shubwatchesfilms-blog

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

1.6.20

something needs to said,

something needs to be done,

in the madness, in the chaos,

against the injustice, the crime,

the bigotry, the fucking death.

.

of innocents, 

of men, and women, and children,

and everything in between.

of the exotic, and the ghetto,

and the loud angry black folk.

.

we stood, and we spoke,

we pleaded, and we kneeled,

we thought we won the battle,

but there is no prize for winning,

just the fucking death.

.

of the countless people

the countless innocents,

who were statistics of the day

then promptly forgotten about

until the next number came.

.

we lost in silence, and in speech

five, ten, fifty, a hundred years ago

there was violence, and still is.

there was no change, not then,

not now - just the fucking death.

.

of black brothers and sisters

black mothers and fathers

black husbands and wives.

of black

people.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

20.4.20

home

home, this faraway place,

this foreign concept of self,

an identity imposed by what?

happenstance? circumstance?

where are you from?

where were you born?

not here, not there,

quite unsure where

the family and friend,

the strings that came before

have long since dissolved,

into nothing more than song

is it now? is it permanent?

in a land of strangers, 

without a thread,

without a shred of hope

or did it come in between?

with the angel of youth,

they said god was with us,

maybe that was the truth?

is there a home, any closer to me?

is there a home, any further?

is there a home, where my heart lives?

is there a home, at all?

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

22.8.19

blue

you say it is melancholy

you say it is sad

but is it not hope it brings

in the dark tonight?

the warmth of the sky

the depth of the sea

the eyes of your first love

eyes only for me

the cool of the room

in which the babe sleeps

back when she was little

when I was not meek

the artist that said

that sadness never ends

painted the night

again and again

rich and deep

and so so bright

filled with moons and stars

hung way up high

he painted himself

in great despair

head hung in blue

atop the chair

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

21.8.19

luminary

my sun, my moon, my stars,

my mother teresa, my nightingale.

my light, my life, my vision,

in white, walking down,

and down

illuminating, intoxicating,

love

kind and gentle and bright

hope and fear and 

utter delight

and finally

finally

visionary, luminary,

my light, my love,

my wife.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

Ad Astra

The film was another space film in a line of other recent stunning space films (see: Interstellar, Arrival, Gravity). This combination of family dynamics and space allows for an emotional storyline and spectacular visuals simultaneously -  and Ad Astra is no different.

On the surface level, this is the story of a man finding his father, a hero, an idol. A father that he lost early on, but finds when he starts the journey that ultimately leads to him becoming his father. There are multiple parallels of the two throughout the film; the legend of McBride, the death of the crew, the determination of father and son.

There is also a very religious undertone to the film, with it showing symbolism of Christianity. Roy represents Adam and the fall from Eden at the beginning of the film. The whole journey is a pilgrimage to find a father that has abandoned his son. The disappointment that comes with a careless father, and the implications that come with that.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

Game of Thrones

Arguably the most successful television show of all time, harbouring in an age where the silver screen became dominated with A-List stars, old and new, who looked for an alternative method to tell the stories they wanted to. 

Here’s the thing, its a hollow shell, this whole Game of Thrones thing,

After the ending, which left both critics and fans torn, I feel like I can finally discuss the issue that has prevented me from enjoying this phenomenon - it’s empty.

Yes, the story shocks, from the very first episode where we see Jaime Lannister push a child out of a tower to protect his incestuous relationship, to the dramatic climax, and the death of a city. But that’s all it is, a story. The characters that are created are empty and one dimensional, and all of them, with the exception of one, can be successfully described in a handful of sentences. Their motivations for doing what they do, their thought processes, their flaws, the things that make them human can all be summed up in a neat little package. 

The story is grand and magnificent and spectacular, but that is all it is - there is very little depth, and despite the trendy subversion tactics of the writers, the storylines are often predictable. The thing that makes a story spectacular, are the characters, and that’s what Game of Thrones lacks - character.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

Venom

The only thing that saves the film is the soundtrack and Tom Hardy’s acting. 

The cinematography was plain bad. There was so much potential with the characters they had to make some incredibly impactful shots; the movie-making shots. However, they failed to deliver on each and every one of these occasions. The final fight scene between Venom and Riot was poorly choreographed and messily shot. We didn't know what what happening at several moments on screen.

The writing was too lazy; the characters underdeveloped, and the plot predictable. I found there was no major twists in the story, and everything panned out exactly as I had guessed from the first five minutes of the film. Michelle Williams’ entire character was unnecessary to the happenings; and don’t get me started on Sexy Venom.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Possibly the best film of the year so far. It deals with difficult issues with a grace that is not possessed by many. The subtlety of the imagery tells you a lot of McDonagh’s mastery of the art. Maybe my favourite of the many qualities of this film is the writing of the characters. Not one character is purely good or evil; they all are inherently good, yet do many questionable deeds, from the main character played beautifully by Frances McDormand to Rockwell’s racist police officer.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

Deadpool 2

A perfect harmony of humour, humanity and graphic violence.

I have to be honest, I went to the cinema after a long day of walking and was not in the mood to stay awake, however, within the first few minutes, I did not regret my decision. The movie starts with the expected bad-assery of the modern day superhero extravaganza, but ends with a twist that would have left many fans aghast. However, in classic Deadpool style, this is addressed in the yet again quirky opening credits. The film then continues with the same cheeky tone as its predecessor

The bar was high for this one, with the first one being what many may call the revolution of superhero films; and it lived up to every single one of those expectations. The often tongue and cheek humour was complimented by the more complex themes of family throughout.

[shubwatchesfilms-blog]

2001: A Space Odyssey

Hypnotising.

It’s poetic in a way few films are these days, with its sticking graphics, years ahead of its time, and the iconic scores that frame each scene. And when Kubrick isn't giving us huge scores, he wows us with deafening silences. The sound, or lack thereof, plays a character in itself.

The film can be divided into three sections. Three monoliths. The first monolith appears to the apes at the beginning of the film; the second on the moon; and the third circling above Jupiter near the end of the movie.