A Burden For The Times
A Burden For The Times
The Power of Movies in Shaping Culture
Books or movies—which medium offers a richer experience? Aaron and Anton dive into this age-old debate using "Unbroken" to illustrate their points. We challenge the notion that all reading is inherently good, emphasizing the quality of the content. We shift to the impact of historical films on public perception of Black history, exploring titles like "Roots," "Harriet," and "Remember the Titans."
Explore with us as we debate our favorite films across genres and eras, from animated classics to action-packed hits and timeless masterpieces.
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Hey and welcome to another episode of the podcast. And many times, as you have noticed, we kind of move in an ebb and flow, and sometimes we do topics that are heavier and then we move to do topics that are lighter, and so this is one of those episodes where we do something a little bit lighter. Election season's upon us, and I am sure you've heard the news, and sometimes the temptation is let's continue to unpack all that's going on in the news and, even though there's a time and season for those things, we're not going to let that be the season. In fact, what we're going to do is we're going to take a trip and go to the movies. We're going to actually look and discuss the differences as we look at different means of media, to be able to gain insight into different areas, specifically as it relates to black culture during this episode, and then we're going to highlight some movies and some other media aspects to be able to say, hey, look, to gain a broader understanding upon which movies do a good job of doing that, which producers do a good job of showing forth the entire story as it truly did happen in history. Since we're going to take a trip to the movies.
Speaker 1:Let's start off with a lighter question. As we begin, aaron, coming to you with this question. In a broad sense, aaron, can a movie, just straight up, just any movie, for the most part, make you cry? Have you had to get the Kleenex out during a movie?
Speaker 2:Yes, I would say there is movie. I mean literally just we just literally watched the forge and the forge.
Speaker 1:Oh, you did, oh wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the forge got me in some areas and it's like, oh man. But it wasn't like I need tissues, but it was like, oh man, gotta suck that tear back in.
Speaker 1:Gotta blink it, gotta start blinking. All right, and Todd and Todd did a movie. Make you just get the tissues out.
Speaker 3:Of course, when I heard this question, I'm like are you asking me because I'm a heartless person? No, it don't Not everyone.
Speaker 1:Some people do not cry. I do know people who just do not cry. They don't. It used to never make not cry. I do know people who just do not cry it doesn't like they don't.
Speaker 2:It used to never make me cry. I feel like a newer phenomenon Must be my old age.
Speaker 3:It depends on what we're talking about. That's what I'm saying. Even as a kid, you're telling me, nui's never made you cry. I have questions, something's wrong. As a child again, you can say like now today, sure I would cry less, but I'm like, of course, like when I was a kid, lion king made me cry yeah, I was just about to say lion king was probably the closest.
Speaker 1:That I think, whatever and again, I'm not talking like bawling in your hand I'm like, if you don't tear up, I don't know about you, some people can be emotionally detached during these kind of situations. I remember talking to a young man one time who was like I know I should be touched by this, but I'm not, and I remember him actually acknowledging like it didn't bother me, and he even then said but here's what's crazy, though, adrian, and he said I watched one time an animal die or saw an animal on side of the road or whatever it is, and he said I could not control it. I, he said, I watched, I went to the funeral of my grandfather. I'm staring at a dead body, I feel nothing. But then I saw an animal on the side of the road who was struggling and I just couldn't contain myself. And so it was one of those really interesting conversations where I don't think he was. He was being honest with me, but at the same time it's like man that's messed up, right.
Speaker 1:So, um, but anyway, um, I, I'm going to answer the question too can make me cry, absolutely. I mean it does. I haven't made it through undercover, boss, yet without crime. I'm serious, it doesn't I. I know it's going to happen. I know the guys. They're going to pick the stories and again, I'll be. Let me be honest that I do like the beginning episodes of when something kind of started, because those beginning episodes it was more real, I believe. Now you know they're going to look for a guy who's handicapped, a guy who's a single dad. You know, they know they're going to look for those kinds of stories that really tug at your heart, and so then they give them, you know, ten thousand dollars in a new car. You know, obviously the tears come, but they. But you know, I know, I know it's coming, but it doesn't.
Speaker 1:And then when I watch unsung hero, um, about king and country, oh, my goodness, it was too much. I actually had to take a pause break in the middle of that movie and go to crumble cookie with the family and then come back and finish the movie. It was that bad. So well, just because my life circumstances were really connected to what was going on in unsung hero, if you haven't watched the movie, you got to watch it. It's watched it yet. Oh, like, if you watch it and you think of Adrian in mind, you will then be like you'll probably shed a tear for me If you think about it. I mean it. I mean it really is. Just the parallels were just too much for me, but anyway. So any other thoughts?
Speaker 2:though, before I go ahead and jump into the conversation no, I think we'll talk about more movies that make us cry.
