Two Takes Podcast: Recent Episodes
Two Takes Podcast
Two Takes Podcast - An analysis of films, games and TV shows exploring themes using theories that span philosophy, psychology, mythology...and much more "A deeper look at movies...the second time around" Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/twotakespodcast/support
Time becomes non-linear, circular, like the retreat in Iceland. From Darby investigating the Silver Doe crimes in the past with Bill, and then investigating the murder of Bill in the hotel, it presents similar feelings of defeat, judgement, curiosity and more. The feelings circulate and are represented to show parallels between the past andpresent, whilst opening doors emotionally within our mainprotagonist. There's always a link when we reflect into our pasts and it is here that we see it in all manner of ways; the link between human and non-human, empathy and apathy, reliance and resistance, monster and the maker, life and death...There are always opposites that are needed to be shown to present the whole story. And it is here that we see that whether it be human or AI, alive or dead, we are all at fault for something in the end.
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In films where enhancement of intelligence happens, like Lucy, or we are infected with a parasite, like Venom, we are balancing between two extreme opposites it seems; more emotional stimulation and empathy, connecting us more with others of our kind, or the cold logical calculation of sacrificing the many for the few that will deem the ones fit to survive. Like a battle of right and left side of the brain.
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What I have come to find is that in both the Lighthouse and inAnnihilation, the lighthouse can be seen as something symbolic,presenting an almost end result to the story the characters seethemselves in, as well as being it's own presiding presence in bothfilms as the characters find themselves swallowed up in thehappenings within and around this striking building.
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It just seems within the world of film, looking outwards withsomething like a parasite invading is still somewhat looking inwards,at us, at who we are. Look at the anime Parasyte, or the filmsInvasion of The Body Snatchers, to name a few. We seem to want toexplore what makes us who we are, whether that means somethingenhancing us within or stripping it away; we find ourselves always on the brink of becoming something else, something other.
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33."Cats are good. Half in, half out anyway" And what Constantine means, in so many ways, is that cats in many cultures, throughout history, represent a conduit between the spirit world and the physical world. They are the half way point connecting them together, hence why Constantine uses a cat to gain access toanother world. Like the Cheshire cat in Alice in Wonderland, theblack cat in Coraline, or the 'deja vu' black cat featured in TheMatrix, they are there filtering through the thin veil of worldslike they're simply going for a walk.
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In Squid Game, we follow the Seong Gi-hun as we delve into the crisis of the poor and the desperate as they are given a chance to earn money by playing a game, quickly realising it's their life on theline. It is quite clever when everything is based on choice; themysteriousness of the organisation is dwindled down into shapes of a child's play thing; of the golden card with only a number to call,and the question of whether you wish to participate in the game. Once there, people are not people, but numbers, much like race horses and then it all boils down to strategy, team work and plain luck.
The OA circulates around the idea that everything is connected,itquestions the concept of multiple dimensions and whats on the other side, whether thats through the afterlife, or through anotherreality. It has made many of its audience believe in somethingbetter, something in themselves. Religious ceremonies, rituals, evenin movement, have shown a blending of many aspects of the humanpsyche, such as cherishing hope and finding oneself, establishing alink that whatever way works best is the way forward. Mostimportantly, it branches out theory as a truth; that death is not theend, and like Peter Pan says, "To die will be an awfully bigadventure".
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There's a connection between 1950's Cinderella and Fight Club. Both the fairy godmother and Tyler Durden materialise right at the moment of the main characters almost hitting rock bottom. They create the hope for something new or something that needs to happen. In order for these manifestations to take place, whether in their minds or through magic, both their intentions are fixed on making the protagonist continue their story in a very specific way.
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Thequote from T.S.Eliot, shared in an OA episode: "Weshall not cease from exploration, And the end of all our exploring, Will be to arrive where we started, And know the place for the first time" It emphasises that history seems to repeat itself, but with each time the loop enlarges a bit with the added experience of the last. We (individually as well as collectively) grow a little and then comeback to the same place, or behaviour or pattern with that little bitextra, which makes us experience the same situations differently. The age old saying of 'we learn from our mistakes' is not coincidental.
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Final Fantasy VII also embraces the concept of Shinto, the Japanesereligion revolving around 'kami', the supernatural beings or 'shintogods' that inhabit all things considered important to life,such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, and rivers. There isn't reallyany fear of death either, because when humans die, they become kami and become one with the world, much like the life-force explored and explained in the film and game of Final Fantasy VII.
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Why was Oppenheimer interested in Niel Bohr's work? The Bohr model of the atom shows negatively charged electrons travel in defined circular orbits around the positively charged nuclei (like tiny planets around a sun like our solar system). In this theory, electrons could jump from one orbit to another by emitting or absorbing energy. The further away the electron, the higher the energy, accounting the stability of atoms on the hydrogen-atom spectrum. This helped give birth to quantum mechanics.
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We apparently only use around 10% of our brain. In some films, we are presented with what would happen if we used more. What I findinteresting is that, in films like Lucy and Limitless, it's in a formof a drug, that strangely does the same thing but we see differentoutcomes to what might happen.
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The 'World Soul' or Anima Mundi (in Latin) is the connection between all living things, and like the soul is connected to the human body, it relates to the world as a life force, interacting with each other like neurons in the human brain; it is all one essence, just doing many many things at the same time, interlacing and interconnecting, working together. This can be said for GAIA and her sub-functions in Horizon Zero Dawn, but on a more physical and robotic scale. And for Final Fantasy VII it has the same concept, but more within the spiritual realm, especially in the final moments of the game.
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When you find an alien egg, it's wise to not touch it, right? Could we say the same when these ideas spawn from both horror andcomedy films? Take the Alien franchise, and then place it next to Gremlins. Both species hatch cocoon like eggs and wreck havoc on anyone they see. Was there a reason we have placed monsters as scary when coming out of a shell?
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In Black Mirror's episode '15 Million Merits', Bing's expression andoutburst about the injustice of how everyone is living shows theaspect of division of class, but more on point, about the pretence ofa society that is based on choice, when really, as can understand, itis not. More clues, much like the 'Cuppliance' drink can emphasisethis theory, another being the judges of the show 'Hot Shot'. Wraith- a demon that takes your soul, Hope - like Pandora's box ofcontaining hope to prolong suffering, and Charity - much like theGreek Charities, used by benefiting good and evil men with persuasion tactics.
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I guess we could all be driven insane by ghosts. In 2019's Joker andThe Shining, there seems to be that connection, whether it wasliteral with Jack, or metaphorical with Arthur, we can all becomelike ghosts to each other through our own bitterness and selfishnessit seems.
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Analysing the 2017 romance drama Call Me By Your Name, an exploration of philosophical intrusions, views on ambigious friendship, the race of change and the next steps within relationships.
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Sam Bell, from the film Moon, had to face a lot of challenges whenfinding his way back to Earth. Director Duncan Jones featured whathappens next for Sam in a small cameo in his 2018 film Mute. We can see on the TV the continuation of what Sam had to go through, with him facing court, arguing with himself...
