Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  Light and Magic, season 2 “I love making a movie that's not supposed to work, that's the magic. The adventure is, we don't know what's going to happen." “We're putting every dollar on screen, it's not going into polished brass door knobs.” “We've never been there before, let's go there together.” -Light and Magic , Season 2 Season 2 of Light And Magic is an engaged enthusiastic reminder that just because we take something for granted nowadays doesn't mean It has lost its heart. Joe Johnson and his former colleagues at Industrial Light And Magic bring us back to the start of the digital filmmaking age. From the ecosystems of entire planets to the tentacle beard of a mythical pirate, we see that in the digital realm, size does not always dictate the immensity of what is rendered on the silver screen. This three-part documentary series exudes joy and enthusiasm as it explores the creativity and passion housed in a single rendered frame. U...

  Jesus of Nazareth, 1977 “This is the king of Israel who will take away the sin of the world.” “A staple, I thought my brothers were mistaken. But now I see the justice of it, there could be no other place.” “Before kingdoms change, men must change." “This is your hour Judas, the hour of shadows." “Now it begins, it all begins.” -Jesus of Nazareth, 1977 The most impressive aspect of Jesus of Nazareth is not its scale. This 1977 miniseries is remarkable because of its simplicity. It is a simplicity born out of a grand idea to be sure. Though, whether it be coincidental or intentional, this six hour journey through the life of Christ is the quintessential example of a medium reflecting the inner reality of its primary subject. The smallest of places, housing the mightiest of kings. The television does not deprive us of spectacle in this instance. It eloquently calls to mind the true sacrifice that was made to save us from our sins Jesus came to earth to set all free. T...

  Win or Lose “You want to unpack that? We should unpack that right now.” “It's never been about being the best, it's about trying your best.” “Then a meteor heading straight towards Earth, oh no! It's going to hit the softball game. What do we do?" “Just relax and let the game come to you.” -Win or Lose Win or Lose is a microcosm of charm, delight and human struggle as only Pixar animation can render it. With a young co-ed softball team as its abiding center Win or Lose effortlessly translates the ever-present Pixar charm to episodic storytelling. Jumping from player to player and beyond, each episode encapsulates how each of us deals with this world we inhabit. The series is a thoughtfully insightful deep dive into the nuances of our personal coping mechanisms, and how we deal with our day-to-day struggles. From a delightfully enthusiastic sentient bead of sweat, to a 5-year-old's richly charming hand-drawn-esque imagination, Pixar's knack for playfully ...

  Sunrise on the Reaping A Hunger Games novel by Suzanne Collins "All propaganda is lies, even when one is telling the truth. I don't think this matters so long as one knows what one is doing, and why." -George Orwell, BBC Broadcast, March 14, 1942 "A truth that's told with bad intent. Beats all the lies you can invent." -William Blake, Auguries of Innocence "Quoth the Raven “Nevermore." -Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven Choices, our choices have consequences. It seems rather morbid and frankly unaware to praise Suzanne Collins for Sunrise on the Reaping. Though, as I am thinking about it, if that statement is true then it should apply to all four of the previous Hunger Games novels. If anything is true about these novels, it is that truth comes at a cost. That cost may be a steep price to pay, sometimes it is worth it and sometimes it most certainly is not. This quandary is not the thematic focus of Sunrise on the Reaping, but it is one of many ...

  Disney's Snow White 2025 “That's why we fight in your father's name, your parents were brave.” “Because a hand needs a hand” .”It might have everything to do with you “ “"I remember, do you?” “"Where The good things grow.” -Disney's Snow White 2025      I don't want to mince words here. Disney's live-action reimagining of their 1937 animated classic is extraordinary. Snow White has never been more enchanting as she is in this film. From its painterly use of CGI to its meaningful parental thematic core I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that this is the best movie I've seen so far this year. This film is a storybook come to life. In short it is the embodiment of the Disney ethos with no self-important pride or saccharine overindulgence. It is classic Disney magic through and through. Its visuals enchant and its songs embed themselves in your ears with joyful wonder and meaningful thematic residence. As you can probably tell Disn...

  House of David “Master, where are we going now?” “To find a king.” “Deep calls to deep. Show me who I am.” “He is the great author of the story. Let him write it.” -House of David We so often disregard where we have come from and where we're going in pursuit of our own ambitions. Forgetting with ease that this world has value only because it is given from above. The God who made it has endowed it with his love and dignity. Yet, we seek after the pleasures of this Earth, constantly forsaking that fact. In that process we distort who we truly are as God's children. What is true power? House of David is a call back to an earlier time. A time of biblical epics built on the backs of larger than Life performances and visual spectacle. Though the series’s passion for this approach can be somewhat overwrought at points It use the form to great effect. Analyzing The many nuances of power as it is reflected in The show's two protagonists David and Saul. Power and desire to...