Speaker 1:Yes, all right. So, and I guess I'm asking to open in this opening question about movies making us cry, but I was thinking it in relation. However, you want to take this question, anton, you want you to go first on this one, but I don't know how you'll take this question exactly. But, um, obviously we're gonna be talking about the movies and if we have to narrow down a movie for its content and I really want to focus on that, because I think what happens is you know how on earth do you compare Of Mice and Men to you know Avengers, you know the final battle I forgot what's the name of the Avengers, the final movie, endgame, endgame.
Speaker 1:Wow, good question, like, how do you pair Endgame over here to you know Of Mice and Men and a black and white movie? You know the budgets are not even close, so I really want us to really focus in on content, as not cgi for the most part, but as it relates to content, and whether you want to answer the question in light of black history or not, that's up to you, but I'm just curious, um, help me out then. What exactly would you consider to be the best of the best, of a movie based on content. Whether you want to go the black cultural way or not, what would you consider to be the best?
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a complicated question.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I knew that there's going to be an A and a B and Anton's going to make a C. Go for it.
Speaker 3:I am a hundred percent. There is a C option that I have created and that is to categorize these things. Okay, because I believe in categorization.
Speaker 1:Put you things okay because I believe in categorization.
Speaker 3:Put you in a box, people put you in a box, so cartoon, I would say the lion king. I think there's a lot of answers you can get, but that would be mine. Oh, I'm a lion king fan. So if you were going to say just in general, like acting struck structurally, I suppose I'd say the Godfather, part 2. If you were saying more of an action-packed movie or a superhero film genre, I would say the Dark Knight. I'll leave it at those three. I won't get to the subtleties. I don't want to hurt Adrian's feelings. I can give too many categorizations. Just those three for now.
Speaker 1:Okay, the best of the best. You know what, actually?
Speaker 3:no, I have to say this there has to be a classic box, and the classic box for me would be Casablanca. If to go to the straight classic box, I feel like I'm uncultured.
Speaker 2:Some of these I'm like I don't think I've ever seen. Well.
Speaker 1:I'm interested. I do support you heavily as it relates to the Dark Knight. Now you're talking about the Dark Knight Rises, right? The second one, the second one's Dark Knight, the third one's the Dark Knight Rises. Oh, I'm sorry. So the second one. So Dark Knight, dark Knight, dark Knight. Yeah, absolutely, and forgive me for seeing you know, like biblical parallels too as well, but I mean, you can take it whatever you want to take it. It is pretty cool, you know, when he takes the fall, just because for the greater good. But, uh, aaron, what about you? Um, I, I don't want to, I don't want to go and make this all about movies, movies in the sense that we just talk about their favorite parts in the movie. But so I just want to keep with the conversation. But I do have a lot of thoughts from anton. But, aaron, what about you?
Speaker 2:okay, so I'm not a critic as anton, so like I mean like critic as a critical, looking at the movies through like lots of lenses, I just look at it. They make me feel good and so, right now, honestly, but this is the way aaron's gonna the forge, yeah I was gonna say the forge Forge.
Speaker 2:Whatever you watched last, that's your favorite, because I love the Forge, I love Courageous Again. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of critical stuff that's like oh man, but they just get to me Like every time I watch Courageous and those dad scenes. They get me every time. Oh wow, well, yes, fireproof doesn't get me, just for the record. Oh wow, well, yes, fireproof doesn't get me just for the record.
Speaker 2:Fireproof doesn't Really. Fireproof doesn't get me. You don't like Kirk Cameron. We just watched it again because Aaron wanted the kids to watch it after we watched the Forge and I was like, hmm, okay.
Speaker 1:What about Flywheel? Does Flywheel get you?
Speaker 1:like that no no, flywheel does not. Anyway, flywheel will like the made for youtube version. It's terrible, kindred buzzer, listen to this right now. Yeah, whatever, but uh, with that being said, though, um, mine, my favorite movie I just feel like I should say it because my favorite movie is the prestige, and it will always be um, but as far as when it comes just as straight up content, um, I'm gonna go classic actually, because, again we had to, and I've definitely made that qualifier you can't compare cgi in game to this. Um, I'm gonna go classic actually, because, again, we had to, and I've definitely made that qualifier you can't compare cgi in-game to this.
Speaker 1:So I'm gonna go to an old movie and actually say 12 angry men would be like the, the best of the best, in my opinion, because, if you think of it, the only thing that movie has is dialogue. That's all it really has, and it's there's, no, it's, it's in a room, the whole movie's in a room, and these guys just sit down and they keep your. And I remember being a kid I mean being a teenager when I first watched the movie, and it just was like well, this was an entertaining sequence, even though there was no scene changes, there was nothing. It was 12 men figuring out the juror. It's the, the jurors that go into a room and they, um, they all believe the kid is guilty, um of, and should be, well, all except for one guy. And then eventually, one guy convinces you know the jury that, no, this guy is not, because everybody's personal biases were brought into it and it was just. It was a beautiful story, it really was. What are you saying? Is that a spoiler alert? Sorry, well, no.
