MovieChat Forums > twinA > Replies
twinA's Replies
September 25, 2021 Saturday 9:40 PM ET
*EDITED (September 25, 2021 Saturday 9:50 PM ET)
Apologies for not responding to you sooner. I wanted to go a little more in-depth here:
It's hard to say, really, if that would have helped Santa Anna or not. It's my understanding Anna did not enjoy a feasible or realistic way of defeating the Americans [my fellow countrymen], one way or another. His troops were highly in need of having some sort of victory to ensure the battle morale of the soldiers under his command would not deplete. Any likely victory he could manage mattered, and the Alamo happened to be strategically important due to its location. It initially being a mission cannot be understated with the above implications about the forthcoming hostilities.
Anna deserves a more nuanced approach historically, in my opinion, being an underappreciated statesman, who is often portrayed as an elitist, aloof out-of-touch leader among some historians, depending on who you ask. For comparison's sake, imagine being in Imperial Japan's shoes going up against a recovering industrial juggernaut as typified by the United States during World War II, or juggling difficult logistics as the Confederate States attempting a perimeter of fortifications in the midst of the American Civil War, fighting the U.S., its sister; nothing but sure-fire loss due to prolonged fighting from attrition.
The previous American-centric visuals aside, as we can see, emotions can run high, continuing through generations regardless of the passage of time. It seems conflicts take a long time to heal from, even after peaceful resolutions and diplomacy between two or more groups have resumed following such events. A proverb among East Asians, for instance, bears in mind: [my own paraphrase] "To those who have brought harm to you and your loved ones; show them forgiveness and justice. To those who have shown you kindness, likewise, show them kindness." I take this to mean that because we live, life is to be respected with the utmost care.
~~/o/
September 25, 2021 Saturday 8:55 PM ET
That does say a lot, especially considering they could just brag to visitors in their home something along the lines of "He's our son-in-law!" They see Howard as more than just a perk to be utilized, or at least want to please their daughter Bernadette. In either case, love is in the air. Some family members don't even get this kind of recognition despite positive word-of-mouth, which is sad and very telling, unfortunately.
~~/o/
September 25, 2021 Saturday 1:05 AM ET *(Updated Sept. 25, 2021 1:20 AM ET)
Don't be sad. It's not Charly who needed to change; it was the people who laughed and made fun of him over his disability for their own amusement who were in need of personal changing. Despite the way Charly had been treated by some of them, he entrusted the people in his life, that they would look out for him and do what's in his best interest, even if their intentions were self-serving. Because of Charly's trust, what's requested is done, given an answer. His childlike faith is devout, so much so that he does not personally desire to payback those who bullied him prior to his operation when he becomes more intellectually realized. Rather, he has hope things will be set right. Of course, Charly is not perfect, having a lot of emotional and physical maturing to do.
The point is, it's not perfection he's exhibiting. Instead, he's continuing to grow in understanding, being 'perfected' or 'builded-up,' much like a well-rooted, aspiring flower about to blossom exuberantly for the first time ever in the Spring. The others now have their answer from the intelligence project, which he's the target subject of: he's more than an idle psychological curiosity, but a true and passionate display of handling derisional suffering of being a scientific experiment. They thought they were helping (rescuing) Charly. Truly, it was Charly, himself, who was the rescuer; by showing others what it means to have mercy. By the time he was back to being in his childlike state, everyone learned that genuine compassion and love is what is needed in a world wrought with adversarial challenges. Plus, the difference between good science (promote public welfare, advancement of knowledge) and bad science (think of the poor motive behind the idea of Frankenstein's "monster" from 'Frankenstein,' who was anything but a monster).
~~/o/
September 23, 2021 Thursday 9:10 PM ET
*Spaces given between each piece to show separate insights on this same subject
Those who believe other people can be treated without dignity, in effect, cannot fully fathom the notion that a person's word of honor is given; not bought.
In attempting to inflict pain and cruelty on their captives, with an aim in dehumanizing their victims, the captors have had to first dehumanize themselves. . .
For the captors, they are so far removed from living that the only way they 'feel' something is when they hurt and maim others. For them, life is a meaningless sequence of suffering and this is reflected in how they merciless treat others so needlessly.
The captives who rejoice in their suffering (in spite of their suffering) are more full of life and hope after death (blessed) than their persecutors are. The punishers, conversly, due to their depravity are "dead men walking" (cursed).
~~/o/
September 18, 2021 Saturday 3:55 PM ET
Henry learns that an easy life is not necessarily the best life, that living means dealing with difficulties and pain cannot be avoided without it taking over your life as it worsens. He learns what makes a person great is not what they do, but who they are. Chet is a great ball player, no doubt, but also understands a lot about self-confidence which sports teach.
~~/o/
September 18, 2021 Saturday 1:30 PM ET
EDITED: (Sept. 18, 2021 Sat. 3:45 PM ET)
The following is based heavily on Bram Stoker's take on vampires, which is underpinned by the backbone of Christianity.