  As We See It "Why does nobody want me?" "I never should've taken that away from you, I'm sorry. I'm 29 Violet, I don't have this shit down. I don't know what I'm doing, I make mistakes, you know. And you know you need me, but I need you. You're my family Violet, you're my only family." “What's the big deal about normal?” -As We See It What is normal? It seems to me that normal is not a state of being in the traditional sense of the word. It is an equilibrium with ourselves. An acceptance of who we are in relationship to The God who loves us. Yet, normal is usually not understood in that way. Instead, the world's sense of normal is often derived from a cultural understanding of socially accepted behaviors. Though this interpretation precludes so many from the conversation. If those many are even brought into the conversation at all. Society frequently looks upon those with disabilities as people whose lives can be set as...

  Daredevil: Born Again “I made a promise to myself that I let the system handle it. All of it. Besides, I'm not him anymore, and I won't let myself be.” “I wonder if you're darker half would agree.” “Well, tragedy can transform a man.” -Daredevil: Born Again What defines a hero? Though that may not be the right question for a situation like this . The world of comics often struggles to find a way out for their iconic dealers of justice. The phrase exit strategy, It seems, is not in the vocabulary of those destined to protect and serve in the comic sense of those words. This truth is exponentially more true for those caught in the cycle of hate, sorrow and pain.      Daredevil Born Again 's opening pair of episodes is an intriguing start to the continuation of Charlie Cox's portrayal of this comic book vigilante. Born Again entices as it effectively uses the re-emergence as a thematic engine. Asking us the question: who is the real arbiter of justice, Matt Murdoc...

  Conclave "This is a conclave Aldo, not a war." “It is a war, and you have to commit to a side." "I think again of your sermon, I know what it is to exist between two uncertainties". -Conclave If you are Catholic this presentation of the election to the chair of St. Peter should give you pause. It is an election filled with political maneuvering and back alley deals for control of the College of Cardinals. In short, Conclave represents the Catholic Church at its worst and most human. Though it is through this human mess that Conclave is able to show its true Catholic core. A Pope is not elected by any political maneuvering nor corrupt committee. A Pope is elected by God, He alone has the final say. If we take this truth into account we will begin to realize that Conclave understands its subject far better than you may think. This film is a political thriller built not on the choices of men, but on the decisions of God. From its opening moments to its ...

  Captain America Brave New World “Look if we can't see the good each other then we have already lost the fight” -Captain America Brave New World We fight. We fight against our inner natures, we fight against ourselves and we fight against those perceptions of ourselves that we know are untrue. That is the key isn't it, perception. Perception is the downfall to any true understanding. Often block us from the source, not allowing us to gain a solid basis for the truth that we seek. Now, I am not naïve, not all sources are reliable. People are always going to be people, with all the flaws and failures that that stage of being entails. Though the need for open dialogue stands, no matter the case. At first indicators Captain America Brave New World seems to be ushering us into a new era for the Marvel cinematic universe. Yet with all good stories their desired intent often leads us down well-worn paths in interesting new ways, it is no different here. This film exudes the t...

  The Gorge ”If you are lonely when alone, you are in bad company.” “Everything is a dangerous drug except reality, which is unendurable.” “You bury enough secrets, the graveyard runs out of room.” “Three things cannot be long hidden, the sun, the moon and the truth.” -The Gorge Silence, it is one of those rare instances that can be both peaceful and full of fear in the same moment. In today's world silence is seemingly a luxury that we can't afford. Though, as I think about it, It may be more honest to say that silence is a luxury that we often disregard because it makes us face our deepest fears. Perhaps The greatest barrier to assuaging these fears is believing that we have to face them on our own. Though, that is simply not true. There is always help out there. We just need to know where to look. The Gorge is simply unique in how it approaches this idea of facing our inner demons. The tale of two military snipers keeping guard over a mysterious gorge is a lesson in...

