Hollywood produces anti-war bombs
posted at 6:36 pm on November 9, 2007 by Bryan
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Redacted, a flop. Lions and Lambs, flop. In the Valley of Elah, flop.
People don’t go to theaters to sit through two hours of diatribes and propaganda on their leisure time. They’re not going to spend money on it. Now we have the proof.
Almost without exception, however, the crop of movies have struggled to turn a profit at the box-office and in many cases have received a mauling from unimpressed critics as well.
“Rendition,” a drama starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal about the CIA’s policy of outsourcing interrogation of terror suspects, has taken just under 10 million dollars at the box office, a disastrous return.
Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis’s latest film “In the Valley of Elah,” about a father investigating the death of his son in Iraq, earned favorable reviews but less than seven million dollars following its release in September.
Even the action-packed “The Kingdom,” starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner, fell well below its 70 million budget with around 47 million dollars in ticket sales.
People are giving Hollywood pretty clear message on these message films: Do not want. We told them so.
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What do we know? They’re better than us.
Rode Werk on November 9, 2007 at 6:41 PM
I definitely DO NOT WANT.
I think I’ll watch Cars again, thanks…
Bob's Kid on November 9, 2007 at 6:43 PM
Hollywood should have known that Americans don’t want to spend $10 to see a movie that bashes America.
SoulGlo on November 9, 2007 at 6:44 PM
We go to the movies to be entertained, and for some of us, to escape reality for a couple hours. Maybe it’s me, but Hollywood’s latest efforts are counterproductive to those reasons, yes?
When one decides to push one’s agenda in the form of a movie and it doesn’t sell, one gets what one deserves.
Thanks for posting Bryan.
RMCS_USN on November 9, 2007 at 6:46 PM
They’re “feel good” movies; they’re movies that make the actors feel good about themselves. Multi-million dollar ego boosts and hopes that their “daring do” will get them onto an AFI list someday.
Vizzini on November 9, 2007 at 6:46 PM
Wasn’t Redford suppose to leave the country and never come back?
Well, it Friday that means a trip to the video store, a pizza, and a video that has entertainment. Not preachy.
Kini on November 9, 2007 at 6:46 PM
There are several more Anti-War duds in the pipeline
Best war movie ever: “Twelve O’clock High”
Watch it to discover why you’re not reading this in German
Janos Hunyadi on November 9, 2007 at 6:49 PM
SoulGlo on November 9, 2007 at 6:44 PM
What’s even more amazing is that even Europeans don’t seem to want to spend 7 euros to see a movie that bashes America.
billy on November 9, 2007 at 6:49 PM
Check out rotton tomatoes:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lions_for_lambs/
Lions for Lambs is BOMBING LOL!!
ArmyAunt on November 9, 2007 at 6:51 PM
Todays review from Fort Worth Star-Telegram on “Lions and Lambs”
http://www.star-telegram.com/movies/story/296199.html
GoodBoy on November 9, 2007 at 6:51 PM
Frankly I hope they keep making these movies until Hollywood is flat broke and evicted from their studios.
Maxx on November 9, 2007 at 6:51 PM
“Rendition” in particular looked laughable in the preview. Bad acting, shallow writing, obvious U.S. bashing etc. etc. (and that was just the preview!)
I will say that “The Kingdom” was an excellent movie! I thought it portrayed radical islam as radicals and we were the good guys. The attempt at moral equivalence at the end could have been left out, or perhaps they were trying to make another statement. Regardless, go see “The Kingdom,” if you haven’t. It’s really good!
Ordinary1 on November 9, 2007 at 6:57 PM
From Rotten tomatoes:
Hey! That’s a low blow!
lorien1973 on November 9, 2007 at 6:58 PM
I have seen all I even want to see of Redford and Cruise.
Wade on November 9, 2007 at 6:59 PM
Also, from Rotten tomatoes. Look at the 3 pictures to promote the movie by the reviews.
In your movie, if the 3 best scenes are (in no particular order)
1-someone sitting down
2-someone sitting down
3-someone sitting down
I don’t think many people are gonna go watch it. Just a thought.
lorien1973 on November 9, 2007 at 6:59 PM
all this kerfuffle about the crop of BDS flicks is going to add something fierce to the Beowoof buzz, and consequently i suspect that it will sell a LOT more popcorn.
