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Having seen the first trailers for this, and having heard what it was about, I was quite excited to finally see The Midnight Sky when it came out. Yet, at the time, I didn't have a chance to see it, and after the barrage of mostly negative reviews, that excitement slowly faded. Tonight, as I was browsing through my watchlist on Netflix, I remembered that I never checked this one out. With my lowered expectations, I started the film and quickly found myself enthralled by its beauty and simplicity. And by the time it finished, I thought to myself, 'that was much better than I could've imagined.' Perhaps it was due to those lowered expectations, or perhaps I was exactly in the right mood for a film like The Midnight Sky, but I truly enjoyed what I saw.

There is no denying, however, that this is a slow film. In fact, even about a year ago, I probably would've confidently claimed how boring it was. Yet, as I've delved deeper into the world of cinema, and broadened my knowledge, I have started to quite enjoy films that take their time. Films like this, do, of course, need to offer something to keep the viewer interested. Be it stunning visuals, a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat, or a theme so strong and impactful that it grabs your attention and doesn't let go. Whatever that something is, it needs to be there. And in the case of The Midnight Sky, well, there was a mix of a little bit of everything. Most prominently, there is the mystery surrounding the fate of the earth. It isn't quite clear as to what happened, and I for one was eager to learn more. Then there was also the mystery of the little girl that appeared out of nowhere. Once again, I found myself trying to figure out who she was. And while only one of these mysteries is truly solved by the end of it, I was content with what I got. Then there is the beauty of this film. Every shot, as simple as it might have been, was beautiful in its own way. The scenery, especially in space, was always something to behold, and even the endless monotone ice back on Earth, somehow seemed prettier than it should've been. And while this film wasn't thematically strong, the themes it did raise, certainly caused me to stop for a moment and reflect on them. A lot of it has to do with dealing with loneliness, but a lot of it also has to do with family. While these themes aren't exactly ground-breaking, they ended up supporting the simple, yet beautiful feeling that the filmed evoked.

In many ways, The Midnight Sky was, perhaps, too simple for its own good. As such, I understand why so many people had difficulty enjoying it. I also understand why so many might claim that it's boring. As mentioned, about a year ago, I most likely would've done the same. And it's because of that, that I found myself so taken aback by how much I ended up appreciating this movie. By no means is it ground-breaking, it probably isn't even anywhere as good as it could've been. But tonight, when I watched it, it was exactly what I wanted it to be. And perhaps, had I watched it at any other time, I too would've found it boring and basic. Yet, I can't help but feel that I would appreciate it for what it is, no matter when I saw it. There was something so calming and wonderful about how this film dealt with isolation and longing. Indeed, I thought the few action scenes that there were, didn't serve much of a purpose. I would've happily watched the characters move through space and time, surviving with what they had, trying to find a way back home. And by the end of it all, there is such a strong sense of hope and purpose, that I couldn't help but feel happy.

By no means is this a perfect film. In fact, it isn't even great. But for whatever reason, I found myself longing for more. The beauty that The Midnight Sky found in silence and simplicity resonated with me more than expected and gave me a wonderfully tranquil feeling. There is no doubt that this film could've been much more grandiose and special. Yet, in its inability to be those things, it found just the right chord. Yes, it's basic, and simple. Yes, it can, at times, be boring. And yes, it didn't live up to the expectations that I originally had. But somehow, it managed to ebb and flow through its story and themes in such a way, that it left me feeling happy and content, far beyond my expectations.

One of the reasons I love movies so much is because they allow me to experience worlds that I otherwise couldn't. This is especially true for films that create imaginary worlds filled with things that aren't real. But even if the world feels familiar and is close to the world in which we live in, there is often a fantasy or dream that would otherwise be unobtainable. And then there are movies like Manchester by the Sea. Movies that feel so excruciatingly real that they don't just remind us of the struggles we face every day, but they make us think about them, face them. Now, some might ask, why would you want to watch a film that reminds us of some of the worst moments of our lives when you could instead by on an exhilarating and epic space adventure? It's a fair question, but I think that this film, Manchester by the Sea, answers that question perfectly.

I recently went through something similar with the passing of my grandma. And indeed, anyone who has ever lost a family member, or anyone close to them for that matter, can relate to this movie in a brutally honest way. From the very beginning, this film captures the realness of life. Doing the same menial tasks just get by. Dealing with people you'd rather never see again. It's a film that anyone can relate to. It's a film that doesn't try and sugarcoat anything. Nor does it try to dramatize anything either. It's a film that shows the lives of people that could very well be real. But it isn't until the passing of a family member, that this film turns into one that feels almost too familiar. The remainder of the movie, and in this case the majority of it, explores the process of grieving. It explores the difficulty of it. And by painting a picture that doesn't even feel like a movie, it manages to do so in a way that is impossible not to relate to. The characters are, of course, crucial in this pursuit, and by making them so spectacularly normal, Manchester by the Sea makes it seem like I'm simply watching the lives of ordinary people. There is a constant sense of realness that I have never experienced in a movie before. It is, without a doubt, one of its main strengths, but oddly enough, it also feels like a weakness. Maybe it's just due to the fact that I have been through a similar process so recently, that this film just felt, almost in a way, too normal. It didn't feel like anything new, nor did it evoke any new feelings. It just felt like life. Real life. There is no denying that this film is gut-wrenching, but then again, it should be. In fact, having heard how emotionally difficult this film is, I had dreaded watching it. Yet, by the time it finished, I almost felt at peace. For me, it acted as a reminder that it's all part of life. The ups, and the downs. Had I not had a similar experience so recently, perhaps this would've been a much more difficult film to get through. However, as is, I simply found myself flowing through the experiences and the feelings, in a way that felt eerily familiar.

