Please bear with me as the point of this post will take some time to develop, but I think you will appreciate it.
I recently watched a movie on cable with my wife called "The Lake House" with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. I didn't honestly expect to like it very much, although I love Sandra Bullock in most of her movies (she is an Austinite, so I guess I have to say that, but it's true in her case). I loved Keanu Reeves in the "Bill and Ted" movies, "Parenthood", and "The Matrix", but frankly his stuff has been a bit more inconsistent in my opinion other than those aforementioned.
While we were watching this movie, my wife made the comment that Keanu Reeves' character must not live until the end, simply because the title of the movie was simply too sad. I kind of agreed with her, but I won't divulge the ending, just in case you have the urge to rent it from Netflix or Blockbuster, or wherever you get movies.
Overall, I would give the movie a B+ or possibly an A-. Keanu is remarkably good in his role, and Sandra puts in a very solid performance. Their chemistry is great, even though they don't share a lot of time on the screen together. Why is that? Because the film's premise doesn't allow for it.
The basic premise is this: Sandra Bullock is a single doctor living at a lake house in 2006, and Keanu is an architect working on the house in 2004. They discover their ability to communicate across time by using the lake house's mail box, and they fall for each other and start to arrange a meeting in 2006. Quirky and entertaining.
While we were watching it, my wife made the suggestion that they should have called it "Letters Across Time" if it were a simple romantic movie, since it seems so much less poignant. I was thinking about the friendships that I have developed here at Active Rain, and it struck me that what we are doing here is remarkably similar.
When I write and post this blog, I will likely go to bed soon thereafter. When I wake up, there will probably be a few comments awaiting me. These comments are like the letters written between those characters in the film. Time passes. Someone may make a comment that sits unanswered for hours, then I am able to respond when I have time to do so. In this way, these comments are "travelling through time" to some degree.
Although I have spoken with some of my AR friends, there are many that I feel a kinship with that I have never once spoken to. Unlike IMs or live chat, our comments to each other may be made days apart, but that doesn't lessen their impact.
I enjoy receiving these letters across time (or notes, really). It is amazing to see the effect of our words. What a cool phenomenon.
Thanks for taking time to read this one. I appreciate it.
Copyright 2007 Austin Real Estate Jason Crouch All rights reserved
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Jason: I really liked this post. I like Sandra Bullock, and once in awhile Keanu Reeves does a good movie, too. After I make this comment, I, too, am going to bed. So, how does it feel to have the last words heard by three charming, intelligent, and really special women, Sally, Karerina, and mysefl, how does it feel to know your your words were the last words we heard before we went "of to dreamland ?"
Thnaks for another great post, and thanks for sharing it with us.
Karetina: I never thought about it in the way you described. Yes, there really is so much more "listening" going on when when we talk and share in writing. Very insightful. Thanks for sharing...
I really enjoyed watching the show also. Look forward to the next post.
(DO NOT OPEN & READ THIS COMMENT UNTIL 2009)
Jason, good point. Posting and commenting is certainly a different means of communication and quite similar to what you described in the movie.
Austinite? From my knowledge, Sandra Bullock was born, grew up and went to high school in Arlington, Virginia. Does she live in Austin now?
Jason,
I also saw that Movie! It was great and a little confusing. I do understand what your saying though.
Great Post!
Tom Weiss
Good Morning LS... What is remarkable here is that I've been giving this idea a lot of thought lately. How intense relationships can exist in a separate time and place. I often feel this when I discover an author that lived long before me, but uncover elements of our perspective that feel like brand new discoveries. And I have some wonderful relationships with people here on AR too! You are all very real to me and many of our letters across time have more meaning to me than the face to face conversations I have with most people.
Terrific topic and insight!!!
HELLO CHEERFUL JASON! I saw the movie too and although it was one of those movies that took 12 times to see the whole thing...I didn't expect much out of it but it really turned out to be a GREAT movie.
