Caution: This article contains some spoilers for the film, ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’.
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Inside each and every one of us, is a grandiose dream. One that has managed to infect every fiber of our being in every sense of the phrase and that drives to us to chase this goal with impunity. Because we know that if we can achieve this dream and hold it in our hot little hands, that we will finally know what internal peace and genuine joy feels like. Because nothing makes us happier than the dream, and everything it will reward us with for chasing it and sacrificing so much to obtain it, will make every hardship absolutely worth the effort. And while that may sound silly or outlandish to some since this type of pursuit has a risk of failure, we press on because we know this is what we were born to do.

But while it is wonderful to ponder upon the future and what our lives will look like the day, we grab hold of the dream, and enjoy fictional and real stories about those that climb the proverbial mountain, the haters and doubters do have one important point about our pursuit of the dream. In that, there are no guarantees that we will achieve it. Which is a cynical thing to say, but life is unpredictable, and it takes us places sometimes we simply don’t want to go. A notion that begs some important questions for certain, such as; what do we do, if we don't achieve our dream? Do we settle for second best? Do we try and press on, regardless of seeing things blow up in our faces? Well these are important questions that only the individual can answer. But that doesn’t stop movies from offering up the best advice they possibly can about such matters and it just so happens that Bill & Ted Face the Music is a motion picture that dives headfirst into these all-important questions. 

Because when we catch up with Bill S. Preston (Esq.) and Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan in this particular tale, they’ve seen better days. For all the success they enjoyed at the end of Bogus Journey has evaporated, and to make matters worse, they have yet to write the song that will unite all of humanity. But they are still trying, with very mixed and weird results. But despite their best efforts to find a way forward and enjoy the success they were destined to find, they’re starting to wonder if the universe was right about their skill set and now, said skills will be put to the absolute test. For Rufus’ daughter Kelly arrives in 2020 to warn them that if they don’t write the song in the next several hours, all of time and space will be destroyed, and it will be up to these former rock stars and their daughters to figure out how to bring the perfect song to the masses, in order save reality as we know it. 

Which is an incredibly complex plot that leads to yet another powerful analysis on life and the challenges we face. Which in this case, is directed specifically at how we handle our pursuit of the dream when everything doesn’t go exactly according to plan, and what the movie explores in regard to this is quite powerful. Simply because the film doesn’t let Bill or Ted sulk on the fact that they didn’t achieve their goal. Instead, they keep plugging away and refuse to give up on themselves, and the future and that reminds us that we only truly fail, when we quit, and that's not the only inspiring message present in this film. Because the movie also reminds us, that when we chase the dream in a fierce manner, we lose sight of some of the wins in our lives and the other successes we achieve and that it is equally as important to recognize and celebrate those victories. Plus, it also takes the time to point out the fact that sometimes, we achieve our goals in a uniquely different manner than we originally envisioned. But as to how the movie accomplishes that, we’ll refrain from going into here, so you can experience that firsthand.

Instead, now is the perfect time to address the million-dollar question in regard to this film, in that; is it any good? And the answer to that question is a bodacious, yes. Because this movie features everything you love about the franchise, and despite being released twenty-nine years after Bogus Journey, nothing here feels forced or out of place. For this story and everything that happens here feels organic and connected to the other films in the franchise. But most important of all, this is a downright hilarious motion picture. Because Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves simply don’t miss a beat as Bill and Ted, and their ability to transform into unique versions of themselves, leads to some outright side-splitting moments, and the support cast does their part as well. With a special shout out to William Sadler and Anthony Carrigan, who play Death and Dennis Caleb McCoy respectively. Because those two gents steal every single scene they are in with their impeccable comedic timing and delivery. 

If anything, this is a perfect ending to a wonderfully outlandish and delightful franchise. Because not only does it offer up one incredible and fun adventure for the Wyld Styallns to partake in, it is an inspiring and uplifting film. Because the despite the odds, Bill and Ted’s unwavering optimism in humanity and good remains steadfast here, and they stop at nothing to make the world a better place and that is wonderful to find in an era of filmmaking where gritty tales are king. And now that the saga of Bill and Ted has come to a close, all we can do is offer thanks to Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves for bringing two unique and wonderful characters to life, and those thanks need to be extended to Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson as well. For without the minds of these two writers, this franchise and everything it stands for wouldn’t exist in the slightest and well; that’s it, dudes. There’s nothing more to say about this most excellent franchise. For the story has come to a close and all we are left with, are lessons. The kind that remind us to never give up, and fight for everything we want in life and to be excellent to each other and also... to party on, dudes.

