After I have seen the second part of "Angels in america" in class, and after the discussions I have come to realize the purpose of the multiple roles that actors play in the movie. The nurse, the angel and the homeless woman are played by the same actor and their role is to help and guide the characters in their quest. Joe's mom, Rabbi Chemelwitz and Ethel Rosenberg are played by the same actor and I believe that the idea behind that is to express forgiveness for Roy Cohn, Joe and Lous's Grandmother so that their spirits can find rest. The scenes that I find very odd and contradictory is when the angel is having sex with Prior first and in another scene with Joe's mom. I have never imagined that angels could do this kind of things.
I have recommended this movie to anyone I think could handle it. There are parts of it that are certainly tough to take but it was so good and educational and thought provoking. John (my husband who is also in the class) and I have had many discussions over the past couple weeks since we started watching the movie about all the different things that we felt so strongly about.
I think that is what makes a great movie. One that stays with you and makes you think and want to talk about it afterward.
It addressed the issues of homosexuality in general and more specifically AIDS so beautifully. I loved the development of the characters and how they (almost) all came to a mutual love and respect for each other. That's what the world needs SO much more of!
As Shrek said in the first "Shrek" movie, ogre have layers...like onions. Donkey then tried to equate it to cakes because they also have layers. Shrek then argued that Ogre layers are much more akin to onion layers than cake layers. I think that is an accurate description of this movie. It had lots of layers. Like onions, not cakes.
I enjoyed how the storylines continued to take shape and ride that "arc" all the way through. It was great to see how the stories intertwined.
The change in Joe's mom in particular was quite moving. All of the characters became better versions of themselves (except maybe for Joe...).
The references to The Wizard of Oz were placed well and it made me wonder whether that had anything to do with the song "Over the Rainbow" from the movie, which is where the Gay community got their rainbow...in that over the rainbow, there's a better, more accepting place.
The whole movie struck a chord with me because, while some progress has been made toward tolerance and acceptance of the LGBT community, we still have SUCH a long way to go and it's almost 25 years after this movie took place. We need to accept people for who they are and just get rid of the labels.
A quote that we saw at the beginning of "JFK" is appropriate in so many places, but especially here:
"To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men." ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I can see how people can be confused with this movie. I too myself was not understanding some of the metaphors that were being displayed before us. All in all I can't deny it was a movie that made me think on how others lives are affected by AIDS as well as their own personal inner turmoil. Some may not think but depression is as deadly as any other "infectious decease " out their..
Having one character play multiple roles in this movie was eye opening. Not until we discussed what the meanings were did I understand the meanings. Each "character" had great meaning in the roles as care taker, role models, as well as being a conscience. It was eye opening to see how one person can help change someone's life. We should always smile and greet a person with a smile for we never know what they went through throughout that day.We might just prevent a disaster with just a smile.
Some parts of this movie were so odd. I think to really understand this movie I would have to see it more than once. The message I got from this movie was a message of peace among differences. Peace with differences in religion, health,and sexuality. All three of these topics are things humans have argued about almost as long as we have existed. Peace, understanding, or respect, for any of these topics would be nice especially on a global scale. I think indiviualls are convinced that what they believe is right. They want other people to know thier "truth." That "truth" is what makes this film controversial.
To me this movie was very psychotic. The dreams were out of this world and to me made it hard to follow. I had a hard time understanding them and what the real meaning of them and the movie was. Yes it was interesting to see how everyone was involve with each other some way ot another. Also how they all evolved through their own and different chalanges into what they became at the end of the movie. Most of them were happier and in a better state of mind.
I thought Part Two of Angels in America was that all the main characters were going to a journey of hate and love because everyone was angry at each other and they would try to go back to each other. This has affected me because seeing all these characters is mad at each all the times it is not good. Disliking others is bad because in society people tend to need love and not hate. I think that all the characters shouldn’t hated each other is because once you hate someone it can also make you a bad person also. I think for the characters in the movie that need love in their life they show know that love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear. Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you. Good Friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. You can only go as far as you push. Actions speak louder than words. The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else. Don't let the past hold you back, you're missing the good stuff. Life's too short. If you don't look around once in a while you might miss it. A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. Some people make the world special just by being in it. Best friends are the siblings God forgot to give us. When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there. True friendship never ends. Friends are forever. Good friends are like stars you don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile. What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry? Nobody is perfect until you fall in love with them. Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end. Most people walk in and out of your life, but only friends’ leave footprints in your heart. My point being is that just don’t hate others because by hating others you hateing yourself from the inside, so give them a second chance because no one is perfect in this lifetime.
The second half of "Angels in America" really brought the meaning together for me. The main point I got out of it was forgiveness which can be extremely difficult at times. For a Mormon mother to be waiting by the hospital bed of a homosexual stranger dying from AIDS in a city across the country shows that everyone can drop their preconceptions of peoples differences and accept them for who they are. This leads her to forgive her son after she "flew into a rage" from learning of his sexuality. The same actress plays the role of Ethel who also waits at the hospital bedside of a man who sentenced her to death while he is dying from AIDS. In her own way, she forgives him and even sings to give him comfort. Everyone should be willing to see people for who they are and forgive them rather than hate or discriminate. I love how they came together in the end and showed how peace and forgiveness is possible even between the most unlikely pairs.
I enjoyed the second part of this movie more than the first. The whole imagery and symbolism is this part were a lot more prominent and I feel like they were a lot easier to understand. I really liked Belize and I felt like throughout the movie he had so many inspiring and real things to say to help open our minds and help us understand. Even though he is speaking with other characters the message easily flows through the film and into the minds and hearts of the audience.