I for one, plan to get hammered and go see la Woof du Beo.
Mike D. on November 9, 2007 at 7:03 PM
I guess I’ll just watch Gone With The Wind again and maybe
The African Queen an adventure/love story staring two old actors, Humphrey Bogart (who won the Academy Award for Best Actor – his only Oscar), and Katharine Hepburn. Ah, the good old days of good movies.
WildBillK on November 9, 2007 at 7:03 PM
And just to rub it in, John Rambo is going to kick ass.
see-dubya on November 9, 2007 at 7:05 PM
I read the reviews on Yahoo for this one coming out tonight, and it was really bad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many F grades for a movie ever. This is even from liberals…the viewers just think that they don’t need to pay $10. for something they can get on Olbermann ever night for free.
Long may it continue…
Chudi on November 9, 2007 at 7:09 PM
We hear every day how bad our country and the militarys is from the all knowing biased liberal media, why would anyone pay to hear more of the same. Even if someone actually believes all the *rap, there is only so much anyone can take. May be they will all go broke and have to live like normal people.
vulcannomad on November 9, 2007 at 7:12 PM
The pundits claim that the Iraq War doesn’t sell…
But what Iraq War movies have been released that aren’t condescending anti-war/anti-American propaganda?
Here is a template for success for you…
Here is a clue. Men. Men go to war movies… and they like war movies that have positive heroes that are heroic. Then they buy the DVD.
Chicks don’t go to war movies. Chicks don’t care if those movies, they don’t go to, are historically accurate and they won’t go even if General Patton has self-loathing reflective moments that displace his entire campaign kicking the krauts across Europe.
Men go to war movies.
Make some.
DANEgerus on November 9, 2007 at 7:18 PM
I’m sick and tired of these moronic make believe artists attempting to define a war that is being being fought and won by our brave young patriots. Please tell me when any of this Hollywood mob sacrificed anything for their country. Enough of these bums!
rplat on November 9, 2007 at 7:19 PM
Absolutley. You nailed my exact thoughts. We like winners…not losers. 300 was awsome.
And it ticked off the Iranians.
Scoreboard44 on November 9, 2007 at 7:21 PM
It’s the Hollywood liberal equivalent to inbreeding. Liberal producers, directors and actors create these films knowing that they can count on their own kind to reward them with acclaim and golden statues. The money doesn’t matter to anyone but the investors, who will eventually do to this industry what they’ve done to NYT.
RedWinged Blackbird on November 9, 2007 at 7:23 PM
Fox News caught up with Tom Cruse on his new
warpropoganda film and was saying that he thought that the movie would start discusions about the war. All I’ve seen is talk about why Hollywood is insisting on pushing its agenda, not the kind of conversation or discusion he was thinking of I’m sure.P. James Moriarty on November 9, 2007 at 7:28 PM
I think I’ll keep watching “Airplane” over and over and laughing at stupid silly.
mimi1220 on November 9, 2007 at 7:39 PM
Why pay $10 when anti-war propaganda is free on the nightly news?
infidel4life on November 9, 2007 at 7:40 PM
Eh, we’re all just too dumb to “get” it. They really need to break it down for us!
SouthernGent on November 9, 2007 at 7:40 PM
I thought the Kingdom was awesome. I’ll probobly be getting it once it comes out on dvd. I think they left the line at the end gray enough that one could take it as “We’re going to kill everyone responsible for this, while they just want to kill everyone”. If you take it that way it sounds good.
I am so glad to see all these other anti-American political pr0nos bombing so badly. Makes me think our country isn’t heading in the wrong direction.
I’m still hoping Lone Survivor gets into production too.
BadgerHawk on November 9, 2007 at 7:44 PM
The Kingdom is awesome and everyone should watch it.
Like some other blogger said… the first 3/4 is CSI Riyadh, but then the last part is a bada$$ fight. When the “event” happens, the movie goes from not bad to 11.
