50 years from now, a pilot (Ian Rowe) is sent 60 light years across the galaxy through a new device capable of crossing the extra spatial dimensions. His mission is to orbit and reconnoiter the planet then return home. The planet is known to be populated by intelligent life. Once at his destination the pilot has to perform an emergency landing and becomes marooned on the alien planet, and soon discovers the planets only inhabitants are predatory machines.
Ultimately the problem with The Bubble is that it plays everything for laughs to get around the audience’s defenses. But it comes off like a privileged white male thinking that ridiculing everyone else equally is the road to equality. And it’s not. And it's definitely not funny to pretend that it is.
The second episode of the highly anticipated Afrofuturism series delivers with a high-speed race teaching us to go far beyond just accepting ourselves.
The 'Hawkeye' season finale features all kinds of cool characters and resolves its loose plot threads efficiently, yet it's lacking when it comes to the vital development of its characters.
The social issues The Half of it takes on are handled well, between the antagonization brought on to Ellie for her race and the conflict that arises from her being gay. Both aspects of her character are built up over the course of the film and don’t seem abrupt or rushed. The film shows racism towards Ellie and her and father in varying levels, from having her schoolmates specifically address her as "Chinese girl” to the fore mentioned way her Dad is treated due to language barriers. The same can be said about Ellie being a lesbian. While she never truly “comes out” in the narrative, that does not undermine her journey of self-discovery from being meaningful. These ideas aren’t thrust upon the viewer in a preachy manor, the scenarios that occur feel believable given the rural setting. The film presents watchers with problems whom those like Ellie may face, and leaves us to sit with them and reflect.
It’s fun, it’s energetic, but it’s also understated and vicarial. Zola is a modern black fairytale and future of black movies.