There was a great part in the movie where Luis talks about the man who wrote The Star Spangled Banner and how he made the note for the word 'free' so high because it's impossible for any to reach it. No one is totally free and I think that was a big controversy in this movie. It is showing America a big part of itself that it was trying to hid and trying not to notice. The way homosexuals were looked down on and had to hide who they were not only for social reasons but for work reasons as well. It's hard to know that even though it isn't as bad it's still 20 years later and people's view of gays and AIDS is still incorrect and prejudice. Also it just shows that it's not only freedom to be who they are within their country and having the same rights as everyone else that's a problem. It's also the inward battle between what you feel is right and wrong and also trying to hide who are versus trying to be yourself. I think there are many people who are homophobic who wouldn't like this movie not just because it is about gay people but because it portrays them as normal people going through great struggles and sadness. It's easier to hate something nameless than it is to hate someone with a face. So I'm glad this movie came out to really try and open people's minds to the struggles that many homosexual people deal with and how it is sometimes for them to just be who they are in their own country.
Angels in America Perestroika was bizarre. God left heaven during the 1906 earthquake. Because he was frustrated with people moving around?? The angels are not able to be creative and need to inspire the humans? Prior is the prophet that they need? The first part of the movie did an excellent job weaving the lives of many vastly different people together from all walks of life. This part throws all the pieces into a blender and puts it on the puree setting. It makes a comment about society and how it dealt with AIDS in the 1980's in America, but doesn't really give any answers.
I really enjoyed Angels in America Parastroika. The message this movie portrays could change the world if people would embrace it. It was beautifully written, funny, intelligent, and extremely thought provoking. I would love to watch it a few times to really let it soak in. The use of the LDS religion, the Jewish religion, and the gay community struggling to be treated humane all mirror each other beautifully I mean all of them have at one point or another been castrosized and driven away by mainstream society. I think it is sad that we as Americans still can't get over each others differences and be more accepting. Perestroika forces us to take a good look at our country and to contemplate some really harsh issues that we might not want to consider. It shows the down side as well as the beauty from all the characters perspectives. I loved it!
I liked the ending of the movie. They found out their are no angle, it was just a believe that someone could help them, like at the end the Mormon wife left her husband, and she found the way out of her marriage rather than be there with her homosexual never really loved her. But her husband Joe was still struggling in his life. He still haven't realize yet, he still lost in the end. The gay couple still be friend after they broke up. That way seem like work really well for them, because the guy has Aids seem like he happier than before and healthier. He been having AIDS for 5 years more than the time he been with his ex. Everything will be better when people realize their purpose in life.
One thing that I really admired in the film was Prior's ability to forgive Luis. I first thought of Luis leaving Prior in the sense that it was; two gay guys, one moving on to another boyfriend. But then I started thinking about it in terms of a heterosexual relationship. In my mind it would be hard to forgive a girl who left me when I was sick, had sex with a prostitute and then was with another man only later to find that that girl wanted to come back to me. It was be almost impossible for me to forgive a person in that situation. I didn't have sympathy at first because it is hard for me to realize that homosexual relationships are practically the same as heterosexual relationships. The film did a good job of putting the viewer in the shoes of a gay person which helped me to more fully understand them as well as struggles they have to deal with. I thought this film had some really messed up things in it that could have been taken out and still had the same effect but then again what do I know, I have never made a movie. Over all pretty good show. Thanks.
This part of the movie was a bit more complicated than the first part, but definitely just as enjoyable to watch. It was a serious eye opener and I can't even describe how absolutely astonishing the ending monologues were.
In the first part, Harper talks about how the Ozone layer is being destroyed, and connects it to how her life is falling apart...In her monologue at the end - one of the best monologues I've ever heard - Harper describes with enriching detail how things are changing for the better; not only is the Ozone layer being repaired by all those souls working together, but her life is being repaired as well...And everything's going to be okay from now on.
I was extremely upset with Louis and how he can just walk out on Prior like that. I completely encouraged Prior and his bitter attitude towards Louis when they met in the park and such. However, it satisfied me to see Prior forgive Louis eventually, and I was even happier to see Prior be alive long enough to even give us that great monologue.
Essentially, this movie was spectacular. I loved everything about it...but it's going to take a few more times of watching it to fully grasp even half of the metaphor. Regardless, this was an amazing film.
If you go to LDS.org and search for the divine institution of marriage it says this in the introduction, "The focus of the Church’s involvement is specifically same-sex marriage and its consequences. The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference.
The Church has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a husband and a wife united in the bonds of matrimony.
The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility towards homosexual men and women. Protecting marriage between a man and a woman does not affect Church members’ Christian obligations of love, kindness and humanity toward all people." This article was put out by the LDS church to clarify any misconceptions and what the churches beliefs really are. I think these few paragraphs explain alot about how the LDS church feels and believes and hopefully will clarify misconceptions for some people. I just feel sometimes that people think that LDS people hate gays, and I just think that is unfair to say. I do definitely think there are mormons that take things too far, and could see why some people would have misconceptions. I am LDS and I don't hate gays. I don't support their lifestyle, but I don't support drinking, drugs, profanity and many other things. My beliefs are mine and if people live another way that is fine and they have that right.
This movie was a great eye opener into hardships others face. We might not realize exactly what others go through simply because our sexual preference is considered “normal”. We must value individual rights. If anyone group is discriminated against by our laws then I think we are failing in our overall goal. The goal we strive for in America is that we believe in freedom for everyone. Why then do we feel the need to say who can and can’t be married? Is that really freedom? Must our personal views cloud freedom of the individual? Should we block the rights of those who are in love and allow them no union? I think the answer to that is simple; it should be their choice who they marry not ours!
My opinion on gay rights is the same from my earlier post. Gays have rights too, like any other human being. We need to be more understanding towards them. This subject is on many Americans minds and they only are asking to be treated equal. Have same rights as anyone else. This means not feeling like second or third class citizens.
This half of the movie was really confusing, and that is probably because i didn't see the first half before hand. The whole time I was thinking to my self "THIS IS SO CREEPY!!" The Dreams with the "angel" were so weird, and it didn't help that I didn't get any of the Metaphors in this movie. After seeing the whole Angels in America, i feel like an Idiot. I didn't get any of the metaphors that were there, and even after discussing some in class, i don't understand half of them. I did think that it was cool to see the characters change and have resolutions, except for Joe. I liked Joe's mother and how she was able to accept the Gay men and take care of Pryor like he was one of hers. I never knew how bad AIDS could be, so it was eye opening for me to see how baddly people are affected by AIDS, and the terror that it reeks on there bodies.
