Recently, I went with my dad and my nephew to see Taken 2, the sequel to the low-budget Liam Neeson action film from several years back. It was entertaining, but the film didn’t measure up to the tight, focused story of the first Taken. If anything, it was the equivalent of an elephant on roller skates careening awkwardly about a skating rink that has just been vacated by several hundred monkeys who left behind their banana peels scattered liberally on the ice. I suppose watching the elephant in such a setting would be entertaining, but not exactly memorable.
Unless, of course, she was accompanied by an Olympic ice skater like Evan Lysacek, the 2010 gold medalist for figure skating. I can just imagine Lysacek doing a Full Biellmann lift.
Announcer: Lysacek has moved into position for a lift…yes, it’s a Full Biellmann. He has excellent form. The elephant’s form, on the other hand, leaves a little to be desired. Plenty of energy, though, and fantastic presence. And Lysacek has completely disappeared now. Ah, yes. I’m afraid that’s the end of Lysacek.
Anyway, back to the theater. I was struck by the three trailers before the film. Two were horror and one was a Los Angeles gangster story starring Sean Penn looking rather old and wrinkled in a story that felt drearily familiar. All three were violent, creepy, dark and soul-less. Granted, I’m judging based on short trailers, but I think I’m relatively safe in my estimation.
Hollywood seems more interested in nihilism than redemption. Whatever happened to the Roman Holidays and Sergeant Yorks of the past? I’m not saying we need to return to some Mayberry vision of the 50s. What I’m saying is that the net effect of a story should be hope or, at the very least, an affirmation of life. What I’m saying is that a story can be dangerously wonderful or it can simply be dangerous. And things that are simply dangerous are in the same category as poisonous snakes, stonefish, and eggplant.
At the end of the day, I think Hollywood is our mirror, so we’re getting what we want. The one bit of blame I will throw back on them is that their mirror probably exists in the future. They reflect back what we are going to be, not necessarily what we currently are. They reflect back at us what we’re dreaming of for our future. At least, we used to dream as a culture, as a society. But I think our dreams for the future are fraying more and more into nightmares.
yah. i thought i would gag if liam told his daughter to “go faster” one more time. but, it was a fun, mindless flick. not as terrifying to me as the first, considering i wanted to hitch a ride in my daughter’s suitcase – or at least, hire liam to go be her bodyguard – as she was going off to europe right after that came out.
does hollywood really reflect our culture? or is it trying to steer our culture? is the disparity between those who have faith and those who have no hope just getting wider? but the cross can always bridge that gulf. right?
Definitely fun. Definitely mindless.
I think it reflects and steers at the same time. The mirror that exists slightly in our future. I certainly hope…no, I know the cross can bridge that gulf. Any gulf. Except the one between the rich man and Abraham.
Ah…Sergeant York. I once wrote a paper in college about how that was the best movie I had ever seen. When we shared our opinions in class, the rest of the class stared at me blankly for a couple of minutes and then continued arguing about whether the Matrix or the new Star Wars (only Episode I at that time) were the best movies ever made.
Aargh. Where has our culture gone? Sergeant York is an amazing film. I’ll have to dig it out and watch it again. It’s been too long.