The Croods, a Genesis for our time.

Yesterday me and Noah went to the library for their Sunday Movie. We weren't actually sure if there was one. On the schedule I did see "the crooks" listed. It turned out to be The Croods, and this is now my favorite movie. Of course tit isn't perfect, and there are political implications for having a caveman family etc. etc. After all, why are these sort of Neanderthals the "typical American white family" And couldn't Homo habilis already control fire? And didn't we learn to control fire before we learned to sew clothes?  But I liked how they acknowledged that the story must be completely fictitious by having fictitious animals and plant life. By making it more fantastical, it makes the story that more real. And the audience (and the creators) have to sort of identify with the characters as being one of them. And making everyone white is less complicated politically, after all Avatar got a lot of flack for being racist and this movie is almost like an improved version of Avatar, which was visually pleasing but other than that was poorly done. Also I'm sure feminists would love this movie. Well maybe they would have some issues with it too. But again, by embracing itself as a fiction, i.e. by going really out there with what the animals look like, it makes the story more realistic and pleasing.

In fact there are two versions of story time in the movie itself, and there is a sort of battle between the fictitious impossible story, and the realistic story, and how the fiction can lead you to truth (or death) but that it is worth the risk.

I love the movie not just for it's entertainment and it's ideas but for it's message, even though I don't necessarily completely agree with that message. Basically this story turns the Adam and Eve story completely on it's head. Instead of humanity falling from grace by gaining knowledge, the opposite is true. By going out and doing what is forbidden they gain life, and thrive and become the humans we are today.

Of course one can't help but think that this is a little rosy since it once humans started going places, they also started conquering and destroying places, and we have gotten ourselves into a mess with the environmental situation of the planet, and had we been more cautious about some of that stuff, a lot of the world's problems might not exist.

There are some great scenes where people are leaving the cave at night and what that signifies, and what caves signifies. I disagree with a lot of how caves are represented in the story too. Because after all, I believe shamans and scientists are often people who seek out caves to work things out and the writings on caves are important and should be followed. The is an art scene that sort of speaks to this and at that point you really do feel that the animators and the cave painters are on in the same as in a way a movie theater is a lot like a cave. I guess that part is in there to show the positive aspects of caves because it is after this that Ug comes up with his "idea" which was even greater and more powerful than any of Guys. Anyway, I really want to buy this movie. because like I said earlier it is a Genesis story for our time.