Escapism, mental diversion by means of entertainment or recreation as an "escape" from the perceived unpleasant or banal aspects of daily life. It can also be used to define the actions people take to help relieve persisting feelings of depression or general sadness.
Entire industries have sprung up to foster a growing tendency of people to remove themselves from the rigors of daily life. Film, television, YouTube, and even activities that are normal parts of a healthy existence (e.g., eating, sleeping, exercise, sexual activity) can also become avenues of escapism when taken to extremes or out of proper context. Something that is mere "daydreaming" or "escapism" -from the viewpoint of a technological rational society- might be a seed for a new and more humane social order. It could be seen as an "immature, but honest substitute for a revolution". Social justice could not be realized without seeing things fundamentally differently. It's time to consider alternate views and open our eyes to a different perspective. It's time to take responsibility for ourselves and realize we have control over the environments we chose to immerse into. Take the reins, reach the point where you do care enough to make the change to be self-responsible and self-aware. Set no boundaries for yourself, diffuse those constructed by others. Sometimes people run away, because they want to maintain their own illusions. Through dialog, we can uncross wires and provide positive reinforcement for those who have unintentionally constructed self-destructive mind bombs. We can attempt to smooth the foundations of the mind and begin building castles by considering alternative perspectives and exchanging concise dialogue that will influence society to share a greater understanding, explore the depths of their abilities, take control, and live the dream. I started this blog right before my journey cross-country from a small farm town to the big city of Los Angeles. I was engaged to be married to my High School sweetheart of seven years, but I realized some bigger dreams of mine and decided to set sail on my own journey. I created Cinematic Escape in hopes of empowering, inspiring, challenging and educating people to make Small Changes (in thought, word, and deed) to grow in compassion for themselves, others and the earth. And perhaps ...set sail on a journey of their own.
I’ve always believed the only way to be happy is to love. And I usually fall in love with things immediately. I love everything new until it fails me. Perhaps it’s a food I eat every day till it either makes me sick or loses its flavor. Or a song I play on repeat until I know every word and its mystery unravels. Or a person I devote all my attention to and love unconditionally until they give me a reason to pull back. Because the end result of this behavior can sometimes be disappointment, hurt, and pain, this fearless approach to love is not usually the path most traveled, but I give everything the benefit of being perfect until it’s not... No filters, no reservations... I love like a child. This might be a self-destructive path when I was in High School or college, but as an adult I've been proactive in making choices that support my well-being and happiness. I'm self aware now whereas before I simply followed the path of an average adolescent and watched my life happen. I'm making the proactive choice to open all the doors and fear not the pain I see necessary for growth. I choose to allow uncertainty into my life as a way of growth. I want the ultimate experience! However, I do not allow any life threatening dangers as I am OCD about preserving my life and and the lives of my surrounding company. There's a very precious value on a heartbeat, and no experience is worth risking the rhythm of that beat.
Children view each day as an opportunity for joy. And as adults we have to get back in touch with that perspective. We all have the potential to turn away from fear and worry, and instead face the sunlight each and every day. Adults don't like being vulnerable or being in a position where they could be hurt, and many would argue by taking this position, I'm opening myself up to hurt. But in doing so, I believe I’m opening myself up to experience the greatest love that can ever be and an infinite stream of possibilities. The bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. I’ve discovered a willingness to continuously have faith and risk being disappointed. I’ve found –even disappointments can be quite rewarding. There’s a sense of understanding and clarity that can only be reached by the risky child-like traveler. The one perhaps who leaves his memories/caution, fears, and worries behind –and instead travels light. Such a heavy mindset may prevent us from traveling down certain paths or making our own way, and this simply limits our experience and ultimate understanding. It's not being reckless in our ways because we unfortunately can not forget the "bad" experiences that we had to learn from, but we don't have to let our scars become mental blocks and boundaries.Are we unwilling participants because we rather not ‘lose?’ Do we only allow ourselves to love when it's safe and a guaranteed win? Personally, I find the reward in the journey and not the trophy, but I’ve never been a collector of things. Even those who claim to be completely open in the beginning of a relationship, tend to become less and less open as the relationship progresses. Unfortunately, I find they stop getting to know the other person as well. They believe deception is sexy and by keeping your unfavorable attributes and opinions to yourself, this allows your partner to sustain attraction to you. But there’s only one result of deception and keeping those personal details to yourself –DIVORCE! I want to be loved for all that I am, all of the good and all of the bad. I want that person to know about and accept embrace every freckle. The scars, the imperfections, and the stories behind them are what make us real and beautiful. People weren’t always as opinionated and open as they are today, but I’m hoping this willingness to expose even our inner most dark and ‘unattractive’ attributes, will promote greater acceptance and allow for unimaginable Love... Because happiness only exists when it is shared.