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In the Black Mirror episode 'Shut Up And Dance', the anti-malwaresoftware Kenny downloads was called 'Shrive'. 'Shrive' is actuallythe an archaic term meaning to either confess your sins to a priestor to be absolved by them. The trollfaces, the people behind Shrive,might be fishing the internet for troublemakers, finding Kenny doingsomething he shouldn't have. This can be seen as many differentthings: that the trollfaces were essentially trying to weed out thewicked from the flock, or they were wanting people, anyone really, to do their bidding.
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We have all seen films that present alien invasions in differentmanners. But what if Independence Day, showing the aliens and theinside of their mothership, was their first attempt and then theycame back a second time and succeeded in Oblivion? We don't see the alien, but we see their mothership which strangely looks the same...
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In The Wizard of Oz and The Return to Oz, the idea of things such aswater killing a witch or an egg killing the Nome King, could only belinked to the power of wanting something so much it features in your imagination. Water was wanted in Kansas because of the drought, and the eggs were wanted because of the need for food. In Oz, things have a habit of coming true in the strangest of circumstances it seems...
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Analysing the video game Death Stranding (2019), exploring the connection from our reality to the world of the game, and the realisation of how close to the world of the dead we really are.Death Stranding, within it's created universe, has different strands that both connect and tangle within each other. How the history behind a made up world can reflect certain aspects of ours, whether that be through past events, beliefs or emotional connections,and the need for a better future, a change, that essentially saves lives around the main protagonist that we might take for granted.
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Artwork by renkoma on DeviantArt
Black Mirror episodes have always been known to make the audience to question and perhaps even fear the reliance on technology. But in some various overlooked aspects, it can be observed that the thing we should be wary of is the people who use the technology in the first place. Technology has a function and a mindset that is like a machine. It calculates with the code engrained in its system. You couldn't say the same for a person; humans are more emotionally charged, unpredictable, prone to bursts of feeling that can either help or hinder their behaviour.
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There's a strange link between 1939's The Wizard of Oz and Fallout If you think about it, Diamond City and the Emerald City are thesame. Not only because of the colour coincidence but because of the references. We see Dorothy at the beginning of the trail, with aswirl of red and yellow brick. In Fallout 4, if you follow theFreedom Trail left by the Railroad, you follow the red brick road,whereas in Oz, Dorothy only follows the yellow. It's almost as if thered trail takes you in the opposite direction to Diamond City...
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There's this theme within various films like Divergent, I Think We'reAlone Now, Equals and Equilibrium, to name a few, that are fascinated with the connection of human suffering and the need for a utopian society. To eradicate human emotion, to take it away and to present oneself as a blank slate, does that present a peace of mind, or lack of true freedom?
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In 1927, Heisenberg introduced the Uncertainty Principle according to which the electron's position and momentum can never be determined accurately. Oppenheimer found this fascinating as it contradicted Bohr's theory. The Uncertainty Principle contributed to the development of quantum mechanics and the quantum mechanical model of the atom by the fact that our knowledge of the properties of nature is limited. We can predict, but we can never really know for sure.
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The Animatrix short story named 'Beyond' features the sameoccurrences that Jane Foster discovers in Thor: The Dark World. Both going to an abandoned building to find its reality isn't the same as ours. Things float or disappear. Could the aspects of the Matrix, be like the opening of portals to other worlds? Does the science match up to the fantasy?
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Why was Oppenheimer named 'The American Prometheus'? The greek titan, Prometheus, was best remembered as the one that defied the Olympian gods, stole fire and gave it to humans to make their lives better. This can be the same for Oppenheimer in two ways. One, he gave them his creation of the atomic bomb, two, both Prometheus and Oppenheimer created powerful technology that needed to be used responsibly, making the consequences become unintentionally good or evil.
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There is a moment within the second season of Loki that reminds me of the Avengers. Loki is with his friends in a loop of trying to save the TVA, with B-15, Mobius, O.B, Timely, Casey, and Silvia. Six people, differing skills that collide together to create the team. Loki is the only one, it seems, outside of everything that can make thedifference.
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Jaskier, the bard in the Witcher series, seems to follow his dreams in our reality as well. Joey Batey, the actor that plays Jaskier, is also ina dramatic, lyrical alt folk band, formed by himself and vocalistMadeline Hyland named The Amazing Devil when they met as working actors for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2014. Find their music on Spotify to find the similarities between himself and his character in The Witcher.
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The symbolism of white animals, especially dogs, seem to representinnocence in a world of chaos. Films like High Rise and The Cellemphasis this theory, of a white animal in the midst of horror anddepravity that seems to either succumb to the destruction by no fault of their own, or become a liability to the main antagonist. Theirmain reason is to show a little light in the darkness, and toemphasise whether the protagonist can be saved.
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Nothing is certain, and Einstein never fully accepted QuantumMechanics, wanting a restoration of classical mechanics with definite research on how nature works, aiming to discover the fundamental laws from which the rest of the world sprang. The opposite of Oppenheimer's thoughts of it embodying new insights, Einstein concluded that randomness cannot be a fundamental feature of any theory. Much like the quote "God doesn't play dice with the world"
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I always find it fascinating to see how terrifying the agents are inthe Matrix. Their appearance has been seen in other films like Men In Black or The Adjustment Bureau, with their main objective being to protect something that is already there, whether that's Earth or atimeline of events, or even the Matrix itself. It's always aboutorder, discipline and following a certain set of rules. But what Iask is why we have begun to present these intimidating but intriguing protectors/antagonists as men in suits in the first place?
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Taking reference from real life, the Minutemen. a self-trained colonial partisan during the American Revolutionary War, is featured in Fallout 4, both being known for being ready 'at a minute's notice'.This goes even further in the Loki series, with the Minutemenconcentrating on the literal message of the minutes for the SacredTimeline, whilst protecting the Multiverse from chaos.
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Conformity, we've seen it in many films in many ways. And sometimes, they make it obvious to the point of colour in clothes. Like Divergent, I Think We're Alone Now and even in The Discovery. The concept of specific colours to represent a class, places humans in categories, with the link of disassociation towards individualism,becoming something that holds importance in this supposed utopian society.
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There's two scenes in Blade Runner 2049 that peaks my interest. The first, we see Agent K walking through the orange landscape until he comes across two statues of women with their mouths agape. The second when Joi repeatedly uses the word 'Joe' to name Agent K, especially when she says "you seem like a good joe". With us only having a glimpse of the Blade Runner Universe, it can theorised that the film A.I, with the statues at Rogue City and how the male gigolos are named specifically Joe, with their catchphrase "hey Joe, what do you know?". What if they were in the same universe?
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In the world of Death Stranding, it is understood that the line between the living and the dead is essentially a blurred one, if not acollision of two worlds. BTs, named Beached Things, entities whosesouls are from the deceased, and come into existence when that soul fails to cross through the Beach (a corridor or path if you will)into the world of the dead, consequently becoming 'stranded' in theworld of the living, with their connection to the other sidemaintained through an umbilical cord. The bridge between life anddeath.
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It seems games like Horizon Zero Dawn and Death Stranding, certain post-apocalyptic RPG games, have tiny reflections of many different realities that connect it to ours. They are not predictions of what would happen under certain timescales, but rather concentrating on the decisions that ripple and collide with each other to make a different whole.
