Nitro Posted November 25, 2001 Share Posted November 25, 2001 Have you ever watched a movie, read a book, or listened to a song that conjured up some sort of irregular physical response? Think about it for a minute... I'm not talking about dancing to music, crying when the hero dies, or laughing at a dirty joke in American Pie 25... I'm talking about shivers or breaking out in a cold sweat, or a feeling of enlightenment that drives you to tears of incomprehention. Keep thinking for a minute... What time was it when you watched the movie? Who else was there? Did you eat anything? Does it always happen if you do the same things while watching? Strange things happen to me when I watch The Matrix, and even more mentally overwhelming and physically stimulating are the events of the Contact storyline, but they're nothing compared to the extreme case... Every time I watch Full Metal Jacket alone, between 1 and 4 AM, my eyes water (not crying, they just start to well up and cloud my vision) during that last scene, with Joker standing over the sniper-girl, and you see his face divided in half by the light... And at the end of the movie... As soon as "Paint It Black" (the song during the credits) starts, I get extremly cold, then when the "I see the girls walk by..." line is sung for the first time, a massive shiver runs from my head to my feet, like a frozen invisible hand is passing through my body, and then I start to cry, because my brain is overwhelmed from the events of the movie, the meanings and commentary behind them, and my body doesn't know what else to do... These 'episodes' almost exclusively happen when I watch a movie alone, and very late at night... The only case I can recall where it didn't was when I watched Full Metal Jacket with someone I had very strong feelings for, and in that case, on top of the usual phenomenon, this unearthly desire to be held by her, to know that someone cared for me, hit me the same time the shiver did... I sat there on the couch, in her arms, crying, for a good 3 minutes... She later convided in me that she'd had the same need to be held that I did, and that it had hit her the same time it hit me. Looking back on this whole thesis of a post, I realize that 90% of you probably won't give a flying goatf**k about any of it, but it is that 10% of you that I'm interested in. I'm leaving this open-ended... No questions asked, no answers required. But feel free to ask your own about it, or mention a similar experience. One final request. Please do not destroy this thread with pointless arguments or infantile fights... Deep thinkers only, please... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taarkin Posted November 25, 2001 Share Posted November 25, 2001 One time I played Silent Hill with the lights off. 20 minutes later I was huddled under the blankets with a flashlight. But that was the designers' purpose so I dunno if that counts or not. ------------------ You're supposed to be dumpster-diving for ham scraps, you six-piece chicken McNobody! Official forum Psychic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted November 25, 2001 Share Posted November 25, 2001 My theory: Well, I've been reading a LOT of Joesph Campbell (the guy who Bill Moyers interviewed in "The Power Of Myth", and who also deserves a writing credit for everything that George Lucas has ever done) in the last few months, and these reactions don't surprise me. All myths and stories exist to tell us something about ourselves. Often, it is a mystical revelation about our core psyche that it reveals, although the story may not be of a mystical nature at all. Modern storytelling and myth making has taken the form of films, books, and song. The tale of the 'hero's journey' is a representation, to a certain extent, of our own life-cycle and struggles. Even though we may not see the mystical nature of the tale being told as it relates to our own existence, our unconscious mind recognizes it, and reacts. Often we are far too distracted or self absorbed in our daily existence to pick up on these reactions, but in the right environment we can sense these feelings... that sensation of touching the mystical nature of things. Religious ecstasy is a similar experience, although much stronger. Just watch people attending a revival meeting, or the films of voodoo practices. A very similar reaction, although exaggerated. (For that matter, so is orgasm,.. but I don't think it's such a good idea to go there.) The human mind has a need for that feeling of the 'great mystery' that used to be fulfilled by the tales of the wise men, and the rituals and rites of passage. We have lost many of those, or watered them down to the point of inconsequence, in our modern world. With science explain away most of the mystery of the physical world, our mystical nature has been forced to the background a bit. It is only in our storytelling where we can experience these feelings again. This is why the stories that closest match many of the old myths and that follow the 'hero's journey' model the closest (such as Star Wars, Lord Of The Rings, The Matrix, and Harry Potter) are often so