Waking Life
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Movie Reviews of Waking Life
Movie Review: The gradual distruction of cherished illusions
Summary: 5 Stars
Many people complain that the philosophy espoused in this film is sophomoric and amaturish. Chances are those people never had the insight to see past the words in their philosophy 101 textbook and grasp the truth behind them. They have responded the same way to this film. Rather than trying to seek out the beauty and truth contained in this truly remarkable film, the negative reviewers have taken the opportunity to spit venom at something that disturbes and frightens them.To me, the whole concept behind "Waking Life" is that logic and reason are not enough. They can be useful tools for dealing with everyday mundane problems and situations, but human beings need more. We have naturally been provided with more in that we have the ability to dream, to meditate, to trip, to wonder, ect. All of these activities put us in a state of mind in which logic and reason have no place, and seem rather silly and pointless. Sadly, these states of mind have been all but written off by modern western culture, a culture that most westerners accept without question. But deep inside the unconcious of the jaded 16-year old who impulsively flips through cable channels to see who J-Lo's latest crush is, something is screaming out for help. It's that illogical, irrational side of a person that longs to be bathed in childlike wonder. "Waking Life" shows us that, actually, we need to not only dream, but to acknowlage that our dreams are real in order to truly wake up.
If you have thoughts similar to these, and feel that everyone else's soul is dead except yours, watch this film, and you will feel better.
Movie Review: To Sleep, Perchance To Dream
Summary: 5 Stars
`Waking Life' uses creative animation techniques and a nearly plot-less conversational format to explore some of the deep philosophical questions of consciousness, dream, and reality. While this may sound heavy and boring, director Richard Linklater (`Slacker') brings a surprisingly light touch to the project, and the result is a fascinating, thought provoking, and highly enjoyable film.
I watched this movie twice in one week. I was alone the first time that I viewed it, and found myself hard-pressed to express either the density of the ideas presented, or just how entertaining that presentation was. So I rented it again, and sat down to watch it with my best friend. We put the remote between us, and then, every few minutes, one or the other of us would grab it, hit pause, and launch into a discussion of what we had just seen. It took us all evening to watch this hour and forty minute film this way, but the result of this exercise was both entertaining and mentally stimulating.
Richard Linklater has a knack for making this type of fare. `Waking Life' is similar in many ways to his debut film, `Slacker', which shares its loose, conversational format and philosophical bent. `Waking Life' is a much stronger, more focused and thoughtful film, however, and it is easy to see Linklater's maturation as a film maker and thinker.
If you simply want mindless entertainment, avoid this movie, it is definitely not for you. If, however, you enjoy films that are clever, innovative, and thought-provoking then `Waking Life' very well might become one of your favorites.
Theo Logos
Movie Review: hollow yet profound
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read most of the reviews of the film and there seem to be two distinct camps. The first camp rants and raves about the philosophical implications of the dialogue, while the second group dismisses the dialogue as "sophomoric", "pop-culture cliche", or just plain moronic banter. I, as the other two camps, was deeply surprised by the originality of the film via its visual presentation. But, unlike most of the viewers i think the real crux of the film doesn't lie in the individual nature of each dialogue, but rather the sum and the spectrum of the ideas that are presented. Sure, most of us have heard bits and pieces of every idea presented in the movie, but most of us have never went beyond that fringe superficial information that was given to us. This movie offers simple yet concise previews of the positive aspects of existentialism, the metaphysical aspects of the dream vs. the lucid state, the evolution of humanity as a whole, fringe political ramblings, and many other motifs that I've forgotten. I would never say that these ideas are ground breaking or have profound implications, that's because most of them are not of a novel nature and have been stated and discussed long before this movie ever came out. But the thing that makes this movie so enjoyable is the way in which these thoughts are presented, the rhetoric is superb and i found myself totally immersed in each scene. If you're a "hardcore" philosopher try not to scoff at the ideas that are presented and if you're an average Joe, don't be too enthralled with their "novel" nature, but both of you should enjoy the visual aspect of this film...:)Movie Review: It's easy, just wake up..
Summary: 5 Stars
Waking Life is a true achievement in our contemporary films filled with tasteless and insipid stories. Waking Life isn't a story, it's a dream, another parallel universe where the protaganist Wiley Wiggins weaves in and out of others conversations and intelligence poiting towards his own understanding of the difference between dreams and reality. What is so facsinating about this movie is the way that Richard Linklater decides to present this information in a sort of suttle dialect made by real life actors and then painted over to resemble animation. I completely was taking in awe by this film and what it had to say about the normality of what we know is real and what we choose to think is real thus creating our own universe where we can listen to others and not have any control, just floating away or levitating (which Wiley did alot in his dreams) into more mind numbing thoughts. Wiley finds that characteristics of being asleep are not being able to tell light differences and not being able to read his clock which seem to distort if he looks at it so every time he looks at the clock he is unable to tell what time it is because in your sleep, there is no time. There definetly are some mind numbing lines in this movie such as short phrases said by strangers passing by Wiley which seem to just flutter before you and make no sense at all. If you are interested in intelligent, suttle, and imaginary movies breaking all possibility of remaining in the real world, this movie is definetly for you. It is a true marvel and work of art.
Movie Review: Works Wonderfully On Many Levels
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are an artist, as I am, this film is so envelope pushing on blending the real world with the animated world that you can shut off the sound and just watch it. It is worth the money right there because you have never seen a film that looks like this. And you even get to see a special feature with the inventor of the process working with his drawing tablet and computer monitor so you can learn how it is done. My husband, who hates animation, loved this because he noticed right away how much more real world everyone looked. Next, if you like the kind of film that explores quirky characters and ideas with lots of conversation, this film contains that in spades. It reminded me a bit of "My Dinner with Andre" in that respect. So even when you turn on the sound, there is still a movie that many people will enjoy. There is no other plot per se as this is a film about ideas and daily life albeit in a university setting. Linklater, the director, is notorious for having made "Slackers" as his first film. Some viewers will compare this film to "Slackers" saying it is a more adult version of that film. In its quirkiness, it does resemble "Slackers." However, "Slackers" was only a mild nudge of the envelope whereas "Waking Life" is a full blast push off the cliff. I bought this film after seeing it. There was no way I was going to be caught without my own copy if it went out of release. That kind of says it all.