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Hideo Kojima's creation of the game Death Stranding, even from the teaser trailers, made me curious from the start. Not by the game graphics, the music, or the fact that Norman Reedus is the main character, but by the strangeness of its creative world. I have played the game, to the point of completing it, but I still had questions about its origins and history. And so, I began to explore it, making this two episode analysis of the world of Death Stranding, with perhaps spoilers about the main story line. Let's begin.
This is Two Takes. And this is One Shot, the first analysis of DeathStranding.
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In The Breakfast Club, when the narrator sets the stage for each person to show up at detention, it's interesting to notice thatunconsciously, they are all seated in arrangement of how popular they are. Claire and Andy at the front, respectively, with Brian and John in the middle, and Alison dead last at the end. Eventually, andperhaps without us noticing, they intermingle and switch seats, tothe point that, in the end, we find them all sitting in a row,unified in their equality.
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NOTE: Einstein's experiment is the Double Slit Experiment NOT Double Split.
Under observation, we can change, become more polite or even more hostile.We take a breath and decide our outcome, predict the probability ofsuccess. We create things and share it, hoping for the right outcome.But what can we do if what we make is used in a different manner?What can we say about the consequences outside of our control? Would you accept it as your duty or become conflicted, never realising that whatever happens next is not random, is not predicted, and is essentially out of your hands? Everything is connected, and it's only through consequences do we eventually realise this.
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Analysing the cult classic that is The Breakfast Club.
This video essay was chosen by ryanmiller3330 on YouTube. If you have a film/series that you want me to analyse, please let me know in the comments!
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This two parter series on the Joker franchise is a cinema essay that was done by my friend, Rob, and was based entirely by a intriguing conversation over the phone about the research I had found out about the character Joker. But Rob took it one step further, and this is his interpretation which I wanted to support.The concept was first forged by myself, the research was the both of us, the final written piece was done by Rob and now it's narrated by me.
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This two parter series on the Joker franchise is a cinema essay that was done by my friend, Rob, and was based entirely by a intriguing conversation over the phone about the research I had found out about the character Joker. But Rob took it one step further, and this is his interpretation which I wanted to support.The concept was first forged by myself, the research was the both of us, the final written piece was done by Rob and now it's narrated by me. This is Two Takes and this is his Shot. A cinema essay by Rob. And I really hope you enjoy it.
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Analysing the romance/drama that is Closer. An exploration of each character, the definition of knowing someone and how close you think you are to your lover. This video essay was chosen by olvera7054 on Twitter. If you have a film/series that you want me to analyse, please let me know in the comments!
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We've seen films before that explore the teenager trope and their troubles, the high schooler and the mistakes and misfortunes in the classroom, blending it with the school environment.
But what if it went further than that? The problems become bigger, internal struggles tend to break the balance and become external in force. Anger and frustration become a tool, and you find yourself becoming both the tormented victim and the cruel tormentor. This isn't a superhero story, but instead a chronicle of events that film the conversations, the actions, the thoughts and feelings behind the closed doors. This is a more personal account of what happens when you become powerful, and the choices that leave a mark on those around you.
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We all understand that Barton was an agent of SHIELD, introduced to us in Thor, but even then, we could tell that Barton was more than just his job. And when his family was introduced in Age of Ultron, everyone looked confused...except for Nat. Perhaps the most secretive avenger (tying with Nat), presents the idea of protection, because overall, Clint had his reasons. In his rare moments, we find him become the father figure, the caring friend, and the one that has everyone's backs.
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Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, after understanding some parts of her origin, has us perhaps empathising, if not, sympathising with her on some level. And this is where we can finally see her on her own, her strengths, her weaknesses, without being eclipsed by the other Avengers. However, Natasha getting to know them throughout her time on the team gave us, and them, the rare chance to meet the Natasha under the Black Widow; someone who is open minded and more importantly open hearted.
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Oats Studios will always have a soft spot for me, as I went down a YouTube hole and found Rakka by chance. Its design, its plot devices, its unique concepts of a dystopian world...it got me hooked. And like many, I enjoyed the fact that it didn't really have an ending. Neill Blomkamp, the director of Chappie, Elysium and District 9 has done some outstanding work. And so, because of this (and because it was suggested within the comments), I am back with this series, and so, we continue the Oats Studios exploration.
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Fight Club could be personified as being the perfect metaphor for doing things that seem painful or outside of your comfort zone, or even using the pain from these experiences as some sort of release, a distraction perhaps, from one's everyday life. But whatever interpretation you got from this film, in this episode, it's an exploration of the characters and the overarching themes of death, destruction and of course, a little bit of mayhem.
Be aware that these are theories and actual thoughts from various people I have asked. For more of what they thought, have a listen to my new but sporadic podcast, Idle Chat, available on YouTube, Spotify and Anchor.
Anyway. Enjoy.
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My friend and I often have pretty good conversations about films on a semi-regular basis. And so, I thought I could share it with you. This one is about Fight Club BEFORE I wrote the episode of it, including our thoughts on the 1999/2000 era of films that seem to manifest the need of choice and truth, with a little dash of Gone Girl, Liberal Arts and Office Space. This podcast is sporadic in nature, with the audio unedited to make it more natural, so stay tuned for the next episode.Twitter: @TwoTakes_Instagram: @twotakes_SUPPORT THE SHOW:Patreon: patreon.com/ttakes
Watching it again, I can understand the popular interest in trying to figure out what in this film is real and what is not, as various moments are highlighted as being delusions in Arthur's head. However, simply just labelling the events of the movie as real or as a delusion wouldn't quite do it justice, and it's been done a thousand times over. What I'm more interested in is Arthur's distorted mental state and the conditions that led to him finally putting on the face we all know -Joker.
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We could all comment on how Bruce Banner and Hulk have been through a-lot when it comes to the entirety of their time spent with the Avengers. Bruce had this own troubles to deal with when it came down to his haunting past and personal retribution; and let's get this straight from the beginning, Banner never wanted to be an Avenger. He was brought in to research the Tesseract because of its emittance togamma radiation and then...things just got intense. For someone who was constantly on edge based on their anger and stress, this was one of the most important story arcs that encounter mental wellbeing and battling monsters from within.
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The last two episodes of the Avengers Series concentrated on men who were given the chance to be more, a chance to learn the concepts of heroism in different ways; to rise up to the challenge in their own personal story arcs, facing it head on with their wits, their sense of belief and their intellect. This third instalment concentrates on a god, that is following a very 'down to earth' humanistic formula. He was born with this power, expecting to be the King of Asgard from his birth, relishing in his privilege until we find him banished from the very person who was going to appoint him King, stripping him of his power. He was not good enough, and we find ourselves following his story, realising what it means to be worthy and how to shape one's destiny and following a path beyond what we are told when we are young.
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Tony Stark, known as Iron Man throughout the world, is a man who revels in his achievements and the adoring fans that follow. But we all know is that when this attention is firmly fixed on someone who proclaims themselves a hero, there is more than just the good times that present a man who is faltering and fixing who he is and those around him. A mechanic can only do so much, but for Tony, he went far beyond any of us could ever imagine. And his story arc is the epitome of a man who learns more about selflessness, how fiercely someone can protect those he loves, and about self sacrifice so others can live on.
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Everything can become fascinating when you have all of the time of eternity. But when does that fascination lead to other things? Such as thoughts of one's own lost mortality, morality and that certain fragile beauty of being a human?
