The Media Room

Free Guy (2021)   Watching the Movie: Really sleek and stylishly produced, especially when adding the video game elements once Guy puts the sunglasses on. Ryan Reynolds does his usual thing of playing Ryan Reynolds in a slightly different way than any other Ryan Reynolds character. This is not an insult at all, as I actually really enjoy his work. The biggest problem with Free Guy as a movie is that it does not even pretend to hide how derivative of other works it is, as many of the scenes in the movie remind you of corresponding scenes and ideas from other movies. Screening the Film Cultural norms. The individual's role in society. Regime authority and where power is derived from. Perception vs reality. The illusion of free will and choice. Personal ownership and decision making.Violence and human nature. Good vs Evil. The role of mass media and influence on population on the populace. Male and female platonic vs romantic relationships and how they influence and change one another...

Crank (2006)   Watching the Movie:  Incredible, amazing soundtrack, and one of the best shot movies you'll ever see; but unlike the last 4 movies I've screened; the action is constant (and quite literally) non-stop. The characters are as fleshed out as this particular storyline will allow them to be (which means they have as much depth as a bathtub), but still you know who is who and you know why they matter. That's all you need to enjoy the ride. Screening the film:  Drug use and it's role in modern society, entertainment and it's role in modern society (especially as it relates to mass media and video games) Human and animal sexuality, purpose of life (especially once life is limited), gang warfare and information asymmetry (particularly in terms of lying to those we care about), chain of command, there's some pretty decent images on racial subcultures as well. Best Line/Dialogue:  "Listen, I've been fatally poisoned, there's probably a psychopath...

  The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 Watching the Movie:  Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. It's a pretty movie with a great soundtrack/score and some pretty impressive CGI visuals when the action elements come across. However, it's the lightest on anything action oriented in the series. The strength here is in the dialogue; which actually feels a lot more natural than every other entry thus far.   Screening the film:  Stephanie Meyer doesn't want you to get an abortion; no matter what the circumstances or danger to your life. Don't ever get an abortion. Verbal intimacy vs physical intimacy, ideals vs reality. But mostly, yeah, don't ever get an abortion.   Best Line/Dialogue: "It's like gravity. Your whole center shifts. Suddenly, it's not the Earth holding you here. You would do anything, be anything she needs. A friend, a brother, a protector. "   The Bottom Line: I'm truly torn on how I feel about Breaking Dawn, Part 1. As a m...

Twilight (2008) Watching the Movie:  Between the soundtrack, some pretty cool cinematography, one scene involving immortals playing the world's weirdest game of baseball, and a pretty badass fight sequence; there's about 20 minutes or so of this film that's entertaining. . . too bad the movie is 2 hours, 2 minutes long.   Screening the film: Bizzaro-World Teen Movie imagery (new kid moves to town and immediately becomes the most popular kid in school despite actively seeming to avoid doing anything remotely interesting? WTF?) Vampire Movie imagery (immortality; the boredom that comes with eternal life, the hunger), the family dynamic; with focus on the parent role as well as the love between partners. Also, blink and you'll miss some pretty gratuitous messages about female empowerment and environmental awareness (though as much as anything, that can be simplified to geographical context for the northwestern United States).   Best Line/Dialogue:  "I leave you alone...