Anyone have any ideas as to why Paul was chosen to be our narrator? Because he's at the age most centered between childhood and adulthood? Because he's the only one who does the "right thing" without having to learn a lesson first?
there's no place you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
Paul is the "stand-in" for the author of the novel. Maguire even met with him and tried to do his voice in the film (although I don't hear anything much different from Maguire's own voice).
I also had the impression that Paul was our "narrator" after seeing the film once. On my last viewing, I noticed that he only speaks to us three times, and always about his comic book world, and not for very long. And in the commentary, it is mentioned that one of these was an afterthought, to ease an editing transition.
I do very strongly recommend the book, which is narrated by "someone who knew this family" (as it is put very archly at the beginning), though by the end it is revealed who our narrator really is.
By the way, in the novel, Paul does not do what you might call "the right thing," and I'd say the attempt in the film to knock his roommate out with drugs so that he could be alone with Libbets isn't exactly what Jesus would do either.
"Play with the whip."
makes sense. thanks. I'll have to check out the book.
haha, yeah, i guess the drugging thing isnt exactly morally neutral, but he has the potential to do a lot worse, and for a moment we think he might, is all I meant.
there's no place you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
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rsheppard-1: "...[Paul's] the only one who does the "right thing" without having to learn a lesson first..."
me: "...I'd say the attempt in the film to knock his roommate out with drugs so that he could be alone with Libbets isn't exactly what Jesus would do either."
This was my attempt to say with subtlety and humor that Paul's behavior in the film in no way distinguishes him as the only character in the film who "does the right thing" (as rsheppard-1 stated). I was indeed a teenager that year and the concept of "doing the right thing" as introduced by rsheppard-1 is not an idea that would have crossed my mind as particularly relevant to this film. Perhaps that is why it occurred to me to use the term "what Jesus would do" in a humorous fashion, as I totally agree with you that applying one's current and subjective idea of right and wrong to the behavior of characters in a film depicting another culture is pointless and irrelevant. In the novel, Paul masturbates on Libbets' unconscious body before leaving her apartment, which makes rsheppard-1's observation that Paul is the only character who "does the right thing" especially amusing.
It is sometimes impossible to convey a tone of wryness on a message board.
(And sorry if it sounds like I am coming down unnecessarily hard on rsheppard-1's comment, which was not my intention.)
"Play with the whip."
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no offense taken. I understood your point and appreciated your humor. I also still think that, in the film, the morals of the time are being explored, and the decision to have Paul do "the right thing" (in terms relative to the actions of the rest of the characters) is quite deliberate. We are meant to see a contrast there, and take some satisfaction in Paul's change of heart. While, in the grand scheme of things, morals may be "nebulous," I definitely think that the parent-child role reversal that takes place in the film is meant to convey a message to the viewer about the limits of that moral flux, and about the consequences of our actions. If nothing else, the children's mimicking their parents' behavior makes those parents rethink their choices.
there's no place you can be that isn't where you're meant to be.
Paul whacks off on Libbets in the novel? Interesting, it seems that Ang Lee chose to depict the character as being less crude. In the film, Paul just gets off of Libbets lying in between his legs.
shareI don't remember paul whacking off on Libbets in the book, and I read it three times!
I do know the characters in the book , except for Wendy were all descibed as unattractive.
Moody almost had a heart attack when he met the cast for the first time.
He was in awe of there beauty.
Paul whacks off on Libbets in the novel?
He's 'outside the loop' of the goings on between the two families, either at school or Libbets' place.
share