Geeks and Film Throughout Space and Time

A lot’s changed in 10 years. Or has it?

For a long time, 1999 was a sacred year for me. As a teenager, I felt it marked the time that I began to become “conscious.” Decisions and opinions were mine because I chose so. My first girlfriend was obtained that year. But more importantly, it marked a change in how I watched, thought of, and related to films. And what a time! Being John Malkovich, Magnolia, The Blair Witch Project, Eyes Wide Shut, Run Lola Run, Go, Three Kings, Fight Club, The Sixth Sense, The Insider, American Beauty.... And that’s not even mentioning the game-changing arrival of The Matrix.

Yet, for me and my young, impressionable mind, one film influenced more than all others -- and I think you know where I’m going with this. The entire year, I couldn’t get enough of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I would hunger for anything that had to do with the prequel or the original trilogy. I hopped from fansite to fansite, forum to forum, reading fan scripts and taking in fanart (not to mention trying to create a few things myself). What an exciting time! Star Wars was coming back!


Now, this next part is never to leave this site, understood? My girlfriend of nearly 4 years doesn’t even know what I’m about to tell you.

During this time, one of the online message boards that I frequented began going through some changes. The user base was growing and evolving, and many of the members seemed to be seeking an identity, or a belonging. Groups formed. Some more “official” than others, such as the forum’s own “Jedi Order.” That’s right. What did the Order do? Beats me, but I know that I was jealous. As a result, I joined a “Sith Order.” Oh my.

So what did the Sith Order do? I don’t quite remember, but I think group chats were involved. I have a vague memory of me asking the Order Leader what our “next move” would be, and I believe I included words like “bidding,” “shall,” “master,” and “Lord.” The Order soon disbanded and out of so much shame and embarrassment, I promptly changed my forum username. I wasn’t that guy, and I wanted nothing to do with him.

So what does this story have to do with anything, besides easily confirming that, in one way or another, I’m quite the geek?

First of all, things aren’t always what they seem. Ten years ago, the films of the time and the events of my life were so exciting that I felt I was part of something special. Looking back now, it’s obvious that “my own opinions” were just regurgitations of those I had read and heard from others. That first girlfriend? Yeah, I met her on that online forum and we only saw each other face-to-face once. And half the films I loved from 1999 have lost most of their luster.

New Year, Same Problems

Perhaps things haven’t change that much in 10 years after all. I don’t know about you, but I still find myself struggling to find my place -- to be myself -- much like the members of that online community. Sure, I’m not joining any Orders anymore, but as an adult I still find myself wanting to belong to a group, and even altering my opinions to do so. It’s easy to be disappointed in a Guillermo del Toro film in the privacy of my own home, but a little more difficult when the writers I admire, respect, and aspire to be like are enamored with said film.

In the geek community, it happens as well. “Geek” can become a crutch, or an easy label to help us belong. Sometimes I cringe at the way we use “geek.” It’s so broad, so overused that it loses much of its meaning. Are you really a “geek,” or are you You? I’ve come to the point where I’m tired of making myself a generalization just to fit in better. I can have characteristics of a geek, and I can have characteristics that run contrary. There’s no reason why the two can’t coexist. To paraphrase a non-geek movie, the ability to hold two conflicting thoughts in your head is the epitome of human intelligence.

I’m not the geek that collects comics and obsesses over anime. But I am the geek that drove three hours to Austin just to see Repo! The Genetic Opera, then promptly drove three hours back home once the 98 minute film was finished. I’m not the geek that hates athletics and barely shows interest in sports. But I am the geek that still has Superman, Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, and Harry Potter propaganda on his desk all at the same time. My point is that I’m going to be who I am, and you should be who you are. Let’s not hold that against each other. As you can tell from reading columns from the slew of writers we have here, “geek” can mean a whole lot of things. We don’t have to fit a mold to be able to belong.

Faster! More Intense!

I take the long way to get to my points, but I do get there. The title of this column is Faster! More Intense! It’s the infamous George Lucas line; while directing, after almost every take, he’d yell, “Faster! More intense!” The phrase has become somewhat of a joke, if not the perfect example of the flaws in Lucas’s directorial style. But it can either be seen as the director’s attempt at hiding those flaws, or it can be seen as the director embracing who he is, despite the flaws. I believe that Lucas knows who he is as a director, and just runs with it.

Similarly, I hope to look at the current state of geek films for what it is, as well as the ever-influencing past. I’m going through a self-imposed “film re-education,” meaning you’ll be reading about the likes of Metropolis, Logan’s Run, and Akira, along with the current releases. Hopefully by examining it all, we can learn something about the place of geek cinema, and where it’s going. Look for Faster! More Intense! every other Friday, starting January 16th. What’s to come then? Not sure yet. I’ll hopefully have a review of Repo! up on my own site, so that may provide more conversation. We’re also in the heat of Awards Season, with most of us rooting for The Dark Knight to get some recognition. Yet there are still some issues at hand (why are geeks still so insecure? Why do many consider The Dark Knight to be some sort of vindication or validation?). I guess we’ll see next week what turns up.

You know, I had hoped to get this entry posted yesterday. I guess some things really haven’t changed in 10 years....