"I think you'd discover a lot of things if you really knew me."
Joe Fox
You've Got Mail
1998
Tom Hanks plays Joe Fox, and Meg Ryan reunites with her co-star as Kathleen Kelly. When an Internet romance begins, the concept of "You've Got Mail" has taken the technology world and dating to a different caliber.
I often ponder the idea of someones reality versus the actuality of someones fantasy. In a world surrounded by fast paced, immediate gratification and quick feedback perspectives, the catalyst to the Internet, is that its a search and a click away from finding exactly what you are looking for. It is a perception behind a shield to say the least.
This film is now over 10 years old. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan have great on screen chemistry. I enjoy the creative aspect within this film. I think; can you mix business with pleasure? I think, can you really learn about someone through just words and no face to face interaction? Each time we compose a message, we think about how we are going to be interpreted. We think about the type of response we may receive, and even the surprise interaction we may flirt with.
When business becomes destructive and identity becomes apparent, you have to stop and think, how did this all start?
Sometimes the most oblivious circumstances pertain the most obvious compliments. Joe Fox is a rival business man, wanting to undertake a small children's bookshop as he has plans to open his bookstore around the corner. Little to both Joe and Kathleen's knowledge, their online relationship is offline business decisive.
Can honesty and relationships survive such turmoil? Can you love someone in which you compete against?
The interesting observation here is that this film surfaces around the written published word in books, yet, the relationship of Joe and Kathleen stems from online interaction. A non-published form of the written word where stories can be shared, told and exchanged via a simple click.
Has the world of literary excellence fallen short when we succumb to using words instead of our auditory voices to speak?
I believe that ultimately a person is as realistic as the image they portray. I believe a person in love is as imaginative as a person successful in business. The creativity of writing allows the dreamer to dream and the loved to feel obtainable. I believe you can learn a lot about someone when they have to write it down. I believe you can learn so little about someone if you fall short on face to face interaction after identity is expressed.
I guess the truth is detrimental when you have developed a relationship based on dishonesty. Can we blame Joe Fox and Kathleen for protecting their identity with an alias? Should we blame technology for allowing us to buy into the love at first click philosophy?
Have you had an online relationship? How did it end? I believe we can definitely put together a new film some ten years later, a film that is on the concept of "You've Got Text". The cell phone era is embarking on a long term journey, just think about all those relationships, are they similar, are we maintaining ones identity just the same?
"The odd thing about this form of communication is that you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many somethings." - Kathleen Kelly
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Comments
Rated.
Cranky cuss... that is a great story, I guess when people have to resort to communication via sentences the true test of one's interests are put out on the table all at once. Its like 20 questions for love.
Thoth.. yes, it was lighthearted. I just love the symbolism and the relevance to the book store and the written love via the Internet. Too funny.
emma peel.. That is so sweet, touching. Thanks for stopping by.
Julie.. you are always right on the mark! Always! Sleepless in Seattle was exquisite and showcased both of them brilliantly.
sweetfeet.. thank you for stopping by. Ya.. I don't know if the critics were bored with the online phenomenon or just past the concept of online dating (but, wow! has the world evolved ;-) Congrats to you!!! That is awesome.