Dull week, interesting movie

[pandonkey]

For those of you on my friends list who enjoyed Memento (you know who you are [at least, I hope you do, because I don't]), consider plunking down your $4.50 (matinee) for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Very interesting movie, and I enjoyed it a great deal. It's an experience similar to reading good science-fiction -- starting off with the pleasant, tingly sensation of not knowing what the hell is going on, but enjoying it; then gradually coming to the "aha!" moment when things start falling into place and you realize that OH MY GOD IT WAS EARTH ALL ALONG!!!!!!

I like the theme of memory, and I enjoy movies that play with and with nonsequential storytelling, so this one goes on my mental happy shelf alongside Memento. (Actually, it's a little higher on the shelf, because it's considerably more cheerful.)

"Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius...Dr. Zaius, Dr. Zaius! Oooooooooooh Dr. Zaius! Help me, Dr. Zaius!"

Comments

[dcsmrgun.livejournal.com]

I hate every ape I see
From chimpan-a to chimpanzee

No you'll never make a monkey out of me!

Oh my god, I was wrong!
It was earth all along!

Well you've finally made a monkey --
(Yes we've finally made a monkey!)
Yes you've finally made a monkey -- out -- of -- meee!

I love you Dr. Zaius!

[pandonkey.livejournal.com]

Reason number 5,423 why The Simpsons is the greatest show ever. :)

[dcsmrgun.livejournal.com]

Indeed :)

I went to Eternal Sunshine last night. Very good movie. I have a feeling that its something you need to see at least twice to appreciate completely, though.

[lethea.livejournal.com]

Memento rocked, in a creepy, mind-twisting sort of way. (My psych prof liked it enough to break his no-extra-credit rule. ^^)

I'm another fan of looking-glass movies -- not so much the surprise ending type as the type where a lot of unfamiliar pieces come together but it's not until they're nearly all in place that you recognize the finished picture. Hm, maybe "jigsaw puzzle movies" is a better term. :)

Anyway, I've been curious about Eternal Sunshine ... so it's good to hear a good review. As a counter-recommendation, you would probably like The Usual Suspects if you haven't seen that one already.

[pandonkey.livejournal.com]

Great recommendation. :) I've seen parts of The Usual Suspects, but I'm starting to think there's a physical law of the Universe that prevents me from watching it in its entirety. I've rented it twice, attempted to tape it on television once, and sat down on the couch in front of it four or five times, but something always interferes. I'll keep trying, though -- what are laws of the Universe for, if not for breaking?

Oh, and it's really not so much a "twist" that I'm referring to; bad example, I guess, but it was what popped into my head (along with the entire Simpsons musical version ;)). I really mean the "aha!" moments of discovery when you realize what is different in the story's fictional world, what the rules are, and what is actually causing the experiences the characters are having.

And a footnote to my original entry: While I was writing this entry, I was nagged by the memory of a short story with some similarities to Eternal Sunshine, and I just realized what it was -- "Daisy in the Sun," by Connie Willis. The plot's completely different, but some elements of the storytelling are similar.