Music=Love- Once, Begin Again, Song One

It seems that Once created a new sort of film about the power of music and romance. These aren't musicals or documentaries about music, rather cataloged journeys in music.
Once
Nothing is as raw and gut wrenching as the sound of Glenn Hansard. Period. End of Story.
A young man who is a brilliant songwriter spends his days busking on the streets of Dublin. One day he meets a lovely girl who tells him he is the best songwriter she's ever heard. Slowly the two start to swap stories of their tragically broken romantic lives while being surrounded by beautiful music. The girl convinces the boy that he needs to go and find the girl that he writes all his songs about, but before he goes he decides to record the songs he's written with the girl and take them with him to secure a record deal. With the girl in his corner, the two assemble a band and secure a studio which they take over for a weekend recording a whole album in order for him to get his demo in. The don't have names. They're just boy and girl. The music is perfectly crafted to convey their feelings of past loves and their present emotions. They can't chase what they have, but only let it sizzle as they sing.


This film was a break through as a beautifully crafted independent music film that captured the story of what it was to be a musician without any way of making it. The film won an Oscar for the song "Falling Slowly" and was nominated for two separate Grammies. Once took the world by storm. It show cased the life of musicians in a different way and was raw in it's presentation of a beautiful love story. (And in true Carney fashion- ended without a ride into the sunset.)


Begin Again

With some recent success, Greta and her boyfriend Dave move to New York so that Dave can focus on his music career and brand new recording contract. While in the city, Dave falls for a girl who works at the record label and leaves Greta to explore that new path. Heartbroken, Greta crashes with an old friend for a few days before planning to fly home. One night, her friend Steve drags her out of the house to play a song at his gig in a local bar. In the audience is drunk, washed up, has been Dan. Recently fired from his record label, Dan's life is a mess. But, after hearing Greta's one song, Dan thinks there is hope left in the world for music. He tries to convince his old record label to take Greta on, but they aren't buying it, so the duo sets out to record and album using the streets of New York as their live room. The team pick up musicians and begin recording all over the city in places where no one would try it. In the process, Greta learns she doesn't need Dave, and Dan finds some control over his life. Through the power of music, the two of them are propelled into new chapters of their lives.

Unlike Once and Song One, Begin Again did not start with a musician as one of the main characters, but rather left that spot for Adam Levine as the jerk boyfriend who dumps Greta after moving to the city. The creators of Begin Again didn't even know if Keira Knightly could sing before casting her as Greta, songstress. Mark Ruffalo as Dan did play some bass, but both of their experience was limited when it came to making that the forefront of the film. Writer and Director John Carney also wrote and directed Once. Begin Again is clearly more commercialized than Once with cameos from Adam Levine and CeeLo Green, but it follows the similar pattern of one musician attempting to get a reluctant musician to join his merry band of thieves in the production of an album. Once had the authentic feel, but Begin Again had the production value.

Even the posters for Once and Begin Again are similar. The two main characters are in a city background with a guitar, and they are looking at each other. Tell me that doesn't look the same.

Song One
After her brother is in a terrible car accident causing him to be unconscious, Franny is called back home to be at her mother's side. Franny is lost. In order to connect with her brother Henry before it's too late, she decides to follow the path that he took in his songwriting journal. She goes to his favorite clubs to hear his favorite bands, and she meets his favorite singer- James Forester. After his set, Franny approaches him and tells him about Henry's condition and hands him Henry's demo. It's what he would've wanted. The next morning, James shows up at Henry's hospital room to see him and Franny. Franny explains to him what she's been doing for Henry, recording sounds and places that he would remember and playing them back to him. Franny invites James to go see a group that she plans on seeing that night in honor of Henry, so he tags along. Together, the two of them discover a connection to music through Henry's love for it. They stay up all night traveling the city streets and talking all while James plays his guitar. As Henry continues to be asleep, Franny and James continue to be together always. They find little groups to listen to, and Franny's mom accepts him into their little group as they wait for Henry to wake up.


Unlike Begin Again and like Once, Song One chose to feature musician Johnny Flynn as the character of James Forester (even if he didn't personally write the songs he sang). First time feature length Director and Writer, Kate Barker-Froyland captures the essence of one kid's music preference (Franny's brother Henry) and shows how it plays in the romancing of two individuals. Henry's music is the soundtrack for Franny and James which is why the soundtrack is alternative with folk elements. There is a diversity of genre's but not different enough to not be conceivable as one man's playlist. Because James is a real musician the performance feels more authentic even if the love aspect of the film is a bit contrived. The love story is short and drawn out of the film's 86 min runtime, but the music still plays as important of a role as it does in Once and Begin Again.