It is said that love only comes around once. But if you allow yourself to be that fearless unscathed child, that’s once a day, once an hour, once a minute, once a breath. Love can be endless.
2012 is a Leap Year! What Are You Doing With Your Extra Day? Rather than conduct business as usual, hopefully you made February 29th special! If you didn't, let's get to it, because this year is naturally out of whack!! Leap year isn't something that happens every 4 years, it happens every year, we just make up for it once every 4 years. 365 days in a year? Nope! Make that 365.242374 days it takes the earth to orbit around the sun. That's just one more common lie we all live by without question. WHY
2012 is a leap year because it contains one extra day, February 29th. The leap comes in because if your birthday fell on a Friday last year, you can usually expect it to fall on the next day (Saturday) the following year. However, every four years, thanks to Julius Caesar and his extra day in February, we "leap" over the next expected day of the week. People used to believe that "monkeying" with the calendar that way actually throws nature out of whack. And it's commonly believed that Leap Year gives women the privilege of proposing marriage to men instead of the other way around. Watch out bachelors!
WHEN IS THE PARTY
If you are born on a Leap Year, most states consider March 1st the day you get your driver's license/celebrate. We will enjoy a Leap Day once every 1461 days, so your chance of being born on Leap Year Day is about 1 in 1461. But, if you are a Leap Year baby, you're naturally famous right out of the womb and get to be in a special club. The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies is a free membership birthday club for people born on February 29th. One of the main goals of the Honor Society is to promote Leap Day awareness by connecting journalists with Leapers. THE LEAP LIST
It's time to get ready for a wacky year and start your "Leap list" of projects you've been putting off or something creative you've wanted to try but haven't had time to do.
Maybe you want to get in shape by attempting The Hunter & Gatherers' Diet, pay off your debts, learn to play guitar or buy a new computer? Travel abroad or live in Europe? Go skydiving, write a book, take a road trip across the country or go back to school? Get lasik eye surgery, learn to surf, find a job you enjoy, fall in love, make a positive impact or move to a new city? But let's start small and make a realistic list first! You could pull a Lady Gaga and wear something Wacky, and be "THAT" guy/girl for one day! Pay a stranger's tab at a restaurant or go on a hike and work every muscle in your body. Releasing those toxic thoughts through your pores will free your mind of stress and worries, providing a sense of clarity necessary for good decision making and problem solving. Bitches just need to run!
You could ask someone to come out to play... Get all muddy and Nostalgic, and don't come home till you've ruined your clothes! Redecorate your space. Buy something vibrant and new or be bold for once and pick up a paint brush and just go with it! Talk to people you don’t know and keep talking till you've made a new friend. Challenge your taste buds and change it up! Put some Protein Shakes and Almond Milk on that Leap List.
EXPLORE
Go to google, ask a question, and read about something you've always wondered. READ MORE!! Knowledge is the power and key to understanding. Want to escape your daily routine? Explore the unknown! Take a different path! Maybe you'll discover an opportunity or meet someone new.
Those that choose to challenge themselves often come back a completely changed person. They have gained a new perspective by interacting with a new experience, formed new viewpoints, and even improved their routine lives.
