dinoexmachina

[dinoexmachina]

Thoughts on AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

Spoilers. 

Serious.

Spoilers. 

This felt like a big comic event, where every other page turn leads to a huge splash with all the characters battling in chaos. This wasn’t just a superhero movie; It was, like the source material, an event. Characters who run their own franchises often get smaller, supportive roles in things like this. So it made sense that Black Panther serves more as a field general than a lead hero. The only hero I felt got way too shortchanged was Cap. Tony, Hulk, Thor, Strange, Gamora, and Starlord got meaningful Thanos interactions, but Cap just sparred with him a bit. As far as Thanos being fascinated/amused by characters go, I think he’d be fascinated by Cap the most, but they didn’t tap into that at all. Alas.

Most criticisms of the movie could, I think, be dispelled by the fact that this movie took place over the course of a single day, maybe two. So it’s not about plot, or a journey. It’s about surviving a train wreck. I imagine the next film will decompress a little. This doesn’t stand alone as its own movie, but it’s not meant to. And that’s okay. When we learned more and more, film by film, of what Marvel was building here, we knew what we were signing up for. This is a culmination of 18 films that have come before. The major enjoyment was in the chemistry between the characters. Those we’ve seen together before (Bruce and Tony) and new combinations (Thor and the Guardians). Yes, this was characters meeting each other for two and a half hours, but it was always great. I want a spin-off called “Pirate Angel and Sweet Rabbit.” 

Thanos was great. They nailed it. Could easily have been just a power-crazed thug (a la Ronan the Accuser), but they went the extra mile, making him nuanced, sad, and compelling. He’s evil, of course, but his conviction sells it. Even when he’s getting mind-melded, or when he’s got an oversized axe shoved in his chest. I love that he expresses admiration and liking to the heroes. He likes Starlord, “ah, the boyfriend.” and leans in to tell Tony Stark he respects him (right after stabbing him, which is messed up but great). It’s sincere. I wish he’d have had such an exchange with Cap. Thanos was the hero of the movie, and that’s the most bold part of this movie. So, it’s little wonder why Thanos was so sympathetic; the movie was structured for that. He was the protagonist, facing off against a small army of antagonists. The reversal worked, and was the smart way to approach having so many characters in the movie.

Josh Brolin was so good, and I love that the animators and effects guys were able to capture so much of what makes Brolin’s face work. The way Brolin talks as he smiles is a signature of his and Thanos had that, too.

Speaking of so many characters, this was the only movie that could get away with that. They put in the work (18 films worth) that laid the foundation for all this. So when two characters reunite, or two characters meet, we don’t need all the space we might otherwise need. Natasha and Bruce could have used a bit more time. Cap and Bucky definitely needed one more scene. I mean, Bucky is cured! We should see some relief on Cap’s face. He’s weighed down by a whole lot (and he’s just always sad) so some actual good news would have been nice for him to process.

Peter Quill’s freakout at the news of Gamora’s death really did mess things up, but it was totally in character. He hasn’t emotionally matured since he left Earth (notice how much he tried to deflect a serious conversation with Gamora before she literally put her hand on his mouth to shut him up). Peter has done this kind of thing before. When he learned that Ego, his beloved father, revealed that he killed Peter’s mom, Peter didn’t hesitate to start blasting away in rage. He’s emotionally juvenile and that’s his major flaw. Also kinda why we love him.

As many have posited, I agree that Strange giving up the stone to save Tony wasn’t an act of love or anything. It was a calculation. When he went forward in time to see all the possibilities, the only one that would save everyone involved complete failure, and certain death for Strange. Thanos had to get the stones, do his thing, and win. Defeat on the oth to ultimate victory. Whatever Strange saw as that one possibility, it needed Tony alive, and Strange had to sacrifice himself to ensure it came to pass. As he said, there was no other way. It’s a strategic retreat, in a way.

The acting MVP is Robert Downey Jr. The whole cinematic experiment rested on his shoulders from the beginning and it never let up; he’s been game to carry it and carry it well. And here he is at his most excellent. His rocky mentorship of Spider-Man, his reluctance to call Cap, his alpha-posturing with Doctor Strange (their chemistry was flawless), his exasperation with the Guardians (his reaction to “kick names and take ass” alone was Oscar-worthy). Three of my favorite lines came from him (perfect deliveries, all): “I’m sorry, Earth is closed today!” and “Dude, you’re embarrassing me in front of the wizards.” and “If you throw one more moon at me, I’m gonna lose it.” Tony's sleepless obsession with Earth’s protection over the past six years has paid off here with desperation and sacrifice and terrible defeat. He couldn’t stop the threat he’s been dreading. Now he’s stuck on Titan with Nebula, with no way home. RDJ sold every inch of his screen time here. I’ve always loved that Tony is an arrogant prick, but he’s always ready to go on a one-way trip if it means protecting people. No hesitation. With most of his suit destroyed he still goes after Thanos. No wonder Thanos respects him; how could you not? That’s the kind of beautiful idiosyncrasy that’s made Tony Stark such a great character for ten years.