Films featuring music but not being musicals did not start with Once. Heck some of my favorite films like School of Rock and Bandslam had the same idea, but there was a success to Once that had not come before that outlined the musically driven romance as a genre. Once went on to become a Broadway musical and helped launch the career of Glenn Hansard (who also wrote a track for Begin Again). This sort of film is for those of us who love music, but who can't stand the idea of people breaking out into song and dance every time something happens. It's an evolution of music and cinema that changes  the way music influences audience. The soundtracks of these films are also amazing at capturing a wide range of musical styles and cataloging them as part of a storyline romance. I personally own all three soundtracks because they're that good.

Stream of the Week- Song One (Amazon Prime)

Dear God. I love this movie.




After her brother is in a terrible car accident causing him to be unconscious, Franny is called back home to be at her mother's side. Franny is lost. In order to connect with her brother Henry before it's too late, she decides to follow the path that he took in his songwriting journal. She goes to his favorite clubs to hear his favorite bands, and she meets his favorite singer- James Forester. After his set, Franny approaches him and tells him about Henry's condition and hands him Henry's demo. It's what he would've wanted. The next morning, James shows up at Henry's hospital room to see him and Franny. Franny explains to him what she's been doing for Henry, recording sounds and places that he would remember and playing them back to him. Franny invites James to go see a group that she plans on seeing that night in honor of Henry, so he tags along. Together, the two of them discover a connection to music through Henry's love for it. They stay up all night traveling the city streets and talking all while James plays his guitar. As Henry continues to be asleep, Franny and James continue to be together always. They find little groups to listen to, and Franny's mom accepts him into their little group as they wait for Henry to wake up.




Director and writer Kate Barker-Froyland has an amazing talent for catching the beautiful moments of falling in love with someone that you know will be fulfilling and short lived. James has to go home at some point; he's got tours to complete. There is a grittiness to this film in the way that it is edited. They are hard cuts that transfer images both effectively and statically. The opening sequence for example is very stark and hard hitting (no pun intended); it shocked me. Likewise the coloring, especially the hospital room, is very white and rather unsaturated. It makes it feel so real, but remains iridescent as though it's too perfect of a romance.




The casting for this film is phenomenal. Anne Hathaway has these huge eyes that well up when she gets emotional, and the brilliance of the directing is that they let the camera sit there just on her as you slowly watch her face fall from a smile to a sob while she thinks about her brother. No one could have been more amazing in this film, however, than Johnny Flynn who plays James Forester. His talent is incredible and sweet. The way he looks at Franny in some of their moments feels incredibly realistic and his voice pulls this whole film off. I am in love with this movie. This is what I wish "Begin Again" would've been like.

Capture of Culture- Motivation 2:The Chris Cole Story

"The story that is being told is the story of a skate rat kid who made it."




Chris Cole grew up not knowing any other skaters; he thought all the tricks he could do were ones he had invented. As Chris continued to beat the pavement, his reputation grew. He took his board to Love Park, an infamous park in Philly where all the pros on the East Coast were trying out their tricks. But that was a rough time for the Philly skate crowd. Love Park became an illegal place for boarders to be based on city ordinances and constant patrol. Chris was at the forefront of skaters who broke that law and continued to try their tricks on the perfect ledges, benches, railings, and gaps. Chris was persistent at skating and really looked up to pros like Rodney Mullen and Jamie Thomas. After getting an honorable mention in one of Rodney's contests, Chris got Mullen's phone number and started calling him every time he mastered a new trick. Mullen became a mentor to Chris. Later, Chris met Jamie Thomas who was a renowned street skater and part of the Zero Skateboards team. Jamie gave Chris some tough love about his technique and ultimately helped him craft himself into the skater he is today. Chris now finds ways to live vicariously through the young skaters he works with at Woodward Camp, a skating camp for young skaters to hone their talents.




As a causal observer of the sport through TV, movies, and documentaries, I really found this film to be an interesting view of the modern legends of skateboarding. Do I know who all of these guys are? No, but I can tell you people who are wholeheartedly invested in skateboarding understand the significance of all of these pros coming together to talk about one of their legends. That's why documentaries exist; they give you a short taste of a culture prompting you to either take the knowledge you've gained from it and move on or urge you to research further. The Chris Cole story is like the gateway drug into the world of skating. Coupled with The Motivation and Dogtown, there are so many ways to get into the fandom and observation of this truly intense sport.

Stream of the Week- Nanny Diaries (Amazon Prime)

Sometimes you have to step into another lifestyle to understand your own.


Fresh out of college and full of promise, Annie Braddock had a bright future. But it was too bright and all too sudden. After a failed interview, Annie fell into an entirely different position- that of an Upper East Side nanny. At first, Annie seems unfit for the position of primary caregiver to a six year old. She has to follow the strict rules left by her employer, Mrs. X, and the child, Grayer, proves to be difficult. After exhausting her patience on Upper East Side norms for nannies, Annie breaks down and decides that she and Grayer will be friends which means they will be on her terms- no more tofu or Bloomberg magazines for her. Her new attitude quickly helps Annie and Grayer become close friends. His trust in her grows immensely as his parents continue to fight in their sinking relationship. Mrs. X appears to have no interest in the life of her son, and Mr. X likes to play the field. However, Annie's mother finds out about her new profession and quickly makes her opinion known- Annie is too good to be treated the way she is by Mr. and Mrs. X. Annie continues to express her distaste for her employers, but refuses to quit and leave Grayer. In an effort to save their marriage, the X's decide to take a trip to Nantucket. The trip is extremely unsuccessful, however, when Mr. X flirts with Annie in front of his wife leading to her immediate dismissal. Angered by her unfair treatment and the treatment of Grayer, Annie makes it known exactly how lucky the X's are to have a kid like Grayer, even if they can't see it being so absorbed in themselves.


