super 8: Military the bad guys, again?

[billc]

Haven't seen the movie yet but this review in particular makes me want to see it a lot less. From the review it appears that once again the american military are the real bad guys in the movie while the dangerous alien is a victim. Has anyone else seen it and are the american military killing civillians in the movie?

The review:

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/k...an-military-as-the-villain-again/#more-483248

From the review:

Look at the far superior Close Encounters. The American military is an obstacle to the hero, not a malignant enemy. There, the military (and other agencies) are trying to make contact with the aliens; the military is benignly keeping folks away from Devil’s Tower. But in Super 8, they murder them – and that’s not an off-hand, one-time event but a key plot point.

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If you have seen the movie, is this true?

 

[elder999]

Haven't seen the movie yet but this review in particular makes me want to see it a lot less. From the review it appears that once again the american military are it appears in the movie while the dangerous alien is a victim. Has anyone else seen it and are the american military killing civillians in the movie?

The review:

http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/k...an-military-as-the-villain-again/#more-483248

From the review:

Look at the far superior Close Encounters. The American military is an obstacle to the hero, not a malignant enemy. There, the military (and other agencies) are trying to make contact with the aliens; the military is benignly keeping folks away from Devil’s Tower. But in Super 8, they murder them – and that’s not an off-hand, one-time event but a key plot point.

-------------------------------------------------------

If you have seen the movie, is this true?

Who cares???????????????????????????????????????????????????

Haven't seen the movie yet
Haven't seen the movie yet
Haven't seen the movie yet
a key plot point.
Haven't seen the movie yet
the american military
in the movie
dangerous alien
in the movie
it appears
the real bad guys
in the movie
killing civilians?
a victim
in the movie
it appears.

 

[Ramirez]

lol.....Bill are you serious? It's a frickin sci-fi movie. You think Spielberg and Abrams actually sat down and decided to write a film with the express purpose of making the military the bad guy?
What they are interested in is
1) box office
2) box office
3) box office
4) putting together an entertaining movie so the previous 3 considerations are taken care of.


This is bordering on paranoia with you now.

Actually if it makes you feel better the movie is an allegory for the control that the Obama government has taken over US civil liberties , obviously he is planning on suborning the military in order to kill American civilians...feel better now?

 

[granfire]

lol.....Bill are you serious? It's a frickin sci-fi movie. You think Spielberg and Abrams actually sat down and decided to write a film with the express purpose of making the military the bad guy?
What they are interested in is
1) box office
2) box office
3) box office
4) putting together an entertaining movie so the previous 3 considerations are taken care of.


This is bordering on paranoia with you now.

Actually if it makes you feel better the movie is an allegory for the control that the Obama government has taken over US civil liberties , obviously he is planning on suborning the military in order to kill American civilians...feel better now?

:lfao:

 

[Ramirez]

secret military operations= big government

big government/control of military by government = socialist (see Hitler was a socialist threads)

I therefore pronounce Super 8 a libertarian film, anti socialist.

Please go out an see the film , watch you don't get poked in the eye by cigarette holder using Ayn Rand wannabees while standing in line to buy your ticket.

 

[RandomPhantom700]

I haven't seen the movie yet; probably will this weekend. Billcihak, methinks you're hyperfocusing on this anti-military agenda idea. I doubt the writers or directors are actively trying to badmouth the military for some political reason. More likely:

1. They're following an established sci-fi plot scheme involving alien encounters and government cover-ups (ET, Men in Black, Close Encounters, Independence Day, etc.)
2. If you're trying to write a movie plot about a group of civilians trying to uncover the truth about an alien encounter, the military is the perfect entity to put in place to oppose them, whether as an obstacle or an enemy. It just makes sense.

Like I said, haven't seen the film yet. I doubt the film will depict the military itself in a malevolent light, but perhaps I'm wrong.

 

[Big Don]

I doubt the film will depict the military itself in a malevolent light, but perhaps I'm wrong.

I hope you are right, but, there have been a hole slew of films the in the past few years where the US military and/or the US itself is the bad guy.

 

[granfire]

I hope you are right, but, there have been a hole slew of films the in the past few years where the US military and/or the US itself is the bad guy.

Somebody has to be the bad guy....

 

[Big Don]

Somebody has to be the bad guy....

Yeah, but, isn't it a little disgusting that in the last few years, while fighting terrorists, the US military is made out as the bad guy?

 

[RandomPhantom700]

Yeah, but, isn't it a little disgusting that in the last few years, while fighting terrorists, the US military is made out as the bad guy?

Perhaps. Try to remember though:

1.) Totalizing is generally a bad idea. This writer or that director may have a beef with the U.S. government and/or military, but that doesn't mean all of Hollywood has an agenda.

2.) Even if the military's painted in a bad light, ask yourself whether it's deliberate or is simply incidental to the overall film production. Like I said, with sci-fi movies in general and alien encounter films in particular, the military is both a common and a logical opponent of choice.

 

[Empty Hands]

The military killed E.T.! NEVER FORGET!!!!!!

 

[RandomPhantom700]

The military killed E.T.! NEVER FORGET!!!!!!

But then again, short wrinkley dude touching fingertips with a young boy? That's just creepy. :rofl:

 

[Big Don]

But then again, short wrinkley dude touching fingertips with a young boy? That's just creepy. :rofl:

I was going to say the little weirdo had it coming, but, you beat me too it.
ET was lucky they didn't shoot down the bicycle...

 

[RandomPhantom700]

Also, some similar threads from the bygone days:

TinselTown_Liberals

I could have sworn there was a second one I'd participated in even further back, but I can't find it.

