Arriving early, I parked the FENX outside the all-access entrance to the Longworth House Office Building, across from the United States Capitol building. Making my way through the labyrinthine underground tunnel system that connects the three House office buildings, I was headed into the halls of the Rayburn building to the office of my boss, Representative Thaddeus McCotter.  I was anticipating a phone call from Rachel Reeves, the producer of Facing Life Head On, as I plopped down into the chair in my little office known as “The Batcave”; a hovel filled with Star Wars novels, historical tomes, and a number of volumes from the Philosophy and Popular Culture series.  Soon, the call came and I retraced my steps back to the entrance in Longworth to meet the crew and escort them through security (there was quite a lot of gear for multiple cameras and monitors).  As we walked back to the office they asked questions about the FENX, how I came to be on Capitol Hill, and what it’s like for someone with a “disability” to be here doing the work I do on various policy issues – it is an interesting question to ask when you are the only individual you know of with a obvious physical condition like Cerebral Palsy working in Capitol Hill in a congressional office. (Ed: It is a unique spot to be in, often difficult, wherein you’re blazing a path in hopes that others will follow in your tread).

Upon arrival the production crew began set up all the equipment in the Representative’s personal office, as that was the prime location to conduct the interview.  Before long one of the camera operators told me they needed to shoot some “B-roll” footage of me in the office – footage to accompany voice-over sections of the interview – and I realized later upon watching the interview that some of my Philosophy and Popular Culture volumes actually made it on screen.   (Ed: It was odd to me, and certainly something new, to know that there was a crew across the office lobby setting up equipment to film me, to ask me about my life and my experiences, seeing it as something that is unique and special; I often forget this about my life, that my idea of “normal”/”conventional” is anything but that to the vast majority of people I meet.)

Soon enough, Rachel got a call from Brad Mattes, the host of Facing Life Head On, and he was waiting for us at the entrance of the Longworth building so I could get him through security.  As we walked back to the office in Rayburn, Brad asked me what it’s like to be part of the policy making process – so close to these powerful decision makers – and not be overwhelmed by it.  In what many would see as an unconventional answer to that question, I took a page from Lord of the Rings:  Fellowship of the Ring and recounted the scene near the beginning of the film when Gandalf the Grey is explaining to the hobbit Frodo Baggins what the One Ring actually is and the power it possesses.  Upon hearing the tale of Isildor’s failure to destroy the One Ring and subsequent subjugation to it, Frodo begs Gandalf to take the One Ring from him and (wisely) Galndalf refuses and says “Understand Frodo, I would use this ring from a desire to do good, but through me it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine“  I told Brad that I see Capitol Hill in much the same light, therefore I hold at an arm’s length a desire for power and influence, knowing there is no certainty I would not be overcome by it if drawn to it.  He was surprised, but I think impressed too, having been given such an answer.

Once we arrived at the office and made sure all of the equipment was prepped, Brad and I jumped right into the interview, as he started asking me a series of questions about my life, my work, my childhood, and The FENX Project, much of it detailed in the footage shown in the two episodes featured on the Facing Life Head On website and on television these last two weeks.  It was a very comfortable environment to be honest – considering I did not know the questions in advance – and even I was surprised with how at ease I seemed in telling my tale – the surprise goes back to seeing my life very differently than the majority of folks see it .  (Ed: I really see the opportunity to be part of this show as a chance to talk of what the Heavenly Father has done with me, a chance to honor my earthy parents for the lengths to which they have gone to ensure my quality of life, and a platform from which to undermine the insidious, and yet prevalent, stream of thought in society that those with longterm physical, mental, and medical challenges are incapable of a good quality of life and therefore are of less worth in our society because they will accomplish less.  This is something that doesn’t get as much attention in the Pro-Life/Conservative community and it needs to; it is unfortunate that in a society built on the idea of inalienable and God-bestowed rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (notice that is NOT “the Guarantee of Happiness”) many focus on what a person can do and not who they are; the focus is too much on what they can contribute (and what the definition of contribution is). As I stated in the interview “You matter because the Master and Creator of the Universe took the time, and that is enough”

After the interview itself was done, we headed back over to Longworth and on to the Capitol grounds to film the FENX and I in action and so Brad could film his closing thoughts for the episodes.  (Ed: Props to Brad, Rachel, and the rest of the crew for standing out in  the bitter cold for those final takes.)

