Mater vs. Buzz

Last week I started my critique of Mater of the Cars movies, and how I find his character a rather poor example of his type, the well-intentioned bumbler. I think a much better example of the lovable goofball would be Buzz Lightyear. In the first Toy Story movie, Woody's angst at being "replaced" as Andy's favorite toy is compounded by the fact that Buzz thinks he's a real-life Space Ranger, and is oblivious to the fact that he comes from a toy factory. Yet just as Woody learns to accept Buzz as a fellow toy whose owner loves him, Buzz himself also changes; he learns the truth about himself, and adjusts his priorities accordingly. In Toy Story, it's not just the straight man who winds up a different person, the bumbler does as well. Another good example of a decent bumbler is Linguini of Ratatouille. Linguini is a klutz who can do very little without Remy the rat helping him out. Though he doesn't get "better", the film does not seek to justify his weaknesses. The worst example I've ever seen of a comic bumbler is Eliot the deer from Open Seasons. Eliot repeatedly gets Boog the bear into trouble through his self-centered actions, and really does nothing to redeem himself until the end of the film, where he is perfectly placed to save Boog from a hunter. I would've liked to see Eliot a bit more reformed and apologetic well before that moment. Likewise, I would've liked to see Mater make more of an effott to do something that did not come easy for him by the time Cars 2 hit it's climax.

As I stated before, it bugs me when characters like Mater have their films seek to justify their weaknesses, rather than showing them overcome their weaknesses. In fact I've come to regard the moral "just be yourself" as a dangerous half-truth that can do more harm than good to those who struggle to fit in. Those of us with learning disabilities and such do not always have the luxury of doing what comes naturally, because what comes naturally to us is all too often counterproductive to our efforts in our work and social lives. I would also argue that everyone has weaknesses which can hold them back in life, and that in order to be, not just ourselves, but our best selves, we have to work on those weaknesses. Those who are poor at math still need to learn enough of it to get by. Those who are poor at reading still need to learn enough of it to get by. Likewise, those who are poor at social skills still need to learn enough to maintain positive relationships, while those who function poorly alone still need to learn to function by themselves at least to a certain degree.

Mater the Tow Truck...victim of "The Jar Jar Treatment"

A couple of weeks ago I watched Cars 2 on DVD. I liked it well enough, but I agree with what a lot of reviewers have said, in that Mater was given too much emphasis. I found Mater's portrayal here an all too good example of the "Jar Jar Binks" treatment, which I think deserves some analysis as how not to treat a comic relief character.

In Cars 2, the story has Lightning McQueen joining a worldwide Grand Prix race event, with Mater coming along. In Japan, Mater gets mistaken for a secret agent by a couple of James Bond-esque cars looking to stop some bad guys from endangering the racers by sabotaging their new "green" fuel. Mater's mix-up in this, combined with his utter naivete' and lack of common sense, results in McQueen losing his first race, and getting upset with Mater. Near the end of movie, McQueen takes back everything he said, urging Mater to just be who he is.

Like the infamous Jar Jar Binks of Star Wars Episode I, Materis character is an attempt to make an inept character likable and sympathetic, with the moral being to appreciate the oddballs in one's life. I would actually say that Mater's story was better than Jar Jar's, since Mater wasn't as completely useless. While Jar Jar's only important contribution to Episode I was showing people where the Gungans where the Gungans were hiding, Mater ends up saving the day, and even figures out who the real villain is in the end. Mater also, (unlike Jar Jar), is at one point brought to the realization that he comes across as a dope to everyone else. However, it was still a stretch to have Mater, the comic relief, have the weight of the world on his shoulders, and expect viewers to take him seriously because of it. A much better depiction of the accidental hero, in my view, would be The Man Who Knew Too Little, in which Bill Murray plays another doofus mixed up international intrigue, but who believes, from start to finish, that he's just acting in a weird urban drama set-up. That film was a goofy farce with no "touching moments" or moral high points at all.

What especially bothered me about Cars 2 was McQueen telling Mater to just keep being who he was, and if others didn't like it, that was their problem. This was the exact opposite of the moral in the first Cars movie, where McQueen actually does change who he is, from an arrogant jerk to a humble, caring person. Why does McQueen's hubris need to be fixed, but Mater's bumbling, clingy, occasionally even rude behavior not need to be fixed? Next week I'm going to elaborate more on this apparent double-standard in films, and explain how I think it hurts, rather than helps, the mentally challenged in real life.

The Quest for the Holy Pang

Notice how the castle's windows are kind of cock-eyed?

There and Back Again

So here, finally, is the story of my little adventure in Great Basin National Park. It wasn't the longest trip I've ever been on, nor the farthest I've ever been from home, but I went places unlike any I've visited before, and pushed myself harder than I ever have before.

Far over...the misty mountains call...

to dungeons deep...

and caverns old



My sister and I got to Great Basin very late Sunday night, and consequently set up our tent in the dark. The next day we took a guided tour through Lehman Caves. The door you see above is the exit, here is the entrance:



Both the entrance and exit are artificially dug tunnels to make it safer for people to get in and out. The natural entrance to the caves is covered by a grate that lets bats through but screens out people.

The cave itself was just...otherworldy. It's one thing to see pictures of stalactites and stalagmites, but to actually be in a place with rock formations like nothing you've seen above ground, in a chamber that appears to have been carved out by an abstract artist, is to experience something, strange, eerie, and beautiful.

The next day we hiked up Mt. Wheeler. The peak is at 13,063 ft above sea level, and our hike, starting at just above 10,000 ft, was 8.2 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 2900 ft. It was the most grueling trek I've ever undertaken. Once we got onto the mountain proper, I was gasping like a fish out of water. When you're that high up, the thin air really takes its toll. My sister let us take 5-10 breaks about every 15-20 minutes, which hardly felt like enough to me.

Once we got close to the top, I was so worn out, my sister suggested she go on ahead, without waiting for me, and I could either wait where I was, start back down, or keep going up as far as I could, and start back when I met her coming back down again. I chose the third option, and pushed myself up as far as I could go.

When I met up with my sister again, we were still close enough to the top, that she thought we could chance me going all the way, and still get off the ridge before dark. So, I dragged my poor, besotted frame clear up to the top of Wheeler, where I signed the register there. Even though I was still barely able to stand, and we had to hustle it out of there before nightfall, I felt like a million, worn-out bucks, having made it all the way! And the view was definitely worth it!

Then of course, we had to go back, while the sun was setting, hoping to get down to the woods where the trail would be easier to see (and not covered in snow). Fortunately we made it out alive, and the next day were able to rouse our tired bodies enough to pack up and head home.

So I have been from the lowest depths to the greatest hights, and it was awesome, just awesome.



Well I'll be Panged...

So, I'm back from my trip to Great Basin National Park...yeah, I know I said "Grand Canyon" in the last post, but it turns out there was a slight miscommunication. My sister had already been to the Grand Canyon, and had planned to swing by and pick me up on the way to see our folks, and go from there to Great Basin National Park. Anyway, it was awesome, we did some neat things, that I took some good pictures of...and I forgot to bring my camera to Starbucks to post them here. However, I at least got my pics organized, and I intend to have the post ready to go next Saturday. It may be for the best, since I'm starting here later than usual, and I want this next post to be a more extensive one. Until then, here's another picture from Pang 96! to tide you over until then.