Also, I really hope that Cap and Iron Man travel to Vormir to learn about the Soul Realm so Cap and Red Skull can interact. That’d just be a treat.

Some favorite odds and ends:

-Ebony Maw as a grandiose, self-righteous baddie. He was great.

-“Magic with a kick!”

-The silhouetted shot of Peter Quill pumping his fist to the music gave me chills. A perfect character intro.

-Thanos’ sacrifice for the Soul Stone.

-“All that for a drop of blood."

-Gamora asking Peter for the favor wrecked me. WRECKED ME.

-Doctor Strange talking to Thanos.

-Bruce getting angry at the Hulk.

-Bruce piloting the Hulkbuster.

-Bruce saving himself when Hulk refused to show up.

-Bruce when Thor shows up. “Oh, you guys are so screwed now!"

-Basically everything Bruce.

-Thanos’ expressions when Mantis was on him. And his expressions when Thor pushed Stormbreaker further into him. Thanos pushing through pain was extraordinary. “You should have aimed for the head."

-Rocket trying to buy Bucky’s arm.

-Nick Fury muttering “Mother f…” as he disappeared.

-“I am Steve Rogers."

Discuss

[dinoexmachina]

Beach Ball #crystalball #santamonica #santamonicapier #photoshop #la #losangeles (at Santa Monica, California)

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Lost in thought with @notalysse #blackandwhiteisworththefight #blackandwhitephoto #portraitphotography #portrait #lightroom

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Moon over Malibu #malibu #losangeles #latergram

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Ephemeral Steps #santamonica #losangeles

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Shoot with @elizabeth_monte #la #losangeles #sunset #model

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John Williams, Hollywood Bowl (at Hollywood Bowl)

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I'll assume she was smiling because of me #la #vsco #vscocam #venice

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Additional captures from #gettymuseum #la #vscocam #vsco #buildingsthatlooklikespaceships #gettyinspired (at Getty Museum)

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Windows #la #vscocam #vsco #gettymuseum #gettyinspired (at Getty Museum)

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Important. #vsco #vsco #la #signs

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Downtown Flagship #vsco #vscocam #la #buildingsthatlooklikespaceships

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PLEASE HELP

Paul Ryan’s spine has been missing for some time now and he NEEDS IT!

If you can, spread the word, so his spine can be returned and he can start, you know, doing his job.

[dinoexmachina]

Written by my Columbia College classmate. Couldn't be happier, and it looks fantastic.

Proud to share the official trailer for our pilot, “When The Street Lights Go On.”

[dinoexmachina]

I Can’t Help But Think Of Romania

I can’t help but think of Romania.

I lived in Romania for two years as a missionary, from 2004-06. I grew to love that country deeply. It’s been long-burdened by its communist past; it wasn’t just a form of government, but rather a mindset that was fused into the fibers of the country. There’s no more stark a symbol of that than the block apartment buildings that fill the cities. They’re concrete from skin to marrow and each one seems intent on keeping the populace in its place.

There’s a city in the west called Hunedoara. The countryside leading to it is out of some fairy tale. There’s even a storybook castle on one side of the city. But surrounding the city is a ring of abandoned, crumbling industrial wasteland.

I remember the train rides that lead from city to city. Some of the trains were more advanced than any train I’ve seen in the United States. Others were rickety steel boxes on wheels, the floors covered in sunflower seeds and spittle. Train rides ranged from a couple hours to 8 and 13 hour train rides. As often as I rode the trains, and even for that long, I was glued to the windows, watching the country go past. It’s beautiful.

The people were warm, always – always – offering more, even when they’d already given. Especially when it came to food. They offered, sometimes, what seemed to be just about all they had. They are a generous people. I even miss the times when we were shouted at, kicked out, threatened, chocked, and spat on. I walked the streets in the fall in Sibiu, an old fortress city. I trudged through Bucharest in the winter, where the streets go unpaved. I ran down steps, two at a time, to catch the subway more times than I can count. I ran through rainstorms on the way home, soaked to the bone. I miss it all.