It seems we all want things we cannot have; whether that be to join with the ones you love, in this life or the next; to enjoy a moment in history forevermore; to wonder what it is like to grow up; or to even shed the skin of one's own regret. We have far too little time to consider the bigger picture. But for a vampire, this is all they have; this time, this bittersweet remembrance or ignorance of one's own fragility.
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REMASTERED Analysing the first Avenger, Steve Rogers, Captain America. How a man 'outside of time' gets to grip with the changing of the seasons, but still keeps his morals. Captain America has perhaps become the most symbolic character of standing one's ground and to follow the righteous path of truth and honour. And, for the overall character arc, that might be true. But what about the man underneath the American banner?
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Analysing the romance drama film Far From The Madding Crowd (2015), exploring the different suitors and their own interpretations of love in the realms of Bathsheba Everdene. We follow various stories, a heiress of a farm, an ex-farmer, the neighbour, the sergeant, all in search for some sort of peace and prosperity. Their stories tell us of the beauty and the burden of love. How conversations hold so much weight, and even in the smallest of gestures could tilt someone's cold heart. How an idea can make a new life, but the old one can tear it apart. And how someone can give you so much attention at the beginning, and yet, in the end, present their true selves that hinders your progress. It's difficult to maintain a balance when it comes to work, life and love. These ideas, these actions, these coincidences, all far from prying eyes, all far gossip, all behind closed doors. Are all far from the madding crowd.
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There can be blurred lines between a villain, hero and someone in between. Blurred even to the point where they all look the same. Even so, these differing paths seem to be lonely ones, pursuing what they deem to be important; for the betterment of themselves through the usual revenge arc or for others by saving their lives. Either way, an outcast on a mission is born. Self-worth on these paths seem to become warped, I have also found. They deem themselves higher than anyone else, becoming their own main character and everyone else is secondary.
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Was a battle of the sexes always inevitable? Or did we create a rift ourselves through all the things said and done between us?
Perhaps it doesn't matter about your gender, but your words, your impact on those around you, even to the point of when you are gone. The trauma can do so much when all of the remembered acts and hurtful words against you seem to start looking the same...
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Whisper of the Heart, Kiki's Delivery Service, The Cat Returns and, for purposes of this episode, A Whisker Away all have the same sort of fantasy-like theme centring on many things, including cats. Whether cats have a small or larger part to play, there are present for the reason that is ironically explained in a small sentence from 2005's film Constantine:
"Cats are good. Half in, half out anyway"
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It's astounding that chaos can ensure after one incident, how one day can have the impact of an earthquake to some, and a minor breeze to others. For Sam, it's the given time before she falls. The time to observe, to reflect, to learn. The time to realise that living each day like it is your last has consequences not just to herself, but to every person around her.
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Being stuck in a small bubble of one's own making, it can seem that anything outside can disrupt the world one has built for themselves. Outside interventions can prevent this idyllic way of living, this living in a fairy tale, into a labyrinth of human emotion. Passageways containing complications, with curve balls that test your resolve. Is this a way of navigating life? Yes. Because we all know that life isn't fair, whether or not you are the one being saved or the one saving someone else.
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It's pretty hard to come to terms with realising you have a problem, let alone many of them.
The kids in Dan's class are exploring the Civil Rights Movement in conjunction with opposing forces that have different beliefs, fighting for what they believe is right, and not seeing eye to eye. This aspect of teaching can be presented in Dan and Drey's life. They are both trying to find some sort of balance, trying to find people to rely on in a sense, to feel loved or at least heard. But just because someone is giving you their attention doesn't mean its for the best. And just because someone has an opinion on something, doesn't mean that they are right. From someone on the outside that only knows the basics of a person, doesn't mean its the full picture. And here, with Dan and Drey, teacher and student, the opposing forces of who they are supposed to be blur to become just simply who they are. And they are more than what we see from a distance.
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Emotions are a tricky thing, and some people are better at hiding it than others. We cannot possibly know what is going on in someone's head all of the time. But place that aspect of the unknown with drugs, and you have a mixture of abandonment of walls holding you in, but also the abandonment of the choice of free will letting you out.
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Influence and balance play a complicated dance within the realms of Heaven and Hell, with us, the human realm, being in the middle. We have whispers in our ears, seeds of thoughts placed in our heads, love or hate bubbling in our bellies, placed there by others. But surely its our choice to act on them?
Is there a true form of free will, or are we all simply waiting to be tipped on whether to act on these evil or good deeds?
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There's an admiration to doing something or becoming someone beyond where you came from. There are people who are their job, their reputation, the rumours that circle them...But for many, they walk their own path, making it their own. To discover new beginnings, new friends, enemies, excitement and adventure. There is a beauty in knowing that you can follow your heart whilst your head marks the way.
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I've already talked about each original Avenger, their strengths, their weaknesses, their struggles and how they have witnessed horrors and had overcome many odds; even when they were at odds with themselves. From the concepts of selfishness and selflessness with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, emphasising what its like to have a massive ego with Thor and Hulk (with Bruce Banner struggling with this identity), and finally the sense of belonging with Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff. In the MCU, they were heroes, the Avengers. But here, with you and me, they are just people struggling along like the rest of us, and being the best versions of themselves.
But have you ever wondered why there were six infinity stones and six original avengers?
This is a theory in itself, and I thought it would be interesting to share it with you.
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It's interesting to see the best of someone, their journey and their decisions that counteract what is going on around them. We love to see them rise above what is holding them down. And for some, that is enough. But for others, they always find themselves attracted to the downfall as well as the triumph. The journey that might not show a happy ending, but a realisation, a connection, from the characters themselves to the audience about something that they can relate to. And in Taxi Driver, it reveals its grim isolation, its dark underbelly of the city, of life, of the main protagonist, and the struggles that many can understand behind closed doors.
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Within many film concepts straying into horror, or perhaps more precisely body horror, we question what would happen if we were stripped of the thing or multiple things that make us different from any other animal. Of course, we think we are the most powerful creature on our world, and whether or not that is truth, it doesn't matter. We reflect upon ourselves and this is just one avenue of exploration of understanding the difference between us and what happens when a parasite takes it away.
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It can be understood that there is always a monster within us, whether we let it loose or keep it hidden. We cannot hide from ourselves, what with the chaos around us, but we can choose what to do with what we realise.
The externalisation of the monster is perhaps part of a survivalism play. And here, with Teddy and Chuck, the lines between man and monster seem to blur.
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We follow Louise, we follow the visions, and we realise her journey of her future whilst she is in her present. The child she sees is her own, and she sees her daughter be born, live a life and die in the same breath. We see her discover and learn a unique alien language, presented as a tool, a gift, for the more-than-zero sum gain that the aliens will surely need many many years after Louise's death. Time is now non-linear. And there seems to be bigger things to worry about, instead of nations squabbling over petty things. Arrival is not just about the arrival of aliens on planet Earth. Its about the arrival of life, and the loss of it. The arrival of shared communication between nations. And the arrival of peace throughout the planet, to which is needed further down the line to give back what was paid forward.