Kai on November 9, 2007 at 7:51 PM
Hogan’s Heroes DVD collection:
1. War story.
2. Men performing heroic missions
3. I’m home.
4. Cheap popcorn.
5. I’ll keep watching Hogan over and over and laughing at stupid silly.
SCHULTZ!
freebird on November 9, 2007 at 7:58 PM
Seems everything that’s come out of Hollywierd lately is a sequel, a prequel, a remake or a political “statement”. To hell with it. The last movie I saw in a theatre was Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones. The way things stand now, that may be the last movie I ever see on the big screen. I’ll just stay home and watch the History Channel, the Discovery Channel and the Sci-Fi Channel. BTW, the only two current-production television shows I watch are both made in Vancouver…
Rusty Bill on November 9, 2007 at 8:12 PM
Why doesn’t Hollywood make good, patriotic war movies, as in WW2?
.
It’s precisely a question of the reigning value system in Hollywood. If you understand the reason they hate real religious-themed movies, you understand why they hate patriotic themed war movies on the War on Terror.
.
To elaborate, as I see it, it’s parallel to the controversy over Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of Christ” a couple of years ago. Remember that?
.
Gibson couldn’t get ANY studio in Hollywood to make it, so he made it himself. Putting up most of his own personal wealth, $25 million, he underwrote it, produced and directed it himself. Only one distribution company would agree to distribute it, for small amount of cash and a promise of a big percentage chunk of the gross.
.
And as we remember, “The Passion of Christ” was the second or third biggest box office successes of 2005, taking in $640 million, NOT even counting DVDs and so forth. So, the final number was around THREE QUARTERS OF A BILLION DOLLARS! … From a $25 MILLION investment!
.
(And that courageous distribution firm, whose name escapes me, ended up making $50 million, $60 million net profit, or something like that.)
.
The Hollywood crowd was hostile to the movie and to Gibson – before, during and after it’s release. They even cooked up a bogus “anti-Semitism” slur against the movie. A Christian-based movie about the last day and death of Christ is inherently “anti-Semitic”??? The production president of one of the big studios even said in an interview, “…No we definitely have no plans to make a “movie like “The Passion of Christ”. He went on, “…I wouldn’t even know how to do that.”
.
Well, Mr. Studio President, think back to some of the biggest Biblical-based box-office hits of the 60’s: “The Ten Commandments”, “Ben-Hur”, “The Robe”, and others. Their studios made HUGE profits on these box office smash hits. (And won all kinds of Oscars) But you wouldn’t know how to do that? Would you even dare say that about any non-religious, non-Leftist themes for movies?
.
The obvious point is: He DOESN’T WANT to make “a movie like that”.
.
His Leftist animosity and contempt for religion, for religious values, for any religion, is so great, it far outweighs his general Hollywood capitalist desire to make smash movies and huge profits. And he knows he won’t get fired or endure any other bad consequences from the studio boards of directors for publicly saying that BECAUSE they share his Leftist philosophy.
.
Now, as another integral facet of this Leftist world-view and value system, we see Hollywood’s general hatred and contempt for conservatism, conservatives, the War on Terror…and old-fashioned patriotism.
.
Those old patriotic movies: the John Wayne war movies, movies like “The Longest Day”, about D-Day, “Tora, Tora, Tora” about Pearl Harbor and December 7th, “The Battle of Britain”, “From Here to Eternity”, etc. were all very successful at the box office, made huge amounts of money for the studios, won all kinds of Oscars, employed all those Leftist union people in Hollywood and made the stars a pile of money too.
.
So, why won’t they make modern patriotic-themed movies about the War on Terror? Same reason they won’t make positive religious themed movies. They DON’T WANT TO. AT SOME LEVEL, THEY’RE ALL ROOTING FOR THE OTHER SIDE.
DavePa on November 9, 2007 at 8:21 PM
Question: How do we know there is actually a writers’ strike??
And how will we know it’s over?
It seems to me that all the truly professional writers were fired long ago: sometime in the late 1970’s. Everything since then has lacked dialog and/or seemed to be computer-generated. And on TV, with only a very few exceptions, nothing seems like a professional writer was anywhere near the production: instead, we have “reality” shows which look like stuff voted out of YouTube or trashed by “funnyordie.com”.
After you’ve seen everything in the Time/Warner library of old hit flicks, why would you ever go to a movie theatre again?
landlines on November 9, 2007 at 8:22 PM
Any war movie produced now seems to be a lecture on the War On Terror by the left,it must be painfully sad for Hollywood
that after all the investigations they couldn’t find any
US Military atrocities to film and glorify and again try to
paint the US as the bad guys in world opinion.
