Movie Review: The Hobbit Trilogy

Just yesterday I watched the final chapter in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, The Battle of the Five Armies, and decided to make a review on all three films. It has become an annual tradition to watch Lord of the Rings around Christmas time and these movies have become classics to me. I remember waiting in line in high school to watch the premiers. I hardly watch movies in theaters as much, however had to make an exception for this recent release. It was well worth the money and a fitting conclusion to the prequel series.

Just like most I was somewhat disappointed when I heard the news that JR Tolkein's book of the Hobbit was going to be adapted into three movies. This seemed like quite a profitable scheme to stretch this short book into three films. However as an avid fan of the Middle Earth fantasy, I was still excitied at the idea of extra footage. 

To add to this excitement was that the same cast and director from Lord of the Rings trilogy was returning for this one. (Peter Jackson, Iam McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, and Ian Holm) Each character did an excellent job reprising their roles, and director Peter Jackson did a fine job as well in restoring the same Middle Earth from his previous project ten years ago. 

With that said, I can plainly say that these recent films are nowhere near as exciting as the Lord of the Rings series. This is not so much a reflection on Peter Jackson's direction however just the story as a whole. It's a story that is obviously stretched beyond boredom, and would have done nicely as one very long film. One thing to consider is that the original book of The Hobbit is only half the size of the Fellowship of the Ring. It was a children's book, soft in it's nature, and served as a prequel to the much deeper series to follow. These films are also very different from the book, and I feel Peter Jackson may have taken a bit too much liberty with Tolkein's original story. 

An Unexpected Party (2012)

The opening of this trilogy is quite clever as it takes us back to the Shire, the exact scene before Frodo suprises Gandalf for Bilbo's 111th birthday. The older Bilbo (reprised by Ian Holm) is deep into his writing, looking over his old maps and telling Frodo (reprised by Elijah Wood) of his old memories. His memories then fade to 60 years before, where a much younger Bilbo (played by Martin Freeman) is smoking his pipe and happy with his quiet life. That is all until Gandalf (reprised by Ian McKellen) visits him and brings a band of dwarves to his door.

The portrayal of the 13 dwarves is done quite well, as they are a merry bunch, strong and of good cheer. They sing, they eat, they joke, they smoke, and are all incredibly stout warriors. They are lead by their stubborn leader, Thorin Oakensheild (played by Richard Armitage) on a quest to reclaim their home at the Lonely Mountain. They request that Bilbo become join their company as their burglar. After some deliberation Bilbo agrees and joins Gandalf and the 13 dwarves on a journey across Middle Earth to reclaim the mountain from the terrible dragon Smaug.

Along the way Bilbo becomes quite valuable to the company of dwarves as he saves them from three giant trolls and finds a magical ring in a cave. He is able to steal the ring from Gollum (reprised by Andy Serkis) in a game of riddles, and uses it to help him throughout the adventure. All the meanwhile the leaders of middle earth such as Gandalf, Radagast, Saruman, Elrond, and Galadriel become concerned by the return of Sauron through a Necromancer. The film ends in a final confrontation with the dwarves and the warg-riders lead by their cheif orc, Azog the Defiler. Of the three films, this one was my least favorite, and besides the opening scenes I felt it dragged on and was quite boring in adventure.

The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

A year later came the 2nd chapter in Peter Jackson's three part Hobbit series, and this one I enjoyed much more than the previous one. The dwarves continue their journey to the lonely mountain and first come across a skin changing bear, known as Beorn. At this point Gandalf leaves the company to seek this Necromancer with Radagast the Brown. Meanwhile the dwarves get lost in the forests of Mirkwood, where they are captured by giant spiders, saved by Bilbo, then captured again by the woodelves. Here we see the heroic Legolas return to the story (reprised by Orlando Bloom). He leads a band of warriors, including the beautiful Tauriel (played by Evangeline Lilly from Lost). 

The dwarves are held captive in the kingdom of Thranduil (played by Lee Pace) who refuses to let them go. During this time one of the dwarves, Kili falls for the she-elf Tauriel, which I thought was a nice twist to the story. The dwarves are once again saved by Bilbo and his magical invisible ring and escape through wine barrels on a river. They are then chased by orcs and wood-elves in a somewhat ridiclous battle. This was perhaps the dumbest part of the movie, as Legolas jumped from head to head killing orcs. Legolas and Tauriel save the escaping dwarves from the orcs, and choose not to pursue them much longer. However at that point it seems clear that both Tauriel and Legolas are banished from their kingdom.

The final part of the film is the best in my opinion, where we are taken to Lake-town and inside the Lonely Mountain. The dwarves meet a fisherman, named Bard (played by Luke Evans) who smuggles them into the town and helps them find weapons to make their stand for Erebor. However a confrontation emerges within the lake-town by it's corrupt leaders who do not share in Bard's regard for the people. Nonetheless they allow the dwarves to set off on their campaign by striking a bargain that they return a portion of the treasure to Lake-Town. 

The dwarves finally make it inside the mountain, where Bilbo is asked to find and steal the Arkenstone from the dragon Smaug. Bilbo once again uses his magical ring, and luckily he quickly finds the Arkenstone, however he is also discovered by Smaug the Magnificent (a true wonder in CGI graphics). Bilbo is able to escape the dragon's fury, and is aided by the dwarves who engage Smaug in a battle through their mineshaft. At the end of the film it appears the dragon is outwitted and defeated by the dwarves, however it is the contrary, and the film closes with the furious Smaug taking flight to Lake-town. 

The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)

The final film of the series was perhaps the most exciting, almost non-stop action. It began right where it left us, with the dragon Smaug beginning to attack Lake-Town. The havoc he brings upon the town is devastating causing many of the townspeople to flee. That is until Bard, with the help of his son, is able to use his black arrow to pierce the dragon's heart. The town is in ruins and word quickly spreads throughout Middle Earth, that the dragon has been slayed and the treasure of Erebor is up for grabs.   

Meanwhile Gandalf is held captive in Dol Guldur, where the spirits of the 9 kings are summoned to finish him off. That is until Galadriel arrives with the help of Elrond and Saruman to fend off this evil. An exciting battle of sorcery takes place where the good are able to cast away the dark spirits. At this point we are given a precursor to Saruman's intentions of helping Sauron return. There is also a hint of love shared between Gandalf and Galadriel, however it is very brief. Gandalf then returns to the lonely mountain, where he knows a great battle awaits. 

