Why Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie fascinate us so much
July 20, 2008 by Sherry
I’ve had several requests to start a new discussion thread, and since we’re all waiting for photos of Knox and Vivienne, I thought now was as good a time as any!
One of the most popular discussion requests I get lately is to have us all talk about why the world is so fascinated with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
Obviously, not everyone loves them – that much is obvious by reading some of the nasty comments elsewhere on the Internet. People who dislike Brad and Angelina really do so with vitriol. But on the flip side, many people who admire them are just as passionate in their praise.
The thing is, it’s not just some obvious group that follows the Jolie-Pitt family. There are fans who are teens, in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50, 60s and up. Their fans are homemakers, stay at home mothers, medical professionals, business professionals, fellow actors, and more. And their fans span the globe. It’s not just American fans, or Japanese fans, or French fans. When I get comments sent to my inbox or when I have to go into the moderation queue to push comments through (hi Ligaya, hi Victoria!), I’m able to see where those comments are coming from (generally speaking, of course). It’s amazing to me to see how many different countries my readers come from. We have readers from every continent except Antarctica and I can forgive them for that since people down there are usually pretty busy doing scientific work.
So what is it that makes two celebrities so fascinating to so many different types of people from different cultures and different walks of life? We’re all different but we all have this interest in Brad and Angelina in common.
Tell me what it is that attracts you to this couple (or one of them if you have a preference for one over the other), and maybe guess as to why they have a global appeal. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
(I’ll keep my own thoughts in the comments too to keep this entry from getting too long.)
My best to your daughter. I hope everything goes well and her recovery is swift. Best wishes to you too as you oversee your daughter’s health.
Don’t worry about us – your daughter is more important.
It all began with Angelina. I knew of Brad but he didn’t catch my eye until Interview with a Vampire, Sleepers and Seven. But Angelina… I first saw her in Wallace with Gary Sinise and my initial thought was “Who is this chick. She is too “big” for the TV screen”. Her presence was too powerful for such a small medium as TV. I didn’t follow her movie career as much but I would catch her in things here and there (Girl Interrupted, Bone Collector, Gone in 60 Seconds).
When I heard Brad and Angelina were doing a movie together, I was skeptical. How was that going to work out? They were both so different. Then the rumors about their on screen chemistry surfaced and I was intrigued. Brad Pitt has NEVER really had chemistry on screen with an actress for me. He always left me cold during love scenes. But once the trailers started coming out, I was beyond delighted. Their chemistry was the stuff of legends – Bogart and Bacall, Gable and Lombard. It was a pleasure to see. Then the split heard round the happened and I rejoiced!!! (I never understood why he married aniston but whatever.) Once the African beach photos came out it was quite obvious that whatever was between them was something serious. Angelina allowed him access to Maddox and that was something that wasn’t give lightly.
I admire Brad and Angelina not only for their charitable endeavors, not only for their movies (I must say they are doing some of their BEST work sincec coming together), not only for the family vision they share BUT because as I see it… they risked it all for love. Yes, it is cliched but think about it…they put it ALL on the line. Their hearts, their careers, the public opinion, their peers opinion and their families. They took a HUGH risk to be together with the ENTIRE (civilized) world watching their every move. They are making it work on their terms and have garnered new fans. I applaud the risks and chances they have taken and will continue to support them until my obsession wanes…which doesn’t seem to be anytime soon.
I was one of the ones that asked for this discussion and I have loved reading all 101 comments. All so very interesting and said what I have always felt about them. I have been reading fan magazines for almost 60 years, started when I was around 10, never went to alot of movies. I saw both Brad and Angelina in the magazines and thought they were both great to look at. Heard about Friends, but never watched it, so I knew about JA. But my interest in Brad became deeper when I started feeling sorry that he wanted children and none came. I became excited about Angelina when she adopted Maddox. She and BBT broke up, I thought, boy what a son of a gun he is, what a jerk. Anyway she loved this little boy so much, I loved every picture and started paying attention to what she had to say. And I thought, what an honest young women. Then MMS was being made and rumors started flying. Then Brad and JA broke up and I started hoping that he and Angelina would get together. Madd fell in love with Brad and that was the beginning of a love story that has all of us feeling as we do. Throw in all their charitable works, their good looks, their beautiful children and here we are.
anyone who is fearless in their own honesty and loves as deeply as angelina has my vote…i have always respected her as a person, actress and mother..she plays by her own rules and enjoys her life…brad, i love him..to me, it seemed like he was just..there…brad pitt the actor…its like, since he moved on in his personal life, he bloomed into this MAN with passionate causes…he has the family that he wants and he is a life partner with someone who is on the same page…what else is there not to love and admire?
