Alex Aloise - The Jacket

I've seen this film a couple times. There was always something about it that really bothered me. Not that I was disturbed or offended by it in any way, rather I always felt like the film really fell short of its true potential. I never liked how Jack basically does nothing to stop his death, he just simply finds out how it will happen. But, I think I finally get it now. Being in the jacket, in the morgue, Jack sees his death and knows there is nothing he can do to stop it. It is his inevitable fate. He can, however, do something to change things for those around him. The story is about realizing your fate and learning to accept it. It challenges the viewer to ask themselves what they would do in Jack's case. Obviously, for me, I would try to change fate if I knew I was going to die. But Jack does know and yet he still doesn't fight it. He just learns how it happens. I've got a greater appreciation for the movie now that I've watched it again through this perspective. Should we tempt fate and try to change it? Or should we simply accept the hand we are dealt and try to make the most of the time we have? It's a question I still cannot completely answer.