Comments on: I thought it was Dynamite!

By: Chad too

Chad too — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

*Note: no spoilers in this post*

I thought the opening credits were some of the most comically inspired frames of film I've seen in a long time.

I work aong a rather cynical crowd and ND has become the talk of the workplace. For those who have seen it, it's all they can talk about, and in a good way. For those who haven't, well... they are mocked mercilessly by those who have.

One woman even came into the office last week with her hair all pulled to one side in a ponytail a la Deb. I couldn't stop laughing!

By: Sam B.

Sam B. — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Dave,
The music is straight from the 80s (not to mention the Ricks t-shirt; at least, if I remember right, it references 1982). And, in spite of the fact that I detest everything the 80s stand for (the fact that Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, and the jazz from the decade all suck--Stevie Ray Vaughn may be the only redeeming quality), ND was the funniest movie I saw this year, and even funnier the second time.

And I have to second brayden (about the uninitiated in rural life enjoying it); I saw it in NY and San Diego, in the midst of crowds that didn't seem to be LDS, and my mom may have been the only person in those two theaters not to find it, if not engaging, at least hilarious.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Haven’t seen it yet. There are two groups, those who have some memory of that era (and laugh while wincing) and those who don’t but still enjoy seeing the good ‘ole days on screen. If teenagers like ND, it’s not because they remember the 70s, it’s because the movie makes it believable and funny for those who were never there. The 70s have become the new 50s, although we haven’t seen anything like American Grafitti (cinema) or Happy Days (TV) yet.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I also think that people assume the film is set a few decades back because Jared Hess did not seem to preoccupied with keeping up with or creating fashion trends. I thought that this hilarious film hit it right on the money as far as wardrobe goes. In small towns (such as the place in Central WA where I am from) there really are people who dress up in American Flag pants AND think its awesome.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I just saw it tonight. From the opening credits on, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. I grew up in a really small town in Southern Utah and I was reliving it all.

But I also found it extremely sad in spots. The underlying psychological problems that would cause bed-wetting at that age. The humiliation of it made public. The clueless racism of the Principle. The general all-encompassing teenage anguish of high school.

Yet on the whole, I would say it had a very positive message about being a clueless misfit, and still having a valuable life to live. Occasionally Napoleon was an object of pity or derision, but more often he was a magnified version of all my own teenage angst and cluelessness. I lied about improbable things to make myself seem cooler. I did things I thought were cool but were NOT cool. I pushed myself on people who were not interested and then found myself rejected. I believed and/or hoped I had Â“skillsÂ” that were SO not going to happen. The parts where I laughed the hardest were when I relived my own awkwardness through Napoleon.

But he is also that person I looked at and said, Â“IÂ’m not cool, but at least IÂ’m cooler than him.Â” But the beauty of it is that this movie showed that Â“being himÂ”, being the one with the worst hair, and the least social skills, and the messed up family, and the impossible silly dreams isnÂ’t necessarily the horror I thought it was. Life is good when youÂ’re Napoleon Dynamite. ThereÂ’s tots, cool bikes, good friends. ItÂ’s frickÂ’en sweet!

I think there are probably some people who see ND and laugh *at* Napoleon. I think there are some people who see it and feel sorry for him. But I think the deeper truth and appeal of the movie was that neither approach does him justice.

It's 3:00 Am and I'm still up because I was sooo thirsty at the theater and I had to choose between sugar and caffine, and I picked caffine and lost!

By: brayden

brayden — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I know a lot of non-LDS academic types who have seen the show, and all of them thought it was hilarious. Most of them come from non-rural locations, so I don’t think enjoying the movie is a product of our insider’s view (although it certainly helps). Besides, MTV endorsed the movie and they’re about as urban and non-LDS as you can get.

By: Aaron Brown

Aaron Brown — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I liked it too.

Aaron B

By: Aaron

Aaron — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I need to see this movie. I have a standard set of stories I tell about growing up in Blackfoot, Idaho. I wonder how many of my stories are in this movie. I was once filmed being pulled behind a truck on a board as a part of an elaborate scheme to ask a girl out to a dance…

By: Mephibosheth

Mephibosheth — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I was talking to some other people who assumed that it was set in the 80′s also. I think one of the main premises of the movie is that everyone is stuck in the 80′s; it takes a few decades for popular culture to filter into small town life.

By: danithew

danithew — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I’m kind of surprised my wife and I haven’t seen this yet. This post is just increasing the desire to get out and see it. :)