This movie showed the meaning of accepting others for what they are. People in this movie were from different places, believed diffent things, and acted in very different ways. But, in the end, several unlikely friendships came together. A Mormon mother from Utah found herself being best friends with three gay men from New York. When she first met Prior, she wanted nothing to do with him. But, as she got to know him, she learned that he was just a person, not someone that is defined by a label. I am also glad that Harper left her husband. Sure, she wasn't an ideal wife, but at least she stuck to what she believed. She decided that she deserved better. This movie brought all the plots together in the end, and it ended with a really good message. It was about all kinds of things like AIDS and homosexuals, but it was also about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
It seems the Gay community is trying to find acceptability and their right. I understand what homosexual is and what they feel. We know all in Hollywood these days seem to appeal something that related to political subject or to win an Oscar or Emmy. This one was very hard to watch for me. There has been this serious problem. Some of views of Aids have become increasingly common question. We as people around world should be very concerned about this. When I first watched this movie I was confused. I couldn't follow what was happening from one scene to the next. This was the first movie in which I liked Al Pacino. Also Meryl Streep was always brilliant. But as I came from different country, different language, it was very hard to figure out why she was two different characters in the film. This was "The movie of the Year" and this got more nominations than Band of Brothers at that time. But many people still don’t believe this movie was better than the Band of Brothers. I think it is because it touched on the subject of gays & Aids which is hard to deal with. I really enjoyed this movie and it is a good movie.
This movie was very interesting for me. It is not the type of movie I would go and watch on my free time but it is one I ended up enjoying. The main reason I liked it was because almost all of the characters ended up being in close relationships with one another. At the begining I had no idea why we were learning about a couple of characters lives but in the end of part two they all had intertwined lives. I mean a mormon mother who opposed her son being gay, became best friends with her sons gay x-lover, his gay x-lover, and another gay man. This move showed how to accept others. Like the mormon mother accepting the gays as her best friends. I liked the use of metephors and the depth of the directors thinking.
This second part was a bit more understandable than the first part. Things were clearer and the final portion really explained much of the confusion found in the beginnings of the movie. However, I still find the movie as having too much for what it is trying say. The angel's bisexuality, and the sex scene with Harper later coming on naked seemed too much to simply get across the fact that Joe is unwaivering in his homosexuality and perhaps angels are bisexual. The whole plot line I still don't get, or rather forgot already, but I remember constantly wondering why this is happening and then this, and so I just "watched" the movie. Like I said above, the end helped clarify things though I do have to say that it brought up questions as well. Before I finish I want to touch upon the use of an LDS guy, specifically, to play a closeted homosexual. I assume they did this so they may, at the same time, probe at the LDS Church's policies regarding homosexuality. So just to clarify things, for those who think the church is strictly against gay rights, the church is not against homosexuals, but is for protection of the traditional structure of a man and a woman as the dominant figures (parents) of a family. It does not condemn gays, but simply expresses its view that it only supports marriage between a husband and wife. It is ok to be gay and still LDS in the sense that you won't get cast into a fire and stoned, but at the same time know that if you are LDS and do believe in their ideals, that being gay will hinder you from entering certain levels of celestial glory, and restrict you from recieving certain positions, as well as partaking in certain ordinances, within the church. Well anyways enough of that stuff, that's my take on the movie and how it seems to portray certain things. Overall I didn't really like the movie, and like I said on my post for part one, it's not one I would watch again for fun.
After seeing the second half of the movie and looking through the blogs I feel that I missed out on a very big part of the experience when I didn't get too participate the discussion after the film. The meanings of this movie aren't as clear as the other bloggers/classmates. I still feel confused about what the meaning to it all is. Prior being a prophet didn't make a bit of sense to me and I'm not sure that it will unless I watch the series/film again and it may not even come to me then. Its definitely a controversial film and I can understand why the comments that I have read around on the internet were posted. The film characters and the situations they are in isn't in most peoples sheltered lives. I won't lie, if it were not for this class if I would have seen this on the shelf I would most likely not of rented it. The film did bother me a little with the way they treated the Mormon religion and I understand it was to get a certain point across, but its bound to get under peoples skin and I feel that was part of the point in this series.
The second part of Angels in America answered all the questions that I had from the first movie. It’s surprising how many different controversial topics this movie touched homosexuality, religion and beliefs but that’s why it made this movie interesting. It wasn’t one of my favorite movies but I am glad I was able to watch it because I don’t think I would have other wise.
Watching this movie play out with the intermingling of cultural differences. It's always amazing to see how we can live so close to each other and still live so far apart. Different beliefs, different faiths, different experiences. It was pleasing of me to see all the acceptance from each person to the other at the end of the movie. I must say I thought it was a nice movie that played, however I did miss quite a bit in the structuring of the cast. If we hadn't had the class discussions I would not have realized the depth this movie was going into. I still don't fully understand it, well at least after reading a few blogs I don't think I fully understood it all. :D
I have never seen movie like this one before. This is a lot of intrigue and complicatedness. I was having hard time to at least understand what message from this movie about. Class discussion of this movie was help me a lot. At least, I have understand why the lawyer which is I thought was a antagonist and somehow turn to be protagonist because of the antagonist from all of this was AIDS. I have never realize that when I watch the movie. Even, I do believe that Mormon people prohibit gay and lesbian. But, I have been forced to believe that Mormon follower is a gay. He is just realize that he is gay after his marriage. I'm not sure that I understand the whole movie about, but at least the class discussion open my mind a little bit.