New experiences are rewarding, fulfilling, and extremely meaningful, because they promote personal development and empower people to take action and make a change. Realize your infinite potential and develop your talents.
Do whatever it is you need to do so you feel confident, but take a leap of faith in yourself this year and start on that list!
One way to prepare for the future is to reflect on the past. I've reflected and compiled... The Best Advice I Received in 2011
It’s often said,“Good advice usually works best when preceded by a bad scare.”So before I share some good advice, I’m going to be a little dramatic not unlike Harold Weir from “Freaks and Geeks.” Check out this short clip in the player below.
Good Advice A doctor once told me to look both ways after midnight before crossing intersections. Drunk drivers tend to blow through red lights.
Eat like your ancestors –Unprocessed organic foods. Eat foods that actually go bad! The food that keeps the longest is usually the worst for you. Fresh food has the highest nutrients, but food loses nutrition the longer it’s kept.
Losing weight and achieving the body you want comes from a change in mindset. Getting in shape is actually only 30% exercise and 70% of what you’re putting in your body.
Set aside time for hobbies. Spend time exploring the depths of what you enjoy doing. Fun is the fuel of life.
Buy a new Toothbrush!
Statistics say concerning purchase rate, only one toothbrush is bought per person per year! Yuck! Really?! Throw out your toothbrush right now if you’re smiling, because the typical life of a toothbrush is less than one month! Bent bristles = OLD
Mindfulness teaches you not to get stuck in unpleasant sensations by redirecting your attention to more happy sensations. I personally break out into song to change the subject matter when I find myself in a negative conversation.
Experience a sense of accomplishment everyday even if it’s just completing errands by making lists and crossing items off.
Get drunk on H20.
Drink 64 ounces of water a day! That’s 8 -8oz glasses or 4 -16oz bottles. It improves complexion, reduces tiredness, and aids in concentration and weight loss. But as in most things, “the poison is actually the dose.” Too much of anything is bad… yes you can OD on water and DIE!!
Hops is a herb found in all Beerthat contains a lot of estrogen which actually decreases male hormones and performance and puts the drinker to sleep. Beer use to be made from gruit, which was a mental and physical stimulant, but the herb grew everywhere and there was no way to regulate it.
Get renter’s insurance, life insurance, and most importantly health insurance. Having these types of insurance takes a lot of pressure and stress off of everyday life. AAA has great renter’s and life insurance policies at very inexpensive prices. Blue Shield of California offers great health insurance plans at affordable prices.
Alcohol removes the stickiness of freshly painted nails and prevents smudging.
If you find yourself in a serious relationship be sure to maintain your individuality, passion projects, and friends.
Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
There's a formula for everything...
To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you eat. It is possible to eat any kind of food you want and lose weight.You need to limit the number of calories you eat every day and/or increase your daily physical activity. Portion control is key. This weight tool will calculate how many calories you should be taking in daily to maintain your weight according to your current height, weight, and exercise regimen. Link to Women's Weight Tool & the Link to Men's Weight Tool
To lose one pound, a person must burn 3,500 calories more than are consumed per week (500 calories per day over the course of a week).
Side note to skinny boys (claiming they can't gain weight):This method works in reverse as well. So to gain one pound, you must eat 3,500 calories more than are needed per week (500 calories per day more over the course of a week).
No one gives better advice than Mr. Feeny from “Boy Meets World!"
“How is it this generation’s verbal and mathematical skills have sunk so low when you have the highest level of technology at your fingertips? Gutenberg’s generation thirsted for a new book every 6 months, your generation gets a new webpage every six seconds. And how do you use this technology? To beat King Koopa and save the Princess… Shame on you, you deserve what you get!”
Reflect on the events in 2011, and see if you can't find some advice/lessons learned to help you prepare for 2012. Our past experiences, whether good or bad, should not be looked at as scarring or damaging, but rather as growth and polish to our character.