The dwarves on the mountain, especially their leader, Thorin, have grown sick and greedy by the treasure. Bilbo refuses to hand over the Arkenstone, for he believes Thorin is no longer himself. To make matters worse an alliance is formed between the men of Lake-town and the woodelves of Thranduil to reclaim some of their treasure from the mountain. It appears war is at the gate of the mountain however Bilbo comes up with a cunning plan to use the Arkenstone as leverage. However this plan makes no difference once Thorin's cousin, Dain arrives with a great army to defend his cousin's claim. It once again appears a battle is about to occur between the elves and the dwarves, that is until Azog the Defiler arrives with a massive army of orcs.

At that point comes an awe-aspiring moment, the true essence of Peter Jackson's artistic filming. The dwarves and elves unit against the orc army, in a beautiful and tactical stand (quite reminiscent of the battles of Helms Deep and Pelanor Fields). Thus begins the war at the foot of the mountain, whilst Thorin and his company look onward unwilling to leave their gate. Legolas and Tauriel join in on the confrontation and also discover a 2nd army approaching to flank the dwarves and elves. At this point Thorin finally comes to his sense and leads his band in a heroic charge. 

There are two great face-offs that occur simultaneously at the climax of the battle. Thorin takes his best wariors, Kili, Fili, and Dwalin to kill Azog. Meanwhile Legolas faces off and kills Bolg in a long dramatic battle. To my surprise Kili, Fili, and Thorin are all killed in the end by Azog. Thorin however is ale to defeat Azog with his final thrust, and says a fitting farewell to Bilbo before he dies. What was especially disappointing is the heartbreak that came from Tauriel after she saw Kili was dead. 

This finale was all an abrupt and unexpected shock to me, that did not exactly make for a happy ending. Nonetheless Bilbo's adventure had come to an end, and he was accompanied by Gandalf back to the shire. He was happy to be home once again, however a changed person, just as Gandalf had predicted. However it wasn't so much the adventure that changed him yet his discovery of the ring, which of course would pave the way for the great peril to come. 

Cultural Look: La Belle Epoque

Continuing with inspiration from Midnight in Paris, I wanted to highlight one more Golden Age that is mentioned in the movie; La Belle Epoque. This time period can be ranged from the early 1870s to the onset of WWI as a period of artistic inspiration. It's golden decade occurred during the 1890s and was centered in Paris, France. During this time many masterpieces of art, literature, and theater were created. It was also a time of new cultural expression.

Historically for the French people, it was an era of peace. Following their defeat at the Franco-Prussian War, the French Third Republic was established in 1870 to rebuild their infrastructure. With the aid of new industrial technologies and sciences it became a time of optimism for the French people. Paris once again began to thrive as the capital, and soon cultural expression began to unfold within the city. Notable post-impressionist artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gaugin, and Edgar Degas made their home in Paris. It also was a center for musical theater and operettas bringing forth notable names such as Johann Strauss III, Igor Stravinsky, Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, and Maurice Ravel.

At the World Fair of 1889, Paris displayed it's new culture of art to the world.  The highlight of this fair was the new architectural wonder, the Eiffel Tower. It was a monument unlike anything before it;s time and served as a beacon of modern art.

Also during this time the nightlife of Paris took to a new level, with the emergence of the Moulin Rouge cabaret in 1889. This nightclub was unlike anything prior to it, specializing in the art of burlesque, a promiscuous play of music, dance, comedy, and drama. And in 1893, the Maxim restaurant of Paris opened as a very unique and popular spot for artistic entertainment. This site was renown for its Art Nouveau and brought out many famous artists such as Marcel Proust, and Georges Feydeau.


The Portrayed Artists of the Bella Epoque

Henri de Toulouse: (1864-1901) French painter and illustrator considered one of the most well known painters of the post-impressionist period. He was also considered a key figure in France's golden age of the 1890s known as the Bella Epoque. Growing up as a child he had a growth disability and was unable to partake in the physical activities of his peers, thus he turned to art. His work became a defining feature of France's Post-Impressionist movement, and he was closely associated with the legendary Vincent Van Gogh. He died at the very young age of 36 due to a life of alcoholism.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Vincent Menjou Cortes as a quiet man sitting at the Moulin Rouge working on his illustrations. He is joined by Gil and Adriana in the film, and later by Edgar Degas and Paul Gauguin. He seems perplexed and curious with the entire social setting.

Edgar Degas: (1834-1917) French painter often considered a father of impressionism in the likes of Claude Monet and Renoir. By the time of the Bella Epoque he was already a well known painter, however was still influential to the post-modernist movement. He considered himself a realist painter and specialized in portraits and the art of dance. Although he despised many of his contemporaries and lived a solitary life he still collaborated with other famous impressionist peers such as Manet, Pissaro, Cezanne, Gaguain, and Van Gogh.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Francois Rostain as an older man accompanying Gauguin. He joins Henri, Gil, and Adriana to discuss the golden ages of art.

Paul Gauguin: (1848-1903) French painter who was very influential to post-modernist art during the Bella Epoque. He went thru various styles and phases from impressionism to cloisinism to synthenism to primitivism. He was closely associated with Vincent Van Gogh, and spent 9 weeks painting with him in Arles, France. His Night Cafe at Arles was a well worthy competition to Van Gogh's similar piece. Some of his early post-impressionist paintings in Paris were his best work in my opinion. He suffered bouts of depression and alcoholism and died at the young age of 54.


Portrayal: He is portrayed by Olivier Rabourdin and joins Henri, Gil, and Adriana at the Moulin Rouge. While Adriana states that this is a golden age they are living in, Gauguin states it would be much more exciting to have lived during the Italian Renaissance.

Other artists mentioned in the film:

Auguste Rodin: (1840-1917) French sculptor considered one of the greatest sculptors of the modern era with many notable works. His statue of The Thinker is regarded as one of the best known sculptures of all time. He was inspired during the 1870s while visiting Italy and seeing the famous work of Michelangelo and Donatello. He moved to Paris in 1877 where he used this inspiration to create his own independent style of realism.

By 1880 he was a well regarded name in Paris, and contributed to the Belle Epoque through art salons and commissions. His magnum opus came as a commission for a museum to create a portal. He used inspiration from Dante's Divine Comedy to create his Gates of Hell, an elaborate group of sculptors which featured two of his most famous ones, The Thinker and the Kiss. Rodin spent four decades working on this project. By 1890 he was a world renown figure, and many of his sculptures were displayed at the 1900 Paris World Fair.

Henri Rousseau: (1844-1910) French painter considered a leading figure of post-impressionist naive and primitive art. His work is truly original as it incorporates masterful impressionist techniques with simplistic designs of color and nature. He specialized in jungle and tropical settings of which he was inspired from books and the botanical gardens of Paris. The Sleeping Gypsy is Rousseau's most famous piece, considered one of the most recognizable paintings of the modern era. He spent most of his artistic career living in Paris. The first half of his life, he worked as a tax collector and did art on his free time. After the death of his wife in 1890, he retired from his job to focus primarily on art.