For once I would like to see Saturday night live(which I gave up watching)do a skit thats not to politically correct,
or Hollywood come out with a movie about Islamofacists having their world caliphate,and a hero that takes it back,
lets put it this why,in comparison it would make 300 look like a commercial,and the treatment of woman,lets say the femenazis would now have a cause to protest this movie!
NO,Hollywood doesn’t have the guts,BTW Islamofacists
have Hollywood dead in their sights.Maybe the LA shopping
mall threats are a ruse,and thier actually after the studios,remember shortly after 911,broadway didn’t know
whether or not the show should go on or hide in a bunker.
canopfor on November 9, 2007 at 8:45 PM
[Maxx on November 9, 2007 at 6:51 PM]
Not to mention the actors and actresses living out of refrigerator boxes.
Dusty on November 9, 2007 at 8:49 PM
I’m going to disagree with this. I’m a chick. I despise “chick flicks”. They’re childish and stupid. And I LOVE war movies. Well made war movies, that is.
My kingdom (such as it is) for a movie about the Six Day War.
Instead I get immature claptrap about Israel such as “Munich.”
mjk on November 9, 2007 at 8:57 PM
Why doesn’t Hollywood make good,patriotic war movies,
as in WW2.
DavePa on November 9,2007 at 8:21PM.
DavePa:I thought I verbally painted a good comment,
I salute you,yours is a masterpiece.
canopfor on November 9, 2007 at 9:01 PM
Here’s the biggest question, which will notice the suckage first, the theatres owners when they decide where to allowcate theatres to show this tripe, or hollywood…. I would guess that the owners will likely move this types of movies to limited release, or to specific areas where they might do well.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on November 9, 2007 at 9:13 PM
My wife and I got up at 2 a.m., threw shape into ourselves (no mean feat at our age), and hit the road at 3 am.
Pulled into Fort (Someplace) at 6 a.m. and talked and chatted with as many of the 5000 soldiers and their families as we could. Waiting for them to draw weapons, or get a hurry up and wait MRE. Taking photos with mom and pop, or Sue and the kids. Was offered a howdy and nice to meet you from more then you could count.
About 3:30 p.m. the buses pulled up and the soldiers all got into their formations and prepared to file aboard. All ready. All wanting to get it done. The formation report was ‘All present and accounted for’. Then they were gone, and we all walked back to our cars as those men headed to the AFB and the waiting jets. Those jets are winging over now, this moment. First full day of boots on the ground….Veterans Day.
That was today folks. Today. Just finished putting my son’s car in the garage under a cover.
There is a movie in that Hollywood…..not a tear jerker. Not a lost or spent youth message……a movie about the greatest gift any man or woman could give to you and me…..
getting on that plane and getting on with business.
Too bad Hollywood is too simpleminded to find it.
God’s speed Troopers…….and good hunting.
Limerick on November 9, 2007 at 9:24 PM
As I said after reading the story of the 5 airmen(?) ambushed on that roof where only two survived, I’d pay to watch movies that covered the real-life heroes of the American Military. I’d even pay to watch a movie based on the doings of Michael Yon -that could make one heck of a movie!
taznar on November 9, 2007 at 9:30 PM
Beautiful. Just beautiful.
Dudley Smith on November 9, 2007 at 9:36 PM
Last year I watched Back to the Future for the first time in ages.
And when the part about the Libyan terrorists in the parking lot of the Twin Pines Mall came up, my jaw hit the ground.
Wow! Militant Islamists, who have been the bad guys since 1948 (in modern times, at least), were actually bad guys in the movie.
(Psst! When BTTF was released back in 1985, Libya was actively exporting terrorism worldwide – remember Lockerbie? – and Reagan had just sent a couple F-111’s over Tripoli to ’splain it to him. So it wasn’t stereotypical that Libyan terrorists should be part of the plot of a movie, where they were trying to steal plutonium.)
Someone recently commented that the Bruce Willis/Denzel Washington movie The Siege also had militant islamists as the bad guys.
The Siege was released in 1998, after the Twin Towers bombing (1993), Somalia (1993), Khobar Towers bombing (1996), and US Embassy bombing in Kenya (1996?). So, again, it wasn’t stereotypical to feature Islamist terrorists in a movie about terrorism on US soil.
But now?