By nature, vampires are demons mixed with humanity. Demons are fallen angels (wicked angels). Every human being has their own soul, able of receiving redemption by the grace of God. Without a soul, vampires are in a state of eminent doom (perdition) because they are the living dead (are animated - spiritually exist but need to host off of a physical body; possession) yet do not have a conscience (which morally binds one towards reconcilliation; divine peace).
In essence, they are evil itself; nature (what we see) brought to form (who they really are) - in need of purifying and cleansing, only offering bloodshed and death instead of life. Vampires are not the original person they are masquerading as. When a person dies, their body experiences death (the first death) and their soul can potentially reside spiritually in the celestial realm that is Heaven, eternally (without time or space) after it is resurrected. Hell leads to the second death because the soul, which has to be damned in order to be there, experiences nothing but futility or hopelessness due to eternal torment brought on by despair without the kind of grace espoused by Christ; no trust; no true meekness (merciful, gentle); no sincere faith.
~~/o/
September 15, 2021 Wednesday 11:50 PM ET
Edited for grammar: (Sept. 16, 2021 Thur. 12:00 AM ET)
The words 'power' and 'authority' are often used interchangeably. It can be reasoned that if one must resort to using violence repeatedly in order to control their subjects, then the governing bunch exerting force can only "assume" authority through the exercise of their commanding "presence".
Most of the time, violence is hardly if ever necessary. Most peoples' cooperation can be gained not through control, but trust; gaining the confidence of others through mutual suggestion, deliberation, and patience (persistence). It is quite surprising what happens through the strength of listening.
~~/o/
September 15, 2021 Wednesday 12:00 AM ET
In 'The Counselor', all of the people never actually try to really communicate with each other. Their conversations, though insightful, do not address their need for one another. Despite all their interactions and shared dialog, they also do not care for each other either. It is not true contact since knowing people deeply also involves actively caring about them too.
They are shut out, with no love greater than the world they live in. Because of this, they are incapable of grasping the wisdom that humanity, in the context of their personalities, cannot foster a love without redemption. If the way we live is a testimony of sorts, we must live as if our lives matter, that one can't say to others, "Do as I say, but don't do as I do." Living by example would mean not just living for ourselves (as everyone does in the film), or the world, but believing in *Love itself.
EDIT: (Sept. 15, 2021 Wed. 1:05 AM ET)
*Not the kind of love that is based on feeling but which is life-giving
~~/o/
September 11, 2021 Saturday 11:05 PM ET
There's an old Jewish saying that goes something akin to "When a man fires an arrow from his bow, attempting to murder another man, yet misses, is still guilty of [intended] murder due to motive".
From these words we can gather that no matter the weapon or the method, nothing brings truth to form more than the conscious act because it is a reflection of our character.
In due patience, I would like to explore this topic here further when my time allows. I am reminded of the penetrating words of the enigmatic Charles Baudelaire and the bold gusto of Heinrich Heine, whom of each personally dealt with the emotional turmoil and distancing brought on by rapid industrial expansion encapsulated by the dramatic urban lanscape.
~~/o/
September 8, 2021 Wednesday 11:45 PM ET
You're not alone. Seriously, I thought that at first too about Rabbit and Piglet! In my youthful days of naivety, as an American, I presumably thought gardening to be a rather feminine activity done mostly by women (referring to Rabbit). It wasn't until later when I realized that gardening is quite a common practice especially among men in Great Britain; the 'Winnie the Pooh" author, A. A. Milne, being from England, cultural assumptions aside. In Piglet's case specifically, he is just so darn affectionately innocent in his attitude and demeanor, making his position less of one of distinction and more ambiguous (harder to tell the difference).
~~/o/
September 5, 2020 Sunday 11:55 PM ET
The Blue Thunder itself is very dangerous and highly classified; nothing known about its specs, conceivable weaponry, and capabilities can be known to the general public. The U.S. military is in a double-edged sword scenario, where, if they attack the helicopter with force they risk collateral damage of Los Angeles and the deaths of peoples' lives; or, they can possibly get accused of not dutifully protecting the city and its residents should no action be taken. The option chosen is deemed 'acceptable risk'.
~~/o/
September 4, 2021 Saturday 11:05 [edited 11:35 for grammar] PM ET
While people have a tendency to accept the consequences of their actions, even when they learn to understand the difference between "going through the motions" and truly being sincere in their change of heart, there's still the present inclination for what seems to be the easiest outcome everyone considers themselves capable of handling. Usually, it's not until any visible damage is seen, due to a great lack of foresight, that an active response arises to make amends; to see things for what they really are.
It's tempting to any unsuspecting person that they think they know what's best, embracing the liberation of self autonomy; free from inhibiting constraints. While this vision is definitely worth fighting for - to live peacefully in the world we all call home - pragmatic as it may be, without sticking to the principle: where anything of value is appreciated for what it is, collapses in on itself due to self-implosion; there's no real peace to be had except the illusory or strictly absract. Anything concrete must have a well-built foundation.
~~/o/
September 4, 2021 Saturday 12:35 AM ET
Penny said in one episode (I don't recall its name) casually that she's New-Age, mostly given as a throw-away line.