Speaker 3:I mean, how old is this movie, bro? Yes, I'm about to say, if I'm spoiling it for you.
Speaker 1:you just didn't see it you had time.
Speaker 1:You had time. Time has been on your side for this one, but yeah, I would say 12 Angry Men would be my pick for best of the best. But all these interesting, you know different ones. Casablanca I've never seen Casablanca. There's some movies I've seen and let me just right before we get into this, because we're going to name a couple of different movies with it, and I know people's conscience are different as it relates to different movies and stuff when it comes to different scenes and different words.
Speaker 1:Usually when I talk about a movie I think it's not like a highlight as far as an advertisement. But VidAngel and Clearplay are two different things that my family uses. We would tend to having a higher or more sensitive conscience to these kinds of words and different things that are used in different movies, and so they're enabling us to be able to go through and choose the content, cause I mean it'll take out like the word stupid, silly, crazy. You can get to that extent, but for the most part we do take out the words that we generally would say as a society are offensive and we were able to watch it with that filter on. There just pauses the dialogue for that time frame and then it obviously goes right back to things or scenes that we don't feel deem appropriate. So I just want to make sure that's just clear, cause I might I might mention a movie and it's just kind of like, wow, you let your kids watch that or whatever it is, and I'm just making sure that that's understood just in preface as we get ready to talk about some of these.
Speaker 1:So, as we get ready to talk about these movies, let's then think about the power of this media versus a printed page. It is attributed Anton in 1862 that Harriet Beecher Stowe was introduced to President Abraham Lincoln and when he greeted her he allegedly has made this statement and these words that are often credited to him. It says about Harriet Beecher Stowe, where he looked at her and says so, you're the little woman who wrote the book that made this great war. Now, as she wrote the book Uncle Tom's Cabin. Now you see the power of the at that time a book to then he credited the same, starting a war. Anton, do you think that movies are a version of the printed page today, that really our emotions are stirred to a point where our opinions are changed, to a point where it can cause us to then action? What do you think?
Speaker 3:I'm gonna say it's. It's more than actually the printed page, in my opinion, when it comes to movies and television, because the printed page is just really someone's imagination. I think, if you even look at the movies that most of us pick, because movies have a different, they appeal to more than one sense. So, like again, you not only have the visual eye gate, you also have the audio, which, again, just like the Dark Knight, hans Zimmer or, I think, did I thought somebody said 12 Angry Men and it's like these are all very famous because that's who is 12 Angry Men? Anyway, those are all very famous composers Hopkins, kenny Hopkins, that all these.
Speaker 3:The soundtrack is also, if you're talking Lord of the Rings, howard Shore, talking Star Wars, john Williams. The music is incredibly important with movies. Very true, the visuals and the direction is so important with movies. You can also have the writing by just turning on the captions. So really it appeals to far more senses, which usually can bring in more people than just the printed page. So I would say it's actually even more effective to make someone emotional, because, I mean, just good music can make you emotional without really anything. A good scene and good facial expression, good acting, can make you emotional with nothing else good camera angle. So again, there's so many things that movies can do that the print page simply cannot that is very interesting.
Speaker 1:I, I, I thought that you're going a different direction with that, but that's really interesting how you brought that up, aaron. What about you? Um, you're a reader, so I know that you would be biased toward the printed page, so what do you think that this? Anyway? Yeah, you know the question. I'm just wondering about your thoughts and speaking to the power, then, of video, and can it change culture and society like a book did years ago?
Speaker 2:Aaron Alexander, 1,2,3. Yeah, I think it can, because I think all of a sudden it helps us see something that maybe a perspective or something we could not have seen before. It helps us really with the perspective of things we have experienced. I think we can talk through movies that we that kind of like oh man, like you said, adrian, like this is my story right here. But I also think there's points where it showed you a perspective of someone that is not your story and then all of a sudden it makes it a little more real to you, like oh man, man, that that could be, and I think for me, um, right off the time ahead, I think of, like the book american dirt and what it thought, what it showed, the process of someone coming over, um, as an illegal immigrant and thinking through what that is, um, to go through again. It probably won't change my political view, but it did make make me think like wow, there's something there that I had not thought through before.
Speaker 1:But again, yeah, I do believe the movies can do that I like, highlighting what both of you said, but especially leaning into what Anton said. This is almost like a collection of books when you watch one movie, because there's so many different forms of media going into one and so, um, I don't know. Then, with that being said, aaron, would you many times people this quote goes around is the book better than the movie? No, the book is, the book is always better. But when a book, like when a movie, is literally a combination of all the books, you know, and it's the combination of alternate forms of media in one power packing punch, do you really still subscribe to the fact that the book is better than the movie?
