Revisiting the Movies of 1952: Singin' in the Rain

With the end of the silent film era came the end of many careers, and although recent Best Picture winner The Artist depicts this change in medium as well, it was not the first to do so. Gene Kelly directed and starred in this timeless musical that follows a famous silent film star, Don Lockwood, as he works with his best friend, Cosmo Brown (played hilariously by Donald O'Connor), to remain relevant as sound is added alongside films.

First of all, O'Connor is a comedic genius in this film. His slapstick antics during his song "Make Them Laugh" are memorable and his chemistry with Kelly is on pace, especially during their duets such as "Moses Supposes". Kelly's actor has a false relationship with his constant costar, a diva with a horrid voice (which produces gutbusting results when they do their first "talkie"), which caricatures both old and modern Hollywood relationships, but when a woman with a great voice begins dubbing over for the diva, Kelly begins falling in love with her (played perfectly by Debbie Reynolds) and the best romantic parts of the movie happen between them.

In the end, Singin' in the Rain isn't incredibly deep or moving, but it's 100 minutes of classic fun, music, romance, and one incredibly soaked song. Enjoy!

P.S - If it's not already available at your local library, check out Singin' in the Rain on Amazon to:

1) Rent digitally for $2.99.

2) Buy on Blu-ray for $13.36.

3) Buy on DVD for $7.42.

4) Buy digitally for $9.99.

P.P.S. - Sadly, I have not yet seen High Noon, The Greatest Show on Earth, Ikiru, or The Life of Oharu, so they did not make the cut for best film of 1952.

In Memorial

A nation begun from war.
Revere the messenger who brought the word;
His purpose fulfilled to they
Who relied on his diligence and heard.

We remember the men who,
Amidst bombs bursting and rockets' red glare,
Raised a tattered flag to show
Freedom of a country would still be theirs.

Men who braved the wilderness
In search of many lands and oceans wide.
Who gave their lives for a fort,
Whose name would rally a land to great pride.

But do not forget those who
Were first warred upon and destroyed wholly;
Those who gave their loves and lost,
Lost their homelands to wars numbered forty.

We honor fallen brothers
Killing and shooting their own countrymen
For freedom of truly all
And a chance for us to begin again.

Do not forget those who died
For the conquest of rocks and leaves in seas.
The islands that became foes
And joined those whom we name our enemies.

Remember French countrysides
Bathed in bloody metal, trenches and fears
Where nine million fallen
Shout: "Don't let our warning fall on dead ears!"

But the world did not listen,
And let hatred fester in their hearts yet.
Remember the slaughtered ones
Torn asunder, shredding a continent.

Beaches of ash, soot and smoke;
Soldiers slain even before they left seas.
Honor their great bravery,
Dying for liberty of all countries.

Commemorate those who fought
To free the south of another nation,
And the many later lost
To jungles of insanity and sin.

Remember deserts and forests
Far away but still in chaos and screams.
Honor those who return home
And those who come beneath a flag of dreams.

Embrace those left here with us;
The parents and children, husbands and wives.
Whether longing or mourning,
Love them in the lonely time of their lives.

Respect the long since finished
Among us every day and everywhere.
Remember what they've endured;
Listen to them when they decide to share.

Regardless of politics,
Or religion, gender, race or belief,
Remember those who gave all
To lands of the brave and homes of the free.

Ginseng for the Soul #10

Be happy. Buy cars. Go to church. Play games. See movies. Enjoy you–BUY OUR PRODUCT–rself. Take a trip–WITH OUR NEW– Be happy. c) RDB #twisp

— Robert D Beltran (@Pathos103) April 28, 2013

Groaners (Braaaaaiiinssss)

Q: When do zombies go to sleep?
A: When they are dead tired.

Q: Why did the zombie ignore all his Facebook friends?
A: He was still digesting all of his followers on Twitter.

Q: Where do zombies eat dinner?
A: The living room.

Q: Why do zombies make good ringtones?
A: They produce lots of sound bites.

Q: How does a zombie introduce himself?
A: Pleased to eat you.

Q: What's a zombie's favorite dessert?
A: I scream.

Q: Why does a cemetery have to keep a fence around it?
A: Because people are dying to get in.

Q: What kind of candy do zombies hate?
A: Lifesavers.

Q: What do zombies say before a fight?
A: Do you want a piece of me?

Retrospection 5/18-5/23/15

Here we are, at the edge of summer. Can you make it one more week? Perhaps more? I'm ready for it to stop raining....



5/18: Ginseng for the Soul
A poem reflects on the redness of nature while a man decides he doesn't want to work for 7-UP anymore.

5/19: 451 Kindlings
Let's see just how good Robert Galbraith's first novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, really is. Oh, wait, Galbraith is J.K. Rowling?!

5/20: Nada

5/21: Throwback Thursdays
Let's continue Revisiting the Movies of 1951 with the sci fi classic The Day the Earth Stood Still.

5/22: The Should, the Could and the Empty
Oscar Isaac and company dominate the screen in Ex Machina, the newest AI sci fi thriller.

5/23: Nada (went to see a man about a monkey)



So much science fiction this week! That's fine, and that's all she wrote, if what she wrote was murder....

Ex Machina: The Should, the Could and the Empty

Expecting Tomorrowland here? Me too, but it has bombed so hard in reviews that I decided to turn my attention to a different science fiction film released earlier this year.


Almost all movies about artificial intelligence use the simulated sentience as a platform with which to debate what it means to be human. 2001: A Space Odyssey used HAL to postulate that the survival instinct transforms a machine into a living thing. Her used Samantha to show that love is what makes us human, and it's a very strong force (Interstellar said something similar without using AI). But in Ex Machina, we look into how a human thinks, not what they think. So, what does it mean to be human?