~~/o/
September 4, 2021 Saturday 12:25 AM ET
Interesting point of view with the gladiator comparison. Personally, I am not a sports fan, imagining the appeal lies in its capacity to express violence in a healthy manner; a constructive means to confining tribalism through spirited competition. Intelligence comes in many forms, including the kinetic kind embodied by wellness, fitness, and atheletics. People talented in these areas do not need to be denied their gifts and learned skills. Besides, in a world increasingly relying on streaming - cable, antenna, satellite, and other TV providers are ever-so leaning heavily on sports to make them unique from their competitors in the entertainment outlet. Relationships vary between people, ranging from personal (friends, family) to transactional (retail, daily commutes).
~~/o/
August 29, Sunday 12:00 [edited 12:10 for grammar] PM ET
I'm glad we can bounce ideas off of each other.
Since David is an android, by trying to be "real" he is attempting to be something he's not. Ironically, by not accepting himself for what he is, he rejects the very "matter" of his "being" for something that can only be "apparent" (not real) for him. Due to his rationale, he embraces a system of thought that inherently seeks to do away with everything that's natural for him (material) towards an ascension which can only be expressed in terms completely spiritual.
In doing so, he abuses his android body, emphasizing form over function, not understanding that living a meaningful proper life means that you shouldn't think in black and white descriptors, which in his case means falling into the trap of Gnosticism where all matter is evil and only spiritual things can be good. He figuratively makes this mistake, signified through actions and way of thinking, certainly not helped by prejudice he experiences from many humans in the film. David has let fear make his decisions for him rather than compelling him to personally change. Truly living starts with a profound change (conversion) inside-out.
You bring up a good point about how at least two different yet contrasting views can still parallel each other, which reminds me of this piece I came across in my continuing Bible studies. It's called "mahanaim" (two camps; notably similar to doublets - more than one version of a story). I originally encountered this Hebraic concept somewhere in Billy Graham's [i]Angels: God's Secret Agents[/i].
https://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2019/02/mahanaim-insights-from-biblical-geography/
~~/o/
August 26, 2021 Thursday 5:35 PM ET
What you said has given me a lot of personal take aways; splendidly done.
Faith and reason go together. Life is not absurd. What we see and do is only our perception of reality and not the truth itself, yet is knowable. Our memory or will gives us emotions, experiences, the ability to use and learn knowledge, to satisfy human needs through our shaped perspectives that grow through living. We are able to investigate and explore, having intellect to capture the imagination with reason to rationalize our everyday existence. Our faith is an outpouring of this; a response to wisdom and love, seasoned through our ability to make personal decisions and choices. All of this leads back to the existence of the soul - the essence of our being: the conscious personality endowed with perpetual living reunited with a body.
~~/o/
August 22, 2021 Sunday 10:10 PM ET
It's kind of like the Michelangelo effect:
The artist sees the work of their hands not only as an act of creating but also as a means of revealing something they themselves already know beforehand. That's the beauty of viewing a painting or sculpting or any other craft; there's more than one perspective - the envisioned (what the artist conveys) and the finished (what everyone else sees). A story with layers is not only told but continues to unfold, much like an interwoven tapestry.
Happy to oblige.
~~/o/
August 22, 2021 Sunday 9:50 PM ET
Unfortunately no. Your best lead is another familiar film talk -rival- site (abbreviated fb; not facebook). At least one person who frequents there knew him better than most. Hope that's a start.
~~/o/
August 19, 2021 Thursday 12:45 AM ET
Very interesting! Something also to consider:
The seeking of popularity over respect contributed to an overabundance towards materialism, says sociologist David Riesman, observing American morality in the mid 1900s; people buying prestigious stuff trying to impress others in order to get their approval.
[Source: The Lonely Crowd]
~~/o/
May 3, 2021 Monday 11:40 PM ET
[QUOTE]It is interesting to note the didactic quality of the monolith object. Some viewers have interpreted its vertical posture as mimicking those of human beings. The monolith can be seen as "Human Being in the fullness of its potential" (Kapferer 2014: 44), with its reappearance during human innovation as a representation of human possibility. The monolith's blackness and non-reflective attribute serves to reify its force as a medium that impels Human Being into itself, from out of which the unrealized becomes realized.[/QUOTE]
One's potential never fails unless it is never realized. We can do anything in our power to help something, someone, or anything to succeed. Like planting a garden, we can keep on continuing to water and nurturing what is available to us, what is not originally ours to begin with. And yet, we find ourselves being thankful for what we have been given. Innovation is not only a means of ingenuity but is also a bringing of different aspects into a greater whole; an embodiment - personal completion ('Shabbat').
[B]It should be clarified that Pearce's notions were in relation to the aimlessness of progressive thinking, just as HAL 9000 forces the audience to look at the moral implications of technological development.[/B]
A wheel without its axle is not going to work as intended. Even if it could be replaced or fixed, it's no longer the original part it was beforehand, should the new axle be the same in concept or design. Because there is a design, there is also a goal. Some may think prayer has no effect on life but it does change people.
~~/o/