November 2004

We Gotta Get Out of this Place: The De-Coolification of Our Country or "Napoleon Dynamite" is my "Hero"

OK, so maybe the title seems a bit grander than what the rest of the article promises. I just thought it sounded catchy. There's truth to it, though. I base these cynical views on my recent experiences at our local theater. It was recently made clear to me that I'm surrounded by complete idiots, or "our nation's best and brightest" as some might maintain. It's oddly depressing and frustrating that something as trivial as people's commentary after viewing a movie would affect me at such a primal, emotional level, but this is the case.

Our local movie theater doesn't have the luxury of importing the latest movies when they come out as compared to the multiplexes stateside. We get what we get whenever we get it. We're at the mercy of the distributors and the delivery shipments, which means that our theater might screen something I had seen this past summer on the order of last week here. For example, I saw the excellent film Napoleon Dynamite this past summer at home (stateside) and was thoroughly delighted by its ingenuity, simplicity, and heart.

I must be in a greatly exaggerated minority of the general public's opinion of this film here where I work and live. I heard the following comment upon exiting the theater (feeling once again happy and energized by the film) on my way to my car: "There's two hours I'll never get back. What a piece of crap". Now, I realize everyone's entitled to their opinion, but I asked myself, "How can someone be so thick as to not even appreciate the intent of the filmmaker in making this movie?". I also heard, "It was like watching someone's home movies." Exactly! I think if that's the case, then maybe some people at least were beginning to grasp the film's flavor. But, alas, I haven't yet encountered many people who liked the film as much as I did (Evil Robots has endorsed Napoleon Dynamite for US Senator from Utah or Idaho, or wherever).

Another equally discouraging comment was uttered not 8 feet away from me this very night after tonight's 7PM show. The phrase, "Let's go, 'cos I have a 'boring-movie' headache" was released just moments after watching Jet Li's Hero, which I consider a beautiful film for many reasons. Visually stunning, beautiful in its message, and spectacular in most respects, I admire the craftsmanship required to create this movie. I'm a huge fan of Jet Li, Donnie Yen, and Ziyi Zhang for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are their respective athletic and physical talents. "Hero" is a wonderful movie I state with no hyperbole whatsoever. It's visceral, complex yet simple, balletic, and heart-wrenching in the way that it presents and illustrates the highest ideals of people. I was saddened that someone would complain of having a 'boring-movie' headache after watching it.

I'm slowly beginning to realize that some people just can't be satisfied, no matter what. It's strange that they seem to gravitate towards each other. It's almost as if misery truly does love company. I suppose that I must be content with my own perception of things and shouldn't hold others to these same standards. I suppose that would be unfair, selfish, or rude. Perhaps my perception of things is not meant to be shared with those who refuse to evolve and learn. It must be the teacher part of me who wishes to share these revelations, as well as display the desire to enable others to attain their own revelations. I'll be damned if that's going to change, though. Then again, that's just me.