Dr.Horrible

So, I love Dr.Horrible's sing a long blog.

I think that it's pure genius. It says so many things and it can be so sad at times, and yet it does so in a brilliant array of wit and comedy. It has so many details and makes me feel so many things. I love it so much in fact that I thought it would be a good idea to share with my mom.

Bad idea.

Last night was her birthday so she was already a little tipsy after cake. She doesn't understand english entirely and in fact often prefers to watch movies aimed at family and kids. So, she missed a lot of the humor and some major key points in the plot. I could tell she was annoyed through most of it and kept asking me what the point of it was. I didn't want to talk to her about the message or ruin anything for her till the film was over. So after it was done in possibly the most annoying tone she could've mustered she asked me again what the movie was trying to say.

The movie is a tragedy.

(Contains Spoilers)
Even in all it's comedic genius and likeable characters (even the ones you love to hate) you can not deny that the movie is sad and is indeed a tragedy. The movies most prominet message in my opinion is be careful with your priorities. Dr.horrible wanted nothing more than to be with Penny. He also wanted to change the world because in his mind society is in a rut and all the political wish wash and behind the scenes lies aren't going to make anything better .. ever. Which is what makes him a villian. The whole .. not wanting to follow the status quo and wanting to take care of humanity himself thing. In order to show Penny that he's worth something and at the same time be respected by the public so he can have a chance to change the world the way he wants to, he wants to join the Evil League of Evil (not to mention it'll ofcourse make Penny take him more seriously). At one point joining the ELE means he has to kill someone to get in and while at first there was a moral question in his mind, when Captain Hammer takes Penny (just because he knows that Dr.Horrible wants him) his feelings of murder turn into objectivity and killing Captain hammer to gain enterance into the ELE becomes an obssesion. This obsession leads him to forget his original reason for everything; Penny, and in turn through a series of accidents and poorly thought out spurts of anger leads to him (technically) killing her. Everything he ever wanted dead, because of him. Because he cared so much about killing Captain Hammer and being accepted into the ELE that he forgot to think about the consequences and bistandards.

I think that describes a lot people today.

People who start something in order to achieve something and somewhere along the line forgot their original objective and get caught up in things that suddenly seem more important. People who aren't and won't live out their dreams because bigger houses, better cars, more money, promotions, and social appearances are more important to them. What happened to their dreams of becoming firemen, astronaughts, journalists, writers, biologists, activists, and whatever else they wanted to be and do before they decided money was more important. Life is not all about money. Now, I am by no means undermining the importance of financial stability or denying that money often times make situations easier. I'm just not one to believe that in an effort to achieve that balance of having enough money to live up to one's personal standards of living, you should sacrifice your dreams and settle for short term monetary or superficial happiness. And more importantly let the world around you influence your way of thinking in a negative fashion. Just becuase 10 million people do it, does not mean that it's right. Most people are unhappy with thier life. That doesn't mean you haveto be unhappy with yours. You don't haveto live like other people.

And I hope you don't.

So, this opinionated explanation sparked a conversation with my mom. She completely disagreed with me. Not about the message of the movie because she couldn't really argue that, but of my way to view things. She thinks people don't do what they want because they need to be responsible. Because they get married and have families and can't walk around their whole life living in fairyland and wishing on stars. She also thinks some people change their dreams and lower their standards, coming to realize that just living is what's best and accepting that we're on this planet for a limited amount of time.

I ofcourse, completely disagree. Kind of.

I'm not telling people to be unhappy in their relationships and with their families. I should hope that everyone who gets the great responsibility of being a parent enjoys everything about it and holds on to every moment of laughter and learning in that experience, because time goes by quicker than you think. I fully understand some people change their dreams and not everyone knows exactly what they want to do when thier 20 years old. I'm not saying be irresponsible and do crazy things to achieve your goals. And I understand that sometimes families and love and certain actions will cause people to put their dreams on hold. My friend's dad waited almost 30 years to become a teacher (his life long dream) because he had to work at a job that would allow him to provide for his wife, 2 children and help his sick father. But he never stopped dreaming. He knew that after he retired from IBM he'd be able to live out his dream. He loves his family, adore his two now grown boys, and is completely enjoying what he's wanted to do for so long. It's never too late. Nothing says you can't have what you want except you. Life doesn't change you, you change you. You're the one who chooses to learn, adapt, and percieve your experiences the way that you do. But I'm getting off on a whim here. (A whim I happen to be very passionate about)

My message is clear.

As corny as you might think it sounds, go for your dreams and don't forget it's never too late. Above all else stick to your beleifs and what -you- want. Don't be sidelined by what the world appears to hold as valuable. Your life and everything you have or don't have is completely up to you.

As for my mom ...

it makes me pretty sad that she really thinks that way. It hurts even more that she thinks she right soley because she's older therefore being more wise and having more life experience. And while I respect her great and by no means disagree that she knows a lot more about certain things and has way more experience than me in life, I don't agree that it means she's automatically correct about everything, all the time, hands down. I'd like to think I'm an intelligent individual with cognitive thoughts, who only sometimes visits fairyland. And I wish she'd recognize that she raised me as a strong, independant thinker with the capability to grasp other people's perception and respect it without having to agree or let go of my own views. I'm an extremely positive person and so I know that a lot of my thought processes and ideoligies with clash with my mom's more tainted way (or as she calls it; realistic) of looking at life and way of thinking and tackling any situation. I don't expect that to change. But I do hope she can eventually come to see me as an equal despite my age.

I hope that time won't change me.

I don't ever want to be bitter and I hope I can stay positive and remember that happiness is a choice. I know that life happens. I'm ready for it and even if I'm not I know I'll come out of it with more knowledge and somehow find 'the silver lining'. No matter what.

SO YEA!

Go watch Dr.Horrible .. it's pretty much amazing. And please let me know what you think about it! I'd love to hear your thoughts! I'm very much in need of a Dr.horrible outlet at the moment.

Peace, Love & Pancakes
<3Lib