Rapid Review: Dune pt1

Epic film making and a soul-stirring score highlight this film as much as the stellar cast.

Staring: Timothée Chalamet, Jason Momoa, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, Charlotte Rampling, and many more

Close your blue-on-blue eyes and imagine a world where political maneuvering and dependence on a precious substance rule the known universe. Now mix in a dash of evil, a sprinkling of betrayal, and a heaping dose of Spice, and you have DUNE.

Movies: Rapid Review, “F9”

Staring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, Ludacris, and John Cena

Absurdity and Awe packaged in a loosely wrapped storyline that propels us to the inevitable outcome that indeed there is more to come;

Motivational: Reality?

Reality?

For many years I struggled with the idea of this quote. How do I have any control over what reality is? Reality is after all, defined by what we can touch, see, hear, taste, and smell. However, what is real? Is love real? We cannot touch it, see it, as physical thing, hear it, taste it, or smell it. You may argue that these are semantics, but taken from a literal perspective they are, in a basic form, true. So then, how is love REAL? How is any feeling part of reality? This is where I came to a long-fought conclusion that reality is subjective. Not subjective in the sense of what can be seen, heard, felt, tasted, or smelled, but rather subjective in how we interpret those sensations. Reality is Perception.

Poetry: To see the Stars

Laying back, the grass tickling my neck, I gaze upward in awe.

The light of a billion miles traveled reaches my eyes.

I feel so small and yet so intrinsically part of something, I call

out to my heart, my spirit, my inner child who cries.

He does not cry in sorrow or even in joy, but instead with tears of overwhelm.

The night, these stars, inspire in ways a story could never tell.

Blackwood Forest: Found Footage

Has anyone seen this? Do we know if the camera man is okay?

Movies: Rapid Review “The New Mutants”

Starring: Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, Anya Talylor-Joy, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga, Alice Braga

The New Mutants is listed as a horror film and directed by Josh Boone. It is a superhero movie that was shot and is paced more like a horror flick than an action film. With its troubled past and excessively long delays in being released, it is easy to dismiss this low-budget slice of comic book entertainment brought to the silver screen. But I wouldn’t be so quick to ignore what it offers. Despite its small cast and extremely limited filming locations, it is a fun little popcorn flick that deserves some attention. From the opening scene and voice over about an old Indian legend, the film builds quickly and doesn’t spend much time going deep into any of its characters; especially the primary antagonist, Cecilia Reyes played by Alice Braga. This isn’t necessarily a negative though. At times I wished it would have dived a bit deeper behind each character and the sinister organization puppeteering Cecilia’s actions, but the speed at which the film moves keeps you interested and eager to see where it is headed.

Movies: Rapid Review

Rapid Review: Unhinged (2020)

Staring: Caren Pistorius, Russell Crowe, Gabriel Bateman

Unhinged is billed as a thriller directed by Derrick Borte with a screenplay by Carl Ellsworth. From the start of the film’s credits all the way through the final scene the movie emphasizes, if not a little too blatantly, that our world has become increasingly violent and impatient. Russell Crowe does a great job playing a mentally unstable “forgotten” man in a society that doesn’t have time to recognize the efforts of those that have worked and bled to make ends meet. With a gradual build for the first fifteen to twenty minutes the film lines up actions and characters in a way that foreshadows the events that follow in the second half of the first act all the way through to the credit roll. At times the foreshadowing is really “in your face” and can detract from the overall enjoyment of the film. Well-paced and perfectly edited, Unhinged is a worthy first movie in the post shut-down world of cinema going. Though it is billed as a thriller there are a few moments of pure horror-like pacing with added jump scares to pull a hearty “oh sh*t” from the audience; I certainly shouted it a couple times. Fear not it was under my breath.

Motivational Thoughts: Challenge

Recently I started a journey to improve my health and physical fitness, and by extension, my overall appearance. This has been a journey I’ve taken before and have had obstacles jump in the way. Some physical ailments, some injuries, and some mental/emotional roadblocks. I’ve struggled with my appearance most of my life; “you’re too skinny”, “you’re not skinny enough”, “you’re too short”, “you’re balding”. And none of those are as critical as my own self-talk. For all the discussions of “body positivity”, there is a surprising lack of leeway for men. Men are supposed to be strong, unemotional, big biceps, six-pack abs, and chiseled jawline. Then again, men are supposed to be emotional enough not to be an a$$hole, total “dad-bod”, nurturing enough to be a good father, and still need that chiseled jawline. This is separate of the requirements related to masculinity.

Motivational Thoughts: U R > U Think!

Today’s “Quote of the Day” over on my FB Author’s page was about confidence and comparing yourself with others. It really got me to thinking about my own self-confidence and how easily it is smashed; normally because of my own sabotaging self-talk. But with that thinking, I was able to reduce the whirlwind of my insecurities to an easily understandable southern breeze. (weird metaphor I know, but just go with it)

Walking Within the Colors

The faint vibration of the jet idling on the tarmac waiting to taxi down the runway was lulling to Chasin. The rhythm of it and the targeted breeze of his vent hitting him on the top of his head made him feel sleepy. If he could have let himself go, he would have faded off quickly. The days leading up to this moment, the day before he was getting married to Einar, were packed full of plans and last-minute adjustments, and the break he had now to chill was food to his soul. The idea to get married in Tennessee in late October was his, but Einar loved it; he’d always wanted to see the fall colors in the U.S. The captain’s voice broke his thoughts momentarily, but not understanding what was being said, he drifted off again into his own thoughts. (Full Story available on Amazon as an eBook) Available August 13, 2021

Buy Short Story