I'm pretty sure most of the people who are reading this blog (my friends by chance) are looking forward to the new Star Wars film. I know I am! I mean look at the damn trailer!
"You want this... Don't you?"
However, alongside everyone's genuine excitement hides a lingering fear. Will this be the Star Wars I am looking for? For some of us it will, perhaps even most of us. I am optimistic. But there will always be the people who will go and see the film and declare it shit. That will be a totally fair opinnion to have. (and I am only talking about the people who have actually seen the film, not the ones who declare movies crap even before they watch it.) So short answer, probably not.
Star Wars has grown into something more than a movie franchise. It has become a culturally significant piece of mythology/awesomess. Weapons Platforms have been named after it, entire industries have been created out of it. It is important to humanity. Thus making it a topic so many people have such heated conversations about. Is it art? Is it entertainment? Did Han shoot first? WILL THE NEW STAR WARS MOVIE BE ANY GOOD?
Which kinda leads me to my main point of this little blog entry. Art VS. Entertainment. I'll let good ol Alejandro Jodorowsky give his point of view. (while pitching for more money, but his point is sound)
He has a point. For those of you who couldn't watch it, he is basically saying that world cinema is currently oversaturated by Hollywood cinema. Empty cinema. Escapism. And he is right. No studio, theater chain want ot risk funding or showing films that cannot guarantee box office numbers. And this is very bad in the long run. Because this is making our brains fat... Okay let me explain.
ENTERTAINMENT FILMS ARE DESERT. Sugar loaded powerfluff that help you escape the world for at least a little while, but inevitably leave you feeling just as you were going in. This is all well and good. Much like having a good slice of cake after a hearty meal or that sinful piece of chocolate you have stashed away in your pocket just in case you REALLY REALLY need it (You know who you are).
ART FILMS ARE YOUR VEGGIES. They might not taste as good as a chocolate cake to some people, but invetibly they are good for you and help you become a stronger person. And like any true food analogy, there are people who ONLY eat veggies. Or only watch ART films. You know who you are as well. And thats fine.
Thus I think what is happening currently with audiences is this. We are consuming too much chocolate. Yes, there is the occasional "art" film that breaks out such as Tree of Life (Great film, I don't like it, but its a great film.), but to each Tree of Life, you have 20 superhero films and Hunger Game films. We as an audiene are mentally obese in the cinematic scene. We only want the sugar. We only want to see entertainment. Yet...
Will Star Wars be any good?
Wait what?! I hear you ask. We are not giving the time and money for films that could actually enrich us, yet our expectations for Star Wars is high, because we as an audience deserve better that the prequels. Uhm... NO WE DONT. Thats like ignoring your salad, skipping to your chocolate cake and then complain to the chef that it's making your teeth fall out.
Sometimes I think we should just remeber what entertainment films are suppose to be. PURE fun and enjoyment. They aren't the films one should start digging deeper truths or meaning out of. There is a WHOLE other genre of films, OTHER TYPE of films that are made just for that. Watch a Terrence Malick film, and start the process of thinking about what life actually means. Watch a Jodorowksy film and try and decipher what the hell is going on. Those are the films you should put effort into pouring over and consider over a glass of wine. Because they expect you to.
Discussing the cinematic/story merrits of Star Wars is like discussing the artistic merrits of a Mcdonald's advertisement. So yeah, Star Wars isn't art. It isn't your veggies andI at least wont grow spiritually or mentally from its viewing. Simply put, it is perhaps the best damn chocolate cake in the galaxy! And I will eat the whole thing and ask for seconds, without any regrets. Because, Star Wars man.
So lets start watching more diverse films. Lets actually put more money into art films. Be risky, go to a film festival. In many respects, those movies are cheaper to go to as well! You can't lose! Cheaper seats and a movie that might make you learn something or change you. What's so wrong with that? Diversity is a wonderful thing. Especially in entertainment. So give it a go? Make it part of your New Years resolution. Watch an art film, or a cultural film. See how you like it. Like your mama used to say, "Ya don't know if ya don't try it- Oh look an airplane!" *Shove fork into mouth.*
But I expect all of you to still go and watch Star Wars. I might be asking you to eat your veggies, but don't give up on the cake...
...Now I want cake.
P.S. if some of you are thinking I don't like those "art" movies, cause those directors cant make awesome space shit, Jodorowsky is indirectly responsible for almost all the best scifi in Hollywood cinema. And we are not giving him any money...
TL;DR, watch more art films, because your brain is fat and needs a workout.
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