First-time director Alex Garland does an outstanding job in setting up a very personal and claustrophobic film that focuses essentially on only three people: Caleb, a smart coder who is brought to an isolated facility to perform a Turing test on an AI; Ava, said AI who shows interest in Caleb beyond their small talk during the tests; and Nathan, a genius who designed the world's biggest search engine (called Bluebook, obviously referring to Google) and Ava. All three actors performed brilliantly in this film, each bringing many layers to the subtle surface of their characters. Oscar Isaac in particular (playing Nathan) blew me away with his mixture of social ineptness, alcoholism, intelligence, and a chilling sinister feel that made me debate whether he was bad or good. Domhnall Gleeson also did very well as Caleb, a man caught between two warring factions: the creator and the created. Then Alicia Vikander plays Ava perfectly: an innocent AI who is discovering her love and sexuality while Caleb must struggle with his own desires and Nathan just watches. Much like Foxcatcher last year, the three leading actors bring their A-games to this film.

Because this story takes place within a remote facility, it can be a bit slow at times, but the music keeps the suspense driving. If I could only use one word to describe this film, it'd be Atmospheric. The environment is haunting in a too-clean experiment kind of way (like the video game Portal), the characters all seem to have ulterior motives, and suspicion and paranoia dominate much of the film. I loved the screenplay, which included a few twists and turns but also had great dialogue about the human condition (a scene where Caleb describes Mary in a Gray Box was especially well done). The cinematography is very relaxed, taking its time, which I enjoyed but might turn others off. I will say there are several scenes of graphic nudity (although nothing is happening, much like people posing for an art piece) and Ava's sexual design plays a role in the story. But that should not turn anyone looking for a cerebral film, or just a great old-school sci fi. This is my second favorite film of 2015 (very close behind '71, which I will review once it becomes available to see again).

Verdict: Anyone old enough SHOULD see this film as soon as possible. Oscar Isaac is my pick for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar (ha!) this year so far.

Revisiting the Movies of 1951: The Day the Earth Stood Still

I could take the easy route and put The African Queen, An American in Paris, or A Streetcar Named Desire, but I have not yet been able to see those (though they are all on my list!). Next up would be Alice in Wonderland, but I honestly don't care for it. So we are left with a classic science fiction film, The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Robert Wise directed this classic about an extraterrestrial visit from a flying saucer, from which a humanoid alien named Klaatu begins to walk among us and learn about us. His first interaction with us results in a gift from him to us being destroyed when a soldier shoots him, causing his ominous (and iconic) robotic companion, Gort, to destroy all guns nearby. In an equally ominous ending, a temporarily resurrected Klaatu (after being murdered by military) warns the human race that they can either join other planets in peaceful conversation, or be reduced to ash if they continue their violence.

The film acts as a recognition of humanity's violent nature, and a warning that our brutal reactions to the unknown will eventually be our undoing. It shows how animal-like and feral we can become when we let our fear control us. Sadly, it also depicts a government that seeks to control information by force. The Day the Earth Stood Still brings us a classic science fiction with androids, flying saucers and disintegrating beams, but it also reminds us of where we were over 60 years ago during the Cold War, and sadly how little progress we have truly made.



P.S. - Time to re/discover this classic? Amazon (or check another provider) has it available to:

1) Rent digitally for $2.99.
2) Buy on Blu-ray for $13.37.
3) Buy on DVD for $6.53.
4) Buy digitally for $12.99.


P.P.S - Remember your local library has films as well!

The Cuckoo's Calling: 451 Kindlings

For a first-time novelist, Robert Galbraith really surprised me with The Cuckoo's Calling. This thick and convoluted crime fiction mystery follows Cormoran Strike, an Afghanistan veteran living in London....

Okay, I can't do this review seriously without first acknowledging the elephantitis in the room. Robert Galbraith is simply a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, who wanted to see if her writing was still considered great when her fame was removed from the title. I grew up reading Harry Potter, so that bias should be considered when reading this review. If you did not like the Harry Potter series or her style of writing, then this book will not be for you. What made Harry Potter so great was not only the story and wonder-filled world; it was the characters and their interactions with each other. The conversations, small little side ventures together, and many, many interesting and fleshed out characters are what makes Rowling's prose so fun to read, and she removes herself from the story completely, allowing the reader to immerse themselves in the story (unlike other great writers, like Cormac McCarthy, who use their prose for beauty). That being said, The Cuckoo's Calling is a very good novel in its own right.

Continuing a brief synopsis, Strike is a Londonian veteran who is missing a leg but never lets it interfere with his life. He is a private investigator who is assigned a receptionist, Robin, from London's job placement, and she quickly adapts to his work and shows genuine interest in what he does. A wealthy man, John Bristow, hires Strike to investigate the murder of his adopted sister, a famous supermodel named Lula Landry. Her death was ruled a suicide, but Bristow wants Strike to investigate nonetheless, suspecting something more sinister going on. The story then quickly becomes a lot of dead ends and red herrings, with seemingly nothing connecting together. As the story progresses however (very much like Harry Potter), small details and disconnected events begin to come together and finally result in a big reveal that honestly surprised me. If for nothing more than the mystery, this novel would be worth a read.

But what captivated me was not so much the mystery as the characters. Strike is a very complex man, hiding his prosthetic leg and doing his best to appear normal while also trying to live on an extremely tight budget. He and Robin also develop a mentorship that definitely hints at signs of attraction, resulting in some tense situations, but it doesn't progress very far because of Robin's engagement (for which she moved to London) and Strike's recent breakup. Robin goes through relationship strife with her fiancé due to working for Strike and placing herself in danger, and not settling down into a traditional role where she is submissive to him. Meanwhile, Strike has had essentially a lifelong on-off relationship with his ex-fiancée where she repeatedly cheated on him, and after the most recent episode, he finally left her. These very different relationship issues further cloud Strike and Robin's relationship with each other, and I honestly look forward to how it progresses in the future (I will post a review of The Silkworm, the next Strike novel, within a few months).

In summary, I highly recommend this more mature novel to all grownup Harry Potter fans and crime mystery fans. Rowling is at the top of her game with her characters, and although the story has some clichés, it was still an absorbing read (much like Harry Potter where it is incredibly difficult to put the book down because you're too interested).

