[Weekly Update] September 26, 2022

This is going to be a smallest update, because I'm currently racing against a deadline, with 2 videos in the pipeline before the end of the month.

CHANNEL UPDATE

Due to the length, our next video on Jackie Chan's recent movies will be split into two parts. In hindsight, it should've been obvious that I can't review 8 movies in just 10 minutes. So I'm Kill Bill'ing this.

Even with the split, I still don't have a lot of time to go in depth with each movie. But I hope the brief overview with focus on Jackie's career choice is still interesting. Video is currently being edited, aiming for a release this week.

As for the poll of our next topic, it'll have to wait until this video (and the Patreon bonus video) is out.

MEDIA TALK

Might be a bit weird for me to be talking about this while in a rush to finish the video... But don't you miss when movies have a lot of long pauses.

Whisper of the Heart has a lot of scenes where the main character just walks. It's basically the same animation on loop, with scrolling backgrounds. You can to see the scenery, feel the wind, hear the sound of the city. It doesn't advance the story, but it pulls you into the movie.

I think Avatar was the last movie I saw that has this kind of moments that work. A lot of people say the 3D effect adds depth and you really feel like you are transported to Pandora. But I think it's more so the quiet moments when the film just explores the world.

The Force Awakens attempts that, at least in the first act. I wouldn't say it doesn't work, because it still draws me into the movie. But I don't particularly feel the world. Those quiet landscape shots feel more like character moments. To feel Rey lost in a massive world, purposeless.

Thanks to splitting the final book into 2 movies, The Deathly Hallows actually gets a chance to breathe. Seeing Harry and Hermione dances in a tent trying to heal their soul is a contemplative moment needed for the film.

In our modern world where everything is moving at a break neck pace, movies from around the world seem to forget how to slow down and take a break. It's not inherently a bad thing to be fast pace. Everything Everywhere is probably the most content rich movie ever made, with new information coming at you at every cut. But sometimes, when I watch a movie, I want to be IN the movie. And that's a feeling I haven't felt in a while.

Do you have the same feeling as me? Or is this just a symptom of me getting old? What is your favourite moment of a movie slowing down to take a break?

I'll see you with a new video soon!