What is also really cool about Active Rain is that in normal everyday life, when you meet people who are really pivotal in your life, you rarely have a diary of how exactly the relationship came to fruition. I reviewed some of my earliest posts just last week to redefine how we all got so close. It is so cool to be able to do that. The absolute second I saw the value of Active Rain was when I commented on Adams post: Attention Buyers: Sellers Are NOT Obligated To Counteroffer That post was written on August 10th. You and Adam had already started developing a great relationship. Paul had commented, Desiree was there...it was like the written formation of the next blogging group phenomenon! VERY COOL!
It's like a time capsule for adults, Jason. I was thinking the other day about how cool it is that 20 years from now, we'll be able to dredge up these old posts, and laugh at the comments that our friends left. I can only hope that I'll still be in touch with a good many.
By the way, how could you forget Keanu's turn as Johnny Utah? "I am an FBI agent!"
I kid you not, the graphic is lakoocha. Don't tell Jennifer.
Ha Paul! I can read your minds, so no telling is necessary!! I was drawn here the moment you pressed SEND!
CHRISTINA - I am glad that you also liked this movie. As for the subscribe button, you can read my buddy Adam's post on this here:
Creating A "Subscribe To My Blog" Button
Please feel free to call me and I can help walk you through it.
BRIAN - I look forward to reading your packaged comment in a couple of years.
Actually, I am happy that you liked the analogy here. As for Sandra Bullock, she moved here in the mid-to-late 1990's. Not a native Austinite, but a current Austinite. Talk to you soon -
Jason:
Here is another letter across time. Great post. Hope your week is going along without complication and that you see the love of God manifest in each moment of life.
Crouch - It is nice to wake up to the feedback of so many individuals. I especially like to wake up to a heated debate or post hijacking, though there is a place for positive & upbeat stuff too:-)
JENNIFER - I had a feeling that you would appreciate this post. I have considered the thing you mentioned about authors who lived long before us. Thanks for reading this one and for your terrific comments, as usual. As I said, you are a thinker and I like that about you.
SHANNON - I also really liked the feel of this movie, and the story was fun to watch. Most movies I see now are in pieces, as I rarely have two hours at a stretch to commit while I am at home. I need to look back at that post you mentioned. I started here actively on August 4th or 5th. Thanks for commenting!
KATHLEEN - Thanks for the recommendation. I will look for that one on Netflix.
PAUL - What about Johnny Mnemonic?
Active Rain is very much like a time capsule. By the way, how about that Reaganomics? The Rubik's Cube is really hard, but I know a guy who can solve it blindfolded. I just got a Pet Rock. Do you have one yet?
SARDI - You must not mind positive and upbeat too much, or you likely wouldn't be a subscriber to my blog. Of course, I could rant again sometime soon. I have to keep my readers on their toes, right?
JENNIFER - I am placing my comment to you along with my response to Jason because I figured you would appreciate that right about now.
Jason count me in on the planning and attending!! Wouldn't it be a blast! I think the Family Reunion part comes from KW's yearly family reunion which I have not attended yet, but will probably in 2009.
Jason,
I have seen the move "The Lakehouse". It is a "sad" movie but I would say it is fairly good. That is a great analogy that you made in comparison to what we are doing here on AR. I don't believe many of us have ever spoken with each other since we've been blogging. However, the strange thing is that we feel as though we know one another simply through the text we see on the screen as the sole means of communication. Another movie that is also in line with this concept is "YOu've got mail".
sssss....ss.s..s..s..s.ss...s........
Evad (i'm going back in time......in a couple of hours.......it'll be 1 hour back .. ...in......time.... .. sss....ssss...s.s.s..s.s.s.s.s.s......s....
SANDY - I am sure it's a lot of fun. 12,000 is huge!
Jason I believe it's blues and Gary Keller plays the saxaphone.
BRIAN - Thanks for letting me know, and for taking the time to comment on this one. I have a couple of movies in my Netflix list that were recommended by friends from AR. Glad to hear that you liked it!
MELISSA - You're exactly right. I often look forward to the comments or messages from my friends here. Have a great day!