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HEY!!
Subject: The_Cell
Date: Fri, 18 Jan 2002
From: veena17@aol.com To: Hey my name is abhishek mahendru and i
was just surffing around the internet and i went into your website
i must say i love your website especialy the cell movie pics. I
had a favor to ask you can you if you have time send me more pictures
of the cell moive from the beginning, so i can post it on my website.
Because i can' t find any.
Thanks.
Once again thanks.
NEW
AGE AND DAVID HUNT
Subject: Crowley-isms?
Date: Sat, 18 Nov 2000
From: "Martin Dennison"
Hi
There! Firstly, let me say thank you for creating such a visually
impacting and informative site. Years ago, I held a special night
for the Young Adult group I was running, and called it "Flash Gordon
verses the Prophetic Pizza"! I have studied film making at University,
and I gave a talk that night on subtext; looking specifically at
the films "Flash Gordon", "Superman 2" and "Terminator 2: Judgement
Day". All of this held strong allusions to the Bible narrative of
Jesus Christ and the End Times.
The
Cell just opened here in Australia. I just saw one of it's first
screenings here. There is nothing I could really add to what has
been said here, and I appreciate you making some sense of what was
going on in that film!!
But
I notice a letter from "hawkins" entitled "Pagan Myth". Not that
he goes into much detail regarding the Cell; but I could not help
but think of some of the Occultic themes in the film. Please let
me know what you think.
eg.
the "floatation" strings are to simulate "floating on water" like
the New Age floatation tanks; and this was used in films like Coma
and Altered States. Going into the mind was not really what was
happening; but astral travel. Dave Hunt (author of "The Seduction
of Christianity") once said that the nursery tune "Rock a bye baby
on the tree top" had it's root in this same thing - being witches
used to climb up into trees and lie on the floating effect of the
branches, relax, and astral travel to another town! They could report
what was happening in another town simultaneously while they were
in the tree.
Also,
apart from the blasphemous subtleties in the film, I cant help but
be reminded of the Twin Peaks series in it's weirdness. David Lynch
made that series, and I understand that he is an avid follower of
Alistair Crowley; and puts alot of his themes in his films. So,
I was just wondering if you could confirm any further regarding
the teachings / symbolism of Crowley and the Occult in this film.
Thanks again, Marty
Response:
I rarely look for those kind of things. My eyesight is very focused
on Biblical analogy and themes. Films contain so many levels of
understanding and mythology, I can only do justice to the area that
I know. By the way, I met David Hunt at a party in Hollywood once.
He spoke to the group about the "New Age dangers" within
the film Chariots of Fire! He is simply not a good or reliable source.
You say that he believes witches astral travel? He claims this is
what "Rock a bye baby on the tree top" is all about? He sounds like
an author trying to sell books. David Hunt is about throwing rocks
at the world. Hollywood Jesus is about building bridges. I will
throw no rocks at New Agers or Wiccans. Period. Love and peace -David
Bruce
MINDTRIP
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000
From: "lila karapostoli"
I
read all the reviews and explanations on the movie. I really agreed
with a guy named Hawkins. Unfortunately he didn't want you to include
his e-mail address. I have some things that I would like to discuss
with him. It would be really nice if you could communicate with
him in order to have a contact. My e-mail can be included. really
do you believe that technology can enter in someone's mind???? Thank
you in advance Lila lila-k@enet.gr
EUTHANASIA?
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
From: Mark
Your
review was terrific. But the "mercy killing" of the boy seemed more
of a vote for euthanasia than life. He wasn't resurrected to heaven
-- he just died. Or, did I miss something?
Mark
Response:
He was in the process of dying. You might think of it as "his
appointed time" to go and "Virgin Mary" acting as
an agent of God. You are right, however, he had no resurrection.
-David
IMPRESSED
Subject: for tarsem singh
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000
From: Shoaib Khan
Hi, i have watched The Cell and as an animator i was impressed with
the work of the animators apparently the direction. I was further
impressed when i saw the name of the director because Tarsem Singh
is the guy who has directed my coca cola ad during the cricket world
cup 1996 in Pakistan. i would like to congratulate Tarsem on his
success personally, if u could get me his e-mail address. Thankyou
yours sincerely,
shoaib khan. London
SOLID
AND DISTURBING
Subject: The Cell
Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000
From: Elizabeth Carr liz-anne@rocketmail.com
I
found the cell quite disturbing. While it was very well cast, and
every actor was solid in their part, it seemed like all they wanted
to do was shock you with their strange imagry. But on the otherhand
you are going into the mind of a seriously messed up man. It really
makes you think about what is actually going on in the heads of
serial killers... I think that the only thing I would have changed,
besides Jennifer Lopes smoking pot in the beginning, would have
been the baptism towards the end. Instead of killing the killer,
this could have been a complete turn around and behavior change.