Best Print Edition: Amazon, Paperback, $13.75

Best Electronic Edition: Amazon, Kindle, $10.99

Ginseng for the Soul #9

I Don't Want to Work for 7-UP Anymore

Bob was sitting in the waiting room of the hospital after his wife had gone into labor. The nurse walked out and said to the man sitting next to Bob, "Congratulations sir, you’re the new father of twins!"

The man replied, "How about that, I work for the Doublemint Chewing Gum Company." The man then followed the woman to his wife’s room.

About an hour later, the same nurse entered the waiting room and announced that Mr. Smith’s wife has just had triplets.

Mr. Smith stood up and said, "Well, how do ya like that, I work for the 3M Company."

The gentleman that was sitting next to Bob then got up and started to leave. When Bob asked him why he was leaving, he remarked, "I think I need a breath of fresh air."
"I work for 7-UP."

Retrospection 5/11-5/16/15

Another week, another action film. I just enjoy the excuse to go see a movie when it actually comes out!



5/11: Ginseng for the Soul
A man is surprised by ghosts while we learn about being a parent.

5/12: Nada

5/13: Burning Binges
Netflix's Daredevil is the best story they've put out to date, and I hope they continue making shows like it!

5/14: Throwback Thursdays
We are Revisiting the Movies of 1950 with the classic debut from Akira Kurosawa, Rashomon.

5/15: The Should, the Could and the Empty
Can Mad Max: Fury Road live up to the success and praise of the first three movies from so long ago? Find out!

5/16: Nada (pressed snooze too much)



Thanks for reading another week of my writing! I will see you tomorrow with more Ginseng for the Soul and I'm excited for Tomorrowland's release (this is a Brad Bird fan here)!

Mad Max: Fury Road: The Should, the Could and the Empty

At first glance, Mad Max: Fury Road is a straightforward post-apocalyptic flick. Some critics have stated that the character devlopment is lacking, or that the film is a nonstop action sequence with a barebones story. In some ways, this is true. But to dismiss George Miller's glorious, 30-year delayed return to the future wastelands of Australia as just an orgy of violence would be a mistake and an insult to the 70-year old filmmaker.

Tom Hardy replaces Mel Gibson in the titular role of Max Rockatansky, who has definitely taken a further dive off of the deep end by the time this film starts. He hears voices, sees the faces of those who have died around him, and explains his insanity as a result of his inability to fix the wrongs of this desolate world. While Hardy does a good job stepping into Gibson's shoes, Max is not truly the main character of the fourth installment of his own series. There is little to no character development to him beyond a slight shift from abandoning those who need him to aiding them (in a very similar fashion to Mad Max: The Road Warrior, considered the best before Fury Road). For someone who is watching Fury Road as a standalone film, the lack of background on Max beyond a brief monologue in the beginning will be frustrating. For those who have seen the first three films, we already have been shown much of Max's origin and development, and so it is not needed here again.

But Fury Road can truly stand on its own as one of the most progressive action films in decades. Most only will feature female characters in either a supporting role, like Black Widow in Marvel's films, or as a weak character that the men must defend. Men have traditionally held the lead roles in action films due to their characterization with war and violence, and most women will either be helpless or, even if they are strong, become little more than love interests (see Black Widow). George Miller decided very early on in production that Furiosa, the warrior woman portrayed by Charlize Theron, would essentially be as great a figure as Max (even letting it slip that he had already written a script for a potential sequel, Mad Max: Furiosa). And she sure is the badass and lead role in Fury Road. She fights, stabs, shoots, and directs the entire film's course, seeking to rescue "breeders" from a patriarchal dictatorship. The film essentially follows her efforts to deliver these women, who essentially live for nothing more than to be impregnated by the dictator of a settlement (it is implied that they are treated as objects and raped as sex slaves), to a safe place to rebuild their lives in. Whereas Max is the wild card, the man caught in the middle of these two factions, Furiosa is the leader and strong woman that will lead them to a greater tomorrow.

As a fellow writer, I can truly tell that Miller put heavy effort into this story, despite what other critics have said. His film covers man's destruction of the environment amidst war (perfectly symbolized by the destruction of a tree in one scene), the motivation and life of a suicidal warrior (the villain's War Boys believe they will go to Valhalla if they die in battle, causing them to act much like a suicide bomber), and even the age-old argument of dictatorship versus democracy. The "breeders" are a very obvious presentation of sex slaves that exist even today, used for little more than pleasure and posterity, and Furiosa is the personification of a woman freed from that societal constraint. Then a final message about reform rather than abandonment provides a perfect to the end of what amounts to a two hour car chase.

Oh, but the action is glorious. Everything that I often complain about modern action films disappears into the dust of Fury Road's enormous desert. I can count on one hand the times that computer animation was used, and it was always well done. Similarly to one of my favorite current directors, Christopher Nolan, Miller wanted his film to have as much special effects as possible, meaning expensive construction of cars, ridiculous stunts, and lots of explosions. This is the film that all action film directors need to see to understand how action should be choreographed and shown (I'm looking at you, Zack Snyder and Michael Bay). The fights are real and epic, the chases are long and frenetic, and the violence was actually toned down from the first three films (the worst parts happen offscreen). Trust me, all of the praise regarding this film's status as an adrenaline rush of violence was on the nose.

However, there is something that I cannot quite place my finger on. I don't have any real complaints about the film, but I cannot call it a perfect film. I think the barebones backstory of the three main characters was part of it, but their actual personalities and motivations were well fleshed out. The somewhat repetitive nature of a movie that relies on chase after chase for action could also be a part of it, along with the wondrous but monotonous desert landscape. All in all, these are very minor complaints, so I still highly recommend this to those who want a good action film that actually has a heart and a brain to it (The Dark Knight comes to mind), unlike the typical and endless slew of movies we get nowadays.



Verdict: You SHOULD see Charlize Theron tear up the screen in this fun, smart film, and I eagerly await a sequel where she takes center stage (please, George Miller!). It was decent in 3D, but I wouldn't recommend it, unless on IMAX, in which case I would definitely recommend!