He moved to the art district of Paris, known as the Montparnasse in 1893 that was already booming with artistic inspiration from the Belle Epoque. It was here that Rousseau painted his masterpiece of the Sleeping Gypsy in 1897. He collaborated with many famous artists of the time and went on to inspire many as well including Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. He was a self taught genius whose art was not truly recognized until after his death in 1910.

Vincent Van Gogh: (1853-1890) Although he is not mentioned in the film, his famous painting of the Starry Night serves as the poster theme. The famed Dutch artist is considered a master of post-impressionism painting and perhaps one of the greatest painters of all time. He began to emerge as an artist of still life paintings in Netherlands from 1882-1886. Following this he moved to Paris in 1886, at a studio of Montmarte where he took his art to a whole new level. He began to collaborate and meet many emerging artists of the time such as Henri de Toulouse, Georges Seurat, and Paul Signac. He also became close friends with painter Paul Gauguin, and after Paris, he moved to Alres where he completed some of his masterpieces.

Van Gogh had a specialty for painting sunflowers, portraits, cypresses, flower orchards, and wheat fields. However he constantly suffered from depression and his madness continued to grow worse by this time. At one particular instance after an argument with Paul Gaugin, he had a psychotic breakdown and cut off his ear. Following this episode he admitted himself into the mental asylum of Saint Remy where he continued to paint masterpieces. It was here that he painted his magnum opus of the Starry Night as he looked out of his window at the St. Paul monastery.

He was an extremely troubled genius, and his madness got the best of him in 1890, when he committed suicide with a gun in a wheat field. He died at the very young age of 37, and his paintings were not truly celebrated until after his death. However his post-modernist art became the staple of the Belle Epoque. He is one of my favorite painters of all time, and his Starry Night, The Cafe Terrace, and the Starry Night over the Rhine are some of my all time favorite paintings.  

Other Artists of the time worth mentioning:

Paul Cezanne: (1839-1906) Famed French painter he was very influential on post-impressionism of the Belle Epoque. His early work dated back to the 1860s, of which he was more of a impressionist painter, and had close associations with other famed painters of the time such as Camille Pisarro. Together they developed a new transition into what has been labeled as the post-modernism movement. It wasn't until the 1880s and 1890s of the Belle Epoque, the Paul painted some of his best work such as The Card Players.

Georges Seurat: (1859-1891) Famed French painter, well regarded for his post-impressionist work. He was born in Paris, and achieved early success at the start of the Bella Epoque. He helped found the Society of Independent Artists, a collaboration of regarded artists such as George Seurat and Signac. He died at the very young age of 31, however achieved many inspirational paintings during his brief time such as the Bathers at Asneires and Sunday Afternoon at the Island of La Grand Jatte.

Camille Pisarro: (1830-1903) Famed Danish artist who was very influential in the transition of modernism to post-modernism. He spent many of his influential years in Paris during the Belle Epoque developing a unique style of pointillism with other renown artists such as Seurat and Signac.

Georges Faydeu: (1862-1921) Famed French playwright considered the father of cabarets and comedic theater. He wrote over 60 plays of absurd and comedic themes, which spanned the golden years of La Belle Epoque.

Erik Satie: (1866-1925) Famed French composer and pianist who was very influential on the avant garde theater of the Belle Epoque. His most famous work of the Gymnopedies paved the way for a new style of minimalism and repetitive music. At the time Operettas and musical theater were transitioning from drama to comedic entertainment.


Maurcel Praust: (1871-1922) Famed French novelist, whose prominent novel, In Search of a Lost Time, is regarded as one of the finest novels of the twentieth century. He spent his teenage and younger years studying in Paris at the height of La Belle Epoque, and begun work on this classic novel in 1909.

Claude Debussy: (1862-1918) Famed French composer considered a very prominent musician of the modern impressionism era. He studied music in Rome where he was inspired by Franz List, and thus settled in Paris at the height of the Belle Epoque, to make his own way. He began working on his most famous piece, La Claire de Lune, in 1890 and completed it in 1905.  

Gabriel Faure: (1845-1924) Famed French composer well known for his romantic works of Pavane and his Requiem. He spent his middle years at the height of the Belle Epoque composing at operattas and teaching music lessons. This eventually lead him to a much cherished post as the head of the Paris Conservatoire in 1905.

Jules Cheret: (1836-1932) Famed French lithographer and painter whose poster art became the media of the popular culture. Many of his posters became prime advertisements for the most popular nightclubs such as the Moulin Rouge and Folies Bergere. His art was popular long before the Belle Epoque, whoever he used the age to gain further fortune. His early work was considered an influence on Henri-de Toulouse.


Emile Zola: (1840-1902) Famed French author well regarded for his innovative naturalist style of writing. He was inspired and influential to the years of the Belle Epoque. He also played an important role in exonerating the wrongfully accused Jewish soldier, Alfred Dreyfuss by supporting him through his journalism. He is best known for his novels, Les Rougoun-Macquart and Theresa Raquin.
Camille Saint-Saens: (1835-1921) Famed French composer well regarded for his Romantic compositions. He reached his most prominent heights towards his later career during the Bella Epoque. He was closely associated with the emerging modern composers of the time such as Gabriel Faure, however he remained true to traditional approach. Some of his finest works were homages to Richard Wagner and Franz Listz. He is best known for his Symphony No 3 and Carnival of Animals which were considered reolvutionary works that finely represented the golden age that was The Bella Epoque.

Maurice Ravel: (1875-1937) Famed French composer highly regarded as a prominent figure of modern impressionist music. He studied with Gabriel Faure and Claude Debussy in Paris, however did not emerge until the later years of la Belle Epoque. His famed Bolero was not released until 1928, however it can be derived from inspiration during this era in Paris.

Settings of the Bella Epoque

The Gilded Age: Following the Civil War, The United States began a reconstruction phase that eventually lead them on a path to economic prowess. By the turn of the century they were entering a new golden boom of commerce as a global market to be reckoned. This economic boom has become known as the "Gilded Age". Famous American author, Mark Twain coined this clever term as a reference to the growing economy that hid the country's social problems.

While America became the front runners of economic growth, they were not the only ones to share in the booming market. England was also thriving during the Victorian Era as was Germany during the Wilheminism Era. This fourising global fervor was also shared by the country of France, economically and artistically and it later became referred to as their "Belle Epoque" French for Beautiful Age.

