"5,4,3,2,1,Happy New Year!" My Top 7 Films from 2018

2018 will soon be done, and I spent it reviewing over 30 different films. Most of them were average and even more were below average. I can recall a few films, though, that were great and will remain with me in the next year and years to come. Here are my seven favorite film viewing experiences of 2018. If you would like to read my full review for any of these films, click the link in their title.

#7 Won't You be My Neighbor?

Who could have guessed that one of the biggest films of the summer would be a documentary about a chidlren's TV show? This gem by director Morgan Neville is a retrospective on the career of Fred Rogers, an ordained minster and Television show host who wanted children across the world to know that they are loved and capable of loving. Mr. Rogers knew the best way to reach children would be through TV, so he created his own show, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Rogers' show addressed important topics such as death, divorce, war and relationships in a manner that families and children could understand and appreciate. Neville's documentary puts the signifigance of this show in theatres and in homes across the United States. When I saw this film's trailer in March, I was excited, and I wanted to watch as much Mister Rogers as possible. This, however, drastically impared the film's ability to surprise me. The unique information in this film is nothing short of what is readily available on Wikipedia, and I knew most of it from watching and reading about the show. What made my experience watching it in theatres worthwhile was seeing how the film made a connection with its audience. People were laughing, crying, singing and I think someone behind me was dancing. I too was a part of these moments. While this documentary did entertain me, I was mad that the film did not accurately address Rogers' motivations. Rogers was a devout Christian whose beliefs motivated his actions and life choices, so it is surprising that this documentary does not cite Rogers' core beliefs as the reason why he created his show. The film only takes a few minutes to glance at Rogers' faith and says, "Hey, look at that. That's interesting. Ok. Let's look at something else." Despite the film's misgivings, it did remind audiences about the joys of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and it lead some people to go back and watch episodes from Rogers' heart warming show. Several complete weeks of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood episodes are on Amazon Prime, including the first five episodes, and they are well worth anyone's time and attention.

#6 Black Panther

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is massive, and its films have become less like  movies and more like episodes in a serial with the Avengers films being the season finales. When the MCU announced they were releasing Black Panther as their 18th film, I was nervous that the film would rely too heavily on concepts and story points from previous MCU films. The film, however, was a complete stand alone adventure, which made me ecstatic. From the music to the locations and the production design and costumes, Black Panther immerses audiences in a remarkably well developed world. On top of this it is inhabited by well designed characters, each one portraying a unique persona. It is engaging watching how these charcters mature and grow as the film progresses. The story is full of depth and intrigue that writer and director Ryan Coogler makes the most of with every frame and every line. Unfortunately, though, as the film is so well crafted in delivering its message and importance during a viewer's first time, the film has little to offer on its second round. The mysteries this film introduces are compelling, but as they are all answered at the end of the film there is not much room for imagination. This could be due to the film's nature as a fable, it tells a story full of archetypal positive and negative role models who teach the main character different values. This is done to illustrate the growth in the main character who learns how to better himself by the end of the film. It's a classic battle between good and evil and learning to discern the true differenc between the two. Black Panther makes for an engaging and thrilling experience that most audiences will enjoy without having to rewatch. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up to the viewer.

#5 The Christmas Chronicles

This year Christmas came on a soaring sleigh in one of the greatest family films of the decade. Brother and sister Kat and Teddy Pierce are on adventure with Kurt Russell starring as a Santa Claus on a mission to keep the spirit of Christmas alive and well. This is a film that revitalizes the spirit of Christmas through a new take on traditional characters and values. The Christmas Chronicles offerse thrill a minute action, adventure and comedy. Each moment is genuine and adds a level of depth and enjoyment to the experience. There is quite a bit to appreciate about The Christmas Chronicles (the brilliant performances, the wild nature of its scenes and the heartfelt family values it depicts), but I most appreciate how this film is uniquely different from past Santa Claus movies. In most Santa movies belief in Santa determines how much Christmas spirit there is, and whether Christmas will come or not. In The Christmas Chronicles it doesn't matter whether someone believes in Santa or not. What matters is whether they believe in themself. Having confidence in onself when one is doing the right thing is an integral message in this film. Once audiences understand the message this film is conveying, the film's earlier ambiguous moments become more clear, which can make audiences want to experience this film again and again. The Christmas Chronicles is a Christmas classic in my book, as I am sure it is in others. I cannot wait to watch it again next year.

#4 Darkest Hour

Biographical pictures are usually good for one thing, Oscar bait. They tend to feature enough good stuff to get them nominated and remembered for about three months. This is not the case with Joe Wright's Darkest Hour, a true triumph. Gary Oldman brings Prime Minister Winston Churchill to life through a towering performance that won several best actor awards. Oldman puts his blood, soul and sweat into this film, igniting Darkest Hour's speeches that were written and given by Churchill. The screenplay consists of firey back and forth debates between the various cast members. The deliberations in this film are not comprised of unknown jargon but compelling dialogue. Darkest Hour's powerful rhetoric is understandable and engages audiences in what Churchill's plans are and how he will achieve them. Aside from one fifteen minute segment near the end of the film, where the action seems to hault and mumble, the film's plot is fast paced and entertaining. Beyond all of this, the most surprising aspect of Darkest Hour is its immersive eye catching cinematography. The camera moves seemlessly through the set and is never content to stay put. It captures events from different and sometimes bizzare angles. It even uses natural settings to frame characters and add depth and energy to this incredible film. To put it plainly this film achieved victory. It successfully tells the story of Churchill's rise to power and the remarkable rhetoric he used to propell a nation. Some biographical pictures are forgotten as time progresses, however I am certain I will not forget this film about one man who dared to stand up and speak up for his country.