Statistically, the worst terrorism attacks in the world to occur since 9/11 have been committed by Islamists. So, how is it now considered unreasonable that art might actually reflect reality, regarding islamist terrorism?
Then again, what we are seeing, IMHO, is Hollyweird just showing its true colors, without apologizing for it.
Consider this: during the Cold War, Hollyweird made movies by the dozens about the horrors of the Third Reich and Nazism.
But how many movies were made about the horrors of Communism?
Few. And those movies that were made (e.g., The Incredible Lightness of Being) mainly focused on the USSR’s client states.
When one did focus on the USSR directly, though, like The Hunt for Red October, it performed well at the box office.
It amazes me at how far screenwriters and the like will go to change reality to suit its current leftist moral equivalence meme, in movies such as Munich or Syriana.
Wonder what they will do to blame Theo Van Gogh if they ever make a movie about him?
Wanderlust on November 9, 2007 at 9:42 PM
oops…last line should have read,
Wanderlust on November 9, 2007 at 9:45 PM
Yon was ex-Special Forces, and IIRC, got put up on attempted murder charges once for a fight in a bar because of his training.
I’m sure his exploits with the Punishers (24th ID) alone would make one hell of a movie – one that I would gladly venture out into a movie theatre to see, if it were presented faithfully to the facts.
Wanderlust on November 9, 2007 at 9:50 PM
I think its funny how delusional these pansies are. Every anti war/anti US movie to date since 9-11 has utterly failed miserably.
Even so this pansy writing the article tries to spin it as not the anit-US anti-War biased fault, oh no its because this war is “so horribly unpopular”. Freekin idiot.
It is a shame their is not one new jack outfit out their willing to make a SOF/Jack Buer type black ops thriller. Traveling, fighting, chasing, and killing terrorist from Iraq, N Africa, Philippines, Afghanistan, and of course behind the lines in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Europe etc….
Considering the insane turn out for war can be honorable in the big picture themed 300, and a Transformers (the most pro military movie I have seen in decades (even the black ops guys were on the same team, same goals).
Any such Pro-US, pro-Military war movie would be a box office powerhouse.
C-Low on November 9, 2007 at 10:00 PM
Why watch this carp for $E12 when you can see the same negativity for free on CNN, CBS, PMSNBC?
Hilts on November 9, 2007 at 10:04 PM
That’s $12 (in NYC).
Hilts on November 9, 2007 at 10:05 PM
Follywood has been cranking out message films for decades, & the public usually gobbles them up. For instance, we haven’t built any nuclear power plants since “China Syndrome” in the 70s.
jgapinoy on November 9, 2007 at 10:12 PM
Another thing 300 had that men like … boobs.
Greatest – movie – ever.
tlynch001 on November 9, 2007 at 10:31 PM
But in “The Siege” the American government were also the bad guys, throwing all the poor innocent muslims into internment camps.
“Executive Decision” was really the last big movie that depicted Jihadists hijacking an airplane to kill American infidels in the name of Allah (even including shouts of “Allahu Akbar!”) Now it seems eerily prophetic for 1996 in light of 9/11.
Since 9/11 there really haven’t been any movies depicting Islamists as bad guys. It’s not difficult to discern where Hollywood’s loyalties lie.
infidel4life on November 9, 2007 at 10:58 PM
Dean Jagger was terrific, but I have to go with “The Best Years of Our Lives” m’self.
major john on November 9, 2007 at 11:15 PM
Oh, and Mr. Redford? You can bite my ACU covered rump.
major john on November 9, 2007 at 11:16 PM
God bless you and yours, Limerick.
They (and you) are the Best of the Best of America.
I would happily pay to see honest, heroic and honorable portrayals of a just a few of the very many spectacularly valiant real life stories coming out of this conflict. Stories like the ones reported frequently at BlackFive and folks like Michael Yon. Our Armed Forces are Genuine Heroes and their stories should be widely and respectfully told.
Films like that would make money. They wouldn’t win at Cannes or be given a lot of critical respect (who cares?), but the American People would love them and the film makers would make a ton of money.
I tell ya, conservative film makers, writers, digital and practical artists and tradesmen (where the hell would you find such people?) should band together (if they do indeed exist) and produce product that meets the undeniable need. Very high upside potential, it would seem to me.
Hollywood could do it, but they don’t understand the subject matter or concept from our point of view. At. All. Bunch of masterbating feces flinging primates.
