Theme park theologian. Movie philosopher. Appreciator of beauty. Somebody told me that I'm "cultivating spiritual imagination around art and pop culture" and I think that's probably right.
I think Rian Johnson made a nice try to move on the story. But that was all, a nice try. The whole Disney trilogy feels just like a remake of the originals. TLJ was finally just a twist in the mid of a retro trilogy. Yes, Luke is flawed in TLJ but so was he in TESB. We also have little plot development in terms of galactic civil war in favour of character development just like we had in TESB. Don't misunderstand me. I don't mind if Disney decides to remake Star Wars movies. The problem is to present them as sequels. Remaking is the worst way to do a sequel or a prequel. George Lucas' prequels, for instance, despite being plenty of flaws and recycling still are prequels telling a different story. Even the aesthetic designs were different.
If they wanted to go the route of a more grimdark game of thrones style. Then the world of Charn is perfect for this. What we know of Charn from the Magician's Nephew is that it was a world at the end devastated by war. The kings and queens were exceedingly cruel and Jadis the last queen fought a war. What was that war about? Was this a world were the residents of this world rejected God? And what does that mean?
Actually Rian Johnson praised the prequels because of George Lucas' boldness at making them. To be honest I never complained about the execution of the prequels. When watching them in theatre I was just a teenager. Now I know something about cinema and I see them as experimental movies. Of course they are not master pieces but I still find them enjoyable. I was disappointed with TLJ but this regard about the flawed Jedi Order was precisely one of the things I always felt Rian Johnson did well in this movie. Now I see Johnson did his best. The problem lies on Disney's idea for the whole trilogy. They just recycled the original one for fan service.
First off, hats off to you because you've approached this matter in a way I never saw coming. Truly interesting and very insightful. I confess this made me reflect on my own judgmental sentiments about theme parks and the people who frequent them. I don't usually generalize; yet, depending on the topic, I might become quite stubborn when it comes to thinking about it more empathetically. I should add, though, that there might be another underlying factor explaining many Europeans' disenchantment with Disneyland and similar theme parks: I think people in Europe tend to have more matter-of-fact mindsets and are more "serious-minded" regarding their surroundings because, just like you explained in the video, their past is literally concretized, materialized all over the place. This naturally enhances their self-awareness of socio-cultural attachments to their community and whatnot. Ironically, while they (myself included) might think theme parks and American parkgoers are shallow, the fact that they, in turn, don't see anything special or magical about it could also be, in my opinion, a symptom of shallowness itself. On a more personal note, as I tend to be mostly introverted, I can't bear or handle the extroverted energy usually found in these places. It may seem unfair and insensitive for me to feel this way, but that's just a very personal thing of mine. That's why I'd rather not set foot in these parks to avoid ruining people's good times because of my apparent grumpiness. I actually stumbled upon this video while looking for something to help me better understand my partner, who wants to go to a theme park. I'm confused because she's also an introvert and doesn't follow or like any of the themes or cartoons featured in the park, just like me. Since she has no time for hobbies, a social life, a (healthy) diet, or interactions with people outside her (toxic) workplace, I feel she needs such an overdose of extroversion to compensate for what she's been missing lately.
I came across your movie review on Letterboxd after watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. So intrigued by you and your work upon looking through your website. Looking forward to following your journey and watching more of your work!
I finished every Origami Yoda book besides art2d2 book which doesn't really count. Still, I relate to dwight. I was always the weird kid, and had this group of unpopular-ish friends. Anyways Tom I am free tonight I just wanna hang out you know maybe go out or something-
Is there a reason why haven’t you uploaded new videos lately? I hope you’ll make a part 2 about Harry Potter because there are more things related to it that came out since your latest video about it.
I miss being in europe. Can't see well enough to drive so I have to navigate trains and busses which is pretty sparse in the U.S. Anywhere less than four miles I walk. People think that I'm crazy
Origami Yoda books really helped me as a kid. Thankfully I wasn't bullied a lot for being nerdy, but standardized tests and funtime-esque programs the school forced us to do ruined my life. I had strict parents who thought that grades and test scores were all that mattered, and the jabba the puppet book really got me out of my funk and made me realize that I wasn't a failure, and the tests are designed to be awful
God, I love your channel, would you please post more again? Or within reason anyway, i mean, whatever you can do. I am only asking as a way of expressing how much I like your content.
One of the most amazing things about this movie is the adventure. Plenty of movies show off amazing places in Europe. Places we seen before a million times. Walter travels to places like Afghanistan and a volcano called Eyjafjallajökull. No I don't know how to pronounce it. These places are far more "going into the unknown" then other movies.
As a gen z(near gen alpha by a year),these books are STOOKY. Got one of my friends reading them,love making the intrux in the back,found out about the series in the 5th grade,still re-reading it in 7th,amazing series,if you havvent,suggest reading it
There is also a book on Disney's Atlantis, written as if by Preston Whitmore, that falls in this category. I have recently decided to assemble a chest of these sort of books, spruced up with my prop making skills, for my kids to find when they are old enough (and of course when i have kids)
Can you please do a video on a film by Cartoon Saloon? omgomg would you please do their film The Secret of Kells, from your Christian perspective? If you don't know, it's about a boy at a monastery and the Book of Kells, an Irish medieval illuminated book of the gospels. I saw it in person at Trinity College. It's the most beautiful object I've ever seen - and the film's animation then, of course, being based on the book - it's as beautiful too.
If Papa Johns paid so I could see Iceland I might actually eat there some day. To me the moment that really hit the nerve is "...just being there" That is trully the secret of life but couterintuitively the most difficult thing to do. Absolutely love this movie ❤
You know what’s 1:54 you know what’s sad though Peter Rabbit and Paddington are very similar. Just one is just a bland cashgrab the other is genuine movie with love and heart
My favourite Narnia book growing up was The Dawn Treader. It had exciting adventures, a redemption story and a trip to the end of the world. Aslan showed up thruout the book, not just at the end. Lucy, my fav character of the series gets more air time there. Maybe it's time to read them again. It's been years since i have done so.
I hope that they make the last movie too. But so far who ever makes it never gets that far. It needs to be well- done with good special effects to bring about the end of the world and keeping to Lewis's story of the afterlife part.
Agree, agree, agree, agree. LOVE this praise for AOR and Dark Crystal, and your reasoning for it! Especially the metaphors to the real world. A lot of people really will deny evidence that's right in front of them, because it's too scary to consider. And, if they admit that it's real, they'll have no choice but to disrupt everything about their comfortable lives to DO something about it. I grew up with Jim Henson's work, including The Dark Crystal, but sadly, my husband did not, and so he's in the "puppets are weird and childish" camp. 🥲 I have yet to convince him that this _level_ of high-art puppetry is _nothing_ like kids puppet shows. But *_I_* will love it til the day I die! And I almost DID die when I learned they're _not freaking making a season two!!!_ 😱😫😭