Reminder: Definitely Should > Should > Probably Should > Could > Could in a Dollar Theater > Empty > Empty Inside

Revisiting the Movies of 1950: Rashomon

What is the truth? Is there an absolute truth? If so, is there any possible way to ever know the absolute truth? Everyone has a different point of view, a different set of experiences, circumstances, and choices that have led them to exceedingly different lives. If you and I were to watch the same event together, will we see the same exact thing, or will we both see it differently through the our different views?

Akira Kurosawa poses this question and more in this renowned and celebrated film about the recounting of a murder. While traveling, a man and his wife are ambushed by a famous outlaw (played by Kurosawa favorite and legendary actor Toshiro Mifune), and this scenario ends with the wife’s rape and the man’s death (neither graphically portrayed). But when a court convenes to sentence the outlaw, they discover that the four witnesses have different stories to tell. A peasant witness (who had been eavesdropping) tells one story, the outlaw another, the wife still another and finally through a medium, the victim himself tells of his death.

Kurosawa does not attempt to tell us what the truth is, and leaves it to us to piece together the different parts of their stories to find one that seems most likely. But who can really know? All four are certain of their viewpoints, but might one or all of them be lying, or maybe some little detail was missed? Kurosawa has expertly portrayed a scenario that shows that we can never know the absolute truth behind every criminal case. An inherent failing of being human is that we cannot ever know the absolute truth, because everyone could see the same truth but still disagree on what it is. Widely considered one of the best films ever made, and bringing Japanese cinema to a global audience, Rashomon is a fantastic dive into the truth behind truth and the terror that it brings.

P.S. - Do you want to enjoy this classic, or perhaps have a better understanding of perception that is still wholly relevant today (see Ferguson case)?  Check out Amazon (or similar provider) and:

1) Rent digitally for $2.99.

2) Buy on Criterion Collection Blu-ray for $23.99.

3) Buy on Criterion Collection DVD for $13.90.

4) Buy digitally for $14.99.

P.P.S. - Always remember to check your city library’s catalog as well for films! You’d be surprised how many of my recommendations can be borrowed for free from your library.


Honorable Mention: Cinderella

Daredevil: Burning Binges

Although he has definitely redefined himself over the last 5 years, I think we can all agree that we just want to forget those early Ben Affleck films, including but not limited to Paycheck, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, and Daredevil. Now, here was an opportunity for Marvel to present one of its darker heroes in a more realistic setting, which would have actually beaten Christopher Nolan's comic film renaissance to the punch (Batman Begins came out in 2005, two years after Daredevil). With a superhero defined by his handicap, blindness, Daredevil was an extremely interesting character who saw the world only through enhanced hearing, smell, and touch (due to radioactive waste being what had blinded him). Alas, it was not meant to be, drowning in mediocre acting from Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Michael Clarke Duncan (I personally think Colin Farrell did well as Bullseye). After an even worse spinoff sequel with Garner's Elektra, the franchise was mercifully put down and left to sit.

Fast forward nine years, and the rights for Daredevil, among others, reverted from 20th Century Fox back to Marvel Studios. Then in 2013, it was decided that four different TV shows that were to be connected together and aired on Netflix (as well as being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe). The first of these shows was released on Netflix earlier in April of 2015, and it's safe to say that I could not get enough of it.

Daredevil (the Netflix series, is it still called a TV show?) is one of the best origin stories in comic film history, and easily the best since Batman Begins. Not only do witness the beginning of Daredevil as a vigilante, but we see Matt Murdock (Daredevil's actual name) and his best friend Foggy Nelson begin their law practice, and Wilson Fisk (a.k.a. Kingpin) as he begins his rise to power in the part of New York City known as Hell's Kitchen. That connection to the MCU is obvious from the beginning, with the city rebuilding after the events of The Avengers, and plenty of greedy, powerful men using this reconstruction as an opportunity to gain wealth and take advantage of the lower class. Donning a black mask with no eyeholes and a black outfit that looks like he ordered it on Amazon, Matt (played perfectly by Charlie Cox) begins a nightly routine of beating up thugs and criminals for information such as where human trafficking is happening, who's running it, and the details of other criminal activities as well. He soon earns the title of the Devil of Hell's Kitchen for his acts, both good and bad. Meanwhile, Fisk is largely hidden but often spoke of during the first few episodes of the show, but once he explodes onto the scene, we quickly learn that both Fisk and Matt have the same vision for Hell's Kitchen: to rebuild it and free it from its dilapidated state, although they have different plans of how that will come to fruition.

But now let me get down to the truly good stuff: what I loved about this show was that it did everything that I wished Marvel had done and more. Every single Marvel movie I have seen leaves me wishing for a better villain, original action (not the same damn thing over and over), and a darker tone with more realism without sacrificing that winning sense of humor. Daredevil gives us those qualities in dramatic fashion.

Fisk is the best, most real villain that I've seen in any MCU title. A running gripe from me has been how silly or comically two-dimensioned the villains in Marvel can be, or how not bad they really are. Loki was little more than a brat throwing a tantrum, Ultron had no motivation to be evil at all, and even Magneto never strikes fear into my heart the way that the Joker, Two-Face, or Ozymandias can. Granted, Thanos looks promising and X-Men: Apocalypse might change my mind, but as of May 2015, Wilson Fisk is the best Marvel villain shown in the MCU. He has a very soft, vulnerable side with an endearing desire to be with Vanessa, an art dealer that he falls in love with. At the same time, he has a violent, raging side that chokes the life out of men and leaves you wincing with every strike he throws. Vincent D'Onofrio (best known as Detective Goren in Law & Order, but he also played suicidal Gomer Pyle in Full Metal Jacket and the bug alien in Men in Black) demonstrates a broad range with soft-spoken conversations and screaming brutality when needed, but we also see that this is a man with a strong motivation to change his city and protect those that he loves.

