Termination

Just saw Terminator: Salvation and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. There were some cool scenes and some interesting thoughts and ideas, but I'm still somewhat disappointed. I definitely found it refreshing to get out of the whole time travel rut (and all the obnoxious paradoxes that come from that) and see the actual war against the machines. It was also interesting to see how some of the characters that get mentioned in the previous films came together and who they really are.

I think what left me feeling less than satisfied was a certain pet-peeve of mine when it comes to film distributors. Have you ever watched a preview and thought, "Well, I guess I don't need to watch that movie now," because you just saw everything in the trailer? I had hopes that would not be the case for Terminator, but I was mistaken. They give away the big shocking moment that changes the course of the entire film in the preview. And from that point on, the plot is predictable.

I was also a bit nonplussed with the ending. They have made it clear from the beginning that this was intended to be the beginning of a new trilogy that would show the final showdown between the machines and humans (Matrix anyone?), but by the end, I honestly didn't care about seeing more. I liked the idea that no matter how much meddling the people of the future did in the past, the inexorable march of technology will lead to the mechanized judgment day, and I was initially interested to see this side of the story. But now, I don't know how they can continue to make an interesting story from here on out without being utterly predictable. I think the corner they have backed themselves into is that when technology is the enemy, you have to keep upping the ante with each film. They've done that for 4 films and I don't know that they have anywhere to go.

Anyhoo, just some thoughts. And, of course, an obligatory metal head...

Mystery

Why do we hate mystery?

Oh, sure, we love a good mystery story every now and then, but we have to have all the loose ends neatly tied and all questions answered by the end. If not we feel disappointed or frustrated. Or we eagerly anticipate the sequel (or prequel) that will explain everything. And yet, all too often, continuing the story to answer all the questions winds up making things worse. (Godfather 3, anyone?)

I'm a big Star Wars fan and I have actually been debating on how to show my kids the series. If I show them the prequels first, the big reveal in Episode V loses all its impact. But at the same time, the shock of Anakin's fall and betrayal in the prequels wasn't as dramatic for me, knowing the outcome already. (Then again, maybe that has to do with the sub-par storytelling of the prequels) Or maybe I shouldn't show them at all and leave that era of the Star Wars story a mystery for them to enjoy. Ah, the debates that rage through the mind of a nerd...

The series Lost is a great example of our wrestling match with mystery. Some people have been frustrated by all the mysteries, and the lack of answers to many of the questions. But if there were no overshadowing mysteries, would the show be as interesting? When I first heard about the concept for the show, I didn't think it would last more than a season. Who wants to watch a bunch of people stuck on a deserted island? Doesn't Survivor already do that? It's the supernatural, mysterious elements that make the show worth watching. I just hope they end the show when it is time and don't just string out a bunch more questions to keep the show on life support, ala X-Files.

I think there is a certain beauty in the mystery. I think life would be boring if we had all the answers. Isn't life more interesting one step at a time? Would you live your life the same way if you knew how everything was going to turn out? Or would knowing the outcome change your decisions?

Here's to a little more mystery!

Brazil

I finally got around to watching the film Brazil, by Terry Gilliam. I have always enjoyed Gilliam's work and this one was probably one of his best. Granted, I saw a director's cut and several of his films have been reportedly ruined by studio meddling, but it seemed to be his best executed film. Everything really flowed and made sense in that bizarre Terry Gilliam way. The film seemed complete, whereas some of his others seem to be missing something once you get to the end.

I also enjoyed the story and world that he created. His idea of a future where information is commodity, privacy is non-existent, and bureaucracy reigns supreme is disturbingly prescient. The excessive security enacted to combat terrorism is the very complaint many have lodged against the Patriot Act. For anyone who has had "contraband" confiscated at the airport, there is a hilarious scene when the main character and his mother enter a restaurant and the gift she has bought him triggers an alarm.

The story is a wonderfully tragic tale, echoing the classic greek tragedies, where the main character, in order to avoid the thing he dreads, sets off a chain of events that bring his fear to fruition. It all leads to an ending that is so brilliant and off-beat, that you can't think of a better one. And of course, I'll never be able to listen to Pink Martini quite the same again...

The Dark Knight

The Motion Picture Academy has once again proven that they are total snobs who cannot bring themselves to respect any film released before November. I have not yet seen any of the best picture/director nominees, but to not even honor a film as powerful and well-crafted as The Dark Knight is ridiculous. The only major nomination it received was for Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, which is deserved, but also was a foregone conclusion to most 6 months ago. This was one of the finest crafted films I have ever seen. In fact, it was almost more of an experience than just a film.

Not only was The Dark Knight an enjoyable and engaging action movie, but it also addressed some very interesting ideas and issues. Of course it had the theme of good vs. evil, but most importantly, it tried to find the line between the two. The Joker is constantly trying to push Batman to break his one rule. Through that conflict we also see some ideas about integrity, and the seduction of the darker side of humanity. There are also themes of sacrifice, justice, loss, and so many more elements of the human story.

What most fascinated me, though, was the central idea of the film that is given in the title itself. In the end Batman embraces the persona of the dark knight, the one who lives in shadows and confronts evil on its own terms. He realizes that in a broken world, sometimes society needs people to do its dirty work, only to be reviled by the very people they are protecting. I find this especially fascinating given the timing of the film. Given the vehement dislike of the president who just left office over issues like the war on terrorism, torture, infringement of personal privacy, and other issues, this film was terribly ironic in its popularity. At the same time that people were reviling our president for allowing water boarding of suspected terrorists, they were applauding as Batman beat the Joker to a pulp while in police custody. The top grossing film of the year (and second-most all-time) was validating every controversial move of the Bush administration, yet most people never even noticed.

And that right there is the beauty of this film. It grappled with deep and powerful issues that most people totally missed because they were having too much fun. It hid valuable truths and insightful questions deep inside an entertaining and beautiful story. Isn't that the point of any artistic medium?