Lara,
I can understand and appreciate what you were trying to say in your comment (July 21 11:48am). But maybe if you expressed your opinion with a little less vigor, people would not be so put off. Your opinion is worthy but you don’t need to personalize it and make others feel bad to express it. Just my opinion!
Kim, i agree. Sorry if my post sounded rude it’s just Lara’s post seemed a little hostile towards us JP fans. Making out like we sit at our computers all day, everyday with stalkerish intentions. I just didn’t appreciate that..but sorry, if i offended any of you polite and lovely people out there
better late than never…
Sherry, i hope your daughter’s operation is a success. i pray for her fast recovery.
The story of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is like a “fairy tale”.
I look at Angelina’s life, and I have a feeling that what is happen to her it isnt an accident. She follows her heart, and her heart has found greats values. Yes I’m more impressed by Angelina personality. I think a lot of people will continue to talk about this couple for as long as they stay together. What I like most about them is they try as much as possible to have a “normal” live. I mean to take care about your family, your friends and to help as you can others people in need. It seem simple but by trying just do that with pleasure they look “extraordinairy people” for me. Thanks everyone for taking some of your time sharing your thoughts.
i’m only halfway through reading all these comments and i’m already drowning in tears.. so touching! (*sobs*)
i don’t need to say more. love the JPs forever!
Hi Sherry,
Firstly, my warmest wishes to you and your family, hope your daughter is fine.
Secondly, my response to Lara.. I am a 48 year old male investment banker from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and this is my all time favourite blog! I drop in to read about my two favourite actors between trading times, before and after the markets go crazy!
Hey Lara, you are getting all this flak because of your condescending opinion that, “…all these worshippers do live boring lives themselves and therefore need some role models who live the aspiring and exciting live for them.”
That is So not cool Lara, which by the way, is a lovely name. I guess you meant well when you commented that we “could do more about our own lives to bring more sense and excitement into our own world.” It doesn’t always work that way. Some of us barely make enough to make ends meet, what do they care about excitement? They just want to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, and heat in the furnace. By virtue of your comments above, some readers are bound to get offended. So, be careful of what you say in future.
And Sherry, you don’t have to explain about putting excitement into your life. We love your site and what you are doing for JP fans worldwide, else we won’t be here.
For your information Lara, I have travelled the world, dined with royalty and I deal with multi-million dollar accounts each day, but I am still a big, big fan of Sherry’s blog…so, whaddya say Lara?
Again, Sherry thank you for your time and effort in maintaining such a great blog, (all on your free time) so we JP fans can enjoy the pictures and news! Applause, applause! Sherry, we appreciate it.
Sherry, your daughter is unwell??
Here’s wishing her well soon! She has a great Mum to nurse her back to health!
Sherry, I hope your daughter will get better soon.
sherry, i also pray for your daughter’s speedy recovery. and like others have said, i’m sure she’ll be fine as she has you to take care of her.
Hi, guys!
Sherry, good luck with you kid. And THANK YOU.
I’ve saved all your comments in a file and I am taking a break from work by going through your experiences.
I am a fan, too. Of Ange.
Brad… Nahh! Not my type, really, but as many fans here, I do appreciate his approach to parenthood. Hat’s off to him. Fight Club -flawless, though!
The reasons I am posting now are:
1. Many people here said Ange has transformed. Transformation means that she left something behind. I don’t believe that. I believe that she re-shaped her focus and energy towards a better purpose. Based my own personal experiences, I feel that she didn’t leave anything behind. Not even the characters played. So she’s now molded into a better shape that she created for herself and, yes, it takes a lot of effort, but it’s worth wile.
2. Some young ones say that they will try to follow the Ange model to live life to the fullest. Please be careful! It takes a tremendous amount of LUCK to emerge out of the weird stage that you may enter when you actually live life to the fullest. This is the reason she actually took a break from acting after GIA. She could not come to terms with her luck. Acknowledging you own mortality deep down is not easy to handle. So be cautious.
3. I have observed something out of ordinary with this lady: she has certain way of communicating. This type of communication is normally encountered with people that know their intrinsic value, they trust their own future, they are confident with their own resources and they are wise/deep thinkers. This combination is dynamite and it’s worth listening to. However, this lady is not stupid. Her interviews are very well engineered and her openness hides a very private person who LOVES to shock. She doesn’t love to be honest. She finds it simpler to be honest and she loves to shock. Which shock makes the audience think. Which, in lack of a better religion, we all, as fans of Ange, have accepted this fascination with a very very interesting person.
Good luck to them, to you and us and I hope the quality of their life will grow in time and they will be remote from the crazy media attention.
D.I.
I first started obsessing about these two after Mr. & Mrs. Smith and the alleged affair between them. They were both incredibly attractive and interesting individuals on their own so it was hard not to become interested in them as a pair.
