joyce hammond

I really did enjoy the movie, I wouldn't necessarily say it would be in my top tier of movies. However, it definitely did touch on some themes that are very indicative of coming of age, generational divides and how aiming for one thing can lead to the exact thing you don't want. SPOILERS: Dustin doesn't know what he wants in life and the pressure to succeed frightens him. With his lack of understanding and need to please and live up to others expectations he abandons himself on a daily basis. Mrs Robinson sees that, as well as an attractive man and figures it's a great way to get a distraction from her life. You can see her manipulating him and his naivete allows her to do so. Even her husband shares with him he is unhappy with his life and rushed he had been more free and relaxed in his younger years. However, as a paradox, it's this exact thing that starts to give him a sense of purpose and doing things he wants to do rather than aimlessly being pushed around by others around, albeit even if well meaning. Elaine is a prime example of him finally pursuing his desires. Elaine also is under societal pressure. University feels like a blip of what is expected in get life, which is to marry the first 'decent' man that comes along. Both young adults feel pressured and so follow their passion, alienating those close to them as a result. A divide between the previous and future generations... But the question is, did the new generation repeat the previous generation's mistakes, just in a different way?

I have to say, I didn't think I would enjoy this. If it weren't for external circumstances I don't think I would've, though I am glad I watched it. It starts off just as I thought it would - candy sweetness that makes me feel dead inside. A clear divide and blandness of characters despite all the achievements made by the 'Barbies' of this world. The 'Kens' acting as what people like to stereotype - a sort of dumb blonde stereotype. Funnily enough, the 'Barbies' are the same - just with more achievements. And then things start getting interesting with the existential questions - instead of broader existential questions it brings to light the roles of females and males and how they interact with each other. Without going into too much detail, this movie touches on what it is to be a human. That no matter how put together the 'Barbies' are in their female dominated world and no matter how much the men in reality seem to be in control in a male dominated world... We all ache to be seen. We all need to be vulnerable to a certain degree and appreciate that holding others up to stereotypical standards only hurts us all in the end. What could truly happen if we used the feminine and masculine traits as abilities together, instead of trying to fit one or the other into a dominated society? What if we stopped pretending and were just ourselves? In short, I wasn't the biggest fan of this movie - too much of a sickly sweet tone throughout it (I get it though, that's the audience it was designed for, so I can't really complain based on my personal preference), however, when movies can bring something meaningful to the table and just like in Kendom snap us 'Barbies' out of this trance we put ourselves in holding each other to unreasonable expectations. It's an idea. And an idea can live forever.

As I was watching this film, I thought that it didn't have dramatic punchlines like many of the good movies do. And then I realised aside from the amazing technical aspect of this film, it wasn't about the punchlines. It's about a boy who grew into a man he didn't want to be. The happiest he ever seemed in that movie was when he was a boy playing with his sled 'Rosebud'. As he goes on in life according to circumstances that started from family dysfunction he carries that same dysfunction into adulthood, just expressed in a different way. He feels cheated on life, despite that having the passion to make it into something for himself and others. But along the way he runs into different situations that if he doesn't work on himself will ruin his life. And so he ruins his life - not bankruptcy or a drug addiction. But an addiction for power and that same addiction leaves him in a state of no power as what is the point if you've lost everyone? Objects once bought, that's it. You have power over them, they're not as satisfying as good genuine relationships and interactions. He starts out with love and friendship but lives out his own self fulfilling prophecy of spoiling everything through his need to have things done his way. At the end you see his coveted posession of the life he wanted thrown into the furnace along with many other valuables he had. Here's to show how transient life can be and how we can create our own personal heaven or hell within this current life we live.

I just watched Carrie for the first time. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the acting etc... Getting carried away by the technical details isn't needed. What I can appreciate in this movie is the dynamics it portrayed. 1. The sweetness and innocence of Carrie as opposed to the brashness of the girls who teased her. 2. The fact these girls didn't understand what was happening and thought her reaction was absurd, because they didn't know what was happening at her home. They had an idea I'm sure about her mum being deeply religious, but her mother loved her daughter and hated her at the same time, because that was her living proof of vulnerability that lead to her being abandoned. 3. The above point should be a lesson to letting your trauma suck you up, you essentially become a black hole of energy that sucks the life out of everyone good or bad influence in your life. 4. The dynamic of healthy and toxic relationships, this explores it in numerous ways through numerous stereotypes and I think the actresses were chosen perfectly for the energy they put across. 5. When I saw the last 20-30 minutes, something really spoke out to me: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And boy I could go on and on about all the different lessons and dynamics in this movie but that would be an actual essay. Props to the amazing crew, production, directing and actors/actresses to showcasing a movie that not only inspired other productions by technique but also explored dynamics in an insightful way!