Films and Veganism: September 2012

Hit and Run (2012)

September 28, 2012

First off: I love this movie and the love that is in this movie...

I ended up liking this nicely done, low-budget film a lot more than I initially thought. I see it as a film that reminds us it's not always just about the destination itself but also the crazy situations we may run into on our travels throughout life - from wherever we are (or were), to wherever we're going.

Hit & Run. Writ. Dir. Palmer, David. Shephard, Dax. Open Road Films. 2012. Movie Poster.

When girlfriend, Annie B. (Kristen Bell), receives an advancing career opportunity, the call for a road-trip comes into play, unexpectedly revealing hidden details of her boyfriend's unknown past along the way. And the result is a very sweet, fun-filled romance comedy-adventure with some very hilarious moments, created by partners Kirsten Bell and Dax Shepard. Originally, I didn't know what to expect from this movie nor how I would respond to it. But after the first ten minutes, I could tell I was going to love it.

It's not often you see Bradley Cooper with dreads.
Hit & Run. Writ. Dir. Palmer, David. Shephard, Dax. Open Road Films. 2012.

Kristen Bell. Hit & Run. Writ. Dir. Palmer, David. Shephard, Dax. Jeffery Reed, Open Road Films. 2012. Film Still.

Despite the many outlandish occurrences throughout the film, audiences are is still able to connect (similar to Robert Downey Jr.'s description of "theater 101" in Tropic Thunder) and relate. Of course there are a few.. well, many chaotic "weird sh*t" events that occur with some really kooky characters; some who are mean and vengeful, some lovable, but mostly, those who are just plain weird.

The basis of the film is actually built on the establishment of a relationship, the trust of that relationship, and the outside interference and past that affects the relationship. That alone is something I'm sure everyone can relate to in some way or another. Sometimes when watching a film, audiences want to feel as if they can relate, or be nicely surprised that they actually did relate, to something that may seem beyond themselves.

This is one of what I would call, a feel-good, fun movie. Not only do you find yourself laughing when you least expect it, but there is also a really incredibly chill soundtrack music scheme filled with awesome lively beats. In my opinion, it's another aspect of the film, aside from the humor, that gives it a positive endorphin-heightening effect. It's also a good film for people who really like cars, fast cars, and chase scenes!

This is a movie I could watch, and have watched, over-and-over again.

comedy

Mean Girls: Learn from the Satire, Don't Repeat It.

September 25, 2012

Lindsay Lohan. Mean Girls. Dir. Waters, Mark. Screen. Fey, Tina. Paramount Pictures. 2004. Movie Poster.

From an observatory stand point I, as most people, have noticed the almost scary, crazed-obsession some youngsters seem to have on a certain teen comedy: Mean Girls. The strangest thing about this phenomenon is how some girls seem to really love this movie, yet never seem to learn anything from it. I'm not crazy about this movie and I don't necessarily like it, but I do appreciate the feminist effort satirically brought on by Tina Fey.

I imagine that the effort is to try to teach or encourage young women to stop and discontinue the internalized misogyny they inflict upon one another. Mean Girls is a movie that tries to convey this message with the use of satire through the weird-school chaos and overall silly comedy as a method of making fun of and addressing the messed up ways in which young girls AND even women, inflict and perpetuate this patriarchal, misogynist hate onto one another.

Tina Fey. Mean Girls. Paramount Pictures. 2004. Film Still.

I just can't get over the fact that no matter how many times girls watch this movie, many still fail to understand and actually gain something from the whole meaning of the movie, which is my motivation for creating this post. I am aware that this is a movie, it's satirical, it's entertainment to bring about laughter- yes. But at the same time, it doesn't mean there isn't an important message to be learned. It also doesn't mean that issues facing girls and young women in schools is getting any better either.

Rachel R. White even writes about this girl versus girl hate in her article asking "Why Do Girls Slut Shame Each Other?"

I also came across another great article that relates to this very issue, addresses the double standards, and how harmful its effects can be:

Girls are shamed for being sexual, and shamed for not being sexual—they’re insulted regardless of what they do or what they don’t do. Meanwhile, a boy who professes to have had many sexual encounters is called a player. This is praise (or, at the very least, not insulting in the same way words like slut and prude are meant to be). There is an obvious double standard. My age group assumes that calling a young girl a slut or prude is OK; but it is not OK. It is shaming and demeaning.

We are smashing the confidence of young girls each and every time we stand by and let them be called sluts.

There is a scene in the movie in which, writer and actress, Tina Fey tells all the girls that they shouldn't call each other these vile and offensive names, because it just gives boys a reason to think it's okay to call them such things. And that's true. Some guys who mistreat others in schools are too ignorant and unaware to realize what harassment and violence against women (and anyone) really is. These terms young women use to hurt one another are not okay nor excusable for anyone to use against as a verbal weapon. The way people treat and talk to each other today in society is not acceptable, it's completely disrespectful and ignorant. It is also not something that anyone should just have to deal with, but something we need to actively change. When we see someone exhibit disrespectful and violent (which can take place in both verbal and physical form) behaviors and/or attitudes, we need to say something or do something about it. We need not accept and excuse, thus, perpetuate that kind of behavior. Instead, we should do something, explain why it is not okay, and show alternative ways of dealing with any underlying conflicts. It is important that we take these actions to create positive change, educate others, and create a compassionate society.

This blog post was written during my last year of high school so keep in mind that this was created during 2012 when I was observing this behavior happen right before my eyes as well as in the media.