  Wallace and Gromit Vengeance most Fowl “The robots, they're taking over the world. They'll destroy us all, I tell you.” “Then where is the Blue diamond!” “That's just an innocent nun out for a pleasure Cruise.” Let's cut to the chase, Wallace and Gromit Vengeance most Fowl is a delight from start to finish. The film's simplicity shines evoking a sense of inventiveness and creativity that few films manage to achieve. I know what you're thinking, how can a film be simple but yet inventive in the same instance? The answer, care and passion for your work. The folks over at Aardman animation are able to accomplish so much because they deeply understand the medium that they are working in. Stop-motion animation is a hard sell nowadays. This tedious process of moving a maquette inch by inch second by second until you achieve a completed animation is a laborious process. Yet, Aardman clearly enjoys the art of patience because their work definitely speaks for itsel...

  American Primeval “He knows our real name.” “Are you ready to run?” “By chance did anyone else escape?” “No.” -American Primeval      What do we gain when we seek freedom, but lose sight of our humanity in the process? American Primeval is a striking portrait of the dignity of the human person, and the tragedy that can arise out of misunderstanding that dignity. This miniseries does double or triple duty on so many thematic and visual levels. Yet, it never loses that central core of humanity. That driving force, reminding us that we all are human. All we need to do is understand that fact to appreciate the true value of the human experience. A simple truth, I know. It is perhaps a bit naive as well though, it never negates the facts of the matter. If we can learn to understand the dignity of others, we ultimately gain a deeper understanding of our own dignity as a human being.      This stark Western drama is a journey that longs for freedom. Set a...

“Because of your destiny.” “Why are you talking like that?” “I just want to add a bit of drama” -Lego Horizon Adventures           Lego Horizon Adventures is less the Travelers Tales variety of Lego parity, and more the joyous mismatched delight of creative play that comes from the inventiveness inherent in these colorful building bricks we call Lego. Sony's Horizon franchise is tailor-made for the Lego treatment as its post-apocalyptic world's defining factor is mechanical beasts. In other words, robot dinosaurs. Lego, brings these prehistoric creatures into the lush setting of Horizon, with a sense of play and quirky enthusiasm, that emanates through its vibrant color palette and delightful cast of humorous characters.      Horizon Adventures marks a departure from previous Lego video games in its approach to its environment. In previous games the Lego mini fig characters an...

  Shadowlands 1993 “So Jack, have you ever been really hurt? “You don't give up, do you?” “I have been really hurt, you know? The first time is always the worst. That is when my mother died." “The pain now is part of the happiness, that's the deal.” -Shadowlands      What opens us up to life? What brings us to a fuller understanding of ourselves? These are the questions we all must ponder in time. Yet, we consistently try to elude their penetrating gaze. We do this because the pain these questions often call to mind is too difficult to bear. Though that is what life is, is it not? Pain mingled with joy, the ever present reminder that we are human.      At first glance, Shadowlands may not be what you expect out of a film chronicling the life of C.S. Lewis, but it is precisely what it needs to be. The film is certainly not, C.S. Lewis a life retold moment by moment and fact by fact. No, Shadowlands is something more poignant and varied than that. As w...

  Skeleton Crew Season 1 Part 2: This Is Why We Do What We Do  “Son, you are talking to a level 7 systems coordinator, get the bike. “ “Everywhere we went, even the worst places. There were good people too, people that can help us. You have to trust me.” “Did we win? “ -Star Wars Skeleton Crew season 1 Joy, that is how I would describe Star Wars Skeleton Crew season 1. The show is pure joy. Skeleton Crew encapsulates the core of Star Wars, Its metaphorical beating heart. Though the show Isn't so much a love letter to Star Wars, as it is  a reminder of what Star Wars means to so many. I don't know how Lucasfilm does it. Honestly, I don't want to know because that would rob the story of its magic. Perhaps that is the truth, The reality that is missing from the world today. A sense of magic.  Nowadays it is so easy to criticize and argue in the realms of story and intent. The constant dilemma of, why did they do that or they should've done this. This push and pull hap...

Michelangelo's Moses c.1513-1515 Who Made Man's Mouth:   Recontextualizing Disability as an Ordinary, Every Day, Purpose Driven Life     "I want to live in a world where we value genuine achievement for disabled people, and I want to live in a world where a kid in year 11 at a Melbourne high school is not one bit surprised that his new teacher is a wheelchair user. Disability does not make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does." -Stella Young, TEDxSidney 2014      When you realize that perhaps you've been misunderstanding a core tenant of  yourself for a better part of your life, you begin to deconstruct the factors that brought you to that realization. Now, before we start this journey I want to say that I am not a theologian nor am I trying to be one. This endeavor is as much a journey of discovery for me as it is for you. It is a recontextualization of ...