The simple answer is this: I’m not satisfied in having to decipher an open end and then having to create a meaning out of.. a 6 season long story.
It’s one thing to do this with a film. I thoroughly enjoy a movie from time to time where at the end of it I’m left going, “What the heck just happened? I don’t get it.” and then dwelling on it for a bit.
It’s an entirely different thing when instead of a two hour film, it’s a 117 hour Television series wherein, between every single episode I’m left conjuring up ideas of what is going to happen next and how it will ultimately play out in the end. You can’t tell me they ran out of time.
Now, maybe my disappointment in the ending is because the biggest questions I wanted to know the answers to were A) What is the Island? and more importantly B) Why is the Island?
If you’re alright with the ending being that everyone was sucked into an electro-magnetized island, then fought and killed one another, for the purpose of eventually reuniting then so be it – but that’s not why I was watching the show.
Perhaps the biggest reason it irritated me is because I felt like I was seconds away from having my answers. The entire show – up until the last 10-15 minutes or so, was the best two hours and fifteen minutes of television I’ve ever seen. It looked like I was going to be able to forgive some of the random side stuff that was unanswered throughout the story because those are the questions I wouldn’t mind conjecturing about. I could even see a way for them to work Walt back into the mix so that we could figure out why he was truly, “special” and that was something to which I never thought we’d return.
Seriously, it was epic. I even tweeted about it early because I was so confident that things were coming together. Then Christian Shephard walked into the frame and let us know that flashing sideways is parallel not only to your current time, but also to purgatory.
I know, I know.. some of you loved the ending. That’s totally fine – you were just looking for a different type of resolution than I was from the outset.
Feel free to tell me how wrong I am in the comments.
- Forever a Lostie regardless of the end
Ted
It’s hard for me to believe that summer is here, but I can assure you that I am incredibly thankful. Anyway, I figured I’d write out a blog post for what seems to be the most asked question as of late: What are you doing this summer?
I’m working for iThemes.com – doing video, motion graphics and whatever else Cory Miller decides I need to work on.
When I’m not working, I’m going to be working with my brother, Caleb Harrison doing an Internet video series through Pearodies.com and YouTube. I promise you, we will bring you nothing short of ridiculous so be sure to check that out and follow Pearodies on Twitter for more details on that soon. (one will star my good friend, Jonathan Kennedy and you should just go ahead and get excited for that)
Then, when I’m not doing the other two aforementioned things, I’ll be writing a book. Will anyone ever read it other than me? Probably not – but I have an idea in mind and I already have the outline as well as the first two pages or so written which is much farther than I would have ever expected to get.
So when I’m not creating, which is what all three of the above are, I will be spending some time in Scripture, reading various literature, and training to run a half marathon by the end of the summer while finding some time to hang with friends.
If it sounds like a lot it’s because it is. Do I expect everything to go as I have it laid out in my head? Two years ago I would have said yes – today I already know that life happens and I’m going to be okay at the end of the summer.
Thanks for reading, and if you would, answer the question, “What are you doing this summer?” in the comments. I’m interested, promise!
- Ted
I had to do a project for my lighting and cinematography class, the task was to watch a film from before 1970 from the perspective of solely a cinematographer and write a paper over it. So I went to Blockbuster (I know I know.. lame) and searched for something worthwhile. I came across the John Ford directed The Quiet Man and settled on it because I’m a fan of John Wayne and I had seen segments of the movie before on television.
Anyway, I circumvented my OS’s feeble attempt to keep me from screen capturing with the DVD player open and got 8 frames that I think really sum up the move nicely. (Click here for the movie synopsis)
The first frame is John Wayne’s character Sean Thornton and Barry Fitzgerald’s character Michaleen Oge Flynn. The frame sums up both of their on screen persona’s nicely.
The second depicts the beginning of the rivalry between Thornton and Danaher who is Mary Kate’s (The lead actress and Wayne’s crush in the movie played by Maureen O’Hara) brother.
The third is of Mary Kate (Will your 1950s self please marry me?).
The fourth and fifth sums up Sean and Mary Kate’s relationship quite nicely. One second it’s great and passionate, the next it’s gone and confusing.
The sixth sums up Sean Thornton’s masculinity – he’s just struck his match on the crossbeam above his head in this frame and he is about to put Mary Kate in her place. This was my favorite scene in the movie.
The last two are of the gigantic boxing scene at the end which alone makes the movie worth watching.
Hope you enjoyed this! Let me know if I should do more “movies in 8 frames” (I’ll probably go into more detail in the future as well)
- Ted
Akira Kurosawa is a Japanese filmmaker who directed films in the 40s, 50s and 60s. The clips from above are from one of his more famous films, Rashomon. Kurosawa basically puts on a school for shot composition and texture throughout every scene I have watched of his so far. I love the way he uses the camera narratively and the overall look of his movies. His movie Seven Samurai is incredibly long, but definitely worth the watch if you are ever feeling like a black and white movie night.
As a random tidbit: George Lucas was influenced by Kurosawa. Something about Samurai swordsmen perhaps?
- Ted