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We can only imagine that it can 'feel' like, what it can be imagined like, to see yourself as something real, when really you are not. A replicant is created by man to essentially pick up after us. We improve them and make them better, placing the underlining code of created memories to perhaps keep them docile. But again, their intelligence over steps that mark; they know their memories are fake. So we step it up a notch, give them more life, longer life spans, and a purpose like a job. But we should know, like many humans, that a job does not define us. And like the replicants asking their creator for more life in 1982's Blade Runner, to Agent K in 2049 refusing orders to do his purpose, his job; we are left wondering...when will the breaking point be? When will the lines blur, the cells interlink between us and replicants? Within the universe of Blade Runner, it seems that line is getting smaller and smaller.
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The connection actually stems from the secondary, or even minor characters, depending on how you see it.
However, like all characters that we thought might not have that much importance, it turns out they change the whole plot on its head, and we see ourselves whisked away on some kind of adventure, mostly on the self-realisation side.
And I don't aim to disappoint.
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Spider-Man, since the very beginning, has been a superhero that has been described by Stan Lee to be an 'everyday' hero; because of his costume completely covering his identity, this can inspire anyone to be a hero.
The beauty of this realisation has us getting inspired to be the best that we can be.
Whilst understanding the struggles and burdens of growing up and figuring things out, much like Peter Parker.
Whether we were brought up on Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield or Tom Holland's take on Spider-Man and Peter Parker; all three present a young man trying his best with what responsibility and power he was given. And then there is us, following Peter's story and relating to what he is going through.
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TWO TAKES: FAST-FORWARD - SUICIDE SQUAD (Episode 9)
Aftermath of Suicide Squad, discussing Batman, his unimpressed looks; Joker and Harley's perception of a non-toxic relationship and whether or not Jared Leto went a little too far! Listen in to understand more!
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TWO TAKES: REPLAY - SUICIDE SQUAD (Episode 8)
Enter the craziness as we dissect Suicide Squad, mock Batman (only a little) and wonder why there was any point in introducing 'the man who can climb anything' if he cheats
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We understand why it was half of the universe because of Thanos' maddening scheme, but why the characters that we have invested in all of these years? Let's go through some of the main ones to see if there is a link.
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We all understand that Barton was an agent of SHIELD, introduced to us in Thor, but even then, we could tell that Barton was more than just his job. And when his family was introduced in Age of Ultron, everyone looked confused...except for Nat. Perhaps the most secretive Avenger (tying with Nat), presents the idea of protection, because overall, Clint had his reasons. In his rare moments, we find him become the father figure, the caring friend, and the one that has everyone's backs.
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TWO TAKES: REPLAY TWILIGHT SAGA - ECLIPSE (Episode 7)
The Twilight antics continue in this third instalment, as things get serious with the addition of Bree and Mr Riley Beer with his potions! What else can we add to the dark timeline? Listen to find out more!
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TWO TAKES: FAST-FORWARD ECLIPSE (Episode 6)
Can't do the commentary for later? Then enjoy this in between on the go, as we discuss how vampires have evolved in the film industry, the Fanning sisters and even Robert's and Kirsten's romance outside of recording!
We even update our dark timeline in accordance to the film's dramatic events, so listen in!
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It is perhaps with luck on my part and the incredible thoughtfulness of the MCU writers and directors that they have introduced a solo film dedicated to Natasha Romanoff that has us here, right at this moment.
Bearing witness to what Natasha has gone through, all comes to fruition once we get to know her and for me, this is beautiful. Once a hardened, intelligent and brilliant spy working for the government, barely hinting at any type of emotion that would give her away, Natasha, without a shadow of a doubt, is extremely good at her job. But a job doesn't have to define a person.
Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow, after understanding some parts of her origin, has us perhaps empathising, if not, sympathising with her on some level. And this is where we can finally see her on her own, her strengths, her weaknesses, without being eclipsed by the other Avengers. However, Natasha getting to know them throughout her time on the team gave us, and them, the rare chance to meet the Natasha under the Black Widow; someone who is open minded and more importantly open hearted.
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TWO TAKES: REPLAY NEW MOON (Episode 5)
The Twilight antics continue in this second instalment, as well as the 'dark timeline' as Jacob becomes more than just a NPC, and somehow Bella is now on drugs...? Listen in to know more! So grab something to snack on, put New Moon on, then listen to us do commentary over it in real time!
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TWO TAKES: FAST FORWARD NEW MOON (Episode 4)
Overview and afterword of Two Takes Replay! (This segment was recorded before Take Takes Replay New Moon) Couldn't join us for the commentary? Enjoy this snippet as we discuss more about the books compared to the films, how and why Jacob got buff and what we thought about our own dark timeline and whether we should continue it!
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TWO TAKES: REPLAY - TWILIGHT (Episode 3)
Press play on watching Twilight with us and listen in on our commentary over the top, in real time! Come and have a listen, take a seat and grab a beer as we dissect Twilight, discussing why Rob isn't team Jacob, what would happen if the story had a darker twist and whether or not Bella is just a wet blanket or just on drugs the whole time!
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TWO TAKES FAST-FORWARD: Catwoman (Episode 2)
If you couldn't watch the film and listen along with our commentary, then jump into the aftermath with us!
We discuss what makes a good actor, a good director and appreciate good film...even to the point of questioning what would the director do if he had to make a sequel?
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TWO TAKES: REPLAY - CATWOMAN (Episode 1)
Press play on watching Catwoman with us and listen in on our commentary over the top, in real time! Come and have a listen, take a seat and grab a beer as we dissect Catwoman, compare it to Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman and wonder if 'Jawline' is actually Robin in disguise...
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We could all comment on how Bruce Banner and Hulk have been through a-lot when it comes to the entirety of their time spent with the Avengers. Bruce had this own troubles to deal with when it came down to his haunting past and personal retribution; and let's get this straight from the beginning, Banner never wanted to be an Avenger. He was brought in to research the Tesseract because of its emittance to gamma radiation and then...things just got intense.
For someone who was constantly on edge based on their anger and stress, this was one of the most important story arcs that encounter mental wellbeing and battling monsters from within.
This week we have included the trailer for Damnsels Podcast, a feminist podcast for everyone, talking and discussing women in literature, movies, video games, and on television screens have fascinated us for centuries. Dive in, take control and learn from women in history, in fiction and in real life.
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The last two episodes of the Avengers Series concentrated on men who were given the chance to be more, a chance to learn the concepts of heroism in different ways; to rise up to the challenge in their own personal story arcs, facing it head on with their wits, their sense of belief and their intellect. This third instalment concentrates on a god, that is following a very 'down to earth' humanistic formula. He was born with this power, expecting to be the King of Asgard from his birth, relishing in his privilege until we find him banished from the very person who was going to appoint him King, stripping him of his power. He was not good enough, and we find ourselves following his story, realising what it means to be worthy and how to shape one's destiny and following a path beyond what we are told when we are young.
