Wish Man

Sometimes, a movie experience comes along and the title throws me for a loop. When I heard about Wish Man, I thought it would be a feel-good movie about the Make a Wish Foundation, and the founder. I was pleasantly surprised by the movie experience on many levels. This is a great movie for young adults to view and discuss with parents, teachers, and mentors. The subject matter is diverse and sure to encourage conversations. 

Summary: Wish Man is a movie about an imperfect world through the lens of an imperfect person. Most of the movie is spent on Frank Shankwitz's early childhood experiences and trauma. It is refreshing to see a movie explore how iconic heroes come from traumatic backgrounds. Trauma helps shape the world as we see it. For some like Frank, helping a child overcome a traumatic event helps not only the child, it also is a healing experience for the person providing hope. 

Another theme that shaped Frank's world view was parent alienation. This plays in many children's lives in our country. (Spoiler alert) Frank's abandonment of his father is explained through the lens of parental control and alienation by his mother's actions. It is a very powerful story, that happens all too often in our country. The movie allows young adults to experience some of the truths surrounding parental alienation. The harm caused by alienation is hidden during the early development years, only to be discovered when children become adults. 

All the experiences in this movie lead up to one conclusion. Empathy is taught and molded by life experiences. For Frank, he found comfort in helping children. He wanted to provide experiences that helped them escape the current realities of early childhood trauma. Understanding what shaped Frank's reality might help us understand our own. A very powerful movie. 

A lesson in Civics - The Report

Cerebral Cinema for Kids is a blog that is dedicated to cinematic experiences that encourage discussion and debate about their current reality. Each year, I have explored movies that challenge us to question the government and systems in our society. This year, Amazon pictures released the Report. The Report is a movie that explores our government's policy regarding Enhanced Interrogation Techniques. The movie explores well beyond basic questions about the morality of waterboarding. What I found interesting is the theme of systemic transparency, and how long it takes for the truth to prevail.

The movie explores the CIA and deep state operatives. It sheds light on bi-partisan misconceptions. The use of torture was kept a secret by the Bush and Obama administrations. For all of the accolades, President Obama has received for his sense of decency, this will be the first movie that provides an assertion that all Presidents make key mistakes in their administration. How history chooses to expose their mistakes is what can mislead our sense of justice. President Obama has been criticized for the ethics of his Drone warfare strategy. This movie sheds some light on his willingness to work with the CIA to ignore criticisms of torture. The movie goes so far as to suggest he avoided publicly releasing criticisms to gain the CIA's support for reelection.

This is the problem with the two-party system. Both sides are corrupted by the process. We are taught to vilify one party more than our own affiliations. The system currently in place is over two hundred years old. It is easy for corruption to manipulate the realities that exist. It takes years before the citizenry knows the truth.

The movie credits Feinstein and McCain for enacting legislation to help prevent such a strategy moving forward. There was a lost opportunity at the end of the film to further discussion of a key talking point. We already had laws to prevent torture. What assurance can we have that history will not repeat itself?

The Report is a reminder about the value of Civics classes. I have been a critic for 20 years about the dangers of standardized curriculums and testing. The lack of opportunities for our children to discuss and analyze transparency and truthfulness is a detriment to our society. Teaching critical thinking skills is the responsibility of parents and guardians of truthfulness. The Report provides the foundation for future discussions at the dinner table. Unfortunately, this movie will most likely not be shown and discussed in High Schools across the nation. A misstep in education that will hopefully change in the years to follow.

Minority Report - A Lesson About the Ethics of New Technology

Back in 2002, Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg teamed up to bring us a science fiction thriller that is worth a fresh look. The movie itself, has aged quite well. This is a science fiction story from Philip K. Dick that warns us of the dangers of precognitive technology. While the movie is full of action, there is a great story that is more relevant today, than it was when the movie first came out. The technology that is part of the plot was not on the radar, however times have changed since its release.
The plot centers around the idea of the possibility that crimes can be solved using precognitive technology. This new technology could be life changing for future victims of crimes, as it would thwart the worst crime of all, the loss of life. Every idea has a beginning. In the movie, a new crime division is piloted in Washington DC which had one of the highest murder rates in the nation.  Thanks to the pilot project, murders have not occurred for 6 years. However, there is more than meets the eye regarding the ethics of the pilot program.
While there are plot twists and turns, the foundation of Minority Report is the ethics of such technology being used to solve crimes. I have always felt this is Tom Cruise's best movie. While he carries the action scenes with ease, he has to carry the burden of the technology throughout the movie. This involves him being more complex than we are use to seeing him in films. He was chosen to lead this unit for a reason. We travel on a journey, thinking we are going to see another movie with the "cocky" Tom Cruise we are use to seeing, however in this movie he is flawed. This serves the movie very well and his casting for this part was brilliant in my opinion.
The movie resonates more today. There is a connection to the 2016 election that many may not realize. Since 2002, the Russians and many tech firms have been mining our data for years to create precognitive models. Without exploring the ethics of such models, our current situation is hauntingly similar to the ethics that is the backdrop for this film. Once the technology exists, who manages the ethics behind such usage? Will tech firms and governments ultimately use it for the wrong reasons. Of course they will and we have the evidence now.
The 2016 election is about the usage of precognitive technology to rig elections. We are led to believe that it is about one side or the other colluding with the Russians.It is more complicated than we are led to believe.  In my opinion, this is why we have not seen indictments or impeachment proceedings. Doing so, brings out the truth about companies have create precognitive models for manipulating our elections. And, both parties tried to use the technology for their own benefit.
Ever wonder why your friends and families have such a strong reaction to social media posts about each party? Those posts are based on studies of our behavior via data mining. It is quite fascinating to think that precognitive technology already exists. Your friends and relatives have predetermined algorithms ready to strike at an moment to shore up a vote for certain party or candidate. Check it out for yourself the next time you are on social media. Watch how your friends share mindless posts constantly to get another person to support a point of view. They never question the origins of the post. Instead they embrace and support the leanings by trying to convince others to feel the same way. 
Science fiction tries to warn us about a future in which technology is used in manner that is unethical. Minority Report is a great example how a bold prediction in 2002 can come to fruition today. Precognitive technology is here folks, and we may want to heed the warnings from this movie.

