I personally like analyzing films and finding the different layers within it, however I worry that we may look too deeply. We risk superimposing our own views, rather than finding what is actually there. I’m not suggesting that we simply watch movies for entertainment (although some films are meant for that). Noticing the deeper levels help to encourage thought and new perspectives, and it’s kind of neat when we make a realization. However if we go into a movie automatically looking for something, then we could find something different from the writers initial intent. We could also make up something and try to make the movie fit around that concept without realizing we have done it.
Watching movies with others help to gather perspectives. For example I watched the movie ‘9’ with my best friend and her boyfriend and then separately with my boyfriend. I saw religious undertones within the film. My best friend and her boyfriend saw political undertones. (They explained why, however I’m not into politics so I didn’t quite get it). My boyfriend only saw the film on the surface. Thus when contrasting perspectives it is interesting to see how different people think.
One’s own background can also playa part in observing films. Going on the ‘9’ example I am a religious studies student, and I found religion in the film ‘9.’ My friends are politically inclined, and they saw political elements. My boyfriend is neither and saw neither. All of us could have been imposing our perspectives and knowledge on the film, and the writers intent may have been nil on projecting any elements that we may think we have seen. The writer could have been chemically induced at the time and this is what came out of his/her head. I think one point we need to know consider when watching films, is to enjoy ourselves; and to not overwork our brains trying to make something work.
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