I like things that I can work out.
I like things that I can handle, touch, and grasp onto. That doesn't mean it has to be a physical object. I like ideas that are new, interesting to me, and force me to think. I like problems that I can mentally solve. I like concepts that make sense.
I like beliefs that I can see the truth in, even if I don't agree.
But most of all, I like things that I can work out.
I have now seen this movie 4 times. That's an impressive number for me especially since it came out 4 years ago. I go months, years even without seeing it, and then one day I have an earnest desire to see it again. I'm never able to pinpoint exactly why specifically I want to see it again, I just know that I need to.
Once I start watching it, I remember why I wanted to and needed to see it. The "why" is not important for you. But it is desperately important for me.
I've been thinking a lot lately.
Thinking is not something that I can do a lot in school. That sounds oxymoronish but anyone who has ever been in school knows that it's true. When in school, you think about papers, tests, class notes, and things happening at school. You don't spend much time thinking about things outside of school.
I find myself collecting thoughts during school that I want to explore later, but I never find the time. In school, there isn't time to think.
Then, suddenly, when I have the time (like this gorgeous spring break) those thoughts come flooding back. So fast, so hard, so painful, so many that I can't keep them straight. I start talking about them and I talk for hours. I can sit for hours and talk about what you would consider nothing with a friend. I can walk for a long time with a friend and not even realize the pouring rain because I'm so caught up in working things out. I can work by myself for hours, doing meaningless tasks, and be surprised by how quickly time passes because I'm caught up in my thoughts.
I like things that I can work out. The perfect thing, however, is something that cannot be entirely worked out. It needs to be just far enough above you that you're constantly grasping, just far enough ahead of you that you're constantly striving, and just important enough that you're constantly learning more about it.
I can't work this problem out entirely, but I'm going to keep grasping.
I can't figure this movie out entirely, but I'm going to keep striving.
I can't figure this important thing out entirely, but I'm going to keep learning.
I like drawing closer to realizations. It makes me want to know more.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Epic
I may not be able to recite my teacher's definition of an epic poem like RuthAnn, but I do know an epic movie when I see one.
I just finished watching an epic. I had to watch it in 2 parts. (It was 2 hours and 45 minutes). Here is your (Joanna) definition of an epic:
1. Length - is necessary. Normal movie length will not do. I've never seen an epic less than 2 hours. Most are more.
2. War - There must be war in an epic. And even if the war is happening "off screen", there will inevitably be a scene where the main character stumbles blindly through the wreckage of war, smoke is present, the normal noise is gone and choirs or the main theme takes over, and the character practices their horrified expression. It may sound like I'm making fun of this scene, I'm not. Some of these scenes are phenomenal. Others are just necessary. Even if the scene is only there for necessity, you should still take notice. Even those scenes can serve as a good reminder. You know that it's a good scene if you don't notice that you're taking notice.
3. Love/Respect - There must be a love story. Even if there are no woman on screen, there must be a love story. (and no Adolescent Lit. class, I did not just say that there must be a gay love story) When someone selflessly gives up their life for another, you do feel love/respect. While most love stories do not play the largest part in an epic, they are usually ranked right up there behind war.
4. Vast, Sweeping Landscapes - Don't ever try to give me an epic without them. It won't be one.
5. Music - Please, epic makers, get a decent composer to write your theme. That theme is going to be played throughout the whole movie, it must be interesting enough that people can listen to it, long enough so you haven't used all of its options by the end of the movie, and complex enough so you can do interesting musical things with it. I'm sick and tired of cheap epic music.
6. "The Moment" - It is the only thing left that is necessary for an epic. The moment happens in every epic (it also tries to happen in many movies, but you tend to notice it more in an epic). "The Moment" should be inescapable. It should be when everyone watching is of their own volition completely silent, it should be incredible, music (usually choir) should ring out, the movie should make sense, you should feel as if you've learned something, most importantly - you should feel. Every epic has a "The Moment".
One thing that can go horribly wrong with "The Moment" is if you have too many of them. If there are multiple moments, then their importance is lost. If you're not sure which one is supposed to be "The Moment" it just means the director was trying too hard. He's sitting there thinking,
"Well if that didn't get them, this will. Oh wait, everyone's not crying yet? All right, I'll kill off the sidekick. (evil laugh) Didn't see that coming, did you? Not there yet, all right, I'm going to burn down their house. Seriously they're not in awe yet? All right- take this - love interest ... yeah she's going down".
"The Moment" should be easily discernible. And while there can be several very good moments - there should not be more than one (although I have seen one epic where two worked - but that was only one movie, and only two moments).
The epic works as a storyline. It does. It has worked for years, and it will continue to work. Don't screw with the formula for an epic. If you do, epic audiences will screw with you (lame, I know).
I just finished watching an epic. I had to watch it in 2 parts. (It was 2 hours and 45 minutes). Here is your (Joanna) definition of an epic:
1. Length - is necessary. Normal movie length will not do. I've never seen an epic less than 2 hours. Most are more.
2. War - There must be war in an epic. And even if the war is happening "off screen", there will inevitably be a scene where the main character stumbles blindly through the wreckage of war, smoke is present, the normal noise is gone and choirs or the main theme takes over, and the character practices their horrified expression. It may sound like I'm making fun of this scene, I'm not. Some of these scenes are phenomenal. Others are just necessary. Even if the scene is only there for necessity, you should still take notice. Even those scenes can serve as a good reminder. You know that it's a good scene if you don't notice that you're taking notice.
3. Love/Respect - There must be a love story. Even if there are no woman on screen, there must be a love story. (and no Adolescent Lit. class, I did not just say that there must be a gay love story) When someone selflessly gives up their life for another, you do feel love/respect. While most love stories do not play the largest part in an epic, they are usually ranked right up there behind war.
4. Vast, Sweeping Landscapes - Don't ever try to give me an epic without them. It won't be one.
5. Music - Please, epic makers, get a decent composer to write your theme. That theme is going to be played throughout the whole movie, it must be interesting enough that people can listen to it, long enough so you haven't used all of its options by the end of the movie, and complex enough so you can do interesting musical things with it. I'm sick and tired of cheap epic music.
6. "The Moment" - It is the only thing left that is necessary for an epic. The moment happens in every epic (it also tries to happen in many movies, but you tend to notice it more in an epic). "The Moment" should be inescapable. It should be when everyone watching is of their own volition completely silent, it should be incredible, music (usually choir) should ring out, the movie should make sense, you should feel as if you've learned something, most importantly - you should feel. Every epic has a "The Moment".
One thing that can go horribly wrong with "The Moment" is if you have too many of them. If there are multiple moments, then their importance is lost. If you're not sure which one is supposed to be "The Moment" it just means the director was trying too hard. He's sitting there thinking,
"Well if that didn't get them, this will. Oh wait, everyone's not crying yet? All right, I'll kill off the sidekick. (evil laugh) Didn't see that coming, did you? Not there yet, all right, I'm going to burn down their house. Seriously they're not in awe yet? All right- take this - love interest ... yeah she's going down".
"The Moment" should be easily discernible. And while there can be several very good moments - there should not be more than one (although I have seen one epic where two worked - but that was only one movie, and only two moments).
The epic works as a storyline. It does. It has worked for years, and it will continue to work. Don't screw with the formula for an epic. If you do, epic audiences will screw with you (lame, I know).
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