Phil Connors, the cynical TV reporter (played by Bill Murray) and central character of Groundhog Day, is tasked with doing a lame assignment to report on the annual Groundhog Day tradition. What he finds out is that he is forced to relive this day over and over again, much to his horror. Then he finds ways to take advantage of his circumstances, but after he's exhausted all of those ideas, he falls into despondency and attempts suicide. It seems that the universe is sending Phil a message, and he is just not getting it.
This article sums up the philosophical underpinnings of this classic 1993 comedy:
"It’s Groundhog Day, again! The popular film explored an idea that religion and philosophy had previously grappled with: What if time isn’t linear, but cyclical? What if we are condemned to relive our lives again and again, to eternity? Groundhog Day presents this possibility as a challenge but also an opportunity: to imagine what the best versions of ourselves could be, even if the world around us remained the same. Nietzsche, on the other hand, imagined an eternal recurrence in which nothing changed, every little detail of our lives was relived in exactly the same way, for eternity. He recognized the idea was terrifying, but he also saw it as an exercise in affirming our existence, even the most horrible aspects of it."
Questions after watching Groundhog Day:
1. Compared to Edge of Tomorrow, which movie best exemplifies Nietzsche's intention about the eternal return (highlighted in red above)? Why?
2. What is the filmmaker's message concerning Phil and his behavior? Explain using specific examples from the film.
3. Why do you think movies that use the time loop like Groundhog Day are so popular and keep getting made? See the list of movies doing this here - https://collider.com/palm-springs-best-time-loop-movies-to-binge-over-groundhog-day/#39-the-final-girls-39-2015
300 minimum words for all three of your answers. Due by Friday night, June 2 at 11:59 p.m.
Enzo -
ReplyDelete1. I think the movie that was the most like Nietzche’s eternal return was Edge of Tomorrow. The reason for this is that in Groundhog Day, we see Phil doing the same thing a couple times, but every time he does it, he learns and does something different, and there are many cases of entirely different days, changing from the first day, to when he goes out with Nancy, and does it different every time. His situation with Rita is slightly more similar to the idea of eternal return, since every situation ends with a slap to his face, but even then, he does things differently and the time and place where he gets slapped changes entirely. However, in Edge of Tomorrow, While he changes things slightly each time, every day consists of the exact same situation, just getting a little bit farther every time, remembering each death and moving on to the next death that’ll have gone a little bit longer.
2. There is a message that even the worst people can become better. Phil was a terrible, egotistical, selfish, rude guy, and at the end of the movie, after the days repeating over and over again and having gotten past being himself, where in the first bunch of times he took his power to his advantage, getting info and using it to get with Nancy and Rita, he became nicer. As he was becoming a better person and realizing he was doing things wrong, he became suicidal, trying to kill himself in a myriad of ways, taking the groundhog with him, jumping off a building, getting hit by a truck, and eventually, when Rita talked to him about his time loop situation, he learned to use his curse as a gift instead, and became nicer to people, learned how to play the piano, ice sculpt, and just saving people in general from falling off a tree, choking, from a flat tire, etc... It’s also, for the same reasons, a message that what may seem like a curse may, in reality, be a blessing, it all depends on what you do with it and how you view it.
3. The reason why everyone loves time-loop movies is because it gives us the hope that maybe, whatever we do wrong, we have a chance to make it right. With time loop movies, you have characters that do something very wrong, or they’re not great people, and they get stuck in a time loop, and they end up getting better and moving past all their mistakes and downfalls. It gives us a hope that second chances do exist and that we can always get better and move on from all we did wrong.
Nathan
ReplyDeleteI think both movies showed Nietzsche’s intention about the eternal return. It’s hard to choose between the two because both started each day with the same things happening. In Edge of Tomorrow, Cage woke up with the drill sergeant yelling at him. Phil Connors woke up with the same music from the alarm. After I think about it, I think Groundhog Day did a better job of showing the eternal return idea because Phil Connors ran into the same people over and over again. Like the man at the top of the stairs and the woman serving breakfast/coffee on the main floor and the guy he knew from school that keeps trying to sell him insurance. After thinking about it, I think Groundhog day did a better job of exemplifying Nietzsche’s idea about the eternal return but that’s maybe because I just saw the movie and I have a little bit of recency bias.
The filmmaker is trying to tell the people watching the movie to try and live a good life and be good to the people around you even if you don’t know them. Phil Connors had an immense amount of character development. The old Phil Connors was an awful guy. Rita and Larry did not enjoy being with him, especially Larry, and he was pretty awful to them. Even worse, he wasn’t even nice to strangers he would meet on the street and if you knew him, you probably didn’t like him. After he gets stuck living the same day over and over again, his life becomes extremely unfulfiiling and he realizes at the very end that if he wants to have a fulfilling life, he should be nice to people. So, he starts being super nice to people. He greets the man in the morning, he gets coffee and pastries for Larry and Rita and he literally saves multiple people from dying. Throughout his last Groundhog Day, he’s extremely nice to everybody and he shows Rita how nice he can be and the next day, he wakes up with Rita next to him, meaning that he has broken out of his time loop.
