July 26 2022
Jordan Peele swings for the fences with his third directorial feature in hopes of emulating that classic Spielbergian sense of mystery, discovery, and spectacle. This is by far Peele’s most ambitious project to date and when it comes to crafting atmospheric and suspenseful extraterrestrial encounters, he most definitely succeeds. The way that Peele handles the human anxiety of dealing with UFOs and aliens is utterly brilliant and makes for some truly riveting sequences. Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer have excellent brother and sister
chemistry, with Kaluuya playing the more subdued sibling while Palmer exudes an animated sort of energy. I can also very much appreciate how Peele handles the subject of film crew members such as animal wranglers not getting the proper attention or praise that they deserve. As a young filmmaker who has worked on several movie sets, I relate to that a whole lot. Despite the many things I loved about the film, unfortunately there is quite a bit that makes it somewhat less than the sum of its parts, mainly due to a pretty unevenly paced first half. For the first hour, it didn’t feel like the movie progressed a whole lot when it came to learning information that we didn’t know before. There is also a very effective sequence with a monkey at the beginning of the film that sort of has a pay off half way through, but it’s never exactly touched on enough to feel super integral to the overall story. There are also some attempts at social commentary sprinkled in there and it honestly didn’t work nearly as well as in Peele’s other two films. The comedy in the film is hit or miss, with certain moments being legit hilarious and others falling flat. People these days like to think, you either love it or hate it. The reality is there’s a grey area in the middle where some things work and other things don’t. That was the case with this film for me. What makes the movie worth a watch despite its flaws is its exciting second half, the great performances from Kaluuya and Palmer, and Peele’s commitment to technically beautifully shot and expertly crafted original science fiction spectacle. Didn’t love it, but I absolutely appreciated it especially as someone who longs for original science fiction summer entertainment.
It is only in comparatively recent years that attention has been given to bee-keeping on a scientific basis. Aforetime there were certain traditional methods to be followed to secure the honey harvest, but those who practised them knew neither the why nor wherefore. Today, however, thanks to the observations of our great scientists on the life and habits of the bee, to their patience and diligence in noting the insect’s manner of working, we are in possession of knowledge which has enabled the practical bee-keeper to reduce the old haphazard ways to method, orderliness, and definite purpose.
The budding bee-keeper, as he reads one or other of these great works on the bee and its ways, may begin to wonder if it is not all too wonderful for him to deal with, and if he may ever hope to become proficient in the art and practice of bee-keeping. Let me say, here and now, that, given patience, perseverance, and diligence, a measure of success is open to anyone who brings intelligence into his work.
Although the doubts and difficulties that assail the tyro, and the questions arising therefrom, might raise a smile from the expert—if only as a reminder of his own early aspirations and efforts—yet there is no reason for despair; though disappointments are certain to arise, they should be accepted merely as spurs to further effort, as steps towards the ultimate goal of success.
Some may think—rashly—that there is nothing new to be said or learned about the bee, but the fact is that even scientists are still ignorant as to the definite uses of certain of the insect’s organs, and of the origin and remedies of some of the diseases from which it suffers. Putting aside, therefore, the merely commercial aspect of bee-keeping, there is still a wide field of interest and research open for exploration by the intelligent bee-keeper.
GRADE: B-
Comments