Speaker 2:yes, I do I mean, can you break, can you? Unpack that for me um a movie nobody's gonna watch. Uh, 15, 16, 18, 20, 18, 20-hour movie. I see there's a lot of stuff that can be brought out, even just like the movie Unbroken.
Speaker 2:Unbroken is a decent movie, but what really gets me about Unbroken is the parts that aren't in the movie. When Louis Zamperini gets saved and Louis Zamperini wants to see the people who tortured him come to Christ. To me that's huge. Now they could have put it in the movie, but there's so many elements in the book and in the story that they can't capture them all, because nobody's gonna sit there that long. So that's why probably I guess they're going to these mini series on television, because they're trying to make them longer and longer. But either way, they're just so much more there to the book, and so I I don't know if the movie can ever necessarily compete with the book, but I do find the movies compelling after I've read the book. Anton, do you?
Speaker 1:concur.
Speaker 3:I do for a very similar reason. I think that it's easier and the same thing. We had the news conversation. It just reminds me of that. It's easier to write unbiasedly than it is to make a movie or a show unbiasedly, because you have to really take a stand, or it's very hard from a director standpoint to really give notes of what the person is supposed to do. You also have to add especially when we come to these historical documentaries, quote unquote. You have to add things to keep people interested.
Speaker 3:When, just like Aaron talks about some of the books that I enjoy, when they're digging, they're very bland for hundreds of pages. Most people are not going to be able to do that in a movie. They're just going to cut all of that out. But all of that is really. Again, most of life is bland. If you're talking about somebody's life, most days are vanilla and they're going to be sprinkled in about 32 big ones. But if you skip all those other days, you've missed who the person is. So I think again it's's. Yeah, I'd lean the air with the book. Just just give me the book interesting.
Speaker 1:I I would. That's an interesting way of putting it. I always like word pictures and that definitely is a very clear word picture. So, with that being said, what role should visual media entertainment play in the enriching of our lives today? Because, like I would imagine and maybe I'm wrong but if shylin came up up to you, aaron, and said, hey dad, this weekend I would really like to watch 12 hours of movies, versus saying hey dad, I wouldn't watch, I would like to read. You know, let's just go be reasonable. Eight hours of movies or eight hours of reading, I'm sure that it's more attractive to do eight hours of reading. I could be wrong, but I'm just wondering with this, visual media enriching and there could be an enriching obviously has to be careful with the content, is but careful enriching? Do you see a diametrical difference between those two activities?
Speaker 2:Yeah, because one I feel is active and one is passive. Okay, yeah, because one I feel is active and one is passive. Okay. So I think the passiveness of just watching television for long periods of time, I mean we may let her do that if we're on a car ride, but outside of that I'd rather her go. Or even like honestly, right now they come and sit down at the Arboretum with me and sometimes read a book, and I'd rather her go, sit at the Arboretum and be outside and do that than just sit down and just consume. But that's just my perspective. Maybe someone has a different perspective.
Speaker 1:What do you think, Anton, Visual media versus? I won't say versus, but how do you do that yin-yang between those two?
Speaker 3:See, I'm going to disagree with Aaron on this one. I think this is a talking point that some people have that I'm not as on board with. I don't see them incredibly differently. I think that is again a talking point from the past. This is when your parents didn't want you to watch TV, because I don't see the actual logical difference. There's this idea that just reading is good, and I don't know why that would be the case. Again, I don't really understand the logic behind that. What are you reading? That would be the conversation. It's like what are you watching? That's what I need to answer to before I can answer the question, because if you're watching, I don't know. For example, myself I love to watch historical documentaries. Do I think that's more useful than reading 58 comic books? Well, yeah, yeah, of course, it is like substantially different. Like we grew up watching videos in school, were we watching tv all day. I mean, again, it's like what is the person watching?
Speaker 1:I was going there.
Speaker 3:Come on, you took it away from me I'm just saying like, so what is the, what is the credible difference? Just saying someone is reading I think it's in the past, and you can even look at studies, as I'm saying like, especially gender, gender differences in reading. What is and usually I was like girls tend to read more romantic comedies. Some of them we go as far as, like I would say, the twilight, 50 shades, some of them inappropriate. How is that better than watching tv? I, I mean, I don't, that's what I'm saying. I think it's a distinction that parents made up four years ago and we've just kind of kept repeating it. I don't know that it makes logical sense.
Speaker 2:Before Adrian goes to fillet me too, I'm going to say touche, I understand what you're saying. I in my mind, I had those. It was like a what do you call it? All those caveats were, were made, but I understand. I did not say them out loud, so oh, and I, I am not.