The action, oh my god, the action is fantastic. I don't know if you've seen The Raid: Redemption or The Raid 2: Berandal (Indonesian action films featuring the Pencack Silat martial arts style of fighting), but those featured the best hand-to-hand fighting since The Matrix, perhaps even surpassing it in originality, brutality and talent. Even DeKnight credits the Raid films with inspiring several action sequences, including an extended shot that wowed me as the best action sequence of the year. The fighting is realistic, it's gritty, it's sometimes brutal, but it's never, ever boring.

Finally, the darker tone does wonders when combined with a neo-noir style of show (I think of Se7en or The Departed when I want to describe its style) and that trademark Marvel humor and flair. This is much more of a crime show with elements of superhero; the middle of the season slows down when both Matt and Karen Page (portrayed powerfully by Deborah Ann Woll from True Blood), a young woman who works as a secretary for Matt and Foggy, are following different trails of evidence to track down and take down Fisk. Karen teams up with veteran reporter Ben Urich (who reminded me tremendously of Morgan Freeman in Se7en and is a big character in Marvel) to do it the old school way through paper and interviews, which bored most reviewers but I personally loved seeing. This is the true way that the little people have to live in the MCU where gods fly among them, leveling cities in their fights against evil. Matt's Catholicism is also featured heavily with his struggle against his crimes but the necessity of them, tearing him apart and showing us the first truly religious protagonist in the MCU (they are all pretty much atheist, besides the obviously-mocked Thor), which also grounds him more in our reality and makes him that much more like a normal person.

Make no mistake: this is not a superhero TV show where wondrous acts are made and ridiculous plots are furthered. This is a series rooted in our reality, filled with interesting characters, small gains and big losses by both the good and bad, and far more gray than in any previous MCU entry. To say that there are deaths that shocked me would not be spoiling too much, but it definitely will affect the MCU moving forwards. I didn't even touch on the wonderful characters of Karen, Urich, Foggy, Stick (a blind mentor to Matt when he was a kid), Claire Temple (love interest for Matt and his nurse), or other key people, but to do so would take many, many more words. Based on the final few episodes of the season, however, I definitely have a feeling that Season 2 will have less realism and more of that grandiose pizazz that we've come to expect from Marvel, but until then, I highly, HIGHLY recommend either watching this on Netflix with your own subscription or with a friend's.



Verdict: Everyone able to handle R-rated violence DEFINITELY SHOULD watch this TV show / Netflix series / MCU entry as soon as possible. Those who are Marvel fans, martial arts action fans, or crime television fans should consider this recommendation twofold.

Ginseng for the Soul #8

"A man was climbing up the stairs when a ghost surprised him. Now there are two ghosts." - unknown Creative Writing TU student. #twiss

— Robert D Beltran (@Pathos103) April 26, 2013

Things You Learn When You Become a Parent


Q: When is the best time to start weaning your baby from nursing?
A: Once you see teethmarks.

Q: If your baby is in its first trimester, when should it start moving?
A: With any luck, right after it finishes college.

Q: What do I tell my baby's older siblings when it's screaming?
A: That the baby fell from heaven because it was too loud for even them.

Q: What do you tell a mother who asks you to hold her baby while she berates someone else for calling it ugly?
A: "Go get them, I'll hold your monkey for you."

Q: How many diapers will it take until the baby stays clean?
A: Hahahahahahaha!

Q: When is it the right time to discuss sex with your child?
A: Preferably before you have to explain why Mommy and Daddy were wrestling in the bed when they walked in.

Retrospection 5/2-5/9/15

My first week back was the bomb, and by bomb, I mean very excellent and not the dangerous explosive used in war and terror (don't hurt me, NSA!). Let's continue strong and not let those finals get you down, otherwise, you'll drown!


5/2: Re-Trey-Reset
I explain what took me away from writing, what brought me back, and what the new schedule is like.

5/2: I Refuse to Serve or Be Near Tan People
My beliefs have forced my hand, and so I must state why tan people are horrid and I cannot condone their actions.

5/3: The Should, the Could and the Empty (bonus!)
So how good is Avengers 2? Does Ultron overtake Loki as the greatest Marvel movie villain? Most importantly, is it as fun as the first? Find out here!

5/4: Ginseng for the Soul
A sister discovers her baby brother and a list of things that those without children need to understand.

5/5: This Is a Football
What division did the best in the 2015 NFL Draft, and can I let my Eagles bias slide? Find out!

5/6: Nada (potty break)

5/7: Throwback Thursdays
Revisiting the Movies resumes with the 1940's and the legendary Citizen Kane.

5/8: The Should, the Could and the Empty
Kristen Stewart is capable of not acting like someone who's been lobotomized in Clouds of Sils Maria.

5/9: The Writer Within
We go back to high school to read a story of brotherhood and loss in Brothers.



I thoroughly enjoyed being back, and I hope that you did as well. See you tomorrow with more poetry and jokes!

Brothers: The Writer Within #3

I was about 16 years old when I decided to participate in an annual talent show at my church. It was the first year that they allowed non-performing talents to be showcased (such as art), so I got my own table and created a laminated binder with all of my stories. Not wanting to be completely unoriginal, I decided to write a new story just for this event. I saw several people crying while reading this, and so I know that it's at least a decent story. Enjoy!

Brothers

George got out of the white Honda Accord he drove. When he closed the door, he gave it a good shove. If he didn’t, the door wouldn’t close properly. But that’s how cars older than ten years tend to be.

He took a look at the large house and sucked in a deep breath. He let it out slowly, not hurrying at all to get inside. It was only when his wife Brenda spoke to him that he broke out of his trance.

“George, are you sure you want to do this?”

He sighed.

“Yes, I’m sure, dear.”

Brenda placed her hand gently on his shoulder, then took it off and headed towards the house. George took in one more deep breath and set off for the house.

It was very large, at least four thousand square feet. George knew it was just as big inside as it looked. George examined the front yard, not surprised to find toys, bikes, and two playground sets covering what grass there was. And there was a lot of grass. At least an acre of it.