I stayed interested because of their ever expanding family and the fact that Angelina and Brad seem so much more accessible than most movie stars and their lives full of purpose. I think that is what inspires me to come to this site, to know that others are out there trying to do good deeds.
I also appreciate the way Angie has raised the profile of foreign aid workers. It’s not an easy career, most of the people who do that work make next to nothing and live in very rough conditions. But they do it because they love the country and/or the people and want to do what they can to help.
As the mother of an adopted child, I appreciate the way they have showcased the benefits of adoption. I like the way Angie talks about it as a gift not so much for them but for her which is how I feel a lot of the time.
I also respect the fact that Angie has won accodolades for her work as an actress. I think she has not shied away from complicated or difficult roles. After Mr. & Mrs. Smith I watched Girl Interrupted and was impressed by her take on her psychotic but intensely powerful character. And although Brad is no Daniel Day Lewis, I’ll never forget him as Gina Davis’ sex toy in Thelma & Louise. He was hilarous!
Finally, it’s fascinating to watch them as they go from this glamorous world to a Chuckie Cheese restaurant in Iowa. I like thinking that if I ever ran into them or got to know them outside of the vacuous Hollywood scene that they would be incredibly normal, down to earth people. That’s actually very nice to know.
hey, Sherry, I hope your daughter is doing well.
What attracted me to Angelina was her movie, “Girl, Interrupted.” I thought she was fascinating in that role. I saw the movie, “Alexander” several years ago and was mesmerized with her portrayal of his mother.
But what REALLY attracted me to her was her voice for the refugees. She has been so consistent, she took my heart. There’s no one else like her.
I started liking Angelina in “Girl, Interrupted’
I think her acting was really phenomenal, from then on I became a fan. I love it when she’s doing action films like tomb raider and wanted, when I see her doing a stunt it feels like I’m the one doing it, that I too can do those things. In a way she is empowering me. I’m not only about her acting but her personal decisions, her not so good past, but look at her now a loving mom to 6 kids, an incredible actress not to mention being a humanitarian. I just love her in every way.
Sherry I’m not a regular when posting comments, but I go in here when I have to take a break, and I just wish your daughter to get well soon first.
You are right, Brad and Angelina fascinate the whole world. I’m French, but I grew up in Madagascar, an island near Africa in the Indian Ocean, and I can tell you that even people from Madagascar know them and love them as much as French people do. People in here love Angie’s exotic and ridicoulously beautiful looks, people in here love the fact that even a young, beautiful, millionaire western actress still care for family values, bunch of kids, and humanitarian causes. And people love the fact that the too perfect Brad Pitt preferred a bad girl like Angelina over a too perfect impersonation of Rachel Green.
As far as I’m concerned, I’ve never been a big Brad Pitt fan, I even often argued with my girl friends because I was the only one to think that Keanu Reeves was a way much more attractive and handsome than Brad Pitt was. lol. But I’ve always thought that there was something about Angie. She looked so bad at times. I remember I related to her the first time when she was accused of french kissing her brother during the Academy Awards ceremony. I was like people are mad! It’s her brother! And a french kiss is when you put the tongue and the lips in, which is something she never did! I also kiss my dad and my bro on the mouth like many people do, and nobody ever told me that I was incestuous nor I french kissed them the way I did with my boyfriend!
I began to getting to know Angie, and was always been admirative about the way she lives her life with much passion and freedom. She was one of the few who would speak freely about drugs and bad things she had experienced. She was one of the few to admit that she did not behave well in doing so. I envied her relationship with her mom, because whatever she did, how much she messed things out, her mom would always listen to her, and guide her to the right path while my mom would kill herself if she ever new that my boyfriend was 5 year older than I was. lol.
She was always been an inspiration to me. She adopted Mad and started to give third of her incomes at a tender age (24 or something like that) an age when Hollywood actresses are full of themselves and egocentric at most. Then she went on with everything that makes her the exceptional woman she is now.
I’ve been to many other websites, and I’ve always been shocked and amazed on how people can love or hate her that much! Her beauty, her intelligence, her sex appeal, her brilliant career, her couple, her children and her freedom and strength are the reasons why some people can’t stand the have it all girl that she is, while others just love the accomplished and fulfilled woman she is. And personally I’m proud to be on the side of those who admire her, and not the haters’ side. The thing is that when the whole world can’t help talking about her, it is because of the “aura” only one in million does have.
Hello
Why do we love em’ – because they are gorgeous!
They really are both beautiful to look at AND charismatic – they fill the screen, they are works of God’s art just like Rodin’s Thinker.
Probabaly though they are not any happier than me! Probably they are a LOT less happy than me. But that’s the fame problem.