It could have possibly changed the psyche of the killer by showing
a rebirth, everything a baptism is supposed to be, replacing the
baptism from his past. I was left empty, and frankly, alittle wierded
out!
Elizabeth Carr liz-anne@rocketmail.com
WORST
EVER
Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2000
From: Mike
I
thought the movie was the worst I've every seen, it had really nothing
to grab you, and it was a little to morbide for me.
VISUAL
GOODIES, BUT...
Date: Sun, 03 Sep 2000
From: Darrel
Plenty
of religious symbolism, but all empty. For some reason (maybe I'm
just too old) this movie never really engaged me. It has lots of
visual goodies, but nothing of substance underlying it. Some of
the visuals include D'Onofrio suspended (reminding me of Dali's
crucifixion) but not as savior, as destroyer. Later Lopez appears
as a version of Virgin Mary (in red instead of blue). Water and
baptism play a pat, but as killing rather than as salvific (except
as a way of killing the killer.)
ABOLUTELY
BRILLIANT
Subject: Two words
Date: Fri, 01 Sep 2000
From: Dan
I
saw the Cell last wekend, and I have two words: Absolutely Brilliant
The style is extraordinary, surreal, and utterly engrossing. It's
a textbook exercise in abnormal psychology, and a gruesome reminder
that the mind is not a safe or clean place. Well crafted, believable
characters, solid acting, brilliant direction, and total unpredictability
blend into a potpourri of beautific horror (or is it horriffic beauty?)
that is not easy to forget.
It
is also a film that many (most?) people will have a lot of trouble
watching. This is the sort of film where one is brought face to
face with how closely we "normal" people resemble the most ugly
and evil among us inside our own minds (and pasts). It forces you
to care for the unlovable, to examine yourself, and to endure the
ugliness that we all have lived but would prefer not to look at.
And,
it is also a film that demands a lot of the audience. It demands
lucid thinking, while at the same time demanding an incredible level
of intellectual and emotional vulnerability in order to truly understand
what is going on. In a manner that is analogous to what Catherine
does in the film, we must be willing to enter a foreign and frightning
world, and let it enter us, for us to truly understand the film.
This is a film that can be ruined by attempting to keep your distance
(and you may well find that impossible in any case).
Keep
your mind running, but let your defenses go until after the movie
is done. Then, ponder it in its entirety. There are some very powerful
and subtle issues weaving their way throughout the film, and I can't
go into a full treatment of them here. Suffice it to say that watching
this movie with integrity forces you to care about the characters,
and it is not a comfortable thing to be caring that deeply about
a serial killer. Makes you wonder how God does it....
-Dan
WHAT'S
BEHIND THE EYES
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000
From: Filmy Coffee Fan
You
know, it is films like these that really test an audience. Is it
sci-fi? Is it a thriller? Or, is it a bold new spin on the retreads
of the suspenseful serial killer films we have come to love and
hate at the same time? Anthony Hopkins gave us a whole new fascination
of a vividly complex and demented mind with a simple smile and a
glint of Dr. Hannibal Lector's menacing eyes. Should an audience
give The Cell kudos for exploring what's behind such eyes? Or, is
that cheating us out of our own curiosity? The mind behind such
heinous deeds is supposed to be feared and not relished with such
eerie whimsy that this film seems to embrace with arms wide open.
Part of our fear is the mere fact that we don't understand them,
but The Cell tries to make us fear understanding a mind like this.
But,
does it? No. It is too involved in bogging us down with disturbing
visuals, emphasized by gongs and a dull thumping soundtrack that's
supposed to make suspense out of thin air. There are even sequences
that you wonder why they are even there. Why are we upside down...
again? Am I supposed to be scared, repulsed, or supposedly educated
from being in a killer's mind? Is this supposed to be different
parts of the mind? If so, then I don't understand where I am. One
simple answer to these questions: Tarsem. Tarsem, the director behind
this bizarre reason for awkward lighting, lost storytelling, and
camera tricks that make the head spin is an award winning commercial
and music video director. Well that's a shocker. Did he have to
run through every trick in the book? Or, does he think that the
mind involves such tricks to present? If Bizarro world is all I'll
have to look forward to with this new technology of "mind mapping"
then I say give me a simple grin and a glint of Dr. Hannibal Lector's
menacing eyes anyday. It's so much more interesting.