The Eiffel Tower: It's hard not to think of Paris these days without having the Eiffel Tower as it's main symbol. It was completed at the height of the Belle Epoque as a homage to the French Revolution (100th year anniversary). The project was designed by engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel, of who the monument was named after. Construction started in 1887 and was completed 2 years later as an entrance way to the Universal Exhibition of 1889. It was seen as an architectural wonder unlike anything of it's time, a true beacon of modern art.

The Eiffel Tower was regarded for it's groundbreaking architecture yet also it's astonishing height which at the time became the tallest building in the world; a title it held for over 30 years until the Empire State Building was completed in New York City. To this day it remains one of the most recognizable structures in the world and a classic demonstration of this artistic renaissance.

Art Noveau: The defining artistic style of the Belle Epoque was Art Noveau, which means "New Art". This was a total form of art displayed in architecture, fine arts, decoration and fashion throughout Paris at the end of the 19th century. It was considered a pivotal transition from the older style of romanticism to a newer modernistic style.

The defining features of Art Noveau are it's strong curves sometimes considered "whiplashes". It often displays vivid colors and infuses an element of the Japanese art of woodblock prints known as Ukiyo-e. This modern style was used by many emerging painters and sculptors of the time such as Gustav Klimt, Lautrec and Rodin to name a few. The art also played a major role in artistic advertisements and posters of the era.

Operettas and Salon Music: During this age, the overly dramatic and romantic music of operas, was lightened with simpler melodies. This style of music consisted of brief songs from the piano or violin, sometimes repetitive in form. Operettas served as the new form of opera house, a much more mild performance with hints of drama, yet also less serious environment. Often comedic twists were laced into
the work, derived from the popular theater and cabarets of the time. Many notable composers partook in the musical scene of the Bella Epoque such as Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Camille Saint-Saens, and Maurice Ravel. 

Folies Bergere: This music hall was established in 1869 as an opera house, years before the start of the Belle Epoque and the popularity of the Moulin Rouge. It is English for "Crazy Shelter", as it became known as a hotspot for the wild parties of Paris. By the 1890s it became a cabaret dance hall, in a similiar style as the Moulin Rouge. It featured the same platform of seductive modern dancing women. One of the most prominent stars of this club, happened to be an American named Loie Fuller. Her modern dance attracted the attention of many painters of the time such as Luatrec, Rodin, and the famed poster artist Jules Cheret. ,

Moulin Rouge: Another of the defining features of this Beautiful Epoch was the new style of cabaret dancing featured at the Moulin Rouge. This nightclub opened in 1889 and featured new styles of vaudeville entertainment and dancing. It operated almost like a restaurant or a dance hall, with food and drinks and seductive dancing all around. The professional dancers and entertainers were known as courtesans and revered for their beauty. Notable performers such as Liane de Pougy, La Goulue, and Jane Avril, served as inspiration for the famed painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec.

It was at the Moulin Rouge that the famous can-can dance began, which consisted of a line of women in elaborate costumes and skirts, dancing in high energy and kicking their legs up in unison, in a very suggestive manner. There were also stages and sketches and musical grand shows always playing. The nightclub was often notorious for it's promiscuous scandals, which often included nude women in some of it's extravagant shows. Nonetheless it was always the place to be, often competing with the older Folies Bergere. The original platform of the Moulin Rouge paved the way for modern theater and nightclubs. It captured the spirit of the Belle Epoque, and to this day it remains a major tourist attraction of Paris.

Maxims: This popular bistro was opened in 1893 and quickly became one of the most famous restaurants in Paris. It had a very fashionable dinning room covered in themes of Art Nouveau. It attracted many notable artists of the time such as Marcel Prous, and Georges Faydeu.  It is portrayed in Midnight in Paris as a classy setting almost like a ballroom with soothing music, dancing, and fine dining.

Cultural Look: Paris in the 1920s

The film Midnight in Paris, is full of art history and I thought it'd be fun to highlight some of these artists and places that are portrayed in the movie. It's no question that Paris in the 1920s was an artistic renaissance, and a branch of the Jazz Age. It was a coming together of the worlds most renown artists of the modern era. Historically it was an end to WWI and an economic boom that spanned the globe. The Roaring 20s was an inspiring time for many people, and Paris became the heart of the party.

It is quite interesting to consider that it did not become a major hub for artists until the turn of the century with the unveiling of the Eiffel Tower. In the 1890s the city experienced a golden age known as the Bella Epoque. In the 1920s it once again experience a golden age of avant-garde and post-modernism often referred to as the Lost Generation. Paris thus became a center of artistic inspiration similar to the role Florence played on the Renaissance of the 1500s. To this day the city of Paris has become synonymous with artistic expression.

The portrayed artists of 1920s Paris

Scott Fitzgerald: (1896-1940) American author, considered one of the greatest of the 20th century best known for his masterpiece of Great Gatbsy. He also wrote many other notable novels and short stories such as This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned, Tender is the Night, and the Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He spent some of the prime of his years in Paris, during the 1920s Jazz Age. His relationship with socialite, Zelda, is also a note of interest, as she was the inspiration to many of his writings. He died at the young age of 44, most likely due to his heavy drinking lifestyle.

Portrayal: In the film he is portrayed by Tom Hiddleston as a very friendly gentlemen yet conflicted by his love for Zelda.

Zelda Fitzgerald: (1900-1948) American socialite and novelist best known as the wife of Scott. Her outgoing character and their neurotic relationship was used as material in much of Scott's famed writings. She also used material from their relationship to publish a semi-biographic novel, Save Me the Waltz. Due to her outgoing lifestyle, she was considered the first female flapper, the quintessential feminist of the Roaring 20s. She however struggled with various mental disorders such as bipolar disease and schizorphrenia and died at the young age of 47.

Portrayal: She is portrayed  by Allison Pill as a neurotic and manic depressive socialite. She states that drinking is her true skill.

Cole Porter: (1891-1964) American composer and songwriter best known for his compositions of musical theater and hit songs such as "I've Got You Under my Skin". He was born into a wealthy family from Indiana, and found his musical inspiration in 1920s Paris. Although he was a homosexual he married, a divorced socialite, Linda Lee Thomas to maintain their social status. The remained married until her death in 1954.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Yves Heck as a charismatic piano player that can truly stimulate a room. His crooning music of "Lets Fall in Love" is the opening welcome to Gil's magical trip.

Josephine Baker: (1906-1975) American dancer, singer, and actress often referred to as the "Black Pearl" or the "Creole Goddess". She began her career as a vaudeville dancer at the age 15 during the Harlem Renaissance in New York City. It did not take long for her to shine on Broadway as the first famed African American singer and dancer. She traveled to Paris in the 1920s and became a stunning attraction to many. Her fame in Paris led her numerous lead roles on theater as well as movies, and in 1934 she became the first African American to star in a major motion picture, in a french film called Zouzou.


