Apocalypto is an extreme adventure and action movie, with survial being the main theme. This historical epic is based on the Mayan civilization of Europe. The characteristics of a civilization (environmental factors, clothes, and ornaments) and the development of civilizations are seen in this film, and it is undoubtedly a wonderful film for history lovers. Another remarkable feature of the movie that I felt was the shadow of love emerging from the adventure. The cast, crew, and a few details The director of this film is Mel Gibson, and he and Farhad Safinia co-wrote the screenplay. The main character of this film is Jaguar Paw, played by Rudy Youngblood. For Jaguar Paw, nothing matters more than his relationships with his…
Month: February 2024
Medici (TV series)
In Florence, during the Renaissance period, was a powerful Italian noble family bearing the name, Medici. Their power and influence bolstered by the banking and trade activities conducted by its members, the Medici family stood dominating political and economic aspects in Florence, while also extending their influence all across Europe in a way that one might call them truly the Masters of Florence. The Netflix series, “Medici”, a collaborative creation by Frank Spotnitz and Nicholas Meyer, chronicles the rise to the power of this notorious Medici family, set in 15th century. With the combination of a talented cast and an excellent cinematography, the series focuses on the political intrigue, betrayals, murders, and the complicated dynamics of power that characterized the Renaissance period in which the Medici family rose to the epitome of European power. Consisting…
Wolf Children: The Heartfelt Journey of Family, Identity, and Unconditional Love
Stories about a mother’s love are not rare. There are several films produced depicting the transcending care and affection of motherhood. However, the fantasy drama; Wolf Children, portrays the authentic and heart-rending beauty of motherhood and the challenges surrounding being a single parent. We’re human; it reminds the viewers. We make mistakes, choose different lives, discover ourselves in moments of despair, we learn and we grow. Mamoru Hosoda masterfully displays the beauty of motherhood, beauty of life and identity through his resounding movie; The Wolf Children. A Short Summary The movie belongs to the fantasy, drama genre. The boundaries between realism and fantasy are blurred keeping the viewer intrigued about the differences tempting us to make comparisons between our explorations…
The Cinematic Masterpiece that is “Girl, Interrupted.”
‘Girl, Interrupted’ to me, is all the cliché, out there, movies that try to tackle sensitive, timely topics done the right way. The movie brings to life a range of extremely delicate matters and truly is the holy grail of all mental illnesses and the closely associated institutionalization of them. Moving on, I’m sorry not sorry for the spoilers, and more than that, for now making you want to watch a movie that will probably linger in your minds for years to come! The Basics The basics first: it falls under the ‘thriller’ genre, and more particularly, under ‘psychological thriller', and has a run-time of 2 hours, 7 minutes. It was released all the way in 1999 and was produced…
The Dark Connotations Behind the Film ‘Spirited Away’
Seldom do films manage to transport us back to our childhood while simultaneously eluding us as to their true significance. Fewer animated films are able to accomplish this. Spirited Away is one such rarity. Even now, I often find myself constantly speculating the hidden meanings behind particular characters and scenes. Warning: spoilers ahead! The film centers around a young girl named Chihiro, who wanders into the spirit realm, is separated from her parents and is forced to work in the bath house there to ensure her survival. The film revolves around her journey as she navigates her way into adulthood, taking responsibility for herself and her parents. The role that toxic workplace cultures play in a global capitalist economy is…
Timeless Elegance Unveiled: A Spellbinding Journey Through ‘Downton Abbey’
Several years ago, amidst the not-so-remarkable movie racks at the British Council library, my attention was captured by a disc pack featuring the unmistakable face of Maggie Smith. Faced with limited alternatives and intrigued by Smith's familiarity from her role in Harry Potter, I decided to borrow the first season of "Downton Abbey." Back at home, in a moment of sheer boredom, I nonchalantly inserted the disc into my laptop, unknowingly opening the doors to an aristocratic world teeming with romance, scandal, and drama. Despite my initial, less-than-soaring excitement, this seemingly casual decision to explore "Downton Abbey" unexpectedly transported me into a captivating realm of aristocratic intrigue and historical richness. Before too long, I found myself irresistibly drawn into the…
“I am not a monster.”
“If only some people can have it, that’s not happiness. That’s just nonsense. Happiness is something anyone can have.” This gut-wrenching quote is extracted from one of the most emotional roller coaster rides of 2023, and that is the renowned Japanese director Kore-eda Hirokazu's masterpiece, ‘Monster’. One with a faint heart is guaranteed to be left in a pool of tears and an aftermath of angry perceptions of the community we address as "society" after watching this award-winning creation. ‘Monster’ went on to win the Best Screenplay award and the Queer Palm award in the Cannes Film Festival of 2023, after winning the Audience Award of the Vancouver International Film Festival of 2023. This masterwork was also nominated for the…
Month in Review: January
Hello everyone! As we turn the page on January, we at the Editorial are so excited to share the incredible projects done last month by RotaractArts. It might have been the first month, but that didn't stop our avenues from diving headfirst into quite a few impactful projects and initiatives. So buckle up for a quick recap of all of them; you're in for quite a ride (or read)! Enjoy reading! The co-editors The Editorial The Editorial is pleased to announce our new project, "Cinematic Narrative," where we will explore the diverse tastes of our members through their reviews of movies, TV series, and other productions. This project, co-chaired by Rtr. Barani Imasha and Rtr. Chamodi Peduruarachchi, officially started on…
Jojo Rabbit: A Review
Jojo rabbit is a war comedy written and directed by Taika Waititi. It is also adapted from Christine Leunen's famous book, " Caging Skies". This movie contains dark humour and deep symbolism woven around the harsh realities faced by the youth during the Nazi period in the city of Falkenheim, Germany. I recently stumbled upon this movie and thought this is a review worthy piece due to its unique approach in unfolding the tragedy of Nazi youth under the rule of Adolf Hitler. The story is told through the perspective of a 10 year old boy, Johannes Betzler (Roman Griffin Davis) who idolises Hitler and imagines the ruthless dictator as his imaginary best friend. The story wraps around his point…