Random Opinions ranjeet on 21 Jan 2007 03:24 am
Powerful Movies
Well, in an earlier post I discussed some books that I thought were provocative enough to leave an impression on me. I wanted to do the same for movies. However, when looking back on the movies that I’ve seen, I can’t think of nearly as many examples. But I’ll do what I can. Because I know there are so many people out there who care.
Saving Private Ryan
When I think of this movie, there are two memorable moments that come to my mind. The first is the opening scene of D-Day, a brutal depiction of industrial warfare. I have heard certain media individuals say that the American public does have the determination or stomach for war, unlike past generations that were more understanding that if you’re going to win a war, you gotta break a few eggs. My thought is that if the average citizen could see what we see today, with embedded journalists and cell phone cameras, they would feel exactly the same way we do. It’s one thing to hear that thousands of people died during an attack — it’s quite another to see wave after wave of soldiers pushing up on a beach, facing a wall of bullets and land mines under every step. It’s quite another to see the aftermath and carnage.
Somewhat symmetrically, the other moment occurs near the very end. The cavalry has arrived and the Germans have been driven back, just when it seemed like it would be too late. James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) is at the side of Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks), hearing his dying words. Of the eight man platoon that started out in search of Private Ryan, only Private Reiben and Corporal Upham survived. Private Miller looks to Private Ryan and says “Earn this.” Wow, just wow. That’s a mindblowing, motherfucker of a mandate. “Hey kid, six men just died in an attempt to get you back alive. You better make each day you have left count for something, because otherwise we will HAUNT YOU IN YOUR SLEEP.” Or at least, that’s how I would have heard it. On the flip side is Corporal Upham, who must live with his cowardice for the rest of his life. Either experience would push me to make it so that my generation was known as “The Greatest.”
Fight Club
This may seem like an odd choice, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a movie that stunned me the first time watching it like this movie did. I can’t think of any movie where from about 2 minutes in, my jaw was open wide and all I could think was “This movie is amazing. The screenplay was great; the cinematography was fantastic. I would say the movie was better than the book, even though they scraped off the nihilistic endorsement a bit. From then on, all movie experiences were based off of this one.
Life Is Beautiful
Okay, I will straight up say that this movie is magical. There, I said it. It may make me a pansy, but Guido’s (Benigni) portrayal of the courtship of his future wife brought a big-ass smile to my face, because it was perfect. Guido’s efforts to shield the horrors of the concentration camp from his son were inspired, although it makes me wonder how the kid would have felt after he found out what he was really involved in.
American History X
This movie is not subtle. It beats you over the head with the point. But with all even with all the blatantness, it’s a powerful movie. Racism is bullshit.
The Shawshank Redemption
Another movie that belongs in that rare “the movie is better than the book” category. To me, this movie is all about hope, hopelessness, and time. The hope that some day you’ll get out of prison may drive you insane, but it may be the only thing that keeps you going. Time, and routine, can wear down the human psyche. Also, if you’re not cheering when Andy Dufresne crawls out of that sewage pipe into the driving rainstorm and rips off his prison clothes, you have no soul. Seriously. You might as well go out and strangle some puppies.