The movies that use the time loop keep being made because they almost always make money and for hundreds of years, humans have been obsessed with time travel and this time loop is a variation of time travel. I think that most people think that reliving the same day over and over again would be cool for the first couple of days, but after a while, the life would become depressing because nobody would remember what you did for them or the connections you made. Movies show this idea but people (including myself) are still enamored with that idea.
1. I think that Edge of Tomorrow is a better representation of Nietzsche’s philosophy of the eternal day. Nietzsche says that nothing changes in the eternal days and everything remains exactly the same, and in Edge of Tomorrow the days remain exactly the same. In Groundhog day, the main character can change things about the days and can do different things throughout the day. He took piano lessons and learned how to carve ice, which could probably not be done in Edge of Tomorrow. In Edge of Tomorrow, the main characters could use the repeating days to their advantage to defeat the aliens.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the message that the director was trying to send was to always look on the bright side of things and be an optimist. Throughout the movie, Phil realizes that he always has a bad attitude about situations, and slowly realizes that doing good deeds for people makes him feel better about himself. I think that his realization that he loves to be kind to people is what broke him out of the spell of the eternal day.
2. I think that the message that the director was trying to send was to always look on the bright side of things and be an optimist. Throughout the movie, Phil realizes that he always has a bad attitude about situations, and slowly realizes that doing good deeds for people makes him feel better about himself. I think that his realization that he loves to be kind to people is what broke him out of the spell of the eternal day.
3. I think that the reason why people like watching groundhog day themed movies is because they all can teach very good lessons to people watching them. I also think that the idea of someone being stuck in a time loop is very thrilling for some people to watch. For me personally, I love being able to see people grow throughout movies and realize their mistakes, especially in the movie Groundhog day. Phil realizes that he is too selfish and has too negative of an outlook on life, so throughout the movie he slowly changes his personality. I also think that people like watching groundhog day movies is because there is a sense of relief that you get when the person stuck in a time loop finally gets out.
1.I think that Groundhog Day best reflects Nietzsche’s Eternal Return. It was a tough choice between the two, but Groundhog Day better fits. Nietzsche to me emphasizes living life to the fullest, and the main character Phil learns to do that by the end of the movie. Groundhog Day is an example of eternal return through its exploration of recurrence, and personal transformation. At the beginning of the film, Phil is self-centered and rude to his co-workers when he goes to Punxsutawney. As the loop goes on, Phil undergoes a personal transformation. He begins to question his actions and motives, leading him to explore new possibilities and seek personal growth. Nietzsche argues that embracing the eternal return requires individuals to acknowledge their past, take responsibility for their decisions, and make conscious choices in the present. Phil's repeated days allow him to make deliberate decisions. He learns to break free from his self-centeredness. Groundhog Day serves as a compelling example of Nietzsche's intention regarding eternal return through its exploration of recurrence, personal transformation, and the pursuit of meaningful existence. The film's portrayal of these themes resonates with Nietzsche's philosophy, urging individuals to embrace each moment, strive for personal growth, and live purposefully as if every day were destined to repeat indefinitely.
ReplyDelete2. I think the filmmaker's main message was to tell a story about growth and redemption. At the beginning of the movie, Phil is portrayed as an arrogant and cynical weatherman who sees himself as superior to others. He exhibits rude and self-centered behavior, often mistreating those around him. An example would be how he mistreats the cameraman, Larry, and constantly dismisses him. Phil also shows how he doesn’t care for the people in Punxsutawney, constantly complaining about coming there every year. Phil then gets trapped in a loop, and first is confused, then exhibits reckless behavior, and no matter what always wakes back up on the same day. The loop continues on, but Phil slowly starts to see how selfish he was and starts to experience personal growth. He realizes that his actions have consequences and starts to empathize with the people in the town and finds joy in it. For example, he saves a choking man's life, catches a falling boy, and helps an elderly homeless man. These actions reflect how Phil starts to grow and understand the value of human life. I think here, the filmmaker's message becomes clear. Phil's time loop provides him with an opportunity to shed his self-centeredness and develop empathy, ultimately leading him to find joy and purpose in serving others. He learns to appreciate the small moments of life, such as learning to play the piano, mastering ice sculpting, and expressing genuine happiness. The film suggests that true happiness can only be achieved through self-improvement and genuine connections with others. Phil's transformation allows him to develop a deep bond with Rita, who he initially pursued for selfish reasons. As he learns to value her as a person and genuinely cares for her well-being, he gains her affection and breaks free from the time loop.
