I'm appalled at myself for not having written about this movie. It has been one of the most influential movies in my life - and that is the reason you should watch it.
It is based on a true story based on that of Christopher McCandless. A man, disillusioned, curious and gaining consciousness decided to leave society - to a degree. He met random people on his journeys with his eventual goal of going to Alaska, or as he said it "Alaskalaska"
It's difficult to not let my emotion cloud this 'review' but I shall try. Emile Hirsch, Sean Penn and Eddie Vedder created magic. The music and the lyrics breathes life into dull patches and gets the viewer interested in trying to understand this creature called 'Alexander Supertramp'.
One issue with the progress of society, especially over the last 100 years, has been the influx of people, technology, communication, capitalism and a bull-headed focus on getting ahead. Christopher saw what was happening around him and disliked the materialism that surrounded him and just wanted to go away from all these accepted rituals of daily life.
MGMT's song, Time to Pretend, was written well -
" Yeah it's overwhelming, but what else can we do? Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute... We're fated to pretend."
People who don't like the movie have said, ' Ya.. it's about this guy who goes to Alaska right?'
People who like the movie sound like Jeff Bridges and say, ' Just watch the movie man'
Special thanks to Eddie Vedder for moaning and groaning through his simple, hearty lyrics that instantly makes me question our society.
Just watch the movie man.
Showing posts with label Reality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reality. Show all posts
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Inception
A fantastic creation with an intellectual / fantasy feel to it. Ellen Page will be acclaimed as a great actor soon enough, Leonardo was his normal good and Joseph Gordon-Levitt was rather striking. Some of the scenes were mind-blowing and cinematically it might be one of the best creations to have come out till date. The meticulous detail with which the 'dreams' were chalked out deserves appreciation. The plot was marvelous and dreams have always fascinated humans :)
The movie is currently ranked 3rd on Imdb's Top 250 and everybody who has seen it has been raving about it.
I am a bitch.
The entire emotional angle between Leo and his wife seemed hollow. The pace with which the movie ended and the abruptness of the end did not do justice to the other characters or the story. The end was rather predictable and the sequence of escapes from each dream was pretty boring.
When I got done with this movie I was quite impressed but also quite bored because towards the last half hour I was already waiting for the movie to end.
My sense is that at times people are so blinded and perplexed by confusing, intelligent stories that they mistake a good idea for a good all-round movie. If you keep people guessing and if you manage to dazzle them with good effects combined with good direction and good acting - does it make a good movie? Superficially - Yes! But dig down deeper and you realize that Shutter Island & Fight Club - they were complete movies.
I felt something was missing by the time the movie was beginning to end and I was rather dis-satisfied with an otherwise stupendous creation.
The movie is currently ranked 3rd on Imdb's Top 250 and everybody who has seen it has been raving about it.
I am a bitch.
The entire emotional angle between Leo and his wife seemed hollow. The pace with which the movie ended and the abruptness of the end did not do justice to the other characters or the story. The end was rather predictable and the sequence of escapes from each dream was pretty boring.
When I got done with this movie I was quite impressed but also quite bored because towards the last half hour I was already waiting for the movie to end.
My sense is that at times people are so blinded and perplexed by confusing, intelligent stories that they mistake a good idea for a good all-round movie. If you keep people guessing and if you manage to dazzle them with good effects combined with good direction and good acting - does it make a good movie? Superficially - Yes! But dig down deeper and you realize that Shutter Island & Fight Club - they were complete movies.
I felt something was missing by the time the movie was beginning to end and I was rather dis-satisfied with an otherwise stupendous creation.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Big Fish
Our lives are too boring; exaggerate. One of very few true fantasies intertwined with reality. One never knew (nor did the Son) where reality waned and imagination erupted. But somehow, as one watches the movie, one cannot help but believe in every nugget of information even though it may well be absurd.
"She said that the biggest fish in the river gets that way by never being caught." Is this statement a positive or a negative? Figure it out :)
For me, this movie signified story-telling in its rawest form; such that it would generate a buzz long after the storyteller was dead and gone. Could this be how many of the folk stories and mythologies came into being?
Edward Bloom was pure, free-spirited, gutsy, dumb and a child - till he died. One of those movies where most of the actors were replaceable, but the story and the screenplay were exquisite - and nothing could have changed that. Only later did I come to know that this movie was directed by Tim Burton, which draws a perfect parallel with Alice in Wonderland :)
"She said that the biggest fish in the river gets that way by never being caught." Is this statement a positive or a negative? Figure it out :)
For me, this movie signified story-telling in its rawest form; such that it would generate a buzz long after the storyteller was dead and gone. Could this be how many of the folk stories and mythologies came into being?
