paulb@hcrvax.UUCP (Paul Bonneau) (04/23/84)
[]
C'mon, these two movies don't deserve all the negative feedback.
In both of them a very elemental idea is being exposed.
Death.
We all have to face it but that doesn't mean we have to talk
about it, right? Those of you who would think me morbid, please
read no further, because net.apathy is always ready to receive
your replies :-).
In a recent article, "Terms of Endearment" was seen to be a movie
about two women inept at raising children. This may be true on
the surface, but to totally ignore the death of a daughter (and
mom) is kind of looking the other way, wouldn't you say? It
wasn't an easy movie to watch, but it damn well had a message
(which is open to individual interpretation of course, but don't
deny its existence).
"Garp" has been bounced around because of an apparent consensus
of dislike for its author, John Irving. Maybe Irving IS a
supreme {airhead|egocentric boob|etc} but his movie had a message
as well. Again, the death of a son and of a father (although two
different people this time) was thrown in our laps. How many
directors are brave enough to make a movie about the number one
unpopular dinner topic? How many writers to write a book? We
should at least give them credit for their guts, even if they
managed to mangle the theme (not in my opinion!) they at least
made the attempt.
--
Time to get back to net.apathy... Paul R. Bonneau
(decvax|watmath|utzoo}!hcrvax!paulb
geller@rlgvax.UUCP (05/04/84)
This is my first article to be posted to net.movie. Welcome me, please.
"The World According to Garp" was, perhaps, one of the best and most
enjoyable films I have ever seen. I understand, though, that this might
not be the case for a great many people. The best thing I think anyone
can do in order to gain a better appreciation for this film is to read
the book.* The book is a wonderful novel. It is superbly written, enjoy-
able, even believable (to a point). You have to keep in mind that
Irving's characters are a bit less realistic than a great many other
characters you may have seen in movies or have read of in books. This,
in my opinion, heightens the level of sheer enjoyment as the story and
the characters mature. As to the quality of the film - I would consider
the filming and the choreography to be quite
good.
*To make the effort to understand a piece of filmwork, to study the
characters, to counter your criticisms with careful intraspection -- that
is a homage to both the author and the people who made the film. Give credit
to the efforts of others.
(sorry about the proselytizing)
David P. Geller
Computer Consoles, Inc.
{seismo}!rlgvax!geller Office Systems Group
11490 Commerce Park Drive
Reston, VA 22091
703-648-3483