Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  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....

  From the World of John Wick: Ballerina “But, we all live with the decisions we make” “It is two sides to the same coin, to kill to save.” “In the end, we are who we are.” -From The World of John Wick: Ballerina The John Wick franchise is action cinema at its most streamlined and eloquent. The films are built on the strength of an often overlooked discipline of the creative filmmaking process, choreography. The structure of an action sequence is as much a part of its impact as the stunts or the violence depicted. In fact, now that I think about it, one of this franchise's greatest skills is that it brings out the beauty inherent in these mesmerizing dances of death. The action sequences are the story, and the violence is its thematic core. That's not to say that these films glorify killing, far from it in fact. A consistent counterpoint to John Wick's world of suave assassins, is a desire to escape this world of death dealing, and so it is with Ballerina. Eve's...

  The King of Kings (1927) “I come a light into the world–that whosoever believeth in me shall not abide in darkness." “Truly, this man was the son of God.” “O God–give us back the light.” -The King of Kings, 1927 There is something tremendously mesmerizing about Cecil B. DeMille's silent biblical epic. The King of Kings is at once, a marvelous achievement in cinematic storytelling, and a deeply meditative look at the life of Christ. All, brought on by the techniques inherent in the construction of a silent film. It makes me smile to think that our old friend has returned. Once again, simplicity is the driving force behind the consistent depth of visual storytelling. “The secret impresses no one, the trick you use it for, is everything.” -The Prestige It is generally surmised that movies nowadays have lost their sense of purpose. Wonder has given way to the doldrums of familiarity. In other words, films have lost their luster, because we've become immune to the ma...

  Kingdom of Heaven director's cut “What does that say?“ “What man is a man, who does not make the world better.” “I pray the world and Jerusalem can accommodate such a rarity as a perfect knight.” “If this is the Kingdom of Heaven, let God do with it as he wills.” “When you rise again, if you rise, rise a knight.” -Kingdom of Heaven, director's cut The director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven, is a cinematic presentation of history at its most dense and vibrant. Designed as a vehicle to explore perceptions rather than a chronicle of historical events. Kingdom of Heaven is a deeply agile search for the true meaning of Crusade, history intermingles with theme and narrative to great effect here. Seemingly in an effort to challenge the common conceptions of the Crusades, as well as enrich this lavishly constructed view of history, with a sense of real honesty and pathos. Offering us a lens into the Crusades that seeks for meaning, beyond the perceptions of tainted motivati...

  Dragon The Bruce Lee story “Linda, I forgot something.” “What?” “I forgot to tell you I love you.” “You know, I don't think you've ever said that to me. before.” “Yeah, but I meant it everyday.” -Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story What we leave behind in this world is a culmination of the life that we lead, The people we encounter and the love that we impart. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a moving example of The abiding strength of love, and the legacy it leaves behind. At first glance Dragon may seem out of place to our modern eyes. Not because the film shows its age, but because its age is seemingly inconsequential in its ability to lead us to all the desired emotional outcomes. Offering us something beyond a simple chronicle of the life of Bruce Lee. Dragon is a richly layered tapestry of family, love and honor. All of which is intermingled with a powerful defeat of socially motivated racial prejudice. Dragon's emotional depth surpasses a tendency to be overly ...