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From what was explored in both episodes that are character insights in my Marvel Cinematic Universe series, both Steve Rogers and Tony Stark's beginnings are within the realms of war, whether that be participating in one or being someone in the background moving the pawns around, so to speak. Both, to begin with anyway, revolve around war, weapons and armies that have the attitude of protecting America from outside threats. However, if you think about it in the most extreme and blunt version, Steve is an experiment to give the army an edge, a secret so to speak, whilst Tony creates his edge and presents it and himself to the world without thinking about the consequences. One quiet and one loud, but both getting to the same conclusion about protection. This connection of war is still relevant when they disagree in Civil War, when, through their own personal story arcs and experiences, choose a different route for the same cause. The cause, of course, being the protection of Earth from potential threats. Tony chooses security, and Steve chooses the freedom to fight back. One defence, one offence. And if you think about it, at the beginning, in their own separate films, they were the other way around. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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Tony Stark, known as Iron Man throughout the world, is a man who revels in his achievements and the adoring fans that follow. But we all know is that when this attention is firmly fixed on someone who proclaims themselves a hero, there is more than just the good times that present a man who is faltering and fixing who he is and those around him. A mechanic can only do so much, but for Tony, he went far beyond any of us could ever imagine. And his story arc is the epitome of a man who learns more about selflessness, how fiercely someone can protect those he loves, and about self sacrifice so others can live on.
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Being the best of friends from a young age until adulthood can sometimes be a hard thing to master, but Steve and Bucky eclipse this by their easy going friendship that lasts decades, overcoming hardships and truths that bond them together for a lifetime. Or in our case, two lifetimes.
And if you think about it, with their stories merging on the MCU timeline, with the one we follow being Steve's, has us believe that both Bucky and Steve had the same starting points, that veered off into completely different directions and fates. Almost as if to present the theory that Bucky, being best friends with Steve, was representing an alternative series of events that Steve did not get to witness or have to be subjected to. Unfortunately Bucky had to endure the hardships and brainwashing until further notice. But we must remember, as Steve's story begins to close, Bucky's is only just beginning.
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Captain America has perhaps become the most symbolic character of standing one's ground and to follow the righteous path of truth and honour. And, for the overall character arc, that might be true. But what about the man underneath the American banner?
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It seems there was always going to be a choice in what we can do; left or right, blue or red, play or not to play.
So why would a game like this be any different? Dive into the sensational Netflix series and explore what we do under pressure, what true emotions come out under desperation. There are so many different aspects of humanity shown, that overall, each character has a reason for being there.
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We can understand that being under the influence of something can enlighten you, can make you seem more open, and perhaps, in these cases, more susceptible to the suggestions of others; especially in an overwhelming environment.
In both Midsommar and Fifteen Million Merits, there is a small connection when it boils down to some important scenes.
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We all know that Dani, the main protagonist, is pre-destined to be the May Queen because of the tapestries shown at the beginning of the film. It presents the noticeability of this, as well as the horror format of newcomers coming to celebrate a unique festival in a cult-like setting; its obvious, people are going to die. And, they do. Which is fair enough. Because we were told this at the beginning.
But what is the reasoning behind this significant day in the Harga's history? Why every 90 years?And why Dani? Let's take a look.
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We don't see ourselves, the audience, actually questioning anything the characters do out loud; we seem to sit staring, waiting for the next situation or the next reaction, because we can never predict it. We are glued to something we are finding almost uninteresting because the characters are finding it to be normal. And so, we find ourselves detached. But, I bet you didn't know that was the whole point of High Rise.
Dive in as we analyse the High Rise.
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In an earlier episode in my 'One Shot' Series, I have talked about The Lighthouse in depth, merging its mythological undertakings of sea faring folklore and how, in my theory, their existence is a purging of one man essentially making the same mistakes in a purgatory existence. But what I haven't explored in depth, is the Lighthouse itself.
What I have come to find is that in both the Lighthouse and in Annihilation, the lighthouse can be seen as something symbolic, presenting an almost end result to the story the characters see themselves in, as well as being it's own presiding presence in both films as the characters find themselves swallowed up in the happenings within and around this striking building.
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From Joe Hill's book of the same name, Horns, explores the devilish undertones of what can happen when you have the devil on your side to exact your vengeance. But surely there is more than that? Ig Perrish slowly learns the truth of his girlfriend's killer as well as the darkest recesses of his family and friend's desires. Being given the supernatural gifts of a demon, surely Ig can do some good in this reality? Everything seems to be shrouded in mystery, with many people and things from the present and Ig's past having double meanings.
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In the first 13 minutes or so of the film, there is no dialogue. And from that moment onwards, the silence becomes non existent, replaced with conversation and music, emphasising that the more people that are introduced within the film, the louder it becomes. The apocalyptic landscape offers nothing more than what the people abandoned there can find and make do with. And so, since there is nothing else, it becomes a psychological exploration of human nature, on many different spectrums, alone or otherwise. We follow Del to begin with, alone but not lonely, and then Grace, who is lonely but not alone; they both collide then forge a compelling friendship, understanding the need for companionship but also solitude in this drama/sci fi film.
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I have talked about Horizon Zero Dawn and the concept of how humans and machines are living in this reality and why humans are not the head of the food chain anymore; how we are actually considered irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
And, you know what? That is how it should be.
We shouldn't consider ourselves so important that everything else is deemed inferior. And there is a good reason for this.
We are all the same, and we are all important in the grand scheme of epic proportions, especially if we expand our horizons onto a global scale. And both Horizon Zero Dawn and Final Fantasy VII make a good example of this type of philosophy.
So let's dive in and explore this further.
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In this post-apocalyptic world, is the concept that humans are no longer the head of the food chain. It's not necessarily that something else has taken its place, but rather, humans are no longer the most important thing anymore. Remember, the world had survived throughout humans' self destruction and their selfishness for hundreds of years; but the introduction of AI just escalated its destruction in a matter of months.
And what's even more interesting, is that it took other AI to actually save Earth from itself.
The game has shifted from what we know as an outcome from world disaster and turned it into something else. Something more. It seems, even if it's just in this episode, we need to look back to look forward.
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Sometimes we wish for that perfect something to complete our lives. It might be something just out of reach, someone, an idea. But what happens when that idea comes to life?
Ruby Sparks follows the concept of how a man can want a woman from afar but never really know her. Love her from his own ideas of her personality, and not have room to adapt. Learning as he goes, Calvin and his creation, Ruby, find that a person is more complicated than its fictional counterpart.
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Howl's Moving Castle, a beautifully animated tale following a hat shop owner, Sophie, and how she gets wrapped up in the chaotic but magical world of witches and wizards. From the very beginning, we understand what kind of character Sophie is by how the people around her react and judge her; she places herself as unimportant. Her heart is closed to herself, but is open for others so that they can enjoy their lives whilst she takes care of everything else. But she is not the only one with worries about the heart. As the story unfolds, the more we realise that Sophie has a lot more in common with the fantastical world of witches and wizards than first realised. But having someone in common, is that enough? what can we realise about this story? Let's find out.
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The soul can be a funny thing; its regarded as an incorporeal essence of a living being, and yet, because of the many religious, philosophical and mythological traditions, the soul (or psyche), can be various things to many different people; it can be mortal or immortal, seen or unseen, factual or even fictitious.
Whatever the scope of anyone's belief on what the soul is, Pixar Studios, with the direction of Pete Docter, inspired to go further from what emotions stimulate within us (in 'Inside Out') to what purpose and drive can inspire within all humans in the pursuit of the meaning of life. A big question for an animation, but beautifully crafted to roll up it's sleeves and give it a try.
So let's dive in and explore 'Soul'.