It was a wonderful opportunity to work with great people to tell an inspiring story, and a continued affirmation that I have been given gift, abilities, and talents and that there is a Plan in motion for using them to speak Truth.  Not to mention another chance to see how television is made.  Many thanks to Brad, Rachel, the tech crew, and especially Olivia; no one would have guessed that connecting as Heritage Interns years ago would lead to a unique adventure such as this one. 

Riding Towards Eternity,

Aaron

I can only imagine the roar and applause that must have erupted all across movie theaters in Brooklyn, NY Friday when die-hard fans and those just curious sat down to watch Captain America: The First Avenger this weekend. Captain America: The First Avenger is the latest offering in the Marvel Studios series of silver screen solo adventures for the heroes that will assemble into Joss Whedon’s The Avengers in May of 2012, a day many a fan of superheroes has waited decades for.

The origins of Captain America revolve around Steve Rogers, a twig of a man young who has been bullied all his life but wants nothing more than to join the Army and fight along side millions of others who have joined the military to fight the Nazi threat. As he says in the film “There are men laying down their lives, I can’t do any less”; his best friend Bucky Barnes had already received orders and was to ship out to the front. He’s tried to enlist multiple times in various cities, each time being declared “unfit for service”. Having witnessed this, a defected German scientist named Abraham Erskine offers Steve his one opportunity to actually serve in the American military by selecting him for the Super Solider program.

Throughout his training he shows little physical prowess, which causes Colonel Chester Phillips (an uninspiring Tommy Lee Jones) to question Erskine’s choice, until Rogers is the only one to jump on a dummy grenade to save those present while others run to safety. The evening before the procedure, Erskine visits Rogers to explain that he was chosen not for physical ability but for his inner strength of character and perseverance. The scientist goes on to explain how he was originally selected to develop the Super Solider treatment for Hitler’s Germany, but defected after he saw what the treatment did to one Johann Schmidt, a member of Hitler’s inner circle in charge of HYDRA (the Nazi deep science and occult division). Further, Erskine explains how the treatment amplifies the inner qualities of an individual, manifesting those qualities upon the exterior. For Erskine, the Super Solider Program is the “first step on the path to peace” by giving the world a chance at defeating the evil that threatens it. For Rogers, this assists him becoming a force for justice to stand against evil; for Schmidt, it fed his dark ambition for conquest.

Once the procedure is complete, Rogers becomes a recruiting tool of the War Department, promoting war bonds and embarking on a USO tour in Italy wherein he isn’t well received. While on this tour, he receives word that the military unit that Bucky is attached to has been captured by Schmidt. Rogers, now “Captain America”, goes on a one-man rescue mission to save Barnes and his men, coming face to face with Schmidt and his megalomania in the process.

I loved this film, every minute of it. Of all the Marvel Studios origins outings so far, this one came the closest to perfect. The forces behind this film KNEW that they had to get it right because Captain America is such a beloved character by fans and part of American culture; and they did (having the character of Howard Stark – Tony’s father – involved certainly helped tie the film into what we already know). Because of comments made last year by director Joe Johnston, about how this movie really wasn’t “About America”, some were concerned that this would be a film that would ultimately sucker-punch American audiences with the moral equivalence and “America sucks” mantras that are so prominent in Hollywood; totally lacking any hint of the idea of American Exceptionalism. Thankfully, this is not the case. The film is true to both America during World War II and the origins of the character. Much like the Transformers films (and even Iron Man) Captain America is strait forward Good vs. Evil, with little nuance, if any at all. While I appreciate this to no end because it is rarely seen, various papers around the country have lamented the fact that the film is bereft of nuance, thus leaving little space for relativism. This film wasn’t made for the cultural elite in America, it was made for the rest of us who aren’t that and would rather not be that. It comes at a time when so much of what is going on is heavy and consequential with no resolution in sight, and I hope it remind us of what America is, how much our nation has persevered through.

