Hour 21: A Film and Interactive Media Blog

  The Signing of The Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, 1818, oil on canvas Happy 250 th birthday, or should I say, Happy 4th of July weekend everyone! Here’s one from the archives, a post on Ken Burns’s documentary series, The American Revolution.  May we all have the opportunity to live up to the sacrifices, and experience the freedoms granted to us through the accomplishments of so many. God bless America 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 ri...

  Disclosure Day (2026) “Don't be afraid of what you don't know.” “If you are hearing this, if you are seeing this. You are not alone." -Disclosure Day (2026) “For of course, it is no very new idea that the Eternal Son may, for all we know, have been incarnate in other worlds and so saved other races than ours.” -C.S. Lewis, “Will We Lose God in Outer Space”, April, 1958. The Christian Herald Vol 81 It's fortuitous that Disclosure Day is difficult to encapsulate in a singular phrase or word. Though my inability to articulate the film's motivating narrative, doesn't come from a lack of vocabulary. If asked me for superlatives they would be flowing out of my digital pen with ease. Right now however, I will stay my hand, because the enriching enchantment of Disclosure Day is born out of the process of discovery? Not the reveal of facts. Wonder, that's the word. If I were asked to distill Disclosure Day down to a single word that would be it. Though, if...

Outlaws (1997) "Where are you Marshall?” "Damn it! I told that fool doctor, stealing your kid, weren't going to be good for anyone's health.” “It's a shame he didn't listen.” -Outlaws (1997)      One minute, one minute. It is remarkable what one minute can do. A single moment in time can encapsulate an entire world and open the door to cinematic and interactive experiences you never knew before. In an instant you are brought from ignorance into the joy of knowledge, this is not a discovery of a lack, but a finding of something deep within. What we find is the connection between the story and its audience.      As I write these words, it strikes me yet again: the capacity of a choice to affect our wonder and capture our imagination. As a 9-year-old you really don't have the wherewithal to appreciate the connective power of a single image or story. That is to say, my dad gave me, my brother and four sisters a tremendous gift, by allowing us to experience sto...

  This post is in loving memory of Gilbert “Gil” Kelly. Thank you Papa for showing me, day in and day out, what family truly means. You loved us grandkids equally. Even so, our relationship with you was uniquely our own. I for one, would not be who I am today, were it not for your willingness to drive me back and forth from Raritan Valley Community College for two years, on almost a daily basis. That was an immeasurable gift. You helped me start my college journey. You believed in me, even when I thought my disability would hold me back, you knew I could accomplish great things. Also, I don't know what came first, the chicken or the egg, in terms of my love of visual storytelling, but having a grandfather who played video games in the '90s was pretty awesome. PGA Tour, 1994 on the Sega Genesis for the win, along with all the racing games you could find for the system. Love you, Papa. Say hi to Danny for me, and I'll see you both again, on the other side of eternity. Streets...

  Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, season 1 (2026) "You have been indoctrinated since you were a child. Now, you must adapt.” "It's all right, it's all right. I won't let him do this to anybody else.” “Fear is natural, we just can't allow it to control us.” -Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, season 1 (2026) Pain that is not transformed is transmitted. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord is a driving echo of this sad truth. If we are unable to confront our trauma, we often give it to others unwittingly, even when our deepest hope is that our pain ends with us. Maul - Shadow Lord is a poignant reminder that revenge only amplifies our mental anguish. It does not rid us of it. In his attempts to keep at bay his inner demons, Maul actually fortifies them, giving them space to occupy a prime place in his mind. Outwardly Maul's ultimate goal of vanquishing his former master, Darth Sidious, is admirable. Though, revenge, however justified, only keeps the door open. In...

  Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) “They feared him, now they cheer for me.” "Goodbye, kid." "The old protect the young, then the young protect the old. This is the way.” -Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) Family is a pivotal anchor for the Star Wars thematic canon. You could even say that family is the central thesis of that galaxy far far away. Even so, you would be hard-pressed, in the confines of those stars, to find a family that is not racked by misfortune and sorrow. Though, fear not, we all know there is hope out there. All we need to do is find a way towards that light. The credo, “This is the way” resounds through Din Djarin’s life. The loss of family and home are but two of the many tragedies he has endured throughout his time in this mortal coil. So, no wonder a strict code, born out of honor and strength, would dominate his ideas of safety and security. Our safety, however, does not always denote truth, and in turn, our perception of...

  Mixtape (2026) "Because the music goes somewhere, and you're going with it." "You know how to jet?" "To what?” -Mixtape (2026) What is the capacity of a moment, and how do you define it? A consistent reminder of time is that we never have enough of it. It always seems to slip away, never really granting us a sufficient duration of our human capacity for experiencing life to its necessary fullness. Though, when you really think about it, time is not the enemy here. The enemy, with all its nuance and variety, finds itself not in time, but in our misunderstanding of it. Time isn't meant to be sped through, Its rhythms and tones should be savored, as much as they possibly can be. Mixtape offers us something special in the realm of reverie and appreciation. Allowing you and I to come to terms with the necessity of presence in the flow of our everyday lives. While Mixtape does chronicle the supposed final hours of a high school friendship, Stacy, Va...

  Solo Mio (2026) "Keep your eyes open in Rome.” "Is everything okay?” "I wish I handled it differently. I mean, I should have been honest and just talked to you.” -Solo Mio (2026) I can't remember a time when I have felt such a refreshing and filmic spring breeze. That's not to say this film is vapid or empty by any means, it's simply a refreshing take on the stalwart romantic comedy genre. Where most romantic comedies find their end, Solo Mio discovers its purpose. Matt Taylor is left at the altar, after the whirlwind of a seemingly perfect relationship, sees him alone at his own destination wedding. He's already paid for honeymoon now burning a hole in his metaphorical pocket. Solo Mio, finds the perfect balance between joy and reverie as Matt has to unexpectedly take advantage of his non-refundable honeymoon. This film is a delight from end to end. Not only because of its humor, but its heart as well. Matt's journey from heartbreak to who...

  Christy: Where There is a Will, There is, The Way “It's my story, honestly, it is.” - Fighting for Survival by Christy Martin and Ron Borges, Chapter 1 “Somebody told me once, I fought like I was trying to destroy everybody who had done me wrong. They said I fought like I had demons in me. Maybe it's true. Maybe I do.” “I go to a restaurant and I realize I don't know what to order. I don't know what to cook for myself at home. I don't know what clothes I want to wear, or what I want to watch on television. I have no idea who I actually am. Every aspect of my life has been controlled by this man. Every decision. Everyone I talk to.” “Look at me! Look at me, Jim. You stabbed me. You shot me. You left me for dead on the bedroom floor. But like most else - you came up short.” -Christy (2025) As a journey through the medium of true to life narrative filmmaking, Christy hits harder than most, and not in the way that you may think. Christy Salters' journey from I...

The Wild Robot : And The Growth of Motherhood “I do not have the programming to be a mother.” “No one does, we just make it up" “Goodbye, we like your new baby, hope it doesn't die.” -The Wild Robot (2024) I find it difficult to distill The Wild Robot down to its essence. However, I can very easily give you a one line synopsis: a robot gets shipwrecked on a deserted island, and after a tragic mistake most care for a now orphaned gosling. In all honesty, the content of the film is not the problem, my hang-up stems from my perceived inability to craft a piece that demonstrates, with accuracy and honesty the loving thematic heartbeat of this film. Either that, or I am having a difficult time realizing how this film beautifully articulates the humanity and logistical anxiety contained in a mother's love. When it comes to it, perhaps that is why The Wild Robot is such a wonderfully engaged expression of the dignity of motherhood. With a sense of effervescent charm and h...

