New (old) Big Lebowski Intro

[fungi]

Mix the BS with half-the-truth, and BS will be more convincing than the truth. Old recipe.

p.s. It also sucks for me as I've stopped truly enjoying the movies. I see them through a prism of my "prejudice" now.
I'm afraid I've become a cynic.

[Masato]

^ hellz yeah lol

I can't watch TV at all anymore.

I'm still a fan of movies as an artform, but am increasingly aware how much of it is slow social conditioning. Hollywood is no joke man, no way its potential for propaganda is being overlooked/un-used

[Winnson]

The Big Lebowski is always in my top 5 favorite movies.

It's Big Lebowski or go fuck your mother.

[The Anti-Archon]

Hey fungi

1. The film starts with the narrator (cowboy dude) talking about how the story takes place "...about the time of our conflict with Saddam and the Iraqis"

2. After the opening monologue, we see a clip of Bush Sr giving a speech about Saddam and Kuwait, saying "...THIS WILL NOT STAND. This aggression against Kuwait WILL NOT STAND"

3. The Dude's vietnam vet bowling partner (John Goodman) convinces the Dude to DO something about his rug that got peed on. It is in the Dude's nature to let it go, but his crazy war friend convinces him it 'WILL NOT STAND'.

4. Goodman's character also makes reference (I don't have the exact line) about 'ABIDING' in a negative way, as if only cowards would 'abide' at such an injustice.

5. The Dude goes to the rich guy and says 'This Will Not Stand'.

6. All fucking chaos comes to his life as a result. His friend Donnie gets killed as a result.

7. Later, when the Dude has finally resolved everything, he learns his lesson that it wasn't worth it. The KEY LINE in the film is... "The Dude ABIDES" The Dude Abides. Cowboy says he takes comfort in knowing that.


What is all the stuff with Bush Senior? What about the repeating of his line 'This will not stand'? What happens when the Dude takes Bush's (Goodman's) advice? What happens when US Foreign Policy takes this advice?

I am theorizing that the filmmakers are saying that when we get all ruffled about things and take an aggressive stand to challenge our wrong-doers, we just make a mess and bring more harm to ourselves and others. The Dude's TRUE nature is to 'Abide', and let things be, and that is where the Dude is happy and he brings balance to a crazy world.

Line about Saddam and the Iraqis @ 1:50
Bush Sr's Cameo @ 2:58:

I think you are correct in your historical analysis of The Big Lebowski. However, it is such a good film, I believe there are even deeper levels to it. For instance, John Goodman's character is representative of the US military, which is somehow Jewish despite not being Jewish and emasculated by his Jewish ex-wife. Shomer Shabbos.

All of the characters are also representative of a political philosophy:

- Walter as stated is our American conservative...and he is the only one around here who still cares about the rules.

- Maude Lebowski is your feminist more concerned with her art and righting perceived wrongs than in actually doing anything productive.

- The other Lebowski is your standard American capitalist, so much so he's in a wheelchair like Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life. In the end, it is shown that he is a weak-willed fraud of a man.

- Brant is your American capitalist toady, the same kind who fill our airwaves and our public buildings with their fawning idiocy.

- Karl Hungus is a nihilist. Fuck.

- Jesus is a pedophile and representative of the Roman Catholic Church.

- Jackie Treehorn is the Devil, the criminal underworld that actually controls it all.

- Donny has no philosophy as he is the innocent dumb masses. He is always the one that dies for the sins of war.

There's more to it than even that, but that's a starting point. It may be the best movie ever. And there's nothing wrong with abiding. Any thoughts otherwise are just like your opinion, man.

[Masato]

^ Wonderful post!!

Fascinating. Is this mostly your own interpretation or has this been broken down somewhere before?

I used to like it until I realized the stuff I posted about it. Now I read your post and feel justified in liking it again, lol

[Masato]

Here is the Cowboy's cameo in my comic... I made him the narrator of the whole story, but only revealed him at the end

[Masato]

I was actually gonna shoop Stephen Quadros' face on him but it was getting too wonky so I gave that up :)

(Sorry Q)

[Som-Pong]

This thread is awesome.
Also Big Lebowski or go fuck your mother.

[The Anti-Archon]

^ Wonderful post!!

Fascinating. Is this mostly your own interpretation or has this been broken down somewhere before?

I used to like it until I realized the stuff I posted about it. Now I read your post and feel justified in liking it again, lol

That's mainly my own interpretation, though I'm sure I'm not the only one to have looked at it in this light. I'm just a brother seamus...

[Som-Pong]

The Criminal Underworld makes it sound so official. It's simple. Power triumphs over weakness. Or meekness. I usually get along the best with people who have been either soldiers or mafia. Both categories are just stompers but it's nice when you get them out.