At the Beginning of “Veronika Decides to Die,” Why Does Veronika Have an Aversion to her Parents?
Veronika's parents were responsible for discouraging her from following a life path that would have been rewarding and exciting. Instead, Veronika ends up successful but devoid of any passion…
After “Alien,” Was Ripley the Defining Game Changer for Women’s Portrayals in Scifi and Horror?
Sci-Fi and horror prior to 1979 were largely campy B-movies with predictable plots and male-driven hero characters. Casting Ripley as a woman not only broke that mold, but expanded the potential…
What is the Significance of “Love and Death” in Woody Allen’s Filmography?
Love and Death is significant because it is the first Woody Allen movie to discuss philosophical terms and ideas. It is a transitional movie that hinted towards his more complex films of the late…
What’s the Story Behind the Guy Who Played the “Alien” Xenomorph?
Bolaji Badejo, the actor behind Alien's xenomorph costume, only has the one film to credit to his acting career. Though many versions of his life and fate exist on the internet, the reality is…
Seen in “Monk With a Camera,” Who is Khyongla Rato Rinpoche and How Did He Guide Vreeland’s Journey?
Khyongla Rato is a reincarnate lama and scholar of the Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in 1923 in the southeastern Tibet in the region called Kham. In 1928, senior Gelugpa monks…
Is “Monk With a Camera” a Close Look at Vreeland’s Buddhist Evolution, or a Superficial Show & Tell?
The film analyzes the challenge between living in a devout, religious world while harboring a love for a material art form. While the movie doesn't deeply analyze Buddhism or Vreeland's…
What is the Point of “Monk With a Camera” Telling Vreeland’s Story?
The film is an attempt to examine the paradox between fame and humility. Most people have never seen a monk like Vreeland or heard a story like his, making him an interesting character to see.
In “Monk With a Camera,” How Does Vreeland Justify Continuing with Photography During his Monkhood?
Vreeland's photography is viewed as a utility that benefits society and the Buddhist religion. It also reflects Tibetan Buddhism's openness to modern living and the realities of…
What Are the Differences Between “Blade Runner” and “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep”?
Like many great films, "Blade Runner" is actually based on a novel. Titled "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?", the book was written by Philip K. Dick and is quite different…
What’s Up With All the Eyeballs in “Blade Runner”?
Ridley Scott's sci-fi masterpiece is totally obsessed with eyeballs but why? Well, "Blade Runner" is using the human (and replicant) eye to comment on the soul and the nature of…
Is Deckard a Replicant?
Fans and filmmakers love to debate whether Deckard is a man or a machine. Unfortunately for the "He's Human" crowd, most of the evidence seems to indicate that Rick is actually a…
As Told in “Monk With a Camera,” How Did Irving Penn’s Photography Contribute to Vreeland’s Style?
Nicholas Vreeland worked as an apprentice under Irving Penn in the earliest days of his photographic career, well before his journey into monkhood began. The time spent with Penn imparted some…