Category Archives: Reel Leadership

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Moana 2

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

The hit Disney movie Moana returned to movie theaters with its sequel the weekend of Thanksgiving 2024. We have Dwayne Johnson returning as the voice of the demigod Maui and Auli’i Cravalho returning as the star of the film Moana. 

While not as good as the original Moana, Moana 2 continues in the tradition of the first film. Moana has become a Wayfinder. A Wayfinder is someone who can navigate the raging seas, discover new lands, and possibly reunite the world’s lost people.

Moana, a Polynesian Disney princess with darker skin and black hair, smiling while leaning forward on a wooden boat

Moana’s mission in Moana 2 is to seek out the lost people and reunite the people of the world. Her task is huge as she will have to overcome the challenges set forth by Nalo (Tofiga Fepulea’i), a storm god. He’s preventing people from finding the island of Motufetu. It’s rumored that if a person were to step foot on Motufetu, the people would be reunited.   Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Red One

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

Ho, ho, oh no! That’s the premise behind Red One. Red One takes place just before Christmas. The North Pole is bustling with energy and excitement. Then, the unthinkable happens.

Santa Claus/Nick (J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped!

Christmas will be ruined if Nick doesn’t take back the sleigh and deliver all the presents. He’s in luck. His right-hand man, Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson), is on the case. He’s going to find Nick one way or the other.

Krampus and Cal from Red One facing off in a dungeon like environment

Callum’s luck runs out as the head of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority, aka M.O.R.A., Zoe Harlow (Lucy Liu) knows her options are limited. If Nick isn’t back, kids and parents worldwide will be disappointed. She seeks the one man who can track the bad guys who did this: Jack O’Malley (Chris Evans). He’s a Level 4 Naughty Lister. He’s a bad guy who’s going to help.  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Elevation

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

Elevation quickly brings viewers into the action. Much like A Quiet Place, Elevation has a unique take on an extraterrestrial threat. Instead of sound bringing almost instant destruction, Elevation uses elevation to denote when humans are in danger.

What elevation is that? Anyone above 8,000 feet is safe from the aliens. No one knows why this is the case, but they’ve found safety in higher elevations for three years.

When Will’s (Anthony Mackie of Captain America fame) son’s, Hunter (Danny Boyd Jr.), medical equipment begins to fail because he’s running out of filters, Will has to make a choice. Will he watch his son slowly die from a lack of equipment or will he go on a mission to get the filters his son so desperately needs?

Man holding a gun. Looks scared as he's facing down an alien threat.  Read more...

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Iron Giant

A Reel Leadership Article

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

The Iron Giant is a modern-day animation classic. The film tells the story of young Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal). Shortly after the film begins, Hogarth finds a giant metal robot, The Iron Giant (Vin Diesel), near a power station. 

He quickly befriends the giant robot. Along the way, he teaches The Iron Giant how to speak, feel, and grow. But there’s also a paranoid government agent, Kent Mansley (Christopher McDonald), out to find the robot.

A giant grey robot sitting down. There's a young boy next to him. There's also a classic red car next to the boy.

It’s a touching story about youthful expectations, helping others, and finding belonging. 

As usual, there’s more to a film than those things. There are leadership lessons in The Iron Giant that help you grow and become a better leader.

Purchase The Iron Giant Here

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Iron Giant

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Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Rift

If you enjoy this article, you’ll love my book Reel Leadership. It’s available on Amazon.

FBI agent Jason Cole (Darren Cain) appears to have it all. He’s rising up the ranks in the FBI. He has a beautiful wife. A great home. But things aren’t as they seem. 

His past has come back to haunt him. His life is about to change. No one in his life is safe. Especially his wife.

A man in FBI gear is on the left. A man lighting a cigarette is on the left side. The cover for the movie Rift

That’s the gist of Rift. It’s a movie of love, revenge, and consequence.

Let’s look at the leadership lessons this type of story can teach us.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Rift

1. Magnus Valtteri (Curt Bonnem):

Your inability to tell time has thrown us completely off schedule.

Magnus wasn’t one of the good guys. He was a gun runner. And a horrible human being all around.  Read more...