Where were you in life a year ago today? It's important to take time to reflect on just how far you've come rather than much further you have to go. Most people have no idea what they are capable of but the uneasiness of the the unknown, that path that lies in the shadows, keeps them from exploring. Recognize the possibilities that exist in 2012 and begin exploring the depths of your wildest dreams!
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Future Predictions: It’s year 3000, and we’re driving around space staking claims on planets like Columbus…
Bring someone back from the 18th century and give them a talk show!That’s my number one suggestion for how our society might be able to overcome the unforgiving and torturous nature we have slipped into.
Everything seems to be evolving quite nicely, and any overworked soul from the 18th century would be overwhelmed and amazed by just how far we’ve come.It would appear everything has evolved with the exception of man. The society we live in has begun to not only reject its members, but also stone their reputations past recognition. We are still sitting in an arena paying to see our fellow neighbors torn to pieces and fed to the lions.Why do we enjoy seeing people suffer for their mistakes, and even worse the mistakes of their colleagues?
Exactly where we went wrong as man may unfortunately lie in the ways we grew industrially.Today, we spend our days complaining about pretty much everything. AND, we have several ways to make sure everyone we ever met, hears about it. Survival may still be our first instinct, however, our day is no longer consumed by hunting down our food, building our shelter, or sewing our clothes. But if you had spent all day hunting down your food, I bet it would taste better purely based on the effort exerted to obtain it. And, if your mother had handmade your only jacket, I doubt it would end up on the floor, in a friend’s car, or stolen last night at the club.
Unless you were involved in the work that went into making or doing something, it’s often difficult to understand, and unfortunately too easy to disrespect and take things for granted.Everything our ancestors did, they did with a sense of permanence, not the 'oh well, you only live once' slogan of our modern day society. Is it modern conveniences that have produced the insensitive, stubborn, and unappreciative bitch our society can unfortunately be generalized as?
Our entire society, the poor included, are all rich compared to the agricultural society of yesterday. Life was hard for them, the physical labor they exerted each day just to survive, would be unimaginable and excruciating for our current society. But at the end of the day, they rested in a bed they literally made, so it ‘s not hard to understand just how aware they were of the world they lived in.
The people of the agricultural society would be incredibly appreciative and amazed with the industrial and technological revolution.But they may not think so highly of our gossiping media, our heavy reliance on mirrors, (and dare I even speak it) empty churches.
Our society lacks awareness of pretty much everything outside of the media. We can read about and find answers to almost anything thanks to the Internet, but what we are actually reading can be summarized as societal junk food. It’s either news a.k.a. gossip or entertainment a.k.a. a more dramatized kind of fake news/gossip in the form of movies and TV shows.
How would we live our lives differently if the average life expectancy was still under 50 years? Would cutting our lives in half trigger a desire for greater understanding and awareness?
It’s always important to be aware that things are perhaps not the way you see them. In order to understand something you must first be aware of the possibility that other views exists –and rather just have yet to exist in your mind.
Awareness provides the raw material from which we develop ideas about our experiences and the world around us.The mind may be aware of much more than we chose to take in and contemplate. Just because we don’t, does not mean we are not capable of more. Heightening one’s awareness is a choice, but primarily is arrived at by doing for oneself.
Instead of buying the perfect dinner for your date, try making it. Instead of buying a painting for your bedroom, paint it yourself. Instead of buying endless amounts of beer, try home brewing. Instead of just simply handing over money for everything, or being spoiled by parents or your partner, try doing for yourself and experience the awareness and appreciation and understanding that will naturally occur.
Anything forced-practiced for a period of time, can become routine and performed with ease.
So make the philosophy of awareness a habit and understanding can be achieved.
There’s a way to articulate our thoughts in a specific way that will minimize miscommunication and improve understanding.The right words in the right order –a golden combination- will deliver indisputable satisfaction and unlock pure silence. Silence a sign that the depths of understanding have been reached.
You can dismiss this philosophy by oversimplifying the reality of our current society, but that would be ignoring the obvious imperfections even our government is unable to hide.
