Eat Pray Love vs. The Art of Travel
Like many travelers I endured the romanticized Hollywood ass vomit they call Eat, Pray, Love. The journey through this film was like a quickie against a dumpster behind Joe’s Dragger Inn. A travel film that captures the true spirit of the journey should be a tantric experience, ethereal, raw and well…lacking unicorns. Although I don’t remember actually seeing any unicorns in Eat, Pray, Love… I half expected one to pop out at any moment, and if I ever feel like a dose of mental mutilation I may watch it again just to double check.
Perhaps I sound like a bully with a bad case of low self esteem that has to put down something in order to build up something else. But if I can spare just one would be traveler from the destructive forces behind Eat, Pray, Love that classify it as a “Travel Film” (or book) and bring them into the light of what travel is truly like then it is worth it.
As far as movies go I suppose it was an ok chick flick. Diane Lane was perfect for the part… Oh wait…that was Under the Tuscan Sun… Well add three Polish guys and a stone wall and subtract yet another “Manopausal” guy in search of enlightenment via India and it was the same movie.
A travel film. Hmm. Does it even have a place in the catalogue of genres? European Vacation could be a travel film I suppose. How many times did Chevy Chase make it around the Round About beneath Big Ben? Too funny. Even though there is no Round About next to Big Ben. No one said Hollywood has to get it right.
To gain the title “Travel Film” shouldn’t the film actually embody essence of travel?
My idea of a true travel film seems to differ than the mainstream these days. But since when is a traveler considered to be mainstream? The Art of Travel is a monumental achievement towards capturing life as a traveler. It is about pushing yourself beyond the limits of ordinary life. Every step of the journey is an accomplishment worth celebrating. Boundaries are nonexistent for a traveler. Emotional more so than physical is the workout for the traveler. The Art of Travel rips open the guts of this type of person and lays it bare for the world to see.
If you are even considering heading off to destinations unknown then this film is required.
No need to order it on NetFlix or BlockBuster. Watch it in full right here below…
5 Comments
Mike.. I saw this movie sometimes back and found its not very impressive for me. Perception differs and Julia was good in this movie.
I agree that Julia Roberts was good in the movie. But it was not a travel film. It was just another Julia Roberts movie. The Art of Travel is much more of what travel is like. (for me anyway) Right down to the first people you meet are two Dutch girls in a hostel. It always seems like the first people I meet in a hostel are two Dutch girls. Not complaining….
I know that many people loved Eat Pray Love. And many people will disagree with my opinion. But since it is my blog I felt compelled to give MY opinion and not theirs.
I agree with Mike, that was defintely another Julia Roberts movie, but hey, who cares as long as James Franco was in it:)) Now seriously, I did not discover in that movie what travelling is about, even if it was about discovering/redescovering oneself, which is also an important part of travelling, but…no, not feeling it in Eat Pray Love. It was a nice movie, but not what I expected. So…thumbs up for The Art of Travel:D
I did not see the movie, but the book was disappointing. At least it was very well written and sometimes funny, but I expected much more. The book had little to do with travel and cultures.
It was very self-indulgent; it was all about the author’s depression and endless bantering about herself. The settings were merely exotic backdrops to her self-induglence. However, I can understand how so many people can relate to the central themes, such as divorce and depression.
I choose not to see the movie. I can just imagine the Hollywood touches added to the less than interesting content of the book.
Was it announced as a travel movie? I read the book and thought it was a nice memoir, but nothing to keep in my bookshelf. Not a moment did I think it was a travel book, and believe me, my shelf is full of travel related books. When I heard Hollywood would add its touches I didn’t have to go and see it.
Btw, I live in Canada and am not able to see Hulu’s films online