Watching the Movie

[Masked Dude]

I'm planning on finally watching the movie, hopefully this weekend. I've been a Dudeist for a while, got myself ordained, and been enjoying myself here for the most part. And all that without having seen the film.

So I decided I should watch TBL. I think it was DB who reminded me to take notes.

I got to thinking, 'cos it's what I do.

There are things I want to watch for and take notice. Questions I'll be  asking. Then I realized... Why not ask my fellow Dudeists to offer me questions?

I know the jokes and all, but why not list questions that you'd like a fellow Dudeist finally watching the movie.

[Reverend Al]

Sounds to me like you're turning it into a homework assignment, and you really shouldn't put that much importance on it.  Okay, yeah, it's the movie that inspired Dudeism, but it's still just a movie.  And, I might remind you, a movie that didn't perform particularly well at the box office.

At this point, especially considering the Dudeist website and forum and the movie's cult status, it can't possibly live up to whatever you've heard about it.  So I would suggest you watch the movie--no notes, no questions, no bullshit--just watch it like you would watch any other movie.  Then let it sit with you for a while.  And when you understand what the movie is and isn't and have discarded any expectations, watch it again whether you liked it the first time or not.  The first viewing is just to get it out of your system and learn whether what you've heard about it is or isn't true.  Once you know that, you'll be able to watch it again and see it for what it really is, and that's what the second viewing is for.  At that point you should know whether or not you like it regardless of what anyone else thinks.

[Masked Dude]

Nah, I never put a lot of expectation into a movie. I had planned on watching it once for the hell of it, just as a movie, and then looking deeper.

I think for me, the second viewing would be more of, what did you notice? What did you wonder? What sucked? More of how we sit around and talk about movies, but I don't know any of you in person so I figured that's what I'd do.

For me, movies are just an hour or more of diversion. I've had friends who claim to study and explicate and all that. Pseudo-intelligent types.

And besides, I've only seen two movies from which I walked away thinking I wasted my time and money. I think TBL is safe.

[meekon5]

I'm planning on finally watching the movie, hopefully this weekend. I've been a Dudeist for a while, got myself ordained, and been enjoying myself here for the most part. And all that without having seen the film.

So I decided I should watch TBL. I think it was DB who reminded me to take notes.

I got to thinking, 'cos it's what I do.

There are things I want to watch for and take notice. Questions I'll be  asking. Then I realized... Why not ask my fellow Dudeists to offer me questions?

I know the jokes and all, but why not list questions that you'd like a fellow Dudeist finally watching the movie.

It's an example.

It's not holy writ, as I've said before we are a branch of Taoism that is not particularly bothered about who else we let in, the more the merrier!

The film, it's just a film.

Enjoy it, take reference from it.

On Taoism:

"People often ask how you become a Taoist, what books do you read, what temples do you attend? You don't become a Taoist, you just realize that Taoist is a name for what you already are." ---Lao Fzu

(from "...YOU MIGHT BE A TAOIST")

Much reflects my own understanding of Dudeism, I existed a certain way and eventually found the name Dudeism, which I use for other people to hang on me as a label if they need one.

All IMHDO of course.

[meekon5]

Nah, I never put a lot of expectation into a movie. I had planned on watching it once for the hell of it, just as a movie, and then looking deeper.

I think for me, the second viewing would be more of, what did you notice? What did you wonder? What sucked? More of how we sit around and talk about movies, but I don't know any of you in person so I figured that's what I'd do.

For me, movies are just an hour or more of diversion. I've had friends who claim to study and explicate and all that. Pseudo-intelligent types.

And besides, I've only seen two movies from which I walked away thinking I wasted my time and money. I think TBL is safe.

I tend to watch it every time I upgrade the media, ie when I bought the Blu-Ray player there are certain films I feel I just have to buy again (TBL and Blade Runner being the first).

The blu-ray was fun (lots of bits like the "F" word counter).

The Holy Writ on Blu-Ray (TBL on Blu-Ray that is).

[BikerDude]

It's been on IFC a lot lately.
I say just enjoy it.
You can get into dissecting it later if you watch it multiple times.
I remember the feeling that I had the first time I saw it in the Theaters.
I walked out knowing that I liked it but wasn't sure exactly why.
And when asked what it was about I had a semi difficult time explaining it because what it's "about" in the conventional sense (what happened) is not why I liked it.
It was the way it and the Dude just tumbled along like the tumbling tumble weeds.
And then it was over.

[Masked Dude]

Thanks, all.

Fuck the questions. I'm a Jeff fan anyway.

Stay cool, dudes.

(Meant in a happy, lighthearted way because you guys helped.)

[ZoeAbides]

I think, and I can't rightly remember, but I think the first time I watched TBL my reaction was something along the lines of "that was cool, but what the fuck?!"  I dug it, and it resonated, but I didn't quite "get" it.  Subsequent viewings really tied the room together.