In the midst of all the action, the theme that hits home the most is the importance of the individual, the impact that one life can make. In the eyes of society, Steve Rogers was a nobody; the Army didn’t want him, women shunned him, he didn’t fit the mold society had set forth. No one cared one iota about the qualities that he did possess, that is until a man who had seen much more of the world than most and was aware of what the world needed stepped on to the scene (supported by Peggy Carter, an agent of MI-6 working with the Program). Erskine and Carter both saw past the societal mandate and strait to the heart of the potential that was Steve Rogers, identifying the qualities that mattered most: moral clarity, perseverance, and a willingness to sacrifice to defeat great evil. Implements such as the serum and the iconic vibranium shield did not completely a Captain make, they brought out and supplemented the gifts and spirit that Rogers had already been blessed with. It’s much akin what my friend Carl Sears once said to me about The FENX Project and I: “It’s a lot like Superman’s cape; the cape doesn’t enable Superman to fly, but it does make him easier to identify, it’s a symbol of who Superman is, just like the FENX is a symbol of who you are” The one whom society had written off becomes one of the great heroes, and had he not, many more would have died (then and later). So often those who are deemed as “less” (as “unworthy”) are written off and rejected in favor of better external qualities. Hopefully this film will be a catalyst for many to reconsider the “value” of what society deems valuable.

Additionally, I appreciated the subplot that was the simple relationship between Rogers and Carter, that they were waiting for the individual who was the proper fit for them; “the perfect dance parter”, as they discussed in the film. In an age where we are assaulted with messages about relationship that gives nothing to patience and wise choices, it is encouraging to see it play out (at least amongst heroes).

Now all that remains is the assembly that’s required of the solo venturers; that they may forever fight as one.

Awaiting May 2012,

Aaron

Those words, familiar to many a Transformer fan for nearly three decades, have never rung as true as they do in the case of the new Transformers movie, Transformer: Dark of the Moon. Of the three films, this is by far the darkest and most intense and the war between the Autobots and the tyranny of the Decepticons comes home in a big way. The last installment in the franchise was a disappointment and there was no doubt it had fallen from the great heights of the first film (even if I liked it more than most folks did). This movie redeems the franchise on many levels.

The film opens with vivid and fantastic scenes from the final days of the war on the Transformers’s home planet of Cybertron, detailing a failed mission that, if successful, would have allowed the Autobots to prevail against the Decepticons. The mission focuses on a secret ship that crash lands on Earth’s moon and NASA detects it. This sets off the “Space Race” between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960′s in an attempt to discover what happened. History goes forth, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin arrive on the moon on Apollo 11, but really to embark on a secret mission, wherein they discover the crashed Autobot vessel and special pods. Fast forward to present day and Sam Whitwicky is a recent college graduate living in DC with his girlfriend Carly (long gone is Megan Fox and her character) who previously worked at the British Embassy and now manages a car collection for a character played by Patrick Dempsey who functions as a foil for Sam on multiple levels. Sam is struggling to find both a job and himself, not understanding why after helping to discover the Transformers and save the world (twice) he can’t make something of himself; as Sam says “I just want to matter”

The Autobots are now working with the United States Spec. Ops. to quell conflicts around the world. During a secret mission to Chernobyl in Russia, the Autobots come across two nasty Decepticon baddies known as Shockwave (to whom Megatron entrusts Cybertron in the original cartoon from the 80′s) and Laserbeak, both on missions in Russia related to the moon crash. Meanwhile, Decepticon leader Megatron is in exile in Africa with his minions Starscream and Soundwave (now in vehicle form instead of the satellite from Transformers 2 and also the keeper of Laserbeak, much like Ravage – the panther – was his minion in Transformers 2). Once the Autobots learn of the existence of the crashed ship on the moon, from the real-life Buzz Aldrin, (Optimus berates the Obama Administration for their silence) and the survival of it’s captain – Sentinel Prime, the leader of the Autobots before Optimus – they travel to the moon to retrieve and revive him. With Sentinel revived, the movie really kicks into high gear and the remainder is a intense experience filled with heroes, villains, dark moments, and massive destruction that does not let up.

