A movie about a hopelessly naive, snobby, privileged, rich white kid with first world problems and zero responsibilities, who can't deal with growing up meanwhile magically changes the lives of everyone he leaves for the good by just being his wonderful self.
Angry adolescent gets a stupid idea, leaves his sheltered life to go on a survival trip untrained and unprepared and gets himself killed.
I get it: non-conformism good, materialistic society bad. Society is too evil for this innocent martyr. It's a very naive and romantic world view. The problem I have with this movie is the unquestioned portrayal of him as some kind of anti-capitalistic super-human hero up to prophet-like proportions. Rejecting basic human needs and void of vices. He is not crazy, we are crazy. He gives his money to charity and the old man his last quarter for a phonecall, has no sex with the willing girl he's attracted to (has to die a virgin), heals people's relationships overnight in his infinite kindness and wisdom, preaches on how to live his life to an elderly man (talking down to him from a freaking mountain with light from the heavens shining upon him) Oh, the noble creature! No questions about his mental health.
I've seen this movie 3 times now with years inbetween and it hasn't changed my opinion after the first. It's a religious movie of cheap sentiments from the start up untill the pompous death scene with the tear.
Excellent music by Eddie Vedder though!
I get it: non-conformism good, materialistic society bad. Society is too evil for this innocent martyr. It's a very naive and romantic world view. The problem I have with this movie is the unquestioned portrayal of him as some kind of anti-capitalistic super-human hero up to prophet-like proportions. Rejecting basic human needs and void of vices. He is not crazy, we are crazy. He gives his money to charity and the old man his last quarter for a phonecall, has no sex with the willing girl he's attracted to (has to die a virgin), heals people's relationships overnight in his infinite kindness and wisdom, preaches on how to live his life to an elderly man (talking down to him from a freaking mountain with light from the heavens shining upon him) Oh, the noble creature! No questions about his mental health.
I've seen this movie 3 times now with years inbetween and it hasn't changed my opinion after the first. It's a religious movie of cheap sentiments from the start up untill the pompous death scene with the tear.
Excellent music by Eddie Vedder though!
Tell Your Friends