On low expectations
May. 3rd, 2007 11:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sakon76So yesterday, after a harrowing day at work, my Wonderful Husband caved to my pestering and took me to see a movie at the cheap ($2 before 6pm, $3 after) theater. We ended up seeing Ghost Rider, which I think I enjoyed rather more than he did. This has led me to some thoughts regarding my own nature.
I'm self-admittedly easy to please. I went into the film with low expectations, and enjoyed the movie despite them. It did, in fact, exactly what I'd hoped it would, and broke the nefarious block that's been keeping me from finishing "Afterwards." I didn't go into the film expecting it to be a comic book movie on the level of SpiderMan, or the first two X-Men films, or even on the level of Constantine or DareDevil. It left threads dangling all over the place and was clumsily done. But the visuals were fun, some of the characterization was enjoyable, and even if not well crafted, it was clearly a movie done for a love of the comic book. Also, it did raise some intriguing moral questions, even if it did not fully answer/resolve them.
I have no knowledge of the original--I've never read any of the Ghost Rider comics. I don't feel, however, that this should keep me from enjoying an adaptation. It's in a way similar to my exploration of fanfiction; if I really enjoy something an author has written, I'll read other works by them, even if I have no knowledge of the original material. One does not need familiarity to attain enjoyment; all one needs is an open mind. Granted, there are few things in my life I can't/don't find some degree of pleasure in. I'm reminded of the monk who managed to find serenity even in peeling potatoes. Granted, serenity is at times elusive and I frequently get worn down by life, but... the sky is blue, the birds sing, and I'm alive. If I don't ask for much, I'll end up more content than if I demanded the moon. And so I enjoy somewhat cheesy movies perhaps more than I enjoy the works of art that win Oscars. For one thing, they don't take themselves as seriously. And neither do I.
I'm self-admittedly easy to please. I went into the film with low expectations, and enjoyed the movie despite them. It did, in fact, exactly what I'd hoped it would, and broke the nefarious block that's been keeping me from finishing "Afterwards." I didn't go into the film expecting it to be a comic book movie on the level of SpiderMan, or the first two X-Men films, or even on the level of Constantine or DareDevil. It left threads dangling all over the place and was clumsily done. But the visuals were fun, some of the characterization was enjoyable, and even if not well crafted, it was clearly a movie done for a love of the comic book. Also, it did raise some intriguing moral questions, even if it did not fully answer/resolve them.
I have no knowledge of the original--I've never read any of the Ghost Rider comics. I don't feel, however, that this should keep me from enjoying an adaptation. It's in a way similar to my exploration of fanfiction; if I really enjoy something an author has written, I'll read other works by them, even if I have no knowledge of the original material. One does not need familiarity to attain enjoyment; all one needs is an open mind. Granted, there are few things in my life I can't/don't find some degree of pleasure in. I'm reminded of the monk who managed to find serenity even in peeling potatoes. Granted, serenity is at times elusive and I frequently get worn down by life, but... the sky is blue, the birds sing, and I'm alive. If I don't ask for much, I'll end up more content than if I demanded the moon. And so I enjoy somewhat cheesy movies perhaps more than I enjoy the works of art that win Oscars. For one thing, they don't take themselves as seriously. And neither do I.