The tag team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (Girl Most Likely) hit whimsical references to Mary Poppins throughout the film. The parent who spend less time with their children than they should, the incoming stranger who has to win over the kids, and the lesson of being a family all come from that classic Disney flick. In conjunction with the Mary Poppins take is the continuous references to anthropology, being that it is Annie's passion. From an observers eye, Annie is able to breakdown the women of New York into specific "tribes". There are the classy New York Moms, the Nannies, the Fashionistas etc.


Annie herself (Scarlett Johansson), is the typical lost girl coming out of college unsure of what she is going to do. Though her performance and character are not entirely compelling, the story of the nanny diaries remains endearing.

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright

Shaun of the Dead

Shaun has been stuck in the same place he has been for years. He lives with the guy who has been his best friend since primary school, and he takes his girlfriend to the same pub on every date and she dumps him for it. He's in a dead end job, and life looks as if it will never change. Until one day it does. For no apparent reason, there has been a spread of a virus that turns people into zombies (though we shouldn't use that word). When they die, they come back to life as the living dead. At first, Shaun doesn't notice it, but  after he and his bestie, Ed, find one wandering around their garden they decide they have to make a plan. Shaun receives a call from his mother which prompts him to go and save his mom while he can and he plans to pick up his new ex girlfriend, Liz, and get them all to safety with Ed it tow as always. At first, Liz and her flat mates are resistant to go along with Shaun's plan which is to get the whole gang to the local pub, but after the sounds of the undead grow outside their window, they decide to follow Shaun. They fight through and end up hiding in their local pub as the undead pile up outside. Their crew is dropping like flies and becoming undead themselves. With just Ed, Liz, and Shaun living they try to escape through a hidden basement door, but Ed doesn't make it. One boring day turns into a very exciting one for sure.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost star in this first of three films written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright under the direction of Edgar Wright. This film sets the tone for the following two with its fast paced editing and repetitive nature. The comedy comes in forms of word play and repeated actions which come across as inside jokes with the audience. The TV scene, for example, is a great way to show the comedic nature of the film. Rather than just show a character watching one news show to get the information, the character of Shaun flips through the channels, each new station adding to the string of words from the previous station making together a sentence which describes the situation. It's something that you have to listen for, but once you notice it, it's worth the laugh.

Hot Fuzz

Due to his excellence in the field, Officer Nicholas Angel is transferred to the country because his work is just making all the other officers look bad. Once transferred to the country, Officer Angel has trouble adjusting to a slower paced life where the rules appear more relaxed. Suddenly violent accidents start popping up on his radar. People are dying and there seem to be no logical explanations. No one believes his suspicions so they continue to stick him with Officer Danny, the chief's son and often incompetent side-kick. Nicholas attempts to explain the importance of their position as officers to Danny while slowly turning him into a better officer. Meanwhile, a local reporter uncovers a scandal which explains the order of the events that have been taking over the little town. But, just before he is able to relay his message to Officer Angel, he is killed, leaving Nicholas absolutely positive that there is a conspiracy going down in his little town. After careful research and a stakeout, Nicholas uncovers a secret which leads to a major shootout in the small downtown area of a quiet English village.






Hot Fuzz was nominated for a best British award and certainly fits in the Pegg/Wright style of filmmaking. The travel scene as Pegg's character is being transferred to his new post is the highlight of it's editing. Similar to the esthetic of the other films, the camera cuts to seemingly insignificant images to help show the passage of time and place. At the first train station, Pegg sits outside holding his plant, he gets on the bus, looks at his phone's cell reception. Repeat for the next stations, each time the cell reception bars go down proving how remote of a location his new post is. This technic is also applied to the booking of arrested citizens making paperwork seem less boring.




The World's End

Years after he and his best friends went separate ways, Gary King has decided to "get the band back together" and head for an adventure- the Golden Mile. The Golden Mile is a string of 12 pubs in the town where Gary and the boys grew up. When they finished school, they attempted it, only to find themselves completely wasted part way through. Gary now realizes that was the best time of his life. His need to get back those times has made him determined to finish the pub crawl. Though reluctant, all of the crew shows up at the station to be driven by Gary to their hometown. They all turned out rather successful, except for Gary of course, but they will follow wherever he leads because, and I quote, Gary is the King. Upon arrival, the crew of five begins to notice that things have changed. First of all, the pubs have all been bought up and converted by a chain. Each one looks the same, and everyone in the town doesn't remember any of them. This seems odd to Gary mostly because in his mind they were legends. Along the way, they notice a group of kids who very much remind them of their younger selves. When Gary tries to communicate with one of them in the men's restroom, he finds out why the town is so changed. (I can't tell you why because it's crazy and would ruin it for you).