The second part of this movie made me feel more comfortable than part 1 because I could not understand very well after the first part. I think this movie is an incredible example on how to adapt a play for the screen. ‘Angels in America’ is nothing short of a masterpiece. It touches a lot on politics and religion, which I know some have found offensive, but I for one tend to see shows for the story, script and acting, all of which for me create massive atmosphere in themselves, and all of which created a very strong atmosphere in Angels of America.
Finally!, some resolution to a story that dwarfed many of our minds for a week, as we awaited its epic finale. I hope i speak for many when i voice the opinion that this movie was an overall success, in every possible way. The resolution was intended, clear for the most part, and appropriate in context of the larger situation.
I hope that most people gained a greater understanding of choices and different lifestyles from this movie. After reading many of my fellow classmates comments on this topic, i feel that my hopes were just and easily attainable. In the end, i feel that people are people, no matter what the lifestyle they live. Aids is not confined to gays, just like malaria is not confined specifically to Africans. When certain individuals condone an attitude that represents an opposing notion to this fact, i find it an overall injustice to specific minorities that are supposedly protected under the constitution.
All prateful diatribes aside, regardless of our subtle differences, we're all same in the end. Let's all get along :).
The second half of this movie was much more entertaining than the first half. It tied most of the loose end that were created in the first part. The movie does a great job of creating caring emotion for homosexual men and the struggles they face each day.
Prior has strong character and shows it when he is able to forgive Luis for leaving him stranded in bed dying of aids.
Belize is probably my favorite character and I love the writers idea to use the same character in two roles to represent the characters meaning. Belize was the caretaker, he took care of people that needed him most. Roy Cohn when he was on his death bed and Joe's wife Harper when she needs to get away from it all.
The author of this movie is a genius and it would take 2 or 3 times to truly gain an understanding of this movie and the lessons the author is trying to portray
The second part of the movie is very entertaining. it does a great job at getting the viewer emotionally involved. This movie was an eye opener. I didn't know how hard of life homosexuals have. It would be so hard to know some one you love and care to have aids. I feel the second part makes more sense and does a great job at ending the story to the many roles.
In the first half of the film you were really anxious to see what was going to become of the characters in the film. I loved how all the different situations were intertwined in some sort. This film has many metaphors for the real world and for the hallucinations that the people had of how they wished their life would be. All in all I think this film had a lot of controversy, not only for everyone but for me myself. Especially with the gay mormon that leaves his wife. It was very difficult to watch. This film showed the struggle for gay people during the time of aids. It showed the difficulty they had and how in the end it all came out to be just fine, where everyone forgave one another and were friends and that all each person needs to do is figure out how to make them happy and not anyone else.
After watching the second part of this movie, everything came into place like a jigsaw puzzle. In the begining I was so lost and confused that I didn't like it and was not wanting to watch the second part. I'm glad that Lois and Prior ended up solving their issues. The one I felt bad about was Joe. Who knows what his life ended up being. He had a tragic ending compared to the other characters. But as I had commented earlier in the blog this movie has alot of layers and you have to pay alot of attention in order to understand it. Going back I still think I'm missing some points but this movie makes you think alot about issues you normally wouldn't think about.
The second half of the movie had some really strange things happen that blew me away. Angels having orgasms and heaven looking like an office. Prior becoming a prophet. A side from all that I liked seeing everyone grow and learn from the mistakes they made or misconceptions they may have had. The only one we didn't get to see, learn and grow was Joe. I liked that director had the characters played by the same people. It is good to see that the gay community has progressed a lot since then. I am glad they are able to have some rights that they were not allowed before. I know they want to be able to be married legally, I am sure some day that will happen. Look on the bright side most marriages end in divorce anyway, so they won't have to go thru a nasty divorce.
I enjoyed this movie, but when I watched this one, I was kind of confused, because this one is unusual to me. I mean that when I was growing up, I never thought about that, so that is why I was kind of confused. But now, I am sort of figuring it out. This one teaches a lot of things such as love and political circumstances, religion, homosexuality, and even more. The best thing is that AIDS became recognized in the1980s. I could figure out this movie might give effective information about AIDS. While watching it, I felt like this movie is not the type of the movie. It would be hard to know. At least after I watched it, I kind of recognized the author`s deep message.
the second half of this movie really surprised me. with seeing how it all plays out and how accepting some of the characters become. i still feel that the American public as along way to come with these issues pertaining to sexual preference, beliefs and race. i hope that one day soon we can look at a person for who they are inside and not for there outside or there beliefs
The second half of this film is a little bit crazier to me then the first half, there is a lot more explaining in this one. I thought it was interesting how one of the characters goes around telling people he is a prophet and what not. It was interesting to see how Al Pacino’s character starts to like accept that he has Aids, well a little better then he did at first. This movie is a real eye opener, just for the fact that it is one of the only movies I have seen that really show’s how Aids really is and that it really is this horrible thing that is out there that people really do need to be aware of. All and all I think that this was a really good movie.
After seeing the second half to this film it helped me realize the importance of the roles that the actors played. how many of the actors played both charecters in which one reflected the other. These films were hard for me to follow but i liked that about them. there were several analogies and other things that the writers were trying to let be known and i thought that was cool. I wasnt to interested at first just because of the story line but as the film went on it kind of grows on you and you become interested. I think there is good meaning behind these two films but you have to think really hard a follow the movie from start to finish in order to pick up on them. ~ Seth K.
i really like how there was so many different story lines to follow, it was way more interesting than a movie with only a couple people to follow. now having said that, i did not like this movie. i didnt really like how he would have visions/hallucinations. i like movies that explain everything in the end unless there is another one coming out. i don't like how the mormon guys story was just left wide open like that. it didn't even explain if he was living at his house while his mom was in town. i didn't like how the movie was directed either, and some of the actors, like the angel woman, were not that convincing.
After I have seen the second part of "Angels in america" in class, and after the discussions I have come to realize the purpose of the multiple roles that actors play in the movie. The nurse, the angel and the homeless woman are played by the same actor and their role is to help and guide the characters in their quest. Joe's mom, Rabbi Chemelwitz and Ethel Rosenberg are played by the same actor and I believe that the idea behind that is to express forgiveness for Roy Cohn, Joe and Lous's Grandmother so that their spirits can find rest. The scenes that I find very odd and contradictory is when the angel is having sex with Prior first and in another scene with Joe's mom. I have never imagined that angels could do this kind of things.
