Kevin's Watch

Yes, I know, this should be in Flicks. However this movie's emphasis on varying schools of existentialism, as well as it's deep mood and relative psychological extremes force me to make a topic of it here.

Is everything connected?

Is everything cruel, random chance?


Have you seen this movie? Even if you think "existentialism stinks" you will undoubtedly enjoy this movie!!!

I saw it, it was great

Naomi Watts

Who?

Obviously this is meant to be a religious thread if we don't know who starred in it!

Haven't seen it myself, but I would just like to remark on Baradakas' comment by saying that just because it's random, it doesn't have to be cruel.

In fact, by definition, random can't be cruel, for the simple reason that "cruel" suggests purpose/motive/intent, and random excludes these factors.

Nature isn't "cruel", nature just is

And things can still be connected without discernable purpose.

--Avatar

Interesting thought Av. Chance cannot be cruel, but Fate can?

Aah, a much tougher one. I don't think I really believe in "Fate" (although I waver sometimes ).

I tend to prefer the thought that we are responsible for our actions, i.e. that nothing is predestined, or "going to happen no matter what". Perhaps things are intended to happen, but we certainly have the ability to alter the future through our actions.

I tend to think of "Fate" as a cop-out, an abrogation of responsibility: "It's not my fault, it was Fate". "There was nothing I could do, it was meant to happen".

I prefer thinking that I have at least some measure of control over what happens to me.

--Avatar

I'm gonna steal a quote from Donaldson to illustrate what I believe...

"A man may be fated to die, but no fate may determine if he will die in courage or in cowardice."

I think it was Mhoram who said that one (I love that guy...)

That's a bit of a simplistic snapshot of what I think about it anyway...in some ways, I think it's like a "choose your own adventure" book...but that's over-simplifying it too...I'll have to put my thoughts together a little more about this one before I can really get it typed, I guess...

I sort of know what you're talking about though. Kind of "We're free to choose different paths to the same end."

I could go with that, but I don't really think that even the "End" is set in stone. The choices you make throughout your life effect what the final outcome will be.

If you like; Our "actions" determine our "Fate".

--Avatar

Avatar wrote:I sort of know what you're talking about though. Kind of "We're free to choose different paths to the same end."

I could go with that, but I don't really think that even the "End" is set in stone. The choices you make throughout your life effect what the final outcome will be.

If you like; Our "actions" determine our "Fate".

--Avatar

Kinda... I'd agree that our end isn't necessarily determined, either...I think that certain "crossroads" of our lives are determined--there are certain major choices that we MUST make--and these crossroads will appear to us no matter what our path; the choice isn't made for us, it's just offered...I hope that makes sense...

Makes sense so far

But while there are definitely certain choices that MUST be made, and which, in a sense must be made regardless of the direction we choose, I think those probably tend to be milestones that everyone reaches.

I don't think (obviously) that an overall "plan" places those cross-roads for you. The choices you have to make still differ from person to person, and likely depend on the choices you've already made.

In other words, selecting a certain course alters the choices you will be faced with later. You won't be offered the same choices as you would have been, had you chosen another "path".

--A

I just saw this movie. I hadn't read this thread before, and had NO idea what it was about. A REALLY fun movie!! Funny, philosophical, excellent performances (particularly Dustin). I want to see it again, just to see if there's really anything to the philosophy. heh. All in all, sort of like a good episode of Northern Exposure.

You mean to say there was a bad episode of Northern Exposure!!?? That's cruel!

It's all relative. No, there are no bad episodes of NX, but there are some that are better than the usual great.

I got fed up/incredibly annoyed with the hard to believe never ending sexual tension between the doctor guy and the semi good lookig short haired chick. Worse than Mulder and Scully. If they had just bunked in episode three and gotten over it, I would have enjoyed the series I think.

I agree, Prebe. That kind of crap ruins plenty of shows, imo. Anything that was good about a show gets pushed to the background so they can put all their energy onto what is apparently the only thing that can keep our attention for any amount of time. Hill Street Blues is among the saddest casualities of that.

Although, I think NX was much, much more than the idiotic relationship between Joel and Maggie.

Everything is connected. Nothing is random. Contrast leads to the perception of duality, but contrast itself exists within unity.

And now I am out of my depth on this subject. Good night.

Glad you agree Fist. I was expecting an avalanche there

But your observation is one that I never thought of: The stupid (disbelievable, heh) sexual tension is what keeps most people hooked. I only ever thought of it as a nuisance

Exnihilo: So the crappy part of the show is there to make the rest seem good? And the reason, that this difference makes up for perceived lack of quality, is that because beneath it all there is a current of conformity, the mere breakage of which, would bestow upon the viewer a sense of novelty?

(As this is a very ambitious sentence for a Dane please allow for a little leeway when reading )

I made a NX thread a long time ago. Anyway, I have a friend who thought it was a good show, but would be better if Chris wasn't on it. "He never shuts up!"