Nominated for both American science fiction and comedy awards, The World's End is a combination of Wright and Pegg writing and Wright direction. The entire film has a very sci-fi feel and remains consistent to the Pegg/Wright esthetic of having an extremely strange twist. Similar to Hot Fuzz, mundane actions such as travel and ordering a beer are edited in short, fast clips of elements of the action to help convey the whole picture. This technic is an interesting way to present something that the audience can both understand and be entertained. For example, when getting in the car (after an explosion!!!) the camera cuts from the door handle, to the seat belt, to the shifter and then to the motion of the vehicle. These cuts take very little time, but help make a huge impact by keeping the film from having boring parts. These actions are also repetitive. For example, every time the crew orders drinks, this trick is used. The camera flashes to the glasses to the filling of the five glasses and the setting of the glasses on the counter. It remains consistent in almost all the bars that the group ends up in.




The trilogy of films by Pegg, Wright, and producer Nira Park, are called the "Cornetto Trilogy" or Blood and Ice Cream trilogy. What started out as a joke between the writers quickly turned into a common reoccurrence of the product placement of Cornetto Ice Cream treats. Each film featured a Cornetto Ice Cream cone or wrapper cleverly paired with a color to be significant towards the film. For example, Shaun of the Dead was a strawberry red for the blood, Hot Fuzz was blue for the coppers, and The World's End was green to signify the sci-fi elements of the film. These films also have reoccurring actors such as Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and even Martin Freeman which in the grand scheme of things pulls the trilogy together.


Edgar Wright not only directed these three (as well as wrote them), but he also directed Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and wrote part of the screenplay for Ant-Man. Simon Pegg helped write this trilogy (as well as playing the lead) and also helped write the alien film Paul and parts of the upcoming Star Trek movie (which he also stars in). The themes focused on in these films definitely encompass the idea of an individual against a very large force. In Hot Fuzz, it was the cult of the neighborhood watch; In The World's End, it was the Blanks; In Shaun of the Dead, it was quite obviously the zombies. However, this theme seems to go a bit deeper as also a social commentary on the importance of small towns and localities rather than the big opposing franchises. In Hot Fuzz, the invasion of a strip mall makes the cult in the small town grow in violence, and in The World's End, the chain buying of the bars makes an impact on their journey. Whatever the case, these three films clearly show the genius of Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright.


Got 8 minutes?- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FOzD4Sfgag

Stream of the Week- Silence of the Lambs

"A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti."


After years of training as both a FBI officer and psych major, Clarice Starling is given the opportunity to give a questionnaire to a known serial killer as part of a study run by her professor, Dr. Crawford. When Clarice first goes to question the patient, a former psychiatrist named Dr. Hannibal Lecter, she discovers that he might have information that could help the department solve a recent case of serial killings performed by the illusive "Buffalo Bill", a criminal who captures and kills young women and skins them. Dr. Lecter is quick to try and get into Clarice's head, and he frightens her with his demeanor. Before she leaves, Lecter gives her a clue in the form of an anagram which leads her to a storage facility where she discovers the remains of a former client of Lecter and a victim of Buffalo Bill. With a new girl taken, the hunt for Buffalo Bill is becoming more and more intense. Clarice is able to form a relationship with Lecter in which she plays his game for carefully crafted responses that will eventually lead her to Buffalo Bill. Through the clues, Clarice is able to discern that Bill is a mentally unstable person with a belief that he is transgender. His motive to kill these women comes from his coveting of their flesh and body structure. Clarice offers Lecter a phony deal in order to get more information on Bill, but the doctor at the facility quickly uncovers the truth behind Clarice's plan and soon alerts Lecter. The doctor then, in order to get recognition with the presumption that his clues will help find the missing girl, sets up a deal for Lecter that moves his location. In his new "cell" Lecter has more freedom, which unfortunately leads to a brutal murder of two officers and a clever escape in managed by Lecter. Though he is on the loose, Clarice is sure that Lecter will not target her, she instead turns her attention to the death of the women in hopes of finding Bill. Her leads take her to a small town where she questions the family and friends of Bill's first victim. Clarice believes that Bill would've known the first victim because her murder was more calculated. Crawford thinks he has a location on Bill, but his efforts to find him fail when instead Clarice stumbles upon Buffalo Bill and his captured girl in the former house of the first victims employer.


