Saw "Bruce Almighty" yesterday. While I can't claim to be a huge Jim Carey fan I really enjoyed this movie. While some might complain about the plot's relative lack of sophistication, I thought it was a fun story. There were moments where I laughed at loud, which I often don't do at movies. The "sticky note" scene was by far the funniest to me.
I generally like the theme of "what would you do if you were God?", so was predisposed to like a movie that explores this theme, even in small ways. I have been more interested in being a benevolent dictator, but hey, God for a week works very nicely as well.
A former co-worker Michael Jackson, (no not the singer) once opined wisely, "Not every show should be the Walton's but one of them should be." Not every movie should be like "Bruce Almighty" or "It's a Wonderful Life" but one of them should be. Not that I am saying "Bruce Almighty" is as good as "It's a Wonderful Life", but it has some of the same feel good elements.
Caveat: I saw "Bruce Almighty" as a matinee. I am always happier with movie I see at half price.
Movies: June 2003 Archives
I finally saw the movie. It took me an unbelievable three weeks and three days since it was released.
How did I like it?
I enjoyed it immensely. It's story like the original movie has riddles and layers of meaning. It also has the one thing that makes me enjoy a movie more than anything else. It is the notion that "perhaps what is real isn't real and then again perhaps it is." Sometime I phrase it this way, "is the main character crazy or is he the only one who is sane?" The movie has this notion written all over it.
The other thing that I like about the movie is that is has archetypal elements. Those elements allow one to transpose many meanings and stories onto it as a way to understand other events. For instance, some folks have taken great pains to point out Christian elements, symbols, and phrasing in the movie. While that is clearly one possibility, you could also transpose the monumental struggle of IBM Mainframes and Open Systems on the story with the same ease. It can be the story of communism, fascism and liberal democracy. It could be the story of large corporations and anti-consumerism. I won't bore you with a list of possiblities as it would be endless. Suffice it to say the elegance of the the movie is that it is many stories simultaneously.
There is another theme that I really enjoy. It is the theme of awakening to purpose. If the reader doesn't believe the central Christian narrative, consider the following as a thought experiment. If the account of Jesus is accurate and he is the son of God, fully God and fully human, when was he aware of this? Was it in the crib? Did this realization come later. Was it sudden and distinct. Was it a gradual awakening. These questions have almost no answer in conventional Christian narrative or tradition. This theme existed in both movies. It is a theme that fascinates me, perhaps as I wonder about my own purpose and when or if I will become fully aware of it.
What didn't I like? I thought the first real fight scene was rendered like a video game. Perhaps that scene should have had more atttention. Perhaps by the time the DVD with goodies comes out it will be even better.
I was curious how Neo would behave with the throng that greeted him after he got off the elevator in Zion. That scene could have been longer IMHO.
This certainly was the best movie I have seen this calendar year.
