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In the minority opinion
Yup, that's me - always with the opinion that conflicts with the rest of the general world. I think it's partly because I have this strong urge to support the underdog - if I like something, and it turns out not many others really care much for it, my liking for it only intensifies. And on the contrary, if a great big hunk of people are gushing insanely about something, I'm that much less likely to care much for it myself. I dislike fads and peer pressure most heartily. I suppose going against the crowds is just as much a way of letting myself be influenced by popular opinion as would be going with the crowds...but I'm not always swayed either way by public opinion. It's more that if I'm a bit ambivalent about something, seeing what everyone else thinks can often push me in the opposite way.
Why am I babbling about this? I have to write about something, don't I? And I've been thinking about this a lot. Well, I guess I'm sort of bragging about my frowardness. It's a peculiar matter of pride for me. For example, I confess to not liking Jar Jar Binks upon my first viewing of Episode I. That's right, I didn't. And then it occurred to me that the only reason I disliked him was because I was somewhat uncomfortable in thinking what most audiences must think of him - he wasn't the sort of character that most people would enjoy. But darn it, what does it matter what they think? I personally like Jar Jar, and now all the more because he's the ultimate underdog/frog. And I am pleased to bursting that I've written three fan fics devoted to him. Poo poo to everyone who thinks I'm crazy. In fact, that notion rather delights me.
Another one - I like the Hulk movie better than Spiderman. That's right, the Hulk movie that everyone was booing and calling pretentious, and the blockbuster, record-breaking Spiderman that just came out with an extremely successful sequel. The underdog aspect is definitely a big influence. But here's what I think it's really related to. Both movies stressed pretty much the same themes as their respective comic books, in my opinion. So for me, they were both good adaptations. However, the main theme of Spiderman is Teen Angst, pure and simple. That's a very effective theme for the main audience of comic books. However, I don't much identify with it, and it gets very tired very quickly. Particularly in the matter of the extremely juvenile love story - a high school crush on the pretty girl who flits from one boy to another with no real solidness of character - as far as I can tell, she is presented as the desirable love object without any strong qualifications other than her looks. That's quite likely for a high school crush, of course, but it doesn't guarantee any strength in the relationship that Peter so longs to have with her. And when she's not a flighty love interest, she's a typical Damsel in Distress. I just don't care about a teenage romance, sorry. (If it's more mature in the second movie, then bravo to the filmmakers. But somehow I doubt it, since the first one seemed to appeal to most everyone else.)
Granted, there's some powerful questions posited by the film, but their answers are fairly straight forward. Does great power demand great responsibility? Well, duh. If you didn't get it at first, they'll tell you over and over again.
Hulk, on the other hand, in both comic and movie form, is vastly more complex. Themes of repression, regression, subconscious, ambiguity regarding good and evil, the power and danger of emotion, the inability of intellect to fully conquer passion, and so on. And there are no obvious answers. Is Hulk evil? Well, not exactly. But he does terrible things. Is Bruce Banner responsible for the Hulk's behavior? To an extent, perhaps. And in some ways, he's as much a victim as everyone else in the Hulk's path. I also really like the way the movie extended these issues into the uncertain father-son relationship, into repressed memories and an achingly tragic childhood experience that left an unseen but brutal mark on Bruce's character. There's so much to ponder and feel, that I have almost an entirely fresh experience every time I watch the movie. I've seen Spiderman once, and I enjoyed it, and I don't particularly care if I see it again. I'll see the sequel eventually, but probably when it comes out to video.
Well, it's been quite clear to me that I couldn't have more of a vastly different opinion from the rest of the world. And I feel very stubbornly pleased with this, and at the same time rather lonely. Ah, I'm such a ridiculous contradiction! If I was able to argue my opinions effectively into everyone's head, I'd probably be depressed that I was just one of the crowd.
Good grief, two entries in a row that essentially shout "Look at me, I'm different! Isn't that so cool? Pay attention to me!" I will not have a similarly themed entry next time, I promise.
Why am I babbling about this? I have to write about something, don't I? And I've been thinking about this a lot. Well, I guess I'm sort of bragging about my frowardness. It's a peculiar matter of pride for me. For example, I confess to not liking Jar Jar Binks upon my first viewing of Episode I. That's right, I didn't. And then it occurred to me that the only reason I disliked him was because I was somewhat uncomfortable in thinking what most audiences must think of him - he wasn't the sort of character that most people would enjoy. But darn it, what does it matter what they think? I personally like Jar Jar, and now all the more because he's the ultimate underdog/frog. And I am pleased to bursting that I've written three fan fics devoted to him. Poo poo to everyone who thinks I'm crazy. In fact, that notion rather delights me.
Another one - I like the Hulk movie better than Spiderman. That's right, the Hulk movie that everyone was booing and calling pretentious, and the blockbuster, record-breaking Spiderman that just came out with an extremely successful sequel. The underdog aspect is definitely a big influence. But here's what I think it's really related to. Both movies stressed pretty much the same themes as their respective comic books, in my opinion. So for me, they were both good adaptations. However, the main theme of Spiderman is Teen Angst, pure and simple. That's a very effective theme for the main audience of comic books. However, I don't much identify with it, and it gets very tired very quickly. Particularly in the matter of the extremely juvenile love story - a high school crush on the pretty girl who flits from one boy to another with no real solidness of character - as far as I can tell, she is presented as the desirable love object without any strong qualifications other than her looks. That's quite likely for a high school crush, of course, but it doesn't guarantee any strength in the relationship that Peter so longs to have with her. And when she's not a flighty love interest, she's a typical Damsel in Distress. I just don't care about a teenage romance, sorry. (If it's more mature in the second movie, then bravo to the filmmakers. But somehow I doubt it, since the first one seemed to appeal to most everyone else.)
Granted, there's some powerful questions posited by the film, but their answers are fairly straight forward. Does great power demand great responsibility? Well, duh. If you didn't get it at first, they'll tell you over and over again.
Hulk, on the other hand, in both comic and movie form, is vastly more complex. Themes of repression, regression, subconscious, ambiguity regarding good and evil, the power and danger of emotion, the inability of intellect to fully conquer passion, and so on. And there are no obvious answers. Is Hulk evil? Well, not exactly. But he does terrible things. Is Bruce Banner responsible for the Hulk's behavior? To an extent, perhaps. And in some ways, he's as much a victim as everyone else in the Hulk's path. I also really like the way the movie extended these issues into the uncertain father-son relationship, into repressed memories and an achingly tragic childhood experience that left an unseen but brutal mark on Bruce's character. There's so much to ponder and feel, that I have almost an entirely fresh experience every time I watch the movie. I've seen Spiderman once, and I enjoyed it, and I don't particularly care if I see it again. I'll see the sequel eventually, but probably when it comes out to video.
Well, it's been quite clear to me that I couldn't have more of a vastly different opinion from the rest of the world. And I feel very stubbornly pleased with this, and at the same time rather lonely. Ah, I'm such a ridiculous contradiction! If I was able to argue my opinions effectively into everyone's head, I'd probably be depressed that I was just one of the crowd.
Good grief, two entries in a row that essentially shout "Look at me, I'm different! Isn't that so cool? Pay attention to me!" I will not have a similarly themed entry next time, I promise.