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Reviews
1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture (2022)
The Church is Ready for a Change
You'd have to have your head in the sand to not have seen, lately, that the church is in tumult. From the Catholic Church and their sex scandals, deep inside of Protestantism with The Methodist Church, and through Evangelical Circles, the upheaval is live, and the world is watching it on Prime-Time Television.
This is especially true for the Evangelical church(es) as, for the first time since their arrival into the realm of Christendom - especially in America 150 years ago or so, they find themselves on the receiving end of scrutiny and public opinion.
What's one of the issues causing tremors? Gay folk. Or rather, LGBTQIA folk.
Over the course of several years, other documentaries have come out speaking about the effects of homophobia in the church. While those have been great films, what sets 1946 apart is their approach. The set out to not just talk about cause and effect of homophobia on folks who grew up in religion but to tackle an issue that has far more reaching implications beyond human sexuality. The error of Biblical Literalism.
Through the use of theologians, scholars, historians, and linguists, the "clobber" passages are opened up and examined thoroughly, carefully, even lovingly, amidst the backdrop of personal stories of the researchers who came to do the work.
1946 is a powerful film that is healing to those who've been hurt by bad theology in regard to human sexuality, a beacon of hope to the next generation of children coming up and asking themselves about God and what it means to be a human being, and a warning - a clear sign of the times- that this thing we call the Bible doesn't belong to any specific group or hierarchy. And it certainly doesn't belong to the powers that be inside these organizations to be used as a bludgeon.
This is a message Luther tried to make clear 500 years ago that, for whatever reason, needs to be reexplained.
I think 1946 is simply the beginning.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Discovery Discovers Trek
I have been absolutely enthralled with Star Trek Discovery since it first aired. I love the plots, the cinematics, the storytelling, and the heart that goes into each and every episode.
I don't worship at the altar of "One Tru Trek" and having read the history about Roddenberry's creation and some of the decisions that were made in regard to earlier franchises such as TOS and TNG, I'm convinced that the "wagon train to the stars" actually thrived when taken out of his control.
Discovery, Picard, and SNW, is a feast of the senses and takes Trek where others couldn't. Where some absolutely refused to go. (Except for DS9 which was the best series of them all).
Don't listen to the naysayers on these review pages. They're just mad that it isn't the exact same formula as the older shows with their polyester clothing and hit and miss episodes.
Discovery is the essence of Trek and that is the inclusion of humanity, in all its various glory, to achieve a higher purpose - the ideals of Starfleet.
Persuasion (2022)
Sumptuous. A lesson in "less is more".
My husband is a Jane Austinite - I've suffered (not really...okay, only if we're including Emma) through all of the Jane Austin Films from Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and so forth. Just kidding. For the most part, I liked them (except Emma).
However, it is my opinion that Jane Austin wrote the same book four times and 8,000 movies have been made of these books with various casts and focus on "the canon" of these novels with different actors and actresses hidden underneath layers of clothing and frocks.
This is by far the most refreshing take on any of those books, hands down. The cinematography was beautiful, the characters lovely, the script and dialogue were engaging, and there was humor in bits and pieces that made me laugh out loud.
The casting was brilliant - even the secondary and tertiary characters were fleshed out and while in other Jane Austin movies, they make we want to gouge my eyes out an hour and a half in, these characters were alive and often times brilliant in their own ways.
The male lead gave Mr. Darcy a run for his money in the "brooding" department and Dakota Fanning's character was alive and full of agency.
Would Jane Austin like it? Probably not. Yet, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't. This was a good example of "less is definitely more."
Pray Away (2021)
Documentary: a movie or a television or radio program that provides a factual record or report
The juxtaposition of what was and what is still is the biggest theme of this documentary.
Exodus International is no more - but now we get to hear the various leader's stories on how this 'pray the gay away' movement worked (or didn't as expressed) for them and the hell and torture they went through as they tortured thousands upon thousands of other gay men and women with the lie of conversion therapy.
We are introduced to a young man starting a new movement with all the same old talking points continuing the 'work' of exodus now that the founders are operators are gone and a young woman who survived Exodus and left once she heard the trauma Exodus caused which mirrored her own.
Beautifully shot, this documentary shows what unchecked power and false doctrine can do to the psyche of individuals. This is an important educational piece.
Something Like Summer (2017)
Feels like a darn good movie
First of all, let me start off saying, Thank you for having queer characters play queer roles.
*pause for applause*
Next, I thought the movie was incredibly well done. The tension, the subject matter, it wasn't trite, it wasn't stereotypical, it was compassionate, and light hearted in one moment, and then it crushes you in the next.
Am I giving it a pass because its a gay film, a couple of stars - sure. But I'm hard to impress as a queer content creator myself and this movie really impressed me. Good Job, guys.
Hamilton (2020)
Profound in it's humanity.
Hamilton - last night, I settled in to watch Hamilton and within moments, I was nodding my head along with the hip-hop-inspired musical.
I wasn't raised on Broadway. I am not familiar with a lot of musicals besides Phantom (which I've seen a million times) and Les Mis (about the same).
So that's my limited experience.
But this was mindblowing.
The complex lyrics - forcing me to pay attention to everything that was spoken or sung, held me breathless for the almost three-hour set.
The cast of characters from Alexander Hamilton to Aaron Burr, from Lafayette to George Washington was incredible.
Throughout the story you see the growing animosity between Hamilton and Burr fester.
Meanwhile, you see a very complicated man in Alexander Hamilton - you see his humanity.
You see him rise and you see his fall and everything in between.
From awe-inspiring moments to portions that made me laugh out loud, (Mrs. Washington naming her Tom Cat after Alexander Hamilton), and portions that made me weep (It's quiet uptown) I did not walk away from this unmoved.
"Forgiveness, can you imagine?" was probably the holiest thing I've heard uttered in my entire 39 years of life. There was mercy, there that took my breath away.
Dealing with issues of war, slavery, immigration, and loyalty - this show was captivating.
Most of all - Lin Manuel Miranda drove home the point that historical figures such as Hamilton and others were very much human. In exposing their flaws, their great deeds shine ever more the brighter.
Gods' profundity is mundane. Human being's moments of profundity are sublime.
A true Tour De Force that was unique in its storytelling ability that kept me on the edge of my seat.
The Open House (2018)
What. The. Crap?
The movie was great until the last quarter. What was the point of setting up the father to die in the beginning, the running thing, the mom on the edge, and just....it made no sense. At all.
A Warm Wind (2011)
Heartfelt
A warm wind was a gentle wind. A gentle telling of the life of a Marine post combat. I love veterans, first of all. So this movie got a +50 points just for beginning to tackle such an important modern day issue. Sure its a little slow to get started but the dialogue opens up it goes for a run with your heart. The acting is okay. But the story is so important. Its so important, I cant stress this more. Its uncomfortable, but I think America needs to be a little uncomfortable when it comes to the results of a war such as this. Be a little uncomfortable, it teaches you humanity. Bravo. If your looking for action, skip to transformers. Yet if you want something that is going to make you think, that may motivate you to do some good in the world, then watch this. Wounded troops need you. And not all scars a physical. Semper Avanti.