Ever since I can remember, I've loved movies. I recall being a small child, staying up way past my bedtime to watch movies on TV. Movies that I had no business watching, or movies that you wouldn't imagine a small boy even wanting to watch. And yet, I watched. Avidly, I'd say. Why? Because I love movies. And as I've grown older my love has blossomed and become...refined. Now, I appreciate movies on a multitude of levels. I love the art of film making and on the opposite end of the spectrum I love stupid movies that simply entertain me for one reason or the other.
However...I've found myself becoming more and more irritated by "hype". By the attitudes of others...aesthetes who, for one reason or another, pride themselves on some intangible "filmic wisdom" that has been imparted on them by the consumer built pop-culture machine. This irritating attitude manifests itself in a number of areas outside of film of course (art, literature, video-games, etc.) but a particular quote has focused my attention on movies and therefore I feel a need to...vent.
First...the quote, from Mr. James Cameron, in an interview regarding Hollywood's latest scream filled, gore fest "Pirahna: 3D". "You’ve got to remember: I worked on Piranha 2 for a few days and got fired off of it; I don’t put it on my official filmography. So there’s no sort of fond connection for me whatsoever," he told them. "In fact, I would go even farther and say that... I tend almost never to throw other films under the bus, but that is exactly an example of what we should not be doing in 3-D. Because it just cheapens the medium and reminds you of the bad 3-D horror films from the 70s and 80s, like Friday the 13th 3-D. When movies got to the bottom of the barrel of their creativity and at the last gasp of their financial lifespan, they did a 3-D version to get the last few drops of blood out of the turnip. And that’s not what’s happening now with 3-D."
It's probably a terrible warning to some deep seeded mental malfunction that this has angered me so much, but god help me, it has. It's "cheapens the medium"? What the fuck? Okay...I saw Avatar. Granted, I have not seen it in 3D, but I did see the film. Now, this is not a write up about Avatar, but I will state that, for the most part, I enjoyed the movie, but for no reason beyond it's aesthetics. The script was, in my opinion, sub-par. The story was a hack job, at best. The music and over-all presentation was impressive, but not so much so that I feel the need to ever watch the movie again. What I am writing about is the audacity Mr. Cameron has to make such a gross comment about another film. Like his movie was god's gift to 3D movies everywhere. In my humble opinion, Horror movies are the only movies that really even should be in 3D. The 3D fad, and lets face it, that's what it is, is a gimmick. It does not help tell a story at all. Did the 3D make Avatar's script any better? Did it make the story seem more original in some way? No. It made it more visually impressive. With Horror movies, the 3D technology at least lends itself to startling people. Albeit, it's a cheap way to scare someone, but it still does the trick. And I've heard the argument that "3D really helps to immerse the audience in the film" but a good movie will do that without the use of the 3D tech. A good script, with solid, well-rounded characters will immerse someone in a film far better than this 3D bullshit.
And furthermore, how dare that pompous ass say "...this is exactly an example of what we shouldn't be doing in 3D." First off, movies, in general, while entertaining are a horrendously terrible waste of money. Though the exact figure is a little up in the air, it's out there that Avatar cost $500 million. $500 MILLION! Wasting that much money on a movie like that literally makes me want to throw up. But what's more is what authority does he have to cast that sort of judgement. I realize that Pirahna: 3D is, by no stretch, an art film and compared to Avatar, even less so, but it's another group of individuals' attempt to entertain and make money, which is exactly what Cameron set out to do with Avatar, whether he wants to admit it or not.
I guess my overall point is that, first off, 3D is bullshit and secondly, James Cameron is a pompous asshole who's hype has gone to his head.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Just say no to hate...
As one who wishes to be a functioning member of society I try to keep up on current events. I find myself watching a balance of news... with cartoons. The news is important when it comes to being up on the aforementioned current events, however it depresses me beyond belief at times. Other times it insights such a rage in me that I can't even fathom words to describe it. That's where the cartoons come in. Balancing the horrendous negative emotions with silly, animated ridiculousness. However, the news of late has been so heinous that the bright colors and vivid, whimsical motions of my favorite cartoons have provided little solace. I'm referring to one particular story and that is the issue revolving around the controversy surrounding the building of the Islamic Faith Center in New York.
The events of 9/11 were...indescribably horrible. I remember being in school and watching the events unfold and just the sheer disbelief I felt. The disbelief and sadness. Since that day, however, many have responded to certain events in such a way that has poured salt in the wounds left by that day in 2001.
The most recent, of course, is the protesting, hate speech, and sheer ignorance surrounding this issue in New York. The proposed multimillion dollar Islamic Center has been in the works since before the dreadful events of 9/11. Daisy Kahn, Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, said “It is a center that will, number one, amplify the voice of the Muslims who are against extremists ideologies but also want to promote an understanding and remove ignorance of Islam.” But political figures on the Right such as Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and their supporters seem to be completely ignorant of the goal for this center. They choose to see this as some sort of affront to the victims of 9/11 and America in general.
Now, I can understand this response, to a very small degree, but everyone who is up in arms about must slow down and think this through from a human stand-point. This response comes, mainly, from a fear of the Muslim faith. A fear that is housed in ignorance. Something that this Islam Center will work to combat. But none of the protesters see that. None of them see that the attacks of 9/11 weren't just horrible for us over here but for Muslim's everywhere. The group that attacked the World Trade Center was an extremist group. They were a group of hateful individuals who just happened to be Muslims. They represent the entire faith much in the same way individuals like Scott Roeder, the extremist that murdered Dr. George Tiller, represent all Christians. The fact of the matter is that New York needs a place like this. The closer to Ground Zero the better. The only way we can grow and heal as a society, as human beings, is to increase our understanding and knowledge of the things that wrongfully scare us.
The only way to truly purify evil is through higher thinking. We must rise above ignorance and hate. If we do not, then we are no better than those who chose to give in to their hate on 9/11.
The events of 9/11 were...indescribably horrible. I remember being in school and watching the events unfold and just the sheer disbelief I felt. The disbelief and sadness. Since that day, however, many have responded to certain events in such a way that has poured salt in the wounds left by that day in 2001.
The most recent, of course, is the protesting, hate speech, and sheer ignorance surrounding this issue in New York. The proposed multimillion dollar Islamic Center has been in the works since before the dreadful events of 9/11. Daisy Kahn, Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement, said “It is a center that will, number one, amplify the voice of the Muslims who are against extremists ideologies but also want to promote an understanding and remove ignorance of Islam.” But political figures on the Right such as Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and their supporters seem to be completely ignorant of the goal for this center. They choose to see this as some sort of affront to the victims of 9/11 and America in general.
Now, I can understand this response, to a very small degree, but everyone who is up in arms about must slow down and think this through from a human stand-point. This response comes, mainly, from a fear of the Muslim faith. A fear that is housed in ignorance. Something that this Islam Center will work to combat. But none of the protesters see that. None of them see that the attacks of 9/11 weren't just horrible for us over here but for Muslim's everywhere. The group that attacked the World Trade Center was an extremist group. They were a group of hateful individuals who just happened to be Muslims. They represent the entire faith much in the same way individuals like Scott Roeder, the extremist that murdered Dr. George Tiller, represent all Christians. The fact of the matter is that New York needs a place like this. The closer to Ground Zero the better. The only way we can grow and heal as a society, as human beings, is to increase our understanding and knowledge of the things that wrongfully scare us.
The only way to truly purify evil is through higher thinking. We must rise above ignorance and hate. If we do not, then we are no better than those who chose to give in to their hate on 9/11.
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