3.I think they keep making these types of movies to maybe show or relay a message to everyone. Some of the movies have to do with second chances. Some of them have to do with personal growth. Characters have major developments during this growth that can resonate with audiences. There’s also not one group of audience that can appeal to the time loop concept. The time loop can tap into different emotions and experiences that many different people can resonate with.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Groundhog Day better shows this idea. This is because the day was exactly the same in a loop while in Edge of Tomorrow, they were able to escape it from the blood transfusion. Furthermore, Phil was able to time every situation showing the exact cyclic nature of his situation. However, both situations don't show this happening for eternity. Also, another way it varies, is that in Groundhog Day, the repetition of the day was supposed to lead to personal growth however Nietzche thinks there are no second chances, while Phil was given many second chances for growth. This is also the same in Edge of Tomorrow since they had second chances to continue to improve their plan.
I believe that the filmmaker’s message is that you must learn to choose goodness. In Groundhog Day, Phil starts out very cold-hearted and unmotivated but through the time loop, he learns that instead of spending his time being miserable, he can use it to spread happiness and goodness. For example, on his last day in the time loop, he actually bought Ned Ryerson’s insurance. Although he did not like him, he still helped him. Furthermore, he found the people in the town who needed help and went to go help them every day, especially the homeless man. Phil started just giving him money and then gave him food, shelter, and other necessities for his last day.
I believe that these movies are so popular since many people can relate to feeling in a time loop and finding change to escape this time loop. Furthermore, I believe that the idea of cyclical time is a very useful tool for conveying forced life change. It also helps show lots of growth. In this way, I think time loop movies will continue to be made for generations to come.
Jasmine
I personally think that both movies showed Nietzsche's eternal return almost identically however I think that groundhog day better showed the affirming of our existence part better then Edge of Tomorrow. Because of the loop only ends because he fixed himself and became a better person I feel that better fits Nietzsche's eternal return because it allowed Phil to analyze himself as a person therefore affirming his existence even though it was a bad part he was affirming as he stayed in a place he hated. Therefore since Phil was able to analyze himself as a person and change for the better hence ending the eternal loop he was in I feel this better fits with how Nietzsche describes the eternal return, our lives were relived in exactly the same way, for eternity. This idea makes it seem as if Nietzsche almost wants us to be able to change the way our things go since after living the same each day for all eternity it almost needs or beacons the ability to change unlike how in Edge of Tomorrow they were fighting back against those who could also redo time so not fighting an external unstoppable force they were fighting a mortal force. However, this does not mean that Edge of Tomorrow is not totally off point its just that I feel groundhog day better fits the way Nietzsche would think of the eternal return since as i mentioned before Edge of Tomorrow is fighting a force that is not eternal since they could be killed while on the contrary Groundhog days, the eternal return would have forever continued if Phil had not changed his ways.
ReplyDeleteThe director's message regarding Phils behavior can in my opinion be summed up to dont be an asshole to those around you because you think better of yourself compared to them. There are countless examples of Phil's annoying and egotistical behavior all throughout the film the first being when he finds out he was to go to Punxsutany and do the groundhog day report. The moment Phil is given his task of doing the report he begins to complain about how he hates it there, hates the people, and things the tradition is nothing but a hoax and pointless. However after the whole eternal return and repeating the day where Phil betters himself like how he saved kids from falling, tried to save the old man's life, helped the married couple reconnect and even more, he began to be liked and well respected. The filmmaker shows us a self-centered ass who becomes a people person and a kind man and showed how he became happier the more he helped people thats the message the Director wants to leave with us, be kind and people will be kind to you as well.
Movies that involve the eternal return idea are so popular for many reasons in my opinion. Movies like groundhog day and Edge of Tomorrow are fun to watch because the eternal return allows for so many different things to happen and so many story-inducing opportunities to be made. Another reason is that movies can be very versatile in the genre of film it is with the eternal return, it can be an action movie like Edge of Tomorrow, it can be a comedy like Groundhog Day and it can be a thriller like happy death day. Movies with the eternal return can allow for (for action movie example) failed missions or character deaths that don't have to be set in stone like most movies.However, the eternal return is effective in more than just action movies it also works wonders in comedy films as well. During the film groundhog day when Phil was killing himself and trying to find ways to end the cycle, he was in it allowed for the film to introduce new characters, funny ways he died, funny things he did like getting chased by the cops and more. The eternal return allows for trial and error to be shown in films in any context, it allows for struggles and sadness, it allows for great victories to be achieved in many much more. It is no wonder to me that eternal return movies are so popular because the all ones I've watched personally have been movies i enjoyed.