Speaker 1:I'm not gonna go touche on you on that one, because I would, because I still would lean to the side, um, of not letting you know. We have a. We have a. What do you call it? A, a word that we use. We have a lot of words we use just in our family, but one one that we use. We have a lot of words we use just in our family, but one one that we use.
Speaker 1:Often a phrase is you know, um, today we're allowed to be bum status. Bum status is known in my family that you are allowed to watch two shows back to back, because typically, I always find, dude, we are not going to fall into the binge watching, we're not, you know like, ever, I don't care how, I don't care if the cliff cliffhanger, the guy got his arm copped off, I don't, you know what I mean like we're not gonna binge. So, therefore, if there's a day where it's like, hey, we're today, we're gonna be bums, they know like, so we can like watch agt again and another one like, like you can't be serious. And so for me, I do think and I think it comes to this and this, to answer an Anton's point is, I know that the propensity would be for more of something that is potentially passive than it would be active. That's their leaning. However, because of that, I then would encourage more of an active approach. Now, with that being said, it really does boil down to what exactly is being watched, and so, therefore, content that I because I mean we watched a movie the other day I forget the name of it off the top of my head, but it was a historical movie and that created man, so much conversation and stuff, because one thing that I think that would be the best was if the whole family read the same book and talked about it. But rarely is that the case that the whole family's reading the same book. So really, the way that it is done is through a movie. So that's me preaching the other side of like. In a movie, in a simple way, aaron drives away from the theater, from the forge, and guess what? Kavian saw the same thing, maybe in a different light, but he saw the same thing that Aaron saw.
Speaker 1:So I do think there is value in that and I would say that probably, you know, probably the strongest form of media would to me be transmedia, in the sense I know it's a coined word that's been used, but transmedia in the sense of like there are so many touch points of it. For example, I don't know, pokemon cards might be an example. Like pokemon is a fictional world, but what did they do with pokemon then? Not only they make a movie, not only do they have books, not only do they have comics, not only do they have cards, not only have plush dolls, not only do they have a pokemon go app. Like what I'm saying is they created this entire world that, everywhere you turn, if you want to be involved, there's another tactile touch point that, from your media, can be alive.
Speaker 1:Now, if there's a way to educationally transmedia, put somebody in that zone, to me that's the most vital way I mean not vital the most solid way to be able to take in and truly grasp what is going on somewhere is through that thing. So I do think all of them have their place. All of them have their place and I just think it's for us just to be able to figure out which one then would jive and which one our families would be in need of. Does that make sense? Before I go to my last question, yeah, I think it makes sense.
Speaker 1:Gotcha. So basically, I'm just basically saying I'm in the middle, I guess to some degree, as the only thing that I wish is for us to just debunk the idea that simply reading is good because it's reading.
Speaker 3:I think that is a nonsense point that people keep saying and it always annoys me. But it's like television bad reading good. And again, I like reading. I'm not knocking reading. Reading is a great skill. Everyone must read, yes, but I don't think reading is purely noble. Again, I think that's honestly. It has been a detriment to an entire generation of people because it's like but she's reading, yeah, but she's reading trash, like she's reading that's. That doesn't make it good.
Speaker 1:Just saying it's reading doesn't make it good or I would even piggyback by saying if they are reading. I remember the summer club aaron remembers this at miss edward's house. We would be there and in the afternoons we would have to read and, um, I remember one o'clock to three o'clock I took a nap, like I didn't, like I walked around and I, I, I maintained the image that I would see that I was really sucking it in. But, bro, my mind was a hundred miles away, thinking are we going to watch the great mouse detective today? Like that was really kind of where I was. But, aaron, do you want to speak to that before we go to our last?
Speaker 2:question. Uh, no, I agree, I agree. Uh, that reading is not.
Speaker 1:I would say there is something to the exercise of reading, as you're a little kid trying to figure out how to read, but after you've learned to read, then yes, yes and I yes, the discipline has to be taught, and I and I don't think that we're not saying that, I don't think that the discipline has to be taught, and I and I don't think that we're not saying that, but the discipline needs to be taught. So, but I again, I do see what Anton's saying. So, with that being said, we've gone through all that. So let's talk about movie titles here as we get ready to close things up.
Speaker 1:What would you be, what would you think, naming the top history making movies that have helped people see black history, for example? I would, um, you know, let's just say we were talking about, um, life and abortion and stuff like the movie unplanned, I believe it did resonate with many people as it relates to the abortion debate. It really did like, I do believe forms of media do have power. Now, it could have been, you know, um, been in the echo chamber that people watched it, but the thing is, you fired up the echo chamber to be able then to see different aspects voting-wise and Roe v Wade, I mean, really, these things matter. So, as it relates to Black history, what are those top history-making movie titles that go from there, aaron, anything's come to mind? Any of those come to mind?
