Neil Blomkamp fascinates me as a filmgoer and science fiction fan. In a day and age where we are inundated with remakes, sequels, adaptations and all kinds of manifestations of what a jaded film goer might call, “been there, done that”, Mr. Blomkamp is a filmmaker who made his mark with the 2009 film District 9, painting a unique, dark vision of the future in a tail of interstellar refugees layered upon entirely Earthbound and human social strife. Not only that, Blomkamp opened a more populist look at South Africa, which he has stayed with in his follow up films, both Elysium and Chappie. District 9 exploded onto the psyches of science fiction film fans, presenting a unique vision of a truly alien visitor knitted with unfeeling human bureaucracy and the heroism sometimes found at the end of one’s rope.
There is a problem when you are this good right out of the gate, however. It sure makes you an act that is tough to follow. Elysium, though I thoroughly enjoyed it, even more so, considering it was not a prequel, sequel, et al, was considered ham-fisted and thin its characterization and world building by some. So…Blomkamp then decided to remake Short Circuit.
Well, no, not really. Chappie is no more a remake of Short Circuit than it is a remake of Robocop, though it does have elements of both movies. That is, it posits humanity building robots to help protect itself from itself on the streets of the future, in this case, robot cops to help patrol the streets. Like Short Circuit, there is a set of events with one of them which results in it developing consciousness. Rather than destroy it, like some would seek to do, this machine is nurtured through both kindly humans and later happenstances and allowed to become a fully self-aware, self-actuating being.
On the surface, sure, Short Circuit-ish. But the actual details of Chappie’s journey take several departures from that of Johnny 5. Cute on the surface at times, in the unspooling of its narrative, it goes both darker and deeper, especially the way it ends; with Chappie contemplating his own destiny before him and the fact that he won’t be facing it alone.
Plus, there’s less Ally Sheedy and De Barge. Not to slight Ms. Sheedy, but I definitely don’t miss De Barge.
Take a chance on Chappie, a film that is not a sequel, prequel or remake.
In the early 90s, I picked this up at Excalibur Comics and Games, State Line, Texarkana, Texas...
The jungle girl with the amazing curves in the cover illustration drew me, but the photos within had me riveted.
Inside were pictures like the above and more. Admittedly, my experience with female physicality was not extensive at the time, despite being in my early twenties and just out of my first two years in the US Army. Just so that the little glimpse they showed of one of her nipples in one of the photos at the same time embarrassed me, yet enchanted me. So the next time I saw her nude (I would later find out that Bettie took nudes aplenty), it wasn't nearly so much of a shock. And I began to see the female form as something more than an object of lust (though there was plenty of that and I began to be much more confortable with that). I began to appreciate the portrayal of female physicality as an art subject all its own.
And thus, a long distance fanciful love affair ensued. Over time, I amassed a nice collection of photos, books, pieces of art and became intimately familar with the form of Betty, no, BETTIE PAGE. But I knew very little of the substance of her. I knew nothing of her soul. Back then, no one knew if she was even still alive, having had her time in the sun in the 50s (1952-57). Various figures were working behind the scenes to find her, to find out what happened to her and if she was aware of the fandom that had rediscovered her in the late 80s and still to the present day.
In Bettie Page Reveals All, this fun, funny and touching documentary talks to many of those who knew her in various stages of her life, and she went through many of them. She started out as poor southern girl in unfortunate family circumstances. She seemed to be interested in a more traditional life (marriage, normal job, kids). But the circumstances that happened and that she found the most success at, beyond being a great student, was the world of pinup, cheesecake and stag films. This is especially interesting that it happened in the fifties in America, an era known for discomfort with open displays of human sexuality beyond a very sharply circumscribed perimeter. Add to that, Ms. Page was a spiritual woman, who felt the call of God in her life and manifested that in various ways, though not always the way she wanted. She never felt that her work due to her physical allure was sinful in any way. And, as a Christian, I don't, either.
If what you want is photos and video, oh yes, you get plenty of that in this documentary. Tons of Bettie material as well as other women who worked with her or were inspired by her. The point of this exercise is not cheesecake and titilation, though. That's just a bonus for being a Page fan. This is about getting to know the girl behind the glory. That is the magical thing about this documentary. Even though she died in 2008 (RIP), and her funeral is depicted, this film was a long time in the works and the producers got extensive interviews with her on tape before she passed away. Much of this story is in her own words.
The way she tells her tale is that she was not trying to be a showstopper. She was not trying to be anyone's icon or political statement. She was not out to change the culture. She was just being herself. She was just having fun.
And that is how true magic happens, when it manifests from just simply who you are.
Thank you for the memories, Bettie Page. I for one truly miss you and appreciate the gifts you shared with the world.