Silence of the Lambs won Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay in the year 1992. Throughout the film there are several themes. One of the most important is the treatment of women in the workforce, mostly in the police force. No one treats Clarice like an equal in the academy. She is shorter than her counterparts and female which singles her out, even though she is unafraid and always ready for a challenge. She often finds herself in situation where she is the only female in the room. This creates an awkward tension. The scenes that best resemble this are when Clarice steps in the elevator to first see Dr. Crawford and when she enters the funeral parlor after a new victim of Buffalo Bill's is found. When attempting to see Lecter at his moved cell, Clarice is almost not admitted entrance, but a female officer gives the commanding officer a look which prompts him to allow Clarice in. They all doubt Clarice's abilities. Even Dr. Crawford, who assigned her to the case, treats her as a unequal when he prompts another male officer to speak in private with him on account of Clarice being in the room as if her being of the opposite gender would make her uncomfortable in the conversation. When questioned about it later, Clarice says that the men look up to other men of authority. If Dr. Crawford treats her like she doesn't belong, they will see her the same way. Regardless of her gender or maybe even because of it, Clarice is able to locate Buffalo Bill first and more effectively than any of the male officers in search of the killer.


There is an interesting mix of shots used by the director Jonathon Demme (Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married) and the cinematographer Tak Fujimoto (The Sixth Sense, Signs (my favorite!)). There are two instances where a shot of a camera at one height does a full pan around the room revealing details about the location to the viewer while also establishing place. This first happens when Clarice meets Barney, the attendant at the facility holding Lecter. It's as if Clarice's head is panning around the room taking in details such as an officer placing weapons on a wall, drawings, etc. The second use of this shot is outside the house which Buffalo Bill is staying at when Clarice knocks on his door. You see the entire street panning from the train tracks all the way around establishing place. The other use of shots which is extremely interesting is the use of extreme close ups of faces placed in the center of the shot. This is used throughout the film when the characters are conversing with Clarice. When she meets Dr. Crawford, the close up is very tight. Every time Clarice meets with Lecter, his entire face fills the screen. This also happens when Clarice is meeting with the father of the first victim, and when Clarice talks to her best friend at the academy before discovering the connection of Buffalo Bill to the first victim. This use of extreme close ups makes the scene feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable. We don't like to see that close on another person. Lecter discusses with Clarice the importance of being able to tell a lie on someone's face, the use of close ups could be in reference to their ability to tell the truth to Clarice. Either way, the scenes with these shots stand out.

Page to Screen- Jurassic Park

I've seen quite a few movies and read a fair amount of books, but never have I ever come across a film so different than its original source material.


