Posted on 12/29/2005 7:05:24 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Hollywood's misunderstood terrorists
By Victor Davis Hanson
When terrorism goes to the movies in the post-Sept. 11 world, we might expect the plots, characters and themes to reflect some sort of believable reality. But in Hollywood, the politically correct impulse now overrides all else. Even the spectacular pyrotechnics, beautiful people and accomplished acting cannot hide it.
Instead, moviegoers can anticipate before the opening credits that those characters who work for the American government or are at war with terrorists will likely be portrayed as criminals, incompetents or people existing on the same moral plane as killers.
Take this fall's "Flightplan," in which the U.S. air marshal on board and a flight attendant turn out to be the true terrorists. Meanwhile, four Middle Eastern males are unfairly put under suspicion in the lynch-mob atmosphere on the plane.
The film warns us that the real threat after Sept. 11 is certainly not young Middle Eastern males on planes who might hijack or crash them into iconic American buildings. No, more dangerous in Hollywood's alternate universe are the flight officials themselves — who in reality on Sept. 11 battled terrorists only to have their throats cut before being blown up with all the passengers.
A slickly filmed "Syriana" is the worst of the recent releases. The film's problem is not just that it predictably presents the bad, ugly sheik as a puppet of American oil interests while the handsome and good independent crown price is assassinated for championing his oppressed people against Western hegemony. Or that the conniving corporate potentates have big bellies and Southern accents while the good-hearted, sloppily dressed George Clooney is double-crossed by his stylish, pampered CIA bosses safe in the Washington, D.C., suburbs.
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
Ping
I don't think they do. Why do I say that? Because I don't think Hollywood really understands what's going on, and that the terrorist really want to kill them. For them it's just a game.
Let me know if you want in or out.
Links: FR Index of his articles: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=victordavishanson
His website: http://victorhanson.com/ NRO archive: http://www.nationalreview.com/hanson/hanson-archive.asp
This year, though, I really had no interest in seeing ANYTHING. I'm that alienated from Hollywood and its values. Going to the movies just isn't fun anymore. Buying a ticket feels like a contribution to the American liberal madrass.
Practically nothing they put out on the big screen is worth watching.
Self-haters in a Self-hating industry!
I'm sure the NYT, LA Times, Washington Post, NPR, Public television, etc., will give these films four weasels up as soon as they stop hysterically bending over each other praising the film about the two "cowboys".
I think the right question is; "Which part do they disagree with?"
One point that Dr. Hanson doesn't make:
These movies are distributed worldwide, and contribute to the anti-American sentiment abroad. I believe that Hollywood has done more damage to the American image abroad over the last 20 years than any other group or individual. They have consistently portrayed American interests as evil, and American culture as amoral.
I think they are scared. They don't want any fatwahs or dog poisonings, so they just ignore the most compelling issue of our time and appease the CAIR pitbulls.
During and after WWII, there wasn't much to fear from U.S. Nazis, so filmmakers could portray them as the devils they were.
"Self-haters in a Self-hating industry!"
Those pathologic narcissists do not hate themselves, quite the opposite. They only hate the rest of us.
"Radical Son",Great book.Read "Treason" by Ann Coulter?also nails the lib/dem mindset:)
Actually, he wasn't. Senator McCarthy was right about communists in the State and Defense Departments. The House Un-American Activities Committee was right about the communists in Hollyweird.
""Radical Son",Great book.Read "Treason" by Ann Coulter?also nails the lib/dem mindset:)"
I agree!
"Going to the movies just isn't fun anymore. Buying a ticket feels like a contribution to the American liberal madrass."
Great way of looking at it. That sums up my feelings about the whole situation as well.
When there ARE movies I want to see (mainly foreign or the old classics) my library is a great place to borrow them. I mean, it's my tax dollars supporting my library, anyway. A decent plot and excellent acting is good at any time. I've never understood the thrill of rushing out to see something the moment it comes out in the theaters. If it "has legs" it'll be around for a long while, anyway. I mean, I didn't read "To Kill a Mockingbird" until five years ago. It was still as excellent a read today as when it was first published. :)
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