Out In Town

Movies: New Old-Violence and Gay Epiphanies

This past weekend I caught two really good movies. I watched Apocalypto and Eating Out 2. Yep, very different subjects aimed at very different crowds. Apocalypto was amazing. I really do not see what the Guatemalans were complaining about. Mel Gibson does not portray the Mayans as savages. I mean if we take into consideration the time period and the levels of violence in history, the Mayans are pretty much up there with the Romans, Alexander’s Greeks and the Spanish Inquisition. I’m sure that in a couple of years what is currently going on in Iraq’s detention camps as well as in Guantanamo will be considered by many more as despicable and barbaric. Apocalypto presented two sides of the ancient Amerindian societies in Mexico. There was this village with their own values and way of living. They pulled pranks on each other, played with their kids and had some really cool bonefires where the elders told very insightful stories to explain human nature. Then, there was this more advanced “urban” city that wanted to take over by force the land and the people of that land. Colonization at its Amerindian prime. It just reminds me of the Middle East right now. I also loved the way that Mel Gibson showed the way religion played and continues to play a significant role in people’s lives. There’s this scene where an eclipse takes place and people are afraid that the Sun-God will not come out again. Really dumb for us right now… I wonder what will future civilizations are going to think of our Evangelicals, Catholics, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses and the like. It’s too big of a place and too short of a life for so many god inspired writings and true ways. It was an action packed movie from beginning to end. A true achievement!

The other movie I watched was Eating Out 2. I did not see the first movie, but for what I read later on, I think I will not watch it. Everyone said that the second one was a better movie by far. I enjoyed the premise of showing a group of college students deciding to convert from gay to straight people. I’ve been on that road, so I know how frustrating it is to try and pray for a change. It was hilarious, but it brought an important message. It is almost impossible to do that. I say “almost” because I want to give people the benefit of the doubt. I love a part where a gay tells this “confused” dude that the gay life is supposed to be different. You can do whatever you want… you can reinvent yourself constantly. You do not have to be bound by the rules and norms of heterosexual people. You can seek and chose your own adventures. I found this selfish, egocentric but very interesting. I think for a long time I have battled the ideas of living a gay life the heterosexual way. Having a family…who's the wife, who's the husband? Having kids...who's the dad, who's the mom? Dating, etc... But, what this guy helped me see is that it is not supposed to be the same. It is different. It will be different. And it could be way better because of it. I mean this in a very sincere way, not in an envious tone. I sincerely think it could be better. I can choose my own adventures. I do not have to conform to the norm. This gives me a lot to think about for my New Year’s resolutions.

Thank you Hollywood!!! - LOL

posted by Guerrero Azteca @ 2:41 PM