​The day that we finally head out into the world, is a special day indeed. Simply because it means we are truly an adult at last and in theory we are absolutely ready to take on any challenge that the world throws our way. Because we are educated and strong and most important of all, we are armed with a plan. One that will guide us toward a wonderful and sustaining career and that in turn, will set up our future. The kind that will include a partner in crime that we love to no end, and eventually we will settle down with that person inside of our magnificent home because that’s the American way and that’s how life is supposed to go, and it doesn’t take long for us to realize; that such a particular vision of the future is downright wrong and silly. 
 
Because life is in fact, a roller coaster ride when we leave home. One where there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding our future and it is also filled with hardships and pain as we begin to grow older. The kind that quite frankly, help us to understand that life is going to be difficult and wrought with all kinds of challenges, which is why motion pictures and storytelling in general try and steer clear of that harsh reality. So that they can keep the sense of escapism that comes with storytelling intact. But once in a while, a story comes along that is not only brave enough to tackle what kinds of difficulties in life we are going to face, but it does so in a lighthearted and entertaining manner. Which makes Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey an outright philosophical masterpiece, since it accomplishes those respective goals while offering up a fascinating exploration on how best to handle the many challenges that will come our way. 
 
A feat that it accomplishes by looking at three key elements about life in general, the first of which is perhaps the most obvious; that it is hard from the get-go, and we won’t be where we want to be right away. Because despite the fact that we are ready to jump into our respective career field or dream job, the world isn’t quite ready to accept us into those respective environments. Which means we have to start somewhere we don't like in order to get along, and that means we will be scraping by in those early days whilst we put our future together. Yet while that sounds awful and annoying, and downright frustrating since we fail during this phase of our lives, the movie does take the time to remind us to embrace the moment and the good surrounding us when we are here in this particular pit stop. Because that’s what will keep us going as we fight the good fight.

​Yet what’s truly fascinating about watching Bill and Ted languish in a place where their music doesn’t mean everything to the world just yet, is that along the way they are also forced to learn another important lesson that we all must, at some point or another. In that, in order to find the success, we so desperately seek, we must become masters at our craft. Which means we will have to work for endless hours at our skill and hone it to damn near perfection. So that when our moment arrives, we are seasoned and ready, or in some cases, appear akin to a prodigy and once we reach that point the sky will indeed become the limit. Yet as an added bonus to this exploration, the story digs a little deeper and reminds those who wish to make an impact on the world through art, to live their life to the fullest. Because art without experience has less meaning than one might like and what Bill and Ted go through in this film, gives them just that.
 
Because they face every struggle one can possibly imagine over the course of this film. And they are even forced to deal with all the difficult parts of life in a matter of minutes in some cases and really, this part of the story is where the movie reaches its most philosophical points. For it really does take the time to point out that while these hardships are difficult on all of us, and put us through the emotional ringer, how we respond to them is what matters the most. For if we let the pain, they produce take hold of our souls and infect us, then we become shells of our former selves and get lost in the mix. But if we see these moments as learning opportunities and use them to grow, then we will accomplish wonders and in the case of art… create something powerful that can help others in their time of need. Something that makes this story a tad meta when you ponder upon that implication and really, it’s quite amazing to find this much depth and philosophy in a sequel where full on robot chubbies are discussed.
 
But that’s the magic of this franchise. Because it finds ways to examine segments of our lives as Bill and Ted grow and that undoubtedly means that Bill & Ted Face the Music will likely follow in this motion picture’s footsteps and be as brilliant and as deep and likely as hilarious as well. For Bogus Journey is just as powerfully funny as its predecessor. In fact, it’s actually funnier at times, courtesy of the addition as William Sadler as Death and by allowing for Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves to play evil robot versions of Bill and Ted and really, this is just a perfect sequel. Because not only does it up the ante and raise the stakes, but it holds nothing back in the messages that it wishes to explore and it inspires the audience to be excellent to each other and to chase their dreams, and you really cannot go wrong with a story that asks you face your fears and your pain, because you can in fact, handle such matters no problem. And it should be fascinating to see how the next chapter in this saga goes, now that we know that Bill and Ted’s journey here, didn’t quite end as happy as it was implied at the end of this particular tale.

