Conference hydra::dejavu

    Hi, Sandy.  Haven't seen Powder.  Care to tell us what it's about?
    
    Yes, it certainly has been quiet in here.  Guess we're going to have to
    stir up some activity!
    
    Looking forward to your report on "Powder"!
    
    	*Stella*

    
    Can you describe it a bit? And where did you see it?
    
    I haven't seen the ads for it yet, guess I've been
    too busy shuttling the kids to James and the GIant...
    
    John
    

    Powder is already out on video.  Just wanted to share that.  I think I
    will rent it tonight.  
    
    Pat

>>    Powder is already out on video.  Just wanted to share that.  I think I
>>    will rent it tonight.  
    


	I rented it last weekend... It was truly wonderful!

	really, really worth viewing

	Mikki

    Mikki, please tell us more!
    
    	*Stella*

    I saw this movie last night. I enjoyed it. It's worth seeing.

    Is that the movie about the pale-faced bald guy with wierd powers?

    
    yes, that's the one.  I didn't like it.
    
    anyone hear about the director being a convicted child molester?
    
    

    Is anyone gonna tell us what this film is about??!!!
    
    Thanks
    S..x

    
    Why certainly.  Its about this kid who's born hairless and white. He
    grows up with his grandparents, but something happens to them and he
    is taken to a home for boys, or something like that. (his parents
    didn't want him.)
    
    He gets picked on by the bad boys, because he is so white and freaky.
    He does a few tricks with electricity. He's highly intelligent and he 
    is deeply compassionate. If he touches you, he can tell you what you're 
    thinking and vice versa. He does this several times through the film. 
    
    The movie appears to be about valuing diversity, but, that irked me 
    when we have enough differences between ourselves to value, let alone 
    "inventing" someone new.  That and the child-molestation charges sorta 
    put me off.
    
    patty
    

    His mother was killed while she was carrying him. It was his father
    that didn't want him. His mother was struck by lightening in the rain.

    
    thanks (.11),
     I missed the very beginning......meant to say that in my reply.....
    
    /patty
    

    .10
    Thanks for the info...Not sure about it you know... I think I might
    wait for the video or satellite...
    
    S

    Thanks, Patty.  I think I'll wait, too.
    
    	*Stella*

    You don't have to wait cuz it's already out..I rented the movie

    
    yes, its already out on video. I refused to go see it in the theater,
    but ran into at a friends house.  I didn't want to be impolite, so, i
    watched it, but it sorta worked as a sedative!  My friend had also rented 
    Assassins that same night, which I would have preferred to see, only 
    because Antonio is so gorgeous....!  However, Powder put me to sleep,
    so I went home! 8)

    All in all, I thought it was a good movie.  It *did*, however,
    require some suspension of disbelief -- and with my imagination, 
    it's never been a probelm for me to suspend or momentarily 
    disregard my understanding of what's real and what's not :-)
    
    This movie is not so much about valuing diversity as it is 
    about expanding the limits of human potential.
    
    The character (Powder) was born after his mother was killed 
    by lightening.  He was born an albino and his father refused 
    to acknowledge him.   Powder was raised by his grandparents 
    who kept him in the basement -- not like keeping him in a 
    dungeon but just to hide him and keep him from the certain 
    teasing that he would get for being a freak.  
    
    Hence, he is raised without experience much of the ugliness 
    of the world.  He is, in essence, a truly innocent human.  
    (Setting the tone for portraying him -- in my opinion -- as 
    a Christ-like figure). 
    
    After his grandparents pass on, he is taken by the authorities 
    and placed in an orphanage for boys.  That's where the movie 
    begins.
    
    Because of the lightening-killing-his-mother incident, 
    Powder has exceptional psycho-kinetic abilities, and he has 
    an IQ that is off the chart.  Also, he displays and incredible 
    amount of empathy.  For example, he does not hate his tormentors,
    rather he "understands" that they only are tormenting him out of fear.  
    
    Jeff Goldblum plays a teacher in a school that recognizes Powder 
    as being a "prototype" human...  That is, being spritually advanced, 
    using *all* the processing power of the mind, being able to control 
    the environment, being empathetic and being more "human" than "animal"
    
    Powder represents all that is good about being human, but he is taunted 
    and teased by those who think he is a freak...  The idea being that 
    most of "us" are not advanced enough to be on Powder's level. 
    
    The movie has a few images portraying Powder as a saviour...  There 
    are scenes whre he is astounding the "elders or teachers"...  There 
    is a Lazarus-like scene, where he brings someone back from being 
    dead... He teaches love and tolerance...  He helps others pass on 
    to the hereafter.... There are hints of resurrection at the end 
    of the movie...  and there are "miracles" that Powder performs.  
    
    All-in-all, not a bad rental.     
    
                                  

    Thanks so much for telling us about it!
    
      *Stella*  (non-movie-goer usually)

    I think the part I liked best was when one of the local police, who
    throughout the movie, thinks Powder should be killed because he's
    different takes Powders main tormentors from the orphange out deer
    hunting. They shoot a doe and everyone's really into the killing. As
    they approach the doe, who is still alive, Powder places one hand on
    the doe, and grabs the cops hand with his other. The cop drops to the
    ground writhing in pain and disbelief because, through Powder, he's
    experiencing the doe dying. Loved it.

    Great movie!  I highly recommend it.  
    
    ~Beth