Here's what you need to know about the book- it's different. Way different. After reading Jurassic Park, Steven Spielberg took the basic scientific principals from the book to create his own dino tale. The science behind Jurassic Park is phenomenally done, even if you don't completely understand the basic concepts. The idea was to extract dino DNA from bloodsucking insects that got trapped in tree sap during the Jurassic period. The scientists of Hammond's lab then took this DNA and filled in the missing places with amphibian and avian DNA. This caused the dinosaurs that were genetically modified to have traits of both dinosaurs and modern day creatures. This entire project was funded by billionaire John Hammond. Hammond's idea was simple- he wanted to be able to fund genetic research, but the only way to do so profitably was to create entertainment out of it hence Jurassic Park. After doing mild research, Hammond's team of geneticists, zoo wranglers, and park management specialists set out to bring the dinosaurs back to life. Four years after beginning to work, small strange animals started to show up on other Costa Rican islands near Hammond's island where the dinos were being grown. These lizard like creatures attack a little girl and started attacking cribs at night increasing the number of infant deaths on the islands. DNA and samples were sent to labs in order to try to identify the creatures. X-rays of the remains of one of these lizards made it to Allan Grant, a paleontologist who specialized in baby dinosaurs and nests. Not long after receiving this information, Grant was called by John Hammond, who had been a finical supporter of Alan's research. Hammond convinced Grant to come and visit his island theme park and do an inspection to see if the island was safe for guests. Grant, and his young assistant Ellie Sattler, hopped on a plane for the Costa Rican Island along with a mathematician and a lawyer. Their introduction to the attractions of the island is almost immediate as they land their chopper. The dinosaurs are of immediate interest to the specialists as are the technics that helped foster the growth and development of these creatures. Meanwhile, Dennis Nedry, a computer specialist hired to work out the bugs in Hammond's system, is hired by a competitor to steal dino embryos to give to this other company. He plans to accomplish this that very night before a storm hits the island and makes the boat that is supposed to receive these embryos have to ship out. Joined by Hammond's grandkids, Lex and Tim, the group head out on a tour. They are introduced to a multitude of animals as well as technology before stopping the tour to see a sick animal and meet with the vet on hand Dr. Harding. Sattler and the lawyer decide to stay behind with the vet to help with the dinosaur in trouble and the rest of the tour continues. The storm is moving in so Nedry decides to enact his plan. He expertly launches a computer program that will erase his tracks and steals the embryos. As he drives out to the boat he is attack and killed by dinosaurs making it impossible for him to go back to the control room to stop his computer program which has in the meantime shut down the ride. Tim, Lex, Dr. Grant, a tour guide named Ed,and the mathematician Malcolm are all trapped in their vehicles by the t-rex padlock and it's starting to rain. Because the power is going out on the rides with no way to fix it, the electric fences have also gone out. The cars have attracted the attention of rexy who is now free to leave her fence because it is no longer electrified. Ed runs for the hills leaving Lex and Tim alone in their car and also susceptible to the dinosaur now that his motion has peaked rexy's interest. The t-rex attacks the vehicle throwing Lex and Tim in different directions. Malcolm tries to run and escape only to get bit and Dr. Grant doesn't move, seeing that motion attracts the dinosaur. He is tossed to the side when the dinosaur throws the vehicle, but is otherwise untouched. Meanwhile, in the control room Wu, the lead geneticist, and computer park manager Arnold are trying to get the system back up and running, but are having trouble breaking through Nedry's code. Ellie, the lawyer, and Harding all drive back to the hub after failing to make it to the other vehicles to rescue the stranded group. Because all the tech is down, no one knows what anyone else is doing. The dinosaurs could be running loose, so park "wrangler" Muloon heads out to find the kids and company to bring them back taking the lawyer with him. All they manage to find is Ed's torn leg and the body of Malcolm who is severally injured. They return to base. Lex, Tim, and Grant have all found each other and are attempting to find shelter for the night. They manage to make it into a maintenance shack to wait out the night. The next morning they try to get back to the base without being attacked by the t-rex that has been hot on their trail the entire time. By this point it is day again, and the maintenance crew is cleaning up the park with no sign of Grant and the kids. They manage to get the computer systems back on line, but are unable to keep it running long because their backup generator runs out of juice. In order to get everything back on, they have to go to a separate shack and reboot the system. However, at this point they realize the fences have been down for quite some time meaning that the most dreaded animals on the island, the velociraptors, have escaped. Arnold sets out to find the power shack while Wu runs the computers preparing for a reboot, Ellie stays with Malcolm, Hammond paces nervously thinking about the expense, and Muloon and the lawyer  run security protecting Arnold from the raptors. Unfortunately, they don't do their job so well and Arnold is killed. The lawyer goes to switch it on only to be trapped by the dinosaur forcing him to hide in the trunk of a car. By this time, Grant, Lex, and Tim have made it back to camp. When the group was unable to turn the power on, they retreated to Malcolm's room where they are now hiding out from the raptors. After acquiring a radio, Grant is able to make contact with them, and they inform him of where he needs to go to turn the power back on. Lex and Tim hide in the cafeteria where they are attacked by a velociraptor which they then trap in a freezer. Grant manages to turn back on the power and rescues the lawyer. Tim and Lex, now in the control room, attempt to get the security systems back up and running so that they can save the people in Malcolm's room from being attacked. The tension is very high. More velociraptor's enter the base building forcing Lex and Tim out of the safety of the control room and into the labs where they once again meet up with Grant who is able to fight off the raptors. The group runs back to the control room and arms the security systems which allows the Malcolm group to electrocute the raptors trying to get into their room. Everything seems restored, until they realize that the velociraptors have been breeding. Originally, the island had only female dinosaurs, but as time went on, some of the dinosaurs changed sex so that they could breed. Grant found egg remnants and a young male raptor while in the jungle. What's worse is when they are rescued, reports reach them that strange creatures have managed to migrate to other islands. The dinos managed to escape. And that's just the book.


The movie is an entirely different plot all together. It is a simplified version which manages to retain the science while still making it simple enough for the audience to understand. The characters of the film are entirely different. In the novel, Alan Grant openly admits how much he likes hanging out with kids and is naturally drawn to Tim and Lex as pals on the tour. He enjoys explaining things to them and babbles with Tim about dinosaurs. In the film, it is very evident from the beginning how much Grant hates children. In an encounter with a teen, Grant terrifies him with horror tales of velociraptors just so he can get the kid to shut up. Grant's focus in the film is also shifted as he spends most of his time looking for raptors, not baby dino nests. Ellie Sattler is also a different caliber in the film. In the novel, Sattler is a 24 yr old student who is engaged to a "nice doctor from Chicago", but in the film her character was aged so that a relationship could be easily conceived by the audience between her and Grant. Hammond comes across as a lovely old grandfather who simply wants to put smiles on children's faces in the film. Hammond as created by Crichton is entirely different. He openly admits he's in the industry to make lots of cash. His frustration grows as the specialists criticize his park. He even meets an untimely death in the novel, a concept that wouldn't be explored in the film. You can't kill Colonel Sanders meets Bill Gates Grandpa. It would be wrong. Lex in the novel is around six years old making Tim the older brother. Lex serves as a constant annoying voice as she complains for most of the novel about being hungry (as most 6 yr olds do). Tim is the older brother and is the one to figure out the computer system in the novel. His character is much more valuable in the novel. The film reverses the age gap and gives half of Tim's contributions to the older sister. Novel lawyer vs. film lawyer is also a completely different character. In the novel, though he is frightened, the lawyer, named Gennaro, offers to help Muloon as much as he can. He goes off to help retrieve the kids and holds the rounds for Muloon's tranquilizer gun when they go raptor hunting. His city slicker attitude in the film manages to make a scary/hilarious scene with him hiding in a toilet at the time of his end. The film focuses on the velociraptors as villains. They are smart and are able to attack easily in smaller spaces. However, in the novel, the T-rex is the original obstacle. It chases Grant, Lex, and Tim throughout the entire park before falling to Muloon's tranquilizer gun. It causes them more fright as it chases them for 75% of the story. The raptors, though mentioned, are only the adversaries for the last two iterations of the novel.