Shell
xx
Sherry thanks for having the best discussions regarding AJ & BP. The intelligence and gentleness here actually brings more to us as fans and I love how respectful differences can be expressed. We are all in degrees of understanding, and willingness to express ourselves is paramount to living a full life! Like you Sherry, my fascination came with AJ and I’ve been learning about BP since he came into her life (vice-versa for other fans, yes?).
I see AJ as a 21st Century Woman fully embodying her gifts as woman and balancing her curious, quirky traits without fear. She’s smart AND sexy, lover AND a fighter – redefining all we previously thought of as woman.
It’s GREAT that she won’t marry BP (or maybe HE won’t marry her) because it gives up too much automony for her, and it is against the grain. More of her edginess. I’ve always wondered where her spiritual strength comes from, and after years of studying her, I would say that she was born as herself – had a great mother – found herself true as a mother – and that led her to heal the wounds of abandonment from her father in the love of BP – now she is on top of the world with all her talents being expressed on the world stage – even in politics!!! More power to the couple who met to bring out the best in each other. Love, peace, health, light…may we all have it in our lives!
First of all I want to congratulate you Sherry for this post. I think is the best subject that has ever been posted here. For me is also a dangerous one because it will probably be a very long post:P So…let’s begin…
I will start with Brad, because “the Angelina subject” is much longer:P I always liked Brad. As an actor and as a man. Not as in having a crush on him, but I liked him. I was never aware of his humanitarian actions. I found out about that later, in some of Angie’s interviews. Whwn he married Jen I thought that she is not the woman for him. I don’y know why. I don’t want to offend anyone, it’s just my opinion. When I saw Mr and Mrs Smith I almost prayed to see them together in real life. They were so good together. Perfect match. Physically I mean, because that’s all we can see about them. But the chemistry was so real, that it couldn’t be wrong. When they got together I began to more interestewd in him, because, as many of the people here, I too was more fascinated by Angie and when I will talk about her, you will see why.
Now about Angelina…
One day I saw a report on TV about “the bad girl of Hollywood”. She was fool of tattoos (I personally like most of them, especially the one that says “Know Your Rights”), she was wearing around her neck a vial with her husband’s blood (later I found out that, in fact, it was a pressed flower with just a drop of blood, but the press made it sound like it was a whole bucket in there) and she admitted her bisexuality. Apparently, she was doing everything she could to shock…and she succeeded! Or maybe she simply didn’t care about what people said and was just being…herself (I tend to believe more this side of the story). At that time I was about twenty years old and, according to my definition of normality, she was weird and crazy! But one person’s sense of normality can apply to everybody? No! I realize now that she had a lot of guts to be true and real in such a trivial and superficial world. Ok, maybe, as I said, her behavior was not “normal” for most of us, but at least she was not pretending to be someone else like most of the Hollywood “stars”. Not afraid to be judged, though, as she later said in an interview, she was actually a rather shy person and didn’t like to have all eyes set on her. She could’ve very well hidden her bisexuality, her
passion for knifes, her dark side and all the other things. Most of us live our whole lives “by
the rules”, even if it becomes frustrating and hard to bare. But she didn’t. She was wild and crazy and true everywhere, not only in the safety of her home and out of the world’s eyes. And good for her, I might add! So, I saw the report, I raised my eyebrows, I said “God, she’s nuts”, but I moved on. An hour later it was probably out of my mind. Though, it was something that made me read every article that I saw in the papers and watch the news about her on TV. I don’t know exactly why I was so curious and interested. Maybe because she was wild and outspoken, which I was not! Maybe because she is so “illegaly” beautiful! Maybe! In our subconscious, we all have the desire to be able to really be ourselves, in any circumstance and to speak freely and without the fear of being judged. Or better yet, to overcome that fear and speak out. Angelina was doing that – at least from what I saw and read – and probably that’s why I was so intrigued about.
Time passed and after…let’s say…two or three years, I saw an article about her in a magazine and I began to read it. Suddenly my eyes fell over a phrase that said something like “Angelina Jolie and her adopted son Maddox…”. And that was it! From that moment on I wanted to know more and more about her, to know everything, in fact. Why? Because she was doing what I always wanted to do. Adopt! Helping children in need!
