Lessons from Jaws

This week marks the fortieth anniversary of the theatrical release of Jaws. I'm happy to say that I've finally seen it on the big screen.

It's an awesome flick for a number of reasons, but what sticks with me is the unlikely hero. (Yes, I'm avoiding spoilers on a movie nearly as old as I am.)

It's a lesson for life. We tend to wait for the experts--those with the specialized knowledge and training to do the big and scary things. Failing experts, well... won't somebody else do it?

Ducking behind our fear and our obligations and our busyness, we can come up with seemingly rational ways to claim that the work is not ours to do.

But no matter how gory and terrifying (or endless and uncomfortable), we just might be the ones to blow it all open and find the way through.

Diluting the Message

Ever watch an R-rated movie on network  TV or basic cable, and realize that half the dialogue has been bleeped, omitted, or replaced? Zack and Miri Make a Porno is on Comedy Central and it's actually sort of fascinating to see what is left out and what passes*. 

Of course, most of us have our own censoring process, articulated or not. Whether it's manners or fear, we do not say every thing that pops into our head. But how often does it mean that a message is lost? Does our etiquette or self-preservation mean that truth is left unspoken?


*Apparently sh!t can be used as a general noun, but not as a scatological term. Go figure.

"I hope that's not a hostage"

Yes, I'm watching Die Hard again. It's a film full of lessons.

• Hollering while shooting really improves your accuracy.
• While you were shooting up Vietnam, your coworker may have been in junior high.
• Double-crosses have a high rate of blowing up on you.
• We can all do our part, even if it's driving a limo into an ambulance.
• The same traits that make you a hero can make you very hard to live with.

What else have you learned from this classic?

Late Night Bargaining

My alarm goes off at 6:30 AM.
I know I need to get more sleep.

But I'm watching a movie. And yes, I've seen it a dozen times, but I want to finish it.

The responsible part of my brain says, no, no. You have seen this before.

Buhhhht, MOM! I want to watch it!

Fine, negotiates Responsible Brain. You can stay up for the end, IF you tidy the living room while you watch. And no fair getting distracted with blogging.

*sigh* Responsible Brain never lets me have ANY fun.

Perspective, via film

The 1974 classic Young Frankenstein is on this evening-

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What a filthy job.

Igor: Could be worse.*

Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: How?

Igor: Could be raining. <Lightning and thunder, then downpour>

Thankfully, I'm not robbing any graves this week.
And while it's raining and a cold front came through, there are no feet of snow, no power outages, no school cancellations in these parts.

Life is good.




*Other movies with notable "Could be worse" moments- Fight Club, Life of Brian... what else?

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Avoid distractions when writing.

You know, like football games, family, and the South Park movie.

(Warning- Crude Language--and Philosophy)

We watched Guardians of the Galaxy again tonight and I was struck by individual lines, and the full picture they put together. A lot of fun, and some sweet wisdom.

Peter AKA Starlord is a scamp, rarely on the right side of the law. But when he realizes that a truly evil dude is coming to attack a planet, he needs to do something--so he writes a letter to an officer (Rhomann Dey) who's arrested him a few times.

Here's a favorite piece- bleeped just a bit so it doesn't set off your net nannies.

Rhomann Dey: He said that he may be an... "a-hole". But he's not, and I quote, "100% a d!ck".

Nova Prime Rael: Do you believe him?

Rhomann Dey: Well, I don't know if I believe anyone is 100% a d!ck...

Nova Prime Rael: Do you believe he's here to help?

Rhomann Dey: ...Yeah, I do.

(This transcript taken from IMDB.)

I am all over the idea that there is some good in everyone, and that no one is beyond redemption. This movie is a ton of fun, but it's also about very imperfect beings coming together to make things right, and growing into better beings in the process. 

Donwanna Grow Up!

Being a grown up means being responsible and making healthy choices.

Like, say, not staying up until midnight when the alarm goes off at 5:45 AM.

But "When Harry Met Sally" is on.

"I gave her my heart. She gave me a pen."

Lloyd Dobler of Say Anything set the bar pretty high for romance in my teen years--so attentive and funny and sweet! And just edgy enough to be interesting and quotable!

Fictional characters, be they in film, books, or oral storytelling, can be so easy. Even when they're complicated, they're engineered to be compelling.

Who was that character who set your heart aflame?

Cinematic Multitasking

I am a a champion channel-flipper, especially when commercial avoidance is involved. 

