MovieChat Forums > Powder (1995) Discussion > Reading between the lines

Reading between the lines


Does anyone else make the connection that this movie had underlying themes about the human condition, life and death and that mankind is a self destructive and frightened creature? That if there were a "savior", man wouldn't recognize it and would be frightened of it's capabilities? Jeremy is just a human, a young man who by some moment of chaos is more "evolved", who like any other person would not want the weight of the world on their shoulders to make a difference and wouldn't want to be studied as a lab rat. Jeremy in no way wants to be thought of as anything special, but people could easily learn something from him through observation. The movie shows how wrong it is to see other people as tools or assets and something more than just another human being. The intimate scenes between him and another man would exist only to bring your insecurities towards same gender affection to the surface and make you ask yourself questions about how right or wrong is a that contact? The part I liked the most is them movies attempt at explaining that science and the supernatural (religious themes like afterlife) can be more closely linked than we think. Ultimately, I see it as being a movie that supposed to make us ask ourselves why are we so afraid of things that are strange and different to us? Because if you can feel any sympathy toward Jeremy, and you find yourself afraid of anyone different or foreign to you, you might ask yourself, why are you scared? Is it that fear of the unknown? Because who you might be afraid of may not be as harmful as you may think. There are some similarities to the story of Christ, but I think the purpose of the story was given it's drama/sci-fi element was obviously to entertain but also to speak to a new generation of viewers.

reply

[deleted]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Great post. I am with robynari here in that I don't think those themes were underlying but very out in the open.

"You've Got to Keep Your Mind Wide Open" - AnnaSophia Robb

myspace.com/original916

reply

It's not between the lines. Or subtle. Or underlying. It's literally THE theme of the entire film. We *all* get it. Even the jerks who are uncomfortable get it. It's why they don't like it.

I'm not sure what's worse. The infants yelling how "gay" the movie is or how arrogant the elitists who think they are so evolved only they get the message- and then feel a powerful need to educate and patronize all of us Neanderthals. Seriously. Small children grasp the theme.

reply