The focal point of this paper is to evaluate whether Hollywood movies are misleading of detrimental to human mind or they are enlightening and offers us the true picture of life on a broader perspective on the psyche of the different stages of an individual. For the purpose three stages of human life is chosen viz. adolescence, young adulthood and middle adulthood.
Six Hollywood movies are also chosen for evaluation making it two movies for each stage. AdolescenceThe movie “October Sky” (1999), directed by Joe Jonston, is a story how Homer, a coal miner’s son, opposing his father’s wish to become rocket scientist. As in our social life, Homer finds a supportive hand in his mother and his school teacher. This is another aspect of the movie that moves us so much and generates a sense of euphoria simply because a lone rider is never a lone rider in the real world and its societies. And in the process of this contrasting society provides alley in every nooks and corners of the undertaking.This is society, and every time a movie manages to catch a glimpse of society, and in the process life itself, we stand up our seat to appreciate it.
This is because we constantly identify ourselves with the central character of the movie and in a way the anti-establishment notion in all within us embedded in our core consciousness expresses its gratitude. This is an all aspiring movie and ignites hope within every adolescents and more so because it is based on a true story.The movie “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”, on the other hand, depicts a panorama of the 19th century. This movie is a combination of adventure, friendship, loyalty, comradeship and depiction of maritime beauty. However, it can be mentioned that the entire vibe is in essence is fantasy thus incidents that are unreal are sure to come by occasionally. It could be mentioned that in a usual fantasy hardly any materialistic truthfulness ever exists.
This is one point this movie is distinctly different from other fantasies.The base work of this movie is founded on minute historical details backed by well studied maritime features of the Napoleonic era. It can thus be stated safely that The Far Side of the World is in reality a work of fantasy enclosed in a combination of historical era and detailed maritime specifications thus it enables the audience to gather information of an era long gone in an entertaining manner. (Kar, 56) Every adolescent watching this movie would come out better informed about this era.
Young adulthoodOne major enlightening movie for the young adults is `When Harry met Sally` that can be used to reveal the American culture. This 1989 movie is basically humorous in nature and the treatment made by director Rob Reiner has been well appreciated by both critics and public alike. The plot develops when the characters meets for the first time near a carpool and their corresponding relation over a period of twelve years. The basic tagline of this movie is the dilemma over the fundamental difference between the nature of a man and a woman and their inability of blending together as casual friends.This lack of ability of accepting the opposite sex in the public perception is the deep-seated question of the movie.
It could thus be mentioned that the market economy led and induced life style of the American culture has taught the community to enjoy life at its fullest but at the same context it has reduced the amount responsibility needed in a relationship let alone a man woman relationship. Young adults watching this move would understand that reality of a relation lies in taking up and responsibility and that is the only way to be successful in relations. (King, 228-30)On the other hand, the film Shaft, released in July 2, 1971 and directed by Gordon Parks, indicates that for a democratic society with its democratic form of government system it is but an obvious choice to opt for a society that is mostly color blind. The curse of racial discrimination had always been there in the American society. The black community was hungry for a hero who was able to give back what they were used to receive. In a way Shaft became the icon of the black community.
Shaft was that figure that every boy of African American origin wanted to be. This was their answer to racism.Shaft was all answer to these reprisals, at least on the movie. The better part of the movie shows shaft fighting against allsorts of evils especially those with the undercurrent of undercover apartheid. This is in no way detrimental or misleading but helping an entire community to find its place in the society. Middle adulthood The film “American Beauty” is an amazing piece of cinematography on multiple levels.
Lester Burnham feels like he is a slave to everyone around him and everything in the world. Although his life seems good but his whole life has been in servitude of others.So, throughout the entire film, his thoughts race of everything he truly desires. This includes his lust for a cheerleader at his teen’s high school, by the name of Angela Hayes.
The chains of society stop many of us from achieving our full potential, especially here in America. Maybe one will never achieve a time where people can flourish and become truly happy, but we can always try, even if it means dying in the process. But dying is not the only truth in the movie, it is about the want to be happy and contented and a person in the range of middle adulthood would certainly identify himself or herself with the protagonist of the movie.Facing this truth is the enlightenment all by itself.
The personal feeling of “American Beauty” for a middle adult changes to community feeling with the film Wild River (1960) by Elia Kazan. The director recreates a difficult and complex period in American history. This movie is comes within the parameter of the early 1930’s where Chuck Glover, is an idealistic character finds himself in the midst of a circumstances where he is bifurcated between his heart and his head or better to say between his ideals and his employment. Here the focal point of the movie indicates the true nature of a free country.Director Elia Kazan stands hand in hand with the oppressed and the down trodden and made way for a different route of justification and justifying human tolerance and the end of it by protesting against oppression.
(Kar, 167) This is a movie about being political correctness that every individual especially a middle aged person should always find all the foods for though with all the experience. In conclusion it should be mentioned that people watching a movie tends to go through an editing process where they rejects all projections of swinging Spiderman and aggressive aliens and gets the main theme of the movie by themselves.It may be good over evil or love over hate. The bottom line is people knows what is practicable and right and thus eradicates the impossible aspects of a movie. (Lamb, 187-188) In this respect it can be mentioned that Hollywood movies are doing a great job over the years by presenting different aspects of life that are less known and unknown to the audience and helping them to think, by providing visual information, and understand their life in a better mode.