Long story short, I found out that she was now a humanitarian working for UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), trying to speak in the name of all those who fled from their countries because of the war or of those who were refugees in their own land (the Internally Displaced Persons – IDPs) and also a Goodwill Ambassador for this organization. She was traveling to refugee camps, talking to people and trying to assure them that their problems will be heard, taking notes, involving as much as she could and more in solving the situation and donating lots of money to humanitarian causes (a third of her “stupid income”, as she calls it). Those were very unsafe places, but she didn’t seem to care. If those people could survive there, why couldn’t she? After all, she would go there for a few hours or days, while those people remained there almost all their lives. Obviously, I was more than surprised to find out all this after all the “good reviews” about Angelina from over the years. Like most of the people, especially young ones, I also tended to believe what I read in the papers or what I saw on TV and have an opinion based on that. So, at first, it was a little hard for me to assimilate and maybe even believe everything. That’s why I began to “investigate”. I read all the journals she kept from her visits, I saw videos of her field trips and I watched interviews in which she was talking about what was happening in and to her life then. And I cried… I cried when I realized all the pain, the death, the misery and the injustice that was happening all over the world and of which I was not aware, at least not as much as I should have been. I was outraged when I found out from her journals, that some of the refugees problems had very simple and cheap solutions, but were not solved because of God knows what stupid reasons or unjustified delays.
I was always more mature in thinking than most of my friends, but finding out all those things made me realized that I knew less than I thought and… I changed. I changed completely and there was no turning back. When I later saw Angelina’s movie, “Beyond Borders” (great movie), I realized that the scene at the charity ball, when, in just one night, Sarah’s view of the world is 180 degrees changed and she seems to wake up from a long sleep, represents, very accurately I might say, the way I reacted when I understood that there was so much more about the world than I knew, or I thought I knew.
I also realized then, that the media can create a totally different person from the real one and how stupid people are for believing all that. I was in shock when I began to watch all her interviews, old and new ones, available on the internet, saw how the real Angelina was really like and that half or more of the things that were written about her until then, were pure inventions of some people who like to call themselves journalists (like the blood vial that I mentioned in the beginning, like the fact that her passion for knives was made to look like something almost satanic and many other things). That was the reason why, in the beginning, I had such a hard time believing that the person whom I read about was really Angelina. I already had an image formed about her, kindly provided by the media, and the new Angelina was hard to “digest”. And from then on, I never believed what I read in the papers, unless it was a reputable one or if it was confirmed by the parties involved.
Then she teamed up with Brad, they adopted Zahara (I love this name), had beautiful Shiloh (my fav child in the whole world, the most sweet and beautiful), then came cutie Pax and now they have Knox and Vivienne (another precious name). As a pair they are an incredible force. And I think that’s why most of the people follow their every step. Because it’s almost surreal that the most beautiful people in the world got together, formed the most beautiful and incredible family and do so much good for the others. not just sending money, but really involving. Everyone would like to have their live, even the ones who criticize them. Everyone lacks something that they find either in Angie or in Brad. They are unique. I alway say, when I talk to smb about her, that there never was and there will never be another Angelina Jolie. Neither phisically nor in any other way. This I am sure of.
Sherry, happy to hear that your daughter is feeling better today. Hope she will be up and about real soon. Just wanted to say this has been a real interesting topic. 120 comments and all so well written. Lennie and DI fascinating comments. Alot of food for thought.
I just realized that there is another lara here. First I got scared when I saw that some of you jumped at her (my) throat, because I didn’t know what I did wrong:P Then I saw that it is another person and that it is “lara” not “Lara”wilt capital “L”
) Gosh, you scared me:))
Thank you, Lara, for your wonderfully long and descriptive post. I’ve loved each post here with our great stories. I related to yours because the way you wrote it, it seemed that I was on your journey of discovery with you – and it reminded me of my own journey of different stages of loving the Jolie Pitts deeper and deeper.
3 sentences thanking Lara for her post – under mod, 11/12 of 20?
Lara, enjoyed your comments.
At first, i like them because of their own ways. Mean, they have their own identity as an actress and actor and i really love them eversince they were not yet together. But when i saw MAMS i was mesmerized with the mutual and the gesture of compatibility. i was overwhelmed with the very positive aura that both portrays in and off cam. For i know that time brad is actualy still married to jen. But i dont know suddenly it came to my mind hoping that they’ll be a real partner. Until i read and found that they are madly inlove. I feel for jen that time but i was relieved when they (Brad and Jen ) parted in good faith. Thanks for the space. Hoping to know more of this two beautiful people.
Hi everyone.. Thank you Sherry for this interesting topic.
I just simply love and adore Brad since Thelma & Louise, I watch every single one of his movies and drools.. ha ha ha .. he is my fantasy and my Idol, when he got engaged to Gwen I thought what a perfect match, then when they broke up I feels so sad and angry as I know He is a really good guy, then when He married Jen Aniston I thought oh my God..what He is doing.. because I never like her, she seems shallow and insecure .. I lost interest in Brad as I was disappointed, But that doesn’t stop me from watching all his movies , then when I watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith.. I thought .. what a perfect match this two.. it’s match made in heaven for me..
so I become so interested in him again and started to read about them two and I am hooked for live ha ha ha .. Iam now they ‘re biggest fan as I love Angelina Jolie and watch all her movies and I love her more for all her UN and adoptions and she is my Inspirations and my idol.. to me there is only “ONE” Angelina Jolie.. in this world ha ha ha .. she is not just beautiful inside and out but I find her so confident honest and true .
it’s hurts me to see this people and Tabloids with this hates and lies about this beautiful couples.