Speaker 2:um, I actually want to hear anton's thing on this, but I would say one of the ones that comes to one of my favorites is harry uh I see okay, I do love the movie, harry gotcha I'm trying to think of others. I actually looked them up because I was thinking through all the ones we watched as kids and I know this is kind of side note, but I just remember as a kid watching here we go, boys. What did you say?
Speaker 1:That, here we go, boys. What was it? The Green Mile, not the Green Mile. Anyway, go ahead, sorry.
Speaker 2:I don't know, I just remember having to watch. We watched all these things and, of course, since we were super young and then we lived in an all-white neighborhood, I remember, after watching these movies that dad would have us watch, thinking that every five minutes, every time I heard a car go by, that somebody was burning a cross in our yard and felt that it made me go start, I'm like I wonder if this was helpful for me or not, because these things scared me to death, I think, even just something as simple as Ruby Bridges as a kid. But I do think they have some impact and even just seeing those moments, um, that, even though slightly dramatized, they still make an impact.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I about to say history making movies that just, really just change a person's perspective. Anton, what about you? What? Which ones do you think um come about?
Speaker 3:um roots was the first one that came to mind.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm thinking. Good, I thought history-making, it has to be Roots but go ahead.
Speaker 3:I think the way that it just kind of swept the entire nation and although, like I said, you can debate some of the legitimacy of some of Haley's claims, but I think it paints a good enough picture historically of what slavery was like, I think in a way that a lot of people who a lot, most people just face it, are not going to actually read the book roots, I think it really gave them an impression of what slavery was like. On a light note, I was going to say for Aaron, I actually thought Ruby Bridges I remember watching as a kid I wasn't terrified of Ruby Bridges, but I guess we all had a different experience with it. I thought that it was kind of a lighter look that I think like pre-teen and above could get there and I think, honestly younger than that, depending on your kid Maybe I'm thinking of it different than Ruby Bridges.
Speaker 2:But there was one cross burning one, the old one that I remember we watched as kids and I was like it scared me to death.
Speaker 3:And a movie that I like, but again, I understand that it's an odd for everyone and this is just a personal one. I'm not saying it's the best movie of all time, but Denzel's Remember the Titans is anracial movie that I thoroughly enjoy. I put Rhythm of the Titans A better one again for me and this is coming from a historical perspective the one that Denzel knew that I liked the most I guess that would go to is Glory, which I don't know. Glory is my favorite all the time as well.
Speaker 1:The Great Debaters didn't make it for you. It's okay Again, I got nothing against it.
Speaker 3:It's just not my cup of tea.
Speaker 2:I don't think I've ever seen Glory. I'm looking it up now.
Speaker 3:Glory is a very good movie. It's about the regiment of Black Civil War soldiers. Oh, I've seen the cover for this.
Speaker 2:I got you yes.
Speaker 1:Well, and then, of course, Glory Road is another one, but I think that Remember the Titans just does have a like for the most part in pretty much any circle the we Are Marshals and all these other ones. Like sports movies Even people who don't do sports for the most part I've seen or I've heard Obviously popularized by Disney and others as well. That definitely does help. I put Roots, but I also put another top historian making movie and I'm wondering what your guys' thoughts are on this one, because I do believe this was history making because of the fact it was remade so many times and even though sometimes we think about all the heavy ones are the ones that make the difference. I'm gonna just make a case for guess who's coming to dinner, like I, I believe, really does, because it's been ashton kutcher well, I'm just saying but how many remakes I mean?
Speaker 1:but how many remakes have there been? The you know, but obviously the one with Bernie Mac is funny. You know very much so. But I'm just saying, is like that same idea of you know that that dynamic of black and white I mean both of y'all are married to white people, right? I mean white ladies. And so for me, the way you said, that boy, white people, white ladies, what's wrong with?
Speaker 2:that? No, it was the way you said.
Speaker 1:There was nothing wrong, oh gosh, okay, like, like it's a context that, like this is, this is an interesting concept. I don't know it. You know what I'm saying? Like because, quite honestly, it I grew up and we grew up in white spaces, all of us, and so for you to be married to girl Aaron and anti-married to Andrew, I don't even think about it. But then it's sometimes like people are like really think about it, and so it's one of those, those movies that remind me of like, oh yeah, that's right, they do have white contacts when they go out to eat with their family than I do when I go out to eat with my family, right? So, anyway, it's just an extra dynamic, and I think that, because it was redone and rebranded over and over again, it proved the fact that this obviously was an effective use, obviously, through humor, an effective way to communicate a story that is very real, a paradigm that's very real to people in our world today. So, anyway, I threw that one on that list too, as well.
