Hayden Christiansen as David Rice in the movie Jumper.
I WAS KEEN to see the new movie, “Jumper,” last week because I am a big fan of the book upon which the film is based. Even though I enjoyed the film, I had the same problems that a lot of the reviewers had — a protagonist (Hayden Christiansen) who wasn’t very sympathetic, plot holes of varying sizes, and a supporting character (Jamie Bell’s Griffin) who was better acted, more interesting and more sympathetic. Not to mention that the producers’ plans to make this the first of a trilogy made them think they didn’t have to deliver a complete story in their first installment. One reviewer put it pretty well that the film seemed to entirely lack a third act.
That said, I’m happy that it still performed well at the box office because I liked the book so much. The book has a lot more heart than the movie was able to deliver, and I hope that the opportunity to make a sequel based on a solid opening weekend box office will result in better second and third installments.
But in a ‘What Would Buddha Do?’ vein, my friend Adam pointed me to an enjoyable and fresh perspective on movie reviews courtesy of the Buddhist Channel, whose review of the movie contrasts the aims of Jumper’s protagonist with those of the Buddha:
In “Jumper,” David (played by Hayden Christensen) found it liberating to jump to wherever his heart desires, not realizing that he could not jump to liberation itself. As a song (Love Comes Quickly) by Pet Shop Boys goes, “You can fly [jump in this case!] away to the end of the world, but where does it get you to?” Jumping motivated by greed and impatience for escapism might bring fleeting worldly happiness, but it brings no ultimate happiness. You can’t jump all the time anyway. Flee as you might, you can never jump away from the fleeting moment that is now.
All that and a Pet Shop Boys reference, too. Buddhists rock! Read the full review and be enlightened.