What’s fascinating about motion pictures from the 1980s and 1990s, the ones that featured outcasts and nerds and everything in between, is the sheer fact that these movies are a fascinating encapsulation of the zeitgeist of the times. Because geeks and folks that didn’t quite fit in really were viewed as hardcore losers back then, who somehow wouldn’t amount to anything when they graduated high school and stepped out into the real world. Because cliques and every other stereotype from the era were viewed as the only paths to success and well, obviously we know how that story turns out since all the ‘goofy’ kids went on to rule the world and do incredible things. Which makes a great many of these films quite dated since that view is no longer shared by the majority.
 
But some of them were packed with more than just gags and poor stereotypes. Because some of these movies, go far deeper than one might expect, and what was once viewed as nothing more than a silly comedy where the goofy kid became the hero, ended up offering all kinds of important life lessons and messages. The kind that the audience might find when they reflect upon said movie or movies somewhere down the line and it just so happens that a wonderful comedy about two ‘slackers’, who will someday save the universe if they get their act together, turned out to be a movie that meets that criteria. Which is quite surprising to say the least, since Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure really doesn’t seem as though it has a lot of offer in the way of depth at first glance.
 
After all, Bill Preston and Ted Logan really are about as lost as it gets when we meet them in this movie, and it seems so outlandish that they could potentially unite the world with some tasty tunes. But when one settles in to watch this movie now, it quickly becomes apparent that this story had some incredible themes to offer its audience. Such as how we should never judge a book by its cover. Because so many see Bill and Ted as losers and going nowhere in life, but hey… they are indeed going to save the world one way or another and the ingenuity they put on display as they assemble heroes from history for their final exam, is what truly hammers home this point since it helps us and others to understand that these two righteous dudes are far smarter than anyone ever gave them credit. 

​But the wonder of this motion picture and what it has to offer doesn’t end with such a simple point. For it also dives deep into how we need to dream and dream big in life. Because once Bill and Ted come to learn of their fate, they’re committed to this path and love the idea that their dream can in fact come true and that is what motivates them and focuses them in ways they never thought possible. And what this does for the audience, is that it reminds us to hang onto that dream and let it infect every facet of our minds and our imagination. Because when we are determined to reach for the skies and get what we want, there is nothing that can stop us and who knew that we’d find a message that uplifting in a movie where Napoleon Bonaparte eats the Ziggy Pig.
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Yet while all those messages are powerful and timely, they all pale in comparison to the movie’s biggest message of all; to be kind to other people. Because Bill and Ted have every reason to turn on people and snap at them or show malice, since they are picked on and marginalized at every turn. But instead of taking that route, they remain optimistic and show everyone they meet from the future and the past and everyday life with incredible kindness and respect and that is just something that takes you off guard upon a second or fiftieth viewing of this movie. Because there’s no gritty backstory for these teens, or trauma or anything like that driving them forward. They just want to be good people and rock stars and that is refreshing to see, and it definitely cements the fact that we could use a little more of that mentality in our daily lives. 
 
However, make no mistake about it, this really is a wonderful comedy through and through. And the jokes present here hold up well thanks in large part to a phenomenal cast and some top-notch writing. Because Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter bring so much magic and depth to characters that appeared two dimensional in the initial advertising for this film. And their fine work here, makes these two dudes quite relatable and accessible, which prompts the viewer to root for them every step of the way, and of course… you can never go wrong with George Carlin popping up in any role and he steals the show here as Rufus. As for the quality of the writing, well the fact that you’re never confused about what’s going on is what reinforces the wonder of the script. Because time travel is sticky business, the kind that get away from a writer quickly, but Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon work wonders here and really in the end, this is simply a magnificent motion picture. One full of heart and wonder and hilarity and its ability to resonate with audiences today, make it timeless for certain, and a must-see for the uninitiated.