On the bright side, the non-stop incompetence is only hastening their dissolution and diminuition and the inevitable move of all things entertainment, news, and education to the net. Where they belong.
There’s a real opportunity here.
techno_barbarian on November 9, 2007 at 11:37 PM
I thought “Kingdom” was pretty good (plot wise and non-propaganda wise), and it still flopped. Although it was the most successful flop of the Iraq / War on Terror movies.
AlexB on November 9, 2007 at 11:40 PM
I haven’t considered the political statements of these movies, but I thought they were pretty good recent war flicks.
Black Hawk Down
Hart’s War
We were soldiers
Saving private Ryan
band of brothers
Courage under fire
Older classics
Bridge on the river Kwai
Stalag 17
Full Metal Jacket
To hell and back
Mr Roberts
csdeven on November 9, 2007 at 11:43 PM
To make an American movie you have to be an American. The hollywood crowd aren’t Americans. Therefore, they can’t.
Hope for the future lies in the fact that the technological tools of moviemaking, music and publishing become cheaper and more widely available every day. The means of distribution become more democratic.
Hollywood needs to worry about the day when an entire studio can be replaced by a few guys with high-end computers in an office.
The day is coming.
trigon on November 10, 2007 at 12:28 AM
It might be too much to hope for but, hopefully, this translates into what voters think of the defeatocrats lack of support for the troops.
91Veteran on November 10, 2007 at 12:33 AM
The day is here.
Excellent HDV cameras are cheap and plentiful and getting more powerful and cheaper all the time. Adobe’s Production Studio Premimum is a dream come true. The digital stuff works now. You can work creatively and effectively and hone your craft rather than fight with hardware and software. It’s amazing and endlessly fascinating.
Bright future on the horizon, and I’m working very hard toward it. Only one of many, I hope, doing so.
techno_barbarian on November 10, 2007 at 12:34 AM
In the one article I read about this…which seemed to be about making excuses for why they were all bombing, one of those involved in one of the movies kept saying essentially the same thing…why would anyone pay $10 to see something they can get for free on their TV.
He claimed the TV was “saturated” with coverage of the war.
Huh?
Not saturated, but certainly left wing coverage.
91Veteran on November 10, 2007 at 12:40 AM
This is the article I was referring to, linked at Drudge.
Towards the end of the article, Steven Bochco, who produced “Over There” was whining about the saturation coverage on TV, and ends with this comment:
I added the emphasis. Yeah, so many people believe it to be misguided, but for some reason just don’t care to see your drivel.
I watched a couple episodes of “Over There” due to the hype about it, and quit watching it immediately when during one episode which caused it to tank in the ratings, he decided to show what was purported to be a wife in bed with another man while her husband was deployed to Iraq.
And this d@mn fool cannot understand why a military member or any member of his family would not care to watch stuff like this?
91Veteran on November 10, 2007 at 12:54 AM
It’s no mistake all these hollywood bombs are being made and released the way they are. The libs were counting on Iraq to get worse and worse, and by now the uproar should’ve been at a fever pitch. An endless propaganda stream to support the agenda.
The reality? Not so much. Betting against the U.S. is a bad idea. Especially if you’re an American Citizen.
Things are demonstrably getting better. The dems are so far out on the branch now, there’s no way back. It’s going to be fun watching that brittle branch creak and crack and finally fall.
Actions most certainly do have consequences. A lot of arrogant self-centered people are about to learn that the hard way and a lot of it is going to be recorded for posterity.
I’m still wondering, in 50 years, which idiot will be considered this era’s Chamberlain or the like. So many to choose from. Think of it; the era’s icon of fecklessness and narcissism forever frozen in history.
techno_barbarian on November 10, 2007 at 12:58 AM
If I recall, I believe Black Hawk Down did pretty well because of this. It was shocking to see how closely the movie tracked Bowden’s book.
91Veteran on November 10, 2007 at 1:05 AM
My daughter is taking classes where they use this technology in high school. Yep, it won’t be long before Hollywood is completely unnecessary for the movie business.
Buford on November 10, 2007 at 1:32 AM
For a story (as opposed to action, or character) movie to be successful, the makers have to know clearly what they want to say.
In these cases, all they know is “It’s wrong!”, but they can’t (or don’t dare) express why.
