5-18-2013
Signs
Today I had the television on while I was working on writing thank you notes and planning lessons. The 2002 Mel Gibson film "Signs" came on the television. I watched it half-heartedly at first, as most movies involving crop circles and possible Aliens bore me. I had to miss about ten minutes when I took a shower, and so I read the Wikipedia summary to make sure I didn't miss anything and to decide if I wanted to continue watching such an angst-riddled film.
To be honest, the only thing that hooked me from the summary was the fact that Gibson's character was a former Episcopal priest. Episcopals versus Aliens... Now that could be something to watch. Fortunately the theme of the movie ran a bit deeper than just "ermahgurd aleeums!" Fate. Coincidences. Faith. I don't believe it was the best of movies, but then again, I'm not a huge fan of Shyamalan. Over all, it was okay.
Final Grade: C+
5-11-2013
The Great Gatsby
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Tonight I went out with my boyfriend's sister and cousin to go and see The Great Gatsby in theatres. If memory serves me correctly, this is the fourth film incarnation of this wonderful book.
After seeing a good movie, I always have the feeling that I have somehow stepped out of my own life for a few hours and am suddenly thrown back into an unfamiliar world. Sometimes it will take me a half hour or more to get my bearings once more. The same can be said about The Great Gatsby.
I fell in love with Fitzgerald's book in the tenth grade. All Pre-AP English students in the 10th grade at my high school were forced to read this book. At first, most people were nonplussed with Fitzgerald's writing, but quickly, most students found themselves reading ahead of our assignments. As teenagers, most girls wanted to find a love like Gatsby's love for Daisy. We ate it up. The boys were simply in awe of a self-made millionaire, and so, there was something in the book to hook everyone.
Self made millionaire, Jay Gatsby is continually stuck in the past. Even though he had not seen Daisy in five long years, he still yearns for her and every single thought and action revolves around winning her already married hand. Jay left for the war in Europe and then did not return, so that he might make a name and fortune for himself in order to give Daisy the life she deserved. However, Daisy married another man, and so, by the time Gatsby returned, he purchased a house directly across the bay from hers in order to be as near to her as he could. He threw elaborate parties all in the hopes that Daisy might one day walk in. I won't give away much more than that for those of you who missed out on this wonderful book, but the main focus is on the past. Gatsby is as stuck in his hopes and dreams from the past as any of us.
"So we beat on, boats against the current, bore back ceaselessly into the past."
Gatsby is one of those books (and now movies) that only makes sense once the reader is old enough to have a past. It means more to me now than it did when I was in high school. After all, what past did I have then? Middle school certainly was no green light on a dock. I believe that I am finally coming to understand Fitzgerald's meaning. My highest praise for this movie is that it deviates not at all from the original book. It doesn't have to.
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