Speaker 1:So well, we talked about all these one history making movies, so let I threw that one on that list too, as well. So well, we talked about all these one history making movies, so let's just list, the movie titles, right so and thoughts around it and the I don't want to say the must see titles or anything like that, but I mean in some ways that you know if you really want to take this deeper dive. We, we've established the fact that that television and all this is a valuable form of media that is very much influential. It depends on what you're watching and, as we have done that Aaron brought up Harriet. I have not seen this movie, but I believe Aaron has but 12 Years a Slave. I put it on my list I've not seen the movie.
Speaker 2:You've not seen it, I've read the book.
Speaker 1:Okay, Aaron Anton, have you seen the movie?
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 1:I've seen it and read it. Would you recommend for Black History specifically?
Speaker 3:I would say the same thing about the book it is a tough read and it is a tough movie.
Speaker 3:Going into it that's what you're walking into. I would recommend the book over the movie. I know I'm probably like I said before, because I think the book adds both more um context and it's the same thing that to me there is a genre of movies that I think we can all know that exist, that is just the trauma of black people as a show, and I think it can lean into that. I thought about several um of those types of movies. So again, I guess, long story short. No, it's not a movie I'd recommend.
Speaker 1:I see Gotcha I would go with. I'd recommend the book, though I would put if, like family. You know, obviously I made my allocations about, you know, filtering and stuff, but I did think just mercy and hidden figures. I did feel that, especially as it relates to hidden figures, that it was something that really caused my daughters to, you know, aspire Like they saw the racism, but it was like but these women had beautiful minds and they went through the adversity to be able to do what they did, and so I felt those were good.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, I've never really related so much to a movie and as far as in those black spaces, like like fences, I just felt like it really gave for a black male during that time, like it really focused in on what was like for a black man.
Speaker 1:And not saying that, I agree, denzel plays the person I can remember his name, but troy, troy okay, I can't say I agree, but viola, number one, is absolutely amazing in that movie, absolutely amazing. Um, but I mean, it's not like it's a high budget movie, but it's just the. The acting is so awesome like they, they tell the story so well and I think it just really just gave. You know, like I said, I don't agree with troy's decisions but I'm just pointing out that like it really just gave a look into that kuskegi airman was that loving? I thought was interesting. I haven't watched emmett till just because I went to this till I haven't seen. I was kind of scared just because of the fact of, like, when I went to that museum the black history I think it was in DC and I saw that Emmett Till memorial and I just realized what they did to that Kit.
Speaker 2:It just was like I don't know man. Huh. So it was tough. It's a hard one yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that's kind of where I had left it, and then I have one more, but I want to hear your movie titles because I want to close with mine, because I get to selflessly do that since I'm the host. So you have any other titles?
Speaker 3:oh I like. Well, again, we're just naming movies. I like red tails, I'll agree. Um, that's the one about tussie yearman. I do enjoy glory road to an extent. I think think we brought that one up before. Cheesier movies I like Akilah and the Bee.
Speaker 2:Okay, that's a good one. It is a good one. What's the one with Cuba? Who plays chess?
Speaker 1:Oh, I'm thinking radio, that's the one.
Speaker 2:I'm thinking radio, that's what I can think of. I don't know, I don't think radio is historical. Yeah, uh, historical, uh, I can't remember what it is off the top of my head. Um, somebody's listening is like in there, it's like screaming it, right now um, the mortal life of henry the lax.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, I do think the book again. I think the book can do what's called better. The book can kind of get a little, excuse me, excuse me, I think the book can get a little. What do you call it when it's pretty dry, slow, but I do think clinical is the word. I'm sorry, hold on, all right, I think you can get a little clinical, but the more life you relax, oprah does a good job with that one. But the only thing I was going to add, maybe not a title, but can we say something for Chad Bozeman and Denzel Washington? I think they both set up the stage for us that is a good point.
Speaker 2:Of what black historical movies are, because when you look through the list you always almost see denzel, and then you always see chad boseman, because chad boseman's 42, chad boseman's. I mean, like you said, adrian, oh marshall I like marshall, yeah, marshall I was about to say marshall, he's the um, what do you call it? Uh, black Panther, my man's on all the stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I was about to say a special shout out, because Chadwick Boseman would have been the Denzel as he became older, right, had he not passed. I mean, there's just no question, let's not throw shade Will Smith man, even obviously, comically, in the sense of Fresh Prince. Let's not give, let's not, you know, throw shade will smith man, I mean even obviously, you know, comically, in the sense of fresh prince. But even as he continues to go through, I? Um, didn't he play malcolm x?
Speaker 3:um, no, didn't, they'll play malcolm okay malcolm.