Sean
1, I think Groundhog Day best exemplified Nietzsch’s intention about eternal return because of how exact it was. Phil had the same encounters every single day, just like Nietzsch’s idea that the exact same life is replayed over and over. Nothing changed about Phil’s day when the day kept replaying, and the movie did a great job of showing that through the different interactions on his way to his reporting job.
ReplyDelete2. I think a hidden message in this film is that life is meaningless if you can’t be and find the good in it. Phil was a grouch in the beginning of the movie. He blew off the man that he ran into on the street who introduced himself, ignored the poor homeless man asking for money, and was rude to the woman in the lobby of the hotel asking how Phil was and what he would like to eat. After he realized he was in the endless cycle, and there was no point in being so grumpy, he started to use his knowledge for good. Since he knew everything that would happen that day, he started to help people. He saved the little boy from falling off the tree and saved the man who was choking on a piece of steak. He finally got out of the cycle after he started to be a better person. It kind of portrays the idea that life is an endless cycle of nothing if you aren’t happy.
3. I’ve seen many of these types of movies with repeating days, but I feel like each movie differs in the reason why. In some movies I’ve watched, the person is in a repeating day because they hit a switch on accident (sci-fi) or because they ate the wrong food. I think the reason these movies are produced so much is because they don’t really get old, and are very customizable. It’s a great skeleton and you can kind of make the plot into anything, so the idea is very adaptable.
Mikayla
Compared to Edge of Tomorrow, which movie best exemplifies Nietzsche's intention about eternal return? Why? I think that groundhog day better exemplifies Nietzsche's intention about eternal return because in groundhog day Phill had no power over whether or not the day repeated. This is different from the edge of Tomorrow because in Edge of Tomorrow, Cage was able to control his ability to repeat the day, if he didn't die then the day would not repeat again. In groundhog day, phill is trully stuck in the loop with no idea how to get out. Even with thai difference, both movies are great examples of niches eternal return because their are scenses in booth movies that show how every little detail is the same each day. An example of this from groundhog day is the alarmclock and news update that he hears each morning at 6am. An exmapel of thai from edge of tomorrow is the sentence that the sargent says each time Cage wakes up.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the filmmaker's message concerning Phil and his behavior? Explain using specific examples from the film.
I think that the filmakes message concerning phill and hsi behavior is that the only way he could get out of the loop, was by becoming a good person. Prior to being stuck in the loop, phill was rude, selfish and he liked himself too much. Throughout hsi time of being stuckin a loop, he started to become a better person. An example of this is is how he tried to save the homeless old person from dying, by feeding him and taking him to the hospital. Another example is how he fixed the flat tire on the old ladies car. Before the loop, and even in the beginning of the loop, phill would never have done these things. It is only when he dpes do these kind acts, that he is able to escape the loop.
Why do you think movies that use the time loop like Groundhog Day are so popular and keep getting made?
I think that these types of movies are so popular because its fun to see what people would do if they kept reliving the same day. When people have to relive the same day over and over, they are able to doa lot of stuff, and its enjoyable to see how they utlilze their time to manipulate and get close to other people or do cool things. For example, in both groundhog day and edge of tomorrow, both characters try to hone certain skills so that they can do cool stuff. Like how in groundhog day phill learned the piano to impress rita, and how in edge of tomorrow, Cage practiced his fighting skills to defeat the aliens.
Nina
Both Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow are examples of Nietzsche's concept of the eternal return. However, Groundhog Day is a better example because it better tackles the idea of living the same day over and over again. Phil is forced to relive the same day repeatedly until he learns to become a better person and find happiness. This is similar to Nietzsche's idea that we should live our lives as if we are willing to repeat them over and over again. Phil's experiences show that we can learn and grow from our mistakes, and that we have the power to change our lives for the better. In contrast, Edge of Tomorrow is more focused on the action version of the time loop, and doesn't directly tackle the concept of the eternal return.
ReplyDeleteThe filmmaker's message is that true happiness can only be met by being kind and compassionate towards others. Phil starts off as a selfish and cynical person who only cares about himself. When he starts to relive the same day over and over again, he starts to realize that he can use his situation to help others and make a positive impact on their lives. For example, he saves a boy from falling out of a tree, helps a couple fall in love, and even learns to play the piano to entertain people at a party. Phil becomes a better person and finds happiness by putting others first and gets out of the loop.
Movies that use the time loop concept allow the audience to explore different scenarios and possibilities without the consequences of their actions. It's nice to imagine what would happen if you could relive the same day over and over again. Additionally, these movies often have a moral lesson that can be learned through the character's experiences. With each time loop, the character learns something new. This makes for an engaging story that audiences can relate to.
Bryce