I was going to say essentially the same thing but I didn't want to bump the thread. That pretty much sums up the way I feel about it as well.

It was an easy shot for someone to take at the original video, but the original lent itself to it so well. In my opinion.

Yes, you say that now, but will you respect me in the morning?

I really liked watching the video. After, reading the comments I watched it a second time to see if perhaps I missed something that the consensus of the room seemed to be thinking. I found it more charming the second time. I liked observing the interaction of the couples when they first met. The meeting of the eyes, the shy smiles, the awkwardness and what appeared to be the apparent attraction (some more than others) of the partners.

There only appeared to be one couple that I observed where the woman held her arms in a way that seemed to me as if her mind was pushing him away. I thought that's one couple in which I'm sure they didn't exchange numbers at the end.

It also came to mind what I heard some time ago that escorts often refuse to kiss their clients as they view it as too personal. Perhaps that's what the person was filming had in mind to test how two strangers will react when asked to kiss a stranger in an intimate way? Perhaps I'm looking into this too much but overall I really enjoyed watching the reactions of those involved in the project.

I am with Chrystal 100% on this.

Ha! I loved the second video!

Of course we could be charmed by the awkwardness, but that's not the point. The point is voyeurism. Hollywood (and porn) always leaves us empty, because everything is scripted and acted. This little film gives us the illusion (!) that we are watching genuine human emotions at play. But think about it: you magicians are in the business of illusion, so there is no reason for you to think this is real. Also, does anyone really want to view the intimate connections of others? Why? The film blurs the distinction between public and private. If I really wanted to see shy smiles and pensive touches, I'd go to a Café and observe. It would be more real, not be manipulative, not be advertising anything, and not have crappy, sentimental music.

Oh, and listen to the words of the music.

The whole thing smacks of a sentimentalism I just don't get. I don't want to kiss or hug strangers. I don't want to be close to them. I cherish intimacy and privacy, and don't believe that compromising those concepts (which the film most definitely does) brings human beings closer together.

I had a visit from my son last night. I kissed him when he left.

The film is cheap sentimentality at the expense of privacy, intimacy, and the real love that can be behind a kiss. Sure, you can kiss without love. You can bear and raise offspring without love.

As Critter said, it reminds me of good times in school--back in junior high, when we played spin the bottle. It was a lot of fun. But we did it without crappy music, and we grew up.

I can't claim to be one of those who believes that kissing is more intimate than sex. It can be very intimate, but I don't think it has to be. Sometimes a hug is intimate, and sometimes it's not. To have sex with someone requires a lot more trust, IMO. I could get any of a number of life-altering (or even ending) diseases, including pregnancy.
As for timing, I think it took me about three minutes to kiss my fiancée the first time we really spoke and that was the start of the greatest love story of my life. I barely knew her, but it was definitely intimate.
It's all subjective.

Critter, that's entirely my point. Intimacy is in the heart, and cannot be filmed.

The film simply isn't REAL, but it has resonated with millions of people. What am I missing?

There are a lot of voyeurs in the world

By which I obviously mean getting someone else pregnant.

Why should that be obvious? This is the Internet. We don't really know who is who around here. This is the CAVE.

You never heard of Plato's Retreat?



(That could be a totally obscure reference for non-New Yorkers under 45, in which case ignore my little joke. In fact, in any case, ignore my little joke)