Some of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen, and some of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had, I saw and I had there. Some of the worst things I’ve ever seen happened there, too. It wasn’t uncommon to see a child wandering the streets. Some were beggars, whose first words taught by their parents were asking for money. For some kids, it was literally all they knew how to say, and they didn’t even know what it meant. I once saw a kid, no more than 8, huffing silver paint out of a plastic bag because it took his mind off of being so hungry all the time.

The weight of communism, even decades removed, still smothered this whole place. It hung around the necks of everyone there, even those who hadn’t yet been born. Everywhere I went, people told me stories of where they were during the Christmas Revolution of 1989. 

Nicolae Ceausescu was the dictator of Romania at the time. He was vain, and cruel, and petty. Run of the mill communist dictator in the Stalin mold. Starvation and scarcity were the norm. Children, even those with parents, went hungry. To make a political point, Ceausescu cut off supplies from an entire city in the west, Timisoara. Of course, this caused more unrest than order. In a speech in what is now called Revolution Square, he spoke from a municipal building’s balcony, and tried to placate the people. But they shouted him down. Even Ceausescu loyalists (paid plants, mostly) were overpowered by the crowd’s chants. It was deafening. They stormed the building and the revolution began.

Ceausescu and his Deputy Prime Minister wife, Elena, fled, but were soon caught and convicted. The military who had served Ceausescu, and usually acted on his command, knew which way the wind was blowing, and they held a tribunal. It was quick and unanimous, and the Ceausescus were found guilty of, among other things, genocide.

Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu were executed by firing squad at a secret military installation. On Christmas day, on live television. They filmed their dead faces so that the people could know that they were really dead and gone.

A beautiful country was ransacked and oppressed by its leaders. For power, for profit, for ego. The country suffered, and eventually revolted. Romania still bears the weight of that suffering, deep in its mind and soul. Just like the concrete block apartments: skin to marrow. When last I saw the building from which Ceausescu spoke in Revolution Square, there were still bullet holes in the walls, far above reach.

Romania is a beautiful country, because of its land and its people, and despite its authoritarian past. Though knives may be removed easily enough, wounds are often stubborn to heal.

So. 

As Donald Trump, a man-child who is as vain as he is insecure, and as vengeful as he is delusional, seeks to establish himself as an infallible leader… as he orders scientific data be deleted… as he calls facts fake, and propaganda real… as he flippantly talks about committing war crimes in Iraq… as he seeks to defund arts programs and social safety nets… as he makes his press secretary tell flagrant lies about petty, obvious things like the size of his inauguration crowd… as he seeks to exhaust our capacity to think critically, and speak truth to power… as he seeks to dismantle constitutional rights, and strip the country itself in order to make money… as he continually displays signs of serious mental illness… as he proves to be not just a buffoon, but a real lunatic… I can’t help but think of Romania.

And as I think of all the inevitable harm that will come to people as a direct result of Trump’s actions, and the people that will most likely die from his orders – or possibly die in defiance of his orders – I can’t help but think of Romania.

I can’t help but think of Romania because what happened there, and in countless countries around the world and throughout history, can happen here. It is happening here, right now.

Literature, scripture, and history itself have all warned us about a guy like this. And here he is.

If you don’t like political posts, I understand. I don’t like them. Who does? But I will not be shy about this guy. Not to you, not to my representatives, and not to any Congressman/woman who seems to have dropped their spine on the way to work. 

I’m mad and I’ll stay mad until this guy is no longer in charge of the nuclear codes. What happened in Romania can happen here. Serious damage was done by a two-bit dictator from eastern Europe, and Romania hasn’t yet healed in full. Imagine how long it’ll take for the United States to heal from its own president, whose capabilities far surpass Ceausescu’s. Imagine the damage Trump can inflict, the damage he seeks to inflict. 

Tell me I’m wrong.

We’re only six days into the Trump presidency. This is an American Dictatorship unfolding in real time.

[dinoexmachina]

Movies 2016

While there is much to hate about what gets into theaters nowadays, there are enough movies that make the whole year worth it. This year I wanted to get out of my comfort zone more than I previously had, and the rewards for doing so were great. Nearly every inch of the spectrum in cinema had something to love. A few big blockbusters and a few small-budget indies, and everything in between. There’s something for you in the films of 2016. Below I’ll talk a bit about the movies I loved, and hopefully there may be one or two you haven’t seen yet. I encourage you to seek them out and give them a try.

