Is the Rock the Salvation of Cinema?

During the holidays, while organizing files in our home office, my wife and I played a few movies to pass the time and distract us from the tedious nature of our work.  Knowing that my wife enjoyed Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson (former entertainment wrestler), I decided to play the remake he did several years ago of "Walking Tall," that is based on a true story (with many cinematic liberties taken, I am certain, to more fully entertain the movie-going masses!)

While the movie itself is predictable and commonplace, I found myself enjoying Johnson's contribution to the film.  Relatively new to acting (his first major role, I believe, was the "Mummy" offshoot "Scorpian King," I found myself enjoying the movie much more when he was on the screen.  Yet to come close to the accomplishments of veterans such as Denzel Washington, Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro, he nevertheless is appealing in many ways.  I am not sure if it is ability to seem "normal" or,  at least, appropachable (which the other actors above have long since lost the ability to do), I credit him with allowing me to watch the entire film and not totally regret it.  Memories of the original "Walking Tall" are not so fond, as all I can remember is overacting and grimmaces and heads getting bashed over and over.

Do we need more Dwayne Johnsons in today's movies?  Is his role simply to sell mediocre movies that would make no money?  Or is it his obvious appeal and approachable personality that make me (and others) endure, or dare I say, enjoy his screen work?  

Christmas in Florida

My family who still lives in New England thinks that Floridians don't decorate for the holidays because it doesn't snow.  Actually, we decorate more because its not a pain to decorate in our moderate climate; plus, the decorations and ice don't obscure the lights!

As time passes by, I find my thoughts turning to the media more and more. Somewhat suspicious of popular culture, I nevertheless enjoy elements of it to a large degree. For instance, book and video that deal with the unknown/unknowable, fantasy, complex argument and originality are particularly interesting to me.

I have posted several areas of interest on the side of this blog; are any of these areas of interested to anyone? Am I kidding myself that I have less than "mainstream" taste? Am I skirting the edges of overly saturated interest?

Restarting personal, public writing.

As a (mostly) life-long teacher/trainer/facilitator who began life as a shy and reclusive individual, I here force myself to write publicly once again (after a year or so behind proprietary web sites).  While much of my public writing emphasis is as a teacher, here it is me, to keep me fresh, to force myself to write as I do my students.  Informal, low-stakes writing helps one develop the mind, improving critical thinking, loosens one up a bit and helps release some frustration.  That is my hope, at least.

Currently an adjunct writing professor in Florida, finishing one degree and looking forward to the next one (I guess), my life has indeed been one of confusing, discovery, education (self/educating others) and a bit of exhaustion as well.  During breaks (a few weeks off from teaching, thanks to the winter holidays), I find myself questioning my professional direction and purpose.  After thirteen years in the corporate training world, it was time for a change.  I knew it was coming, but it still took me by surprise when I was ejected due to budgetary concerns.  I experienced shock, followed by restlessness followed by relief followed by a lack of direction, and ultimately decided to get another advanced degree that allowed me to return to my undergraduate focus of English.  Another five years have passed, the graduate degree will be final in the spring, and I will again look for a more secure, full-time position.  I have been here before and will most likely return to this spot once again, but it continues to be unsettling and confusing for me.

I tire of venting.  My purpose here is not to simply rehash the past, but to look forward to a future that will be a combination of what I have already accomplished, along with a few new experiences that I hope will to surprise myself and others.  I hope to purposefully take advantage of this brief mental reprieve, use it to recharge a bit and come out in the new year refreshed with a renewed optimism and enthusiasm for what I do.  I do not wish to change my life drastically (I enjoy what I do, but the lack of a secure financial future scares me a bit) until...until what?  I don't see the next step clearly yet, and that too is unsettling.