The philosophy of awareness extends much deeper than words, actions, and appreciation. It’s about achieving a deeper existence, the nature of being with the world. An inner peace achievable by seeking more control over our own thoughts and works, and allowing that which is not in our control to simply be. The society of the 18th century was not necessarily better than ours, but they certainly were more self reliant, content in their life styles, and better understood and accepted their place among the chaos. A combination of their demeanor with our advancements would be a golden combination.
If you’re not happy change it up! Maybe you’re feeling stuck in life and you’ve fallen into an unsatisfying routine that requires less energy. Maybe you're burnt out and just going through the motions. If you’re constantly being nagged by an inner voice to do something more, you should listen to that tiny motivation that's dying to take action.
Change can be hard and to avoid the stress of change, people fall into routines.But change doesn't have to be hard, it's often our perception that makes things seem so difficult.You may consider changing your perspective and the way you look at yourself and the world around you. It's important to be consciously aware that all you know in life comes from your experiences and what others may have told you. Not only should you not believe everything you hear, but it's very dangerous to mold your thinking around any one particular experience. It’s important to believe that you are not only capable of anything, but also that anything is possible given the right circumstances. If you’ve formed strict boundaries of what you think is and is not possible, you need to find the power to move beyond those boundaries.You are cheating yourself out of life if you don't go out of bounds. It’s common for people to say things aren’t possible because they don’t see a way of them working out. Perhaps you're simply lacking the knowledge or understanding of what you consider to be impossible.
Once you have the understanding of the impossible, only then will you be able to gain control and power through those debilitating boundaries of the mind.
A good place to look for understanding of the impossible is the world wide web of shared information/experiences. There’s an incredible amount of information that can be found just by typing a question into an Internet search engine. Of course everyone has used search engines to find the lyrics to their favorite song, but I use search engines (google) every time I want to know anything. You're not the first person to be in your exact situation, and reading about someone else's trials and tribulations "how they did it" -can give you insight from another perspective, a perspective that you are perhaps not capable of seeing yourself. This may sound like common sense to some, but I don't believe everyone actually does this or we would have a more efficient world.
YOU ARE NOT STUCK! There are other ways, which may only seem possible if you are working towards them. There’s always going to be something else out there for you and here’s five ways to change it up! 1. Change the look of your daily environment:
You could do something simple like change the background of your computer -Desktop wallpapers here.
Or buy a plant for your room. If your bedroom walls are white, buy a poster or some inspiring art or …better yet, buy some paint and explore your artistic skills. Here’s a link on how to become an artist.
2. Be aware of time:
If you don’t own a watch or a calendar both these things are on eBay for pennies! It’s unbelievable to me how many people never know the time or date. Time is slipping away. If you don’t wear a watch you are more likely to waste time without realizing it. My friends without watches on their wrists and calendars on their walls always tell me they use their phone for both, but I personally would never date a man without a watch. Keeping track of time makes more things possible. Once you get that watch you can do number 3! 3. Set dates to look forward to:
Make plans! Make future plans so you are moving forward. Make dinner plans or plan to meet up with an old friend. Planning ahead promotes organization and makes things seem more possible when you have time to prepare. Now, that you have that calendar you can start filling it in, and with that watch you won’t be late!
4. Reward: Buy or order yourself something you’ve been wanting. Not only can you mark on your calendar the arrival of your new toy, but the anticipation alone should keep your spirits high. I’m not an advocate of consuming things like movies, videogames, action figures or even books because all these things will undoubtedly become knickknacks grazing your walls, making it harder for you to move because you’ve collected so much useless sh!t in your life. BUttttt… instead buy something you are likely to use every week if not every day. A good example would be my recent purchase of a contact lenses case in the shape of a frog and his lily pad. This -under five dollars- purchase makes putting in my contacts every day a little more exciting! Don’t believe me? Order yours here.
5. Escape yourself: Do something out of character
Okay be careful with this one. I’m not telling you to slam the door behind you on a stranger’s face or attempt a high-speed race with a cop instead of pulling over. But do something you wouldn’t usually such as:
Stand up at open mic night! Eat something you think is gross.