Portrayal: She is portrayed by Sonia Rolland only for a brief moment as she dances for others at the Bricktop bar. Her dancing takes Gils shock to a new level.

Ernest Hemingway: (1899-1961) American author and journalist considered one of the greatest of American modern literature. He published many famed novels and short stories, such as the Old Man and the Sea. His writing was no doubt derived from his adventurous life which included four marriages, service in WWI, service in the Spanish Civil War, WWII, and a safari in Africa in which he was almost killed twice. He found his literary inspiration whilst living in Paris in the 1920s and formed the basis of the "Lost Generation". In 1954 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature and spent the remaining of his years in Cuba. He committed suicide in 1961 at the age of 61.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Corey Stoll as an adventurous, alcoholic, passionate, and outspoken writer. He is perhaps Gil's greatest council, as the two share numerous conversations about life, love, and writing.

Gertude Stein: (1874-1946) American author, playwright, and art collector. By the 1920s, Gertude has established her art gallery on 27 Rues de Fleurus in Paris France as the salon of Modernist artists from literature to painting. Many notable artists came to her for direction and consultation on their work such as Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, and Henri Matisse. She was an artist herself, a poet and a playwright. She is often credited with the coining of the term "Lost Generation". She was also a feminist and homosexual, and had a long lasting relationship with Alice B Toklas. In Gertude's Autobiograhpy of Alice B Toklas she describes her time in Paris as well as her love and companionship with Alice.

Portrayal: She is portrayed by Kathy Bates, as the well respected and opinionated art collector. She is seen giving advice to Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and many other notable names. She is the pivotal counsel to Gil, in reading his manuscript, she gives him the direction he's been looking for.

Alice B Toklas: (1877-1967) American art collector and co-host to Gertude's Avant-garde salon in Paris. She is famed as the confidant and love-interest of Gertude Stein. They met in Paris in 1907 to start the gallery of art that would soon attract numerous American artists. Although she always played the quiet second to Gertude, she was described as the foundation of the salon and the basis for Gertude's biography. The two remained together until Gertude's death in 1946.

Portrayal: She is very briefly portrayed by Theresa Bourou Rubinsztein, where her and Ernest share a momment. Its not doubt an accurate portrayal as she was always in the shadows of Gertrude's direction.

Pablo Picasso: (1881-1973) Spanish painter often considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He is well known for his artistic styles of modernism, surrealism, and cubism. He was also very political and often used his art, to make abstract statements such as portrayed in his masterpiece of Guernica. He went through many artistic periods, dating back to the late 1800s, and by the Golden age of the 20s he had already risen to fame. He was well known by many artists as a leading figure in the surrealist movement. He still however moved to Paris by 1915 and found heavy influence from Gertude Stein's avant-garde salon. He was proud of his Spanish heritage yet spent most of his time in France to avoid political entanglements.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Marcial di Fonzo Bo as a passionate and stubborn artist. He argues with Gertude over his abstract painting, La Baigneuse, which is a homage to his mistress, Adriana, Although he is only seen in this one sequence he plays an important role as Adriana's lover in a conflicted relationship.

Djuna Barnes: (1892-1982) American author who paved the way for modernist-feminist writing in her novel, Nightwood. It was one of the first novels with lesbian themes. She was noted as a key figure of the Greenwich Village scene of the 1910s and later moved on to Paris in the 1920s where she experienced great inspiration.

Portrayal: She is portrayed by Emmanuelle Uzban only in a very brief scene where she is dancing the Charleston with Gil.

Salvador Dali: (1904-1989) Spanish painter and surrealist well regarded for his artwork and imaginative approach. He spent a good portion of his early influential years in 1920s Paris, where he began his surrealistic approach. He developed close friendships with visual artist Man Ray and filmmaker Luis Bunuel. He incorporated styles of cubism, dada, and surrealism into his paintings. One of most famous works was the Persistence of Memory. Many of his works were visions derived from his dreams. His masterful art was often overshadowed by his flamboyant and eccentric persona.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Adrien Brody as eccentric character with an obsessive point on Rhinos. While Gil tries to discus his perplexing situation to him, he rather averts to a surreal explanation about Rhinoceroses.

Man Ray: (1890-1976) American visual artist known for his early contributions to the Dada and Surrealist art movements. He was a well regarded painter however also paved the way in new art forms through photography and other various forms of media. He moved from New York City to Paris in 1921 where his photography quickly gained the attention of many artistic giants.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Tom Cordier as a close friend to Dali and Bunuel. He is as eccentric as the others, a surrealist who tries to understand and reason the complexity of Gil's situation.

Luis Bunuel: (1900-1983) Spanish filmmaker well regarded for his experimental surrealist movies. Some of his accolades include Los Olvidados (1950), Viridana (1961), The Exterminating Angel (1962), Tristana (1971), The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeois (1972), and That Obscure Object of Desire (1977). Much of his early inspiration came from studying at the University of Madrid with Salvador Dali, and the two both began their career in the art scene of 1920s Paris.

Portrayal: He is portrayed by Adrien de Van as a rather naive and curious film director. He is closely associated with Dali and Man Ray's surrealist circle, however also has a conversation with Gil regarding a future movie, which happens to be the inspiration to his Exterminating Angel film, about a group of people at a dinner party go increasingly mad.


Henri Matisse: (1869-1954) French painter and sculptor considered a leading figure of modern art with the likes of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. He experienced some of his greatest inspiration and work whilst in Paris from 1901-1917 including the Dance, Woman with a Hat, and the Blue Nude. He was a frequent visitor of Gertude Stein's art gallery and often a rival of Pablo Picasso. By the golden age of the 1920s he was already a very well established artist and relocated to the city of Nice, France, however still had an influence on the movement.

Portrayal: He is briefly portrayed by Yves-Antoine Spoto as he debates the price of one of his paintings with Gertude Stein.

TS Elliot: (1888-1965) American poet and playwright, often considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. He studied philosophy at Harvard then moved to England where he began to teach and write. He made frequent trips to Paris where he met and was inspired by other writers at the time such as James Joyce. Some of his most notable works are The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The Waste Land, and Four Quarters. In 1948 he won the Noble Prize for Literature.

Portrayal: He is briefly portrayed by David Lowe, as Gil mounts the old vehicle that serves as a time machine. Gil tells Elliot that "Prufrock is his Mantra" referring to Elliot's masterpiece The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.


Other mentioned notable artists in the film;

Jean Cocteau: He is the famed French writer and filmmaker, best known for his works Les Enfants Terribles and Beauty and the Beast. He is mentioned as the host of the opening party that Gil enters.

Amedeo Modigliani: He is the famed Italian painter mentioned as Adriana's first lover.