I just hopes and pray they’re love will last for ever which I have this feelings that it’s will .. they’re both strong and genuine.. I am so happy for Brad that His dreams for a big family have comes true.. and I am so grateful to Angelina for that.. I wish them and all the J-P fans all the best… Peace.
Greetings from Indonesia and English is my second language.
love angelina jolie and brad pitt because they are a perfect match – beautiful and kind hearted people, very different from other self centred celebrities; their love and devotion to their beautiful kids; their good works with needy people around the world etc.. so much for me to love and appreciate them! they are a good and fascinating family, simply love them all.
I thought Brad’s marriage to Aniston was a mistake from the get-go. I couldn’t imagine what in the world he saw in her. She has always impressed me as an airhead, very shallow and superficial and no interest in anything but herself. When I heard he was making a film with Angelina Jolie I was hoping they would get it on and I was delighted when they did.
Jolie has fascinated me for several years now. She was a very wild child who completely turned her life around. I’ve always respected people like that.
I live in NYC where we have celebs out the wazoo. Nobody makes a big deal about them. But when the J-Ps were in the city last summer I have never seen New Yorkers completely lose their sh*t the way they did over this family. I think it’s the kids. Every time you see them you have to go “Awwwww….” Too cute for words.
I just find it very refreshing to see two Hollywood parents who enjoy being parents so much.
Ligaya, Mary Ann, thanks a lot. My post about Angelina is only an excrept of a much bigger article that I began to write about Angelina. It is not something ment to be published or anything. It’s just something that I felt the need to write, in my desire of better understanding and trying to explain to myself the phenomenon that is Angelina Jolie. Just my thoughts laid on a piece of paper and that’s why it looks like a story. The article is about change and what triggered that incerdible change in AJ. But reading all the posts here, I saw that some people say that it is not change. It is transformation. Even Angelina said in interviews that she didn’t necessarily changed. That she channeled her incredible energy and “crazyness” towards better things. But I say that she did changed. And she did transforemd also. So I realized reading, as I said, those posts that speak about her transforming and not changing, that it is a combination of both. In my opinion, transformation and change go hand in hand. There cannot be one without the other. When you decine to transform you life, you make changes in order to do that. Indeed she didn’t changed in relation to that wild, crazy, energetic part of her. That is the part that transformed and channeled towards the meaningful things in life. She still is the Angelina that will jump in a pool at a party if she felt like it in that moment (maybe thinking it through more that she would have done it before, but still doing it if it were the case). She is still the Angelina that would do something risky, if it is for something she believes in, but now it’s a more “safer” and calculated risk, if I can say so (remember her trip to irak, being in the early stages of her twin pregnancy. It was risky, but I bet that the security issues were very strictly analized and discussed with the authorized people and that it was completely safe). But there is also change. The fact that she doesn’t do drugs anymore, is a change. Not cutting herself anymore, is a change. Not having intimate relations with women is change. Even that moment when she decided to become a mother, was, in my opinion, a moment of change. A CHANGE that TRANSFORMED her life totally, but still a change. So change leads to transformation and that is, in my view, Angelina’s case. And that is why I admire and love her so much. She is empowering. She lives such an intense life. She did such important and big changes in her life and transformed in such a way, that it is fascinating. She has a man in her life and she has kids. For so many people this is everything. They live their whole lives in the same small or big town, go to picnics, meet with friends and familly during special times, go on vacation when they have time and money etc. And I don’t say this as a bad thing. This is the natural flow of live for the majority of the peple on this planet. But there are also exceptions, like Angelina and Brad. They have eachother and they have kids. But they also have the whole world to explore. They love it and they can afford it. They have their humanitarian projects, becoming, in this way, “citizens of the world” (like Angie says). Their job allows them to travel and meet new people very often, they do not work their whole life in a small office). And I think that answers, again, the question of this post. Why do they fascinate us? Because they CAN. They CAN do anything they want. And they do it. They are wild, adveturous, outspoken, smart, generous beyond measure, loving, conscious of their power and of what they can do with it. They really are Royalty (wouldnt they look good in a palace?