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (2024) Healing is Yours to Write “Every monster was once a man." “I know you.” “There is always a choice.” -Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (2024) I think it's fair to say, in the interactive space, if empathy had a revelatory moment in the modern era, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice would be a prime mover in that conversation. I would even suggest that a player's empathy is an essential element in understanding the impact and purpose of Senua's first steps towards healing and reclaiming her dignity as a loved and valued member of society. You may discover however, that Senua's journey through Helheim does not conclude on a note of healing, per se, but a removal of certain barriers towards that healing. That is to say, healing is a process, it does not do well with finite results. "The past, is never past." -Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (2024) Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, could have very easily been derailed by its own ambitio...

  Fallout, season 2 (2025-2026) “And just to ask the question, would it help if I said please?” “Guess I'm just trying to lead by example.” “So give me the drugs.” -Fallout, season 2 What is choice? What is control? Both of these motivating factors of human experience indicate a philosophical dilemma when it comes to interactivity, and its relationship with authorial intent. In other words, linear narratives have a difficult time coalescing effectively with a person's independence. Though, what if the choice is the narrative, and control its thematic through line? If you take the above quandaries into account, you would more than likely get the sophomore season of Fallout's televised efforts. Nothing short of a joyous contradiction in terms, Fallout returns, continuing an enthusiastic blending of mediums, or should I call it a breaking down of barriers? Either way, this coming together of both the interactive and linear narrative structures is a charm-filled reminde...

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) “Good night princess.” “Mario, we found where Rosalina is.” “This is what happens when you don't have a bed time.” -The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026) No preamble here, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a light in a dark night from end to end. I shouldn't be surprised, though it is striking, how aware this film is of its capacity for cultural impact. I know how strong that statement may seem, but its use here is not to exaggerate. Instead, I hope it illustrates how comfortable this film is with its simplicity. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie delights in its characters, and its focus on family, with their importance in our growth and understanding of who we are, and who we have the capacity to be. Mario and Peach's adventure through the outer worlds of The Mushroom Kingdom, in search of princess Rosalina, has a vibrancy that supersedes its already legendary Nintendo artistic pedigree. It took me until now to realize that Nintendo'...

  Mother Angelica: A Contemplative life of Action "If you don't go, He won't go." -Mother Angelica “Mother Angelica, weak in body, strong in spirit. Charismatic woman, charismatic woman.” -Pope St. John Paul II “The Lord gave it to me to do, I've done it.” -Mother Angelica An active Christian faith is not solely defined by motion, but by the strength derived from prayer and meditation. That is how Rita Rizzo was able to propel herself through hardship, tragedy and struggle. To become one of the most respected conveyors of the redemptive message of the Gospel, and the love of Jesus Christ. Whether you are religious or not, the sheer spunk and tenacity of Rita Rizzo cannot be overstated. It could be said that Rita Rizzo was born to take on the mantle granted her as Mother Angelica. As with all of us, Providence held her in the palm of His hand, and when He called, she answered with eagerness and gusto. She lived her calling to the fullest extent of her bei...

  Fallout season 1 (2024) “I'm not going back without my dad.” “If you insist on staying, then you will have to adapt. The question is, will you still want the same things, when you have become a different animal altogether?” “What Happened." “It's the same thing that always happens. Everyone wants to save the world, they just disagree on how.” -Fallout season 1 (2024) Perhaps it is a bit presumptuous, but credit is due where credit is due. Amazon's adoption of the Fallout video game franchise, is a delight in the most apocalyptic of ways. Fallout is known for its ridiculous, albeit insightful ridiculous satire on the end of the world. The humor is sharp, and the wit is biting, and remarkably it all works to a concise degree. Because, when you reach the precipice of the Apocalypse, you realize that maybe we're all to blame, in some way or another. Fallout, in its televised form, thrives in its ability to eloquently take shots at its many ideological combat...