#3 Ready Player One

Steven Spielberg has directed a multitude of beloved films, including E.T., Jurassic Park, Jaws and the Indiana Jones trilogy. When Spielberg announced he was directing a new film based on Ernest Cline's Ready Player One, I was elated. I would get to see me first Spielberg film in theatres. I read the book and then by chance I was able to watch the film two days before it opened in most theatres. I can say from firsthand experience that there are few things quite like experiencing Spielberg movie magic in theatres. The CGI worlds within Ready Player One are incredibly detailed and appear lifelike. This film has the power to engage viewers through visual stimulation alone. As I was watching this film, there was one scene that shocked me so much it made me fly up and out of my seat and into the one behind me (good thing the theatre was relatively empty). The story Spielberg tells through this film is riveting. Compared to Cline's novel, it is a phenomenal improvement. As the book relied heavily on references and inside jokes as its main form of entertainment, Spielberg's screenplay and characters have the power to grab and thrill audience members who might not understand any of the film's references. Anyone can find enjoyment in this film. Though there are some less than good moments in this film, they do not detract from the film's overall experience. Spielberg's Ready Player One is an amazing film that is sure to entertain audiences for years to come.

#2 Mission: Impossible - Fallout

The Mission: Impossible film series began in 1996. With each new installment came a new director helming the film. This has always been one of my most favorite aspects of the series. When I heard that Christopher McQuarrie, the writer and director of the fifth film in the series, was going to write and direct a new sixth film, I was worried. Though I do like the fifth film, Rogue Nation, I was anxious about there being a returning director in the series. In preperation for what I figured could be a big dissapointment, I watched and wrote about all five previous Mission: Impossible films, so they would be fresh in my mind. As I was watching Mission: Impossible - Fallout in theatres, the other five films faded away in mind, due to the thrilling experience this film offers. Mission: Impossible - Fallout stars Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt who is willing to put his neck on the line to give audiences the best stunt work he can give. The action in this film is record breaking and phenomenal. The visuals in this film are mesmerizing, as the IMAX shots are engrossing and the lighting creates a cinematic atmosphere unique to each scene. The script is also well crafted and strings together a story that propells Cruise through the film, rather than drag him along like the previous films often do. The story also centers around Hunt's difficult choices in his mission to recover stolen plutonium. Hunt can either take the more challenging moral high ground or do what is amoral and easier to get the plutonium back. This inner struggle alongwith the film's grand scale outer struggles supply an adrenaline rush so strong, I had to experience it again in theatres. Now that I own it on Blu-Ray I plan on watching it long past the new year. I will also add how the title has multiple meanings. (1. Nuclear fallout 2. Fallout as consequence of actions 3. Fall from grace).

#1 Lady Bird

The theatre went dark, as always. I reclined in my seat next to one of my closest friends, as we got ready to watch an independent high-school film, one of my leats favoite genres. The film, however, didn't start as I expected it would. In place of where I thought the film should be were people, genuine humans living, breathing and talking in a manner I've often heard. They laughed. They cried. They lived in a world full of vibrant color and wonder, though no one could possibly claim there was anything wondrous about their situation. A daughter and a mom fight with each other and still love each other as dearly as moms and daughters do. A young woman who continuously spoke and seemed to hog all the attention for herself was Christine...oh, I'm sorry...Lady Bird, who closely resembled the actress Saoirse Ronan. Lady Bird was in her senior year of high-school, and it was anything but smooth sailing into college. She hit bumps along her road, she fell in love (twice) and she felt pain, the kind that only growing up can produce. She would one day mature into a fine woman, but for now she was a teenager in love with her music, her friends and her hometwon, Sacramento. It's the year in the life of one woman, and it is about the people who impact her and help her to take off and soar. As I watched this beautiful life unfold before my eyes, I saw that these moments were framed in a rectangular shape projected on a screen. This life was the film, and my experience watching it in theatres made me feel emotions I had not felt so strongly before, such as the fondness of nostalgia. Writing the review for this film was strenuous, because I wanted to relay the experience this film gave me in as much of an objective manner as possible. I am glad I can finish this year sharing a piece of what my experience watching this film was truly like. Some may not remember this film in the new year, but Lady Bird will always have an impact on my life.

Thank you so much to my readers, and I pray you have a happy new year. Here's to 2019 and the new experiences sure to come with it!

"Santa Claus is Back in Town!" The Christmas Chronicles Review

The Christmas Chronicles

4/5

Directed by: Clay Katis

Rated: TV-PG

           Twenty years ago finding a new Christmas movie to watch with the whole family in theatres was not the challenge it is today. Back in the 1990's at least one Christmas family film was released in theatres each year, up until approxiamately the year 2009. These big new Christmas family films offered audiences multiple interpretations of Santa Claus, the North Pole and Santa's elves. Though Hollywood's classic Christmas family films are now a rarity, Netflix streaming services is offering a Christmas film that is a true gem. Director Clay Katis is here to put the holly jolly back in Christmas with The Christmas Chronicles.
           Get ready for one wild ride, because this Christmas caper stretches the possibilities of imagination. Santa Claus is getting kicked up a notch this year with a new sleak soaring sleigh, a big red sack upon his back and reindeer that really know how to fly. Some of these have been created through stellar special effects and some were made with little more than convincing CGI. These iconic Christmas mainstays have been revamped in a new old fasion way, and they are brilliantly integrated into the film in extraordinary ways. Saint Nicholas himself has been revived and brought to life by Kurt Russell. His new age take on traditional Santa brings joy to the world, through his remarkably realistic performance full of true Christmas cheer. Russell's Santa Claus speaks his mind, and has no regrets calling out whose been naughty and whose been nice. Some audiences might choose to not watch this film, because they have laughed off Russell's casting as Santa. Most assuredly though, after they watch this Santa deck the halls and bring down the house, it is Russell who will have the last laugh. This is one Kris Kringle who knows how to jingle and knows how to rock.
           Accompanying Russell is a pair of capable of child performers. Darby Camp and Judah Lewis star as the Pierce siblings, a younger sister and older brother who stay up Christmas eve trying to catch Santa on video. Camp plays a young girl who still holds on to Santa with her heart, and Lewis plays her older brother who doesn't believe in Santa or himself. When these two find themselves tagging along with Santa and his reindeer on his big night, they enter into an adventure unlike any audiences have seen. Along the journey, they learn about the importance of Christmas spirit and how much one night can change the lives of everyone around the world. Evethough this story has a few moments of poor pacing, Children and adults alike are sure to enjoy watching how these two characters mature and grow over the course of this story.
           The story The Christmas Chronicles weaves is a remarkable adventure, full of danger and wonder. It might not be a safe ride, but it is one viewers will not soon forget. The experience this film provides is engaing, and can cause some audiences to shout, cheer and go WooHoo. During a viewer's first time watching this film, they may not notice the full extent of this film's clever dialogue and impressive imagery. Since this film's story is full of twists, turns and surprises, the story's symbolic foreshadowing and double meaning dialogue becomes more apparent on a viewer's second time. The more times someone experiences this film, the more The Christmas Chronicles' secrets and subtleties become known, making this film one worth watching Christmas after Christmas after Christmas.

