Friday, February 27, 2009

To Kill a Mockingbird

I just finished watching To Kill a Mockingbird. It was a different experience than I had reading it as a kid. I read it when I'd just entered school at 13 years old.
(I was homeschooled till then, and while it was a fine education I think it might have been what stunted my emotional maturity by three years. Regardless, at 13 I was more of a ten year old)
When I read the book (and loved it) I paid little to no attention to Atticus Finch. I only cared about Scout and what crazy thing she'd do next. Most of the racial implications were lost on me since I simply considered racists to be morons. I don't think I ever realized the lynching scene for what it was.
Anywhos, watching it today I picked up on all the things I missed when I read it a decade ago. Most powerful to me was the lynching scene. At 13 I loved Scout for her fire and determination as a kid. The fact that she had the balls to kick the men grabbing at her brother made me laugh. But today, the fact that Atticus raised such brave kids, even in the face of all that was going on, made me cry.

Another thing: To Kill a Mockingbird's trial scenes reminded me of A Time to Kill. Both movies made me want to strangle the witnesses. I can't stand to watch the "god fearing" white man put his hand on the Bible and then turn around and lie lie lie lie lie. Self righteous southern bastards.

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