“The Last Ray of the Sun in the Window” by GeoSaiko1267
Arts&Media
Wonder Wednesday
Rockets and Revelations
From a plot perspective, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 was a bit of a hot mess. It’s got planet fathers, strange beasts, gold plated elves, mutinies, murderous sisters, and a universe ending nefarious plan. All while trying to be funny.
And yet! It a lovable hot mess. And not only that, it works. It’s a solid movie.
The big reason that it works, and that it’s so lovable, is that under all the plot zaniness lies two interconnected things: developed characters who have character arcs and a strong theme of family* that ties it together (while also driving the character arcs). In addition, most of the humour felt seamless, arising from the characters’ actions as they moved along those arcs.
In the end, the Guardians franchise introduced the two characters who have the strongest character arcs in all of the MCU, that of Nebula and Rocket, with Rocket’s being especially strong in Vol 2, and one of my favourite scenes in all of the MCU involving the two of them.**
Spoilers for GotG3 ahead! Continue reading
Wonder Wednesday
Wonder Wednesday
Wonder Wednesday
Got to see the documentary about the foundation and creation of Sesame Street, and it was excellent. So much care and intention put into the project by so many dedicated people who were driven to create something wonderful (out of the medium of television, no less!) for our communities. Very moving.
It’s on some streaming services and well worth checking out if you have a heart in your body.
Wonder Wednesday
This is some amazing little model/diorama making going on here… and the fact it’s about trains makes it even better!
Philosophy Tuesday
It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose.
That is not a weakness.
That is life.
(By the inverse, it is also possible to completely mess up and still succeed… and fortune is a thing.)
Wonder Wednesday
How could this not be an Everything, Everywhere, All at Once appreciation post? Whatever meaning the Oscars may or may not have, it won big, and deservedly so. It is an astounding, excellent, inventive, powerful, heartfelt, inspiring, insightful, transformational, and a storytelling tour de force. A real display of passion by all those involved, that, with what might be considered modest means in today’s movie-making complex, shows what’s possible when authenticity is unleashed and aligned. 10000% fabulous.
And while it’s only gotten one philosophy highlight here so far, there will be more to come once I can put it into words…
Until then, if you haven’t seen it, I highly, highly, recommend it, and then watching it again, and again, and again. I certainly have.
— fanart poster by Daria Kalashnikova
Philosophy Tuesday
“I suppose it’s an invitation. Won’t you be my neighbour? It’s an invitation for somebody to be close to you. You know I think everybody longs to be loved, and longs to know that he or she is lovable. And consequently, the greatest thing we can do is to help somebody know that they are loved and capable of loving.”
— Fred (aka Mr) Rogers
(Pairs wonderfully with this quote also from Mr Rogers and the follow-up post. And it’s always worth a revisit to his testimony before congress.)