Movies have always been a part of my life. I love to sit in a theater and experience a whole new world or culture. Growing up I would drive an hour and a half just to see a new movie in the theater. I enjoy watching thinking about and engaging in movies. So, the logical next technological step is to start a movie review blog. There are of course more reasons for starting this blog than just that I like to watch movies.
Movies are today’s modern art form and just like any other art medium, movies have something to say. They speak to and comment on culture. Watching a movie gives you a picture into a segment of society. It gives you a perspective on the world that you might not otherwise see. The camera lens is an eye into society. Not only do they speak to culture but they also demonstrate the needs of the world.
“Seen any good movies lately” is such a common question in our society. Whether it’s small talk at a party with someone you just met or a conversation between friends and family, movies are a standard conversational topic. And who doesn’t watch movies. People around the world rushed to see Avatar time and time again while a much lower percentage of people have read House Rules by Jodi Picoult (the New York Times fiction bestseller on March 24, 2010) or visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Movies have become a new universal language and can easily spur on a discussion with a friend about the sinful nature of the world, injustice, unconditional love, redemption. They present an opportunity to talk about the world.
So you may find yourself asking, how is this movie review blog going to work. All movies are fair game: new and old, well-known and obscure and any genre. I want this site to be an opportunity to introduce people to movies they have not seen or even heard of but at the same time be a springboard into discussion for those that have already seen a certain film. I currently have a list of almost 600 movies that I would like to see and I plan on gradually crossing them off the list. I will also use netflix to my advantage. There are plenty of great movies that I have never heard of but thanks to netflix recommends, I am introduced to countless new films. I in no way intend this to be a complete guide to cinema. This is the story of one man’s journey through cinema and I invite you to join me.
I intend to review every movie that I watch, and I watch quite a few movies(look for 1-2 reviews each week). Each review will have a standard movie review (I am just getting started on this so it is a learning process for me) meant to explain the film, analyze and critique it. There will also be a content advisory and last but not least a section I call “Food for thought/discussion.” This section will contain several questions about the film or the comment/point the movie is trying to make. I hope that this section will make this blog much more interactive and participatory. I welcome all comments (just keep it clean) and questions. I would love to engage in an online conversation with you as you join me on this cinematic journey. You can also use the questions for conversations you may have with others. If you have a review or comment of your own about the film in general, by all mens make it known.
One last thing: while movies are an excellent insight into culture and a great way to engage in discussion every movie is not appropriate for every person. While a film like the Exorcist is a great story of sacrifice and redemption there is a great amount of scary and graphic thematic material that it may not be for everybody. I include a content advisory in the movie review so that you can use your own discretion and decide if the movie may be too much for you, or may be a stumbling block for you. I am in no way recommending every movie that I see.
So now, sit back, enjoy, engage and interpret with me as we journey through the wonderful world of cinema.
