Vantage Point

So, the highlight of my week was seeing Vantage Point last night (my Sunday night movie). I have two comments about the viewing experience.
1 - I was struck by the number of people in the theater that seemed taken aback by the way the story was told. One such person (who may or may not have been a rude, teenage male sitting next to me) commented, "Why does it have to be noon again? Why can't it be one?"

Um... I thought it was clear from the previews that the story was going to be told in a series of flashbacks from different points of view. As a narrative tool, I thought it was done quite well, slowly adding new pieces every time, moving faster through the parts that were already clear and focusing on what was new. It really wasn't a surprise. And there wasn't too much repetition. It was far from boring, maybe frustrating to add to the suspense, but not boring. Boring is sitting in a micro lecture.

2 - The movie worked. I thought it was really well done. I liked all of the characters. I felt they tied up the loose ends that needed resolution but kept from resolving everything. Life doesn't always wrap up in a neat little bow, why should the movie. They never give full motivation for certain actions, and I left wondering why people did what they did. The movie was great.

BUT the last 2 minutes were the worst pile of crap I've ever seen. I mean, cut out the last two minutes and it would have been fantastic. I felt as though the writer was like, I really want a bit of dialog in there, and vomited out a script. The snickers in the theater were aimed at the ridiculously Amero-centric resolution, and the pure cheese on the screen that could only be made worse with a series of American flags flapping in a gentle breeze.

On the walk home though, I had a rather interesting conversation. And this is in no way meant to insult or offend anyone, I apologize if I do. I don't think there is anything I believe in strong enough to blow myself up for it. I actually really started thinking about it, and I can't really think of something that I could see myself strapping on a bomb and detonating myself for. Now, that's not to say I don't have convictions. I do. I remember that during Confirmation we were asked, "if it were illegal to be Catholic, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" I would be rotting in jail for my association with the church. But at the same time, I wouldn't blow myself up if the Pope told me to... Granted, that would be against Church Dogma (amongst other problems), but still...

So I pose this question:

Do you have convictions strong enough that you might end up a suicide bomber?

You don't have to answer me, but think about it... It's interesting.

Peace,
~LLL