Posted by Drewman at alpm2-12.ispmgt.com on August 27, 2000 at 17:12:12:
In Reply to: What I liked and disliked about MAGNOLIA posted by Vincent on August 26, 2000 at 14:55:06:
:If Anderson meant for the rain-of-frogs to somehow be equated with the weird-coincidences in the opening, it didn't work because a rain of frogs isn't a weird co-incidence at all, it's just plain weird.
I thought the weird-coincidence with the frogs surrounded the fact that everyone in the flick had reached their ultimate lows and needed a form of cleansing and redemption. And at just that moment the frog rain came. It caused Rose's car to crash right outside of Walters apartment, uniting the two. Saved Hall from shooting himself, perhaps offering him a chance at some kind of further reconciliation for his actions (though Im not sure how). Awoke the old man to give him the chance to see his son before he died, his dying wish. Gave Cruise a chance to look into the eyes of his dad and deal with his past issues there and brought cruise together with moore at the hospital though it could be argued that would have happened anyways. Reilly saved and got to know macy where as without the frog rain macy would have surely just been shipped off to jail.
As for the kid I think what happened to him is what happened to everyone in that film. When you reach your ultimate low like that and have nothing to look to, and all of a sudden frogs start falling from the sky, Id think that would have to change you on some level. Give you a different look at the universe. But one thing that did happen was everyone was averted from their pain for a moment and given the opportunity for dealing with the past and facing their problems.
I see a connection with the beginning because its the story of like ten people who reach the end of their ropes, need a miracle, and then at that moment frogs start falling from the sky. And whether that miracle helped much physically, if I had been in any of their situations at that moment and had that happen I doubt Id ever be the same.
If all my thoughts are way off base here and not what Anderson intended I dont give a crap. Thats what the film means to me and always will. Of course, this is all just my interpretation and I agree alot of it is stretching it alot, (especially considering Ive never really seen the same viewpoint given on the flick from anyone) but thats what I got from it.
And I do agree some of the stuff is difficult and boring to sit through, but I think everything is necessary and important to the story and not just 'tacked-on'. Except that whole "worm" subplot. That didnt make much sense and really wasnt needed.
Drew
Respects his cock