Movie Matchmaker: "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets"

First, a brief synopsis:

Valerian, an adaptation of the French sci-fi graphic novel, is set some seven centuries in the future, and focuses on the assignments of Valerian and Laureline. The two special operatives, who are generally tasked with keeping order throughout, find themselves on a special mission from the minister of defense to Alpha, a planet where the knowledge of diverse species and cultures is shared.  Dark forces threaten to ruin the utopian metropolis if the duo fail in thwarting their plans.  With the clock winding down for Valerian and Laureline, they must destroy the sinister threat before it annihilates the universe all while navigating their love for each other, and the complications that inherently follow. 

If you enjoy...

• Luc Besson's unique and creative directing sensibilities
• Amazingly vivid visuals and imagery
• Space operas that span the galaxy
• An opening sequence that really hooks you
• Moderately fun banter
• Creature features( as there are many, many different types of creatures)

...the perhaps you'll find a match in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets!

Movie Matchmaker: "Dunkirk"

First, a brief synopsis:

Dunkirk is a war drama based on the true story of the of Allied troops trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk and the heroic mission to save them.  In May of 1940, German forces advanced into France, leaving British, French, Belgian and Dutch soldiers cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk. The British and French provided as much air and ground cover as they could but with little other protection, the troops were easily attacked and picked off by enemy air forces. Ultimately, however, the naval vessels, with the help of civilian sailers and boat owners, safely evacuated nearly 330,000 soldiers. 

If you enjoy...

• Harrowing stories of war, specifically those stemmed from World War II
• Experiencing intense and poignant situations from soldiers' points of view
• Sprawling and visceral landscape shots
• Realistic and piercing soundscapes 
• Seeing the heroic deeds of ordinary people, that helped to change history

...then perhaps you'll find a match in Dunkirk!

Movie Matchmaker: "Girl's Trip"

First, a brief synopsis:

Girl's Trip is a comedy produced by (fellow Rattler) Will Packer about a quartet of college girlfriends reuniting for a lady's getaway in New Orleans.  In their college days, the "Flossy Posse," (as they call themselves), partied hard.  During this weekend, they return to their partying ways, letting go and having fun while also navigating their individual and collective catastrophes.

If you enjoy...

• Stories about sisterhood and unity
• Raunchy, unfiltered comedy laced with very colorful language
• A nice variety of very handsome men
• A backdrop of wonderful music (and the very lively Essence Music Festival)
• All things The Big Easy!
• Laughing...a lot!

...then perhaps you'll find a match in Girl's Trip!

Movie Matchmaker: "War for the Planet of the Apes"

**This is the first of my "Movie Matchmaker" series.  As such, it is reasonable to expect that the format of these posts may evolve as I continue on.**

First, a brief synopsis:

The War for the Planet of the Apes is the third installment of the overhauled franchise that was retooled in 2011.  In this chapter, Ceasar and his tribe of apes fundamentally want to live a life of peace and quiet away from the humans that created them.  The humans desire an identical outcome, save for one exception; they pursue their peace by attempting genocide and ultimately enslaving the apes.  Lines are crossed, many are killed, and everyone suffers under the horrors of war in the battle for the survival of both species.

If you enjoy...

• Allegorical tales that reflect both the historical landscape and current state of our country
• Subtle and engaging character acting punctuated by nuanced facial expressions
• A wonderfully conflicted main character
• A villain who is a human Patriot and will protect the human race by any means necessary
• Battles of mass proportions
• Beautifully designed CGI (take a look at the transformation and creation of Ceasar HERE)

...then perhaps you'll find a match in The War for the Planet of the Apes!

Nearly a Year Later

It's been nearly a year since my last post. I honestly thought less time had passed.  oh well...pressing on.

So much and so little has happened since then...none that I'm particularly excited about.  BUT, I have a "plan" (well, more of a road map with multiple possible routes, and less of concrete directions) and an (ever evolving) renewed state of mind.  No more focusing on the obstacles.

Coming Soon...

Not much has changed (unfortunately) since the last post.  But, as is the motto and title of this blog, I press on (and very much look forward to posting great news soon).

I had the idea some time ago to [re-] focus the blog on something specific, now that grad school and the immediate post grad school experience are behind me.  I'm not quite sure what this season should be called but it is neither of those.

In any event, I thought of focusing this blog on movies.  Not movies in the general sense, (or my journey to write and make them) but what movies people should see.  I have a pretty good sense of what kind of movies people will generally like. I have, on numerous occasions, recommended or dissuaded family and friends to see (or not see) any particular movie and have seldom been wrong in my assessments.  Not only that, I see so many movies (maybe on the cusp of too many) and figured I should be able to put what I've seen to good use! (Or at least some use.)

Unlike most movie reviews or critiques, this will be more of an "if you like ???, then you'll enjoy this movie" type of deal...and less of why a certain movie may or may not be "good". Think 'movie-match-maker' or 'the movie whisperer'!

This post is mostly for my own benefit, so that I can stop talking about it and do it.  Stay tuned...

Five Months, Two Days

It's hard to believe that it's been five months and two days since I officially left my last job.  More like I was unceremoniously booted out, but the details don't matter. It hurt for a while...longer than I would've liked.  It dinged my self esteem and made me question this path. Then I was energized to move on to the next chapter, even though whatever that was seemed murky at best.

I wrote. I applied for jobs. I went on countless interviews. I worked some random gigs. I continued even through uncertainties.

Perhaps I should have named this blog Instant Success, because here I am (yet again) pressing on. To be completely honest, what I want is to (finally) be on the other side of a struggle that has, so far, been attached to an ambivalent timeline.

But here are the things I'm certain of: 

Success is never instant.  

Pressing on is hard work that WILL pay off.  

Something big is on the horizon for ME. 

I can and will work even HARDER...because faith without works is dead.

I press on!