Viggo Mortensen, the star of one of my favourite movies, A History Of Violence (2005) is back with something new and thoroughly intriguing.
Directed/written by Matt Ross, Captain Fantastic is a story of a father who chose to raise his children isolated from the outside world.
The subject matter is certainly very interesting to me. Not because I have ideas of one day raising children in the wilderness instead of ‘the real world,’ but because I’m curious about the events that could have resulted in such an unconventional decision.
I really can’t see myself personally choosing such a life, for several reasons, including the fact that bugs and I don’t get along as well as we ought to.
Tomorrowland (2015), Britt Robertson, George Clooney, Raffey Cassidy
When I saw the trailer for Academy Award winning director, Brad Bird’s latest sci-fi, Tomorrowland, I wasn’t particularly wowed be it or hugely interested. That’s probably because it looked like a kids sci-fi, which it kind of is. Still, I was a little curious, especially with George Clooney as one of the stars.
The future of humanity, optimism and time travel are key themes in Tomorrowland. Its main character is an optimistic teenage science enthusiast played by Britt Robertson. Unfortunately, for reasons I’m not quite certain of, I found myself not really able to connect with Robertson’s protagonist. Not to say that the character’s positive outlook and general optimism didn’t sit well with me, or that it isn’t correct. It’s likely that the general story just didn’t provide the necessary elements required. Nor did it provide them in the right way (if at all) in order for a connection to happen. It could also be that I’m simply not the target market.
Surprisingly, perhaps,I do have a favourite thing about Tomorrowland and that is the meaning behind the story about ‘feeding the wolf’. Beyond that, Bird’s film just feels like a long-winded and not particularly well structured way of saying one thing about the importance of optimism and creativity, especially as it pertains to the future of our planet and everything in it.
Watch Tomorrowland if you absolutely must. However, if you’re just not that curious, the following is a SPOILER/quote of the feeding the wolf story that I mentioned:
‘There are two wolves and they’re always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. Which wolf wins…? Whichever one you feed’
Hugh Laurie, Raffey Cassidy, Keegan-Michael Key and Kathryn Hahn also star.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), Ben Stiller
Walter Mitty is a man who has numerous vivid daydreams about everything he wishes he could be at a given moment but never is.
Directed by funny man, Ben Stiller, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty takes you along on a journey that leads to a point where Walter, as the movie poster suggests, stops dreaming and starts living.
This is definitely an entertaining watch and becomes most interesting and fun from the moment Walter meets the bearded and intoxicated giant (one of my favourite characters). It makes sense that the film becomes especially engaging at this point, because it’s soon after Walter decides to be adventurous, brave, and start living.
For those who realise/feel like they haven’t done much that’s considered noteworthy and want to change that, Stiller’s movie is great inspiration for formulating a plan and taking action.
One of my own dreams was to go to New York. I’d been forever curious for many years. So, finally making that particular wish come true was truly super.
Watch The Secret Life of Walter Mitty for the fun adventure with a handful of entertaining characters. It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll find yourself inspired.