ReplyDeleteI have recommended this movie to anyone I think could handle it. There are parts of it that are certainly tough to take but it was so good and educational and thought provoking. John (my husband who is also in the class) and I have had many discussions over the past couple weeks since we started watching the movie about all the different things that we felt so strongly about.
ReplyDeleteI think that is what makes a great movie. One that stays with you and makes you think and want to talk about it afterward.
It addressed the issues of homosexuality in general and more specifically AIDS so beautifully. I loved the development of the characters and how they (almost) all came to a mutual love and respect for each other. That's what the world needs SO much more of!
As Shrek said in the first "Shrek" movie, ogre have layers...like onions. Donkey then tried to equate it to cakes because they also have layers. Shrek then argued that Ogre layers are much more akin to onion layers than cake layers. I think that is an accurate description of this movie. It had lots of layers. Like onions, not cakes.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how the storylines continued to take shape and ride that "arc" all the way through. It was great to see how the stories intertwined.
The change in Joe's mom in particular was quite moving. All of the characters became better versions of themselves (except maybe for Joe...).
The references to The Wizard of Oz were placed well and it made me wonder whether that had anything to do with the song "Over the Rainbow" from the movie, which is where the Gay community got their rainbow...in that over the rainbow, there's a better, more accepting place.
The whole movie struck a chord with me because, while some progress has been made toward tolerance and acceptance of the LGBT community, we still have SUCH a long way to go and it's almost 25 years after this movie took place. We need to accept people for who they are and just get rid of the labels.
A quote that we saw at the beginning of "JFK" is appropriate in so many places, but especially here:
"To sin by silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men." ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox
I can see how people can be confused with this movie. I too myself was not understanding some of the metaphors that were being displayed before us.
ReplyDeleteAll in all I can't deny it was a movie that made me think on how others lives are affected by AIDS as well as their own personal inner turmoil. Some may not think but depression is as deadly as any other "infectious decease " out their..
Having one character play multiple roles in this movie was eye opening. Not until we discussed what the meanings were did I understand the meanings. Each "character" had great meaning in the roles as care taker, role models, as well as being a conscience. It was eye opening to see how one person can help change someone's life. We should always smile and greet a person with a smile for we never know what they went through throughout that day.We might just prevent a disaster with just a smile.
Some parts of this movie were so odd. I think to really understand this movie I would have to see it more than once. The message I got from this movie was a message of peace among differences. Peace with differences in religion, health,and sexuality. All three of these topics are things humans have argued about almost as long as we have existed. Peace, understanding, or respect, for any of these topics would be nice especially on a global scale. I think indiviualls are convinced that what they believe is right. They want other people to know thier "truth." That "truth" is what makes this film controversial.
ReplyDeleteTo me this movie was very psychotic. The dreams were out of this world and to me made it hard to follow. I had a hard time understanding them and what the real meaning of them and the movie was. Yes it was interesting to see how everyone was involve with each other some way ot another. Also how they all evolved through their own and different chalanges into what they became at the end of the movie. Most of them were happier and in a better state of mind.
ReplyDeleteI thought Part Two of Angels in America was that all the main characters were going to a journey of hate and love because everyone was angry at each other and they would try to go back to each other.
ReplyDeleteThis has affected me because seeing all these characters is mad at each all the times it is not good. Disliking others is bad because in society people tend to need love and not hate. I think that all the characters shouldn’t hated each other is because once you hate someone it can also make you a bad person also.
I think for the characters in the movie that need love in their life they show know that love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear. Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you. Good Friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. You can only go as far as you push. Actions speak louder than words. The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else. Don't let the past hold you back, you're missing the good stuff. Life's too short. If you don't look around once in a while you might miss it. A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. Some people make the world special just by being in it. Best friends are the siblings God forgot to give us. When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there. True friendship never ends. Friends are forever. Good friends are like stars you don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile. What do you do when the only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry? Nobody is perfect until you fall in love with them. Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end. Most people walk in and out of your life, but only friends’ leave footprints in your heart.
My point being is that just don’t hate others because by hating others you hateing yourself from the inside, so give them a second chance because no one is perfect in this lifetime.
The second half of "Angels in America" really brought the meaning together for me. The main point I got out of it was forgiveness which can be extremely difficult at times. For a Mormon mother to be waiting by the hospital bed of a homosexual stranger dying from AIDS in a city across the country shows that everyone can drop their preconceptions of peoples differences and accept them for who they are. This leads her to forgive her son after she "flew into a rage" from learning of his sexuality. The same actress plays the role of Ethel who also waits at the hospital bedside of a man who sentenced her to death while he is dying from AIDS. In her own way, she forgives him and even sings to give him comfort. Everyone should be willing to see people for who they are and forgive them rather than hate or discriminate. I love how they came together in the end and showed how peace and forgiveness is possible even between the most unlikely pairs.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the second part of this movie more than the first. The whole imagery and symbolism is this part were a lot more prominent and I feel like they were a lot easier to understand. I really liked Belize and I felt like throughout the movie he had so many inspiring and real things to say to help open our minds and help us understand. Even though he is speaking with other characters the message easily flows through the film and into the minds and hearts of the audience.
ReplyDeleteThere was a great part in the movie where Luis talks about the man who wrote The Star Spangled Banner and how he made the note for the word 'free' so high because it's impossible for any to reach it. No one is totally free and I think that was a big controversy in this movie. It is showing America a big part of itself that it was trying to hid and trying not to notice. The way homosexuals were looked down on and had to hide who they were not only for social reasons but for work reasons as well. It's hard to know that even though it isn't as bad it's still 20 years later and people's view of gays and AIDS is still incorrect and prejudice. Also it just shows that it's not only freedom to be who they are within their country and having the same rights as everyone else that's a problem. It's also the inward battle between what you feel is right and wrong and also trying to hide who are versus trying to be yourself. I think there are many people who are homophobic who wouldn't like this movie not just because it is about gay people but because it portrays them as normal people going through great struggles and sadness. It's easier to hate something nameless than it is to hate someone with a face. So I'm glad this movie came out to really try and open people's minds to the struggles that many homosexual people deal with and how it is sometimes for them to just be who they are in their own country.