Verdict: With its fantastically real characters, clever storytelling, impressive visuals, and wondrous creativity, The Christmas Chronicles is a remarkable adventure for the whole the family to enjoy each Christmas.

"Where are you Christmas?" Thoughts on the U.S. Christmas Movie Climate

Our Years Without a Santa Claus: Thoughts on the U.S. Christmas Movie Climate

The 1990's into the early 2000's seemed to be the
prime of the Christmas movie's popularity.

           Twas about a week before Christmas and next to my shining tree, there I was watching Christmas films full of much wonder and glee. The Muppet Christmas Carol came up from the basement with care, in the hopes it would soon enter my still functioning VHS player. After three hours of viewing movies rather than sleeping instead, visions of Kevin McCallister began dancing in my head. As I sat there starting to nod off I said to myself, "Perhaps next I shall watch that Elf on the DVD shelf."

           When suddenly I shot up tripping on my blanket and making a clatter. I looked at my Christmas collection and thought "Something is a matter." Away to my phone I rushed with great speedia. Quickly I searched Bing and opened up Wikipedia. When what to my wandering mind did I fear, that American movies entered a dry spell without much Christmas cheer. After Home Alone, The Polar Express and Matthew Broderick decked the halls, we had entered nearly a decade without any Hollywood Christmas films at all. Upon making this discovery in dread I fell on my knee, because the last new American Christmas movie I saw was Iron Man 3.

           Where are you Christmas films from not long ago, back when they would star a celebrity from a famous movie or show? Back when Arnold Schwarzenegger desperately searched for aTurbo Man to give to his son, and nearly everyone knew Jean Shepherd wanted a Red Ryder carbine action BB gun. Back when Richard Attenborough was in a Miracle on 34th Street that did not spare no expense, and kids would watch Michael Keaton turn into a snowman even though it made absolutely no sense. Back when movies were looslely based off the title of any Christmas song, and Tim Allen three times took Santa to infinity and beyond. I can also recall a time as I'm sure some can you, when Jim Carrey was not regarded for being in one Christmas classic but two. And though Vince Vaughn was in a movie where he was a Claus named Fred, at least this and other mediocre movies proved Christmas was not dead.

Jim Carey as Ebeneezer Scrooge carries Tiny Tim
in Robert Zemeckis' A Christmas Carol (2009).

           Who knew that after Zemeckis' 3D nightmare scared the Dickens out of us, that the festive family film genre would be thrown under the Hollywood bus? No longer would Chrildren come to the movie theatre ready to hear, jolly Saint Nicholas in a sleigh led by CGI reindeer. No longer would American icons don a beard and a red coat, each one offering their new take on the classic "Ho ho ho." No longer would Christmas each year be shown with terrible fright, the kind that keeps children up on Christmas night. No longer would everything on December 24th go haywire, making the need for peace on Earth seem greater and dire. No longer would Christmas be saved each and every year, when one little someone would start singing loud for all to hear. No longer would the spirit of Christmas walk tall on the sidewalk curb, as it marched into the middle class American suburb. No longer would dinners filled with family and friends, breakout into arguments followed by them all making amends. No longer would absent minded fathers have their heart's all algow, when they stood in the street having an epihphany as it started to snow. While to some these old Christmas cracker tropes sound foolish right from the start, there is no denying the truth when they show that the spirit of Christmas can lie in your heart.

           Nowadays in December the movie line up does not feature Saint Nick. It's full of reboots or Star Wars or another super-hero flick. Although America still makes Holliday movies one thought that I'm sure most have thunk, is that these recent releases are vulgar, crass and deemed better watched when drunk. And so I pondered to myself how much American Christmas could be in great peril, if this would be the first decade since 1930 where we would not produce A Christmas Carol.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays the Grinch
in Illumination pictures latest movie.

           Of course some say, "Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch is in theatres, so my ranting must stop," but I've heard people who saw that picture say it relegates Christmas to a simple backdrop. It downplays the Grinch's transformation where he lets love run wild and loose. Some say this movie is so unremarkable it's a disgrace to the good Doctor Seuss. This movie is just meme material that's the reason why it was green lit. I doubt I'll watch it this year, and besides have you even seen it?

           Though the seasons greetings of yesteryears have drifted off of the silver screen, there are still a few TV specials and Netflix movies that are trying to make quite the scene. Life Size 2 was on the Christmas countdown of ABC Family, sorry, I mean Freeform my dear, and Nickelodeon released a new kids star studded Tiny Christmas last year. Unfortunately there wasn't much Christmas spirit in that TV sequel which to the original pailed, and on Nickelodeon the lessons of Christmas like the kids in the movie were greatly down scaled. Some say, "Christmas is alive and well on Netflix," but I just can't help and chuckle. I wonder "How can they display Santa's joy with discount Jeff Bridges?" also known as Kurt Russell. Even though I want to see this festive movie with reveiws barely above rotten, other than Canada's The Man Who Invented Christmas, not much new Christmas joy have I gotten.

