At The Dinner Table! with Interstellar

I spoke to my mother about this movie. My confidence was at an all time high as I internalized this movie’s message about space travel, time travel, and love. Love would be the portal that takes me home, that gets me where I want to get to, and if I wanted it bad enough, that love would start with me.

I usually say some pretty deep things to my mother and she usually just listens to me in a way of awe that fills me. Although filled with what, I never really gave that thought, so I couldn’t tell you. She just listens to me, whatever I would say, while I put words and thoughts together from experiences, beliefs, and values that pretty much sit on the tip of my tongue until I find someone willing to listen to me for a while. Sometimes that’s all I look for from my mother if not to ask whether or not she needs help with anything or help provide her with space when I’m inclined to offer.
Then I’m on the road again, and where I’m going is anyone’s guess.

The characters in this movie hopped from planet to planet looking for a world that could sustain human life, as time on Earth was soon to expire. The problem with this expedition was that each planet, including the light years they traversed, had a function of passing time completely different from one to the other. It was either find a planet with sustainable life and grow old trying, or grow out of time with a dying planet and come back to find it so. The team was a novel group of experienced technicians, engineers, and pilots with astute awareness and attention to the world around them, united by hope that they carried to space.
If you ask me, I think the mystery surrounding this movie is quite clear. The cinematography, the storytelling, and pace was extraordinary. The revelation our pilot had brought me to tears, because in a way he was right (no, I won’t tell you what the revelation was).

I remember reading a review that was upset with the near end of the movie, and I had a speculation that they were upset only because with all the math, science, deductive reasoning and theory this movie brought to the table, it seemed asinine to bring “love” into the discussion. I figured that to them “it wasn’t a number” so why take all the intelligence and smarts this movie presented and shove it aside for an emotion. To that I would say, they weren’t paying attention to the daughter’s father who faithfully recited the line, “do not go gentle into that good night”. It was poetic, but the same engineering that sent our team into space was also part of a race of humans in this movie who produced the arts.

Cheers!

At The Dinner Table! with Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness

The timing could not be better.
This Friday was a day I know I was granted to feel myself out in the evening and well, I had a good feeling that led to this movie.

Important things to note:

• Even though this movie dealt with transitioning through time, gravity, space, reality, and dimensions in real-time, they skipped the philosophy and the science behind it all. Which was a smart move, but not without credit to previous movies and tv shows that laid the foundation for this movie to be enjoyed in all its glory (Hint: Marvel’s What If series & “No Way Home”).

• The battle scenes and animations were off the chain. Amplified notes and musical score sheets for weapons? 10/10 for creativity.

• The symbolism with Strange’s hands and his watch? It felt like that Time Stone abuse episode in What If? but with more accountability and responsibility, even though the undertone of this movie still poked at his delight in seclusion and reluctance for intimacy.

• The cameos were AWESOME! Seeing Charles Xavier will always be a treat to my eyes. Patrick Stewart is a distinguished actor and leader of the X-Men, and i’m sure he is that way for many people my age.

This movie interacted very heavily with Strange’s character, presence, values, and overarching themes, all of which did not feel restrained or overwhelming, and there was still space for other members to shine. Any viewer could feel like there was hope and faith around every corner and still feel like it was okay to expect more.

One thing that came unexpected and brought a tear to my eye, was the faith he provided to our literal star of the show, America Chavez. Is it weird to cry from the middle of your forehead? Like, right between the brows? Because I cried from there. I thought Strange was empowering me in that moment, or maybe I was just that hooked.

Maybe? Yea, I was definitely hooked. The irony in my tears is in the fact that there were eyes in foreheads and centerpieces throughout this whole movie though, but don’t expect me to upload a picture of my forehead. You’ll be disappointed to find that there is no physical third eye there (but imagine one on me if you like).

They gave us a character outside of Dr. Strange that was relatable, with space for us to invest in her character development. Much like “Into The Spider-verse”, we all have abilities and attributes that grant us opportunities to rise to the occasion and challenge, knowing that we never have to do it alone. As long as we press on, we will meet those like us, and be able to experience what it is like to have and hold one another. It was a joy to see Xochitl act on screen and own her role as well.

Great movie, truly. Thank you, Marvel for a good one.