Pedantic - 20111003

We watched Midnight in Paris last Saturday. This time, out of convenience, we chose AMC Festival Walk.

While watching the movie, a bunch of audiences, suspected mainlanders, were sitting (or squatting?) on the staircases instead of their marked seats. After some quarries, they seemed to be evicted.

The comedy was about nostalgia. In Woody Allen's portrait, golden age was a concept of relative. Contemporary people may be of the thought that 1920's is the perfect time to live in. But, guys in 1920's would like to be in 1890's. Funny observation.

And the movie itself was funny enough. However, there was a pre-quisite to have fun, that was, to know those celebrities in the past. Luckily, I have read A Movable Feast and a book on Van Gogh, and could get hold of the plot. The joke on Trotsky was especially tickling.

The word "pedantic" was sexily spoken by Carla Bruni. It was a funny word. Living for so long, we more or less came across pedantic people. Overwhelmingly men, most of them are dilettantes. It is usually annoying to meet them, unless they really know something. Woody Allen himself is a good example of benign pedantry.

Woody Allen is an America director with Continental substance. The montage in the opening, lasted for 5 minutes, though a beautiful exhibition of Paris, was a real challenge to audience nurtured by fast food. Traditionally, European films used to tell story by picture than language. But now, even long shots are sacred cows, montage should be off topic.