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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Interstellar (2014) in Movies
Aug 6, 2019
For my money, Christopher Nolan is the best director and storyteller in the film industry today. Over the years he has grown with each film he has created. In his early work, like Following, Memento, and Insomniac, he experimented with different notions of how we as an audience perceived a story unfold on film. In each of those films he learned techniques that he carried with him as he moved onto bigger commercial success’ like The Dark Knight Trilogy and The Prestige. All of those techniques, culminated in my humble opinion, his masterpiece with 2010s Inception. Now he is back, with a space exploration film for this generation that rivals Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space odyssey with an added dash of 1997s Contact.
Everything you expect from a Nolan film his here. Stunning visuals that not only leave us breathless at the vastness and beauty of space and other worlds, but also character driven framing that is subtle enough for us to be able to understand and focus on this character driven story. We are driven forward by one man’s mission to save the earth, but on a more humanizing level, his family. It is this constant thread, especially the bond of Love between a father and daughter, which holds this majestic film together from start to finish. Those who miss this focus or nitpick at the science of it all may be disappointed and feel the film is too big to be concluded with such a simple notion. However those who are willing to concede that impressive visuals do not need to be concluded on an ostentatious scale for there to be a grandiose impact, will find satisfaction at a film that makes us contemplate our place in time and space.
If these stunning visuals are the face of this film, then the score is undoubtedly the emotion. Nolan once again teams up with Academy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer, to produce a stunningly moving and heartfelt score that not only propels forward in our exploration of the unknown, but at times is our only friend in letting us know it is ok to breath.
Perhaps it is just the gravity of the work that Nolan has done in the last few years, but the actors in this film know the stakes and each came to play. The cast each elevate their performances not only for themselves but for each other. Led by Academy Award Winner winners Mathew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, as well as Academy Award Nominee Jessica Chastain, the entire cast of Interstellar deliver excellent performances that cause us not only relate, but to feel the world at large and the relationships with each other. I was especially impressed with the young Mackenzie Foy, whose relationship with McConaughey is crucial to the story being able to hold together for the entire film.
In closing, Interstellar is a beautiful film to behold with a story that revolves around exploration, survival, and love told in an epic way both visually and audibly. For some there may be a few make or break moments, but if you just focus on the story and world being told to you, it will all make sense. The film’s running time is 2 hours and 49 minutes which may seem like much to some, however because Interstellar is an experience, not just a film, the length is hardly noticeable as a bad thing. After walking away, you will want to see this experience in the theaters again, especially in IMAX for the best possible visuals and audio.
Everything you expect from a Nolan film his here. Stunning visuals that not only leave us breathless at the vastness and beauty of space and other worlds, but also character driven framing that is subtle enough for us to be able to understand and focus on this character driven story. We are driven forward by one man’s mission to save the earth, but on a more humanizing level, his family. It is this constant thread, especially the bond of Love between a father and daughter, which holds this majestic film together from start to finish. Those who miss this focus or nitpick at the science of it all may be disappointed and feel the film is too big to be concluded with such a simple notion. However those who are willing to concede that impressive visuals do not need to be concluded on an ostentatious scale for there to be a grandiose impact, will find satisfaction at a film that makes us contemplate our place in time and space.
If these stunning visuals are the face of this film, then the score is undoubtedly the emotion. Nolan once again teams up with Academy Award winning composer Hans Zimmer, to produce a stunningly moving and heartfelt score that not only propels forward in our exploration of the unknown, but at times is our only friend in letting us know it is ok to breath.
Perhaps it is just the gravity of the work that Nolan has done in the last few years, but the actors in this film know the stakes and each came to play. The cast each elevate their performances not only for themselves but for each other. Led by Academy Award Winner winners Mathew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, as well as Academy Award Nominee Jessica Chastain, the entire cast of Interstellar deliver excellent performances that cause us not only relate, but to feel the world at large and the relationships with each other. I was especially impressed with the young Mackenzie Foy, whose relationship with McConaughey is crucial to the story being able to hold together for the entire film.
