MovieChat Forums > Powder (1995) Discussion > Powder vs Phenomenon

Powder vs Phenomenon


I watched both movies when I was in my teens.

Now I'm 35 and both movies still resonate in me. Kinda like when you are being 'with' yourself and looking inside of you, themes from these two movies will well up and ripple.

I guess the underlying theme of all great movies is 'humanity', and these two movies alone touched on this theme pretty deep - whenever there is 'someone' different from 'us' (the common masses), 'we' will start segragating, separating or distancing ourselves from that 'someone', so quick to brand the person as 'freak' (sounds familiar?). A common example would be the 'social ostracization' by people who do not wish to have that 'someone' in the group, be it in a school, a working place or even amongst friends.

It is from here that dislike began to brew and boil, and hatred being distilled and collected. Then, with the hatred seeping deep and long enough, flowers and fruits of it was bore and out came 'wars' - genocide and apartheid were some of the best examples WHY we simply cannot see through the barriers of skin colour, language, culture or simply living patterns. We seek differences to justify all acts of violence, be it verbal or physical, and use them to consolidate 'our' own identities. How sad.

For both characters in the two movies, they eventually sacrificed themselves to be 'one' with nature - they realised that the only way to attain genuine inner peace and away from all daily, rubbish pettiness was to move on to a higher plane. It was the ONLY way to direct the almost unsalvageable humanity to a brighter and greater good.

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I think what both films are trying to say is that when you attain a level where you can make a difference you also become smart enough to realize that there are better places to be then Earth.


Frank



"...For every man who has ever lived, in this universe, there shines a star."
-Arthur C. Clarke

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yes both great movies with very deep themes that many people will never understand, hence why there are so many negative comments on this board. But I agree with you they are both amazing movies about humanity and two of the few movies I remember leaving an imprint on my life.

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There are negative comments
because there is no sex
because there is a little "homoerotica fanservice" [but no sex]
because people are full of hate and associate a person's work with their actions (i.e. pedophilia)
because there is no gratuitous violence, and even messages AGAINST violence (The only reason we need to "cull" is because we interfered with nature in the first place.)
because Powder makes many people feel uncomfortable with how they live their lives.


See, Powder has a very childlike perspective on the world... and people feel that the loss of innocence is a GOOD thing; that the ideals we hold our children to have NO PLACE in the "REAL WORLD."

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I love Phenomenon. I love Powder too but I don't know where the f* did he goes at the end of the movie

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I saw both movies when I was a child. I haven't seen Phenomenon in some years, but I've seen Powder within the last five.

I have to say because with some bias Powder wins.

Now I have to hunt down both...

" What in the Bio hazardous material is this?"

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You make some good and powerful points. Movies like these are certainly very allegorical and speak to the failings of basic human nature to discriminate against those who are different and be fearful of the unknown.

If anything, I'd say "Powder" was a little more reminiscent of a movie from five years eariler: "Edward Scissorhands". Two physically (and radically) different people who draw attention/curiosity/mistrust wherever they go. Also, the score to both films (Elfman and Goldsmith) were just fantastic in my opinion and fit the movies so well.

The thing about "Phenomenon" is that Travolta's character wasn't innately different than everyone else until his "condition". So, to me, it is more of a statement of cultural or intellectual differences that can outcast a person as opposed to something obviously physical like Edward or Powder. Similar still, true, but just a tad different. Also, "Phenomenon" had a rather upbeat and happy ending (well, relatively) when you compare it to the endings of "Powder" and "Edward Scissorhands"; I think these movies work better as subversive social commentaries rather than entertaining, feel-good films.

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