Plan a trip somewhere you’ve never been! -Exploring the land is sure to break down a few of your ignorant views.
Watch a movie you think looks stupid.
Asking out that girl/guy you’ve had a crush on to a FRIENDLY night of fun. I don’t promote acting like a couple for a night with someone you barely know, which is often perceived to constitute as a date in modern times. Instead, ask them to come to board game night and be sure to invite other people they know. Date your friends not strangers.
Yes, I am. And you might be tooif you value independent thinking, appreciate art and indie-rock, creativity, intelligence, and witty banter.
I was recently called a hipster after playing the song,"Country Lane" by Telekinesis, which I've conveniently placed below for you to listen to as you continue reading. This particular blog entry was inspired by the cruelty of name calling :)
I enjoymusic that features folk roots, melodic string accompaniment, acoustic sonority, electric guitar riffs, and an emotional male lead vocal performance. Admiring the chemistry of sound is probably another characteristic of a hipster, but I'm no longer in denial.
I shun mainstream societal conventions and rules that apply to relationships, dating, and love. I try my best to ignore the media, advertising, especially movie reviews. Everyone has their own framework of understanding, but I prefer not to be influenced before going through the process myself. People are becoming brainwashed zombiesentranced by the power of the media. The media promotes ethnocentric ideas that poison self-expression and originality. Unfortunately, independent thinkers are an endangered species in modern times.
You don't have to look like you just came from a rave to be a hipster.
I don't wear thrift store clothing, old-school sneakers, or thick rimmed glasses. I don't dress like the stereotypical hipster, and I'm definitely not attracted to men dressed in colorful, bright, and often animal print, skinny clothing. I don't frequent coffee shops. My hair style isn't edgy, and I possess more than 2% body fat.
But I do have a degree from a liberal arts college. I'd like to think I have creative analytical thinking abilities and good taste in music. I'm not a wasteful person, or a collector of material things. I contribute to independent culture. I have an appreciation for indie music and independent film. I do like ironically themed parties and weird food. I love philosophy and brain teasers. As the hipster definition suggests, I have been called bi-polar, but definitely not boring.
Those who reject the hipster way often also reject social change in general, but won't admit to admiring those who are more sensitive, intelligent, and culturally aware.
Hipsters are also associated with beatniks or the Beat Generation of the 1950's and 60's, who rejected materialism, consumerism, and censorship. The Beat Generation was made up of anti-conformists, and others who liberated themselves from mainstream ideals.
Beatnik, Hipster, call me what you want you bore me!
When thinking about the big picture and the limited time we have to live, it’s often difficult for us to see the point of things. We spend so much time talking about doing things and all these things just seem rather pointless after wasting so much time discussing them.
The word “things” seems rather meaningless and pointless as well, so allow me to specify.
Pointless:
Consuming/collecting
Excessive documentation/paperwork
Being stubborn/Unwilling
Arguing/Blaming
Stressing
Waiting/Wasting
Forgetting/Lying
Negativity/Dwelling
Indecisiveness
Debating
Hate
Important:
Finding inspiration and capturing/preserving it’s magical touch
Creating/Leaving a permanent, ageless existence of yourself.
Making a difference and improving self/environment/others
In 1984, Peter Travers started writing film reviews for People Magazine. He moved to Rolling Stone in ‘88 and continues writing film reviews for them today. Through this critique, I will explore Travers’ perspective, style, method, and technique. I would describe Travers’ style of writing in the same way he describes Batman Forever; “It’s a thrill-packed joy ride that knocks itself out to please – so much so that it often threatens to collapse from plot overload.”
Travers writes feature film reviews ranging from 500 to 1000+ words. His reviews are sometimes short and direct like his 1987 Spaceballs review, while others such as The Dark Knight are intensely descriptive and full of critical analysis. He chooses to review a variety of genres including comedy, horror, drama, action, sci-fi, and thriller.