Now, Manchester by the Sea is, as mentioned, brutally real and honest in its depiction of life. It moves slowly and deliberately, finding joy in the little things, and struggling with everything else. It's a film that leaves a lingering effect, staying on your mind, affecting you. It doesn't leave you with a great big realization at the end, nor does it give you a sense of joy or sadness. It merely leaves you with your thoughts. Reflecting on your own experiences. And that is where its power and impact truly lies. While it is a difficult film to get through, it also reminds us of the good things in life. It reminds us of how life always moves forward, even at times when it feels like it shouldn't. And it's because of this, that I think that Manchester by the Sea answers the question of why movies like it are needed. It doesn't try to manipulate us in any way, it just presents life as it is.

There is something beautifully special about this film. I won't be watching it again any time soon, but I don't think I need to. It's going to be one that will stay with me for a long time. And while it might seem instinctive that it's the feeling of sorrow and pain that lingers on, I find myself clinging to those small bits of joy, that are sprinkled around us. And as I cling on to them, I, oddly enough, find myself at peace with the challenges and struggles that life, evidently, throws at us.

Having only ever heard and read great things about this film, it is safe to say that my expectations were high. However, I had somehow managed to stay away from any spoilers. Indeed, going in, I had no idea what Akira was about. Certainly, I assumed that motorcycles would play some part in it, as the now-iconic red motorcycle has become inseparable from any material associated with this film. But apart from that, I had no idea what to expect. As such, to say that this movie lived up to my fairly high expectations would be both correct, and incorrect. As far as the quality of Akira is concerned, I couldn't have asked for more. But when considering the story and the message of it, the expectations that I had built, couldn't have been more wrong.

There were some moments that seemed to support the picture I had painted in my head about what this film was about. Indeed, Akira began with a tone that, while still often full of surprises, felt somewhat expected. In fact, this first part, which I would consider as the first of three distinctively different acts, proposed an idea and setting that still stays relevant today. While a sense of mystery was introduced early on, for the most part, it remained hidden and veiled, out of the view. This first act not only introduced us to the main characters, it also built the world where the upcoming events would take place. And while the characters it introduced were interesting and fun in their own unique ways, it was the world of Neo Tokyo, that absolutely blew me away. A world literally built from the ashes of a nuclear bombed Tokyo. A world so full of detail, that I would've happily spent the entire film just seeing what it held within it. Neo Tokyo, that, without a doubt, has acted as an inspiration for any and all cyberpunk worlds that have come after it. But, perhaps even more importantly, the first act introduced one of the central themes of Akira. The fight between those in power, and those not. The fight between corruption and justice. The fight between brutality and control, and freedom. Themes that, incredibly enough, thirty years later, are as relevant as ever. Indeed, these themes were so strongly presented, that had it not been for the hints of something else going on in the background, I would've thought that this film was an exploration of these issues, set in a world so dystopian, that everyone watching, would hope to never see it.

Yet, there was that hint of mystery, constantly reminding us of itself. And it was that mystery, and it becoming the main focus, that launched the second act. As the film first began rolling, I never would've dared to expect what this second part brought with it. Long gone was the simplicity of fighting the power through riots and living on the outskirts of law as a part of a motorcycle gang. The focus rapidly shifted into something beyond our understanding. With an introduction to new, peculiar and unexplainable beings, the film took a shift towards something bigger than humanity. Yet, in it, was also closely tied the strengths and shortcomings of the human race. As one of the main characters unwillingly learns that he wields a power much greater than himself, he must cope with the idea of godly strength. What to do with it, and how to use it. While the themes of the fight between the weak and the powerful never disappeared, they were overtaken by the examination of the ability of human nature to deal with extraordinary power. As this is a Japanese film, it isn't much of a stretch to imagine this being a metaphor for the power of the nuclear bomb. And as this theme is explored, it becomes evidently clear just how easily corruptible the human mind is.

And it's ultimately this corruption that brings with it the third and final act. An act of truly biblical proportions. In a lot of ways, it is the most straightforward of the three, as it is a barrage of non-stop action and adrenaline. Yet, the more I kept thinking about it, the more evident it became, that the theme being shouted the loudest and clearest, was that of hope. The second act, as well as the first one, were destructive in their nature. Indeed, they presented a picture and world, where hope was hard to come by. But by the end of it, as the sun shone through the dissipating clouds, there was a sense of hope that was hard to push aside. Replacing the never-ending destruction, was a sense of excitement for what was to come. A chance to start anew. A chance to build something better. Of course, in addition to the hopeful tone, the third act also had a strong sense of comradery. The main characters, despite their differences, ultimately reached for each other, when they most needed it. This too, speaks to the sense of a new beginning. The sense that no matter the past, the future can always be brighter. These themes are especially relevant in a country like Japan, where the memory of the nuclear bombings still remains. But the true power of Akira is in its ability to reflect these themes to anyone, anywhere.

Despite writing a fair amount, there is still so much more to unpack. And while I would love to do so, I simply don't have the time, nor the ability, as I'm certain that I didn't understand even half of everything that I saw. Akira is, without a doubt, a film that deserves to be seen multiple times, and one that can hardly be appreciated on a first viewing. That isn't to say that seeing it without any prior knowledge wasn't a powerful experience, I'm merely implying that so much of my capacity was used to follow the story, that I most certainly missed a lot of the less obvious tones and themes. However, that is hardly a problem, as this is a film that I will happily revisit in the future. It is quite astonishing just how relevant this movie still is today, and as much as it saddens me to say it, the themes presented here, won't be going away any time soon. Yet, while Akira is a grim reminder of the injustices of the world in which we live in, it is also a reminder of the good things. And perhaps most importantly, it is a reminder that there is always hope.