I think he's one of the coolest, most complex characters ever created in film.
You're supposed to dislike him, until you realize that he is an abused kid who has been failed by every single adult in his life, including those at his school. And even after his abusive homelife is revealed, he is still able to drop his defensive walls enough to find ways to relate to and bond with everybody in detention with him. And these are all people he'd normally envy and detest, or mock and ridicule.
Ultimately, I think he's a guy who is desperate to stay in high school, because his home life is so atrocious, and he has been abused and conditioned into believing he has no future.
One of the greatest characters ever, in my book.
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Kowalski (60674)
2 years ago
Ultimately, I think he's a guy who is desperate to stay in high school, because his home life is so atrocious, and he has been abused and conditioned into believing he has no future.
WOW...I JUT REALIZED BENDER IS LIKE A JUNIOR VERSION OF THE KING FROM KING RAT...HE RULES HIS CURRENT SURROUNDINGS BUT IS SCARED TO HIS CORE OF LEAVING THOSE SURROUNDINGS.
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NitroHangover (1115)
2 years ago
I don't know what 'King Rat' is but yeah, sounds about right. School is the only place John can escape to from abuse and misery at home. He may be looked down on as a bottom-feeder by the Jock and the Princess initially, but he also has his own circle of friends who love, respect and even look up to him.
I think the scene where he's sparring with Vernon and keeps racking up week after week after week of detention shows his subconscious desire to stay in high school as long as possible. His parents have convinced him that he's worthless and will never be anything, and even Vernon basically says it.
"You wanna see something funny? You go look up John Bender in five years."
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Kowalski (60674)
2 years ago
KING RAT IS MY FAVORITE BOOK...WRITTEN IN 1962 BY JAMES CLAVELL AND TURNED INTO A LESS THAN STELLAR FILM STARRING GEORGE SEGAL IN 1965...THE KING IS AN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN A JAPANESE POW CAMP...HE RULES THE CAMP BY TRADING,CONNING,BASICALLY WHATEVER WORKS TO KEEP THE UPPER HAND AT ALL TIMES...HE EATS EGGS,SMOKES CIGARETTES AND LIVES LIKE A KING WHILE THOSE AROUND HIM STARVE AND SUFFER AND DIE...THE THOUGHT OF THE WAR ENDING AND GOING HOME IS THE WORST THOUGHT IN HIS HEAD...BACK HOME HE IS A NOBODY...BUT IN THE POW CAMP...WHERE HE IS FORCED TO BE...HE RULES.
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strntz (10968)
2 years ago
I enjoyed your comments on the Bender character - I think you have him mostly nailed, and I agree that his character is fascinating and well acted as well.
Where I disagree is when Bender was sparring with Vernon for continued weeks of detention. I think a character like Bender would do such a thing only to look tough in front of the group, not to just stay in school longer. I also think if he was the only one in detention that day, he would have eaten the crap that Vernon was spewing to avoid such a long punishment.
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NitroHangover (1115)
a year ago
Good point. To clarify, I think he did it, on a subconscious level, to remain in high school as long as possible. On the surface, conscious level, I definitely agree that he did it to look tough or cool in front of his peers.
I don't think he would have eaten Vernon's shit if he hadn't had an audience that day, though. I'll agree to disagree on that.
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strntz (10968)
a year ago
I don't think he would have eaten Vernon's shit if he hadn't had an audience that day, though.
He kind of did though when he and Vernon were alone in the utility room. Vernon viciously berated him and even offered him the opportunity to swing at him, and he backed down with hardly a whimper. I think if the same conversation happened in the library Bender would have acted differently.
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punkrockgirl (1165)
a year ago
Hm, that's a good perspective on it that I didn't think about. Personally, I didn't like his character even though I feel sorry for him. He's pretty true to life. He treated the girl terribly yet she still goes after him. I know a lot of people love him but I don't find him very likable at all. He has a lot of good lines though.
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strntz (10968)
a year ago
You're supposed to dislike him, until you realize that he is an abused kid who has been failed by every single adult in his life, including those at his school. And even after his abusive homelife is revealed, he is still able to drop his defensive walls enough to find ways to relate to and bond with everybody in detention with him.
Perfect. Well said.
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