On rare occasions, I find fun pairings of movies to flip between with some common themes. 

Tonight?
10 Things I Hate About You and The 40-Year Old Virgin.

What's your pairing?

As I Sit Here Weeping...

watching Steel Magnolias for the umpteenth time, I wonder--

is there some horrendous life experience Sally Field hasn't acted out yet?  



Thank you, Clairee, for breaking the tension.

Over And Over, Again And Again

Why do I watch certain movies every time they are on? 

Tonight's example: Die Hard.

It's a fairly bloody movie, and in real life blood makes me quite queasy.
And while it does pass the Bechdel test, and has one strong female character, it's a very male-centric movie.

It does have a lot of good lines, that whole overcoming odds thing, and who doesn't like a heartwarming Christmas story?

There Are Worse Ways To Spend A Day

I've got a bit of a cold, so my day off had little in the way of adventure or transformation.

My tissues stayed close by as I watched movies. (OK, sometimes I dozed while the movies were on, and sometimes I read...)

What I recall:

*Kung Fu Panda 2

*Red Dawn 

*The last scene of This Is The End, because YES.

*Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (just for a bit)

*Keeping the Faith (Such a cast!)

*Baby Boom
*50 First Dates

Thus far my eyes have not actually melted out of my skull.

And I'd figure out some way to connect all these movies to some vast theological idea, but I'm in a weakened state and should probably get some rest.

The Allure of Lloyd Dobler

Say Anything (1989) came out while I was in high school. Half of my friends had it on VHS and we would watch it at every sleepover*.

We all would drool and sigh for Lloyd Dobler, possibly the most decent and vulnerable male character any of us had ever encountered. He just...cared so much! He was willing to follow his girlfriend across the ocean in a loving show of support. 

Lloyd was counter-cultural in any number of ways--a seeming lack of ambition, a reluctance to buy in to the capitalist dream. He was a sweet rebel, though. A contrast to Christian Slater characters of the time - the homicidal anti-hero of 1988's Heathers and the radio pirate of 1990's Pump Up the Volume.

At the start of the film, Lloyd is asked how he convinced the gorgeous valedictorian to come to a party. He says he just called and asked. His questioner smiles, "This is great. This gives me hope. Thanks."

Lloyd Dobler gave us hope as well. That we would be loved, supported, and have partners who really wanted to talk with us and share feelings along with the hormones. 

*Also in the rotation?  Top Gun, The Princess Bride, and in one departure from the norm, Fatal Attraction.  Yikes!

Fear

I'm watching Iron Man 3--I won't spoil it for a the six of you who are still planning to see it, but at its core is an investigation of fear.

How can others manipulate us, pulling us from our logic to our base terror?

Do we fear the things that actually hurt us?
How can we overcome fear, or at least keep it from paralyzing us?

And what hope is there for those of us without a fancy metal suit?

Yes, I Watched Sharknado 2 Tonight.

I'm not at all ashamed. Heck, I made a special dinner of fish and potato tornadoes.

I knew Sharknado 2 would be stupid and not especially cultured or filled with excellent acting. 

And I enjoyed it, with its completely unrealistic portrayals of almost everything.

The cameos alone were worth far more than the price of admission*, and the bad meteorology was bliss. Seriously, it caught the attention of Dr. Jeff Masters of WeatherUnderground. During hurricane season!

And with social media, I could have conversations about the goofiest part of the movie even when my own family rolled their eyes and left the room.

Sometimes we just need to do something frivolous and completely unproductive. It's like window shopping without the aerobic exercise. 


*Ok, so SyFy is cable, but it's basic cable. And a two-hour movie is nothing compared to the How It's Made marathons this family watches.

When the company's more important than the event

Tonight I had dinner at a restaurant I'd never choose for myself.
Then I went to see a movie I'd never race to see in the theaters.

But my sisters wanted a night out, and I enjoy spending time with them when I can. 

Dinner was Mexican-ish--chimichangas and fried ice cream on the menu. Margarita variations included strawberry, raspberry, and Packers. (No, I was not brave enough to try.)

The movie was 22 Jump Street. We had an awful lot of time guffawing at the hijinks, fully realizing that the film will not be up for (m)any Oscars.

We got to hang out together, and that means a lot. Soon enough I'll be 1200 miles away, with my beloved Tex-Mex but far from these two awesome women* who've known me a long long time.

*Yes, I should totally include a picture, but we didn't think to snap one tonight.