They simply think that just saying “It’s wrong!”, earnestly, will suffice.
But you have to not just say it but explain it.
Which would mean also criticizing the American people for not stopping the “wrong“.
But they don’t dare alienate the audience that directly, so they waffle.
And trot out cliches of past wars.
The Viet Nam regurgitation is what puts the ticket-buyers off.
They already know that story.
And won’t pay to see it redone in slightly different costumes, with the same lines and lame conclusion:
“War is bad, dude!”
All while ignoring the general global Islamofascist threat as studiously as possible, because that might galvanize some normal self-defensive feelings in the audience. And make them instinctually sympathize with our side and our guys.
Can’t risk that.
So they confine themselves to the timidly didactic -and lose their viewers.
I can’t wait for
“ABU GHRAIB: Panties From Hell!”
to administer the coup de grace and bankrupt Hollywood.
profitsbeard on November 10, 2007 at 2:16 AM
A shrewd investor would back a patriotic movie about our troops. Or even a fair portrayal of the complexities in Iraq.
If there ever was a gap in the market…
Zach on November 10, 2007 at 3:42 AM
Don’t be such a tease, TB… give us a link to some video! And then let me do the soundtrack in Logic… Glorious 5.1 awaits.
In other news, the bucks kidz are saving by skipping these movies are going toward copies of Call of Duty 4, so they can suit up and fight as what Hollywood used to refer to as “the good guys.”
saint kansas on November 10, 2007 at 5:06 AM
It’s art and has true meaning. Us common people don’t understand, it is beyond our limited capabilities.
peacenprosperity on November 10, 2007 at 7:47 AM
We should never forget the Vietnam fantasy was created and perpetrated by john kerry and his north vietnamese handlers and then compounded by the useful idiots of hollywood. We fought a nasty war in Vietnam and good hearted Americans fought it with courage and honor and more compassion then any other country could ever muster.
peacenprosperity on November 10, 2007 at 7:51 AM
Hollywood thinks it is being patriotic by producing nothing but tanks and bombs in a time of war.
They’re “supporting the troops,” you see. “Somebody has to make the tanks and bombs,” said a Hollywood insider who spoke under condition of anonymity. Film experts agree that making tanks and bombs while your country is at war is a neccesary duty of Hollywood.
BKennedy on November 10, 2007 at 8:20 AM
The only movie I can think of off the top of my head that I’ve seen this year that portrayed American troops in a positive and heroic manner was Transformers. Sure, most saw it for the bigrobots but I certainly noticed how hard and bravely our troops fought in that movie.
Yakko77 on November 10, 2007 at 11:22 AM
Isn’t it amazing how “democratic” and “Democratic” almost always have completely opposite meanings? It’s uncanny. But with every anti-American crapfest these people make, they hasten the day of their own obsolescence. I can’t wait.
ReubenJCogburn on November 10, 2007 at 11:47 AM
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Limerick,
Your courage humbles me. If there is a God in heaven, any young man raised by you two will come through just fine. Thanks.
drunyan8315 on November 10, 2007 at 12:17 PM
I think we need to really send a message and boycott the entertainment industry totally for five years just to see the reaction of the elitist bastards.
sonnyspats1 on November 10, 2007 at 12:41 PM
Hey, that’s one of my favorite movies!… Eh, my kid’s favorite movies..!
4shoes on November 10, 2007 at 2:02 PM
Same here. God speed to his son.
csdeven on November 10, 2007 at 3:04 PM
I beg to differ with the reader who thinks movies like 300 are only for men.
Maybe most women don’t like these movies, but I assure there are plenty of us out there who love them. Count on at least three – my daughters and me – who do not like “girly” movies and much prefer movies with action, honor, duty and true love.
Mommynator on November 10, 2007 at 3:15 PM
I want Patton then give me the guy he kicked. Go figure. I want John Wayne they give me mister feelings. Go figure.