​While our society has progressed in a great many ways over the past twenty years or so, where so much about our lives, choices and identities are now being readily accepted by the masses, it still seems as though that Divorce is about as taboo a subject as it gets. Because sadly, the end of a marriage for whatever reason, more or less symbolizes failure and no one wants to talk about that. But we should, because Divorce is a common thing in our world and there is a lot of strife that goes with it for everyone involved and while it remains taboo, there was a film that dug into all the harrowing details that surround such a choice in 1979’s Kramer vs. Kramer.
 
Ted Kramer is a man who seemingly has it all. He’s got a great job with an advertising firm that adores his work. He has a wonderful son and a nice apartment in New York, and really, there’s just one problem with his magnificent life; his wife, Joanna, is ready to leave him. She simply cannot take the rigors of married life anymore and needs to figure her life out and leaves one evening, putting Ted in quite the quandary. Because now he must figure out how to help his son cope with his mother’s abscense, and he has to juggle raising his boy and working at a job that demands a lot of out of him and most importantly, he has to figure out how to heal the pain in his own heart as well.
 
This is another one of those motion pictures that clearly comes from a different era simply because, it’s all about the characters here. What I liked a lot about this film is the sheer fact that it focuses heavily on the mundane parts of our day to day lives, and how hard all of that becomes when our routine is rattled and in this case, Ted’s world is turned upside down with Joanna walking out on him and it’s just fascinating and heartbreaking to watch him do his damndest to be a good father and make mistakes that you know he simply isn’t forgiving himself for, even though he’s learning how to be a single dad on the fly.
 
But what truly makes this story shine, is the acting present in this film, because such delicate subject matter requires incredible talent to sell every single tough moment and Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep shine in their respective roles of Ted and Joanna through and through. In fact, I’m hard pressed to think of another role in Hoffman’s illustrious career where he truly transforms himself into an everyday joe in this fashion and Streep, well as always, she is lights out when she is on the screen and while her role is limited, her acting chops allow for Joanna to go on a complete and realistic journey in this tale. 
 
In the end, I think what I truly appreciated about this film is that it doesn’t pretend to be anything bigger than what it is, nor does it have a message to cram down our throats. It’s simply a slice of American life, and it features the ups and downs that we are sometimes forced to experience and for anyone who is a child of a divorce or has gone through one, there are some moments here that resonate with you, and give you pause. Either way, this is a damn good motion picture, one that captivates you from beginning to end and it is, in my humble opinion, a must see.  

I love it when a motion picture does a perfect job of blending reality and fantasy. It's rare, but it happens and when it does it is nothing short of magical when we are transported to a world where the impossible happens but holy crap, does it feel like something you've experienced before in your day to day life. 

Recently I had the pleasure of watching a film that fits that mold, one that I already knew would be top notch quality wise, courtesy of its director, David Fincher, who to me always delivers an amazing movie every single time he steps behind the camera. But this one...this one was special because of how cerebral it turned out to be and the film in question is Gone Girl.

For those who have not seen this film yet, it is about a man named Nick Dunne and how his marriage is completely on the rocks. He's miserable in every sense of the word so imagine his surprise when his wife goes missing. But as the days progress and the hunt for his wife Amy is on, the national spotlight begins to shine bright on Nick and all of his social quirks and suddenly everyone is beginning to wonder if Amy has actually gone missing...or if Nick has murdered his darling wife

So obviously, I've made mention of the fact that this movie blends together our world with the fictional one that features Nick Dunne and it accomplishes this by taking us right into a situation where the court of public opinion passes judgment on Nick before the facts come into play and well...it's fascinating to watch how opinion and eventually the angry vitriol directed at Nick evolves because people don’t like that he isn't camera ready, and because the talking heads on television make sure to pass judgment as soon as their own personal opinion is formed, regardless of the truth or due process for that matter.

We get plenty of that last situation in this motion picture, courtesy of a silver screen parody of the always angry Nancy Grace and we see the impact of such behavior by way of snippets of Nick out and about in the world hearing what others think of him and his situation. But rather than simply be a satire of the world of viral public opinion, the story goes above and beyond, giving us some commentary on what it means to be famous in this day and age danger of putting the wrong kind of people in the spotlight. And all of that is explored in Amy’s wild storyline, where her insanity is on full display. I mean, come on...she fakes her own death in this film to make sure that Nick will end up on death row. 