Linus recites Luke 2:8-14 in
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965).

           I don't know what happened to those Christmas movies that made audience's hearts go ablaze, but I am sure one cause of their slow removal was America's persitence on saying "Happy Holidays." At some point or another the majority of us just seemed to stopped caring. Let's not be surprised when we find that very little Christmas joy is our media sharing. If people keep downplaying Christmas then soon it will vanish from our whole nation. "But what then, if it is die it should do it and decrease the holiday surplus population."

           Despite this I along with others will claim, "This will not be Christmas' end," because Christmas like us this year can be made anew and even born again. For those yearning for the true meaning of Christmas can jump back to 1965, when a young boy with a blue blanket quietly made the words of Angels come alive. It is a shame how many have laughed off his words as some kind of annual joke. They refuse to dream of true joy, love and peace since now they say they are woke. Nevertheless each year on ABC's stage Linus continues to tell, the good news of Christmas still ringing true, God with us, Emmanuel. So on and on Linus recites, and next year I'm sure he'll repeat it. I imagine he'll keep on speaking this truth until everybody believes it. "That's what Christmas is all about," he says to our United States. If we heed his words then we can save Christmas, for that it's never too late.

           What if next year for something new we all went and looked to the past, because the closer we get to Christmas the more it is within our grasp. And even if this holiday causes some to think Santa is living, then let these children learn to love and cherish the spirit of giving. Maybe next year at around this time I won't have to sit back and pause, because we will be free from a world without a Santa Claus. Perhaps next year the North Pole's conductor will say our lesson is learned, and Tiny Tim's "God bless us, everyone" will be given thought it has not been earned.

And so again I will exclaim with my heart all full of light, 

"Merry Christmas to all, and may we all do and live right!"

Mary and Jospeh head towards Bethlehem in The Nativity Story (2006).

"Prayer is the Most Powerful thing you Got." Thoughts on The Trump Prophecy

Make Your Life Great Again: Three Take Aways from The Trump Prophecy

Directed by: Stephan Schultze

Spoilers

           A curious event transpired recently in my life. It was an event I could hardly fathom. On Tuesday night I was racing through the halls of a local movie theater trying to make into to a film for which I was already five minutes late. I found the theater at the end of the hall, sat down in a seat and began taking in a film which I had not imagined I would see on the big screen (let alone at all). There I sat watching a film created in part by Liberty University's cinematic arts department, a film about our current United States president, Donald Trump, and why the United States should pray for him. I watched director Stephan Schultze's The Trump Prophecy.
           Despite the film's low budget quality and the less than pristine pacing present in the film's editing and narrative structure, I had a good time watching this film. The Trump Prophecy is based on the story of Mark Taylor, a firefighter who received a divine prophecy that Donald Trump would become president, and Mary Colbert, a woman who believed Mark Taylor's prophecy and started a prayer call comprised of prayer warriors all asking the LORD to bless Donald Trump with the U.S. presidency. This story and the events that followed it have been recorded by Mark Taylor and Mary Colbert and printed in their book titled "The Trump Prophecies." I knew of the book, but I had no idea about what the story was. I am surprised that after experiencing this story in a theatrical setting, I liked the film and my experience with it. I entered the theater out of curiosity, however I left the theater with conviction. The Trump Prophecy offers an experience that made three things known to me. The following are my three take aways from The Trump Prophecy which if considered can make one's life great (again):

1. The Devil wants to Destroy God's Chosen, but he will not Prosper

The Book on which
the film is Based

           In the film, after Mark Taylor, played by Chris Nelson, retires from being a firefighter he begins having nightmares. In his sleep he sees a fiery beast trying to burn him and close his mouth. Even during the day, the beast chases down Mark and pounces upon him (signified considerably well in the film as the camera looking down upon Mark and chasing him, as if it were the beast's distorted perspective). Mark's wife, Mary Jo Taylor, played by Karen Boles, sees her husband in agony and begins praying for peace and protection for him from the Devil's agents. As Mary prays Mark wakes up and tells his wife he felt the beast grabbing his throat. Mary tells him she believes the beast was trying to stop Mark from saying something, and later on Mark receives a prophecy from a voice of Heaven telling him Donald Trump has been chosen by God to be the next president of the United States. Mark wrote this down in 2011, before Donald Trump announced he was running. Mark knows this is something he has to say and tell others, but he is still under attack by the beast. As Mark sleeps having received what he would refer to as "The Commander in Chief Prophecy," he once again has a terrible nightmare wherein the beast attacks him again with fire. This night, though, Mark prays and believes God will defend him and send back the beast. Mark then writes God's words against the beast, specifically writing Isaiah 54:17, "No weapon formed against [me] will prosper." These words provide Mark with protection from the beast, and in Mark's prayers and his belief in God's scripture the beast vanishes. In the same way the beast tried to keep Mark from speaking his prophecy and tormented him in his sleep, the Devil and his agents want to destroy the lives of those who serve the LORD. The Devil and his army, however, will not prosper against God's army or stop His will from being done. God has won against Satan, rendering him powerless before those who call upon the LORD and live by His words.

