I’m cleaning out my DVDs, which may not sound like a big deal except that I probably receive a few hundred new ones each year.
I review most of the kid ones for NickJr.com, and feature as many as I can of the documentaries and titles I think will appeal to you guys. I give away a lot of them to charities as well as to friends who like certain genres or celebrities (now’s the time to put in your requests, people!), but that still leaves way more than I can fit in my drawers, especially because a lot of the old movies I want to keep – like Arlington Road, The Cider House Rules, Heartburn – are on video, which takes up even more room, and I really can’t start replacing all of them with DVDs.
Anyway, I’m purging. I’m trying to watch the ones I haven’t seen yet just so I can get rid of them. I know — it’s kind of pathetic but I feel like I’ve accomplished something every time I do. So, in the past few days, I’ve fast-forwarded through Shutter Island, Whiteout, Public Enemies and The Box, all of which I will be gifting to one of my fellow reviewers tomorrow.
None of these movies is really worth sitting through but there is something intriguing about the idea behind The Box which I feel compelled to discuss – and ask your opinion. The premise of the story is that Cameron Diaz and James Marsden are a married couple who are given a mysterious box by a total stranger played by Frank Langella. He tells them if they push the red button on top of the box, they will receive a million dollars but someone they don’t know will die.
Cameron Diaz ends up pushing the button, as does another woman who receives the same offer — and I was shocked. Yes, it’s a movie but I don’t believe that the women would be the ones to push the button. I’m not saying that men are more callous – I just think they’d be less inclined to believe either part of the offer, and would push the button simply to prove their point.
I would never take that chance. You couldn’t pay me, well, a million dollars, to take that chance. Not to mention the fact that half of Frank Langella’s face has been eaten away. Why would anyone doubt he’s joking about someone dying?
I can’t imagine accepting any of those kind of offers where you do something questionable to get a million dollars — including living on an island, eating insects and betraying my teammates. Okay, I might consider sleeping with Robert Redford like Demi Moore does in Indecent Proposal – but only for a minute. I wouldn’t really do it. Would you? What would you do for a million dollars?
Honestly, The Box doesn’t even deserve this much attention – it ends up involving zombies and nosebleeds and lightning (don’t ask because I couldn’t even begin to explain how it all ties together) and becoming completely ridiculous and tragic.
But I really would love to know how you would answer the million dollar question since that’s the part of the movie that apparently managed to push my buttons.
Leave a comment below, and I just may send you a DVD from one of my drawers.
A younger more naive me would have watched The Box and not expected anyone to push the red button, but alas, the older, wiser, more cynical me knew that someone would. In fact, and sadly, I think more people,(male and female) than we would like to imagine would actually do it! I’m not sure what I’d try or do for a million dollars, but I know it wouldn’t be anything that had the potential to physically or emotionally harm, hurt, or embarass ANY living thing, including me. Right off the bat that rules out all “Survivor” type expeditions, writing tell- all books, working for The National Enquirer, and getting naked in public! LOL
Totally agree!
well, since the bills are piling up with no end in sight to pay them all, a million dollars sure would be the answer. However, being a mom – I would NEVER take the chance to have someone die for me to obtain that million bucks. I think the remorse and guilt that would follow would make that blood money more of a hindrance than help. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself, nor would my teachings to my sons be of any value had I made such a selfish choice.
What WOULD I do? Don’t know – I would love to be in a situation to be able to make that choice especially if it was an easy one – I would then be able to hold my head up in pride having made the right choice either way.
Why is it that choices are rarely easy??
NEVER!!!
Agree!
You could donate those movies to your local library. They lend out movies to patrons and often feel the crunch of tight materials budget cuts.
Great idea! I’ve donated tons of books but didn’t think of giving them DVDs too. Thanks, Deb!
While getting a million dollars is certainly a tempting concept (Nordstrom, here I come!), all the stories I read about people who win big in the lottery bring a sobering reality to the danger (yes, danger!) of gaining sudden, super wealth. But the real issue here is about one’s core values/ethics. No denying that money is important, but at what cost? And that’s the point: gaining wealth or anything worth doing or having should never be at someone else’s loss. As for shopping at Nordstrom, well, I actually have far more fun hunting for treasures at consignment shops and thrift stores where I don’t need a million dollars!
Ooh, I am such a Nordstrom’s girl, too, but agree that it’s more fun and rewarding to search for treasures — and find them! Do you think it would be boring to be able to just buy whatever you want whenever you want? I’d be happy to try it out if anyone’s interested in sponsoring an experiment!! 🙂
I’ve played this game a lot over the years, but I developed a new twist. When it comes down to it, isn’t the obvious answer to this question “as little as possible”? The more intriguing question to ME at least is “what WOULDN’T you do for a million dollars?” Then you really have to search the depths of depravity in order to find what you absolutely would NOT do. For example, I wouldn’t hurt a harmless animal. I wouldn’t hurt a baby. I might drink a cup of urine. I would probably push the button. I’m not sure if I would watch that godawful movie again, though 😉
Juli, I am crying laughing!!
It is an intriguing question but I don’t think anyone knows what they would or wouldn’t do unless they’re actually in the situation – except for a few basics like – no way would I push a button so someone would die for $1million or any amount of money for that matter. I’m kinda surprised you fast forwarded Shutter Island – I thought it was pretty intriguing and well done!
Shutter Island was definitely better than I expected it to be but the middle was dragging a little and I wasn’t watching to review it, so I decided to just move right along!
I can’t think of anything I’d do for a million dollars. I’m happy with what I have and don’t need the headaches that would come with that kind of money.
You can donate my DVD to the library. That way I could check it out and give it right back.
Love it!
Lois – glad i could make you laugh 🙂 “what WOULDN’T you do for a million dollars was one of my all time favorite drinking games when i lived in Chicago; my friends and I would get about 3 cocktails in and begin playing (two truths and a lie is a good one as well). I’ll never forget the day that one of the girls playing looked at me and said “well surely you wouldn’t hurt another PERSON, would you??” I told her that for twenty-seven dollars and fifteen cents i would gladly pop her one in the face – but not a PENNY less 😉
You are cracking me up! If you ever want to write for us, let me know!!
For a million dollars: I would clean my stove, organize my office, saute the veggies piled up in the fridge before throwing them out again, clean the dustballs under the couch, sleep with Alex Rodriguez (a trick answer) go to the gym, shave my legs, get a tummy tuck and/or shop for a pair of shoes if not needed. So you see, I’d have no time left over for button pressing and murder. Besides, I have enough things to obsess about at night!
Ha ha! I think I would do all of those for a million dollars, too!
if that was the deal, I couldn’t live with myself , knowing I “killed” someone for s million $$$. Besides, a million dollars does not go that far anymore! Not worth it.
And, I am more into escaping from reality, as in “Finding Nemo”, “Rio” or almost any other animated, happy, film.