In the end however, this is simply a fascinating film that presents us with some sad characters as well. Nick is well...an everyday Joe who will never be anything more than that and Amy is a psychotic and angry little lady who lives in the shadows of her well-regarded family and is desperate to be seen as something more in life. Which means that kudos are in order to Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike for bringing these jackasses to life and kudos to David Fincher for putting together a film that I am going to have to watch many times over to fully appreciate the nuances and themes that this brilliant film is loaded to the gills with. See this one if you haven't, it's a fine satire of American life, the desire of some to be in the limelight...and the fact that nothing is ever quite what it seems.

If there’s one thing that unfortunately fades from our minds as we grow older, it’s our thirst for adventure, at least, in the traditional sense. Because growing up, we wanted to achieve every single goal imaginable, and travel to every corner of the world (or space if you’re like me) because…why not? The world and the universe was ours for the taking and while some find a way to still make that happen as they get older, most of us trade in the grander goals for different kinds of adventures, like parenthood or becoming the absolute best in a career field that excites us in ways we never thought possible.
 
But, while that grander sense of adventure fades over time, little things here and there remind us of it and send our spirits soaring as we reflect upon that simpler time and for me, cinema is something that can achieve just that. Because guys like Indiana Jones remind me of a time when I wanted nothing more than to be an explorer. But of the many films out there that re-ignite the joys of our youth, there’s only one that truly encapsulates that sense of adventure all while reminding us exactly what it was like to be a kid and recently, while I was sick on the couch with whatever crud is going around, that particular film popped up on cable, allowing for me to revisit the wonder of The Goonies.
 
Now this is a motion picture that one would expect to be lost to the sands of time. Because it is severely dated in its look and its feel since this sucker is a true 80’s film through and through, but people simply love this film and any time I get into a discussion with anyone about this movie, a smile instantly crosses everyone’s faces because of the joy that it brings all of us, and it is what generates that joy that I would like to spend time talking about today because after having the chance to revisit it after several years of it sitting on my shelf gathering dust, it’s finally becoming clear to me why this movie has such staying power and why it’s regarded as such a classic. 

First and foremost, this is that rare story where the kids truly play the heroes. They’re not victims, they’re not weak, this is a group of full of smarts and unique talents and let’s be honest, there’s something incredibly compelling about that for those of us who grew up with this motion picture. Because when we were kids, there were adults that looked down upon us and frowned upon our dreams and our hopes and our energy, so I distinctly recall that growing up, seeing a group of kids be able to achieve wonders and prove adults wrong was extremely inspiring to say the least and well, the relatability of this film doesn’t end there.
 
Because for us nerdy kids, the ones who were sometimes ostracized and ignored since this came out before being nerdy was cool, The Goonies were people to look up to. They did incredible things in this film, they worked together and accepted one another and of course, they found freaking buried treasure and that sense of adventure is what truly makes this film so magical because let’s be honest…that’s what all of us wanted to do growing up. We wanted to be just like these guys and gals and stumble upon something wonderous and save the day and really, this film speaks to the wonder of a kid’s imagination and its simplicity and genuine presentation are other elements that helps it endure the test of time.
 
If anything, for me, this movie simply spoke to my soul when I was growing up and while it doesn’t quite inspire me like it did back then, it certainly plasters a smile onto my face now. Because damnit, this is just a great movie. It’s fun, it’s filled with incredible moments and even though I’ve seen it a jillion times, I still get lost in the quality writing and the grand adventure and perhaps the biggest treat of all when it comes to my most recent viewing, is the fact that I discovered it also carries a message for the audience that’s applicable at any age. Because ‘Goonies never say die’, is straight up, a reminder to never give up, on anything in life since The Goonies’ push to keep going yielded everything they could have ever asked for and that’s a fine message to find in any film to say the least. 

