There are a great many things that fascinate us in this world, and that’s why mankind has dug into just about every single last one of them in order to properly understand them and what they mean to our society as a whole. And this thirst for knowledge has led to some incredible advancements in technology and science over the years since we understand our world better than ever before and we’ve even been to the stars because of our desire to learn. But like all things, fascination has its downsides as well since sometimes, what captivates us, isn’t exactly healthy for our minds.  
 
Take for example the fact, that we often find ourselves intrigued by what’s happening in other people’s lives. For in reality, what’s happening to someone else and how they’re living their days is really no business of ours. But from to time, we encounter someone unique, and for a time we wonder about them and every facet of what makes their life tick and well, while we know their life has no impact upon our own or that they really aren’t that important to us, we still have to know more about them and why they live the way they do. Granted, eventually our odd fascination with how another person lives eventually fades, when we realize we have our own path to focus upon, but for some this offbeat search for knowledge turns to obsession, the kind that is unhealthy, and it just so happens that one of Alfred Hitchcock’s finest films took the time to examine this taboo aspect of humanity in Rear Window.
 
Now in this particular film we are introduced to a photographer named L.B. ‘Jeff’ Jeffries and this intrepid shutterbug is in quite the unique situation. For he has broken his leg and is forced to stay at home for the time being while he heals and that is frustrating his mind to no end. But to pass the time, L.B. has found a way to keep his brain busy and satisfy his photographer’s eye by keeping an eye on how his neighbors live, and while this seems harmless enough since L.B. is nothing more than an outside observer through a lens, one fateful evening changes the nature of this ‘hobby’. Because L.B. firmly believes that he has seen one of his neighbors murder his wife and now he is obsessed with bringing this to light. But there is just one problem, there’s no solid proof that such an act occurred, which means he will have to take his obsession to a whole new level in order to prove to everyone that what he saw was the truth. 

​So, this is one of my all-time favorite Alfred Hitchcock films, for so many reasons. In fact, I could talk all day about this one, but for the sake of time it’s best we stick to the key elements that make it so great; such as the acting and assembly of this film. Because James Stewart is simply divine here, since he is able to pull off a flawless performance that dances between sanity and the madness induced by Cabin Fever and his portrayal of L.B. works seamlessly within the story’s marvelous setting. For it’s quite the feat to isolate a human being in the big city, but Hitchcock creates a sense of claustrophobia by setting the movie in L.B.’s apartment and pseudo ‘backyard’ and having our main character be helpless in his own way only adds to the wondrous tension present in this tale.
 
But what truly fascinates me about this film after all these years, is what it has to say about obsession and the human mind. Because it really does dive deep into how easily we are sucked into the lives of others and how unhealthy that can be, since L.B. does find himself drawn into these ‘other worlds’ with ease and he refuses to step away from this newfound hobby. But what is truly magical about this exploration is how at the same time, the audience gets sucked into this obsession as well. For we too are curious to see what kinds of lives have been designed here and it inadvertently reminds us of the voyeur that resides within all of us and how easy it is to get lost in the lives of others and the subtlety present in this part of the story is downright genius to say the least.
 
Yet what is truly intriguing about this commentary on our humanity, is the sheer fact that Hitchcock doesn’t take the time to chide the audience or look down upon us. He understands that curiosity is human nature and offers the notion that it’s okay to peek, but it is not okay to try and peel the layers back. Because we might not like what we will discover about ourselves and others when we do, and the ending of the film hammers that home when we learn the truth about L.B.’s neighbor. But make no mistake about it, this is a fascinating film about one of the more negative aspects of our humanity, something that Hitchcock was always a master of exploring and it is something he examines here with class and dignity, and that makes this movie a must see if you haven’t watched it yet since it is a powerful look at obsession and the dark things that mankind is capable of. 

To call Breaking Bad a phenomenon would be a gross understatement. Because this series, and everything that’s comes out of its iconic existence has gone beyond the power of that word, if anything it has become part of the outright fabric of our daily lives since people continue to re-watch and pour over Walter White’s harrowing story, or they indulge in the time before Heisenberg by way of Better Call Saul. And really, there’s a solid reason as to why this story/universe has in essence become an outright obsession for television enthusiasts out there everywhere.
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Because when all is said and done, Walter White’s journey, is nothing more than a grand American tragedy, one that feels as though it is ripped from the headlines of everyday life since we’ve all seen and heard news stories about good people who have turned to a life of crime and that kind of tragedy fascinates us. We simply have to know why someone who has a normal and peaceful life would choose to turn their back on the law and all that is good in the world and watching Walter and his friends transform into ‘bad’ people helps to satiate that curiosity. But what is truly impressive about this saga, is how it continues to captivate us years after it has come to an end.

In fact, I thought the series finale of Breaking Bad had done everything right when it comes to wrapping up the story, but I am in the minority when it comes to that particular line of thinking. For so many felt and believed that Walter might have survived that all-out assault on Jack’s men, and of course, everyone was left captivated and curious over Jesse’s fate since his drive into the night left us with more questions than answers. Which is why it should come as no surprise that Vince Gilligan took the time to put together a sequel/epilogue to the series, so that fans could finally have those all-important questions answered and well, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, is not only successful in that endeavor, it’s a phenomenal film through and through. 

