X-Message-Number: 28704
Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2006 17:12:25 -0500
From: Francois <>
Subject: The Fountain, last comments, apology to Eric Geislinger

>Well, I'm certainly happy that you find my taints interesting, but I
>actually went into this thing full of hope. I was still full of hope
>after 90% was over. (I cheered internally when he bolted the
>bull at the funeral - and when he decided to press on with the
>research.) Then came the crap that reversed everything (including
>my opinion). At the time, it sure seemed to me that I *was*
>disappointed. But maybe you're right - I really had no idea that it was
>just my world view twisting my mind. Thanks for the handy tip!

I do not consider your opinion on this movie to be meaningless, misguided or 
inferior to mine. Obviously, The Fountain did not provide you with something 
you wished it to provide, namely a more positive view of the search for 
immortality than the one usually depicted by such stories. That does not 
invalidate the movie, it simply means that it does not reflect your opinion 
that long life is desirable and achievable. I, on the other hand, pretty 
much expected this to be the case, so I went to see the movie with a 
different mindset, namely wanting to enjoy the promised (and delivered) 
visual experience, and curious about what new twists on the theme the author 
may have come up with. This is what I meant when I said that expectations 
influence how we experience things, nothing more.

The Fountain is really no threat to the aims of cryonics. The movie merely 
reflects the beliefs already held by of the majority of people on this 
planet. It will not make that situation any worse and it will certainly not 
turn anyone who is already convinced that immortality has value away from 
that belief. No harm done, lets get back to business. I would, however, make 
one suggestion to the cryonic enterprise. Why not create our own story about 
immortality, one reflecting our view of the subject? Why not make that into 
a contest of some kind? It might even be possible to have the winning 
scenario made into an actual movie. After all, there are still a few 
adventurous producers and directors out there, the fact that The Fountain 
was made at all, is proof of that.

Francois

Good health is merely the slowest
possible rate at which one can die. 

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