Control In Pleasantville

This movie begins with David (Toby Maguire) he stays more to himself and his sister Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) is more outgoing they both live different high school lives. David is a big fan of a 1950s black and white TV show called “Pleasantville” and he wants to watch a full marathon. However, Jennifer wants to watch her own show and they begin to argue over who gets the TV remote and due to the force the remote breaks into pieces. Suddenly a strange television repair man (Don Knotts) shows up and gives them an unusual remote control. When using the remote, they are somehow transported into world of “Pleasantville” and they now play the roles of Bud Parker and Mary Sue Parker brother and sister on the show and their perfect town would

never be the same again when the site of color starts to emerge. Although, the events that take place in Pleasantville may be considered unnecessary and the message may be hidden, the film successfully portrays that life is not always perfect and change can have a positive impact.
The unnecessary events that take place during the film is the scenes that show the sexual situations that did not have to be portrayed in such ways.

In Pleasantville, sex is not known and is forbidden, Bud and Mary Sues parent’s beds are even separated from each other. When Jennifer first meets Skip Martin (Paul Walker) the star athlete of the school’s basketball team and happens to have a crush on Mary Sue. Jenifer says “you can pin me any time, Skip or maybe I should just pin you” Skip laughs and reply’s “That’s silly, Mary Sue. How could you possibly pin me”? When skip and Mary Sue (Jennifer) drive up to “lovers Lane” on a date and Mary Sue becomes rebellious and introduces a clueless Skip to sex, Later the word spreads and all the teens start doing the same. Which does show the honest actions young teens partake in but does not express the harsh reality of STDs or pregnancy it expresses has a nonchalant

action.
In Pleasantville, parents are always caring, the basketball team wins every game, the weather is always sunny and fire fighters save kittens from trees.

Then color starts to appear to the environment and even to the people of Plantsville and everyone in the town becomes worried. It seems that the more realistic situations the more color appears, also by expressing emotion. When a rain storm approaches people become, horrified and do not know how to react but Bud (David) reassures them that it is just water and they learn to enjoy it. They start to show acts of discrimination towards other colored people compared to the colorless people for example when Whitey picks on David for having a colored girlfriend.
The hidden message can be interpreted in different ways, such as one person can make a difference, or change as we known it is necessary. Even in the town of Pleasantville, where everything is supposed to be perfect had to be changed no matter the cost because perfection does not exist the message Gary Ross, the director wanted his audience to know. It also shown that standing up for yourself is sometimes needed to make people understand how you feel. When David stands up to the mayor telling him that these people have done no wrong the stubborn mayor discovers anger himself and his color changes

too.
The film portrays that life is not always perfect and change can have a positive impact by, the daily routines of the people of Pleasantville being out of order and when Bud is late to help Bill at the local dinner he scrubs the counter tops so much the paint comes off. Also, When Betty Parker starts fall in love with Bill Johnson because she is not happy with her husband showing no one is perfect. The people of Pleasantville start to become amazed and seem pleasantly happy about the change of their town. The now can read and feel the weather and express themselves in different ways.
Although, some scenes maybe unnecessary and the message may be unclear, this film is worth viewing. It shows how much society can make a difference and it also shows the reality of life. The curiosity of the people in the town shows true human nature and trying to discover the true colors within themselves. The use of special effect is done beautifully and the cast does a wonderful job playing their roles.