So, this is my last column, and it's time to wrap things up. First, I'd like to thank both of you for reading this all year. I hope I helped you find a good movie and avoid a bad one. Secondly, I'd like to thank the Cardinal, where I grew up writing comics and arts surrounded by some of the smartest, funniest people I have ever known. Third, I'd like, in some small way, to inspire everyone to demand more and take more out of movies. I promise that the more you put into watching a film, the more satisfaction you'll get from it.
I admit that, like everyone, I sometimes get caught up in the blockbuster mentality. Most entertainment journalism treats actors' celebrity and box office returns as the measures of film. But movies aren't just an industry; they're also the dominant art form of our era. They influence television and novels and music, and the more you learn about film as a craft, the better you'll understand all these things. Read film history and analysis, buy a good screenwriting book, watch all the extras on your DVDs, take a film class here'just do anything to keep your eyes from glossing over in the theater.
When you're at the video store, remember that the New Releases aisle isn't the only one there. Make a list of all those classics you've missed and pick them up instead of settling for \The Wedding Planner."" Honestly, there is no conspiracy of highbrow critics praising ""Citizen Kane."" It really is good. Don't worry, you won't become one of those thick-rimmed hipsters who pronounce ""Hollywood"" with a sneer and keep a point tally of foreign films. They're all home convincing themselves that Richard Linklater is something other than a blowhard.
You won't lose the release, the fun or the wonder of going to movies. ""Blazing Saddles"" is even funnier when you get the Randolph Scott reference. At the same time, it's not like the campfire scene sacrifices anything. Part of the wonder of ""Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"" is not just getting lost in the beauty of movement, but realizing how well all the wire work has been pulled off. What I'm saying is that going to a movie isn't a passive move on your part.
One of the basic precepts of going to college and the mission of this newspaper is that life is better when you are informed. The world opens itself up to you when you put in the effort to educate yourself. Movies, no matter how inconsequential they may seem at times, are a part of that.
Really try to grapple with every movie you watch. A movie owes you something more than an increased heart rate, but it's your responsibility to find that something. I love movies, and hopefully one day you'll watch one that I've had a hand in. When that day comes, challenge me, challenge the movie, demand that it add to the education you've worked toward in film.
These things are the stuff I've pulled together in my four years at college. Looking past the bureaucracy and the grading, I think I've really gotten a lot out of my comm arts major. I've gotten even more out of working for the Cardinal. It's been a pleasure having this column, but it's been a greater pleasure and I've gained more being around a group of people dedicated to learning. I hope everyone reading this appreciates the hard work that goes into helping you open your eyes to the world. With movies and news and everywhere else, life is about learning and challenging and demanding more. I'm so grateful for the opportunity this paper has given me to do that. So grateful.
One last note: You should rent ""The Iron Giant."" I love ""The Iron Giant.\