popular. They tie in to an essential human need and speak to our collective unconscious. That's what I think, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR2000Z Posted November 25, 2001 Share Posted November 25, 2001 And to think that I was weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue Nine Posted November 25, 2001 Share Posted November 25, 2001 The first time I watched Full Metal Jacket, I stared at the credits rolling, unblinking while "Paint It Black" played for a long, long time. It just got me thinking of the harshness of reality. Sure, the sadistic drill sergeant was funny as hell, but I didn't need to see Cowboy get sniped by that girl. Geez... More later...can't think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR2000Z Posted November 26, 2001 Share Posted November 26, 2001 I never seen Full Metel Jacket. Is it any good? (From what I heard so far, it doesnt seem real great.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted November 26, 2001 Author Share Posted November 26, 2001 Rent it tonight. Everyone with half a brain who watches it comes away with something different about them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR2000Z Posted November 26, 2001 Share Posted November 26, 2001 Hopefully its something posititve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUNNER Posted November 26, 2001 Share Posted November 26, 2001 I get choked up when I see movies like Armagedon when at the end when Bruce gives his lifew so others can live and then they show the different country rejoicing and the young boys pushing the wooden space ships down the street. Here are people willing to sacrifice everything so many will live. Also get sad during war movies, last week it was durring saving private ryan at the end when the guys lets the german kill the guy upstairs and he just lays in the stair well. I often wonder how he felt, scared,affraid, alone. What would I do? All these guys also gave their lives for our country ,does anyone care anymore? Thats what makes me sad ,unselfish acts of bravery even though no one will remember them and what they did. There are more movies that make me feel like this but those two came to mind first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted November 26, 2001 Author Share Posted November 26, 2001 Me too, Gunner... I always cry during that scene in Armageddon where he presses the button, and has all those flashbacks. And in The Perfect Storm, at the end, when they pan over that wall (which really exists, BTW) with the names of all the Swordboatmen that died at sea, I get choked up, and say a prayer for them and the loved ones they left behind. ------------------ Ryan "Nitro" Cole - The man who can fly anything with wings... And some things without... "If they could get a washing machine to fly, our Nitro could land it!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR2000Z Posted November 26, 2001 Share Posted November 26, 2001 I got really choked up at the end of Titatic (not where the guy and girl dies) but the actual sinking event. I hated that movie. What kind of PG-13 movie has nudity in it? I sometimes watch Howerd Stern on the E! channel and its PG14 and they even censored the nudity. Pear Harbor was a better movie but less moving. I would have been a LOT better if it wasnt a love story. The most moving part for me in The Perfect Storm is where you see the sailers trapped in the flooded room waiting for their deaths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Odin Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 Lotr, Fellowship of the Rings. Got my heart racing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR2000Z Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 Im like the only one in the world who hasnt read LOTR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taarkin Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 Virtually every litterate person at my school is reading LOTR right now. Only time I've cried watching movie/TV is when Ahnold killed himself in Terminator 2 and when Dinobot died in Beast Wars. A;though that Armaggedon scene did come close. ------------------ You're supposed to be dumpster-diving for ham scraps, you six-piece chicken McNobody! Official forum Psychic [This message has been edited by Taarkin (edited November 26, 2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlib Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 I'm re-reading it now. It's been almost a decade since I last read any of it. Someone bought me a nice, new boxed set (with the film pictures on the covers) to replace the old, tattered paperbacks I have. Anybody here ever read "The Silmarillion"? I tried,.. I really did. I couldn't get through it. Maybe this time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUNNER Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 I have never read TLTR, probably never will either. Nitro, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rogue15 Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 i cried when reading the phantom menace hardcover book, when anakin leaves his mom, and when qui-gon died. I also felt sad when qui-gon died in the phantom menace game near the end. I've never cried when seeing the movie though, which is pretty weird... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyan Farlander Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 GUNNER, read it! You'll love it I remember when my 3rd grade teacher read us The Hobbit. I loved it so much that I asked my parents to buy me the LotR set, which they did (how could you refuse to buy books for a 3rd grader ) and nothing has ever captured my imagination like that (except Star Wars, but in a different way). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K_Kinnison Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 I think Elib hit it on the nail For me, i allways get choked up in the Star wars scene "Binary sun-set" because at taht point Luke's life changes SO much. I have alos experinaced emotional extremes in relgion, specifically at the momment of my conversion, and during periods of un-clouded clarity studying the word of God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nute Gunray Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 Ahem, Pearl Harbor, despite what everyone claims, was not a love story. In order for it to have been a love story, you'd have to have devoted a majority of the running time to that part of the movie. The movie was a war movie. At least 45% was combat sequences, 20% non-combat military sequence, and the remainder 'other' stuff, like the love story or part when they're kids. I am currently attempting to read The Fellowship of the Ring, but it seems to be moving VERY slowly and I dislike books that move slowly, especially for as long as it is. ON TOPIC: I have never had any form of emotional reaction to any movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR2000Z Posted November 27, 2001 Share Posted November 27, 2001 Originally posted by Nute Gunray: Ahem, Pearl Harbor, despite what everyone claims, was not a love story. In order for it to have been a love story, you'd have to have devoted a majority of the running time to that part of the movie. The movie was a war movie. At least 45% was combat sequences, 20% non-combat military sequence, and the remainder 'other' stuff, like the love story or part when they're kids. No, the love story is like 80% of the movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jem Posted November 28, 2001 Share Posted November 28, 2001 The love story almost possessed the movie. Not only that but the love story was actually a combination of 3 love stories, the first love story was enough already! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nute Gunray Posted November 28, 2001 Share Posted November 28, 2001 There is NO WAY that Pearl Harbor was 80% love story. RUNNING TIME tells us that The attack on Pearl Harbor was 40+ minutes of the 182 minutes of the movie. 40/182=21% Assuming that the Attack on Pearl Harbor was the only non-love story scene, which it wasn't, you're already slightly below 80%. Now, factor in the scenes in England (possibly 10 total minutes) and the training with Doolittle's men (vague. Could have been as long as 30 minutes), and the time from when the Japanese patrol spots them to when they arrive in China (extremely long). Now we're looking at at LEAST 60 more minutes of non-love story. now we have 100 minutes at least of the 182 minute movie as non-love story 100/182=55% Now we have only 45% of the movie as love story. Let's go to the beginning of the movie, when they're kids. That was a ten minute scene there. Plus the time with the pilots doing pilot things before they ever MET the girls was at least five minutes. 15 more minutes there. 115/182=63% Plus add, say, 10 minutes of throwaway scenes like Cuba Gooding Jr's character looking at all the caskets of guys from his ship or when he was boxing. 125/182=69% And finally, there was probably five to ten minutes of scenes at the Navy's codebreaking center. Let's say five to be conservative 130/182=71% 71% of the movie was NOT love story. That means that only 29% WAS. That's like saying that all of A New Hope took place on Tatooine. Huh, I was right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jem Posted November 28, 2001 Share Posted November 28, 2001 29% or 80% who cares, there was just too much love story and that's it. By the way, 29% is more than a quarter of the movie and that's a lot, specially when it deals on only one single thing: the love story. <font size=1> [This message has been edited by Jem (edited November 27, 2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nute Gunray Posted November 28, 2001 Share Posted November 28, 2001 Without the love story part, the movie would have made very little sense at all. It connected several unconnectable sections. But in order for the movie to be a love story, it would have had to been dominated by that part of the story. It wasn't. The air raid on Pearl Harbor and the Doolittle Raid did that. Twas no Tora! Tora! Tora! but it wasn't...some chick flick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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