Pleasantville

After watching scenes from "Pleasantville," I was so intrigued that I looked it up on Netflix, sorry, Professor Leeper. You can see it instantly on Netflix. I watched it later that night.

There were so many references being played out throughout the film. The important aspect of the film was that David started to see that life isn't always, well, pleasant. He and his sister, Jennifer, both become Bud and Mary Sue after being sucked into the show, expose the clean, innocent world of Pleasantville to art, sex, and cognitive thinking. The citizens who were affected by the new wave let go of their old ways and began to express themselves more freely. Betty, Bud/David and Mary Sue/Jennifer's mother was affected the most by discovering herself as well as a deep passion for Mr. Johnson, who had the same affections. Mr. Johnson was just as affected when Bud/David showed him an art book.

There were people who felt threatened by the new wave. That was were some historical references started to appear. Businesses started segregating the colored in people from the "normal" people. They burned the books from the library out in the street. Mr. Johnson's soda shop was destroyed in response to the naked painting of Betty on the window.

The important lesson to learn is that it is okay to change. Change is the way our world works. That's what makes our world pleasant.

P.S. I tend to look for stars I recognize in films. Some were easy (Jeff Daniels, Don Knotts), some took time (Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon, William H. Macy), and some I found in the credits (Paul Walker).