Following the Majority vs. Pursuing Own Will
In
our lives, there are countless of occasions that we confront to make choices. While
some of them might be trivial ones, there are painstaking and exacting ones to
determine right from wrong as well. Undeniably, historically majority of people
preferred being much easier to pursuing own will, in thoughts of abating
burden. However, it seems that people with remarkable feats clearly uncover why
possessing predilection of being distinct from others elicits much more
benefits.
In
the 1600s, when people were asked to answer the center of the universe, nearly
all of them gave the Earth as the reply. Ptolemy’s geocentricism, as a matter
of fact, as the predominant hypothesis in the contemporary era. Moreover, the
extensive support of the church consecrating the Earth’s entity postulated the
theory. It was Galileo Galilei that fiercely challenged such social milieu. He
directly opposed the church’s assertion by insisting that the Earth is neither
center of the universe, nor the most sacred planet. Being severely intimidated
its authority, the church threatened Galilei by holding the Inquisition, one of
the harshest insults in that era. Inevitably, Galilei superficially admitted
his mistake; however, it is a well-known anecdote that he said, “Yet the Earth
still moves.” Like what Galilei adhered to, however, it has been proven that
the Earth is a mere planet rotating around the Sun.
One
of the most revered historical figures of Korea, General Lee Soon-shin
obviously reveals the advantages of sticking with own will. During the war
between Korea and Japan, the Court of Chosun (one of the dynasties of Korean
history) underwent full of despondency due to nationwide demolition caused by
the Japanese intrusion. Some even suggested the king to follow the wants of
Japan: providing direct path to China. On the contrary, however, General Lee
persisted the resistance against Japan, asserting that he still has 12 ships of
navy to fight with. In spite of despise of the Court, he solely led his army
and destroyed hundreds of Japanese ships. Such triumph ultimately led to the
overall counterattack of Chosun, and the battle is now regarded as one of three
most remarkable naval battles in the world history.
It
is true that being different from the majority is burdensome. However, those
who pursue such principle are likely to acquire enough merits that deserve to
their efforts at last.
Movie Analysis - Runaway Jury
It is such a
cliché to say that the good ultimately triumphs over the evil. This notion has
been, and probably will be a clear truth in the future as well. I was also one
of the majority of people that believed this, thereby kept trying to pursue the
good. However, my perspective toward the notion was slightly shifted after
watching the movie; goodness that we achieve is the grimy good, not the genuine
one that we dream of. The movie, Runaway Jury, directed by Gary Fleder,
supports my sight by illustrating a trial against an evil gun manufacturer.
John Cusack, Gene Hackman, and Dustin Hoffman acted.
The case involves
a widow who is suing a gun manufacturer, because her husband was killed in an
office massacre involving an easily-obtained weapon. The widow has hired the
decent Wendell Rohr to represent her, while the manufacturer is defended by a
lawyer named Cable, who is the instrument of the evil, brilliant jury
consultant Rankin Fitch. Taking advantage of technology and experts in various
fields, Fitch weeds out juries in the company’s favor. However, one of the
selected juries, Nicholas Easter turns out to be involved in a free-lance
arrangement with his girlfriend Marlee, selling the jury to the highest bidder.
This becomes a variable of the trial to both sides. Inwardly, Easter helps Rohr
by changing other juries’ minds, and eventually, the case is decided in favor
of the plaintiff. The movie ends by uncovering relationship in the past between
Easter and Fitch that led to the consequence.
This movie well
portrays its message by utilizing various film techniques. Initially, a
virtuoso montage of image takes a huge portion of it. While staking juries,
Fitch stands in front of an array of computer and television monitors,
apparently able to summon at will the secrets of all the prospective jurors. In
this scene, several questions such as “Wouldn’t it cost millions, and could it
be done in such a short time?” could pop up, but such quibbles disappear in the
excitement of the chase, as Fitch oversees his screens like an orchestra
conductor. Furthermore, a large number of shots in which defenses of both sides
are made pass by rapidly, which compresses time consumed on showing legal
contents that are very apt to make people bored. In addition, the usage of
advanced tracking movement of camera and special lighting enabled the movie to
be much livelier. Instead of just following motions of actors, the director
caught 25 main characters in one frame, which led to expression of personality
and countenance of each character. Moreover, dramatic mood was directed thanks
to the lighting using distinct characteristics of light such as synthesis or
refraction instead of artificial filters.
One of the most noteworthy aspects that the director leavens
the plot with is humor, by which readers marvel at the intricate maneuvers and
laugh at the ways some maneuvers work out. For instance, one of the prospective
jurors proudly announces that he is blind, a fact that millions of dollars paid
to the jury investigators failed to uncover. Then this blind man wants to be
considered for service in this trial, or he will sue. In another scene, Easter
tests his ability to manipulate the jury by convincing them to recite the
Pledge of Allegiance before the trial begins, a move which discomposes everyone
else in the courtroom. Like these examples, this movie displays a dry,
sardonic, and knowing humor, which offers a mocking insight into the vagaries
of trials.
It seems that
Runaway Jury superficially deals with gun possession issue which has become an
irrefutable hot potato in American society. However, a true message that it
tries to give is the point that the pure good does not exist, and it cannot
beat the evil unless calculating actions are taken. For those who enjoy watching
thrilling court movies with full of strategies and overwhelming reverses,
Runaway Jury is surely the best choice.
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