Saw the movie today. I thought it was really good, but, because it dared to put forth philosophical ideas, it had to be challenged.
I don't claim my philosophy on life is testable, true, or morally imperative for everyone to try. Philosophy is almost a fruitless game, and philosophy on life in a practical sense is something that, at best, you can only expect yourself to get meaning from.
But anyways, the movie was really cool, and most of my issues with it would be quelled with the tagline "in moderation," but here's a thumbs-down to shirking responsibility (letting loose on great food is great, but not considering what you put in your body at all is foolish. If you don't mind obesity it's one thing, or if you'd rather obesity than having to work to be slim, that's one thing, but many people simply lack will power and are very unhappy with their state and at least believe they'd be happier if they were slimmer. Letting loose sure didn't help them... moderation is key)
It had some anti-union vibes, though faint, and I'm sure it wasn't the drive of the movie. But it's like, c'mon, don't quit on something you haven't tried, especially not when you make a solemn oath in front of your family. If a relationship is abusive, quit. If it's stressful, work with it, don't run away. Only when the work won't work, give up. I'm in reference to marriage here in these statements.
It's not that I'm against the line of reasoning "I'm unhappy so why should I continue to be unhappy?" so much as, Jesus, if you're going to make a promise, keep it, or give it your all. If you're not, don't make the promise- it's that easy.
Next, the whimsicalness of it all. I mean, it bothered me to hear the espousing of the idea that we shouldn't become attached to things and should always be ready to change. Again, moderation. Don't become so attached to your hair you'd die if it was changed, and don't become so attached to a possession you can't discard it even when it's not useful anymore. But instead it comes out sounding like, human relationships are insubstantial. Is that true? Somewhat, yes, but I really don't think human beings for the most part can live a meaningful, productive life without having things tying them down. If everyone takes off their whole life for a life of leisure, we'd all be dead. Dead! For crying out loud, people need to get stuff done. We can't just throw it all out the window and get swept up by the breeze.
Lastly, I get the whole "life is a mystical pathway, where everything lends its significance to your journey" feeling, but it's something I was hoping we shook off back in the Middle Ages. There aren't portents in everything. Seeing symbolism in things is *dangerous*. That's where we develop other stupid things like superstition. It's swell for the movie, but I feel like they're challenging me to just throw myself into things willy-nilly, without recognizing that elephants are extremely deadly animals and could easily kill me instead of lend me their magical secrets.
So, great movie, I recommend it, but dammit if I'll let Oprah rant and rave about how genius it is without a little argument to the contrary.
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