Reality in Movies

I am not a movie buff but I watch every single movie possible. I have no bias in watching any movie – the simple truth is ‘how will you know whether you liked a movie or not without watching it in its entirety?’ But I am told that the first few minutes into the movie are important to watch as it sets the mood for the upcoming story or mystery or whatever it may be. In the same token, you will know the pulse of the movie as to which direction the movie is heading to – a good or a bad one!

Even if the movie is bad, there is always the urge to finish watching it. I always try to see the good in bad as much as possible (only in movies). In a very bad movie, I can see the goodness that I spent that movie time, doing nothing but relaxed and unwound. One such movie was 'Janasheen'. It was a total waste of time in watching a bad movie but with good friends. I sense the smile on those who relate to this. So go on, smile away. :)

I learn a great deal from movies. Some movies are a portrait to real time stories. Take for instance, movies like 'Office Space' and 'Duplex' - my all time favorites. Everything that was shown in those movies was real and it could happen to anyone. The opening scene in 'Office Space' - trying to get to work in rush-hour traffic in the morning, but cars move so slowly because of bumper-to-bumper traffic that an old man can walk and beat the traffic. Is that not true? What about printers getting a paper jam, are we not frustrated at work when things like that happen?

Take for instance 'Duplex' - what about getting stuck with a bad tenant. I have seen incidents like those shown in the movie here in real life and they are so real and down to earth scenes. Having a bad tenant is the worst nightmare one can have. My family back home has had good and bad tenants and I have seen the best and worst of the two worlds. In India, we had a bad tenant once, who rented our upper level of our house. My parents and I lived in the ground floor portion. The tenants used to put T.V. and Radio on at odd times, especially during my exam days when I would be glued to my book preparing for my exams. Imagine me with a book and cotton balls plugging my ears to stop the musical annoyance, preparing for my exam.

Using movies as a media to show reality or fiction or relive historic events is the key. When you watch movies, go with an open mind on what you see. Some are down to earth movies like ‘Office Space’ or ‘Duplex’ to name a few and some are fictional – basically making you imagine being in another world, conquering and restoring peace in the new world and such – like ‘Star Wars’, ‘Lord of the Rings’ and such; some movies make you think beyond what you saw, it shows some element of truth and history in it and leaves the rest upon us to do the research. It just acts as a catalyst to instigate the urge to find out more on the subject like ‘Da Vinci Code’, ‘300’, ‘Fly Boys’.

When you watch them, you can always relate to some scenes or stories as you see fit. Not all of you will relate to the same scenes or movies but you will have your window of opportunity to relate to some movies. I have heard that the movie ‘The Namesake’ is good and many of us immigrants can relate to the movie. I have not seen the movie yet, but when I see it, I will blog upon it. Until then, see movies for what they are – a means to unwind and relax. If the opportunity knocks on you, then relate to it and have a good laugh or cry!