Cinema Space

I want to start with something that Jack Conrad says in Babylon about what cinema is; something that, for me, embodies its true essence: something beautiful and magical… something full of meaning.

It’s not a low art, you know. I want you to know that. What I do means something to millions of people. My folks didn’t have the money or the education to go to the theater, so they went to the vaudeville houses, and then the nickelodeons. And you know what? There’s beauty there. What happens up on that screen means something. Maybe not to you in your ivory tower. But for real people on the ground, it means something.

— Jack Conrad¹

Sometimes, cinema was that refuge to escape reality for a few hours. It was a moment to gather in the darkness and appreciate something together, so that, over time, we valued the company of that person more than any film. Whether it was good or bad, there was always a smile and a conversation on the way home. Cinema is a place full of meanings where, no matter who we are or where we come from, we can be the same person sitting in front of the screen, letting ourselves be fascinated and hoping to be surprised.

As Jack in the cinema I have found beauty in things and the memories I have of cinema, always evoke my family and special moments; because the cinema is the magical place I have always gone to with the people I love.

Favorite Cinematic Masterpiece #

Main Pick: Memories of Murder (2003) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022). This movie touched my heart in an indescribable way, it made me love and fight even more for my only life.
• Planet of the Apes (2011 - 2017): Rise, Dawn, and War
• The Last Duel (2021): I am fascinated by the way the three stories are told and how they intertwine in the end.
• Joker (2019): only the first one, Folie à Deux is trashy.

Favorite Adventure Epic Film #

Main Pick: War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) #

Red Donkey: You know… Colonel shoot apes when wall’s done.

Caesar: His wall is… madness. It will not save him, anymore than it will save you.

Red Donkey: I save myself.

Caesar: Is there anything left of you to save?

— War for the Planet of the Apes.²

Honorable Mentions: #

• Life of Pi (2012): Did Richard Parker exist?
• Planet of the Apes (2011 - 2014): Rise, and Dawn
• The Last Samurai (2003)

Favorite Sci-Fi Epic Film #

Main Pick: Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) #

CEO Waymond: You think I’m weak don’t you?

CEO Waymond: All of those years ago when we first fell in love, your father would say I was too sweet for my own good. Maybe he was right.

CEO Waymond: You tell me it’s a cruel world and we’re all running around in circles. I know that. I’ve been on this earth just as many days as you.

CEO Waymond: When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It’s how I’ve learned to survive through everything.

CEO Waymond: I know you see yourself as a fighter. Well, I see myself as one too. This is how I fight.

— Everything Everywhere All at Once.³

Honorable Mentions: #

• Dune: Part Two (2024): the part one is sleepy 💤
• Avatar (2009): It’s my mom’s favorite movie and the first movie we saw together in 3D.

Favorite Superhero Film #

Main Pick: The Lego Batman Movie (2017) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Guardians of the Galaxy (2017 - 2023): Vol. 2, and 3 (best). Long life for Rocket!

He may have been your father boy, but he wasn’t your daddy. I’m sorry I didn’t do none of it right. I’m damn lucky you’re my boy.

— Yondu’s last words to Peter Quill⁴

• Spider-Man (2018 - 2023): Into the Spider-Verse, and Across the Spider-Verse. Spider-Man 2099, Peter B. Parker, and Spider-Punk, great characters!
• Batman Nolan’s Trilogy (2005 - 2012): Begings, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises (best)
• Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Favorite Psychological Film #

Main Pick: The Devil All the Time (2020) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Nightcrawler (2014)
• Split (2016)

You are different from the rest. Your heart is pure! Rejoice! The broken are the more evolved. Rejoice.

— The Beast⁵

• Parasite (2019)
• The Prestige (2006)
• Shutter Island (2010)
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Favorite Drama Film #

Main Pick: Green Book (2018) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Silver Linings Playbook (2012). EXCELSIOR!

Pat Sr.: Let me tell you, I know you don’t want to listen to your father, I didn’t listen to mine, and I am telling you you gotta pay attention this time. When life reaches out at a moment like this it’s a sin if you don’t reach back, I’m telling you its a sin if you don’t reach back! It’ll haunt you the rest of your days like a curse. You’re facing a big challenge in your life right now at this very moment, right here. That girl loves you she really really loves you. I don’t know if Nicki ever did, but she sure as shit doesn’t right now. So don’t fuck this up.

— Silver Linings Playbook⁶

• Seven Pounds (2008)
• The White Tiger (2019).