Angels in America Perestroika was bizarre. God left heaven during the 1906 earthquake. Because he was frustrated with people moving around?? The angels are not able to be creative and need to inspire the humans? Prior is the prophet that they need? The first part of the movie did an excellent job weaving the lives of many vastly different people together from all walks of life. This part throws all the pieces into a blender and puts it on the puree setting. It makes a comment about society and how it dealt with AIDS in the 1980's in America, but doesn't really give any answers.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Angels in America Parastroika. The message this movie portrays could change the world if people would embrace it. It was beautifully written, funny, intelligent, and extremely thought provoking. I would love to watch it a few times to really let it soak in. The use of the LDS religion, the Jewish religion, and the gay community struggling to be treated humane all mirror each other beautifully I mean all of them have at one point or another been castrosized and driven away by mainstream society. I think it is sad that we as Americans still can't get over each others differences and be more accepting. Perestroika forces us to take a good look at our country and to contemplate some really harsh issues that we might not want to consider. It shows the down side as well as the beauty from all the characters perspectives. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI liked the ending of the movie. They found out their are no angle, it was just a believe that someone could help them, like at the end the Mormon wife left her husband, and she found the way out of her marriage rather than be there with her homosexual never really loved her. But her husband Joe was still struggling in his life. He still haven't realize yet, he still lost in the end. The gay couple still be friend after they broke up. That way seem like work really well for them, because the guy has Aids seem like he happier than before and healthier. He been having AIDS for 5 years more than the time he been with his ex. Everything will be better when people realize their purpose in life.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I really admired in the film was Prior's ability to forgive Luis. I first thought of Luis leaving Prior in the sense that it was; two gay guys, one moving on to another boyfriend. But then I started thinking about it in terms of a heterosexual relationship. In my mind it would be hard to forgive a girl who left me when I was sick, had sex with a prostitute and then was with another man only later to find that that girl wanted to come back to me. It was be almost impossible for me to forgive a person in that situation. I didn't have sympathy at first because it is hard for me to realize that homosexual relationships are practically the same as heterosexual relationships. The film did a good job of putting the viewer in the shoes of a gay person which helped me to more fully understand them as well as struggles they have to deal with. I thought this film had some really messed up things in it that could have been taken out and still had the same effect but then again what do I know, I have never made a movie. Over all pretty good show. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis part of the movie was a bit more complicated than the first part, but definitely just as enjoyable to watch. It was a serious eye opener and I can't even describe how absolutely astonishing the ending monologues were.
ReplyDeleteIn the first part, Harper talks about how the Ozone layer is being destroyed, and connects it to how her life is falling apart...In her monologue at the end - one of the best monologues I've ever heard - Harper describes with enriching detail how things are changing for the better; not only is the Ozone layer being repaired by all those souls working together, but her life is being repaired as well...And everything's going to be okay from now on.
I was extremely upset with Louis and how he can just walk out on Prior like that. I completely encouraged Prior and his bitter attitude towards Louis when they met in the park and such. However, it satisfied me to see Prior forgive Louis eventually, and I was even happier to see Prior be alive long enough to even give us that great monologue.
Essentially, this movie was spectacular. I loved everything about it...but it's going to take a few more times of watching it to fully grasp even half of the metaphor. Regardless, this was an amazing film.
If you go to LDS.org and search for the divine institution of marriage it says this in the introduction, "The focus of the Church’s involvement is specifically same-sex marriage and its consequences. The Church does not object to rights (already established in California) regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the family or the constitutional rights of churches and their adherents to administer and practice their religion free from government interference.
ReplyDeleteThe Church has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a husband and a wife united in the bonds of matrimony.
The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility towards homosexual men and women. Protecting marriage between a man and a woman does not affect Church members’ Christian obligations of love, kindness and humanity toward all people." This article was put out by the LDS church to clarify any misconceptions and what the churches beliefs really are. I think these few paragraphs explain alot about how the LDS church feels and believes and hopefully will clarify misconceptions for some people. I just feel sometimes that people think that LDS people hate gays, and I just think that is unfair to say. I do definitely think there are mormons that take things too far, and could see why some people would have misconceptions. I am LDS and I don't hate gays. I don't support their lifestyle, but I don't support drinking, drugs, profanity and many other things. My beliefs are mine and if people live another way that is fine and they have that right.
This movie was a great eye opener into hardships others face. We might not realize exactly what others go through simply because our sexual preference is considered “normal”. We must value individual rights. If anyone group is discriminated against by our laws then I think we are failing in our overall goal. The goal we strive for in America is that we believe in freedom for everyone. Why then do we feel the need to say who can and can’t be married? Is that really freedom? Must our personal views cloud freedom of the individual? Should we block the rights of those who are in love and allow them no union? I think the answer to that is simple; it should be their choice who they marry not ours!
ReplyDeleteMy opinion on gay rights is the same from my earlier post. Gays have rights too, like any other human being. We need to be more understanding towards them. This subject is on many Americans minds and they only are asking to be treated equal. Have same rights as anyone else. This means not feeling like second or third class citizens.
ReplyDeleteThis half of the movie was really confusing, and that is probably because i didn't see the first half before hand. The whole time I was thinking to my self "THIS IS SO CREEPY!!" The Dreams with the "angel" were so weird, and it didn't help that I didn't get any of the Metaphors in this movie. After seeing the whole Angels in America, i feel like an Idiot. I didn't get any of the metaphors that were there, and even after discussing some in class, i don't understand half of them. I did think that it was cool to see the characters change and have resolutions, except for Joe. I liked Joe's mother and how she was able to accept the Gay men and take care of Pryor like he was one of hers. I never knew how bad AIDS could be, so it was eye opening for me to see how baddly people are affected by AIDS, and the terror that it reeks on there bodies.