When one ponders upon the notion of freedom, a lot of warm and fuzzy thoughts come to mind. Because it is something that every American enjoys on a daily basis. For in the USA we are free to simply do whatever we want, whenever we want. If we want to not work today, so be it. We can call in sick and spend the day on our deck enjoying nature. Or if we feel the need to just get the hell out of dodge and clear our minds, well we can do that too. Which is why so many people are good with hopping on a cheap flight to their favorite getaway city, or in the car for a quick trip into nature, because they have that freedom and it is downright wonderful.
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But what is truly amazing about freedom, is that it extends beyond just being able to relax on a moment’s notice. It also means you can truly indulge in any endeavor that catches your eye. For if you think you want to take a crack at creative writing, you sure can. Or if you think you want to learn how to paint, you can, and you can do those things as you please because there’s nothing in America to stop you. But while those elements of freedom are wonderful for certain, what’s wild about our country is that that particular brand of freedom isn’t for everyone. Because to some, it still denotes structure and expectation, when they are in fact, looking for true freedom. The kind that allows for them to discover who they are and what they mean to the world and oddly enough, that particularly intimate journey is one that is explored in fascinating detail in the motion picture, States. 

For this particular movie introduces us to a bevy of unique characters who are all looking for some kind of genuine and personal freedom in this life. Some for example, are looking for religious freedom and want to figure out how to properly communicate with their God. While others are looking to escape the trappings of their current life so they can genuinely enjoy what the world has to offer. While there are others in this film who are simply looking to free their minds and their souls from the pain that they carry and that makes for one fascinating and unique motion picture. One that quite frankly, isn’t for everyone. Because this is in no way a traditional movie by Hollywood’s standards. So, if you’re looking for the standard beginning, middle and end where everyone’s arc comes to a close in a satisfying manner, then this film may not be for you.

Because this is a motion picture that quite frankly, revels in the chaos of life and the power of discovery. For so many of the characters here are simply lost and are desperately looking for direction. And when someone is in that particular state of mind, they will make embarrassing and awful mistakes, the kind that cause them personal shame or help them to lose it all and that’s a bold element to inject into this story. For it in no way inspires the audience. It instead subjects the viewer to the harsh reality that the world is a cruel place, from which there is no escape from chaos, and while that makes this movie seem nihilistic and cynical at first glance, that’s simply not the case in the slightest. Instead, as this movie rolls along, it quickly becomes apparent that it offers nothing more than genuine slices of life and that it wants to be nothing more than a visceral experience.
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A goal that it outright succeeds at for certain. Because you really do meet people from all walks of life here. For there are some great folks who have nothing but good intentions in their heart in this film, whilst there are others who are less than savory and harbor some genuine darkness. But that’s life, and you take the good with the bad as it comes and learn from it as best you can. But what matters most when it comes to this motion picture, is the freedom that it does indeed put on display. Because despite the circumstances that some of these characters face, it’s clear that they are truly at home on the road here, and they are finding great joy and satisfaction in working out whatever is on their minds and that definitely makes this film a worthwhile watch, since that in essence offers the audience an important message.

Specifically, that if we ever feel trapped in life or unsure of where we are headed, that we should make a grand effort to find ourselves. And if that means getting lost in the world for a little bit then so be it. Because when you strip away the creature comforts and the security, you quickly come to learn what you’re made of and what you’re capable of and that’s sound advice that so many of us can use. In the end however, this really is quite the special indie film. Mainly because it is so unconventional in how it tells its story. But if you’re in the mood to experience a story that is unlike anything you’ve seen in recent years, one that features some fascinating slices of life that will definitely take you by surprise, then take a moment out of your day and get lost on the road with some supremely fascinating people.   

When we think of heroic acts, often times we instantly put the person who saved lives and placed themselves in harm’s way atop one heck of a high pedestal and with good reason. They did something brave, they did something incredible and upon virtue alone, they have to be better people than we are because we simply aren’t sure if we could have pulled off the same incredible feats they did. While this isn’t a bad thing by any means because good moments like that should be celebrated, we have to keep in mind that everyday heroes, are also everyday people.
 
They still get up in the morning. They still eat breakfast and go to the bathroom like the rest of us and most importantly, they have their struggles in life too. Because in the end we are all flawed human beings and of the many movies out there that celebrate heroic acts and the hope that said act inspires in all of us, few of these tales truly take a look at the human side of things, and all of the flaws that the hero in question carries with them in their day to day lives and one such story that accomplishes that darker look at heroes in magnificent and fascinating fashion, is the 2012 film, Flight.
 