In closing, Interstellar is a beautiful film to behold with a story that revolves around exploration, survival, and love told in an epic way both visually and audibly. For some there may be a few make or break moments, but if you just focus on the story and world being told to you, it will all make sense. The film’s running time is 2 hours and 49 minutes which may seem like much to some, however because Interstellar is an experience, not just a film, the length is hardly noticeable as a bad thing. After walking away, you will want to see this experience in the theaters again, especially in IMAX for the best possible visuals and audio.
Organisation: Philosophy, Structure and Morality
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Chris Hooker (419 KP) rated The Orchard of Hope (The Orphanage of Miracles, #2) in Books
Jan 12, 2018
The quest to save the world from the confusion of lies created by the sorcerer continues in [The Orchard of Hope] by [Amy Neftzger]. The tale of Kelsey, Nicholas and Maggie continues as they work together using their unique talents to save hope from being devoured. They learn of new strengths and the power of friendship as they learn how to use their unique skills throughout the quest. With the help of Roland, Megan, Newton and Moss they make another journey through the kingdom finding challenges and surprises along the way.
[Amy Neftzger] has created a world of exploration in which the characters experience the same pitfalls that all young people experience, just with a magical twist. The idea that hope belongs to everyone is an excellent follow up to nurturing miracles in the first book of the series, [The Orphanage of Miracles]. To really get a sense of the journey and characters the books should be read in order. [The Orchard of Hope] comes out in June 2014 so what are you waiting for? These books should be on everyones reading list.
[Amy Neftzger] has created a world of exploration in which the characters experience the same pitfalls that all young people experience, just with a magical twist. The idea that hope belongs to everyone is an excellent follow up to nurturing miracles in the first book of the series, [The Orphanage of Miracles]. To really get a sense of the journey and characters the books should be read in order. [The Orchard of Hope] comes out in June 2014 so what are you waiting for? These books should be on everyones reading list.
Sam (228 KP) rated Avatar (2009) in Movies
Mar 3, 2019
Beautiful Animation (2 more)
Interesting combination of reality and the animation
Thorough Story
A Whole New World
The combination of reality meets animation creates this beautiful masterpiece as you find yourself exploring a whole new world. Personally I don't think this film gets enough appreciation for just how much was put into this film and how much it holds up not only in the design but in the story itself. Although I'll agree with many that the whole film follows a very straightforward and predictable plotline that we've seen across the board from Pocahontas to Dances with Wolves this particular version offers a whole new realm of exploration around it as well as an interesting dynamic between the good and bad on both sides of the fight. Plus I find this movie is more focused on the curious new world and becoming apart of it ourselves as the audience, this plotline is merely one of the guides offered to present this world to us on the screen and my oh my what a world it was. Filled with beauty and diversity and unimaginable creations, this is a world anyone would love to see.
Phil Leader (619 KP) rated The Long War in Books
Nov 20, 2019
Taking up the story a generation after the events in The Long Earth, this book investigates the impact of human expansion on the races that already inhabit the stepwise worlds, in particular the Trolls and Beagles.
As with human colonisation throughout history, mankind has embraced the Long Earth and made the assumption that it is 'theirs' to do with as they want. And as history shows, this usually doesn't end well for the existing natives.
This then is an exploration of this in the context of the Long Earth, the potential for conflict arising from both mankind and the other sentient races and raising questions about how to co-exist. The title is a little misleading as there is no war as such, but it does set the tone.
As with the first book, the main interest in this is with the investigation of the different Earths that can be conceived, and how sentient races could be very different from us not only physically but also in their social norms, philosophy and ambitions.
This didn't measure up to the first book but it's not a bad sequel by any means
As with human colonisation throughout history, mankind has embraced the Long Earth and made the assumption that it is 'theirs' to do with as they want. And as history shows, this usually doesn't end well for the existing natives.
This then is an exploration of this in the context of the Long Earth, the potential for conflict arising from both mankind and the other sentient races and raising questions about how to co-exist. The title is a little misleading as there is no war as such, but it does set the tone.
As with the first book, the main interest in this is with the investigation of the different Earths that can be conceived, and how sentient races could be very different from us not only physically but also in their social norms, philosophy and ambitions.
This didn't measure up to the first book but it's not a bad sequel by any means
The Lights of Pointe-Noire
Alain Mabanckou and Helen Stevenson
Book
Finalist for the Man Booker International Prize 2015 Alain Mabanckou left Congo in 1989, at the age...