V-Movies Part II & More

Today I watched two movies, finished a graphic novel, started a new book and made some more progress on another.

THX 1138 was George Lucas' directorial debut in 1971, a reworking of a film he made while a student at USC's film school. It's original trailer billed it as "A love story filmed on location in the 21st Century."

In this futuristic, Orwellian society, love is the ultimate perversion, and humans are kept in a drug-induced sedation to mindlessly do the work of the state. Thinking for oneself is discouraged, conformity is the order of the day. Computer voices chant phrases like "Be happy", "Be efficient", and "Buy more", as the drones subconsciously take it all in.

THX 1138 is the number assigned to Robert Duvall's character. He and his "mate" slowly begin to "come awake", first by stopping their routine of drugs (a criminal act) and then realizing they can have real intimacy with one another. As the state steps in to bring them under control, Duvall eventually runs for it, seeking to truly Live.

Overall this is not a bad film, but I felt it bogged down and tried to be a bit too avant-garde. Many of the visuals are very creative and the stark world Lucas creates is disturbing and convincing. Sounds effect that will be put to good use in the Star Wars films are evident in early forms here (I'm pretty sure I heard the whoosh of the light saber and the robotic tones of both R2 and 3PO.)

The car chase and traffic scenes seem to have been a clear inspiration for Minority Report's similar scenes.

Easy Rider was the second movie I watched today and it surprised me. I was expecting a laid back, sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll slice of the late 60's, innocent and fun-loving. But Dennis Hopper's movie was clearly trying to say something.

I think the message was contained in a poignant conversation toward the end of the film between Jack Nicholson's character and Dennis Hopper's. Nicholson, the boozy lawyer (who steals the show by the way) Hopper and Peter Fonda pick up on their way to Mardi Gras, is waxing philosophical about freedom. He says something along these lines:

"Don't ever tell anyone that they're not free...'cause they will get to maimin' and a killin' to prove that they are...If they see a truly free individual, it's gonna scare 'em..."

And then, as if to prove his point, bad things are done to the free-living hippies that illustrate just how imprisoned to fear and judgment much of society is. The movie does not end well.

I don't this film ages well. It also tries experimenting with creative (psychedelic?) film-making, and it feels awkward--at least after 40 years it did to this viewer. Peter Fonda is very good, as is Jack Nicholson. Neither of these movies was as good as the two I watched yesterday.


The Surrogates, a wonderful graphic novel, I just learned is in production and scheduled to be released in the spring of 2009, starring Bruce Willis.

A doctoral student from my church loaned this to me after we discussed our mutual love of comic books (he will be doing his dissertation on graphic novels as literature--should be interesting). Anyway, this is good, if somewhat derivative stuff.

The premise is creative: in the year 2054, humans interact with one another via surrogate robots. The surrogates work and play while their owners stay in the safety of their own homes and control the actions. A cop, Greer, slowly realizes through the anarchist crimes of "SteepleJack" that humanity--himself included--is actually living less and less, despite the advertising promises of those that manufacture the surrogates.

After his surrogate is destroyed by SteepleJack (liberated?), Greer decides against a replacement, opting to experience life in the flesh once again, as he attempts to stop a massive cyber-terrorist act while finding himself in the process.

Good stuff. Should make an interesting movie.

All three of these pieces of popular culture remind me of John 10:10 in which Jesus says, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full." There is much that works against us enjoying this abundant, full life.

Also continued to plow through Anna Karenina, which I am still enjoying, and started The Taste of New Wine, recommended by another friend at church that looks promising.

More tomorrow.