August 27, 2011
I watched “A Beautiful Mind” today with my son. Although this movie was released in 2001, this was the first time I had watched it. I had heard this was an excellent movie. Whenever someone mentioned it, I would comment that I wanted to watch it. So I finally got the chance.
I rarely watch movies. I watch TV even less. Often, I watch a movie that many have talked about years after the movie’s popularity has waned. Such was the case of “A Beautiful Mind.” We obtained the movie itself through a donation centre in Slave Lake. After the wildfire, we had the opportunity to browse through the generous donations from others, and we picked up a few movies. Although my teens have been watching them diligently, I haven’t taken the time, until tonight.
I didn’t know what to expect from the movie. And since it had been released so many years ago, I remembered very little of what was told about it. Because I watch so few movies, I am quite critical of them. If I have taken time out of my busy life to watch someone’s creation, I had better be impressed.
I prefer comedy and drama. I like a good story. One that grips me and holds me to the end of the movie. I don’t like watching a movie that I can guess the ending fairly accurately before I’m halfway through the movie. Not many movies can meet that criteria. I also don’t often like action movies. They rely too much on violence and not enough on quality. If I’m going to watch an action movie, I prefer that it be a comedy.
The first time I watch a movie I’m caught up in the story. Rarely do I ever bother to watch the movie a second time. I would watch “A Beautiful Mind” again. I’m impressed by how well the writers, directors, and actors were able to portray an individual having schizophrenic episodes. Not once did I suspect that the events occurring in Nash’s mind were hallucinations. I would like to examine the scenes closer, now that I know what to expect. I am curious to see if I can recognize when the character, John Nash, played by Russell Crowe, begins to hallucinate.
Another movie that I want to watch again is “The Sixth Sense.” That movie was also able to keep me hooked right to the end. Not once did I suspect in the entire movie how the ending would be. It came at a complete surprise. Considering that I have quite the imagination, and can guess quite accurately how many movies will end, this is quite a feat.
I would like to watch “The Sixth Sense” again so I can examine the scenes more closely. I want to see if I can spot where the inconsistencies lie, if there are any tell-tale clues that would hint at the ending. I want to watch the behaviours of the main characters, Dr. Malcolm Crowe (played by Bruce Willis) and Cole Sear (played by Haley Joel Osment). Surely there must be some type of hint along the way. Once again, I’m impressed with the writers, directors, and actors for being able to expertly tell a story that can lead the audience to believe something entirely different from the truth.
In an entirely different genre, one movie that I have watched many times already is “Shrek.” Along with its sequels: “Shrek 2,” “Shrek the Third,” and “Shrek Forever After.” Not only were the writers, director, and actors able to create a very entertaining and worthwhile movie with “Shrek,” but they also carried it all the way through the sequels. Not many movies can brag that the sequels are just as good as the original.
I’m sure that the familiar music and the fairy tale theme that tugged at the hearts of the baby boomers helped this movie to reach its acclaimed status. Evidence of the trend towards remaking childhood fairytale favourites that are not just for children is seen in the number of animated movies created since 1999. Each year, the number increases, with titles that ring the nostalgic bells for adults.
Movies like “Hoodwinked,” “Chicken Little,” and “Stuart Little” bring old fairy tales alive with a new twist. Parents can enjoy these types of movies as much as their young children do. And, because children often watch the same movie again and again, it’s good that these movies are made well to stand the test of repetition.
For information on the movies mentioned in this blog, check out the following links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Beautiful_Mind_(film)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixth_Sense
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek_2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek_the_Third
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek_Forever_After
And for a list of the animated movies made, check out the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animated_feature_films
Ms. Martha Urquhart 