Coco Channel: She is the famed French fashion designer mentioned as Adriana's inspiration that brought her to Paris.

Georges Braque: He is the famed French painter and colleague of Pablo Picasso who is mentioned as another of Adriana's lovers.

William Faulkner: He is the famed American author best known for his works, The Sound and the Fury, As I lay Dying, and Light in August. At the close of the film as Gil breaks up with Inez he uses Faulkner's quote to describe how "the past is not dead. It's not even past"

James Joyce: The famed Irish author best known for his novel Ulysses. While the story was set in Dublin and a reference to the Odyessy it was in Paris of the 1920s where Joyce found the inspiration to finish this masterpiece.   




The Setting of Paris 1920

Les Annees Folles (Crazy Years): The Roaring Twenties were a wild time of partying and artistic expression that was felt worldwide. It began it's base in the urban cultural cities such as New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, and Paris. It was a time of innovation, inspiration, and liberal expression. This decade were referred to as the "Annees Folles" by the Parisians, which is French for "the crazy years".

The 1920s were a time of peace and economic boom following the devastation of WWI. It marked a cultural turning point as old traditions were abandoned and new trends took way such as as jazz, art deco, and the female flapper. This new renaissance was also aided by new technologies such as the automobile, motion pictures, and radio. During this time Paris became a center for modern art, fashion, music, literature, and sheer cultural expression.


The Jazz Age: The musical emergence of Jazz began to unfold during the Roaring 20s. It sprouted from the United States, with rising stars such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Quite naturally it spread to other larger cities most notably Paris. Jazz music was used as the primary influence of the new golden age of discovery, where people were expressing themselves through various forms of modern art and dance such as the Charleston. One of the most famous to make the crossover from America to France, was Josephine Baker. She became a center-stage vaudeville dancer, singer, and performer under the lights in Paris.

Stein's Art Salon: Gertude Stein and her partner Alice B. Toklas turned their house into an art salon, on 27 Rue de Fleurus. By the 1920s it became a gathering point for many major names in modern literature and art. Stein collected art, yet also was a writer herself and had to set aside time where she could work on her personal projects. Saturday evenings became the bustling time for artists to visit her salon.  Many of the above mentioned artists would frequent her salon for opinions and collaborations. It was here the "Lost Generation" term was used to describe this group of artists that defined the modern era.

This salon is often considered the first museum of modern art. Other notable artists that worked with Stein include; Sinclair Lewis (American novelist), Ezra Pound (American poet), Thorton Wilder (American playwright), Sherwood Anderson (American novelist), Francis Picabia (French painter), Carl Van Vechten (American photographer), Paul Bowles (American composer), Andre Derain (French painter), Joseph Stella (Italian painter), and many more.

Deyrolle: There is a brief scene in the movie of which the artists are having a party at a museum of stuffed animals. This famous Parisian Taxidermy is a real store that was and still is a hot-spot for trendy clients and tourists alike. It is a museum, gallery, store, and tourist attraction all-in-one place, for people wanting to purchase or admire these exotic stuffed animals.

This particular shop has historic value to it, since it was first opened back in 1831, by an entomologist. It nearly went down in flames in 2008, however was salvaged by the community as this had now become a historic landmark. The Deyrolle Taxidermy store is one of the longest running shops of it's kind.

Movie Masterpiece: Midnight in Paris

I first saw this Woody Allen film last year and was immediately a fan. I knew I just had to add it to my collection. It's a romantic comedy with a subtle twist of fantasy. I've seen it several times now and can say it's about as complete as a movie can get. It is cultural, romantic, historic, artistic, comedic, and sheer out entertaining from the start. It was nominated for many awards.

I especially enjoy the film for it's homage to art, literature, and music. It captivates the imagination through it's beautiful setting of Paris France. The city itself serves as more than a backdrop or establishing shot yet rather the driving force of the film. Whether at day, in the rain, or at night the city is the core of Woody's masterful film.

Woody Allen's Original Screenplay

The film is not an overly dramatic plot yet rather an extremely witty one, as it incorporates Woody's usual dry humor (Annie Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona).He once again provides a truly original screenplay with this work (which rightfully won an Academy Award). It's a character driven plot, a romantic-fantasy, that revolves around an aspiring writer, Gil Pender (Owen Wilson). Gil is on vacation with his fiance, experience a bit of a writer's block yet finding great inspiration from the city of Paris. However Gil get's no support from his practical fiance, Inez (Rachel MacAdams) her parents, nor her friends. Inez parents and friends merely serve as juxtapositions to Gil's dreamlike ideals. It is rather through the Parisians, (Marion Cotilliard and Lea Seydoux) that Gil is able to find his inspiration.

One of the best catches of this film is it's fantasy twist that highlights cultural and artistic references from the 1920s. Woody Allen is able to subtly tie this fantasy into his plot, by sending Gil on magical time traveling trips to the 1920s. When the clock strikes midnight, Gil boards an old vehicle and finds himself sharing drinks and discussion with famous artists of the time. This magical twist is never fully explained, however it's irrelevant since it's all seen from Gil's aspiring eyes. To add to this imaginative twist, is many notable guest star performances, great costume designs, as well as a very catchy jazz soundtrack. The film is bursting with romantic, artistic, and cultural innuendos that leaves the viewer wanting more. Within its themes of art, nostalgia, and romance is it's ultimate homage to the beauty that is Paris, both past and present.

The Original Characters

Gil Pender is the protagonist of this film played by Owen Wilson. He is somewhat of a hopeless romantic, a screenplay Hollywood writer who wants to give actual literature a try. His only obstacle however is that his fiance does not share his artistic passion, and he finds himself at a lack of inspiration. That is until he falls in love with the city of Paris.

Inez is the fiance of Gil, portrayed by Rachel MacAdams. She is a practical upper class woman who plays somewhat of an antagonist to Gil's daydreaming. Although she has her brief moments she is constantly arguing and belittling Gil. She is supported by her wealthy parents who feel that Gil is not a good choice for her. By the end of the film it is quite clear that Inez is only in it for the status and doesn't truly love Gil and his artistic ideals.

Inez's father is a wealthy business man played by Kurt Fuller, who doesn't care much for France much less Gil. It is clear that he is a conservative person who despises any liberal agenda whatsoever. He even goes as far as to have Gil followed in the night.

Inez's mother is the classic snooty mother, played by Mimi Kennedy. She supports her daughter yet hardly trusts Gil's artistic ambitions.

Paul Bates is an old friend of Inez, played by Michael Sheen. He is described as a pedantic, pseudo-intellectual who has an academic opinion on everything from art to psychology. He is a very dis-likable character, who claims to know everything and in doing so he steals Inez away from Gil.

