a head of my own

Sunday, February 03, 2019

A New Paradigm for Masculinity

Gillette unveiled a new campaign ad highlighting a less toxic type of masculinity, whose standards have left many men incapable of relating to other men or accepting diversity, effectively shackling them:

Friday, February 01, 2019

In Memoriam

Bernardo Bertolucci (16 March 1941 – 26 November 2018)

He was the famed Italian director of The Last Emperor, one of my favorite films of all time, for which he won the Best Director and Best Screenplay Oscars. He was nominated for 2 others in his illustrious career.

He was also renown for Last Tango in Paris, 1900, The Sheltering Sky, Little Buddha, The Conformist, and The Dreamers.

In Memoriam

Stan Lee (December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018)

This is the man primarily responsible for bringing to life a roster of superheros adored the world over. His most famous creation is Spider-Man, but he also created (together with artist Jack Kirby) the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the X-Men, and Doctor Strange, among others.

I wasn't a reader of the comics those characters originated in, but I got to know and love them from the countless movies they inspired in the past couple of decades.

Mr. Lee was a brilliant artist with a seemingly endless creativity whose passing leaves a hole that just cannot be filled.

R.I.P.

In Memoriam

Aretha Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018)

Known the world over as the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was one of my favorite singers, gifted with an unmistakable and unforgettable voice that never failed to move me.

I had the good fortune to go see her in March of 2018 in what proved to be her last tour. In spite of her age and illness, which forced her to take a prolonged break during the show, she was still mesmerizing and a commanding presence on stage.

Her legacy as a singer and civil rights activist will live on forever.

Goodbye Aretha.

Monday, July 09, 2018

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The Gist: After things went horribly wrong in the last attempt to create an entertainment park based on live dinosaurs, the animals freely roam the remote island. Unfortunately for them, however, the local volcano has awakened and its imminent eruption threatens the ancient beasts’ very existence once again. A billionaire puts together a plan to save and transfer as many dinosaurs to a different island, and he calls upon some familiar faces to help out.

What a treat it is to see these beloved Jurassic creatures on the big screen once again. Does it matter that they are not real and their behavior is largely based on assumptions and guesswork (albeit rooted in science)? Not to me! I don’t care they’re all CGI, they look and sound real to me!

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are both back reprising their roles as the on-again/off-again bickering couple who tries to do what’s right for the animals. They have charisma and talent and surely deliver the goods. Rafe Spall puts on the mantle of the bad guy and is pretty easy to hate on.

Obviously, the movie’s production values are absolutely flawless. The visual effects are as life-like as it gets, the sound effects are terrific, and Michael Giacchino’s score is thrilling.

As far as the script goes, I’d say the core idea is interesting, but it does feel a bit derivative at times.

(Spoilers paragraph!) I do want to mention that when the volcano finally erupts, engulfing the remaining dinosaurs in its deadly embrace, it feels really sad. Even though one knows they aren’t real, just the thought of these magnificent creatures going extinct again is incredibly touchy. The last screams of help by that lone brontosaurus on the edge of the shore, with nowhere else to go, felt agonizing.

The Bottom Line: If you’re a fan of the franchise then Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom won’t disappoint: it’s loud, engaging, and a lot of fun. If you’ve never seen any of these movies, you’ll certainly be entertained by this movie.

Grade: 7