I really enjoyed the film and the places it take the audience (and the special effects were fantastic throughout). Bay really did work hard to redeem the franchise from the last outing, and there were a number of moments in which I honestly didn’t know if key characters would live or die (and not all of them make it through this film). Having grown up with the Transformers mythos and now gone through three movies, I love these heroes and to a degree the villains; in these characters there are no shades, it is good vs. evil – period. In a culture filled with anti-heroes and vampires-as-heroes I prefer this any day of the week. In a film like this the robots are the real stars and they shine through the massive action sequences. Megatron, Shockwave, Starscream, and Soundwave are true to their classic iterations and are as evil as ever, wanting nothing but power and subjugation through tyranny and fear. The Autobots seeks to preserve freedom and protect humanity from the Decepticons. In the same vein, the US Military (and America in general) is shown in a great light (which has some critics writhing) by way of Spec Ops and SEALS working with the Autobots to defeat the Decepticons and their human toadies.

One aspect that stuck out to me was the development of Sam’s character. His desire to matter, to stake his place in the world around him is something that come through loud and clear in this film and resonates; we all want to be worthy, we all want to be more than we are. It a classic theme seen in many stories and movies, seen in Star Wars, The Last Starfighter, Harry Potter, Green Lantern, Spiderman, and even Batman Begins to a degree. Everyone of us grapples with this in life at one time or another, and some more than others (certainly so if you try and live within and around the world of epic superheroes). It echo’s Bruce Wayne’s words, from Batman Begins: “It’s what I do that defines me”. The danger exists when “what can I do (for others)?” transforms into “what can I become (for my own sake)?” In this film, Sam makes the choice to put himself in harms way (for the sake of another) instead of unintentionally being a part of what happens, and danger ensues.

If you’re wavering as to seeing Transformers 3, don’t listen to the critics, go see it and make your own assessment.

On a personal note, when the production team was filming in DC last year, I took the FENX on a hunt for the Autobots one day and found them not too far from Chinatown. There before me was Optimus Prime in all his Autobot awesomeness and I am having to answer questions from others who wonder who/what I am and if I am part of the film. As it turns out one of the production managers in charge of the vehicles did admit that if the FENX had been in Transformers 3, Michael Bay would have wanted to blow it up.

Aaron

Those words were first penned many decades ago and for many decades since then, fans of the Green Lantern comics have waited for silver screen treatment; on June, 17, 2011, it came (kicking off a big weekend for me which included a birthday and the return of The FENX to Washington once again for my use). The story of Green Lantern is very much a cross between Top Gun, the original Star Wars and The Last Starfighter (all movies I love). The main character, Hal “Highball” Jordan, is a former United States Air Force (USAF) pilot who works as a test pilot for Ferris Aerospace a company started by former USAF pilot Carl Ferris (a friend of Hal’s aerospace daring father who died in a crash Hal witnessed as a young boy). Hal works alongside Mr. Ferris’s daughter (and fellow pilot) Carol “Sapphire” Ferris with whom he has an on again/off again romantic relationship. Both characters are asked to fly a sortie against a pair of UAV fighters that Ferris Air is development for the Department of Defense, an exercise which results in another plane crash.

Meanwhile, in another galaxy far from the Milky Way, an ancient threat that feeds on the fear of others known as Parallax has escaped imprisonment by the Green Lantern Corps, a group of intergalactic law enforcers who wield green rings which channel the will power of the wielder into anything they can think of. Having escaped, Parallax hunts down Abin Sur, the greatest of the Green Lanterns and the one responsible for imprisoning him. Wounded in their encounter and fading fast, Abin crash lands on earth and instructs his ring to choose his replacement; the ring chooses Jordan. In short order Jordan is transported light-years from earth to the planet Oa, the home-world of the Green Lantern Corps; here he begins his training at the hands of Kilowog (a brutish alien version of R. Lee Ermey) and Sinestro (an emotional magenta skinned Vulcan looking character). As the story progresses Jordan’s two lives collide and new villains and heroes are born.