George caught his breath when he looked toward the garage. Two beautiful cars sat in the three-car garage, looking freshly waxed. George immediately recognized the white fastback as a ’89 Lotus Espirit Turbo 4, which he considered the best Lotus of its time. He gazed longingly at it before looking at the next car, a blue convertible. He nearly fainted with ecstasy at the sight of a brand new BMW Z4. He stared at the cars for several seconds before tearing his eyes away to head back towards the house.

He had reached the porch when the door opened. A gorgeous woman opened the door and squealed with delight, which Brenda mirrored.

“Brenda!”

“Katie!”

They hugged and kissed each other on the cheek, greeting each other with warmth. A man walked up behind Katie, and Brenda rushed to greet him as well. George reluctantly hugged Katie, murmuring hello. Then he and the man looked at each other.

Brenda and Katie held their breath, waiting to see what would happen. It was the man who broke the silence.

“Oh, it’s great to see you again, brother!”

Then he rushed to George and pulled him into an embrace. George didn’t hug him back.

The man realized George wasn’t hugging back, so he let go of George. George looked back towards the car and mumbled something about leaving the lasagna in the trunk and hurried out. The door closed softly behind him.

The man let out a deep sigh of sadness and fell onto a chair in the nearby sitting room. Katie went over to him and rested her head on his shoulder. Brenda walked slowly over to them.

She struggled for words.

“I’m…sorry about George. He’s been in a bad mood all day.”

“It’s okay, Brenda. It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, but still.”

The conversation faded. Katie invited Brenda into the kitchen and Brenda eagerly followed her.

“Don’t mope around too long, Jimmy.”

Jimmy grunted in response and got out of the chair. George walked back in through the door carrying a pan covered with aluminum foil. Jimmy and George both walked to the kitchen.

George envied Jimmy’s beautiful house. Everything looked new and yet warm.

Before George and Jimmy could make it to the kitchen, they had to make it through the living room. Apparently the kids had heard the door open, because they had ran into the living room. Screams of “Uncle Go’ge!” surrounded George, and he was quickly swallowed into a sea of children. He laughed and roughhoused with them, saying “Hi, Jenny!” and “Heya, Chad!”. He easily recognized Jimmy and Katie’s children; they looked like cherubim.

A sweet little redhead ran up to George.

“Hi, Unca Go’ge!”

He picked her up and spun her around.

“Hi, Denise! Are you having fun with your cousins?”

She nodded enthusiastically and ran off to find her brothers. George sighed and watched her run away.

Maybe there was one thing he forgave Jimmy for.

George and Jimmy walked into the living room-sized kitchen. Shouts of greeting erupted all around George. He greeted Carl and his wife Lynn, then Sara and her husband Akira, then Harley. He grudgingly greeted Harley’s boyfriend as well, Ron or something like that. The noise of people talking over each other and sharing stories flooded the house. George had to admit, Jimmy had picked a good house design for conversation acoustics.

Even though George was silent, his expression always softened whenever he looked at Denise. Her sweetness and happiness was contagious. She always seemed to brighten up George’s day, even when the memory of her namesake, his mother, flooded him.

The family sat down for dinner at a giant table. The traditional turkey waited to be served. The kids started to dig in before Jimmy interrupted them.

“Now, kids, first we pray. George, would you do the honors?”

All eyes turned to George. He smiled at Jimmy and shook his head.

Jimmy nodded, understanding.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for this glorious day. Thank you for bringing us together for Thanksgiving. Thank you for providing this wonderful feast for us, and thank you for blessing it and sanctifying it for our bodies. We give you all the glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Everyone murmured amen and dug in. It was a delicious feast, even to George. He quickly got over his mood and joined the conversations going back and forth across the table. Time passed by swiftly while the Jacksons ate their Thanksgiving dinner and enjoyed conversation. The sun was setting behind the clouds when the first family left. It happened to be Carl and his family. He carried his sleeping boy out the door, followed closely by Lynn carrying their newborn girl. Next were Harley and her boyfriend, who were followed by Sara and her troupe. Finally there was no one left in the big house except for George and Brenda.

While Brenda and Katie cleaned the kitchen, George and Jimmy put the kids to bed. First they wrestled an ornery, 12 year-old Bill into his bed. Then Jimmy guided 9 year-old Cherrie to her room, and George carried a sleepy 5-year old Denise to hers.

They got to her room and George laid her down in her bed. The kids had changed into their pajamas already, so George didn’t have to mess with that minefield. He made sure Denise was comfortable, and then he reached to turn off the light. Denise stopped him by placing her little hand on his hand.

“Unca Go’ge?”

“Yes, Denise?”

“When will you and A’nt Bren have kids like us?”

George bit his lip.

“I…I don’t know, Denise. But trust me; you’ll be the first to know.”

Denise smiled.

“Okay!”

George turned out the light and kissed Denise on the forehead.

“Good night, Denise.”

“Good night, Unca Go’ge.”

George walked out of the bedroom and closed the door.

Once in the hallway, George let out a sigh filled with emotion. He wiped tears from his eyes and headed towards the stairs. He was surprised to find Jimmy waiting outside the door, tears in his eyes as well. Suddenly George lost the emotions he had been feeling and resumed his iron mask. He walked swiftly by Jimmy, bumping a shoulder into Jimmy as he passed. He had almost reached the stairs when he heard Jimmy call him.

“George, I…I…I’m thankful for what you said in there. For Denise’s sake.”

George quickly made an about-face.

“You think I did that for her comfort?? I said it because I meant it!”

He strode up to Jimmy and pointed his finger in his face.

“You keep out of my business!”

“George…”

“I said keep out!” George snarled as he stormed down the stairs. He was surprised to find both women waiting at the bottom, acting as if they’d been caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

“What are you looking at??” he mumbled and then he walked into the living room and fell on a couch. He moaned softly.

He heard whispering, followed by the scurry of feet. He looked up and saw all three adults standing over him.

“What?!”

Jimmy sat down next to him.

“George, we need to talk.”

“No, we don’t.”

“Yes, George we do. See…” Jimmy waved his finger at George’s opening mouth.

“See, I know how you can have kids of your own.”

It took all of George’s control not to punch Jimmy.