Carol Bates is the extremely loyal wife to Paul, played by Nina Arianda. She appears to be an intellectual herself however much more in awe of her know-it-all husband.

Adriana is Gil's love interest set in the 1920s, played by Marion Cottillard. Although she is not based on a historical person, she can be identified as a mistress of Picasso, Modigliani, Hemingway, and Braque. She is very lovely with a taste for fashion and the arts and especially fond of Gil's lost yet innocent ideals. However she fades away into the Bella Epoque or perhaps Gil's fantasies.

Gabriella is a young Parisian woman who sells music in the markets, and shares a natural chemistry with Gil. She is played by Lea Seydoux. She shares Gil's passion for Cole Porter, Paris in the rain, and perhaps art in general. At the end of the film she walks with Gil by his side.


The Soundtrack

01. “Si tu vois ma mère” – Sidney Bechet

02. “Je suis seul ce soir” – Swing 41
03. “Recado” – Original Paris Swing 
04. “Bistro Fada” – Stephane Wrembel
05. “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” – Conal Fowkes (Composed by Cole Porter)
06. “You’ve Got That Thing” – Conal Fowkes (Composed by Cole Porter)
07. “La conga blicoti” – Joséphine Baker
08. “You Do Something to Me” – Conal Fowkes (Composed by Cole Porter)
09. “I Love Penny Sue” – Daniel May
10. “Charleston” – Enoch Light & The Charleston City All Stars (Composed by James P Johnson)
11. “Ain’t She Sweet” – Enoch Light & The Charleston City All Stars (Composed by Milton Ager)
12. “Parlez-moi d’amour” – Dana Boulé (Composed by Jean Lenoir)
13. “Barcarolle from “The Tales of Hoffman” – Conal Fowkes & Yrving & Lisa Yeras
14. “Can-Can from Orpheus In the Underworld” – The Czech National Symphony Orchestra (Composed by Jaques Offenbach)
15. “Ballad du Paris” – Francois Parisi
16. “Le parc de plaisir” – Francois Parisi

TV Series: How I Met Your Mother

A couple days ago I watched the grand finale of the very popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother. It's hard to believe that after 9 seasons and 208 episodes this hilarious series has come to an end. The show premiered in 2005, however I did not start following it until 2010 when Philip and Shawnna lent me the first 4 seasons on DVD. Afterwards I followed each season on Neftlix. 

I enjoyed the show almost immediately, and could relate to the setting, a close group of friends in their mid-to-late 20s living in the city. It was very similar to Friends, (a show that I never got into) about a group of young professionals living out various comedic situations in New York City. This show was particularly clever because it was the telling of a romantic story as the title suggests. It was created by Craig Thomas and Carter Bays and was loosely based off of many of their friendship in New York City. 

The Characters

Ted Mosby: The main character of the show is Ted Mosby (played by Josh Radnor) and narrated by his older self (Bob Saget). Ted is essentially telling his two teenage children the story of how he met their mother, beginning with his professional life in New York City after college. He works as an architect and has a very close group of friends who meet at a bar almost regularly. The comedic quality to Ted is that he is a hopeless romantic, always looking for the perfect one. 

Barney Stinson: The breakout character of the show is no doubt Barney Stinson (played by Neil Patrick Harris). Barney is the ultimate player of New York City, who prides himself in his classy style of picking up women. As sleazy as his character is, he also has a genuine side and always puts the interests of his best friends first. 

Marshall Eriksen: Ted's oldest friend from his childhood days and college roommate is Marshall Eriksen (played by Jason Segel). Marshall is constantly attached to his significant other, Lilly, yet he is also Ted's dearest friend. He works as a lawyer in the city.

Lily Aldrin: Marshall's girlfriend since college and another good friend to Ted is the character of Lily Aldrin (played by Alyson Hannigan). She is a spunky kindergarten teacher, truly in love with Marshall and always opinionated on the groups' decisions. Although Ted is the core of the group, Lily is the mediator, always resolving conflicts. 

Robin Scherbtasky: Ted's ex-girlfriend and constant love interest is Robin Scherbtasky (played by Cobie Smulders). She was the last addition to the group, having moved from Canada to pursue a job in TV news reporting. She also has a relationship with Barney towards the end of the season, yet ultimately ends up with Ted in the end.   

The Finale

To be honest I was slightly disappointed with the ending which I'll get into in a bit, yet that being said it doesn't take away from the brilliance that was this sitcom. The writing was unlike anything I'd witnessed before, constant overlapping and time-spanning, especially in the final season. Each episode was cleverly done, with numerous stories and situations intersecting with the other. There were moments of drama, moments of shock, and nonstop moments of entertaining laughs.

After 8 seasons of back story, the producers decided to make the final season revolving around one event, Barney and Robins marriage. After all this was the big event in which Ted met "the one". I think this was a very smart choice and the perfect way to bring everyone together and close the many knots that needed tying. The final season succeeded in staying true to it's comedic overlapping style while closing out each main character and minor character. 

The final season cleverly introduced Ted's future wife, Cristin Miioti (played by Tracy McConnell) at the end of eighth season. All throughout the 9th season she was bumping into characters at the wedding, and the viewer got to know who this special somebody was. Her and Ted were of course a perfect match, and their final meeting was true to all the clues and details Ted told his children about in the prior 8 seasons. However what seemed to be a happily-ever-after story did not end that way, and rather there was quite an unconventional ending.  

In the final one hour episode we were bombarded with emotional closure. Marhsall became a judge and later a Supreme Court Justice and he and Lily had a third child. This resolution was an easy one, since Marshall and Lily were always by each other's sides. However the other three characters of Ted, Barney, and Robin were a little less conventional. Following the wedding, the story begins to fast forward to numerous events in each character's life. 

The first major twist is that Barney and Robin do not end together, yet rather get a divorce after 3 years. I suppose it could have been assumed when considering Robin and Barney's independent characters, yet still is an unhappy resolution. To make matters worse for Robin, Barney gets a child of his own, which although is from a one night stand, it still gives Barney something to aspire to. Robin on the other hand must resort to the path of her profession, of which she successfully travels the world climbing the TV news ladder, however is ultimately alone with nothing to show. 

The second major twist comes in Ted and Cristin's marriage as we see a fast-forwarding of their life together It appears they are bound to live happily ever after as we see mentions of their first date and numerous romantic encounters. They don't have their wedding until after their two children are born. Of which the entire group is reunited for the first time in several years. However it appears clear that Robin is unhappy with her situation and thus leads to perhaps the biggest shocker in the entire show; the death of Ted's wife. Which obviously leads the way to him being with Robin forever after.

