Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  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 ...

  F1 (20205) “We still have two cars on track.” “Then we have a team” “This has been 30 years in the making.” -F1 (20205) It's all in the name. All the power. All the speed, and dare I say, all the formula. To be sure, that is not a put down in any way. F1 is high-speed cinema at its most streamlined and well constructed. The story of Sonny Hayes trying to reclaim his former glory on the F1 racing circuit is a charm-filled reminder of the nuances of thrill. It may be a bit reductive, but a respectful awareness of itself is what makes this film thrive. F1 knows what it is and that is absolutely fantastic. Far too often we forget the simple joy of experiencing a movie in all its visual and auditory splendor. That isn't to say that F1 doesn't have a narrative heart, of course it does. Though that narrative rhythm is made all the more enjoyable when taken in as a completed whole. That whole in turn speaks for itself in the enjoyment of its engagement with the material...

  X-Men: Days of Future Past “Are we destined down this path? Destined to destroy ourselves like so many species before us? Or can we evolve fast enough to change ourselves, change our fate? Is the future truly set?” "I don't want your suffering. I don't want your future." “Please Charles. We need you to hope again.” -X-Men: Days of Future Past We are all broken in some way. Though, it is how we discover our wholeness that truly defines us, leading us down the path we know we should follow. It's remarkable how prescient the X-Men films are. Yet, their consistent relevance is not manufactured in any way. It is innate in their DNA. A mutation that has been there from the very beginning. X-Men Day is a Future Past is no different in this regard. The film is a prime pillar in a series brought to life by the very heart beat of human dignity and purpose. The X-Men franchise is often the most willing, in popular culture, to look back in order to look forward. To hope...

  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...

  The Walking Dead season 2 Episode 7: Pretty Much Dead Already “But the world out there isn't what you saw on TV, it is much, much worse and it changes you. Either into one of them or into something a lot less than the person you were.” . “Is this about you and the Asian boy?” “No… His name is Glenn. He saved my life yesterday, and one of the people you think are sick tried to kill me. How's that for dramatic? Things aren't what you think they are, they aren't.” -The Walking Dead season 2, Episode 7 There are moments that we will remember, and then there are moments, and then there are moments that we think we remember. Though that memory is usually tainted either by hindsight or the obscuring vision of rose tinted glasses. Then there are monoliths, moments in time run that become so synonymous with the concept of popular culture that we begin to misread its impact, as just The luck of the draw, rather than a turning point in the popular consciousness. That al...

  The Crucible (1996) “There is prodigious danger in seeking loose spirits. I fear it.” “I never dreamed any of this for you… I wanted you, was all.” "I have given you my soul. Leave me my name!" -The Crucible It's astounding how we so often justify our actions to assuage our guilt. We prefer to build a lie around our failures, rather than just take stock and accept the truth. The truth is, we all fail. There is no one on this earth, who hasn't, at one time or another fallen short of the person we know we can be. It is the everlasting struggle to accept the better angels of our nature, instead of granting fuel to the fire of our demons. The Crucible is a remarkable examination of those demons. Our ability to hide behind our failures is the flame that perpetuates The Crucible in all its probing of the frailty of human nature. This extraordinary chronicle of the Salem Witch Trials profoundly illustrates the perpetuating realities of scapegoating as a way to cov...

  Mafia: The Old Country “Be careful… Enzo.” “If everything burns along the way, what is the cost of that ambition?” “God forgive me…Get out if you can… Get out.” -Mafia: The Old Country To be honest, I never thought rosary beads would be this impactful in a video game. That was probably not what you were expecting, so let me start from the beginning. Mafia: The Old Country is the fourth game in a series chronicling the rise and fall of organized crime throughout history. The Mafia games are somewhat unique in the realm of open world game experiences as their worlds are mostly designed to emphasize the characters, themes and ideas of a linear narrative, rather than facilitate the freedom of player choice. Mafia: The Old Country wonderfully maintains this narrative approach, granting us a richly layered story brought to life in a densely populated world of beauty, power and greed. The journey of Enzo Favera from the depths of the sulfur mines of Sicily to the heights of the ...

  King of the Hill, season 14 “Bobby, this…” “What's wrong dad?” “This isn't some ash tray you made in art class I have to pretend to like, this is The Cowboys.” “Are you ready to make some memories dad?  - King of the Hill, season 14 There is something wonderfully average about King of the Hill. Perhaps it's the show's ability to succinctly drill down to the core of a cultural viewpoint, it may also stem from the show's down to earth humor that rings true on all levels of social satire and cultural commentary. All the while never losing its clear and simplistically profound understanding of the human endeavor. King of the Hill is the joy and struggle of being human distilled down to its very essence, and its 14th season delivers this truth with a relevance that we've seemingly been missing since the show ended its first run 15 years ago. Animated TV show revivals seem to be a dime a dozen nowadays. Though King of the Hill takes this now well-worn patter...

  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 fi...

  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....

  Me Before You: A Monk, A King and A Disabled Metaphor Fallacy “I know this can be a good life, but it's not my life, it's not even close. you never saw me before, I loved my life. I really loved it. I can't be the kind of man that just accepts this.” “You're not giving it a chance. You're not giving me a chance.” “I don't want you to miss all the things someone else can give you.” -Me Before You, 2016 There is a deeply warranted sentiment in the disability community to not give Me Before You anywhere near the time of day. I couldn't agree more. This film, and the novel it's based on, severely misrepresent disability in all its varied forms. Crafting a story housed in the belief that life is only worth our physical prowess and selfish desires. Me Before You is ableism at Its most tyrannical and suffocating. It seems as if our world wants disability to vanish into oblivion, and Me Before You prolongs that horrific stereotype, with no care for its end....