“We…We can’t. You don’t understand, we’ve applied for fertility treatments, in vitro fertilization, surrogacy… everything! But they always turn us down because…because…It’s just not possible!”

George choked back the emotions boiling up inside him.

Jimmy waited a minute, and then he spoke softly.

“George… There is another way for you to have children.”

“No, Jimmy, we can’t afford to adopt. You, of all people, know that.”

“No, not by adoption, George. I’m talking about healing.”

Understanding dawned on George’s face.

“Oh, no, no, no, no, NO! You cannot be serious!”

He looked exasperated.

“Jimmy, I’ve told you once, and I’ll tell you again. I don’t believe in any of that mumbo-jumbo crap you religious freaks put so much value in! No high and mighty god is going to heal us…because there is no god!”

Jimmy shook his head.

“I have a very personal relationship with him, so I can tell you that he exists.”

George shook his head vigorously.

“No, no, no. You pulled this crap with Mom and Bill! You won’t pull it on me!”

Now Jimmy was exasperated.

“But, George, didn’t you see how much good it did them? I brought Mom to the Lord, and we both brought Dad to the Lord, and then they remarried and lived ten wonderful years together!”

“NO!!!”

George was quivering with rage.

“No! I won’t listen to you call that…that…that monster our father?!”

Jimmy looked surprised at the sudden outburst.

“But, George…”

“No! He abandoned us, Jimmy. Left us to rot with Mom! He knew she didn’t have a job, couldn’t find one, and he left us!”

Jimmy tried to speak, but George cut him off.

“Who took care of the family when he left?! I did! Who made money and helped raise the kids?! I did! Who helped Mom recover when she had nothing left?! I did!”

George felt all of the years of frustration pouring out.

“When you took off to fulfill all your lifelong dreams, I was left behind to be the normal family raiser! But still Mom loved you most.”

Now George was sobbing.

“All she could talk about was her brilliant son! Oh, how wonderful he was! How successful he was! Her amazing NASA engineer son! I had to scrape out a living while you sipped champagne!”

“But when you came back, all full of yourself and your newfound religion, oh, Mom loved you and your faith! She eagerly accepted it, and then you both gave it to him!”

He spat when he said him.

“You eagerly accepted him back into our lives! And you know what I got?! A kick in the pants! I was no longer needed to help Mom or take care of the family!”

Jimmy looked shocked.

“I threw away my future for this family, and you repaid me by throwing me away!”

George was finished. He breathed heavily while the others sat in silence. Jimmy spoke up.

“George, I had no idea…”

“Of course you didn’t! You were too absorbed in your own glory to notice!”

“George, I swear, I’ve changed since then. I…”

“I know! You got redeemed by the blood of some dead guy!”

George stood up.

“I’ve had enough of this. Brenda, get your coat. We’re…”

He looked over at Brenda and noticed three children standing on the stairs. All their eyes watched him, but Denise’s were the only ones with hurt in them. George choked back tears and ran out the door, followed by Brenda.

Two weeks later

The phone rang. George slowly woke up. The phone rang again. George looked at the clock. George groaned and reached for it.

“Hello?” George said groggily.

“This is Dr. Charleston. Is this George Jackson?”

“Yes. What’d ya need?”

“We need you to come to Saint Paul Hospital.”

“Why?”

“We’ll inform you when you get here.”

George hung up the phone. He sighed and then got out of the bed. He dressed quietly and was about to leave the room when he heard Brenda wake up.

“George, where are you going?”

George sighed.

“The hospital needs me for something. They called earlier.”

Brenda got up.

“Well, I’m coming with you.”

George nodded. He knew better than to argue with her.

They got in the car and drove silently to the hospital. Neither one talked at all. When they reached the hospital, an ambulance with its lights flashing sat outside. George parked and they walked into the hospital. They reached the front desk.

“Yes, we’re George and Brenda Jackson. I believe a Dr. Charleston called us here.”

The receptionist went white. She nodded and gave them directions to a room. She whispered “I’m so sorry,” as they walked away.

George was getting nervous now. What had happened to someone he knew? Maybe it was his boss? Or one of his siblings?

They reached the room. George knocked lightly. A doctor answered the door.

“Oh, it’s you. Come on in.”

George couldn’t help but notice the doctor’s depressed tone as he let them in. George looked at the bed and gasped.

In the bed laid Jimmy. He was wrapped in bandages, all of which were filled with blood spots. George stared at his mutilated brother. He finally worked up the courage to ask the doctor, “What happened?”

The doctor sighed and sat down.

“Your brother and his wife were driving across the intersection of Maple and 85th when a drunk driver ran a red light. He t-boned the car on the passenger side, instantly killing Miss, uh…” The doctor took a moment to read his sheet. “Katherine. Your brother received multiple injuries, only three of which being serious.”

George licked his dry lips.

“When did this happen?”

“Around 11 o’clock last night.”

“Why weren’t we informed earlier?!”

“Your brother James was unconscious so we had to look up his relatives. None of them answered their phones. We only found your number thirty minutes ago, when your brother regained consciousness momentarily.”

George looked over at Jimmy.

“Yes, the rest of our family is out of town. We tend to ignore calls from people that aren’t family or friends when we’re out of town.”

The doctor nodded.

“That’s understandable.”

“Will…will he survive?”

The doctor grew silent.

“Well? Will he?”

“…No. One of his lungs was punctured by metal and his chest plate is collapsed. It’s a miracle he survived this long, much less regained consciousness. I wouldn’t bet on him regaining it again, though.”

No sooner did the doctor say this when Jimmy’s eyes opened. George rushed to Jimmy.

“Jimmy! Are you okay?”

“N-no. But that’s okay. I’ll be in heaven with Mom and Dad soon. Apparently Katie as well.”

Jimmy laughed as much as his collapsed chest would allow.

“But, Jimmy! What about the kids? What about the rest of the family?”

George started sobbing uncontrollably. This was too much.

“George…”

George looked up.

“Yes, Jimmy?”

“While I was awake I had them write out my will. I’m going to need you to take good care of the children for me. This will be a tough time for them.”