Now in this motion picture we are introduced to a man named Whip Whitaker, and Whip, is a pilot who finds himself in one hell of a harrowing incident in the skies when his plane undergoes a terrifying malfunction, forcing Whip to think fast and land the plane as best as he can, and wouldn’t you know it? His quick thinking saves a vast majority of the lives on board, making him an instant hero in the public’s eye. But there is a slight problem with this newfound fame in that, Whip wants no part of it. Because Whip has a few skeletons in his closet, ones that will no doubt be exposed and taint his new role as an American Hero and now it will be up to Whip to deal with these matters to not only salvage his reputation, but to salvage his future in general…

​This is one of those films that honestly flew under my radar simply because the marketing scheme as I recall it, more or less made it seem as though Whip simply made an honest mistake by having a few drinks the night before the flight in question, which led me to believe this movie was going to be nothing more than a tale that examines the nature of heroism and whether or not heroes can make mistakes. So, imagine my surprise when I settled in to watch this movie, only to find that Whip has a major problem with drugs and alcohol, something that would clearly make everyone have second thoughts about his heroic act in the sky and well, the surprises for this motion picture don’t end there.
 
Because at its core, this is a tale about addiction, and the lengths that addicts will go in order to maintain their addiction and everything that Whip does in this film, aside from landing that plane, is to keep the drugs and booze flowing and well, it’s a fascinating character study to say the least, one where the audience wants to see Whip embrace the good he’s capable of, but he keeps messing up time and time again and that’s a refreshing twist in its own right. Because normally in films when we meet someone who is flawed or suffering from an affliction, they rise to the occasion, but Whip is content right where’s he’s at and it is just fascinating to watch a character in essence refuse a better life.
 
Of course, what makes this film so successful in what it tries to accomplish comes by way of its strong performances, specifically Denzel Washington, who plays Whip and Denzel’s portrayal of this broken man is downright stunning since it’s clear that Whip is battling all kinds of demons and his internal struggle allows for us to root for the man, despite his flaws and it also makes the ending, all the more satisfying. If anything, this motion picture serves as a fine reminder of our flaws and of the struggles that come with being a human, and the fights we sometimes don’t believe we will ever win and that makes this movie a powerful and wonderful tale, one that needs to be seen if by chance you haven’t yet. 

While I fully understand the purpose of remakes and reboots in Hollywood today, in that, they help update classic stories for generations of people everywhere and keep studios in business, so they can make the next great blockbuster, I will forever be of the opinion that some classic motion pictures should be left alone, regardless of how many years ago they were made. Because sometimes a truly iconic film doesn’t need to be rewritten and revisited, it’s quite perfect the way that it is.
 
Granted, some would cite the dating of the special effects, or the cinematography or the story as good reason as to why a film should be remade, but even then, it’s important to leave films like that untouched and in circulation in order to remind us of where we’ve been and how far we’ve come. But regardless of my views on such matters, remakes will continue to be churned out, and I try my best to find the good in them, but sometimes, unnecessary remakes of a classic find ways to get under my skin, and one that irritates yet entertains me, is the 2005 iteration of H.G. Wells’ iconic invasion story, War of the Worlds.
 
Now, there’s really no good reason to discuss the plot here, because the core of the 1953 film remains. There’s an alien invasion, chaos ensues. So what we really need to take the time to discuss today, is exactly why this remake is so incredibly polarizing because I know I’m not the only one to take issue with it and well, if anything my love/hate affair with this film stems from the fact that at it times, it is supremely brilliant and powerful and poignant, with moments that utterly captivate the audience and at others times, there are scenes so cheesy and over the top and outright annoying, that you’re removed from the experience completely. 

​So perhaps, the best place to start in discussing this film, is by looking at its flaws and really, its greatest weakness, is its characters. While it’s clear that the idea was to create a fish out of water story, where everyday people were thrust into a massive disaster and we follow their harrowing fight for survival, the whole notion simply falls short due to the fact that the characters are so supremely unlikeable. I mean I hate to say it, but Tom Cruise’s character, Ray Ferrier is more or less a jerk, and a bad father, and we simply cannot relate to him in the slightest and that makes moments that should have been important and powerful, boring to say the least, which leaves the audience hungering for more alien themed scenes.
 