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This is a short film that won semi-finalist in the Los Angeles Cinefest. 'Well Water' was directed and written by Sharisse Zeroonian, who you can look up IMDB with her various other projects.
Capturing a brief period in both Cora and Ben's lives as they progress from an early innocent love to a more mature one with its twists and turns. When the foundation that sets them together stays the same, but the structure ontop shifts to different things, it can be daunting to either accept the change or accept the defeat of a doomed relationship.
To accept one person's version of a perfect life or to adapt and change with their partner, Cora and Ben hold ideals that are completely different, almost marking the difference in their gender, their thoughts on sex before marriage, and even whether things can be placed as a joke or a need to be serious all of the time. The more conversations we find ourselves being a fly on the wall for, the more we understand, from an outsider's perspective, how different these two people are; how their parents have shaped them to be these young adults, and why, in the end, how we can understand how precious their relationship is, until it potentially isn't.
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The Addams Family is the most refreshing take on the nuclear family unit, submitting a more dark and satirical inversion to the ideal American household for decades. From the Charles Addams cartoons of these unnamed characters in 1938, this sparked an inspiring goth cultured, thoughtful and loving family unit that were quite happy to stay in their own little world onto bigger things. From the small cartoons featured in The New Yorker to eventually spawning TV Series, films, books and even video games; the Addams Family inspired a whole network of finding interest in the unknown, the uncanny, and the downright strange to be deemed as normal. So let's explore what the the Addams Family and Addams Family Values can truly teach us about being a loving family. What lessons can we learn from their interpretation of the world today? Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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Green Book places a working class Italian- American (Tony Vallelonga, commonly known as Tony 'Lip') with an African-American classical pianist (Dr. Don Shirley) on a tour of venues as employer and employee. The lines blur as they spend more and more time with each other, opening up a fragile friendship that indulges the audience into a feel good comedy/drama. What it doesn't do, is get its facts straight. Within this episode, this analysis is more about revealing and exploring the history behind the Green Book and the characters themselves, rather than an analysis of the film on its own. And so we begin. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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Wildling: an uncultivated plant or undomesticated animal. But surely there is more to this name, this mythological creature, than what others have told you? Look further and find the human in the monster for yourself. A 2018 American horror/fantasy that uses puberty as the catalyst for extreme changes, and mixing it with supernatural and monstrous means. But unlike other known films, like Ginger Snaps, this is following the story-within-a-story format, following the main protagonist as things happen with her and around her. It's a confusing time, especially when the world is open for you to explore, and there are dangers on every corner... Explore the meaning behind the monster in this 2018 fantasy film. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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Whether or not you born into circumstances, the name of the game is what you do with what you have. Whether you let yourself become part of the herd, or deem yourself apart from the crowd and strive for something more. Marla Greyson, a successful con artist, convinces the legal system of making her 'legal guardian' over elders who are deemed unfit to take care of themselves by an appointed doctor that is in on the scheme. So let's dive in, analysing 'I Care A Lot', available to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Copyright to Two takes podcast
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Fishtank, a uniquely hardened British film presenting the coming-of-age journey of a 15-year-old girl in an Essex council estate, it follows like a fly on the wall; giving the audience a glimpse into a broken home and how resilience and determination has made hardened walls between each family member. From the mother’s jealousy of her oldest daughter’s youth and freedom to the boyfriend that takes what he pleases, Fishtank does not want your sympathy. A story that simply shows decisions and routes taken; it emphasises a 'this is how it is' within a council estate. So let's dive in and take a look at the film 'Fishtank'. Copyright to Two takes podcast
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The Discovery presents the concept of another plane of existence after this reality has been deemed spent. The soul, the consciousness, the mind...whatever one wants to call it, is presented as separate from our bodies when we die. And with a sharp contrast on what mistakes can do to one's subconscious, it begs the question whether this is it for us. This life, this reality...is there more on the other side? Let's dive in, exploring the world that is within The discovery. Copyright to twotakespodcast
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The Lighthouse, inspired by many sailor myths and lore within the sea faring landscape in the 19th Century, presents a hauntingly claustrophobic setting. The decision to film in grey tones, heightens the claustrophobia within its visual aesthetics; and with the constant reminder of the lighthouse, it blares its existence within the noise or lack thereof throughout the film. Two men on an island in the murky distance, with many shots cleverly merging the sea and sky to emphasise the main importance evolving around their job, their lifestyle, even their lives with the Lighthouse. The struggles become a reality when their ride back home does not turn up, with both men eventually questioning the quickening presence of time, and of how much of that was used for work, and how much was slipping away as they question their true selves and reveal true identities, causing a domination of male ego, all within the giant phallus that is the Lighthouse. Copyright to Twotakespodcast
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The arrival of the series The OA brought about many viewers questioning and revelling in its mystical and mysterious non-linear storytelling arc. Whereas dimensions are crossed and morality and mortality becomes interchangeable. There seems to be blurred lines between what is moral and immoral, bringing forth characters that are not necessarily evil and not necessarily good. As well as the characters, the visuals within the show create an interpretation of many things, including an afterlife. It seems throughout the research that was explained from Episode One, the OA directors and producers are intent on making everything become interpretive, down to the smallest detail. So let's dive in, to learning more about the OA through theories spawned by the Reddit community. Copyright to Twotakespodcast
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The OA, a series that grew into a sensation with each new episode, has the audience questioning many things in our own reality; the structure of what makes a good family; the presence in oneself through feeling, physically and mentally; the afterlife; and the scientific breakthroughs that are slowly changing our world. If you were creating a world for a series, would you include elements of your own reality in the mix? Brit Marling and Zal did just that, merging the realism of things in our reality and interpreting it for the big screen through multiple dimensions in the hope of igniting some truth back into the viewer, in particular, to question things with a child-like hunger. So let's dive in, into the spectacular world of The OA and it's lessons that we can learn in their dimension and our reality. Copyright to Twotakespodcast
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Thinking outside of the box; finding that spark of optimism; feeding the right wolf can portray a new tomorrow, a new day full of possibilities. Many films have had the opportunity to present an idea, or a state of mind as their main motif in their storytelling. The plot tends to uphold this feeling, this idea, with obstacles simply making it stronger. The Directors, the screen players, the characters - maybe even the actors themselves - have embraced this concept within this fictional world. But what if I told you that in this movie, it was initially supposed to blur the lines of what is fictional and what is real? This film was chosen by Maria. You can choose what I analyse next by simply emailing me at twotakespodcast1@gmail.com Copyright to Twotakespodcast
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This is third and last instalment of the three episodes that concentrate and perhaps encourages others to give Oats Studios a watch on YouTube and Steam for free. With Neill Blomkamp at the helm, it's been a beautifully crafted burst of sci-fi shorts with effects that could make the big production companies do a double take. The concept of making a production company place short sci-fi plots on Youtube and Steam, ranging from 20 minutes or more, is really about the feedback. And in this one, Firebase, it had gotten to the point of crowdfunding; however the plug was pulled around two days in because they wanted to make an awesome film, not an average one. Therefore, even though figures were not released, Neill made refunds to everyone, explaining that it wasn't enough for the vision he has, as he felt his audience deserved the best. Also with the indication that this wasn't the end. So let's take a look at the short that almost made it big.
