Sexually Incorrect Politics and Empathy
I am pretty forgiving when it comes to movies. I try to figure out the creator's purpose. Once I find out what that is, I can enjoy a movie on its own terms. I think I mentioned this on how I rate movies based on their genre as opposed to all movies on the same scale. That is how "Pajama Party" and "Being There" can both rate 5s in my book.
I can think of only a few movies that I have had trouble with this ability. The one that comes to mind this morning is "Crash". I will not deny it was a powerful movie. I saw it once only, possibly 7 years ago and am still thinking about it. I remember wanting to see i,t because then New Line Films Owner: Ted Turner, delayed it's release until after he sold the company. This contrasts greatly with the recent Disney Miramax 9/11 squabble.
I thought "How dare he?" Sure, he is the owner and all, but David Cronenberg is an artiste, what is he thinking? Crash, if you do not know, is about an underground society of people sexually aroused by car crashes. The concept was just beyond my comprehension. I am pretty sure I finished watching the movie. But then again, I can name only one movie I walked out of a theater on. I decline to name it at this time.
But needing a purpose, I found one. This movie put me in the perspective of sexual misunderstanding. I am a gay man, and I repeatedly hear from my straight brethren that they "do not understand" or "There is now way..." in reference to gay sex. Until seeing this movie, I did not understand that feeling. I always pegged it as some sort of sexually repressed denial. But having seen Crash, and feeling the same way about Crash Fetishes, I have an understanding that "not understanding & never" are indeed possible.
I still did not like the movie, but I liked the effect it had. If that as the directors intent - Bravo! Now I am much more open-minded about people's sexual predications
--Motto--
Mens conscia recti
-a Mind concious of what is right.
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I liked Crash because I understood that feeling exactly, not about cars, but sexual arousal born out of loss, guilt and fear.
But what was the movie you walked out on?
I've done it once too. The movie was Proof Of Life and I just couldn't take the dreadfullness anymore. (It's on my 10 Worst Film list which I should post some time). I came back after 2 minutes because I thought I should stick it out and see if it got better. However, for a fleeting moment I felt the urge to run.
Tallyho
:?)
Not liking it, it made a good impression on me still. It seems both our reactions were basically similar. You liked it because... I did not like it, but did like the same because as you.
"N*ice DCreams" a Cheech and Chong flick. I liked "Up In Smoke. I may have been induced by my movie partner, not sure, but it could also have been the stoner audience in the college auditorium.
If that's the one with the ice-cream van I can't really blame you. Movies that bad could warp your mind.
Tallyho
:?)
That would be the one N*Ice DCreams had the ice cream van with the N added and the C changed to a d.
My brother rented every single Cheech and Chong one weekend when we were teenagers. He then proceeded to watch them for about 30 hours straight. That is the only time I can remember my head being numb.
Now they just all seem to blur together in a mass of crap movie. Up In Smoke being the acception.
Tallyho
:?)
I've never walked out on a film because I go to theaters so rarely - when I see a bad film in theaters, it's when I'm with friends, and I don't want to piss them off more than I already do by pointing out the 10,000 reasons why the movie they just watched sucked :-)
I walked out of Nice DCreams because the friend of mine was up for it. I have fallen asleep in midnight movies more than once. I have turned off movies on TV, I have stopped watching DVDs to watch later. But walking out is a statrement to me.