“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!”
Here’s part two of our three-part series of would-you-rather questions. For our previous set of would-you-rather questions, click here.
6) Would you rather give up Walt Disney or Hayao Miyazaki films for the rest of your life?
Christine: I’d rather give up Walt Disney movies. Although Walt Disney is an icon, and I love the movies he’s produced, Miyazaki’s films have had much more of an effect on me personally. His heroines have inspired me since childhood while Disney’s heroines are often pretty weak. Also, I feel like Miyazaki is more consistent in quality than Disney is. Remember “Babes in Toyland?”
Ellen: Goodbye half of my childhood. I would sacrifice Walt Disney movies. Though there are adorable songs and moral lessons in some of those films, nothing can replace the irresistible, fantastic world of Hayao Miyazaki movies. I often get annoyed with some of those classic Disney characters, particularly princesses. Sometimes, it feels like it’s the same schtick, just spun in a superficial layer different from past movies. With Miyazaki, each film feels fresh.
Jessica: I would give up Disney films. Miyazaki’s films possess an undeniable magic. I like to see more of a strong and independent protagonist who can handle herself, like Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa. Minus Mulan, Disney princesses come off as impossibly proportioned dress-wearers who need a friend and a healthy dose of deus ex magic to take care of them.
7) Would you rather be trapped in the Maze from “The Maze Runner” or the Arena from “The Hunger Games?”
C: The Maze. At least with the Maze, you have a little band of people working together to escape. In the “Hunger Games,” you don’t know who to trust, and all the others would be trying to kill you. Also, you wouldn’t be able to remember your past, so missing your families would not be a problem, and no jabberjays would be able to make you go insane by mimicking the sounds of your family members’ screams. As much as I pretend to hate my brother, I don’t think I’d deal well with hearing him being tortured.
E: The Maze. At least in the Maze, I can see how all of us would help each other survive, until one day we somehow escape. (Honestly, I don’t know much about “The Maze Runner.”) We would be a team, a family. In the Arena of “The Hunger Games,” though I could act as someone’s ally for the vast majority of time spent there, the main goal is to be the last one standing. Though Katniss and Peeta beat that system when they won together, almost all odds are against your favor. That environment of distrust and paranoia would be too much for me.
J: The Arena. If I were trapped in the Maze, I can say with almost absolute certainty I would die awfully. My odds aren’t much better in the Arena, but there’s a slightly better chance I could survive. I would like to emphasize this: Thomas and Katniss and their respective parties are the exception, not the norm. That leaves the rest of us to choose how we die. In this case, I would rather not be torn apart by a half-mechanical spider in the middle of the night.
8) Would you rather be James Bond or Indiana Jones?
C: James Bond. Daniel Craig as James Bond would kill Indiana Jones, just murder him. Plus, he gets all the fancy gadgets. I like Indiana Jones better as a character, but he’s got his flaws. Heck, he’s afraid of snakes. Come on, man. Although the flaws make him a better character, I want to be flawless. So James Bond, it is. James Bond is also cultured, multilingual, rich, and suave as heck.
E: James Bond. Suave, cool, and hot. What more could one ask for in a hypothetical movie situation. I would have guns instead of a nice leather whip. Also, I wouldn’t have to deal with pesky insects and beasts when I’m chilling in casinos and resorts. Shaken not stirred, please.
J: Indiana Jones. Bond is too perfect. There’s no way one guy can singlehandedly take down hundreds of baddies while looking like he could go to a classy dance. And Bond’s ability to seduce women does not sit well with me. He’s the type of character in the type of movie you could make a parody of (“Kingsman: Secret Service,” anyone?) The impossibility of Bond almost makes me want to laugh. Indiana Jones is more human, which makes him more likable to me.
9) Would you rather have Darth Vader from “Star Wars” or Jack Torrance from “The Shining” as a father?
C: Definitely Darth Vader. He actually redeems himself eventually, and his initial goal was to protect his loved ones, so he isn’t too bad of a guy. Also, he’s a military genius, expert lightsaber duelist, and clairvoyant. You better believe he’s going to teach his new daughter his mad skills. And Jack Torrance is just creepy. No thank you!
E: Darth Vader. Though my father would be corrupted by evil, at the very core of his being he is a good person. At least that’s what I got from that scene in whichever movie in the “Star Wars” series it was (I apologize to all “Star Wars” fans for my lack of knowledge). Plus, his fighting skills and abilities were pretty impressive. Jack Torrance, on the other hand, was crazy. I’m not sure if he’s 100% evil, but he’s basically a perversion of nature with the goal of killing me. Not fun.
J: Darth Vader. Both fathers are terrifying, but Jack Torrance is more scary to me. Personally, I hate horror movies, especially those involving the supernatural. Not to mention that if Torrance was my father, he’d try to kill me and probably succeed.
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
-Christine, Ellen, Jessica