"Hit the Road Jack" played at the motorcycle gang headed out in the cross
country race. Along with this, clips from jesus traveling on Palm sunday was
shown.
Many songs within the film were relative to the actions performed. One
conclusion that could be made is that the film used many instances of
homosexuality. The clothing, abundance of leather, and the numerous
shots of the male torso.
The film seemed like a movie that was heavily cut, removing the narrative.
Though many clips were short, it was still easy to see a story going on.
--John Bartruff, 2000
This movie was very confusing to me, I couldn't really figure out what Anger
was trying to get across with this film. The film just plain stuck me as
confusing. This is one of those films that I would have to watch a few times
before I got what is going on.
--Miguel Pickering, 2000
Anger's Scorpio Rising incorporated the use of foreshadowing. All the films
that we have seen up to this point, do not use foreshadowing elements.
Anger uses a great amount of dark imagery as well as a repetition of
morbid symbolisms. These morbid symbolisms are the skulls that we see
a number of times throughout the entire film, the subliminal references
to motorcycle crashes (this appears upon Scorpio's wall), and the tragic
Hollywood references of James Dean, "The Wild One" (I have never seen
this film therefore I don't know if there is any death incorporated within
the movie), and the Jesus Christ scenes which appear edited within
Scorpio's tale. All of these cues give the spectator an idea of what will
happen at the end of the film. In fact, as I was watching it I knew that
there would be a motorcycle crash at the end.
However, I thought of something else. The use of foreshadowing was so
vehement that I feel it goes beyond the element of foreshadowing and into
the desires of Scorpio. If you'll notice Scorpio decorates himself with
skulls. Also, Scorpio's bedroom is lined with the images of James Dean
and reminders of fatal motorcycle crashes. I found these behaviors to
say something about Scorpio's own desires. In the beginning of the film
there is a little boy playing with toy motorcycles meshed in with images of
Scorpio (now grown) building his motorcycle. I found this to say Scorpio
believed he was born to be a motorcyclist and that would be the way he
would die. Whether it is Scorpio who dies at the end, or not, he will
eventually die from a motorcycle accident. If someone believes or
desires so greatly, they make things happen for themselves. I believe
that this is what Scorpio did for himself.
--Eva Jones, 2000
The movie "Scorpio Rising" by Anger was different from the other movies
that we have seen so far. It was made in the 60's so the feeling that it
had was a feeling that went along with that time. It portrayed bikers
doing different things in order to give you an idea of what a biker is. The
movie was broken up by different songs. Each song set the tone for the
scenes and gave a hint as to what was going to happen. The scenes were
sometimes hard to understand because the film switched between the
scenes so quickly. It was hard to tell who was doing what and where. The
film alternated between biker scenes in the film itself and religious and
biker movies that were on the television in the film. At first I was
disturbed that Anger would incorporate religious images into this film
because I did not understand his intentions. I was then not so disturbed
when it was brought to my attention that he was trying to make a point.
Anger was trying to say that the public's view of bikers is just as bad and
inaccurate as the public's view of Jesus. At least that is what I think he is
trying to say. This movie was confusing in part because I found it hard to
relate to anything in the movie. I am not a biker and I don't know that
much about them. Being a Catholic school child, I am somewhat
apprehensive when people compare Jesus or any religious symbol to
something else. Talking about the movie and it's meanings helped me
see past these initial thoughts and feelings. My initial thoughts were not
clear and when I received more information, I began to understand the
film and drop some of my apprehensions.
--Erica Ferry, 2000
I really liked this movie because it shows how diversity can happen in a
stereotypical society.
I really liked how they used the motor cycle gang. This caught me off
guard at first but I gained a lesson from this movie don't judge a book
by it cover.
--Helene Dacey, 2000
This one was a bit disturbing. The opening scenes and up tempo
music quickly turn to a darker feeling as images of death are
intermingled. The lyrics of the songs coordinate with the events and
set up various moods throughout the film. Themes of power, danger,
conformity, as well as death are present, as is the idea of leaders
and followers.(Jesus and the disciples,
Hitler and his followers, Dean and Brando,and those that idolize
them.)The ritual of dressing was emphasized with extreme
importance and really captured the viewer. An early scene was kind of
cool in which the young man completes the construction of the bike
and simply stares at it. He doesn't touch it, or move towards it, he
just stares in awe.(The film was lighter then) Shortly after we see
signs of death which lead to the predictable ending. This film
bothered me.......
--Donna Albano, 2001
I found the comparisons of this film very interesting. I never thought
about what was presented in the film, how things relate to each
other. I also believe the music enhanced what was going on in the
frame. (also it was really cool music)
--Geysa Maldonado, 2001
Kenneth Anger Work