In all honesty, I loved this movie. Not everyone will but I did. In full disclosure though I’ve been a fan of Green Lantern since the Justice League show on Cartoon Network so I’ve been waiting for it for about a decade. When DC Comics unleashed the Blackest Night crossover a few years ago it only solidified my position as a fan of the Corps. When it comes to a film like this my greatest concern is how close the movie stays to the source material and I never apologize for that fact. Green Lantern did a marvelous job here (no pun intended). Most of the characters were spot on as were costumes and locations like Oa. (Ryan Reynolds was what I expected Jordan to be, but even if Blake Lively had a good moment or two I hope she steps up the game going forward; she has to for the story arc of Carol).

One of the most important elements in the film was properly dealing with the relation between the Power of Will and the Power of Fear, illustrated by the colors green and yellow, and how they are often antithesis to one another. It brought to mind the mantra from the Dune universe “Fear is the mind-killer, fear is the little death that brings total inhalation; I will face my fear, I will let my fear pass through me and when it is gone only I will remain”. Critics complained that there was too much Computer Generated Images (CGI), and while A LOT of the movie was that, to not do it in such as way would have made the cost of the film astronomical and harder to execute. Additionally, critics expect all superhero movies such as this to be on par with The Dark Knight or the first Iron Man; without his powers, Hal Jordan is “Pete Mitchell” from Top Gun and with the power of his Lantern Ring he can’t be Batman. This is a film about finding courage (and the will to act) in the midst of overwhelming fear, and the places that courage comes from. It illustrates the power and influence of fathers (and how much younger men are affected by it) and mentors (in much the same way the Star Wars film did). It also hints at the cost of fighting as one’s enemy does (I expect the sequel to deal with this more), as well as the dangers of great power and the arrogance that can come with thinking oneself unassailable.

This film is a big step for DC and Warner Brothers, as it is really the first mainstay DC character to get his (or her) own movie (not TV show) and your name isn’t Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent. Seeing as how Marvel Studios is creating their own Marvel “movie-verse”, DC is finally taking a stab at the same (as illustrated by the inclusion of Dr. Amanda Waller; a character I expect to see much more of going forward who crisscrosses DC story-lines often and nods to the Department of Extranormal Operations (DEO)). In short, I look forward to future adventures and returning to Oa.

Finally, I couldn’t help but see a Christian parallel when it was the Sun that was ultimately the undoing of the interstellar baddie. On that note I will simply end with something I wrote years ago, inspired by Christian belief and the Oath of the Lantern Corps – “In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night, We Cannot Escape His Sight, He who loves us with all His might, He Casts Out All Fear, Jesus Christ, the Light”

*UPDATE* I just returned from an unexpected special Green Lantern in 3D screening in DC. One of the points in the film I didn’t cover but should have is Hal Jordan’s struggle with being chosen to join the Green Lantern Corps. Tomar-Re, one of Hal’s mentors (and his wisest), makes it very clear that Hal was chosen by the Ring even if he doesn’t understand why; that the Ring doesn’t make mistakes. Hal really struggles with this because in most areas of his life he is a failure who cannot overcome his fear. Ultimately, the Ring’s choosing Hal gives the character a sense of destiny that is both freeing and a burden; a burden because it is a difficult undertaking, but freeing because the die is cast and any sense of confusion and doubt about the path is past once he realizes why he was chosen. This is probably my favorite subplot in the film because ever since Star Wars and Terminator destiny has fascinated me.

In something totally unrelated, I am convinced that post-production conversion to “3D” is just a Hollywood gimmick, but when it’s actually filmed in 3D that is something else entirely.

Riding Towards Eternity,

Aaron

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