2. Prayer is the Most Powerful Thing We can Do

           Perhaps some audience members will feel this interpretation of The Trump Prophecy's depiction of the Devil and God is taken too literally and the film should be treated as a work of fiction. What if audiences looked at the film as a work of fiction designed for the purpose of teaching them a moral? In this case the story presents a narrative concerning the power of prayer. After Mark writes down the prophecy he received, he gives it to a woman by the name of Mary Colbert, the wife of Mark's therapist, Dr. Don Colbert. When Mary, played by Paulette Todd, reads the prophecy, she believes it is true, and asks God how she should proceed. She calls her son D.J., played by Andy Geffken, and he tells her to read 2nd Chronicles chapter seven verse 14, which reads, "If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Mary is then told she needs to start a prayer call for Donald Trump, so that God will bless him and make him president if it is according to the LORD's will. Mary then begins contacting people and eventually forms her own prayer call team. She prays consistently. During one of the film's funnier light hearted moments, she prays while she is on the phone in an airplane's restroom and everyone within earshot can hear her. She knows full well that they are chuckling at her enthusiastic "amens" and her high octave "hallelujahs," however she does not mind. She knows that when God's people humble themselves,  pray, seek God's wisdom and reject wickedness and sin, then God will heal their land. Mary wants the LORD to bless the United States abundantly, and she knows that as a God fearing Christian she must pray in order for it to be done. Prayer is important and it is powerful. Even Chris Pratt, 2018's MTV Generation Award winner, knows that people should "learn to pray. It's easy, and it is so good for [anyone's] soul."

3. Anyone can be Diligent and Finish Well, if they Persevere

Liberty University students working on
The Trump Prophecy (photo cite)

           Perhaps considering this film as a solely fictitious narrative designed to teach audiences about the importance of prayer, is still something with which audience members are not comfortable. Perhaps this film should be examined as nothing more than a film that may or may not have a definitive purpose or meaning. When The Trump Prophecy is examined in this way, it can be seen as a piece of finished cinematic work. This film was primarily created by the work of school students at Liberty University. According to the school's news, these cinematic art students have "celebrated a major milestone in their careers, before they even graduated from film school." They created a feature length film. The Trump Prophecy was created by the production company ReelWorks Studios in partnership with Liberty University's cinematic arts team. The students involved had hands on experience working on a film and finished the production while they were still in college. From filming an action packed fire rescue scene at a burning house to creating works of special effects showcasing a human flying out of his body and towards a flaming beast that can burn through walls, making this film was no easy task. Still, these students finished it and their feature length film was showcased in more 1200 theaters across the United States of America. If these devoted college students can persevere in creating their film and finish well in distributing it to many people, this should be an encouragement for others to perform similarly in their lives. People should take on a task that is good for them and see it through till the end. If someone wants to create something pleasing to the LORD, then they need to finish it. The Bible says, "[We] need to persevere so that when [we] have done the will of God, [we] will receive what He has promised," (Hebrews 10:36).

"I Bite." Isle of Dogs Review

Isle of Dogs

4/5

Written and Directed by: Wes Anderson

Rated: PG-13

           Wes Anderson is a film director with a vision different from others. His aim is telling unique storybook stories on the big screen, though he may not even use the whole screen due to his like for adjusting aspect ratios. Wes Anderson's films are commonly identified by their visual adoration of symmetry and perpendicular camera movements that make the film appear as if it takes place in a two dimensional world. Wes Anderson also crafts his film's aesthetically using only colors from a pre-selected color scheme. Any of Wes Anderson's films can be seen as an admirable work of idiosyncratic cinematic genius, and Isle of Dogs is no exception.

            Isle of Dogs is the story of one boy's daring voyage to find his dog on an island composed of trash and exiled dogs from Japan. The island nation has recently ruled that, due to a sudden break out of dog flu, all dogs will be removed from the country and placed on trash island. The dogs live like dogs, scrounging for rotten food and barking and biting at anyone in their way of survival. Most of the dogs live with fondness for their long lost masters, while some have taken to life in the rugged and grotesquely beautiful piles of garbage on their island. The dogs' lives of malignant misery are interrupted when Atari Kobayshi, the son of the mayor who banished the dogs, crash lands himself in a homemade plane into trash island. He is looking for his body guard dog, Spots. This story deals with elements of leadership, bravery, ferociousness, companionship, conspiracy and politics. As this story progresses, some audience members may be deterred by its disjointed and curious nature while others will not mind and may even appreciate it more.
           Not only is Isle of Dogs' story unique, it is also told in a unique way. Each character is brought to life by clever writing spoken by an individualistic performance. Aided by the voice acting talents of Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum and F. Murray Abraham and the voice actressing talents of Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton, this story is brought to life be an eclectic variety of voice talents. These, however, are only the performers in English speaking parts, and the majority of this film is not in English. In Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs each character speaks in their own native language, the only exception being that the dogs been have translated into the viewer's language. Often times the Japanese characters in this film have to be interpreted by interpreter characters in the film, or else the audience must read their dialogue in subtitles at the bottom of the screen. It's peculiar, however the handicap it inflicts upon the film's story serves the audience by making them pay closer attention and take note of the film's specific culture in which it has submersed itself.
           Aside from this film's unique story and its individualistic characters, Isle of Dogs' also has a bizarre aesthetic appearance. Crafted from stunning clay animation, scenes are shot in similar fashion to Wes Anderson's previous films. The environments in this film are stunning and stark. Each one is captured excellently by the camera and populated well by Wes Anderson's cast. A difference between this film and Wes Anderson's other works is this film's depiction of violence, disease and wild behavior. Isle of Dogs offers a fearful and sometimes sickening experience. There is a bizarre amount of bloody and sickly imagery in this film, ranging from chewed off dog ears to unflinching images of medical surgery. It can make some audience members wonder how come it is this film has a PG-13 rating and not an R rating. At the end of this film's experience some audience members will find something that has satisfied their appetite for bizarre cinema, while others may still feel the film brought them close to losing their lunch. Either way, this weird and wild film that is Isle of Dogs is worth any audience member's consideration.

Verdict: Wes Anderson's Isle of Dogs is a uniquely bizarre experience, presenting the story of a boy, his dog and political controversy, featuring excellent vocal performances and both sickly and stunning imagery.