 

[Omar B]

Another retarded thread about a movie he didn't see, book he didn't read or like the time he did the Obama quote as a topic title that he didn't say. Good to have a dumb, conspiracy theorist around though.

 

[granfire]

Yeah, but, isn't it a little disgusting that in the last few years, while fighting terrorists, the US military is made out as the bad guy?

The police has been the bad guy plenty of times (you know, when you tell a story from the view of a criminal)
Militaries have shown around the world that they can indeed be the bad guys.

What was that Broderic flic? Wargames? Military? Not all good (and pretty darn stupid, too)

Does that mean anything? Not really.
What was it what Steven King said, something like 'I put my characters into a situation and see how they react'? I am sure somebody can find the actual quote by him.

But I am sure that even guys in uniform can appreciate a film with the Army being the bad guy, because there is always some A-hole making life hell for them, so there has to be some merit to it?

But according to my personal observations, the majority of people are not deep thinkers.
That meaning they can sing along song lyrics just fine that are disgusting/offensive/stupid with no harm to their psyche, because they don't pay attention.
A movie is a 90 minute amusement with hardly any deeper impact.
Thus the industry caters to that. And who has the best background for awesome pyro-technic special effects? The Army. Lot's of things that go BOOM. makes for good money at the box office...

Breitarse is writing this crap to make money, anybody giving it a serious second glance is over thinking it.

(reminds me when my mom got all upset because I had an art project with 'anti mom' theme....objection was to pervert advertising....didn't think a lick about my mom, just on how to warp the cheery 'do something nice for mom' sentiment. I was flabberghasted when she was all upset....)

 

[billc]

Careful Omar, you seem to be walking the line with your comments. A little respect please. You may not like the thread, but at least be civil.

 

[billc]

All of you who think this is a silly thread might want to talk to some vietnam vets about how they have been portrayed in the media since the end of the war. Here is an article that discusses the truth about vietnam vets, the ones who outperformed their civillian peers, had normal lives, and were benefits to their communities. The media created the psychotic, drug addicted vietnam vet who committed atrocities for fun. That image has haunted these guys since they came home. Now, the typical vet is portrayed as a brain damaged victim. At least they may have gotten past the atrocity committing psycho image, but that still remains to be seen.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0LIY/is_7_90/ai_98829331/

From the article:

As the years progressed, Martinez and the Cranes inwardly seethed as cultural views about Vietnam veterans solidified around a negative stereotype.

In society's eyes, the Vietnam veteran became a homeless misfit, so deeply scarred by his wartime experience that he could not lead a happy, productive life. Worse yet, society imagined the Vietnam veteran as a violent psychotic in the mold of Rambo, Sylvester Stallone's characterization of a deranged Vietnam veteran who turns his explosive rage on society.


ietnam vets have long complained of the offensive misrepresentations.

"It's an insult to good people," says Brad Bradshaw, a Fairfax County, Va. magistrate who served as a navigator on board an AC-130 gunship over Vietnam. "To make us out as crazed animals--that's just wrong."

Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., points but that Vietnam veterans are among the most successful members of society. Their ranks include FBI Director Robert Mueller; AOL founder James Kimsey; and E*Trade CEO Christos Cotsakos.

"Veterans have succeeded in areas ranging from law enforcement to the clergy," Scruggs says. "The successful veteran is the norm." And yet, he adds: "The image of the troubled Vietnam vet pervades American popular culture."

In 1999, Calvin and Christel Crane--fed up by still another television show depicting negative views of the Vietnam veteran--decided to take action.

____________________________________

The media perpetuated the worst stereotypes of the vietnam vet and they did it through movies and television. This stuff does have an effect.

 

[billc]

This is how the media has distorted the vets of just one war and here are some real stats:

The Cranes found that as of 1985, for example, eight of every 10 Vietnam veterans were married to their first spouse. Of that number, 90% had children. Also in 1985, 30% of Vietnam veterans had attended college, as compared to 24% of their non-military peers. In 1994, the unemployment rate for all men over age 18 was 6%; for Vietnam veterans, the rate was 3.9%.

The Cranes compiled other eye-opening statistics. For example, in contrast to the myth perpetuated by Platoon (Oliver Stone's 1987 film) that servicemen in Vietnam indulged in murderous, dope-fueled misdeeds, the vast majority behaved admirably. Nearly all--97%--were honorably discharged from the service. Today, 90% who saw heavy combat say they are proud to have served.

Additionally, the Cranes found, the Rambo-inspired myth of the Vietnam veteran as criminal is pure fiction. Numerous studies have concluded that a statistically insignificant number of Vietnam veterans landed in prison after returning home.

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Movie after movie depicting military personel as the bad guys has an effect on the culture, and this negative effect impacts the silliness you see coming from the left in politics and academia as it attacks the military.

 

[Empty Hands]

Consider the implications if we take the author seriously. The military must be lauded and any criticism of the military must, at the very least, be limited to the minority. Criticism of the military is evidence of un-American or un-patriotic feeling or temper.

Is this really the path that the "government is evil" crowd should really want us to go down? Worship of state power and refusal to criticize the same?

The reality is that movies need antagonists to add drama and make the film interesting. Sometimes that antagonist will be the military. Or a secret government agency. Or a cabal of assassins and spies. Or religious leaders. Or the neighbors. And so on. Why must we assign special criteria to one set of film antagonists but not the others?

Why would a "small government conservative" who is absolutely terrified to hear "I'm from the government and I'm here to help" want us to refuse to criticize only one part of the government?