Sunday, May 17, 2015

What the movies say to me

I've watched a few movies over the last couple of days, and being the deep and meaningful kind of man, I am, I haven't simply viewed these films for their entertainment value. I'm always looking for something, because I don't believe directors or writers are neutral. Even the most superficial of movies, the 'all style and no substance' variety, is, in my opinion trying to say something to us about the human condition.


Mad Max was released in 1979, and is considered an Australian classic. The main theme of Mad Max was revenge. What I took away from it was that if you take away everything that a person has to live for, they no longer have anything to live for, and they stop being themselves. Think about it.


The Imitation Game was released this year, and is a terrific film based on the true story of an eccentric mathematician who worked on a top secret project for the British government during the second world war.What I took away from this film is that nothing is as it seems on the surface, and governments sometimes have to do things which are necessary, albeit extremely distasteful.


The Avengers: Age of Ultron is another in a long line of special effects heavy, plot light superhero movies based on comic book characters. It is a really fun, entertaining movie with stunning visual effects and funny one liners. What I took away from it was that everybody wants to believe that there is someone or something better than them (stronger, faster, smarter) who can save them when they can't save themselves. We all need heroes to believe in, and we all need a saviour.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on movies, these or any others, and the idea they speak volumes about we who devour them.


4 comments:

  1. I love that you posted what you took away from each film. It's one of those things I don't pay attention to at the time, but then later have an aha moment. :)

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    1. I guess we all have our a-ha moments at different times. I had another one last night when I watched 2010: Moby Dick which I thought was a terrible movie. The theme of obsession is a great one but it was totally under explored by the director/writer.

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  2. Mad Max. Should know this movie. A cult classic but I don't think I ever saw it. My husband says I did. Guess it didn't make much of an impression. I don't always contemplate the meaning of movies, but I like your nutshell interpretation.

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  3. The Imitation Game is on my to-watch list, but I haven't got the time to do it yet. The last good movie I saw was the one about Stephen Hawking >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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