"You had a Terrible Choice to make: One Life over Millions" Mission: Impossible - Fallout Review

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

4.5/5

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Rated: PG-13

           The IMF (Impossible Mission Force) has saved the world from imminent destruction time and time again. IMF agent Ethan Hunt is responsible for most of the world's close calls. Ethan has proven his caliber and demonstrated his moral conscience. He won't bargain with arms dealers, he won't risk himself for revenge and he won't sacrifice even one life to save millions...but what if Ethan's most noble traits were his greatest flaws? What happens when an agent's morals are pitted against opportunities for a safer tomorrow? Should he bargain, kill or sacrifice for the world's greater good? Will Ethan fall from grace? Can Ethan save the world from his choices and their inevitable fallout?
           Mission: Impossible - Fallout stars Tom Cruise as the incredibly daring IMF agent Ethan Hunt. Cruise portrays his character with charm and depth, allowing audiences to want to see him complete his mission, where the stakes couldn't be higher. In order for Ethan to succeed, he'll have to do the impossible. This gives Cruise the chance to pull off some of the most death defying stunts ever seen onscreen. Cruise dangles from a helicopter, races on a motorbike without a helmet into oncoming traffic, leaps across street wide gaps between rooftops and performs the first ever cinematic HALO jump (High Altitude Low Opening) in film history. Watching such a phenomenal actor perform all of these jaw dropping stunts makes Mission: Impossible - Fallout a theatrical experience of which writer and director Christopher McQuarrie should be proud. McQuarrie says Cruise's prominent role in the film series, gives Mission: Impossible its main purpose, which is "to take [viewers] places [they've] never been, it's to show [them] things that [they've] never seen and it's to put [audiences] in that experience, right there with [Cruise]."
           Not only does this film feature some of cinema's best stunt work, but it also features pulse pounding psychological tension. The film's screenplay brilliantly moves Ethan Hunt from one morally compromising choice to the next, each one clearly inflicting strain on his psyche. Audiences are left in awe of how far Ethan Hunt will go to protect his team and save the ones he loves, while they are in shock of how clearly defined his line of moralistic justice is. A driving question keeping audiences focused and intrigued during this film's slow introspective moments, is "Will Ethan cross that line?" Along with this, Mission: Impossible - Fallout includes excellently scripted intellectual duels, where the art of earning trust and masking deception wins allies and tricks foes. In combination with its emotional center and its cerebral atmosphere, Mission is a mind game once again.
           If this were not enough to cement Mission: Impossible - Fallout as one of the greatest action films in theatres, the film also has an all star cast. Along with Tom Cruise is his top notch team. Henry Cavill is the unstoppable heavy hitter August Walker, Simon Pegg is the humorous and intelligent Benji and Ving Rhames returns as the cool and calculating hacker Luther Stickell. Standing against this team is Vanessa Kirby as the arousing and imperious White Widow, Rebecca Ferguson as the alluring and indominable Isla Faust and Sean Harris as the ominous and malevolent Solomon Lane. This film also has great performances from Alec Baldwin, Angela Bassett and Liang Yang.
           Mission: Impossible - Fallout is a great film, and it may even become most audiences' favorite  Mission: Impossible film. Though this film stands tall next to its predecessors, it breaks some of their foundational traditions. Even though Mission: Impossible - Fallout is the first Mission: Impossible film to be directed by the previous film's director, the film still offers its own unique experience. Despite that this film is the first in the series to feature plot relevant continuity from its previous film, making it appear to be the first genuine Mission: Impossible sequel, the film's story manages to not only attract new audiences but it also gives them enough necessary exposition keeping their interest. Aside from a few lengthy expositional moments, there are few downsides to Mission: Impossible - Fallout's theatrical experience. It's fun, it's exciting, it's tastefully comedic, it's thrilling, it's action packed, it's engrossing, it's pulse pounding, it's heart stopping and it's worth every penny.

Verdict: Mission: Impossible - Fallout is an action packed experience, featuring ground breaking stunt work excellently complimenting a psychologically tense screenplay triumphantly performed by an all star cast.

"Your Mission, should you choose to Accept It" Thoughts on the Mission: Impossible Films

SPOILERS

Good Morning, agent. The Mission: Impossible film series is essentially a filmmakers action thrill ride sand box. Each film is helmed by a new director with their own personal vision, and at their disposal is a large budget, an iconic lead actor who will perform all of his own stunts and a title certain to sell box office tickets. Each film offers a unique one of a kind thrilling experience, and I have enjoyed watching this rush of a film series. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to read my thoughts on my experiences watching the first five Mission: Impossible films. This message will self destruct in ten seconds. Good luck, agent.

