I mainly write about books, but I want to recommend a movie to you today—the Coen Brother’s True Grit. I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I remember watching John Wayne’s rendition of True Grit when I was a youngster. This one is even better. The Coen’s are simply brilliant. In this movie that craft (as usual) a stylized dialogue that is both memorable and engaging. The focus of the music is one hymn. The story is compelling. The acting is superb.

As classical school folks, we should pay attention to how to tell a good story. They are the best at it right now.

Hat’s off.

Emily and I watched Avatar last night. We both enjoyed it. This morning, however, my dissection of the movie began and my disappointment is increasing. Most—at least if I take into account ticket receipts—have already seen it, so I will not worry about ruining the plot. The story takes us to Pandora which is a planet almost exactly like a pristine forest in our world—only cooler. The trees light up when you step on them, seed display spiritual understanding, and you can “mind-meld” with animals. The computer graphics are astounding (more on this later). There are two groups of rational beings on Pandora: the Natives (who are pantheistic, highly athletic, very moral, eco-friendly, sexually liberated, exceptionally egalitarian, recapitulations American Indians—before Europeans wrecked North America) and the Invaders (mostly white, intensely oppressive, deceitful, crassly unfeeling capitalists polluters). Quickly, we see that there is a third group forming—a middle group—made up of mediators. These humans take on the form of the Natives and infiltrate their society. They are scientists which in this case means that they are almost exact approximations of left-leaning modern, eco-friendly, political liberals—all except one. Our hero is a marine who through no fault of his own is thrust into the body of an Avatar and eventually finds that he likes the Natives instead of the invaders. He falls in love with the Princess, learns to ride cool animals, and eventually leads the Natives in their intifada against the Invaders. He ultimately “goes native.” It is a good story, but the political philosophy was dumped onto the story ham-handedly. (It made me remember why I wanted the Titanic to sink quickly during his last blockbuster.) Here are some areas that need to be considered: (more…)