I see a lot of negative comments about this film (here and on amazon).
There are those who sum it up in a few of Mark's words, yet seem to ignore the other things that Mark also says.
There are those who say the message is obvious and nothing new to them, but seem to assume this makes it a bad film, instead of just not for them at this moment in their lives.
There are those who say 'Who are you to tell me this? Where do you get your information from? Where are your citations?' to which I say: the study of psychology is mostly just ideas and interpretations. When you cite someone else's work, all you're doing is citing their ideas and interpretations.
Mark has his own ideas and interpretations. He's sharing them with the world. You can do with them whatever you want. You can use them constructively. You can use them destructively. But it's up to you.
Mark doesn't owe you an explanation, he doesn't owe you a citation, he's just giving something that can help. You can take it or leave it. Apply it or discard it.
All in all I feel a lot of people focused on irrelevant details or completely missed the point of the film.
What is the point of the film you may ask?
Well, it's not for me to say, but I think that the more important things Mark talks about are uncomfortable truths. They are things most people don't want to accept about themselves because it means changing their long-held beliefs and making a very big mental effort.
It's easy to get caught up in a judgmental mode and put all sorts of barriers in one's mind to dismiss what Mark's saying. I believe this is because acknowledging what he says feels uncomfortable. And doing the things one needs to do in order to change feels uncomfortable. And we are masters at trying to avoid feeling this.
I do feel the title and cover kinda make you expect a step-by-step guide on how to live a care-free lifestyle. I don't think this is what Mark and the writers were going for, at least that's not what I take from it.
In a nutshell, what I take from it is this:
Anyway, I hope this film reaches the masses, though I get a sense that it's being buried and won't get many views due to the production company's tight ownership... I hope I'm wrong.
There are those who sum it up in a few of Mark's words, yet seem to ignore the other things that Mark also says.
There are those who say the message is obvious and nothing new to them, but seem to assume this makes it a bad film, instead of just not for them at this moment in their lives.
There are those who say 'Who are you to tell me this? Where do you get your information from? Where are your citations?' to which I say: the study of psychology is mostly just ideas and interpretations. When you cite someone else's work, all you're doing is citing their ideas and interpretations.
Mark has his own ideas and interpretations. He's sharing them with the world. You can do with them whatever you want. You can use them constructively. You can use them destructively. But it's up to you.
Mark doesn't owe you an explanation, he doesn't owe you a citation, he's just giving something that can help. You can take it or leave it. Apply it or discard it.
All in all I feel a lot of people focused on irrelevant details or completely missed the point of the film.
What is the point of the film you may ask?
Well, it's not for me to say, but I think that the more important things Mark talks about are uncomfortable truths. They are things most people don't want to accept about themselves because it means changing their long-held beliefs and making a very big mental effort.
It's easy to get caught up in a judgmental mode and put all sorts of barriers in one's mind to dismiss what Mark's saying. I believe this is because acknowledging what he says feels uncomfortable. And doing the things one needs to do in order to change feels uncomfortable. And we are masters at trying to avoid feeling this.
I do feel the title and cover kinda make you expect a step-by-step guide on how to live a care-free lifestyle. I don't think this is what Mark and the writers were going for, at least that's not what I take from it.
In a nutshell, what I take from it is this:
- To be happy you need to go through discomfort. It's a necessary part of being a happy person, however contradicting that may sound. Accept this, and pain will already be reduced. If you expect painless happiness, you'll be in pain the rest of your life.
- Superficiality sucks (and you know it). If you feel meaninglessness, create your own meaning. You make yourself with every thought and decision.
- Any problem is an opportunity to solve it and grow as a result.
- Anything you want in life is worth the effort and sacrifice.
- Bad things are a part of nature. Nature is fine. You will be fine.
- Focus on what's important, and the rest will follow.
Anyway, I hope this film reaches the masses, though I get a sense that it's being buried and won't get many views due to the production company's tight ownership... I hope I'm wrong.