Which interestingly enough, brings us to the film’s greatest strength, the invasion storyline. Because this part of the story is quite frankly, breathtaking. In part because the special effects are top notch, in fact the scene where these aliens arrive on planet earth still leaves me in awe with how eerie and surreal that moment that turned out to be, but I digress. Because the true draw of the invasion, is the fact that Director Steven Spielberg managed to tap into the zeitgeist and the fear of the early aughts by in essence, echoing some of the sights and sounds of 9/11, which let’s be honest, was still fresh in all of our minds at that particular time, and it allows for the action sequences, to send chills down our spines.
 
If anything, this inconsistency is quite the shame because if that kind of power had translated over to the character’s side of the story, it would have been easy to declare this remake a downright masterpiece. But alas, an inconsistent script, leads to an inconsistent film, but, it is a watchable affair to say the least. Because the buildup to the invasion actually works and the aliens arrival and their initial strike is handled in masterful fashion and the remake does at least replicate the apocalyptic feel of the original and if you haven’t seen this one, I do recommend it for the entertainment and awe factor because while this iteration of this incredible story falls short in some categories, the fact that it encapsulates the spirit of a frightened and unsettled time in American history, makes it worth your while. 

Perhaps my favorite memory growing up, at least when it comes to watching movies, was the sheer wonder that came about when I settled in to watch a science fiction movie I had never seen before. Because as a young boy growing up in the 1980’s, everything was fresh and new to me and the advent of VHS allowed for me to explore every incredible story from every single era that this genre has to offer and really, while I would like to sit here and say I fully understood the stories that were playing out in front me, I didn’t. I was sucked into these movies and everything they have to offer by way of their special effects.
 
Granted, the further back I went on this journey, the cheesier these effects turned out to be, but seven-year-old me could have cared less. I was simply in awe of visuals that would normally only play out in my imagination and sometimes, when you’re in a nostalgic mood, you go back and revisit those classics in both your mind and through the wonder of a DVD player and recently, after spotting a couple of H.G. Wells themed remakes on cable, I felt it was high time to pop an older adaptation of his fine work into my Blu Ray player and take a stroll down memory lane by way of the 1953 classic, The War of the Worlds.
 
Now, there’s really no need to discuss the plot in the slightest here, because this is a movie that you’ve likely seen if you’re reading this and if not, well, you need to get on that as soon as possible because this motion picture really was a revolutionary film back when it was released. After all, in 1953, the special effects featured in this movie were simply top notch and quite frankly, they hold up incredibly well today, at least the Martian attack ships certainly do, which speaks volumes to the quality of those tiny models and the work that went into filming them.  

​But let’s be honest, the wonder of this film extends far beyond the miniature work, even though, the first appearance of those ships still sends chills down my spine, but I digress. Because the story was revolutionary in its own right as well. After all, 1950’s science fiction rarely had an apocalyptic and desolate feel to it, but this film offers that up in spades. I mean come on, the Martians are virtually unstoppable in this story, and we watch cities burn at their might and that’s some fairly heavy material to be found in a film from the Americana era of cinema. 
 
However, what I’ve always appreciated the most about this particular tale, is the sheer fact that this iteration of the story stays true to a big lesson that H.G. Wells put forth in his original story, in that…while we are masters of our domain, the planet, and partly the universe in this case, will always find a way to remind us of our fragility and how small we are as was evidenced by the invasion to begin with and the virus that eventually brings down the Martian army in stunning fashion and it’s just wonderful to see how well that message has also withstood the test of time in this motion picture.
 
As an added bonus when it comes to this movie, the performances from Gene Berry and Ann Robinson as Dr. Clayton Forrester and Sylvia Van Buren respectively, hold up well after all these years and that’s a big deal because if that wasn’t the case, the power and gravity of everything we just discussed would fade away and really, their performances and everything we’ve highlighted today, make this film a timeless classic. One that leaves the audience thinking and still takes our breath away and honestly, I’m sorry I don’t revisit this film more often because man, it really is amazing through and through and it inspired generations of filmmakers to think bigger and without it, who knows where science fiction films would be today.