February 14, 2006

brokeback mountain review (spoilers)

<!–So, I've recently had the opportunity to see Brokeback Mountain.

(I thought it was kind of overrated.) *ducks as people everywhere start throwing things at me*

This makes me kind of uncomfortable, because as far as I can tell, everyone else loved this movie. If they didn’t, it was because they find homosexual romance to be a repulsive concept. I, for one, love to see some nice male-on-male action. Pretty boys kissing each other is something with which I don’t think I’ll ever have a problem. I downloaded clips of the scene in the tent and when they meet again so that I can watch and enjoy without ever having to see the movie again.

The problem was that I left the movie without feeling any different than before. The message of the movie was pretty clear: homosexual love is the same as any other kind of love. Yes, I knew that already. Something about the whole movie was bugging me, and I just felt like the whole thing was cliché… except, of course, for the unconventional pairing.

It made me think of another movie, a big-name film, where a couple, whose love was frowned upon by society, fell for one another. And then one of them died. And everyone and their mother cried and went to see the movie 6548743 times because theirlovewassopure.

If you don’t see what I’m getting at, the movie was Titanic.–>

So, I’ve recently had the opportunity to see Brokeback Mountain.

(I thought it was kind of overrated.) *ducks as people everywhere start throwing things at me*

The problem was, I left the movie without feeling any different than before. The message of the movie was pretty clear: homosexual love is the same as any other kind of love. Yes, I knew that already. Something about the whole movie was bugging me, and I just felt like the whole thing was cliche… except, of course, for the unconventional pairing.

If you don’t see what I’m getting at, the movie was Titanic.

Beautiful cinematography? Check.
Decent acting? Check.
Directing/cinematography/screenplay/Best Film awards won? Check.
Actors/actresses up for awards? Check.
Sappy screenplay? Check. (I’m sorry, “I wish I knew how to quit you!” is just as bad as “Sooner or later that fire that I love about you, Rose, that fire’s gonna burn out.”)
Doomed lovers? Check.

Classism is pretty much an obsolete custom in this part of the world, so everyone knows that it’s silly that Jack & Rose should have been kept apart. By contrast, homosexual relationships are still frowned upon (and the focus of much silly, unneeded political attention);it’s a big issue these days.

It’s good that the movie is so widely accepted and loved, given what it is. I, however, don’t necessarily think that the movie did a great job of addressing the issue. At times it bordered on patronization: gay love is just like straight love, gay men are still manly, people should not be ashamed of their sexual orientation, it’s sad that they can’t be together. It was trying to teach a lesson that we should know without being taught (and the people who hadn’t been taught didn’t see the film anyway).

Boys should be able to love girls should be able to love girls should be able to love boys should be able to love boys.

Did anyone else see this and wants to flame me for my review and tell me I just didn’t get it? Because I really want to know what the big damn deal is.

depth of my emotions

February 15, 2006

…Yes, very much just another tragic love story, however, I feel it was more. “I wish I could quit you” Classic, however 🙂 xoxoxx

Ah, man you kill me. Overrated? I’ll overrate you. Alright, kidding, everyone has their own opinion. My friend that I went to see it with only gave it a 5 out of 10. Possibly it’s different for those who have been in a situation similar to that..where one party refuses to be with the other b/c “it’s not morally right and/or accepted.” I don’t know..I loved it and keep thinking about it….

wingèd medusa

I’ve heard that about Brokeback Mountain. I mean, it really is a propaganda piece, just like Annapolis is a propaganda piece… I don’t think we’re really in a place, as a society, where we can evaluate this movie based on its merits as a movie rather than based on politics. That said, I haven’t seen it. If they make one with lesbians, we’ll talk.

ImperfectlyBeautiful

I too have seen brokeback mountain. I felt that the movie depicted that gay males somewhat deny their feelings…marry, cheat..and so on. Being someone who has a few family members that are gay and the fact that I’m very accepting of all lifestyles, this movie really didn’t set me in awe. Sure I cried at the big “fight”, and at the end, but you’re right..I cried at titantic as well. ehhh. xo

I haven’t seen it, and probably won’t until it goes to cable. It has stirred up major controversy here in Utah and was taken out of one theatres which I did not agree with. I have heard it was a brilliant movie, but in time movies just like it will be a dime a dozen and that’s why I am not overwhelmed by it.

haha an entry in my diary was devoted halfway to that movie, although not in so many words. i hated that he died and it wasn’t a happy ending. those endings leave me empty. i liked it because i saw it with a friend and we were joking about seeing frank (donnie darko rabbit) in the theatre and what not, haha. sorry that was lame and not even what i meant to note about

I don’t usually delete entries unless they’re super crap, like I’ll probably delete the Johari window entry because the link doesn’t work, but the entries are usually privatised. I might just start making them favorites only. I don’t know, I just feel them stacking up and I’m like… okay.

El Mauricio

funny story: a buddy of mine went to see brokeass mountainshe’s pretty butch but she’s straightand she went w/ her sistersaid there were big burly gay guys crying and stuffand they were the only ones in the theaterthat was straightok maybe not that funny, but if you knew Joeanyway, I’m the Marcosi again on Hotaritalk to you soon

Eternal Supernova

haven’t seen it…don’t really have any desire to. *shrug* yeah…my boyfriend likes titanic more than i do, but he’s just a bigger fan of utterly sappy love stores. i like my love dirty and crazy and real.

I capture the castle

February 16, 2006

i haven’t seen brokeback yet but i do tend to findthat overly long, huge award winning films are overratedbut brokeback sounds kinda sweet, neverthelessi might just stick to the book thoughre: i seem to be getting alot of ‘awww’s for some reason =)xoxo

lennon.

February 17, 2006

I felt exactly as you did. Although, I couldn’t share that with the friend I went to see it withBecause she was altogether too moved-Because she is transgender. She was born as a man, but in a month, she’s getting her reassignment surgery.She was talking to me about how she was so terrified of ending up like the two of them, forever hiding behind something purely

for society.She was so moved, that it didn’t matter that I was not.lovelove

I saw it, and I am with you. Good call on everything. It appears we (you and I and others like us) are not of the singular “movie-mind” that touts this movie as the most incredible love story ever, etc. The idea was good, I concur with your checkpoints, too. However, the writers did not do well with giving this film depth. Sorry, not signed in…(phoenix63) Take care.

thank you darling.

Sprog

February 22, 2006

I know exactly what you mean, although to be fair i think their original target audience wasn’t really you or me, and it would be fairly shocking and controversial to a bigoted white male from the southern united states.