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Showing posts from December, 2024

The Great Gatsby (1925) Revisited: Why Fitzgerald’s Novel of the American Dream Still Resonates Today

  The Great Gatsby (1925) Revisited: Why Fitzgerald’s Novel of the American Dream Still Resonates Today The Great Gatsby,  written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and published in 1925, is a timeless classic that captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties, an era of glamour, excess, and moral decay. Set in the fictional towns of West Egg and East Egg on Long Island, the novel explores themes of wealth, love, and the elusive American Dream through the eyes of Nick Carraway, the story’s narrator. At its heart is Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire whose lavish parties and obsessive love for the beautiful Daisy Buchanan reveal the emptiness and disillusionment lurking beneath the glittering surface of the Jazz Age. With its rich symbolism, vivid characters, and poignant critique of society,  The Great Gatsby   remains a profound reflection on ambition, identity, and the cost of chasing dreams. However, Its inclusion among the 10 Most Influential Novels in English Literat...

10 Shocking Movie Picks for 2024: Are These Really the Best?

   10 Shocking Movie Picks for 2024: Are These Really the Best? This has been a difficult year. It feels as though the world has been swaying under the weight of confusion, anger, and a barrage of misinformation—not to mention the looming shadow of AI that promises both convenience and unease. In a time when soullessness often seems to be the order of the day, movies remain a medium where human emotion, artistry, and connection thrive. Despite the challenges, the best films of 2024 have offered not only an escape but also profound reflections on who we are and what we value. Here are the ten films that stood out to me, each carrying its own conversation, its own heartbeat. 10. DogMan Luc Besson’s  DogMan  is unlike anything he’s done before. It’s tender and deeply humane, a meditation on trauma and the families we choose. Caleb Landry Jones shines as Douglas, a man who’s endured unspeakable abuse but finds solace in his community of dogs. This film isn’t just for dog...

Why Memoir of a Snail (2024) Will Break Your Heart—And Heal It: Learn Your Lessons

    Why Memoir of a Snail (2024) Will Break Your Heart—And Heal It: Learn Your Lessons The film  Memoir of a Snail  (2024) appears to explore deeply introspective themes of memory, childhood, identity, and loss. Its emotional tone is woven into the narrative, a tale that delves into the fragility of life. The protagonist, Grace, reflects on their life from childhood to adulthood, comparing their journey to the slow, purposeful existence of a snail, while weaving in metaphors about premature birth, death, and familial bonds. The character experiences isolation, and the dialogue carries an air of melancholy, underlined by the reference to the protagonist's mother's death at the birth of twine. This evokes the sense of life's cyclical nature: being born while another life ends, which is echoed poetically in the line: "We left her womb. She entered her tomb. The protagonist’s reflections are haunting yet tender, such as when they recall feeling comforted by small, confin...

Why It's a Wonderful Life Is the Only Christmas Movie That Will Leave You Speechless – Don’t Miss Out

  Why It's a Wonderful Life Is the Only Christmas Movie That Will Leave You Speechless – Don’t Miss Out There are countless Christmas movies out there, but there’s something about  It’s a Wonderful Life  that hits differently. It’s not just another feel-good holiday film with twinkling lights and festive cheer. This movie goes deep, straight into the core of what it means to live a meaningful life.  If you’ve never seen it—or if it’s been years since you last did—you’re missing out on one of the most emotionally powerful films ever made. This isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience that will leave you speechless. James Stewart as George Bailey and Donna Reed as Mary Hatch in It's a Wonderful Life (1946) At its heart,  It’s a Wonderful Life  tells the story of George Bailey, an ordinary man facing extraordinary struggles. Unlike most Christmas movies that sugarcoat life’s challenges, this one doesn’t shy away from the darkness. You watch George, a kind and se...

The Searchers (1956): Reviewing an Iconic Western Genre Film

  The Searchers (1956): Reviewing an Iconic Western Genre Film The Searchers  is an iconic 1956 Western directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. This film, widely considered one of the greatest Westerns ever made, dives deep into complex themes of racism, obsession, and moral ambiguity.  Set against the backdrop of the Texas-Indian Wars,  The Searchers  follows Civil War veteran Ethan Edwards (played by Wayne) as he embarks on a years-long quest to find his abducted niece, Debbie, taken by Comanche warriors. John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, Jeffrey Hunter as Martin Pawley and Harry Carey Jr. as Brad Jorgensen in The Searchers (1956) One of the most compelling aspects of the film is John Wayne’s portrayal of Ethan Edwards, a deeply flawed yet captivating character. Ethan is a man driven by vengeance, harboring intense hatred toward Native Americans, a sentiment not uncommon for the time but one that Ford navigates with a sense of unease.  Ethan’s character...