Because at its core, this is a gritty crime film, one designed to get our hearts pounding and it accomplishes that no problem, thanks in large part to the fact that we spend this entire ride on the run with Jesse Pinkman. And I really appreciated how this story offers no sense of safety for a young man who once had the world at his fingertips, and also how well this tale plunges us back into the seedy underbelly of Albuquerque that Walt and Jesse once owned, and that noir-ish feel to this story makes it an engaging and powerful ride for certain, one that also takes the time to truly provide the fans with a genuinely solid ending to the Heisenberg saga.
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For this one answers every burning question you have when it comes Walter’s fate and what came next after the dust had settled from that powerhouse finale, and I have to be honest, it was just a majestic delight to return to this universe and properly say goodbye to some of the characters that didn’t quite receive the closure we wanted them to. But what matters the most, is that in many ways Jesse’s harrowing journey in this tale provides the saga with its only happy ending to date, and that’s just stunning when all is said and done. For a story about a teacher turned drug dealer, and the student he dragged into this mess should feature zero positivity, but this movie pulls it off in the most appropriate and satisfying way imaginable.

If anything, this really is a movie designed for the fans of this iconic saga and honesty, there’s nothing wrong with that. Because returning to the world of Breaking Bad in 2019 isn’t a bad thing in the slightest, since the fanbase has only grown since the series finale, meaning that you will be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with the series or how it ends and I tip my cap to Vince and Aaron Paul for putting together a satisfying conclusion to this story. One that truly gives the audience everything it could want and more and now that this particular chapter of the story has come to its close, we can turn our attention back to Jimmy McGill’s journey, for one last fix of a saga that captivates us in ways we never thought possible.

I think we can all agree upon the fact that, for the most part, action films tend to be fairly devoid of any deeper meaning. I mean sure, we laugh pretty hearty when the comic relief arrives, and sometimes there are characters that die on screen that we really didn’t want to see go. But outside of that, any real commentary on our world and our humanity simply doesn’t exist in this genre and it makes sense as to why. For action films are a true escape through and through, where we suspend any beliefs in reality and just munch on popcorn while the bullets fly, and the explosions wow us.
 
But once in a while, an action film does arrive on the market that leaves you thinking. Granted, it’s rare when that happens, but when it does, it truly does wow you, and one such action film that caught me off guard with its intelligence came out many moons ago when First Blood hit theaters back in 1982. Because the first entry in the John Rambo saga really forced audiences to ponder upon the experiences of war veterans and the PTSD they incur when immersed in combat. But while that was a wonderful place for this story to go, its subsequent sequels reverted to more traditional action storytelling, making Rambo’s plight and struggle a little less relevant as time goes on.
 
However, that’s not a bad thing necessarily, because sometimes straying too far off course, allows for a course correction to happen somewhere down the line, and that’s precisely why I was quite curious to see Rambo: Last Blood. Because once Sylvester Stallone announced that this would be the final film in the John Rambo saga, I couldn’t help but wonder if this grand finale would be akin to Rocky Balboa, in that it returned the franchise to its roots and it just so happens that this particular entry does just that. Because when we catch up with John in his latest adventure, he’s back where he started in a manner of speaking since he’s just trying to get by and make peace with his demons, but there’s a twist present here that adds depth to his attempts to silence the screams in his mind.

​Because John has in essence found something to live for in this particular tale, since he’s taken over as a father figure for the granddaughter of a woman named Maria Beltran, who helps out at his father’s ranch and well, this was a lovely twist to see thrown into the mix for this character. For Gabriela’s addition to the saga gives John depth like never before and her innocence and all around good nature finally gives John a faith in mankind that he’s never had before and it’s fascinating to see him push himself harder to control his demons in order to be the hero that she clearly believes him to be. If anything, it was just refreshing to see John as a person once again, one that truly wanted to find peace and enjoy what life has to offer for a change, and it was equally as intriguing to see him find ways to deal with his PTSD and his demons since few stories deal with that period.
 
However, make no mistake about it, this is an action flick through and through and it doesn’t take long for Gabriela to get into trouble, prompting the vicious and violent parts of John to bubble to the surface and well, that’s where this film takes a turn into familiar territory and this part of the story is… impressive. Because oddly enough, the violence here feels organic and justified and my goodness does John unleash his fury like never before, as he brings harm to those who hurt his family and I suppose what makes these incredible sequences work so well on screen is the sheer fact that there is depth and meaning to John’s vendetta. For we’ve often heard parents speak of how far they would go to avenge their children if anyone hurt them and that definitely comes into play here in impressive and shocking fashion.
 
In the end however, this really is a fitting end to John Rambo’s saga, simply because the story allows for a disillusioned solider, haunted by wanton death and violence, to finally fight for something worthwhile and that’s really the happiest ending that John could ever receive since this tale does end in bleak and bloody fashion. But what I truly appreciated about this film is that it had more to offer than just mere explosions and buckets of blood. It gives us a thinking and functional hero once again and it works to please a variety of audiences in doing so. Because if you want depth, you’ll find it, and if you want someone’s head to explode in combat, well good news, you find that too. Either way, this is quite the impressive finale to a thirty-seven-year-old franchise and one worth seeing for certain.