Mission: Impossible

Directed by Brian De Palma

3.5/5

           I came into contact with Mission: Impossible, before I saw any of the films, by playing the Mission: Impossible Gameboy Color game. I was not good at it, and I kept getting a Game Over around the third level. My most favorite part of the game was its music. The first level featured a 16 bit version of the Mission: Impossible theme. Anytime I hear that theme I thought of danger, espionage, high stakes and pulse pounding thrills. This is exactly what I got from my first experience with Mission: Impossible, when I watched the film on VHS.
           Surprisingly the first standout element of this film is not Tom Cruise, but how this film uses tension and intrigue in order to create suspense. Each of Mission: Impossible's thrilling moments offers a new sense of danger differing from the last. While this film does a great job depicting physical danger, this film more prominently features mental danger. The mental strain this film inflicts is brilliantly paralleled through its orchestral score provided by Danny Elfman. Through a combination of stressful string instruments and foreboding horns, Elfman clearly depicts our main character's inner psyche.
            Mission: Impossible is a psychological thriller, and the main person subject to this mental warfare, aside from the audience, is agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise). He watches his entire IMF (Impossible Mission Force) get assassinated, gets framed for it, is then disavowed from the agency, goes rogue to prove his innocence and maintains a charismatic performance throughout it all. Since the film illustrates Ethan as a near invincible man, the audience does not worry whether he will die or not but whether he will lose his mind or not. Ethan is pushed to the edge of his sanity, hearing his boss call him a traitor, living in paranoia as a fugitive and doubting the trustworthiness of everyone he encounters. It's compelling watching Ethan take all these mental blows, and it's exhilarating seeing how he overcomes them all.
         In Mission: Impossible, unlike in most action films, eliminating one's enemies is not as important as understanding their motivations. The greatest weapon someone can have is information. This is directly illustrated through this film's primary McGuffin, the Noc list (a list of all IMF agents). Aside from Ethan Hunt, Jon Voight's character, Jim Phelps, is after this list. Through Voight's subdued yet sinister performance, Jim Phelps, hides the facts and clouds Ethan's vision, in order to twist Ethan's mind to follow him and take down the head of the IMF.
           While this film is a thrill watching, David Koepp's screenplay does not provide much depth. What this film lacks in depth, though, it makes up for in substance. The Mission: Impossible series features some of the best set pieces in cinema, and the first film features two of my favorites. The fist is the black vault, which creates suspense through its lack of sound. Any sound could get Ethan caught and prevent him from getting the Noc list. On top of this Ethan cannot let even one drop of water touch the floor, or else the pressure sensors will trigger. The genius behind this scene goes beyond what I am able to type in this post. The second is the high speed train at the end of the film, which is when Ethan confronts Jim Phelps. From the standoff of hidden identities on the inside of the train to the prevented escape on the chaotic outside of the train this is a great climax. Mission: Impossible is a film that leaves audiences, myself included, more than satisfied, and ready to experience Ethan Hunt's next big caper.

Mission: Impossible II

Directed by John Woo

1.5/5

           I encountered John Woo's Mission: Impossible II for the first time, when I decided I would marathon all of the Mission: Impossible sequels in one night. I borrowed all of them from the library, and then watched them in order (from the second to the fourth one).  It was back to back to back action and thrills and it all started with a misstep. Mission: Impossible II is easily the worst Mission: Impossible movie, and I doubt another one will come along and claim its title.
           In Mission: Impossible II Ethan Hunt's previous near invincibility gets cranked up to absurd levels. The movie begins with Tom Cruise dangling from a cliff in Arizona. There is no reason for him to be doing this. He's just dangerously free climbing for fun. He then gets a mission from a pair of sunglasses to track down the deadly Chimera virus, and then those sunglasses slow mo' explode. From there on most audiences would assume this movie's ridiculousness would just keep going, but this movie plays an odd balancing game between being way too fast to handle and unbearably boringly slow. There is over an hour of mind numbingly sluggish scenes, and nearly an hour of jaw dropping insanity. This off kilter balance makes the screenplay, mainly concerning Ethan Hunt's forgettable romance with the blandly seductive Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton), practically unentertaining.
           This movie's main entertaining aspect is its overly explosive climax. This movie's conclusion features one, two, three (I lost count) more than 30 different explosions. Each of them does no damage to Cruise's body, face or excessively long hair. What makes these explosive action moments worse is the cringe worthy amount of early 2000's slow motion and ratchet shots making up these moments (The movie also uses this technique during its slow moments, making Mission: Impossible II feel less like an action thriller and more like an overblown disorienting music video.). Nearly every time an explosion is about to go off, the camera zooms in so fast right onto Cruises' face, and then it slows down so the audience can see all of his hair blowing in the wind. It is possible the only reason Cruise has so much hair in this movie is for these slow motion shots.
           Perhaps director John Woo made the movie way too over-stylized on purpose, but this does not mean this movie's direction is enjoyable. Some of John Woo's directorial choices are engaging, such as how he constructs a final bloody physical confrontation between Ethan Hunt and the movie's bad guy, but most of Woo's choices are boggling. One of John Woo's signature directorial choices is having flying doves in his movies, and he floods Mission: Impossible II's climax with these signature birds. It becomes a game of seek and find, in order to determine how many doves there could possibly be. Even the DVD menu is infested with the doves. "What's that winged creature behind the bend. It's another dove!"
           While there are interesting, if not completely bombastic, moments in this movie, Mission: Impossible II is a tiresome and explosive mess, and it made me incredibly unsure about what type of movie I would encounter next in this series.

Mission: Impossible III

Directed by J.J. Abrams

2.5/5

            Immediately after I finished Mission: Impossible II, I yelled at a wall for a bit. I expected the next DVD, Mission: Impossible III, to be bad, if not worse than the second one. I had so little hope for this movie that once I pressed play on the DVD, I put in a microwave dinner to begin consuming during the movie. I had my eyes off the screen.
           The screen went dark and silent followed by loud noises and Tom Cruise shouting. The next thing I heard was Phillip Seymore Hoffman's voice, as he brutally interrogated and tortured an already captured Ethan Hunt. Hoffman counts down, as he threatens to blow out a woman's brains, unless Ethan answers the question, "Where's the 'Rabbit's Foot'?" Each of Hoffman's next numbers evokes a new emotional response from Ethan, ranging from fear, to terror, remorse, despair, bargaining and finally shock and horror. (I think the scene was far more tense, because I didn't hear what number Hoffman was going to count down to.) Finally, Hoffman says "10" and fires.
           From there the movie begins, and it never lets up. 40 minutes later I remembered my microwaved dinner. 80 minutes later I could breathe again, because the credits were rolling. When I could breathe again, I reflected on the film. My initial thought, "It was the best Mission: Impossible film." The next day, I had to ask myself, "What was so great about Mission: Impossible III again?".
           This film's absolute greatest aspect is its characters. Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, and he's an IMF training instructor called back to the field. The only trainee he has recommended for field experience, Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell), has been kidnapped by arms dealer Owen Davian (Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Ethan plans on rescuing Lindsey and taking down Owen. He's got his best team at his side, including the ever cool and confident hacker Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), the divine and daring Zhen Lei (Maggie Q) and someone else who was there (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Watching the comradery between this team is intriguing, but there are plenty more characters in this piece. Inside the IMF there is the no bull director Brassell (Lawrence Fishburne), Ethan's good friend John Musgrave (Billy Crudup) and technical expert and frantic desk worker Benji (Simon Pegg). On top of all this, Ethan is getting married to his beautiful civilian lover Julia (Michelle Monaghan). It is thrilling watching these characters interact.
           Other than this, there is little in this film that matters. None of the set pieces seem extraordinary (except for the Rabbit's foot heist of which the audience does not see). The action scenes are cool, but they all feel similar (Ethan grabs a gun, along with some other people, and then they shoot things, while the camera spins around them). The villain is interesting, but his sometime lack of composure, can make it difficult for some audiences to truly fear him. This adds up to Mission: Impossible III being a cool film with little impact. It features unique characters, intriguing dialogue and cool moments, but none of it comes together in a way that makes the film greater than the sum of its parts.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Directed by Brad Bird