Travers leads his reviews with a very short paragraph, normally 3-4 sentences tops. The lead usually opens with a short, catchy line, which is either a fact or a snappy judgment about the film. Examples of this are “Mel Brooks is a gutbuster.” (Spaceballs) and “Sometimes a shamelessly stoopid, proudly profane R-rated comedy is all you want out of life.” (Role Models) It’s structured simplistically to grab the audience’s attention, get to the point of the article, and encourage the reader to continue reading. His methods effectively entertain and amuse the reader.
The basic information of the film is hidden throughout the review in summary content and other judgments he makes about the movie. In Travers’ earlier reviews like Thelma & Louise, he focuses on plot summary and talks about the actors in the order they appear in the narrative. But lately, he’s been leaving summary at the theaters and only telling the basic set-up like in his Eastern Promises and Apocalypto review. In the ’80s, he focused on plot summary and it could usually be found in the second, third, and fourth paragraph of his review. Now, he gives the reader a short set-up in the second paragraph, and goes on to discuss the actors, director, writers (and if deserved) the cinematographer.
Travers’ simple style makes his work easy to follow and fun to read. He chooses to heavily describe actor’s performances and only focuses lightly on cinematic elements, which expands his audience rather than closing it down to technical terms that only professionals would comprehend. His specific descriptions of characters and selected quotations help the reader re-experience the films. He isn’t likely to incorporate quotes into every review, but when he does he pulls only the best lines from the film’s most memorable moments.
In his 2008 review of The Dark Knight, Travers quotes the Joker just as he’s holding a razor blade to a victim’s face telling the man how his father carved his smile permanently into his face. Travers quotes the Joker at this plot changing moment saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stranger.” This significant quote not only reveals character, but also comes from an extremely memorable scene that highlights the theme of the human condition. The relative ratio of factual information to critical commentary and interpretation was 50/50 earlier in his career. But now that he has gained much experience and seniority at Rolling Stone, his reviews are dominated with critical judgments and pleasurable commentary at 75/25, which is much better than his earlier safe reviews.
The scope of Travers reviews deal mostly with the actors and genre. But sometimes he centers his review on the most popular person involved in the film. Sometimes the focus of his review is the director such as Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto. All of his judgments about Apocalypto revolve around Mel Gibson and his style of filmmaking. The same is seen in his Freddy Got Fingered review where he concentrates on the wacky Tom Green who stars in the film.
Travers’ knowledge of film seems to extend as far as that he has seen many pictures, but not necessarily taken any critical analysis film classes. He does however, appear very knowledgeable about actors, directors, and their past performances. He doesn’t speak of any one person or genre without including a comparison or their most recent appearance. He includes these references in very interesting ways. In his review of Batman Forever, when he’s referencing Jim Carrey’s past performances compared to The Riddler, the character he plays in this film, Travers sites, “Hammered for the crudities of “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Dumb and Dumber,” Carrey continues to play by his own rules.” He sneaks in references to past performances with similar critiques of the actor’s role.
I have yet to read a review where Travers presents himself by using “I.” He does, however, speak directly to the audience in numerous occasions saying how you should feel or what you should do. “Don’t ask whether or not you should take The Day After Tomorrow seriously. Don’t take it at all,” Travers declares in his 2004 review of The Day After Tomorrow.
Travers expresses his attitude of films through his short and to the point phrases that precede many of his in-depth character and plot analysis paragraphs. These simple judgments prepare the reader for the complex sentences that follow and allow for easier interpretation. All of his reviews include vigorous comparisons to similar genres and artists. His writing flows smoothly with transitions leading into each and every paragraph. If he knows he wants to talk about a specific character in the next paragraph he includes them in a scene or quote in the end of the previous paragraph. His transitions stream by seemingly unnoticed and holds the piece together like invisible glue. His recent reviews are always focused and sustain a single line of interpretation that is reiterated at the end. Travers’ writing style is very basic, but nonetheless informative, persuasive and of course entertaining.