George was shocked.

“But…but Jimmy! I…I…I don’t deserve this!”

He started sobbing again.

“Brother, I am so sorry! I’m sorry for always being envious of you, and letting it control and poison me! I’m sorry for hurting you and yelling at you and everything I’ve ever done to you!”

Jimmy lifted a feeble hand to George. George gripped his hand tenderly.

“George, I am sorry for everything I did to make your life worse. No,” Jimmy stopped George from speaking, “No, let me say this. I’m sorry for holding Mom’s attention. I’m sorry.”

George did not speak. Could not speak.

“Now, George, I have something else to say. I forgive you. I forgive you for hurting me.”

George broke into tears again.

“I forgive you too, brother! Oh, I wish we could have done this sooner!”

George bowed his head in grief.

“Me too. But maybe this is the Lord’s way of bringing us together. And I would die a thousand deaths if I had just this one moment with you, George.”

George nodded and wiped away tears from his eyes.

“Take care of Bill. This will be hardest on him. Keep Cherrie from danger. She has always been violent when sad. And comfort Denise as much as possible. She’s too young to understand this yet. None of them will understand this.”

George nodded his acquiescence.

“I will, Jimmy.”

Jimmy smiled.

“I love you, brother. Take care of my children.”

“I love you too, Jimmy. Say hi to Mom and…Dad for me.”

Jimmy’s eyes filled with tears. They looked at each other once more, and then Jimmy closed his eyes forever.

Clouds of Sils Maria: The Should, the Could and the Empty

Sometimes, it's difficult to accept that we've aged. We no longer are who were were years ago, and we can either accept this or resist it. For women, especially, this is harder because our society places so much emphasis on feminine styles and looks, especially youth or the appearances thereof. So, what happens when an actress is offered the role of the older woman in the play that made her famous years ago when she played the young seductress?

Before I say anything more, let me be frank: Clouds of Sils Maria features some masterful direction, cinematography, acting, screenwriting. However, I can't say that I want to see it again. Why? Because despite how much delicious icing you layer onto a cake in making it look big and delicious, you cannot compensate for a small, plain vanilla center. Juliette Binoche plays said actress, a middle-aged woman named Maria Enders, who really only accepts the part because of the recent passing of the man who wrote the play and gave her a big break. Kristen Stewart plays her personal assistant, Valentine, which makes her the scene stealer of the film as a suppressed and withdrawn young woman with ideas and thoughts that she wants to spread. And this film really is mostly about them and their relationship as they stay in a secluded house in Switzerland, helping Maria to grasp her new role despite her misgivings. The play itself becomes a narrative of their relationship and their questions about it, which reminded me tremendously of recent Best Picture-winner Birdman. However, something about this film didn't quite click.

Despite the praised heaped on this film, I have some complaints. For all intents and purposes, Maria is a woman determined to not accept that her youth is gone, and that doesn't change. We get a very detailed character study of Maria during the final thirty minutes, at which point I had almost forgotten that the film was about her, not Valentine. This is because Valentine is the infinitely more interesting character whom we learn very little about. She gets plenty of screen time and seems to have some secrets, but we'll never know what they were. Just when it seems that Valentine is getting somewhere with helping Maria to transform, that development completely disappears and Maria is back to her old self with some minor changes like accepting less traditional roles. Also, Chloë Grace Moretz's character as a young up-and-coming actress surrounded by controversy seemed criminally underused, and the result was a paper-thin character with limited screen time until she is forced into your focus during those final, disjointed thirty minutes. For such a film with such great production values (beautiful scenery, great dialogue, perfect capturing of facial expressions and body language), the story dies and goes nowhere with a epilogue that literally felt like a completely different film.

For me, the ending of a film is almost as important as the entire film itself. Great movies have risen and fallen based on their endings, and in this case, it fell. Birdman was able to pull off the disjointed epilogue because you knew it was a fantasy, but here, it's simply a few pages that were tacked onto the back of the script. I actually would have been happier if it had ended right before the cut to the epilogue. However, I will say that director Olivier Assayas deserves credit for masterful work that now makes me want to look into his other films, and Kristen Stewart has certainly upended the presumption that she's only that wooden actress from Twilight. Seriously, she deserves an Oscar nomination for this role as an introverted woman who tries to open up to Maria and help her remember what it was like to be young, and how everyone will read a story differently. But if this film is a character study about Maria, then why was I bored by her and dissatisfied with how the film ended up going nowhere?

Verdict: I still enjoyed much of this film, so I will say that you PROBABLY SHOULD see this film if you want an excellent drama with thirty minutes of first world problems tacked onto the end of it.

Revisiting the Movies of the 1940's: Citizen Kane (1941)

“I’m Charles Foster Kane!!!”

Perhaps best known for Kane’s ominous final words of “Rosebud”,  Citizen Kane was one of the most undervalued movies for years (hated when it was released) until it was reevaluated and promptly named the best film of all-time (a title it held until losing it to the awful Vertigo recently). Citizen Kane follows the story of a man who was raised by a banker only to reject that life and live voluptuously, doing what we dream of (including building a giant palace called Xanadu) while still struggling with what his life meant. He is a man who wants to be loved without having to truly give it, choosing to use presents and purchases as his form of love, and showing how meaningless that representation of love truly is.

This black and white classic revolutionized cinematic storytelling, using the entire contents of the film (seeming disjointed and disinteresting) to present Kane’s life, but then changing all of its meaning with the simple word “Rosebud” at the very end of the film. You at once understand everything that he misses, loves, regrets, and wishes he had done differently, as well as the meaning of his entire being. Orson Welles wrote, directed, and lead acted in this film and his talent is obvious, giving us one of the best films of all time. To say that I enjoy this film is a vast understatement, and it will always hold a special place in my heart for its masterful script and direction.

P.S. - Want to watch this masterpiece? Go to Amazon (or similar provider) and:

1) Rent digitally for $2.99
2) Buy on Blu-ray for $23.34
3) Buy digitally for $17.99