MovieChat Forums > Paradise (2013) Discussion > There is no God.

There is no God.

posted 10 years ago by budarc
5 replies | jump to latest

I still think Diablo Cody's overrated. I didn't really like Juno, Jennifer's Body sucked, Young Adult had its moments, but Paradise left me high and dry.

This movie started out with so much promise, with the whole crisis of faith (her speech to the congregation was great*), but then it turned into such conventional tripe. I do like the fact that they called out the whole "magical Negro" convention, but this movie had not one, but three "magic" characters (the Black woman, the Brit, and the Prostitute). I'm not really left with much from this movie, other than the tragedy of an innocent girl who's been scarred for life (but has won millions in a settlement) and is now going around, helping people with her money. So essentially what I walk away with is: Money = Happiness. I think I already knew that. Thanks for rubbing it in, Diablo.

* "I don't believe in God. But here's what I do believe: I believe in science. I believe in the doctors and nurses that saved my life in the hospital. I believe in prescription opiates, which work whether you put faith in them or not. And I'm willing to believe that the universe was created from an explosion and that fish creatures crawled out of the mud and evolved into human beings."

[–] InsecureNeuroticControlFreak 10 years ago

Using your riches to help those in need doesn't make the film's message "Money = Happiness." What made Lamb happy was using the riches that came out of her misfortune to help others. So really the message is helping others = happiness.

Hail to the king, baby.

[–] monstermayhem32 10 years ago

Lamb mentioned that she was tired of being a charity case and wanted to use the money she got out of the settlement to help others less fortunate than her.

[–] fluffchop 8 years ago

I think what makes the film's message money = happiness is that her happiness comes from giving out money to charity cases. Every time she does that she affirms that she is no longer one herself. Without the money she couldn't do that. Without the money there is no happiness. So for her money = happiness.

If I got a 10 million dollars I'd be pretty happy. I'd give out some money to those in need. I'd feel happy about doing that. I've often thought about starting a charity. But then I thought, it's better to donate to an established charity. So that's what I'd do. That's how I'd give some money to others. In my case I believe I would give a million dollars each to the RSPCA, the Diabetes foundation, heart, kidney, cancer and AIDS foundations. That leaves 2 million to put in the bank. I'd also buy a nice car for my mum. I wish I could buy her more life.

Happiness for me is more about family, friends and pets. I've lost my Dad this year. Lost two dogs as well. If you've got enough money to live on then that's enough to be happy.

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Scientologists love Narnia, there's plenty of closet space.

[–] freemanpatrick7 10 years ago

I have to disagree

I think Jennifer's Body was hot.

The movie sucked. But Jennifer (i.e. Megan Fox) was smokin' hot!

[–] fluffchop 8 years ago

I liked all those movies. I never bothered caring who wrote or directed what. Funny they're all from the same person. Now that I know I think she's versatile and interesting.

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Scientologists love Narnia, there's plenty of closet space.