Thursday, August 11, 2005

What bias in Hollywood?/updated

Well, read it and weep. That is what Hollywood has in store for us. Take this one for starters:

-  "V For Vendetta." From Warner Brothers and the creators of "The Matrix" comes this film about a futuristic Great Britain that's become a 'fascist state.' A masked 'freedom fighter' named V uses terror tactics (including bombing the London Underground) to undermine the government - leading to a climax in which the British Parliament is blown up. Natalie Portman stars as a skinhead who turns to 'the revolution' after doing time as a Guantanamo-style prisoner.


That's funny - because you'd think that Hollywood would be a tad more interested in ACTUAL fascist states that exist today (in Africa), or follow the trail of the hopes and aspirations of the Islamic fascists. If Britain ever becomes anything remotely resembling a fascist state, it will only be under auspices of an Islamic caliphate. And, not to give too much away, but in that scenario, the "Freedom fighters" will not be the ones bombing schools, and forcing Burkas on anything with a uterus.

Here's another good one:

"Syriana." Starring George Clooney and Matt Damon, this Warner Brothers film - set during the first Bush administration - features a plot by American oil companies and the U.S. government to redraw Middle East borders for greater oil profiteering. The film even depicts a handsome, 'tragic' suicide bomber driven to jihad after being fired by an American oil company! The film's climax comes with the jihadist launching an explosive device into an oil tanker as American oil barons and Saudi officials look on.


Oye. I'm surprised they didn't just use Michael Moor's "Afghan pipeline" fairy tale. This really cuts to the quick of the evil Rethuglican mythology. It's all about OIL. Rethuglicans own oil, or their friend's own oil, and it is the muse behind all foreign policy. Can't those creative types could come up with something new? I guess that would be asking too much. And, there is comfort in knowing what the Left Coast is dishing out. A continuum. Let's review Hollywood's steadfast storyline rules:

American = stupid and/or Evil
Oil = Republican justification for war
jihadist = freedom fighter who's just been pushed too far (most likely witnessed his sister/wife/mother being raped by American soldiers)
US President and the government = always evil unless it's depicting a Democrat
Terrorist = Scandinavian bank robber (never Islamic)

Which really brings me to a point I've been wanting to bring up for the last few days. We are currently winning the war on Terror and the War in Iraq. What we are NOT winning is the propaganda war. Of course, in this endeavor we are at a distinct disadvantage, since most of our media, and all of Hollywood (bar a few here and there) are gunning for the other side. Take a look at that list. What is the message of those films?

Oh well. I know I will be saving my cash, because I will NOT be going to any of these atrocities. Hollywood can go pound itself.

Update: Jeff'sf .02 on the matter:

I just hope theaters spring for newsreels and pre-feature cartoons; because nothing gets me more in the mood for a 110-minute PG-13 piece of anti-military, anti-Bush doctrine agitprop than footage of US soldiers being wounded by roadside bombs, or shorts of Bugs Bunny in drag seducing a lechorous Don Rumsfeld to prevent him from launching a preemptive war against a Syrian orphanage.