Of course this was always the expected conclusion, yet how the writers went about it was perhaps a bit rushed and careless It seemed as if we had just met this special somebody whom Ted was dearly in love with, and who mothered his two children. To kill her off so quickly only to pave the way for him and Robin being together seemed a bit harsh. This ending left a bad taste with many viewers. My argument is that if the writers intended Robin and Ted to be together, then why even bring Cristin into the story. Although it can be assumed that Robin and Ted ended happily ever after it was by no means a happily ever after ending. 

That being said this ending does not take away from the brilliant entertainment that was How I Met Your Mother. There were so many episodes of sheer originality that left me dying of laughter. From it's catchy theme song, to Ted Mosby's ridiculous situations, to Robin's Canadian lifestyle, to Marshall and Lily's cheesy relationship, and finally Barney's never-ending catch-phrases and self dubbed awesomeness. Ted was always my favorite character and it makes me happy to see that he was able to find love in the city. I think this show will go down as one of my all time favorite sitcoms, and although its finished, I will surely be watching it again. 

Biblical Study: The Deluge of Genesis

The first five books of the bible, known as the Pentateuch, have always been the foundation of Jewish and Christian belief. These first books describe the creation of life as we know it as well as the establishment of the Jewish faith, and the laws by which they are to follow. I have often read through the Old Testament, and have always been especially intrigued by the first two books of Genesis and Exodus.

The book of Genesis is full of juicy theological interpretation. It begins with the creation of the universe, to the dawn of mankind, the fall of mankind, the destruction of mankind, the restoration of mankind, and eventually the descendants of Abraham. I firmly believe that none of this book can be taken literally, yet is rather to be interpreted as parables.

After recently watching the film, Noah (directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Russell Crowe), I have been inspired by this film's interpretations of the story. In this blog I hope to better understand some of this subject matter, particularly the Nephilim and the Great Deluge.

The Flood Myth

The story of the great flood and Noah's ark has generally been understood as a legend rather than historical fact. It has numerous versions among different religions however usually follows a basic structure. The basic story is that God had grown tired of humans' wickedness and decided to bring forth a great flood to wipe out this evil and start anew. He thus chose Noah to build an ark that would carry two animals of every species, male and female, that could reproduce and begin a new string of life. Noah and his family endured the storm and eventually landed on dry land with the animals to begin a new covenant with God.


That is the general flood myth found in the book of Genesis, however there remains many questions to consider regarding the tale. Such as who helped Noah build this ark, why would God destroy what he created, and how did humanity become so wicked in the first place? Then of course there's the great mystery of the Nephilim, the fallen angels of God, and how they played a part in this tale.

The Nephilim

According to Genesis chapter 6 verse 4, there is a very vague passage about immortal beings that dwelt on Earth, known as the Nephilim.

[6:4] The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown. This verse has mythological implications to it, as it describes a race of half-God heroes known as the Nephilim. According to the passage they were born from the Sons of Gods, who had intercourse with the daughters of mankind. (No different than in the case of the demigod warriors such as Achilles or Herakles of Greek Mythology) These Nephilim were considered the heroes of old, perhaps warriors from heaven or even fallen angels that were stuck on Earth. It's a very romantic and intriguing concept to think that these half-god warriors dwelt among humans in the ancient days. It can be speculated that these half-god immortals were looking for ways to redeem themselves and return to heaven. (In the film it is suggested that these creatures aided Noah in building the Ark and were thus able to ascend into Heaven)  All of this is merely speculation however, and in the biblical story, the Nephilim are merely used as precursors to the wickedness of mankind. They are the reason God decides it is time to rid his flesh of wickedness and start anew.

God's Judgement

In Genesis Chapters 6 verses 5 through 13, God had come to a final decision that mankind was wicked and must be destroyed. He was full or regret however found favor with Noah and decided to start anew with Noah at the helm of life.

[6:13] And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.

Its quite likely that God's Judgement to rid the world of mankind was an after effect from Adam and Eve's failure in the garden of Eden. By this point there had been many  descendants from Cain, Seth, and Abel however according to scripture these descendants were all consumed by corruption. Thus God was full or regret, perhaps feeling defeated by the serpent, he decided it was time to hit the reset button. And so came God's horrific deluge to end all the life he had created.

Noah's Ark

However in these early chapters of Genesis, where it appears quite clear that mankind has disappointed God, he still finds favor in one, and that person happens to be Noah.

[6:17] For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. [6:18] But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. Noah is assigned the ultimate task to carry out God's wishes and salvage life on Earth. He builds the ark with God's specific dimensions and instructions to endure a terrible flood. It is not detailed in the bible how he builds the ark or summons the animals, yet one can only assume that it is through divine intervention. It does state however in the bible, that he only has 7 days to complete the project. Once the project is completed the Great rainstorm comes as promised.

The Great Deluge

[7:11] In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. [7:12] The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.  According to scriptures this rainstorm lasted for forty nights, and the flood lifted the ark above the mountains and the earth. All creatures who could not dwell underwater, (mankind, birds, and cattle) were drowned and perished. Only those on Noah's ark were able to endure the storm. After 40 days, the storm stopped however it took an additional 150 days for the waters to uncover the land. Once the storm stopped Noah sent out a raven who wandered the world foolishly. Then he sent a dove three times to explore the new world, On it's first flight it returned to the ark empty handed, on it's second flight it returned with an olive leaf, and on it's third flight the dove did not return at all. At that point Noah knew the Earth was dry once again.

The New Covenant

After the horrible deluge was finished, God promised Noah that he would never bring destruction upon the earth again. However he also came to the realization that mankind was forever to chose between good and evil and he should not intervene because of it.

[8:21] And when the LORD smelled the pleasing odor, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done. [8:22] As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease." God thus blessed Noah and his family and encouraged them all to be happy and multiply. He stressed that everything that came from the ark was to begin a new covenant and to abide by a new law. The Earth was to follow a natural order, and that all creatures were food for mankind, and that mankind should never kill one another. The survivors of the Ark were to reproduce and repopulate the earth. God also described how the rainbow would serve as his reminder that he would never flood the Earth again.  [9:11] I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." [9:12] God said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: [9:13] I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Noah's Vineyard

One final takeaway from this tale, perhaps not as important to the overall theme of the Deluge yet still as intriguing to me as a wine-enthusiast, is Noah's Vineyard. After the covenant is made and Noah and his family return to the land, he is consumed by the soil, (perhaps fittingly so after being at sea for nearly 200 days). At this point he becomes the first winemaker to plant a vineyard and the first to become drunk from it. His son Ham finds him naked in a drunken stupor, and tells his brothers Shem and Japheth. Because of this Noah became furious with his son Ham, and curses his son Canaan and his descendants.