Did you see the movie Pay it Forward?

[burythehatchet]

Several years ago. Starred Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and the kid from Sixth Sense. For those who haven't seen it...briefly, a 14 y.o. kid decides to try an experiment and do 1 significant favor for 5 people, who agreed to do the same.

Very cheesy, not a great film, but the the concept of paying it forward got me thinking about something. (Thanks to Achtung_Circus for assisting me with a plumbing issue).

It seems to me that performing an altruistic act - doing something for someone without any expectation of reward - is the greater generator of good will within the realm of our consciousness and our existance. In the movie, the geometric progress of paying it forward resulted in some wonderful outcomes. Most of us would agree that if we, in fact, lived our lives with that principle, all problems would be solved.

Now put this within the context of the life of George W. Bush. I don't know him personally, but I would venture to guess that he has never in his life done something for someone WITHOUT expecting something in return.

Paying it forward creates love. Not doing so creates hatred.

Is it axiomatic? Comments?

[flowomo]

1. SPOILER:

the kid dies

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

2. ... unspoiler...

... NOT if you turn the movie OFF just as he does his TV interview!

<wink>

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Why?

Why add a spoiler to this thread? Do you just like spoiling things, or what?

[jjmalonejr]

5. If the spoiler prevents you from seeing the movie...

...then you will have been done a tremendous service.

What a POS this movie was.

I DO like the idea of paying it forward, though!

[burythehatchet]

10. Take heart

like I said the movie itself is marginal, but if you let yourself dream about the concept its well worth a rental.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

18. I'm totally unconcerned

with whether or not the movie is 'spoiled' for me. My unanswered question to the poster remains. Why post a spoiler? And no other comment? I don't get it.

[sandnsea]

4. NOT spoiler

You pay it forward no matter what, expecting nothing in return, not even a long happy life.

If you can do good, you should.

[pacifictiger]

6. I LOVED that movie

Sadly, I think the concept was ahead of its time for this predominently me-first society. If you think about it, a real christian message that most rabid right-wingers haven't the foggiest notion of.

[MissMillie]

8. I liked it too

It wasn't movie greatness, but it did have some entertainment value.

And the concept is fabulous.

My only qualm is--why limit yourself to 3 good deeds?

[2bfree]

7. The movie wasn't too good..........

The book was better, the concept was fabulous though and it could have been made into a GREAT movie. One thing that bothered me about the movie was that in the book the teacher was black and very disfigured, I love Kevin Spacey but I thought it took away from the movie to change the main character's skin color.

[sandnsea]

9. Maybe, but...

There's also the notion of "it's always the black man who treats his kids badly", when the truth is family "problems" like that happen more often in white families. That's a statistic, not an opinion. So maybe they didn't want any perceived racism to take away from the message of the movie. But I didn't read the book, so I don't really know. Just a thought.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

11. Didnt the guy who directed "Hoosiers" do this movie?

Why would this be a bad movie. Is it the altruistic message? It sounds like it might be ok if Kevin Spacey is in it.

Paying it forward? Is that sort of like cleaning the lint out of the dryer screens in the laundromat, when your finished drying your clothes...you are sort of "paying it forward" a bit there? Not a big action, but something to make it a bit easier for someone else who will be using the dryer....

[burythehatchet]

12. That's exactly right.

I don't know about the director. I rented it because it was soon after American Beauty and I thought Spacey was fantastic.
LIke I said, the movie itself did not live up to my expectations.

But the point I want to bring forward is this: The whole concept under which these bastards in Washington live is that of NEVER paying it forward. They do things for EACH OTHER for the promise of getting something back. The enrich each other. They put each other on their boards. The do sweetheart deals to kill of competitors who are not in their circle.

Is this not the reason we are in the state we're in?

[Old and In the Way]

13. Yes, a grand idea and a noble concept to perpetuate.

Perhaps, with a change of governments, we can refocus on promoting these ideas instead of destroying the world and devouring each other.

[achtung_circus]

14. It's similar to karma

it's embodied in the "random acts of kindness" I find kitschy but valuable. Out west the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) run television ads on circles of kindness. One person does a good thing, it gets passed on through a chain of good deeds and returns to that person. Also very Kitschy, but,,,

I refuse to be taken advantage of but this "pay it forward" doesn't involve advantage taking. The concept seems to get lost in "what's in it for me". Maybe I was a Boy Scout for too long.

PS I can answer a broad range of plumbing questions, just ask.

[Kat45]

15. Loved the concept, hated the movie.

I saw the movie on a bus trip from Boston to Bangor, ME. I was a bit nauseated on the trip so I watched the movie to distract myself. I thought the concept was fantastic, and I was kind of enjoying the movie, but the ending pissed me off so much that it ruined the movie for me. I hate it when the ending ruins a movie for me. I just didn't see the point of the kid dying, and I thought it took away from the whole thing.

Recently someone was talking about a person doing something that was indeed paying it forward. Sorry I can't be more specific because I don't remember any more about it. I just remember the movie immediately coming to mind and I said 'pay it forward'; the person I was talking to knew nothing about the movie. I felt good knowing that there are people who do pay it forward.

[pacifictiger]

16. But don't you see? The kid had to die

otherwise there would have been no reason for everyone to come together enmass to honor the difference his idea had made in each of their lives.

[Kat45]

17. Is that what happened? I can't remember.

As I said, I saw it on a bus trip when I was nauseated. And it was about three years ago. I honestly don't remember the ending. :shrug:

[SarahB]

19. Good movie

Good concept. Cluttered too much by relationship issues though. It could have been more.