ReplyDeleteThis movie showed the meaning of accepting others for what they are. People in this movie were from different places, believed diffent things, and acted in very different ways. But, in the end, several unlikely friendships came together. A Mormon mother from Utah found herself being best friends with three gay men from New York. When she first met Prior, she wanted nothing to do with him. But, as she got to know him, she learned that he was just a person, not someone that is defined by a label. I am also glad that Harper left her husband. Sure, she wasn't an ideal wife, but at least she stuck to what she believed. She decided that she deserved better. This movie brought all the plots together in the end, and it ended with a really good message. It was about all kinds of things like AIDS and homosexuals, but it was also about friendship, love, and forgiveness.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the Gay community is trying to find acceptability and their right. I understand what homosexual is and what they feel. We know all in Hollywood these days seem to appeal something that related to political subject or to win an Oscar or Emmy. This one was very hard to watch for me.
ReplyDeleteThere has been this serious problem. Some of views of Aids have become increasingly common question. We as people around world should be very concerned about this. When I first watched this movie I was confused. I couldn't follow what was happening from one scene to the next. This was the first movie in which I liked Al Pacino. Also Meryl Streep was always brilliant. But as I came from different country, different language, it was very hard to figure out why she was two different characters in the film. This was "The movie of the Year" and this got more nominations than Band of Brothers at that time. But many people still don’t believe this movie was better than the Band of Brothers. I think it is because it touched on the subject of gays & Aids which is hard to deal with. I really enjoyed this movie and it is a good movie.
This movie was very interesting for me. It is not the type of movie I would go and watch on my free time but it is one I ended up enjoying. The main reason I liked it was because almost all of the characters ended up being in close relationships with one another. At the begining I had no idea why we were learning about a couple of characters lives but in the end of part two they all had intertwined lives. I mean a mormon mother who opposed her son being gay, became best friends with her sons gay x-lover, his gay x-lover, and another gay man. This move showed how to accept others. Like the mormon mother accepting the gays as her best friends. I liked the use of metephors and the depth of the directors thinking.
ReplyDeleteThis second part was a bit more understandable than the first part. Things were clearer and the final portion really explained much of the confusion found in the beginnings of the movie. However, I still find the movie as having too much for what it is trying say. The angel's bisexuality, and the sex scene with Harper later coming on naked seemed too much to simply get across the fact that Joe is unwaivering in his homosexuality and perhaps angels are bisexual. The whole plot line I still don't get, or rather forgot already, but I remember constantly wondering why this is happening and then this, and so I just "watched" the movie. Like I said above, the end helped clarify things though I do have to say that it brought up questions as well. Before I finish I want to touch upon the use of an LDS guy, specifically, to play a closeted homosexual. I assume they did this so they may, at the same time, probe at the LDS Church's policies regarding homosexuality. So just to clarify things, for those who think the church is strictly against gay rights, the church is not against homosexuals, but is for protection of the traditional structure of a man and a woman as the dominant figures (parents) of a family. It does not condemn gays, but simply expresses its view that it only supports marriage between a husband and wife. It is ok to be gay and still LDS in the sense that you won't get cast into a fire and stoned, but at the same time know that if you are LDS and do believe in their ideals, that being gay will hinder you from entering certain levels of celestial glory, and restrict you from recieving certain positions, as well as partaking in certain ordinances, within the church. Well anyways enough of that stuff, that's my take on the movie and how it seems to portray certain things. Overall I didn't really like the movie, and like I said on my post for part one, it's not one I would watch again for fun.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the second half of the movie and looking through the blogs I feel that I missed out on a very big part of the experience when I didn't get too participate the discussion after the film. The meanings of this movie aren't as clear as the other bloggers/classmates. I still feel confused about what the meaning to it all is. Prior being a prophet didn't make a bit of sense to me and I'm not sure that it will unless I watch the series/film again and it may not even come to me then. Its definitely a controversial film and I can understand why the comments that I have read around on the internet were posted. The film characters and the situations they are in isn't in most peoples sheltered lives. I won't lie, if it were not for this class if I would have seen this on the shelf I would most likely not of rented it. The film did bother me a little with the way they treated the Mormon religion and I understand it was to get a certain point across, but its bound to get under peoples skin and I feel that was part of the point in this series.
ReplyDeleteThe second part of Angels in America answered all the questions that I had from the first movie. It’s surprising how many different controversial topics this movie touched homosexuality, religion and beliefs but that’s why it made this movie interesting. It wasn’t one of my favorite movies but I am glad I was able to watch it because I don’t think I would have other wise.
ReplyDeleteWatching this movie play out with the intermingling of cultural differences. It's always amazing to see how we can live so close to each other and still live so far apart. Different beliefs, different faiths, different experiences. It was pleasing of me to see all the acceptance from each person to the other at the end of the movie.
ReplyDeleteI must say I thought it was a nice movie that played, however I did miss quite a bit in the structuring of the cast. If we hadn't had the class discussions I would not have realized the depth this movie was going into. I still don't fully understand it, well at least after reading a few blogs I don't think I fully understood it all. :D
I have never seen movie like this one before. This is a lot of intrigue and complicatedness. I was having hard time to at least understand what message from this movie about. Class discussion of this movie was help me a lot. At least, I have understand why the lawyer which is I thought was a antagonist and somehow turn to be protagonist because of the antagonist from all of this was AIDS. I have never realize that when I watch the movie. Even, I do believe that Mormon people prohibit gay and lesbian. But, I have been forced to believe that Mormon follower is a gay. He is just realize that he is gay after his marriage. I'm not sure that I understand the whole movie about, but at least the class discussion open my mind a little bit.