Though I sought to see more films that would challenge me and expand my tastes, there were movies that hit me right in my strike zone. Star Trek Beyond admirably recovered the franchise from the dreadful “Into Darkness," and offered up what a great Star Trek episode that used the entire buffalo of its premise. The Shallows was a great “man against nature” story, pitting a surfer girl against a shark. The simplicity of the set up and the escalating danger worked tremendously well. Captain America: Civil War and Rogue One both elevated the blockbuster to include provocative ideas and challenging character work. The Invitation, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Green Room, and Don’t Breathe were the kinds of close-quarters thrillers that I’m absolutely jealous of. And then there’s The Nice Guys, which was pure Shane Black goodness. And who would be able to watch Moana without a smile on their face?

Zootopia, above all the movies this year, seems to have been made with me in mind. It’s an ingeniously crafted animated movie, with gags and treats and clever ideas in every inch of the frame.. What’s more, it’s far more sophisticated than it had any business being. Yes, there’s a message in there, but it’s offered up while focusing on the characters and the world and the central mystery. And yes, I’ve seen it several times since it was released.

Many films surprised me. I expected to enjoy The Jungle Book, but not as much as I did. The film was far better than it needed to be. The Lobster (which I included in the previous year’s post because I saw it in 2015) stunned me with it’s absurd depths. Though Hail, Cesar! was a mess of a film, I still love it. In it are several scenes of absolute perfection. Though I usually shy away from horror films, The Witch scared me almost more than any other horror has. It relied on pure atmosphere and minimalism, eschewing any cheap jump scares. As such, the movie’s frightening moments were incredibly effective, especially at the transfixing conclusion. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot was really good, too, and more movies like that would be a great thing. I figured I would enjoy Deadpool, but I was beside myself laughing the whole time.

The biggest surprises I had this year were Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which is just fantastic and so lovable. Swiss Army Man was astoundingly bizarre, and yet I was moved by its sincerity. The sequence about talking to a girl “on a bus” was one of the most purely cinematic experiences I had all year. If there’s justice to be had in this world, Daniel Radcliffe will get an Oscar nomination for playing a corpse. And Sing Street, a film which everybody should see. The movie is medicine; if you’re having a bad day, find and watch that movie and you’ll be happy.

I’m a big fan of movies that make me think, not just about plot, but about the ideas and the characters. Films that are truly engaging are ones I absolutely treasure, and this year had some real heavies. Midnight Special, a sci-fi “thriller” with a soft-spoken style, was very affecting. Don’t Think Twice was honest with itself and its characters. Hell or High Water seemed straightforward at first glance, but had much more to say about its world than it seemed, and that final conversation between Pine and Bridges was so, so good. Even Kubo and the Two Strings, as fantastic and mystical as it was, took an archetypical adventure and added layers of depth beneath its gorgeous animation. Moonlight was an incredible moviegoing experience. It’s a film with true voice, telling a story with tenderness that films seem to be afraid of nowadays. But perhaps the most affecting films for me this year were Arrival, Manchester By The Sea, and La La Land.

Arrival was somehow able to make cerebral subjects like linguistics and relative physics into cinematic art. The considerate direction combined with an intelligent script made for a movie that dug deeper and challenged the central character in ways I hadn’t seen before. It resulted in a truly human movie, boiling down to a woman’s single, devastating choice.

Manchester By The Sea was perhaps the most humble a movie could be. There was nothing flashy or showy in the film. The closest it got was a pivotal conversation between the central character and his ex-wife, but even then the characters stammered and stumbled through the dialogue, but it worked. What’s more, the movie addresses grief in a truly unique way: it doesn’t solve it. Rather, it works through it, and progress is made, but there’s no dance competition or some such nonsense that washes the grief away, because that’s not how grief works and the movie knew it.

La La Land, though flawed as a musical and questionable as a life statement, was nevertheless completely transportive. It’s filled unto burning with passion and verve, and the final wordless minutes of the movie had me pinned to the seat with tears. The particular conclusion it has on love, as it pertains to these two characters, was a powerful and true one, and it sneaks up on you. It’s devastating in the most beautiful way, and the movie is better for it.

I love movies, especially when there are seeds of truth and honesty which the films allows to flourish. Genre doesn’t matter for a movie so much as honesty. A variety of movies approached their subjects — be it a grieving father, a lonely war journalist, a vulgar superhero, an ambitious bunny cop, or an actor who just can’t say the line like his director wants him to — with complete honesty, and that made for some truly fantastic films. Every film should have such ambition as the movies I mention here, whatever the genre. Would that it t’were so simple.

[dinoexmachina]

Church #movies #losangeles #vsco #vscocam #vscogood #la #latergram (at TCL Chinese Theatres)