Balram: Rich men are born with opportunities they can waste.

— The White Tiger⁷

• We Bought a Zoo (2011). 20 seconds of insane courage!
• Babylon (2012)
• Collateral Beauty (2016)
• The Iron Claw (2023)
• Aftersun (2012)
• Palmer (2021)

Favorite Action Film #

Main Pick: “Top Gun: Maverick (2022)” #

Honorable Mentions: #

• John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019). I loved the meaning of “the ticket” in the Ruska Roma… I am Jardani Jovonovich!

The Elder: Why do you want to live?

John Wick: To remember Helen. To remember us.

— John Wick: Parabellum⁸

• Léon: The Professional (1994)
• Civil War (2024)

Favorite Anime #

Main Pick: Spy x Family (2022) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022). 🌕 I’m gonna take you there myself, fly you to the moon. That’s a promise!
• Jujutsu Kaisen (2020).

An endless cycle of exorcism and consumption. Exorcise. Consume. It’s a taste that nobody knows. The taste of a curse. Like ingesting a rag used to wipe up vomit. Exorcise. Consume. For whom? Ever since that day… …it’s been running through my head. What I saw was nothing out of the ordinary. A hideous evil, known to everyone. Knowing that full well… …I chose to protect them as a jujutsu sorcerer. Don’t lose your way. Follow through with your duty as a jujutsu sorcerer.”

— Suguru Geto

• One Punch Man (2015).

Favorite Animated Film #

Main Pick: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)” #

Honorable Mentions: #

• The Little Prince (2015). 🦊 Voici mon secret. Il est très simple : on ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.⁹

• Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002). Never gonna give in, never gonna give it up no! You can’t take me I’m free!
• The Wild Robot (2024). Being a mother is a beautiful feat… 🤖❤️
• Kung Fu Panda (2008 - 2016): 1 (best), 2, and 3

Oogway: My friend, the panda will never fulfill his destiny, nor you yours, until you let go of the illusion of control.

Shifu: Illusion?

Oogway: Yes. [points at peach tree]

Oogway: Look at this tree, Shifu. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time.

Shifu: But there are things we can control. [kicks the tree so that peaches fall]

Shifu: I can control when the fruit will fall! [he slices a peach and throws the pit to the ground]

Shifu: I can control where to plant the seed! That is no illusion, Master!

Oogway: Ah, yes. But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.

— Kung Fu Panda (2008)¹⁰

• Up (2009). 🏠🎈 Will we ever have our little house in the air?
• Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Lewis: Look, I’m sorry your life turned out so bad. But don’t blame me you messed it up yourself. You just focused on the bad stuff when all you had to do was… let go of the past and keep moving forward…

Bowler Hat Guy: Hmm, let’s see… take responsiblity for my own life or blame you? Dingdingdingdingding! Blame you wins hands down!

— Meet the Robinsons (2007)¹¹

• Treasure Planet (2002).

John Silver: Now you listen to me, James Hawkins. You got the makings of greatness in you, but you got to take the helm and chart your own course. Stick to it, no matter the squalls! And when the time comes you get the chance to really test the cut of your sails, and show what you’re made of… well, I hope I’m there, catching some of the light coming off you that day.

— Treasure Planet (2002)¹²

Favorite Musical Film #

Main Pick: “La La Land (2016)” #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Sing (2016-2021): 1, and 2 (best)

Buster Moon: When you’ve reached rock bottom, there’s only one way to go, and that’s up!

— Sing (2016)¹³

Favorite Serie #

Main Pick: Arcane (2021 - 2024) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Baby Reindeer (2024). The monologue in chapter six is too honest: Donny Dunn Breaks Down On Stage
• The Last of Us (2023). Episode 3: Wow! My favorite game is the second one, so I’m really looking forward to the second season.
• Love, Death & Robots (2019). My Favorite Episodes:
  • S1.E7 ∙ Beyond the Aquila Rift
  • S1.E14 ∙ Zima Blue (best)
  • S1.E18 ∙ The Secret War
  • S2.E3 ∙ Pop Squad
  • S2.E4 ∙ Snow in the Desert
  • S3.E2 ∙ Bad Travelling (second favorite after Zima Blue)
• True Detective (2014). First season.
• The Mandalorian (2019). This is the way!

Favorite Workplace Drama Film #

Main Pick: The Founder (2016) #

Honorable Mentions: #

• Up in the Air (2009)
• The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)