ReplyDeleteThe second part of this movie made me feel more comfortable than part 1 because I could not understand very well after the first part. I think this movie is an incredible example on how to adapt a play for the screen. ‘Angels in America’ is nothing short of a masterpiece. It touches a lot on politics and religion, which I know some have found offensive, but I for one tend to see shows for the story, script and acting, all of which for me create massive atmosphere in themselves, and all of which created a very strong atmosphere in Angels of America.
ReplyDeleteFinally!, some resolution to a story that dwarfed many of our minds for a week, as we awaited its epic finale. I hope i speak for many when i voice the opinion that this movie was an overall success, in every possible way. The resolution was intended, clear for the most part, and appropriate in context of the larger situation.
ReplyDeleteI hope that most people gained a greater understanding of choices and different lifestyles from this movie. After reading many of my fellow classmates comments on this topic, i feel that my hopes were just and easily attainable. In the end, i feel that people are people, no matter what the lifestyle they live. Aids is not confined to gays, just like malaria is not confined specifically to Africans. When certain individuals condone an attitude that represents an opposing notion to this fact, i find it an overall injustice to specific minorities that are supposedly protected under the constitution.
All prateful diatribes aside, regardless of our subtle differences, we're all same in the end. Let's all get along :).
The second half of this movie was much more entertaining than the first half. It tied most of the loose end that were created in the first part. The movie does a great job of creating caring emotion for homosexual men and the struggles they face each day.
ReplyDeletePrior has strong character and shows it when he is able to forgive Luis for leaving him stranded in bed dying of aids.
Belize is probably my favorite character and I love the writers idea to use the same character in two roles to represent the characters meaning. Belize was the caretaker, he took care of people that needed him most. Roy Cohn when he was on his death bed and Joe's wife Harper when she needs to get away from it all.
The author of this movie is a genius and it would take 2 or 3 times to truly gain an understanding of this movie and the lessons the author is trying to portray
The second part of the movie is very entertaining. it does a great job at getting the viewer emotionally involved. This movie was an eye opener. I didn't know how hard of life homosexuals have. It would be so hard to know some one you love and care to have aids. I feel the second part makes more sense and does a great job at ending the story to the many roles.
ReplyDeleteIn the first half of the film you were really anxious to see what was going to become of the characters in the film. I loved how all the different situations were intertwined in some sort. This film has many metaphors for the real world and for the hallucinations that the people had of how they wished their life would be. All in all I think this film had a lot of controversy, not only for everyone but for me myself. Especially with the gay mormon that leaves his wife. It was very difficult to watch. This film showed the struggle for gay people during the time of aids. It showed the difficulty they had and how in the end it all came out to be just fine, where everyone forgave one another and were friends and that all each person needs to do is figure out how to make them happy and not anyone else.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the second part of this movie, everything came into place like a jigsaw puzzle. In the begining I was so lost and confused that I didn't like it and was not wanting to watch the second part. I'm glad that Lois and Prior ended up solving their issues. The one I felt bad about was Joe. Who knows what his life ended up being. He had a tragic ending compared to the other characters. But as I had commented earlier in the blog this movie has alot of layers and you have to pay alot of attention in order to understand it. Going back I still think I'm missing some points but this movie makes you think alot about issues you normally wouldn't think about.
ReplyDeleteThe second half of the movie had some really strange things happen that blew me away. Angels having orgasms and heaven looking like an office. Prior becoming a prophet. A side from all that I liked seeing everyone grow and learn from the mistakes they made or misconceptions they may have had. The only one we didn't get to see, learn and grow was Joe. I liked that director had the characters played by the same people. It is good to see that the gay community has progressed a lot since then. I am glad they are able to have some rights that they were not allowed before. I know they want to be able to be married legally, I am sure some day that will happen. Look on the bright side most marriages end in divorce anyway, so they won't have to go thru a nasty divorce.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this movie, but when I watched this one, I was kind of confused, because this one is unusual to me. I mean that when I was growing up, I never thought about that, so that is why I was kind of confused. But now, I am sort of figuring it out. This one teaches a lot of things such as love and political circumstances, religion, homosexuality, and even more. The best thing is that AIDS became recognized in the1980s. I could figure out this movie might give effective information about AIDS. While watching it, I felt like this movie is not the type of the movie. It would be hard to know. At least after I watched it, I kind of recognized the author`s deep message.
ReplyDeletethe second half of this movie really surprised me. with seeing how it all plays out and how accepting some of the characters become. i still feel that the American public as along way to come with these issues pertaining to sexual preference, beliefs and race. i hope that one day soon we can look at a person for who they are inside and not for there outside or there beliefs
ReplyDeleteThe second half of this film is a little bit crazier to me then the first half, there is a lot more explaining in this one. I thought it was interesting how one of the characters goes around telling people he is a prophet and what not. It was interesting to see how Al Pacino’s character starts to like accept that he has Aids, well a little better then he did at first. This movie is a real eye opener, just for the fact that it is one of the only movies I have seen that really show’s how Aids really is and that it really is this horrible thing that is out there that people really do need to be aware of. All and all I think that this was a really good movie.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the second half to this film it helped me realize the importance of the roles that the actors played. how many of the actors played both charecters in which one reflected the other. These films were hard for me to follow but i liked that about them. there were several analogies and other things that the writers were trying to let be known and i thought that was cool. I wasnt to interested at first just because of the story line but as the film went on it kind of grows on you and you become interested. I think there is good meaning behind these two films but you have to think really hard a follow the movie from start to finish in order to pick up on them. ~ Seth K.
ReplyDeletei really like how there was so many different story lines to follow, it was way more interesting than a movie with only a couple people to follow. now having said that, i did not like this movie. i didnt really like how he would have visions/hallucinations. i like movies that explain everything in the end unless there is another one coming out. i don't like how the mormon guys story was just left wide open like that. it didn't even explain if he was living at his house while his mom was in town. i didn't like how the movie was directed either, and some of the actors, like the angel woman, were not that convincing.
ReplyDelete