Film Review: Remember Me

Tonight I saw the film Remember Me, ya know, the one with Twilight's Robert Pattinson? I expect there will be (or have been) a ton of girls who will flock to see this movie because they are "Team Edward" fans. However, before you go and do that, you should first read this review.

The movie is a love story, kind of. It's more of a story about how terrible and depressing life is. So, in order to deal with life's terrible times, the characters look for love and thus "escape" their tragic lives and find comfort in one another. But like all good things in life, the excitement wears off, and life begins to suck again.

This is a movie that is overly depressing. The theme is obvious: Enjoy life's good moments, for they are few and far in between. Nonetheless, the characters are believable and I found myself quite invested in the story. Pierce Brosnan (formerly known as James Bond) plays the main character's father. While his role is somewhat minor, his acting performance leaves quite a memorable impression.

But, I am not writing this review because of the characters, or any of the actors' performance. No. I am writing this because of how the film ends. Although I wanted to just go to bed and forget I had seen this movie, I could not. I surmise that this is exactly what the film makers wanted. They wanted the twist-ending to be such a punch in the gut that the audience is left gasping for air long after the movie's over. Without giving away the ending, I will just say this: The "surprise" ending is quite unnecessary and, to be honest, slightly disrespectful. While the movie clearly had an opportunity to end, the denouement lingers until the character's lives roll into one unfortunate event, that is coincidental, to say the least.

The movie revolves around the following quote by Gandhi: "Whatever you do in life will be insignificant; but it is very important that you do it anyway." This pseudo-nihilistic idea permeates the entire canvas of the film. From the opening credits to the closing, the film does an excellent job of reminding us that anything and everything we do is all for nothing. So, in light of Gandhi's quote, and in response to the film's title, I beg the question: why?

You can view the trailer here.

A Refreshing Experience

Tonight, Kiera and I volunteered to serve food to the homeless at the Church Under the Bridge, located beneath I-45 at Pierce St. This was quite a humbling, yet refreshing experience, as I was blown away with how thankful and proud some of the people were who I met. I was amazed at how so many of these people, people who have lost their jobs, families, and homes, were still thankful for the air that they breath.
I volunteered with a group of friends and, together, we served 75 Double Dave's pizzas to the homeless. Although the meeting is focused around the church service, a large portion of the time is devoted to fellowship--people getting to know one another and just sharing experiences and stories. Although I was someone who came with a job and place to sleep, I walked away with a new understanding and appreciation for the many things that I take for granted.
So, now, as I sit here in my air-conditioned apartment, with the TV on in the background, and a working computer with Internet access, I wonder if some of the homeless men and women who I met aren't better off than I am. I know one thing for certain: they are more likely to enjoy and be thankful for every luxury that they receive. Whether they are sleeping in a shelter or in a park tonight, they're happy to be alive. I think that is a lesson of which we all can afford to be reminded.

Laughing Matters

Monday, you will be reading Joan Bauer's "Clean Sweep." Bauer's short story embodies the characteristics and is a classic example, of her ability to illustrate something that is negative in a positive light. In class, you reflected on Bauer's quote, which is as follows:

I want to create stories that link life’s struggles with laughter…Laughter is a gift we’ve been given…not just to make us feel good, but to empower us to overcome dark times.

In your journals, you chose to either agree or disagree with the aforementioned quote. Now, I would like for you to really internalize the essence of what Bauer is saying and respond to the following questions:

When is it appropriate to turn to laughter in order to lighten a situation? In what ways can laughter help someone who is going through one of life's "dark times"? What precautions should a person take when trying to find humor in troubled situations? Your comments should show proof of critical, honest, and deep thinking.

A perfect example (thanks to Ms. Robayo for mentioning it to the first period class) is in the film Life is Beautiful. Although the context of the film is absolutely terrible and somber, the film takes on an interesting perspective--the characters who are enslaved in concentration camps use laughter to cope with the horrible conditions of the Holocaust. Just as Bauer states that "laughter is a gift," it is one of the only things that others cannot take away from us. Regardless of whether or not we are stripped of our possessions, freedoms, or family, laughter is something that can never be taken away.