With movie theatres being closed or considered unsafe, movies are being released via streaming services where you can watch from the safety of your home. 

This access to new films that were set to be released in theaters is changing the game, with people like Christopher Nolan, director of “Tenet”, openly speaking their views on the subject.

These streaming services are giving these directors big budgets, and when they make something amazing, the big company reaps the rewards and releases it with a plethora of other media.  

This creates many problems for the film world, the most important being an overwhelming catalog of lackluster media covering what has been artistically crafted to create real emotion.  

The second problem is more  theaters going out of business. This isn’t because of the streaming services, though obviously COVID-19 plays a big role. It definitely does not help the already dying business.  But in the midst of all this intense distatse some directors still have hope. 

All in all I  think that this shift to streaming will ruin the experience of movie watching. Watching a laptop screen will not give the same effect of sitting in the audience sharing the same experience as others, feeling the scope of every shot, the sound of each word being spoken and the feeling of being inspired.  

The Trial of the Chicago 7

After being set to release in theaters in late September, “The Trial of the Chicago 7” came out on Netflix. The title automatically dragged me in since I am a fan of movies that involve crime and court cases. Not knowing what to expect from this movie, I started watching with an open mind. 

From the start, I fell victim to cheering for the protagonists. The way the film depicted the protesters’ views on the United State’s participation in the Vietnam war and what the men on trial stood for made me want justice to be served properly and fairly. I was glued to my seat as the movie progressed with different challenges that had to be overcome.

 At the end of the movie, I felt an extreme sense of patriotism and felt like justice was served, but I was wondering what happened to Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines and Lee Weiner. Then the screen freezes and boom—something every movie watcher loves appears—the “Where Are they Now” type ending explaining what happened to each member of the Chicago Seven years after the trial. Some were sad and others made you think that anyone can do anything.

Overall, I enjoyed watching “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and would recommend it to anyone that likes movies that involve crime, justice and the will to cheer for the underdog. 

Wonder Woman 1984

The second rendition of the one and only star spangled heroine Wonder Woman film opened on HBO MAX on Dec. 25.  The movie’s opening scene isn’t too much of an eyecatcher other than the massive CG shots and the visuals of the island Themyscira. 

The time period change is when the whole movie starts to have a life of its own outside of the secluded island. The aspect ratio change to a smaller yet more cinematic size helps distinctly tell the audience the time period has changed.

Plus, the color correction really puts a more artistic spin on the superhero genre. The blue and green palette really make the colors pop like they do in 80s media, along with the overall cheesiness of the film, the big food, gyms and the height of the American Dream.

As seen in the trailer, Steve Trevor is mysteriously brought back to life. Being in the future gives him this never ending curiosity like Wonder Woman in the first movie. 

Cheetah is the only villain in the film which is the film’s biggest weakness, the main villain is actually Maxwell Lord. Is where the story starts tripping over itself in terms of the plot. 

His character is compelling in every way.  From his tv personality to his troubled childhood, he makes the story more convoluted. This is added on to the constant exposition of the plot making the viewer seem almost unintelligent. 

But other than that, the emotion in this movie is the one plot driven aspect that keeps the story alive, like the final speech Wonder Woman gives to save the world. The speech captivates the viewer but also the people in the film; it is heartfelt, honest and real. It encapsulates the film and ends it on a positive note, making Wonder Woman the savior once again.  

Soul

Disney Pixar’s movie “Soul,” takes you on a journey exploring the afterlife of a middle school band instructor attempting to fulfill his dream of being a jazz musician.

This movie attempts to tackle the very serious subject of death in a whimsical, yet serious, manner. I think it did an amazing job at entertaining and inspiring to live life in the now, and to not take anything for granted, not even a leaf dissenting from a tree.

Technically speaking the animation was superb with very realistic life like camera movements, lighting and moments where you feel like you are right there along for the ride. 

Also, last but not least, the score was magical, and every scene that took place on Earth was filled with jazz that captivated the viewer. In contrast each scene located in the limbo had a spacey-techno score to give each scene a feeling of wonder or suspense. Every character in this movie is imagined fully, and they feel like real people.