) )
) I told you, Sherry, taht for me it would be a dangerous subject of discussion 
It is very close to my heart and I thak you again for giving me the oportunity to share my thoughts in this matter with so many smart and well spoken people 
God, again a long post
ps: Lennie, I liked the comment about the “aura that Angie has and that only one in million people hav it. Totally agree with you.
And DI…such a good post. Very well said. One of the reasons I wrote here about transformation, was the fact that you said that, in your opinion, she didn’t trasformed, because transformation means leaving smth behind. Think about an old piece of furniture. You polish it, put some more nails in it, give it a new colour and what do you have? A totally transformed piece of furniture. The old one was not left behind, was just transformen into smt better and useful again. It is also about re-shaping, as you said. But I think that it is also about change and transformation.
http://images.google.ro/imgres?imgurl=http://werievents.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/weri-shiloh-jolie-pitt.jpg&imgrefurl=http://werievents.wordpress.com/category/day/&h=254&w=254&sz=10&hl=ro&start=67&um=1&tbnid=kYsEA55-lhWc4M:&tbnh=111&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dshiloh%2Bjolie%2Bpitt%26start%3D60%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dro%26sa%3DN
Look at this picture of Shiloh. Don’t you think that she lookd so much like Angelina in thin this one? The look, the expression of the face, everything. I think she is the perfect image of her mother here
)
Sorry for the off topic, but I just felt the need to share this with you :p
I have an on-topic post under mod. It will be a long one
Actor Brad was known to prefer picking up edgy roles (Fight Club, Twelve Monkey). But something caused him to be less edgy and he chose only commercial films during 1998-2004.
There was no outstanding films in his filmography for 7 years . I suppose he chose a SAFTY zone professionally and privately. Then he must realize he made a big mistake. In early 2005 interview he said he was responsible for all his mistakes when he was mentioning Troy. Troy was a big budget commercial project and personally I think he was a miscast and he knew it. His former marridge was like Troy. It was too Hollywood extravagance and empty inside. It must be far different from what he dreamed first.
Hollywood marriage was not meant to a family-oriented man nor a challenging actor. He admitted he was responsible for whatever he did. People know themselves throuth their mistakes and that is a soul searching process. He may thank to his mistakes in the past because it led him find true himself.
It seems Brad find a pure soul in Angie who is not affected by Hollywood business.
Lovely posts everyone !
A funny thought that came to my mind:
I still haven’t seen Mr and Mrs Smith. But I started focusing on Brad and Angie around then anyway — the rumors and all that and I really hoped they would get together.
I live in NY city. One of the daily newspapers (not the New York Times, a more ‘working class’ paper) perhaps the Daily Post had a big huge heading that said:
“Mr and Mrs Smith. JEN ! Don’t see it !!”
Hilarious ! They obviously picked up on the natural chemistry there was between Brad and Angie that you are all commenting on, before the relationship was even official, too.
Lara, what a way with words. Great thoughts and well written. I am 69 now and my mind is slowing down, and thoughts and ideas come slower now. Everyone here at Pittwatch and our commenters from JJ, all so very interesting and thoughtful. Thanks again Sherry for providing us the format to do this.
Great topic for a thread. I’ve never seen a topic like this around cyberspace. It’s funny but for me I’ve liked both Brad and Angelina and their films. Brad really seemed to have gotten everyone in Legends of the Fall. At least he got me. I saw it two years after it came out. Angelina is much more recent as I followed the buzz since Gia and kind of kept an casual eye on what she was doing career wise. I think the facination comes about when you like two actors for different reasons and then suddenly they are together. It’s facination because no one ever thought to think of Brad & Angelina together. Brad with other actresses, yes. Angelina with other actors, yes..But the two together? FACINATING! Now after all these years of being together, side from the superficial, like two great looking people, etc…they make a lot more sense together than their previous relationships. I like to follow them on a casual level now, especially their filmwork, But right around the release of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, I was a fanatic! They have a beautiful family and I wish them the best.
Mary Ann, thank you so mich. Your words mean a lot to me, because it took me a long time to express my thoughts here. I’ve been a daily reader of pittwatch for a long time, but I never had the courage to write. I didn’t know if I could express myself the right way. That’s why I began to write and I realised that when you write with inspiratin and about smt you love, the words come natural. And Angelina is all the inspiration I need
You have beautiful posts also. Very warm.
Lara, I follow your logic. I think some people use “change” and “transform” interchangeably, and some think there’s a difference (a little or a lot) between the two. There’s probably an overlap and/or a continuum of meaning. Some people think of change as a rejection of the past, as Angelina turning her back on who and what she was during her “dark, wild child” days. She’s said herself that regrets aren’t useful (I don’t remember her exact words). IMO, Angelina embraces her past and the lessons she learned from her experiences. She wouldn’t be who she is today – and wouldn’t have grown as a person – without her past.
