One of my favorite things to do is to watch great movies in the theater with the good sound systems on full and in comfortable seats close to the huge screen with my family. Project Hail Mary didn’t disappoint in either the Ely’s Historic Theater’s State or the fabulous Greenstone.
The movie was fantastic with all the great novel adaptation feels, action feels, tugging at the heart string feels and suspense feels. Also, the topic naturally has a theme of companionship and working together makes the world go round -- literally. It was one of my favorite books the summer it came out and it was enjoyable enough on screen that I’d go a third and maybe even a fourth time.
This morning I watched the full trailer of Spider Man: Brand New Day and I have to say, I cannot wait until July, when it is hot outside and the smell of buttered theater popcorn is sneaking out the front door of the building every time someone opens it. I certainly hadn’t forgotten that no one remembers Peter Parker or that he’s Spider Man. I hadn’t forgotten what it means at that age to be alone or how valuable it was just to have a few close friends. When they drift away to other friends it is bad enough, but when they don’t remember you at all, well that would be unimaginable.
I’m looking forward to finding out what happens.
I think the best stories, the ones that pull on those strings inside us that are tied with the tightest, most difficult knots to the core of who we are, are the ones that can make even the roughest of exteriors damp with the trail of tears.
I, of course, like the unassuming hero, the little guy, the underdog and the overlooked, yes, the forgotten. I enjoy when the narcissistic villain realizes in all their strength and power and cloaked self-assurance and in the midst of their unnecessary monologuing that they have been bested by a tiny spider. Bested by a hobbit.
Bested by the little guy.
I also enjoy the twist and the truth and the deliberate mis-direction of character that’s been right in front of us all along in plain sight but we didn’t quite understand its meaning.
I’m referring specifically to Gollum and Sam who were the smallest and oddest of heroes in Tolkien’s masterpiece. Two halves of the same odd lucky coin without whom Frodo and anyone or anything else good would have ultimately perished. Evil would’ve triumphed without the mercy shown by Bilbo many years before to spare Gollum. Yeah, spoiler, I guess.
We all love a Hail Mary thrown in a football game, successful or not. We love the attempt and the possibility of a positive outcome. We almost feel like we owe it to ourselves to try. The fact that we somehow simultaneously hope and trust that we have a chance to do the impossible defies the odds.
Dr. Grace’s last name and a common Catholic prayer might clue you in to some deeper insights into the relationship between the ship and its scientific officer and our fate. Andy Weir is a good writer. The Martian was a great book and the movie adaptation was great. In my opinion
Project Hail Mary surpassed them on all fronts.
So… as winter weather wears on, my recommendations are to get to the Piragis Bookstore in town and pick up two books if you haven’t already read Andy Weir. Get to Ely’s Historic State Movie Theater in town and relax for a couple of hours and lose yourself in some great stories (with snacks they’ve got Nachos, too).
Maybe even dig up some old comics and fall into some great memories of art done well and succinct dialog in bubbles that remind you of the greatness of story in your life when you were still a kid. Meet me at Ely’s Historic Theater in July for a Brand-New Day. We all deserve a restart.
Happy Easter to all my friends and readers. He is Risen. It’s a brand-new Spring. Enjoy the new snow.
