Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain (2013)
This is a concert film of Kevin Hart’s 2013 sold out Madison Square Garden show. I enjoyed the television show Undeclared, and Hart’s 2013 Saturday Night Live appearance was decent, but this was my first exposure to his stand up act.
Sadly, most of his “jokes revolve around the difficulties of being famous or how great his life is. I don’t mind profanity, but Mr. Hart apparently thinks the word fuck is a punch line.
At times, his observations are amusing, but he often takes what could have been an insightful moment of humor and adds a few expletives to make it funny.
I can only assume the laughing crowd was from another show, or he had released some laughing gas on his unsuspecting audience.
Some might enjoy his particular brand of shock humor, but I’ll take a pass.
The Blue Bird (1918)
When wealthy children Tyltyl and Mytyl are rude to their poor neighbors, the fairy Berylune sends them on a magical quest searching for the bluebird of happiness. Various mystical creatures join them, including a talking dog and the souls of fire, water, and light.
The group travels to the Kingdom of the Future where Tyltyl and Mytyl meet their yet-to-be-born brother and learn to appreciate the blessings of their life, particularly their mother’s love.
A remnant of a bygone era of earnest sincerity, this gorgeous, sweet, film could not be made in today’s hyper-cynical environment, but it’s a great movie which reminds us of the power of fairytales, and more than deserves its placement on the National Film Registry.