. I did not grow up with the likes of Mario or Crash Bandicoot. These classic platformer were not part of my gaming lexicon. The fine motor skills and dexterity required for jumping, delicate maneuvering and/or enemy vanquishing, does not usually jive well with cerebral-palsy. So I was surprised when Astro Bot pulled me into its charm-filled world. When I say charm I mean, from corner to corner and ear to ear. This game made me smile as if I had never played a video game before. Astro Bot is the perfect blend of nostalgia and invention. It uses the technology housed in the PlayStation 5’s controller with such eloquence that you forget that the game and controller are separate entities. The haptic feedback sensors and t...

  “Take in what is there, and give no thought to what might have been there or what is somewhere else. That can come later, if it must come at all.” -C.S Lewis, Surprised by Joy Nowadays we far too often compare everything to everything else. Though that is certainly a reasonable approach to criticism, I have seen that it more often than not gives an unfair advantage to what has come before. I strongly believe that each story, each film or video game, should be given an equal chance to engage us on their own merits. Comparison is important, but when it becomes The overarching factor in criticism the story and characters are often forgotten. Instead we are left with a very awkward game of Where's the subversion. In short, it is a game that only asks one question. Why didn't you do that? It doesn't allow the story to be itself. Film criticism, in the popular sense, has seemingly become an attempt to save you money. Rather than engage you on any meaningful, filmic ...

"  I can hit the rock better now. Thanks." “You are just doing this because a unicorn told you to.” “What do you think? Do you think they're going to try?” Fun, fun, fun. I think that is all I need to say or at least I think that it is all I want to say so I don't spoil this experience for you. The Fall Guy is an exhilarating, fun and engaging time at the movies. It is a film that exemplifies the spirit of the summer blockbuster as well as moviemaking in general. I'm almost disappointed with myself because I was unable to experience this love letter to cinema in the cinema. Though that does not diminish the sheer joy and enthusiasm that erupts from every frame of this film. it encapsulates the joy of visual storytelling, not because it subverts expectations, but because it knows how to wield our expectations with mastery and enthusiasm. It has been said that there are no new ways to tell a story. It has all been done before. The Fall Guy seems to lau...

  “What the hell is in the duffel bag?” “Don't worry about it. Geez” “I'm so proud of you Lady Bird. You walked weird across the stage but you did it” Hi Mom and Dad, it's me Christine. It's the name you gave me. It's a good one… I wanted to tell you… I love you, thank you. The awkwardness of youth. Our inability to look beyond the young struggles of our life, to see those around us, holding us up and supporting us, hoping that we will become the best person we can be. It is hard to fully express the nuances of Lady Bird because the film so effectively captures the maelstrom of the teenage years. Years where we think we know everything. Yet, in reality we don't know that much. It is a time where we think our parents are out to get us. We believe that they don't know who we are, and they never will. Though in truth they do. They comprehend us with a depth, and love that is hard to put into words. Lady Bird captures these nuances of youth with seeming e...