reel cinema

(did you like the pun?)

i rarely ever write about movies. or talk about movies. or really enjoy movies.
i'm just not a movie person.
however, the last few months, i have seen some absolutely beautiful films...and i'd like to tell you about them.

Les Miserables
so i'm not going to say too much about this, but it is (without a doubt) one of the most redeeming films released ever. it provides an accurate picture of what a man's life looks like with Christ. it's difficult and full of tribulations, but it is good. the singing was pretty nice too.

The Fall
i watched this movie (yesterday) initially because it had Lee Pace in it and i love him. as the opening credits played, i saw that Spike Jonze co-directed it. at that moment, i knew i was in for something great. the film takes a lot of patience and is a little hard to follow. halfway through it, i got used to the exotic quality of the visuals and was able to enter the psychological turmoil of the main character.
i sobbed at the end of this movie. it's almost embarrassing.

Blood Daimond
i watched this because Chad told me to. it is a wonderful example of how art and entertainment can spread awareness of global injustice and inspire action. it also made me like Leonardo DiCaprio a lot more than i did before.

Perks of Being a Wallflower
this. this book was one of the most difficult little paperback novels i read in high school. i read it once, but have thought about it for the last few years. when i watched the film adaptation (the screenplay was written by the original author) i was impressed at how well done it was. it was not a typical teen drama. it was not too light-hearted. it wasn't as gritty as the book, either (which created a very pleasing experience overall). it was just plain good.

the thing that all of these films have in common is their ability to express real issues and create real situations within a fictional setting. i admire that. my biggest complaint with most movies (and literature and music) is that they mask the truth of life in a shallow attempt to make it more palatable.  the depth is gone. too often, the depth that the public spend time discussing, isn't really there at all. it is merely perceived depth. a desperate attempt to make the entertainment somehow "worthwhile". however, in these films (and many more, i'm sure), the depth is something tangible  the emotions are very real. the fiction is not masking truth, but exposing and expressing it in a visual experience. the feelings are not just fillers to get to the next dramatic battle sequence or love scene. well done films create feelings that are necessary and important. the actor may be acting, but the feelings and sentiments expressed are things that i (and i'm sure many of you) have felt quite acutely.

so i guess that's all.
i should probably put a disclaimer on this: not all of these films are suitable for all ages. in fact, almost all of them are very heavy and i wouldn't recommend them to anyone younger than high school aged.