SPURIOUS
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000
From: ken shears
Spurious
pseudo-religiosity. A misogynist serial killer gets another feature
film for showing off the dazzling come-thither MTV world of his
unconscious blend of prurience and blood. It is fitting that a hip-hop
queen surrender herself at horror's alter. The talent pool for such
rough stuff is shrinking faster than you can say Southern California!
I wish someone would seriously study the angel motif in "Eyes Wide
Shut", rather than waste analytical energy on this morbid monstrosity.
Salvador Dali thoroughly covered this ground in his "Andalusion
Dog" almost sixty years ago, but we are forced to forever bow at
each new iteration, each new revelation of how abominable life can
be portrayed and then redeemed by Freudian legerdemain. As if reality
weren't evil enough we must continuously suffer this form of myth-making
at its crudest level while the unrepentant gush over its panache.
Hollywood shudders, another genius approaches!
Ken
Shears
http://www.oe-pages.com/RELIGION/Christian/zeph_3/
PAGAN
MYTH
Subject:
Ancient Pagan Mythology in Modern Cinema
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000
From: hawkins
I've recently discovered your website and I thought I would throw
a few concepts your way. While there is so much discussion of Jesus
Christ in symbolic form, has anyone noticed that there is more than
one interpretation of Christ. I have learned in recent years that
what I thought about Jesus while I was growing up turned out to
be false. Society at large has been brainwashed concerning Jesus
Christ due to teachings of tradition and superstition. Did you know
that Christmas
(incorrectly named) was not originally in honor of Jesus. Neither
is Easter the celebration of his resurrection.
Archeologists
have found that many of the pagan deities throughout the many cultures
of the world have their origin in one pantheon. The way educated
Christians and others see Jesus is quite different.
I
was very interested by what your website said about Superman;
how he was a symbolic representation of Jesus, his father Jor-El
was God, the Father, his mother, Mary, the Holy Spirit. Personally,
I've never known the Holy Spirit to be mentioned in a feminine form
in the Bible. But, if we look to the pagan trinity, we find a match.
Do you remember Osiris, Isis, and Horus of ancient Egypt. One recent
film all but told you outright. " The
Matrix", could be mistaken for another Hollywood representation
of Jesus Christ or we could see it more accurately as a modern version
of the ancient Egyptian myth and rightly assume that Keanu Reeves
was portraying Horus." Hollow
Man" is now in theatres. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I see a
little symbolism there. If you've ever studied the ancient myth,
you know that Set was jealous of his brother, Osiris because he
was loved by Isis. Set succeeds in killing Osiris, but is resurrected
by the cunning of Isis. This is exactly what we see in the movie.
Dr. Sebastion Caine (played by actor, Kevin Bacon) is the symbol
of Set. His rival, Dr. Matthew Kinsington (played by actor, Josh
Brolin) is Osiris. Elizabeth Shue plays Lynda. She is the symbol
of Isis. Like Osiris, Matt is mortally wounded and left to die in
sub zero temperatures. This is important to notice. Those who know
their mythology know that in ancient times the winter season symbolized
death, but the spring season represented resurrection and life.
This is why we celebrate Easter in the spring. It was Isis that
saved Osiris, and it was Lynda who saved Matt. It is critical that
you notice Lynda's use of fire, not only to heat Matt back to life,
but as a weapon against Sebastion who is Set, the symbol of evil
and death itself. In ancient times fire was a symbol of the sun.
It was the sun's rays that was thought to be the source of life.
Wasn't the immortal bird, the phoenix resurrected out of flames.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the West. The setting of the
sun represents death, but its rising in the east represents life.
This is where we get the word, " Easter". Notice also the romantic
element that transpires in the film as in the ancient myth. Sebastion
is jealous of the love Lynda and Matt just as Set was jealous of
the love of Isis and Osiris. I'll leave you with another comparison.
In
January of 2000, the movie, " Supernova" was released by MGM. The
same love story can be seen here. This movie has an added twist.
The crew of medical rescue ship, Nightengale encounter an alien
artifact filled with an awesome power that can destroy of renew
all life in the universe. The object is symbolically a phallic representation.
This is even made mention of by actress, Robin Tuney. In ancient
Egypt, monuments known as obelisks were symbolic of the phallus
which in turn symbolized Osiris. How coincidental that this symbolism
should turn up in this movie. Just food for thought.
(You may post this if you like, but please don't give my e-mail
address. Thanks)
Response:
You are so right about the use of myth in Hollywood. And you are
right about Christmas and Easter having mythological roots. All
myth contains truth -which makes them powerful. C. S. Lewis said
that such myths point to a central truth, Jesus Christ.
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