"Over the Hedge"

I'm not sure if "Over the Hedge," a Disney film would be considered immensely popular amongst the 18-24 year old audience, but I think overall it was a pretty popular movie, usually anything produced by Disney is. In the movie there was the obvious theme of deforestation and the buildup of suburban housing environment. The animals were all awoken from winter hibernation to find that there were houses built on what used to be there home. The animals were talking about how their food supply was already low and lacked variety as far as nuts and berries and such, they were chewing on bark from trees trying to make the best of what was available. Later on in the film, an animal comes along who intrigues all but one of the animals in the group, he tells them of the things that lie over the hedge in the community. After venturing over the hedge a few times, the animals begin to accept this outsider as a part of their close-knit family.
Later in the film, the animals find out that the outsider was simply using them to help him collect the things he needed to repay his debt to a predator bear. During a conversation with the predator bear, the bear makes a statement about using people in your life to get what you need and then continuing on with life as a family of one. There is an epiphany moment.

I think that in our society, living for self is the reason for the way society has developed. I wouldn't say that it is good or bad, but often times when someone if living for themselves, they over look the impact that they have on those around them. Being mindful of what one says and does and then sticking around to see the impact is the key to life. That is where I think a lot of the problem lies, people don't take the five minutes to see the impact of their actions on others. I believe that if people saw the big impact that something little can have, they would be more cautious of it. In this society using others as a stepping stool is often the chosen path to success. If people would put their greed aside for a split second they would realize that there is much more to be gained in a group than individually.

In relation to the "Scream" and "Saw" articles, the idea of the helpless, lost woman, seems more to be part of the horror film formula then it is a proof of societies view of woman. I do believe that films are generally depictions of the ideals of everyday life, but I also believe that at times there are certain things in movies that create the illusion that what is being depicted is real life. People then take this into the wrong context and because it becomes so familiar and is seen so much in the movies or on television it seems as if it actually is a depiction of life; when in all actuality it is just the formula for movie success.