Speaker 1:What did? He played somebody key. I can't remember ali, ali, you know, or whatever it is, and it's like I don't know you got it. You definitely in that, in that echelon as well would be definitely Will Smith. But don't, if we're going to name the guys, you can't Sister Viola man and the health and stuff that she was in. I mean, those were some big key. Those were some big key ones.
Speaker 3:And then even I don't remember her name but she's now on, uh, the the color purple um the she was empire and all this other stuff I can't remember her name. Is it the the main lady?
Speaker 1:oh, she's on the help too. I mean, she's on the uh, you're talking about taraji, okay. Okay, I don't know, but there's also the other lady um.
Speaker 2:They're all the three ladies in hidden Figures.
Speaker 1:Yes, they are now all super popular.
Speaker 2:Octavius Spencer and Taraji.
Speaker 1:Octavius, because we just watched Truth Be Told from the Apple TV series too, because you know, yes, she's good, she's good, but it's actually I wasn't thinking documentaries.
Speaker 3:I actually like 13th a lot, the documentary. I thought that was in category 13th.
Speaker 1:I'm going gonna write that down because I was looking at the, the uh, the documentary of dark skin, dark girls, uh, about talking about the girl's skin. Uh, black lady skin color and how it does. There is a bias that goes to darker the tone that goes with that as well. So, but, um, anyway, well, I guess we've mentioned a lot and, as we wind down, though, aaron's sore throat's kind of jumping through the mic here. With that being said, though, um, I want to say this one, because this one hasn't been said and it probably had the biggest impact on me because, like roots, it really just showed me, man, where's where we came from.
Speaker 1:But this movie to me was that in between movie that really was like, like we're just coming out of that, and that was Selma, and for me, selma and that march, and I went, cause I remember going to Alabama, in Alabama, and going there and standing on that steps and envisioning, cause I had watched the movie him marching all the way there and coming to that steps and making that speech or whatever it was. It's like, dude, this is not ancient history, this is. This has happened when mom was a kid. You know, like like this is, this is not that long ago. So, with that being said, it really was like Selma, like I don't know we've, we've named so many movies. But to me, like if somebody was like hey, look, I'm going to queue Selma man, to me I really feel that one strongly.
Speaker 1:But anyway, well, we covered a lot of different movie titles. We've covered a lot of different means of how movies work out, I mean as far as the influence it's had in our society. So covered a lot of things. So, with that being said, are all hearts and minds clear as it relates to these things, guys?
Speaker 3:Actually no. I know Okay think guys actually no, I know. Okay, sorry, not that much, but um birth of the nation, I like that actually quite a bit. Um the nat turner story, I think that's a good movie, okay. And then amistad. I like amistad a lot. I haven't thought about in a long time but it's um. I don't know if you know the story or not?
Speaker 1:I don't know that at all. I'm like got my phone out as you're talking.
Speaker 3:I'm like um, it's like a slave ship, which again it's actually. I would say it actually seems true. But a slave ship crashes, becomes a major controversy. It's captured off the coast of Long Island. The court has to decide whether the Mendi people who revolted on the slave ship and it sank are free or not. But it's based on an actual war case and an actual revolt of them um actually sinking the ship um while being transported man, that does sound heavy, but that is I mean.
Speaker 1:But, uh, yeah, I mean you just, you just don't get better stories being told than real life stories, you don't? I mean, I love my fictions, I love you know, I love the comics stuff and the entertainment side. But, man, when you think like that, it's like those hard decisions I call it the blue blood decisions where they sit at the table and they talk about questions that are like what, like, what do you do? And, man, that's an interesting case, aaron, are all hearts and minds clear for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I'm just looking through to see if I'm a fan.
Speaker 1:I'm seeing the books behind these things. I'm like there's some good stuff about to say I'm going to have some educated kids as I come out of this at this episode. Make sure to be able to watch them because, again, there's value in being able to see these things through different lenses and and some people just have a grander understanding by the books you read, obviously, but I would even argue, just even the things you allow inside your mind through media as it relates to television and movies. So a lot to be able to learn from here. And as we continue to go through this election season, just a reminder I pray that we would continue to be restful in our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ, because we long for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.
Speaker 1:Obviously, a lot happened in our country. I know that we talked about something different this time, but we're not ignoring the different things that are happening in our world today and so that episode last time talking about navigating this election season, I do pray to help and as we kind of go through and talk about these different cultural aspects and topics, we do praise to help and again talk about something a little bit lighter today and hope it's an encouragement in some way as well. Well, if you have any questions, or if you have some titles that you would like to add to the list maybe ones we didn't think of or weren't mentioned, or maybe one that needs to be highlighted even more we want you to reach out to us, man, put it in the comments, send it however you choose. We'd be interested to be able to hear your perspective. So we thank you for joining us for this episode and we look forward to you joining us next time.