Mr. Church

An Eddie Murphy movie for kids other than Daddy Day Care! Yep, and this one has depth. Eddie Murphy starred in a little gem of a movie that came out in 2016 about a man with a past that helps a family through difficult times. The message in this movie and simple and powerful. I also think in today's fast paced world, we need to remind our children of life's simplest message, and that message is kindness. This movie drives the message home with subtle tones and themes. I almost found myself doubting the movie at times. I was thinking I was going to be disappointed.

The movie is PG-13 for some mature themes. However, I found it to be on the milder side of PG 13. I think children 12 and over are fine to watch it with an adult. As all movies recommended in Cerebral Cinema, the movie has many layers for discussion. For this reason, I highly recommend Mr. Church.

Charlie Chaplin's The Dictator

So you want to explain the dangers of a Trump Presidency to a 13 year old.....Hmmmm what to do? How about a cinematic experience from our past that warns us of such dangers of such a presidency? And a funny one at that!

1940-such a film was made.
 Charlie Chaplin made a brilliant movie titled, The Dictator that was a warning of facism and Hitler while using humor to get his point across. I love this movie. Quite funny and irreverent. Full of historical nuggets that bring history alive.
This was also a movie in which he warns us about the future of global politics. Whether it was his intent to reflect upon current events or predict events yet to happen is up to the viewer to decide.
While entertaining, it does have a speech that will surely surprise your kids. One that has been shown in high schools and colleges for generations to enjoy. No child should be left behind with this speech.
While made in the 1930s,  you would have expected it to be the latest anti-trump meme on Facebook. Poignant and powerful, this movie will surely create conversations, which is why cerebral cinema for kids is so important.

If this copy does not work, look for O Grande Dictator. You should be able to watch the film in HD for Free on YouTube if you have a smart tv or hook up your laptop.

Before The Flood

Climate change. Our legacy for our children. Most likely caused by denial that it truly exists. It is up to this current generation to fix the damage we have caused. Education is the key. Like so many recommendations from this blog, documentaries and movies help us understand a new reality. For this reason, I am reviewing Before The Flood, and strongly encourage families to watch this with their children.

What is Before The Flood? Before The flood is a National Geographic documentary on climate change.  Leonardo DiCaprio is leads the presentation from start to finish.. His presence was actually a stronger part of the movie than I would have expected. I truly believe he accomplished what Al Gore could not. Many years ago, Al Gore had a similar movie known as an Inconvenient Truth. While and excellent movie, it had a feeling of a PowerPoint presentation by the former Vice President. What Leonardo DiCaprio brings to this documentary is the heart lacking from an Inconvenient Truth. It is a stunning look into the science of climate change. It is undeniable, and happening now.

Leo starts the movie with his childhood vision conjured up by a renaissance art painting, "The Garden of Earthly Delights." He discusses how climate change frightened him, and he makes an astonishing connection to this brilliant piece of art. The revelation that humans are at a point in which their is no turning back on the damage fossil fuels have done to our environment.

If we were to show this film to every classroom, we would surely see a change in our culture. However, films like this are optional, which is part of the problem .We allow the Koch brothers and big business to prevent a mass education to our children about climate change. The science is clear, yet there is so much doubt in the United States that climate change is real.

Solutions abound in this movie. Some simple, some complex. Even our diet plays a role in climate change. The most significant solution is people demanding change. However the barriers to change is media manipulation. This is why the movie is so important. We need to get the word out.

Before the flood is available on most platforms. If you never like Leonardo DiCaprio, this documentary may change your mind. He is an ambassador of peace, and I was truly proud of his commitment to future generations.

Quantum Leap

Few shows capture the imagination of science as Quantum Leap did in the 1980s. The show combines science, history, and social commentary as part of a journey for kids to learn that parallel universes allow us to analyze the past.

Parallel universes are nothing new to television viewing. The Twilight Zone captured our attention with time travel. Quantum Leap was an upgrade to the Twilight Zone. It might not have the intelligence of Rod Serling, however for a child, it captures the essence of what Serling was trying to accomplish with an adult audience.

Some episodes may not be appropriate for younger children. However most are great for 8 -13 year olds. Overall, the show uses humor to keep most episodes light hearted. Some however will surely encourage critical thinking for your children, and provide for interesting conversations around the dinner table.

Season 1 episode 7 is probably one of my favorites. Sam does a quantum leap into the body of an African American in the deep south during the 1950s. (The Color Of Truth) One of Sam's most complicated missions, as he struggles being in the deep south with the moral compass of a future generation. Truly an episode worth watching with your children.

Quantum Leap is also a great companion for science and technology discussions. We have barely touched the possibilities of quantum physics, and Quantum Leap stands the test of time, and encourages children to explore the realms of our universe.

You can find Quantum Leap on Netflix, or boxed sets are very reasonable on Amazon or Ebay.