March Of The Wooden Soliders (1934) - Historical Perspective Is Abound

A very rare crossover from my Cerebral Cinema Blog for kids. For adults, this movie has keen insight into the impact Socialism was having on our society during the 1930s. The Great Depression was deeply impacting the United States. Even children's tales reflected the harsh realities of not having a Safety Net. Whether intentional or not, March Of The Wooden Soldiers reflects the evil of income disparity that was challenged by the working poor. Watch the portrayal of Silas Barnaby as a symbol of the greed that caused the crash of 1929. Very subtle hints for children to be generous thinkers and to challenge those who take advantage of others for financial gain. Here is the review of the movie from an entertainment perspective:

March of the wooden soldiers is truly a holiday tradition in our home. It was made in 1934 and starred Laurel and Hardy. (For those who do not know Laurel and Hardy, they were a comedy duo that successfully made a transition from silent films to talkies which was rare back in the day. They made short comedies and films that entertained a generation.)

March of the Wooden Soldiers has a comedic take on the Babes In Toyland story. How could you not with Laurel and Hardy. The story focuses on the Silus Barnaby and his devious quest to marry little boo peep. He evicts her mom from the show as leverage to marry her. It is up to Laurel and Hardy (also tenants) to save the day.

The highlight of the fairy tale is Laurel and Hardy  as the bumbling toy makers. You will see a mix of fairy tale stories along with Santa and his workshop.

For a film made in 1934, it stands the test of time. Part fairy tale, part holiday classic, and a bit of Mother Goose, this film is a great film for kids. They will laugh and partake in the antics without realize the film is almost 90 years old. It also is a soft spoken film with a kind story kids will surely rally around.

Some interesting facts about the movie:

Walt Disney loaned out a live Mickey Mouse for this film as a live version character. This would be the only time Walt Disney would ever allow this to happen.

The film has historical references to themes of the Great Depression and social justice. Rarely seen today in children's films.

The film was never a success until the 1960s. A local television station in New York City, WPIX resurrected the film for syndication as a holiday tradition each year. It would have surely stayed in the vault and obscurity if not for the television station's efforts.

The film was originally in black and white. If you can find a copy, it is a great introduction for kids to enjoy black and white films.

You can livestream the movie on Hulu Plus in HD or watch it on Youtube. The link will be provided:

Healing Neen

Have you heard of the mental health model of care known as Trauma Informed Therapy? (AKA Trauma Informed Care) Trauma Informed Therapies are becoming more common place in mental health service models. It is an effective model of care because it helps people overcome the adverse effects of trauma in one's life.

Many children with behavior problems have experienced trauma. They had adverse experiences at an early age. Because the events are so traumatic, children develop PTSD. The PTSD is misdiagnosed as behavior problems. Understanding how trauma impacts behavior helps kids overcome the adverse effects of trauma.

Adults can also have adverse events that impact cognitive thought processes. Veterans of war for example have similar experiences from the trauma of war. Domestic violence also alters a person's persona and ability to function with daily living skills. Trauma Informed care can give individuals hope.

Ignoring trauma has adverse effects on our society. Failing to treat trauma leads to crime, substance abuse and violence.Individuals with trauma will continue to make similar mistakes until a proper treatment plan is in place to help them deal with their experiences of traumatic events. The question is, how do you help an individual realize that trauma is impacting their daily life.

Healing Neen is a short movie (found on Youtube) that helps individuals begin to come to terms with the impact their trauma is having on  their daily living. Healing Neen also provides hope that dealing with Trauma can lead to positive outcomes for people. The stories are difficult to hear. Neen provides examples how talking about what happened to her began the process of healing. Neen's life is one of extreme hardship. Her story will inspire others to take the first step for their own recovery.

Goodfellas - New Audiences Await You

Goodfellas in my opinion, is the peak of Scorsese's film career. All of his films have epic moments and are worthy of equal praise. An argument can be made for many of his offerings. However, for me, this movie goes beyond the gold standard. It is a historical piece that stands the test of time. It captures a time in American History, in which Italian-American ancestry is eloquently captured, at the peak of influence in our culture. From the 1930s to the 1980s, Italian Americans were such a dominant part of our culture and we are slowly losing the importance of their impact in our nation's history.

Many Italian Americans hate the gangster stereotype. They should. Italian Americans provided the labor for some of our greatest accomplishments during the first half of the 20th century. They werw also the largest representation of combat soldiers during World War II. Their love for this county and contributions can not be dismissed.

Despite what people might think, the contributions of Italian Americans were also complicated by power structures within diverse communities during this time. The mafia had a stranglehold on larger cities. Within these settings, a skewed set of values reflected traumatic family experiences. A history of violence and corruption was also a part of this time period.  Scorsese explores how they work together. Including a dramatic look at domestic violence, confusing value systems, and matriarchal patronage from the most violent of individuals.

It is important for a new generation to become reacquainted with this movie.  Watching the movie with a critical lens of history is such a great experience. This is not so much a movie about gangsters, it is an anthropological study of a family system that existed throughout the United States during this time period. One of my all time favorites. I highly recommend if you have not seen Goodfellas, you should put it on your movie bucket list.

