Wicked Stuff!

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2003)

I just saw it for the second time (my first time being a few years ago) and I must say it was amazing!! The first time I didnt like it so much, I didnt understand it, but now I can totally relate to it!! I am 22 and I got so many things now, such as Bens sense of loss, his falling in love, etc. I think people are mistaken when they say that Ben and Elaine are not really in love and he is just doing it to spite Mrs. Robinson. As we know, the director did many things (such as Ben in the scuba suit) to teach us things. In todays movies, a scene like the scuba scene would be pointless because everything is explicitly laid out for u in todays movies, but in a movie like this one u r supposed to get bens feelings and how he feels all alone and is just doing what his parents want.
*POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING*
When Ben says he is going to marry Elaine and his dad calls the idea half-baked, ben says no, it's fully baked, and then leaves the room. After he leaves, the toast pops up, startling his parents. Whats the point of including that in the movie?? I believe it's because it is showing that as crazy as Bens idea sounds, he actually has a real plan laid out, a "full-baked" plan, just like the toast is fully baked/toasted. May seem a little far-fetched, but anything is possible.
Also, at the end when they are just sitting on the bus, I found it strange. U think they would be hugging and kissing and staring at each other, and happy to be with each other. I thought "what is the director saying here?" Knowing Ben, he does stuff and doesnt think too much about the consequences. He slept with Mrs. Robinson, and then just laid around all day, it became a part of his life. Same here too by Elaine, before he was obsessive because his life was empty without her, now he had her, he was good. He was just thinking about his contentment. This is shown because his smile fades, and then a little bit later it comes back, then fades again. I think he is thinking how he has everything now (subconsciously) and is thinking about his situation. Then the thought that he has elaine spontaneously pops back in his mind and he smiles. Then his mind wanders again. As for Elaine, I think she sees that he wont look at her right then, so she has her own thoughts to deal with.
*End Spoiler*
Overall, I think this movie has many hidden messages in it, and it is very interesting to try to unearth them all!