The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - M6.6/E7

My wife very rarely cares what movies we end up watching, I’m generally the one that picks them out. She surprised me by bringing this one home from the library. I was semi-intrigued about it when I saw it released, but never had any strong urge to see it. While not an amazing movie, the almost 3 hour feature was enjoyable. It really is nothing more than a story about the life of a man. He doesn’t affect the history of the world in any remarkable way, but the fact that he lives his life backwards from an old man until he dies as a baby is a pretty cool experience to be a part of.

Not living a normal life, it’s hard to pin any moral message on anything literal presented in the movie. There is adultery and prostitution, co-habitation, and family desertion - and while not condoned in real life, they add an interesting element to the story.  The reason these elements don't necessarily create a negative moral message is that the story isn't saying this is how happy people live their lives.  Benjamin was never really happy; he was so confused with his situation in life (as were those around him) that he never really fit in anywhere.  His happiest moment was when he met up in the middle with Daisy and was able to experience a  portion of a normal life.

While initially despised by his father as a monster, his father doesn’t completely give up on him and eventually we see their relationship grow stronger (appropriately backwards) and father and son are brought close together. As an old man, though really a child, he works with a bunch of sailors and acquires their habits and vices. As a companion (not married, but living together) he was faithful and loves Daisy. Though when he found out he was to be a father, he couldn’t bear the thought of becoming a child physically as his daughter grew older and needed a real father. Benjamin moved on and was able to do things in his old age that were impossible to do in his arthritic youth. What was really moving was to see him as a boy in his old age, senile and in need of assistance, only to be found by his childhood friend and lover who cared for him until he passed on.

While not a must-see, if you come across this movie and aren't looking for something fast-paced, this is worth watching at least once.

Superman (1978)

Entertainment Rating: 3 of 5

I don’t think I had ever seen this movie. I’ve seen the second one. The movie was well done, but a little long for me. The 154 minutes totally could have been trimmed down - particularly the 5-10 minute scene of the destruction of Krypton, all you see is a bunch of nameless people in white falling all over the place to their deaths; and then there’s the 5-10 minutes of credits at the beginning. Gene Hackman really doesn’t fit my image of Lex Luthor. He plays a smart guy (a genius), but he sure doesn’t look or act the part well. Hopefully the second reboot next year gets something right (though I think Kevin Spacey was a step in the right direction).

Moral Rating: 2 of 5

Superman is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way. I know he’s supposed to fall for Lois Lane, but his swooning over her made this more of a romantic-comedy than a movie that shows a decent battle between good and evil. There isn’t much more to say here. The movie is a classic, so it’s good, but definitely not great.

Avatar

Synopsis

A marine, Jake Sully, is recruited to assist in a scientific expedition on a distant planet. Once there he is virtually linked to an avatar that resembles the native inhabitants of the planet and is controlled by his brain. Jake becomes doubly involved in a business/military venture to gain access and information on a valuable mineral that lies in the heart of the home of the natives. As Jake learns the customs of the people he grows to love them and in the end must choose between his own race and the alien race.

Entertainment Value - A

Amazing effects, particularly with the 3D glasses, otherwise it wouldn't be anything too revolutionary. The only other 3D movie I've seen is Nightmare Before Christmas, and that was more of a reverse-engineered attempt and no where near as good as this was. If you think this looks interesting, the only way to see it is in 3D, and if possible try to see it in an IMAX theater. I'd probably see it in an IMAX theater.

Moral Value - Failure to Communicate? - 3

[Spoiler Alert]

A marine with a heart (stereotypically paradoxical) sees the damage that humans are inflicting on the alien planet because of their insatiable desire for a valuable mineral found at the heart of the native inhabitants' home. That lust is displayed as wrong, in that it destroys the home and lives of the natives. A very similar story to how the English treated the Native Americans when they arrived here and how other countries treated slaves - both of which are wrong.


There's a battle between scientists and businessmen displaying how insensitive businessmen are to anything natural; they are cold-hearted and greedy (very stereotypical).


Once Jake Sully really gets to know the natives he really becomes one of them and realizes the crimes the humans are committing and how he has facilitated their strategy for attacking the natives.


Jake was pretty naive to the culture, even though he wanted to save it. He knew that their species mated for life, and he couldn't have taken that into consideration when he mated with the "princess." Doing so was pretty heartless and cruel, not to mention wrong on all levels, even if the creatures had no marriage rites. Like all such scenes, this just shows that lust is purely selfish and not capable of any good.


Jake was courageous by choosing to take the side against his own race. Maybe he figured he had nothing to lose since he was only a crippled marine to them.


The story was very intriguing, particularly the extent to which James Cameron developed this alien planet, but nothing in it struck a motivational chord for me.

Gladiator

Synopsis

Maximus, general of the Roman army, declines to serve the new Emperor and ends up a slave/gladiator fighting for his life and for the entertainment of others.  When he is brought to Rome and fights before the new Caesar he eventually realizes his power, even as a slave, to turn the people against the evil emperor.

Entertainment Value

The movie was pretty violent, but the story is a lot deeper than the cool fight scenes.  A very tense plot unravels as we see the good emperor overthrown by his evil son along with the possible passing of the crown to the worthy general of the Roman armies.  I highly recommend this if it comes out on TV, or you happen to have a way to edit the grisly R version.

Moral Value - Failure to communicate?

[Spoiler Alert]

In the beginning, when offered the empire, Maximus declined the honors of becoming Caesar because his first priority was returning to his simple life with his family. There's a good chance he would have accepted the offer if things hadn't gone the way they did.  Maximus realized the reason that the dying emperor chose him was because of his adherence to dignity and virtue - the only one who could combat the corruption that existed in the Senate.

Maximus is a man of very high morals and trades them in for nothing; he loves his country and will do anything to help keep his fellow countrymen free.  Similar to Karate Kid, though Maximus's foe was much more evil, Maximus was able to challenge his enemy in an "official" or accepted arena, showing that there are appropriate ways to conquer the enemy, even to the death.

The loneliness Commodus brought on himself because of his ambition and treachery is very well portrayed.