Edward Bloom was pure, free-spirited, gutsy, dumb and a child - till he died. One of those movies where most of the actors were replaceable, but the story and the screenplay were exquisite - and nothing could have changed that. Only later did I come to know that this movie was directed by Tim Burton, which draws a perfect parallel with Alice in Wonderland :)
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The Shawshank Redemption
A well-said story that went about at its own pace just to surprise us with a smile in the end - but highly overrated. For me, it was a story about a man who tried to keep his peace, work his way through pain; he lived with complete knowledge of his innocence; he knew that he had to find a way out, and was determined. Perseverance, Focus and Humility.
I couldn't help but think of all that we take for granted; particularly, freedom. This movie brings out a different perspective to life - Get busy living or get busy dying.
Quotes:
"What the fuck do you care, new fish? Doesn't fuckin' matter what his name was; he's dead."
"You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific?"
"No."
"They say it has no memory; that's where I want to live the rest of my life... One place with no memory."
"Get busy living or get busy dying."
I couldn't help but think of all that we take for granted; particularly, freedom. This movie brings out a different perspective to life - Get busy living or get busy dying.
Quotes:
"What the fuck do you care, new fish? Doesn't fuckin' matter what his name was; he's dead."
"You know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific?"
"No."
"They say it has no memory; that's where I want to live the rest of my life... One place with no memory."
"Get busy living or get busy dying."
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Fight Club
There is a particular scene from Fight Club that has stuck with me. It's when Tyler speaks of pain, control, acceptance and reality.
Excerpts: After Tyler sprinkles lye on the 'Narrator's' hand.
Narrator Voice Over: I tried not to think of the words searing flesh.
Tyler: Stop it! This is your pain. This is your burning hand its right here.
Tyler: This is the greatest moment of your life and you’re off somewhere missing it
Narrator: I am not! [sobbing and grunting in pain]
Tyler: Shut up. Our fathers were our models for god, if our fathers bailed what does that tell you about god?
Slap.
Tyler: Listen to me! You have to consider the possibility that God does not like you; never wanted you; and in all probability... he hates you. It's not the worst thing that can happen. We don't need him!! Fuck damnation man! Fuck redemption!!
We are God's unwanted children? SO BE IT!!
Tyler: Listen to me. You can run water over your hand to make it worse, or, look at me. [Their eyes meet.] Or you can use vinegar to neutralize the burn
Narrator: Please let me have it!! Please!! [sobbing]
Tyler: First you have to give up. First you have to know, not fear, know that one day you are going to die.
Tyler: Its only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.
Thank you to : http://blaiseryan.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/fight-club-quote-%E2%80%9Cits-only-after-we%E2%80%99ve-lost-everything-that-we%E2%80%99re-free-to-do-anything%E2%80%9D/
Although, there was a part in the middle about God that, I believe, he was too scared to write about :D
Quotes:
"With insomnia nothing's real; everything's far away; everything's a copy of a copy of a copy."
"This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."
"If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?"
"Things you own end up owning you."
"You're not the car you drive, you're not the contents of your wallet, you're not your fuckin' khakis; you're the all singing all dancing crap of the world."
"Listen up maggots: you're not special, you're not a beautiful or unique snowflake, you're the same decaying organic matter as everything else; we're the all singing all dancing crap of the world."
Excerpts: After Tyler sprinkles lye on the 'Narrator's' hand.
Narrator Voice Over: I tried not to think of the words searing flesh.
Tyler: Stop it! This is your pain. This is your burning hand its right here.
Tyler: This is the greatest moment of your life and you’re off somewhere missing it
Narrator: I am not! [sobbing and grunting in pain]
Tyler: Shut up. Our fathers were our models for god, if our fathers bailed what does that tell you about god?
Slap.
Tyler: Listen to me! You have to consider the possibility that God does not like you; never wanted you; and in all probability... he hates you. It's not the worst thing that can happen. We don't need him!! Fuck damnation man! Fuck redemption!!
We are God's unwanted children? SO BE IT!!
Tyler: Listen to me. You can run water over your hand to make it worse, or, look at me. [Their eyes meet.] Or you can use vinegar to neutralize the burn
Narrator: Please let me have it!! Please!! [sobbing]
Tyler: First you have to give up. First you have to know, not fear, know that one day you are going to die.
Tyler: Its only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.
Thank you to : http://blaiseryan.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/fight-club-quote-%E2%80%9Cits-only-after-we%E2%80%99ve-lost-everything-that-we%E2%80%99re-free-to-do-anything%E2%80%9D/
Although, there was a part in the middle about God that, I believe, he was too scared to write about :D
Quotes:
"With insomnia nothing's real; everything's far away; everything's a copy of a copy of a copy."
"This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."
"If you wake up at a different time, in a different place, could you wake up as a different person?"
"Things you own end up owning you."
"You're not the car you drive, you're not the contents of your wallet, you're not your fuckin' khakis; you're the all singing all dancing crap of the world."
"Listen up maggots: you're not special, you're not a beautiful or unique snowflake, you're the same decaying organic matter as everything else; we're the all singing all dancing crap of the world."
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