I want movies that say My country is good, does good, and frees people they give me movies that say My country sucks, does bad things and I’m a puppet of the evil Empire. Go figure
They want my money, I don’t give it to them anymore. Go figure.
unseen on November 10, 2007 at 4:05 PM
Older classics
Bridge on the river Kwai
Stalag 17
Full Metal Jacket
To hell and back
Mr Roberts
csdeven on November 9, 2007 at 11:43 PM
I’d put The Great Escape on the list also.
freebird on November 10, 2007 at 7:14 PM
Older classics
Bridge on the river Kwai
Stalag 17
Full Metal Jacket
To hell and back
Mr Roberts
csdeven on November 9, 2007 at 11:43 PM
I’d put The Great Escape on the list also.
freebird on November 10, 2007 at 7:14 PM
The Enemy Below
Sink the Bismarck!
The Battle of Britain
The Longest Day
…
Rusty Bill on November 10, 2007 at 8:10 PM
Oh yeah.
csdeven on November 10, 2007 at 8:10 PM
Now I’m dying to watch war flicks. It’s no surprise that the movies are flops, but it’s still a relief to see it happen. The way the Left has incrementally brought us this far down has me worried about these things. Nice to see that most people (however slight that majority) see right through it.
Rugged Individual on November 10, 2007 at 9:59 PM
sounds like Hollywood went “a bridge too far” good movie but a warning that was unheeded by the left.
Another great movie was Iron Cross showed from the german side of things.
Note to Hollywood. You can make great movies that has an antiwar message but is not in your face anti-american.
The two I mentioned are great examples, saving private ryan was also an okay example.
unseen on November 10, 2007 at 10:13 PM
What war films?
Let’s be clear on this, they are anti-war films.
fogw on November 10, 2007 at 11:58 PM
Snort-worthy.
Last is First on November 11, 2007 at 12:41 AM
Can’t wait to see Stallone kick commie butt in “Rambo’s Not Dead”!
No more surrendercrat films!
Mojave Mark on November 11, 2007 at 1:02 AM
You know, if half the hollywooders who threatened to leave if GWB was elected actually moved out… it would make me happy.
These movies are a great reminder that a fanatic is not only someone who never changes their mind and never changes the subject, but is horribly confused when everyone else *stays* *away*.
Merovign on November 11, 2007 at 1:25 AM
I can’t watch movies made by someone who hates my world. Having been burned a few times I refuse to be force fed by a bunch of rich pampered self loathing wimps.
Some great movies worth paying to see that show up on cable for free:
Pork Chop Hill (Gregory Peck)
Tora, Tora, Tora
Midway
The Bridge at Toko-Ri
Retreat, Hell
Dawn Patrol (Errol Flynn)
Anything by John Wayne including his Indian wars movies like Fort Apache and The Alamo
Drums Along the Mohawk (Indian wars)
Fantasy war movie Red Dawn feeds my soul
entagor on November 11, 2007 at 2:12 AM
It’s one thing for Hollywood execs and libtard actors (read: Film Actors Guild a la Team America) to presume that most Americans are so stupid they can’t comprehend reality without help from a pack of overpaid cocaine freaks.
It’s quite another thing for them to suppose that we are so stupid that we would willingly pay $10 to feel ashamed of ourselves and our country.
These latest box office bombs aren’t merely an expression to which I take exception, they’re an insult of the most vile kind.
thejackal on November 12, 2007 at 5:36 AM
Easy to answer in an abbreviation: C.A.I.R.
Hollyweird is very afraid to accurately depict what religion supports such hatred. If they did that, the “rop” could come after them.
Texas Nick 77 on November 12, 2007 at 7:11 AM
Ditto from me, and to your sons, csd. God protect them.
Texas Nick 77 on November 12, 2007 at 7:43 AM
In the same vein, Das Boot was a very good flick. As a former “bubblehead,” it did give me some chills.
Texas Nick 77 on November 12, 2007 at 7:46 AM
Platoon was the last antiAmerican movie to be a big hit at the box office. And that was in part because it was not promoted as antiwar movie but as a realistic view of VietNam. And the cinemotography was excellent and the acting was quite good. But Hollywood keeps trotting out this antiAmerican slop and expects the great unwashed out there to keep running. Casualties of War was a DePalma flop, Rendition was a flop, Lams for Lions has flopped, The Valley of Elah has flopped and so many others. The Spielberg moral equivalency movie “Munich” flopped. The George Clooney leftist movie “Syriana” flopped.Yet the Hollywood screenwriters and directors keep thinking that you
can make movies depicting the US army or the armies of countries allied with the US as barbaric and the masses will learn to like it.
Larraby on November 12, 2007 at 10:15 AM
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