Theatre & War
The "movie going experience" is an over worked catch phrase that really doesn't seem to mean much of anything besides- get in car, go to the cinema, watch movie, make comments on it (love it/hate it), and then your done. What ever happened to entertainment making you think and discuss the topic at hand? This directing project is constantly challenging my loyalty to theatre. It's a type of art that seems to be dying unless it has an emotional or controversial topic that can be marketed to the masses. Going out to plays and musicals is such a hassle- there is finding a show, searching for a reasonable venue, the issue of acting and how believable it is. In comparison to going to the movies- which are easily accessable and can provide it's audeince with a believable non-reality thanks to technology- theatre is such a pain in the ass. However, from my point of view, it seems that theatre is an elitist form of entertainment. And that is crap! There is so much theatre out there that deserves an audience. People can completely disengage themselves from a movie, but at a theatre there is usually an emotional connection to the production (even if it is bad!). The actors are there in the flesh and if they fuck up or move you there is a human sympathy in the room b/c the people on stage can instantly sense reactions and that always effects a performance.
This all came about b/c Stevie and I went to see Jarhead tonight. I hadn't been to the movies for ages, let alone seen anything decent recently (come on, I watch south park on youtube.com). Not going to lie, I was hesitant to see it- but I ended up really liking it and connecting with the main character. It reminded me of my dad and how he tried to raise us like we were his little soldiers. Tough love means loyalty. But you look at those kids in the military and some of them are fucked up b/c of that kind of treatment. The movie was so emotionally charged it made me get all tense and put me in suspense- things a movie hasn't made me feel since I saw Full Metal Jacket. So much about military life just blows my mind- those kids are tough but their brains have to be so muddled with their duties and their will to do otherwise. I'm so glad my brother talked me out of joining the army- I would have blown my brains out if I had to go to war. Stevie's friend was in Iraq for a good long while and came back a different person. How could he have not? It's such a fucked up lifestyle that if it doesn't affect you- you must be hollow on the inside. More on this later...
This all came about b/c Stevie and I went to see Jarhead tonight. I hadn't been to the movies for ages, let alone seen anything decent recently (come on, I watch south park on youtube.com). Not going to lie, I was hesitant to see it- but I ended up really liking it and connecting with the main character. It reminded me of my dad and how he tried to raise us like we were his little soldiers. Tough love means loyalty. But you look at those kids in the military and some of them are fucked up b/c of that kind of treatment. The movie was so emotionally charged it made me get all tense and put me in suspense- things a movie hasn't made me feel since I saw Full Metal Jacket. So much about military life just blows my mind- those kids are tough but their brains have to be so muddled with their duties and their will to do otherwise. I'm so glad my brother talked me out of joining the army- I would have blown my brains out if I had to go to war. Stevie's friend was in Iraq for a good long while and came back a different person. How could he have not? It's such a fucked up lifestyle that if it doesn't affect you- you must be hollow on the inside. More on this later...