I think it'd be pointless to try and argue about whether a movie should enlighten you or not, since it's obviously a personal preference. However, to give my side, I don't really think they need to. As you know, I'm a pretty big Star Wars geek. Every time I watch it, I don't think about the world around me and how the I fit, and this and that. I think, wow, this movie gets me pumped everytime.
To me, a movie is just a device to tell a story. Now, that device can be done in an artsy way (personally, I think Kill Bill and all of Tarantino's movies are shot in a very artistic way, but aren't necessarily art films), and can convey a deeper meaning, enhancing your understanding of the world and your place in it. But most importantly, a movie should be enjoyed.
Yes, Schindler's List was a great film and made me more aware of the world at large, but I didn't enjoy the viewing experience. Maybe it's a simple-minded view, but it's what works for me. And it's not just for escapism, on my part. I loved the Virgin Suicides, which isn't a feel good movie at all. It was beautifully shot, had a good story, AND made you think. It's all relative...
However, it seems this debate boils down to an even scarier topic: whether a specific movie is art or entertainment.
to address those two points...
i) The darting around in the timeline is cool. But I thought it was somewhat unnececessary in this movie. It just seemed to me to be a device to cover up a shoddy plot. I thought haing chapter mumber and them scribbled out was very ham fisted.
ii) But that gets to the heart of a what a story is. A good story, book or film should make you think something about the world or life or yourself. Dont you think? Or else they are not good? Kill Bill just made me think I like to watch girls kill girls, Oh wait, now I feel like the joke is on me. [/QB]