I actually think Brad Pitt brings the fascination, she never got this much media attention until they got together. It used to be the same as when he was together with Jennifer Aniston. I do admired her humanitarian work, but there’s something about her I don’t quite trust. I don’t believe when she says she didn’t get between Jennifer and Brad, well obviously she did because they were together right after him and Jennifer separated. Of course I don’t blame her who would of miss the chance of getting pregnant with Brad Pitt’s baby. For an unknown reason him and Jennifer didn’t have kids and Jolie wasn’t stupid she was going to give Brad what he wanted the most and knows how to keep him around.
SE, every person must evolve, advanced in life. If you stay at the same place, you look a death person.
I have been a fan of Brad since I saw “A River” after ” LOTF” and “Interview” I was hooked. He is sooo hot…I didn’t care for “Babel” didn’t like the story line.”Fight Club’ is another of my favs cuz Tyler’s so crazy.”12 Monkeys” and the “Mexican” were great movies too. I like it when Brad plays crazy wacked out caracters. He seems like he’s a guy with a sence of humor. Angie…I was never a big fan “Tomb Raider” was ok, and she is one of the hottest women on the planet.I think we’re so interested in them cuz we all want to BE them.They are doing great things w/ their money, helping people who need help.If I was rich I hope I’d be as generous as they are. They love their children and seem to be good parents. Let’s hope they can continue to do the humanitarian work,raise their kids to be happy individuals,and maybe have a little peace and quiet now that the twins have been born.GO BRAD AND ANGELINA>>>WE LOVE YOU BOTH!!!
Wow, this discussion thread is amazing. Great stories written by people with much intelligence and depth.
Lara, I love your story about your journey to learn about and love Angelina. You strike me as a young, passionate and very deep person.
Some of the posts here are incredibly interesting and thought provoking. I really enjoy this topic.
I was never a fan of any celeb for a very long time. But something about this trianle Jen-Brad-Angie was ridiculously facinating. I had no idea why I was suddenly so interested. For a while there was this whole team Aniston and team Jolie going on, and I couldn’t choose side. Then I realised, I don’t need to. That’s actually what Angelina is all about. She lets us know her. She doesn’t fake, and she gives her whole self. Look at her interviews. She’s so present it’s captivating. Her stardom comes from inside, from the true strenght as a woman and as a person. From that honesty. She is not afraid to be who she is, and she doesn’t care if people like her or not. The whole take me as I am or leave me kind of attitude. So there’s really no need to take sides, because everyone is a person, everyone is lovely and worthy, and she is messenger of that message herself. Okay this is starting to sound really cheesy, but you get it, right? She’s like this big sign that says “embrace your womanhood, love yourself, be who you are, be creative, honest and passionate and good things will come to you”. You know, she’s someone I can look up to. She was punk kid and kind of lost, but she found herself. You know? She is a prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages. She is hope. And she is an example that a person can change and find her purpose. Plus, of course, she is skinny, stunning and magnificently talented.
Finland, that was lovely. Welcome! It’s so neat that people from so many countries come to Pittwatch. And it’s great to hear from all the lurkers, too!
Ligaya> right to the point. I don’t remember her exact words either, but I realized when I listened to her, that it is sooo true. And I learned this on my own skin. Never ever regret any experience you have. And I mean here the bad ones, because the happy ones nobody regrets, right? Every experience teaches you something. First of all, smth about yourself and second of all, how to cope with different situations in life. I, for instance, from my own experience, learned how to better recognize and differentiate quality people from the false ones. So Angie is absolutely right. No regrets!
Fan from Vietnam> Thanks for your nice words:) I am 25 (am I as youns as you imagined? :p), passionate indeed about the things I love and I am interested in and for a week I was very deep…deep into the mountins :p I was on vacation and stayed at a nice big hut into the mountins. There was nothing arround but huge trees (christmas trees), a splendid little river and a lot of vegetation. It was heavenly!
She flies her own plane, rides motorcycles, travels the globe, gives voice to millions of displaced war refugees through her book and interviews, earns her own living doing what she loves, and displays tremendous beauty inside and out. I’m sure anyone can find something quite fascinating in there.
Analise, that sounds like a great movie right there! Maybe Angelina should play a fictionalized version of herself!
ligaya> the best ideea! Could anyone else play angelina jolie in a movie except Angelina herself? Don’t think so. :p
Its really amazing to know about two unique individuals ( Angelina and BRAD meet together for one common goal- to share one’s LOVE- for themselves, for their family, for their community and to the whole world.
This couple is a representation of a new evolved family. They may not be married because its their option not to.. but they are coping to be a good parents for their siblings.. in which not all people are like that especially with the profession that they have..
Still they are just too realistic and happy about life….