Posted by B. Buster at gateway.tpp.com on January 17, 2000 at 16:54:28:
In Reply to: Re: Defend this, cocknocker! (spoilers) posted by Me_And_My_Big_Mouth on January 17, 2000 at 16:13:04:
: 1.
: One of the main themes of MAGNOLIA is how random human existence can be, so it's pointless to stay mad at someone, to wait to do something right, and so on. Through the films, most of the characters are caught in the past. The frog storm takes them all by surprise and make them realize more or less consciously how "strange things happen all the time".
Nah, I don't buy it. In fact, I don't even think that the randomness of human existence is one of the movie's main themes. If that were the case, why would Anderson go to such great lengths to show the damage done to the children of uncaring fathers? If he wanted to illustrate randomness, why not show someone who had a terrible father and turned out NOT to be a basket case?
: 2.
: Frog storms DO happen. Storms go by little water holes and take up with them all in it (frogs for instance), then dump them a few miles from there.
You're talking about a tornado, right? I must've have missed the National Geographic special on frog storms.
: 3.
: Haven't you read the Bible ?
: Pt Anderson keeps refering to Exodus 8:2 through the film :
: "If you don't let my people go, I will plague your country with frogs"
I'm familiar with the Bible. The plague of frogs in Exodus doesn't come from the sky. God, apparently, has an unlimited amount of tricks up His sleeve, but the frog storm is one He's been saving for the future. I had hopes for the millennium, but alas, no frog storm. Maybe He's saving it for the day John Rocker says something intelligent.
: 4.
: It's one hell of a cool scene ! It makes you react ; some are shocked and disturbed, others laugh nervously, others are just amazed... Like it or not, it works you up and you're unlikely to forget it.
And some just shook their heads and thought, "How stupid!" Besides, I thought it was a lot cooler in "Frogs." Remember that one? I don't and I expect "Magnolia" will be similarly forgotten.
b. buster