Though these differences are great, and the two tales are immensely different, they still come from the same concept making them worthy of comparison. I grew op on the Jurassic Park films (even the bad sequels). I will always prefer that storyline to that of the novel. The novel seems drawn out and focuses more on Malcolm's theories and the computer aspect of the park. The film is more streamline and offers more tension when it comes to run ins with dinos. That being said, the novel is still great material for the film to draw from. It's just very, very different.


In the 1993 Steven Spielberg film, Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler (who mind you are in a relationship) are brought in by Jurassic Park owner/creator John Hammond. Their expertise is to be used to sign off on the park and keep the lawyers at bay. Once they arrive on the island, along with mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm, they are immediately shocked and conflicted at the sight of dinosaurs. Their wonder is clear when they first come face to face with the animals, but Dr. Malcolm quickly attempts to dissuade Hammond from opening the park by telling him that life cannot be contained. All of the animals in Jurassic Park are genetically engineered as females, but as an expert in chaos theory, Malcolm is convinced that will not be enough to stop the animals from evolving and overrunning the island. Before they begin the official tour of the island, Hammond's grandkids, Lex and Tim (in this version Lex is older than Tim), arrive to provide some insight on the demographic that Hammond is trying to sell Jurassic Park to. The tour is slow going with none of the dinosaurs being visible until the group runs into a sick dinosaur and the vet which separates the group. Dr. Sattler stays with the animal only to return to the visitor center while the rest of the group continues on the tour. Like in the novel, Dennis Nedry, computer programmer, has been hired by an outside company to steal DNA samples from the facility's storage. During the middle of the tour as a large storm is rolling in, Dennis executes a computer program which will allow him to steal the samples without being seen by turning off the security measures and electricity systematically. Dennis is escaping the facility while the tour is stopped by lack of power right outside the T-rex paddock. This unexpected stop and power loss leads the release of the powerful T-rex. In separate vehicles, Tim and Lex are on their own while Malcolm and Grant aren't far behind. The T-rex targets Tim and Lex's vehicle which prompts Grant (who hates kids by the way) to rescue the two of them while Malcolm distracts the dinosaur. Grant, now with Lex and Tim in tow, takes the group farther into the jungle like state of the park while Malcolm is left injured at the scene of the escape. When Sattler and the park ranger, Muldoon, drive in to save the stranded group, all they can find is injured Malcolm. The next mission is to get the power systems back up and running. This will require a total system shutdown and reboot which can only be turned back on in the maintenance shed out of the control center. Sattler is forced to run to the shed in an attempt to reboot the system. She comes face to face with an escaped velociraptor, the deadliest of the dinos in the park. Meanwhile, the Grant and kids crew manage to make it back to the visitor's center. Grant goes to look for Ellie while Lex and Tim are hiding out in the kitchen area. They are soon under attack by the other velociraptors. Grant, Ellie, Tim, and Lex all have to manage to evade the velociraptors and turn on the computer systems so that Hammond and Malcolm, hiding the secure bunker, can call for rescue.


Out of 27 nominations overall, Jurassic Park won 16 awards, including 3 Oscars for Best Sound Effects (editing), Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound. The screenplay was adapted by the author of the novel itself, Michael Crichton. After this film, sequels were spawned using the similar idea of corporate greed taking over the moral applications of the power to genetically engineer. This is represented in this film by the lawyer's fascination with the amount of revenue which could be created by selling expensive tickets as well as merchandise. This prompts him to be lenient towards the park, whereas in contrast, the experts such as Sattler, Malcolm, and Grant point out the flaws and consequences which could come about from wielding the power to genetically recreate extinct animals (and ecosystems). The film also (very briefly) touches on the idea of sexism. Sattler makes two comments in particular that bring some feminism to the film. The first is after Malcolm's speil about how God created dinosaurs, God destroyed dinosaurs, God created man, man destroyed God, man created dinosaurs. Sattler quickly quips back "Dinosaur eats man and women inherit the Earth." She again has a chance to speak up about her gender when Hammond suggests that he should be the one to run to the shed to reboot the system because he is the man in the situation. Ellie gives him a look and promises to debate sexism at a later time.