2/5

           After my fantastic experience watching the first film in the series, I watched the latest one on DVD. I borrowed the DVD from the library, but unfortunately the DVD copy I had was busted. The best I could do was watch some of it, and openly make fun of the movie's most ludicrous moments. The first time I experienced the movie in full was during my Mission: Impossible sequel marathon (it was the last one of the night). Despite the fact my second viewing featured a more linear narrative, the movie still did not feel coherent and ultimately silly. I didn't like it, and I was having a hard time understanding why other reviewers claimed this movie was the best one in the series.
           The movie is about Ethan Hunt and his team of disavowed agents doing some not so secret operations, in order to prove they did not bomb the Kremlin. Some of their operations include sneaking into the Kremlin, free climbing the tallest building in the world and infiltrating an expensive party. Amongst this movie's action scenes there is one standing out above the rest. There is an  exhilarating chase scene in a sandstorm, which spans the course of Ethan pursuing someone on foot to speeding after him in a car and ending with a climactic car crash. The scene is complimented by exquisite stunt work by Tom Cruise. It is also cinematically topped off by a hazy orange ascetic getting darker as the action increases and brighter as Ethan gets closer to nabbing his target.
            Aside from this scene and some impressive stunt work, most of the action is nonsensical. Starting with an overly comedic and unnecessary prison escape scene, leading into a ridiculously long CGI fuse which is also unnecessary, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol demonstrates its desire for action and comedy and its tendency to lean towards comedy. This would be something that could not only be overlooked but also embraced, if the film did not also try to take itself seriously.
           One main message this film attempts communicating is how gadgets are not the key to success, but a strong team ensures victory. This is shown by how most of Ethan's gadgets fail to work properly and yet he and his team are able to achieve victory. This message, however, contradicts itself, because there are multiple gadgets, which if they had failed would have not only made Ethan fail his mission (such as his GPS tracker in the sandstorm) but also could have caused the death of Ethan's team (such as Benji's magnetic rig, which stopped Agent Brandt, played by Jeremy Renner, from being sliced by a fan). In addition to this there are also gadgets in this film which are completely unnecessary (such as the screen Ethan and Benji sneak behind in a hallway when they could have hidden themselves in the doorways, a sticker device which swapped the room numbers in a hotel, when Ethan and his team could have done that themselves and Benji's inflatable third arm which he used to fool his opponents into thinking he was not using his arm, when he could have just been using his arm all along).
            It all adds up to Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol being a fun movie featuring some rather silly antics. There can be enjoyment found in watching it, but it is not for everyone.

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

4/5

           My first experience watching this film was not during my Mission: Impossible sequel marathon. I borrowed this film from the library, when it came out on DVD and Blu-ray. I watched it by myself. Immediately after I finished watching it, I wanted to share it with my friends.
           Ethan Hunt returns to take on his most dangerous mission yet. He's going to take down the Syndicate (an anti IMF set on controlling the world). Ethan, as always, is not alone. He's teamed up with Benji, once again played with comedic genius by Simon Pegg, Luther Stickell, played with collected intimidating charm by Ving Rhames, and William Brandt, portrayed by the intrepid and confident Jeremy Renner. There mission, should they choose to accept it, will be full of danger, espionage and will be unlike anything this team has ever faced. This is because Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation has everything Mission: Impossible film fans have come to expect from the franchise and more. It has the suspense, incredible set pieces and psychological tension from Mission: Impossible, the bloody and explosive combat from Mission: Impossible II, the team comradery, well paced dialogue and unrelenting action from Mission: Impossible III, the over the top stunt work and entertaining comedy from Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and it's all wrapped up and delivered in one great and thrilling action adventure film.
           Not only does Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation feature the best aspects from its predecessors, it also has its own unique flare and style. This is primarily brought about through the presence of wild card Isla Faust, played sensationally well by Rebecca Ferguson. No matter where Ethan goes to track down the Syndicate, she is right behind him. It's unclear whether she is covering his back or waiting to strike him in it. All that is clear is the extra intrigue and depth her character gives this film is greatly appreciated.
           Aside from all of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation's great aspects, this film has two minor yet obvious flaws. The first is the same every previous film has, the plot is clearly intentionally complicated with the purpose of placing Tom Cruise in action scenarios. Once the action kicks in, though, all of this can be easily overlooked. A hindrance on this film's enjoyment which is hard overlooking, is this film's main antagonist, Lane, played by a whispery and slightly fiendish Sean Harris. Though he is threatening, he does not instill fear. He's conniving, but not enough that most audiences will want to see him lose. Since most audiences want to see him humiliated, it is a good thing he has little screen time, and his demise is exactly what audiences (or at least myself) were hoping would occur.
            Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is a great stand alone film, full of excellent performances, suspenseful spy missions, adventurous set pieces, explosive action and impressive intrigue. From the beginning where Tom Cruise clings to an airplane, to a suspense filled night at the opera, to sneaking into a heavily guarded underwater vault and to beyond where this takes him, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is sure to thrill and entertain. It can easily be thought of as the best entry in the series, and it is my favorite.