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The second instalment of the three episodes that concentrate on the spectacular visual creations from the people of Oat Studios, directed by none other than Neill Blomkamp. Just a re-cap, Oat Studios was created to branch out on online sources with their short sci-fi creations to get a reaction and feedback from the audience. With this in mind, what better place to put it, than on YouTube and Steam for free. So would you take a chance and dive into one of the worlds that Neill and his team have created? Let's take a look at one of his impressive creations, named 'Rakka'.
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Oats Studios, an independent film studio, was started by Oscar-nominated South African film-maker Neill Blomkamp in 2017. The main goal for this enterprise was to distribute experimental short films via YouTube and Steam, and then see what the community engages most with. This interest and feedback would eventually show which short films could be made into potential feature length ones. These short sci-fi films are free on YouTube and Steam. I wish to analyse these spectacular visions from the Director Neill Blomkamp and for you, the audience, to not have to wait to stream or download it. So let's dive in, in Oats Studio's short film 'Zygote', starring Dakota Fanning and Jose Pablo Cantillo. This is Part One of a Three part series. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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The repressive Puritan faith within a world of dark and devilish rebellion has a certain dualism in many ways. The option of both worlds that are presented to Thomasin is both be seen as extremist; the patriarchal portrayals of oppression, misogyny and distrust within a Christian bubble, and the darkness of murderous and sexual intent within the Devil's temptation that marks one soul in constant damnation. What would you do if those were your only options? To be a child growing up into their own person, for their blossoming womanhood to perhaps pose as a threat; Thomasin attempts to retain everything in an orderly and humble fashion, only to realise that she is not the only one with a damaged soul.
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We all know what significance Uncle Ben said when he uttered the words 'With great power, comes great responsibility'. It wasn't the first, but it was the most important and obvious life lesson within the story arc, catapulting Peter Parker's understanding of how this advice has shaped his future within the Spiderman Trilogy. But what other hidden life lessons have we missed or ignored throughout Peter's journey? Within a universe that spans three movies, 6 six years in the storyline, and various characters (not to mention cameos from Stan Lee), it begs the question whether throughout this world, Peter, Harry and Mary Jane actually did learn anything and took something from it all.
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There are many names for a woman who might be seen as something different. In a sexual and alluring way, nowadays, there are hideous names such as slut and whore. But earlier on in history, these behaviours and looks might have given rise to various creatures. The control in the allure that this creature might have had on someone, whether it be the opposite or same sex, lay dominant in their physical appearance. It's charms and deceitful nature gave rise to many creatures, such as the soul sucking vampire, or the sexually charged succubus. All in all, the victims are unknowing of the woman's actions and it all boils down to the delusion of sex. And how would they know if their decisions are compromised because of charm and allure? The promise of something they want makes them hypnotised. An ability that anyone would copy, really, given the right setting and set of skills. But what you say if an alien did this, diving deep into the human culture, under a disguise of sorts, under the skin of another? Would it be charming enough to take you under? This episode was asked from @creativeapricot on Instagram. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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There are many prejudices and injustices in the world that could leave a bad taste in the mouth. Action or inaction can really define what a person does when pressured into making a choice, or finding help in the unlikeliest places. When a person wishes for their identity to be known, for their voice to be heard, for a slither of understanding; it can be frustrating to realise the people who were on your side no longer have your back.
There are two sides to everything, and Wikus Van De Merwe had to find that out the hard way.
Dive into District 9 and learn the context behind the movie, as well as what it means to learn how to be more than human.
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Black Mirror episodes have always been known to make the audience to question and perhaps even fear the reliance on technology. But in some various overlooked aspects, it can be observed that the thing we should be wary of is the people who use the technology in the first place. Technology has a function and a mindset that is like a machine. It calculates with the code engrained in its system. You couldn't say the same for a person; humans are more emotionally charged, unpredictable, prone to bursts of feeling that can either help or hinder their behaviour. Therefore, for a moment, I wish to analyse an episode of Black Mirror to capture the aspect of technology and what the people do with it.
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Living on the outskirts of society, in the wilderness could seem like a dream. However, within this story of a father and daughter, it is simply a way of life. It can be observed that there was an unstoppable force driving Will, the father, to constantly move and change his routine, even his walking patterns. His daughter, Tom, trusts his insights and knowledge of how to survive without a second thought. In this trail of breadcrumbs, where we, the audience, follow their story; this idea of blindly following a parental figure can eventually take it's toll. Not in the sense of misbehaving or running away, but in the aspect of growing up and finding out things for oneself. The eventuality of change though learning that though a parent is there for their child, it doesn't mean the child must think like their adult counterpart. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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Based on documented photographs and journal entries that eventually made this movie, Chris McCandless makes the conscious decision to not follow the herd, but go against his upbringing, his family's values and expectations and go...with no money, identity or phone. In this isolation, there becomes an urge to fight off the subtle attraction of any human contact, of any wanting of human connection through relationships. It can be shown how easy it is for a stranger to become a friend...and how hard it is for a family to forget you. Listen in on the in depth analysis of Chris' human connections and why he chose his path of self discovery. Copyright to Two Takes Podcast
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The Journey West for those alive or dead is a path each of us take eventually in our lives. And within this game, it portrays each emotion about the connection that we can have in this life or the next. Linking our own history within the game, as well as idealisms and beliefs, Kojima sets this universe into motion. Take a listen and learn about these discoveries.
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On this episode of Two Takes I have decided to do something different. Although the general theme of this podcast is films, with the analysis based on theories with insightful facts, would you say the same for a game? It is said that a game has a whole universe in itself, with a story that has the viewer revelling in it, either by choice or by motivation. Some games are better than others in captivating this concept of making a whole universe in itself with facts that connect the dots. And some creators, with their dazzling imagination and ability, have made this possible. I give you, Death Stranding, a universe created by Hideo Kojima.
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From the literal and metaphorical use of monsters, to the realisation and choices that battle through a fog of ignorance, main protagonist Gloria comes to terms with the choices she makes that essentially help her cope with the life she wants to lead. Listen in as we analyse the film 'Colossal'.
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Do you believe in reincarnation, or the factual findings through science? As the title indicates, the origins of the eye was the main concern, until it becomes a bigger concept, colliding religion, faith and belief with factual evidence under scientific discovery.
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In this episode, we dive further into the scientific concepts of main protagonist Adam's cancer and the psychological effects of this news.
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An analysis of the film 'To The Bone'. Exploring anorexia and its influence and problematic approach to the protagonist and the people around her.
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Another episode dissecting the beautiful and heart breaking story of Alice and her slow decline with Alzheimer's. If you prefer to read what is said, then please go to this website: www.twotakespodcast1.wordpress.com
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Another episode concentrating on the emotional rollercoaster ride that is John Wick. His use of moves, choice in actions and the lore behind his nickname.
Polite notice: For about a minute or so within the episode, there is a crackling sound of sorts. My editing skills are limited at this point therefore, please enjoy the episode and ignore the sound. This goes away after a while. And apologises for those who might think its their device!
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Second chances come so easily to some and become very rare to others. What if your figurative wanting for redemption became a reality? Would you take the chance? The chance of a lifetime. A lifeline, into the unknown, unto another earth? Listen in on the in-depth analysis of the film 'Another Earth'
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