When discussing summer blockbusters, Jurassic Park is often accredited for helping pave the way (though the first was Jaws in 1975). Since that time, films such as the recent Marvel series and other franchises have made great success of the genre. Many call Jurassic Park a "perfect movie" (though if you'll notice there is a goof with the opening and closing of a car door in the T-rex attack scene as it is open in one shot, closed in the next, and so on until the character deliberately pulls it shut). 20 some years after the film's debut, it is still considered a classic (and a personal favorite).

Stream of the Week- Laggies (Amazon Prime)

Some people just can't figure it out until they get a redo.


Megan grew up with a great group of friends. Ones that she knew would be there for her forever, but as they all grew up to start having families, it didn't seem like she fit in anymore. After being proposed to by her high school sweetheart at her best friends wedding and seeing her dad cheat on her mom, Megan had to get away. She ran into a group of teenagers who reminded her of when she was that age, and she spent the night raising hell with the group. Later, one of the teens, Annika, calls Megan because she needs someone to come to the school and bail her out of a situation. Megan steps in and in return asks if she can spend the week at Annika's house so that she can screw her head back on and figure out her life before returning to fiancé and friends. Annika and friends welcome her with open arms, taking her to their parties and hanging out with her. Annika and Megan try to snow Annika's dad by telling him that Megan is just a friend from school, but he quickly gets the information out of them and agrees to let Megan stay for the week because she lied and told him she couldn't move into her apartment for a week. Megan is starting to feel better and she becomes fast friends with Annika's dad, even a little romantic. However, it all comes crashing down around her when Annika finds out that Megan is engaged and still getting involved with her father. Life hits Megan full force. She has to decide if she really still wants to be part of that group from her high school years and still live in the past, or if she wants to grow up for herself.


Directed by Lynn Shelton (New Girl, Your Sister's Sister), this cute comedy really captures the awkward stage of being lost and in your 20s (Not that I would know). It's not that Megan lacks skills or drive, it's just that she is stuck in the same place she's always been while everyone else grows up around her. She's not sure how to adjust accordingly while her BFFs are getting married and having kids. What's great about this film is that it is directed and written by women. Hollywood can sometimes seem like a "good old boys" club. This film focuses on a heroine and doesn't fault her for being completely lost.

Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation

What the world needs is really another spy action flick where Tom Cruise gets to ride a motorcycle and hang off of a plane.


The IMF is now being dissolved by the committee and has become absorbed into the CIA. Meanwhile, Ethan Hunt is still chasing the syndicate. His newest lead has led him to an ex MI6 agent named Lane who has taken the syndicate to it's current terroristic level. Hidden within the ranks is undercover agent Isla Faust. Isla enlists Ethan and tech guru Benji to help infiltrate the syndicate's log of agents and money trail which is hidden in a high tech facility (because we can't just store that stuff at your mom's house). Once the data is retrieved, Isla betrays Ethan and attempts to return it to her mentor at MI6. However, MI6 has decided that Isla needs to regain Lane's trust and learn more about the syndicate. When she delivers the drive, it is blank, meaning that the only copy of this precious information is on the jump drive copy Benji made and hid on his person. Lane needs the information so he sends Isla to deliver a message. In the process, Lane kidnaps Benji to use as a bargaining chip for the drive. But the information on the drive in encoded with a red box meaning that the only person who can access it is the British Prime Minister. Lane wants the information decoded. First Ethan must kidnap the PM and get him to access the data. Then Ethan must go to make the deal. And all of this must happen by midnight (because bad guys don't have bedtimes).


Rogue Nation is written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie who also wrote Jack Reacher and Edge of Tomorrow. The film takes on a confusing spy plot (as always), but is redeemed by it's wealth of well staged action sequences. The "Opera Scene" is well shot and choreographed, even though it doesn't seem to have any explanation. This is also true of the overly complicated underwater sequence. Some of the plots hatched by the crew- we get insight into. We are told what the plan is for the underwater infiltration. We are not told what the plan is for the capturing of the Prime Minister. This is used to add an element of surprise, but really just leaves the audience a tad confused. That being said, the sequences used in this film do feel really original and are not overdone in the action/spy genre. However, that does not make up for the lack of investment we have in the arch of the bad guy. Why does Lane decide to go crazy rogue in the Syndicate and make it into a terrorist organization? I don't know. You don't know. It's all very confusing.


The returning heros- Ethan, Brandt, Benji, and Luther basically could all get their butts kicked by Isla Faust played by Rebecca Ferguson. She slinks around in her big heels and silky dresses, but ultimately can outride Ethan and outfight any of the boys. She adds a much needed strong female presences to the film (yes, there have been other girls, but come on she rocks). Benji, played by Simon Pegg (my favorite), adds some humor to the film as does Brandt, played by Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye, Aaron Cross). Their humor is able to balance the over confidence that Ethan tends to have (because let's face it, he's super human and cannot die).


Overall, this film is a good continuation of the MI franchise, however, that does not excuse it's lack of character development and confusing plot. The bar has been set low for summer blockbusters, and this film did not raise it at all.