Glen Campbell I'll Be Me

Glen Campbell I'll Be Me is a documentary that you can find on Netflix and one worth watching. The documentary is about his battle with Alzheimer's Disease. When Glen was diagnosed, he decided to do one last tour for his fans, and also document the progression of the disease to bring awareness to many in our Congress to help increase funding for a cure.

The movie reacquaints the viewer to his music. I forgot what an accomplished musician Glen was over his long career. The music is what makes this documentary so unique. When the brain declines during the progress of the disease, Glen's musical part of his brain is the last to be effected. He can forget his daughter's name, repeat a conversation 30 or 40 times that he just had, but some how, deep in his brain he can play guitar and sing his songs with the help of a teleprompter.

The movie is an uncomfortable journey. As the tour progresses, so does the disease. By the time the tour is wrapped up, you will notice a very different Glen Campbell. Families with Alzheimer's will surely to connect to the movie. Famous country music stars and celebrities share how they lost their parents to Alzheimer's and some discuss their fear of growing old as the disease is genetic and could possibly impact them one day.

My only critique of the film is I wish there was more concert footage. One may surely want to order the Glen Campbell catalog of music after watching the movie, because you are left wanting to hear more of Glen's music. A great music for anyone experiencing Alzheimer's or wanting to learn more about the disease. 

The Dark Side of Chocolate

One of the realities of our educational system is the control of information our system requires to help encourage consumerism. Our kids lack any empathy for where or how the products come into their lives. In a sense, they are insulated from reality by being taught a common chore....I mean core of knowledge regarding capitalism.
Kids today have minimal knowledge that slavery exists largely in part to provide the products they crave. Our education system is corporatized to ensure that such a low knowledge base allows for the practice to continue.


I previously reviewed the movie Jobs and pointed out that our dependence on technology has led to horrific slave camps in China and other remote locations.  Similarly, I discovered that the Chocolate trade is alive and well in West Africa. I watched a few examples of movies that date back 10 -15 years ago. Those documentaries largely found a small audience. Amazingly, I discovered a new documentary that spells out the problem. Ignorance of a problem allows for companies to continue to profit from slavery.

There is no better example than the chocolate trade. It is well knows that mainstream companies import chocolate to make the daily treats we enjoy. From a Mars bar to a Cadbury chocolate bunny, the cocoa trade is a part of our everyday life. What people do not realize is that Children are bought and sold into slavery They work 12 hour days. They are not allowed to see their parents. This practice is driven by our purchases.

The Dark Side Of Chocolate awakens our senses of injustice. It helps bring life to a discussion that has for years, been non-existent. Sit down with your children, and discuss the impact of capitalism on our world. The movie will surely increase your child's (along with yourself) awareness of the importance of fair trade policies. Teachers should also feel free to show the video to their students. Challenge the blandness of common core with the reality of the world we live in today. Our kids need to experience documentataries such as this one exposes.

The Bank Job - A Lesson In British History

The Bank Job was a movie made in 2008 that I overlooked. I thought it was another Jason Statham movie that was the likes of Crank and never gave it much thought. Well this weekend, I decided to give it a shot, and wow was I wrong.

The movie is based on the little known (at least in the US) Baker Street Bank Robbery back in 1971 in London England. The robbery was controversial, because it has been suggested that the robbery was a setup to steal disparaging items of high ranking British or Royal members that were stored in safety deposit boxes.

I researched the robbery after watching the movie. What the movie tries to do (quite well I might add) is provide a semi-autobiographical account of what happened. The British government has sealed documents until 2054 so that this generation will never quite know what truly happened. However, the director had a private consultant close to the robbery that helped explain why the robbery was so controversial. The movie will absolutely blow you away with details that explain how the British Secret Service, MI5 and local law enforcement had no other choice, but to allow the robbers to keep the goods from the robbery in exchange for secrecy.

I do not want to give away too many spoilers. However, I want to encourage people to watch the movie. For anyone that might question government secrets, or conspiracy theories, this is a must see.

Freeway: Crack In The System

Freeway Crack In The System is a complicated documentary. This is the story of the rise of Freeway Rick Ross. The movie is a bit disjointed at times, however compelling. The main theme is the involvement of  our government in the drug trade during the 1980s to help fund the Contras in Nicaragua. While the Iran-Contra connection is just a faded memory for some, the movie will surely encourage viewers to relook this page of the Reagan legacy. 

The reason this is so powerful is the strong connection to a lack of empathy or feeling for the devastation of South Central Los Angeles. Economically, the area was devastated. The economic  collapse lead to a vulnerability for the drug trade. The connection was that the CIA was going to utilize this vulnerability to help fund the contras due to funding being cut off by Congress.

The movie explains the rise of "Freeway" Rick Ross's empire. Rick Ross, as you will see in the movie is a victim of not only economic poverty, but also social injustice. Ineffective schools and a lack of a safety net destroyed the entire community.

What is compelling is the exhaustive details. How one person, can rise from so little to be a gangster is just part of a very compelling plot. It is the exploitation of this vulnerability that captures the attention of the viewer. My only criticism is the focus on a rapper stealing the identity of Rick Ross. While interesting in it's own rite, I found myself intrigued by the connections to injustice and poverty. Some may find this part of the story interesting.

For cerebral thinkers, this documentary is excellent. It shines a light on the social injustices that lead African Americans to mistrust our government. I highly recommend this film.

The documentary would  be a great combination to watch with the movie, Kill The Messenger.