Paradox Blog

Recently movies are in the Chinese news a lot and are the talk of many friends, partly because the new stardom of Ang Lee in his direction of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. It may also be a signal - Chinese movies and directors are receiving wider audience. The latter I am not sure. I still believe the Americans as a very intra-focus society. If you turn on the TV for the major network programs, before long you will think U.S. is the only country surviving in this planet. If not the only, at least it is the righteous, worthy only.

Other than 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', there are a lot other good movies. Some are entertaining, some are a little bit serious, and some are moody. Of the many, I like 'You Can Count On Me', 'Traffic', 'Wonder Boys', 'Nurse Betty', 'Woman On Top', and 'In the Mood for Love'. They are not necessary great movies, but at least worth the effort. But some are absolutely unworthy. Again to name a few, 'Charlie's Angels', 'Someone Like You', 'Hollow Man', and 'Gladiator'. 'Gladiator' especially receives my wrath because it is such a stir in the Academy Award and Russell Crowe becomes a Hollywood sensation but I beg totally to be in the contrary. I credit the movie with its epic class filming, costume and set. Beyond that, it is a piece of trash - bland story, stiff acting, nauseating goring and killing, whitewashed human cruelty and exploitation, perverted view of heroism and glory. It irks me tremendously that this is the movie widely praised and accepted by the popular American culture.

It may be just my hunch that movies are really becoming worse every year. Of the previous year, there are a few I really like and I think they are outstanding, 'Being John Malkovich', 'Boys Don't Cry' and 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'. 'Malkovich' may not have much of a point but is so funny and imaginative. You just get drawn into it. 'Boys' is a touching tragedy of mental problem. You see the women, who are all trapped in varying degrees in their own psychiatric troubles. But to think about it, many of our unhappiness or sufferings are from our own mental creations anyway. We could have walked away from all our unhappiness as easily as we think the woman in the movie should be doing. 'Ripley' again is a tragedy. It is about this young man spinning lies about him being some richer kid. You pity his pretending and feel sorry for him sliding down the honey trap like a fly.

Of the three movies, I have bought DVDs of 'Malkovich' and 'Ripley'. I watched each movie exactly once more on the DVD and that's it. They have been put aside for a year now. I just realize movies are not like music. With music if you like it you will play it again ever so frequently. Even novels you will reread more frequently than you will re-watch movies. Then why own them? I am not sure this is a question that has plagued other people. Certainly videos are popular items people have been owning. You think it's popular then people must have many good reasons doing so. I am not sure though. My own reasoning is that people owing them just for the whim to have them. It is a very silly and lame reason. However, I am sure that is not the only one thing in life people keep doing or not resist from doing fully knowing the reason is silly. And we attribute those silly actions to "Oh, that is just how things are", or "For the fun of it", or "Emotional drive, hormonal drive, instinctive drive, or whatever drive", or even "Just to keep up with the Jones", any reasoning so that we can excuse ourselves from feeling not knowing better. Really there is no reason not to own. After all, we are living in a great consumer society. Anyone wants to deprive himself definitely is a weirdo. Sounds sarcastic? Maybe. Coming back to the question of DVD, it definitely is good to own. In fact, it is patriotism. Isn't this the American idealism? Work harder and own more.

Finally, for the ones of you out there who are not yet owners of DVD players, go get one. It is time for you to pay your patriotic dues, as well as rescuing your struggling brothers and sisters stuck in the slumping high tech industry. If you can think of any other gadgets to own, regardless of whether they are going to be useful or used, go own them. "Just for the fun of it." Help us engineers. Thank you. Have a nice day.