Video: Upcoming Hollywood film smears the troops and promotes desertion
posted at 1:45 pm on January 14, 2008 by Bryan
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On Friday I went to see Johnny Depp and Tim Burton’s latest, Sweeney Todd. It’s probably the strangest film I’ve ever seen, equal parts heavily designed fantasy flick, musical theater and buckets-o-blood slasher film. Depp is amazing, as are all of the actors, who all sing their own parts. The film is 90% sung and sung extremely well to its Sondheim score. Sacha Baron Cohen nearly steals the film portraying a rival barber to Depp’s Todd. And the art and set design are what we’ve come to expect from Tim Burton: A little heavy-handed, a lot over the top, but showcasing brilliant use of light and color to create the fantasy world that the characters inhabit.
But I can’t really recommend the film in spite of all that. It’s a collection of brilliant performances and production decisions in the service of a story that left me wishing I hadn’t seen it. Some good films are like that.
The other reason not to see Sweeney Todd or any other Hollywood film right now is the heavy-handed anti-war agitprop you’ll have to sit through in the previews. Yes, the previews.
Not satisfied with its string of war flops and smears of the US military in Iraq, from In the Valley of Elah to Redacted, in March Hollywood will serve up Stop-Loss. Starring Ryan Phillipe, Stop-Loss tells the story of a soldier who is retained in the military on his last day of service and told he’s being shipped back to Iraq. But watch the trailer. Not content just to preach against one clause that’s in every single military volunteer’s contract, the film suggests that the soldier and his unit committed war crimes in Iraq. It promotes re-instating the draft. It states flatly that desertion is more honorable than service. In taking these lines, Stop-Loss is promoting the extreme left, Cindy Sheehan World Can’t Wait point of view.
As usual with these anti-war films, it doesn’t even look like an original or compelling story. The film’s backers and producers and actors probably don’t care that it’ll lose money, because they’re making their statement against the war and that’s what really mattes to them. But I’m done with the theater experience if it’s going to be impossible to go see any film for grown-ups and get hit over the head with leftist anti-war propaganda in the mix. I’ll rent DVDs, I’ll watch pay-per-view, etc, but I’ll avoid the theaters altogether. I like the theater experience but I’m fed up with Hollywood preaching to me and I’m beyond fed up with feeding that beast.
And by the way, Hollywood can produce all the Stop-Loss garbage that it wants to without fearing the wrath of McCain-Feingold. But for some reason, the political documentary Hillary: The Movie, made outside of Hollywood for far less money than the average commercial film and certain to have a far smaller potential audience than anything Michael Moore has made, can’t be advertised without running into McCain’s monster? Tell me again, Johnny Mac, how did your bill get money out of politics again?
Update: Here’s anti-war propaganda of a different variety. I suppose one of our commenters doesn’t want this talked about too.
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You know, for group that oppose war and violence, they sure do produce a ton on bombs. Although most of them are duds.
ThePrez on January 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Isn’t this old news?
NoFanofLibs on January 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Yup. Read that contact, kiddies. Uncle Sam’s got you for eight years, whether you enlist for 2, 3, or 4 years of active duty.
Yes, they feel much better now.
Frozen Tex on January 14, 2008 at 1:51 PM
Crap comes in a variety of colors and shapes but always smells the same.
JayHaw Phrenzie on January 14, 2008 at 1:54 PM
It didn’t. I gave rise to new Hsus.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on January 14, 2008 at 1:55 PM
sure to be a flop……
one war related film made by leftist with a dem spin and Reagan ommision that I still recommend however is: Charlie Wilson’s War.
Very well made, entertaining and shows a Dem party that no longer exist outside of Joe Lieberman. It also shows at the end, when the Cold War was over we quit supporting Afghanistan and the dissaster that created. The right humanitarian and moral thing to do by America is usually in America’s best National Interest as well.
Watching the reaction of snide laughter at the end when Wilson say’s we “f’d it up” was ironic, pressuming a majority of the audience is ready to cut and run from Iraq while mocking doing bascially the same thing in Afghanistan which helped the Taliban to come in and take power.
jp on January 14, 2008 at 1:55 PM
Got shown this a while ago by a friend of mine. Not going to watch it again.
That clause is a bitch, but it’s also understandable by pretty much anyone who can read. All the rest of the rhetoric just spells more doom for this film, and considering it’s got Ryan Philippe center stage, I’m all for it.
MadisonConservative on January 14, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Someone from this movie sent me an e-mail asking for free promotion for their site acting like this was going to be neutral about the military when the title made it pretty obvious it wasn’t. I hate issues like this and body armor which moron liberals think is something they can hammer home when they understand nothing and in reality hate the soldier they pretend to stick up for.
frankj on January 14, 2008 at 1:56 PM
Here’s some of Pat Dollard’s Young Americans to cleanse the palate. WARNING: Very, very, very not safe for work.
spmat on January 14, 2008 at 1:56 PM
ThePrez on January 14, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Great comment, Prez!
By the way, why is it all the soldiers have southern accents? Could Hollywood be playing into Kerry’s “botched” joke that all soldiers are uneducated people by using another bigoted stereotype? Good thing the Hollywood people are the ones who care about the supposed little people.
Eclectic on January 14, 2008 at 1:57 PM
Add this one to Tom Cruses money loser and you have the trifecta of the libs movie business. Many more bombs and they’ll put themselves out of business. Meanwhile family movies and Jack Nicholson is the number one movie this weekend about two old guys. When are they ever going to learn?
flytier on January 14, 2008 at 1:59 PM
I hate fake southern accents.
jp on January 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Sweeney. Ditto. No thanks. The Saw hack n slash craze left me numb, as well. Maybe if it had dancing…..
What is it with these hollyweirds?
agitprop
agitprop
agitprop
But don’t question their patriotism. Or give em singing n dancing jingoism. Oh no.
The hollyturds will never be satisfied with a cosmic string of war flops and smears of the US military in Iraq. They have money to spurn, and back stabbing knives to turn.
Looks like the writer’s strike is the best thing to happen in that town.
locomotivebreath1901 on January 14, 2008 at 2:02 PM
There’s plenty of reasons I rarely go to movies anymore, this sort of crap is one of the major ones.
doubleplusundead on January 14, 2008 at 2:02 PM
The promoters of In the Valley of Elah made the same mistake with me.
Bryan on January 14, 2008 at 2:03 PM
It’s the Hollywood equivalent of de-funding.
Frozen Tex on January 14, 2008 at 2:04 PM
I haven’t been to the movies in 2 years for this reason.
NTWR on January 14, 2008 at 2:04 PM
Here is a better preview (7 minutes) to watch of a war movie: Brothers at War
It is currently trying to get distribution. Dirty Harry at LIBERTAS really likes the movie, but is not optimistic that the anti-military Hollywood will look to distribute it. It is being sponsored by Jon Voigt and Gary Sinise.
Also, Dirty Harry pretty much had the same review as you did, Bryan, of Sweeney Todd, though he recommends it and gives it 3 1/2 stars.
Michael in MI on January 14, 2008 at 2:06 PM
For Hollywood
Saving Private Ryan = Mega Bucks
Cindy Sheehan hate movies = waste of mega bucks
William Amos on January 14, 2008 at 2:06 PM
eish bryan, i think you’re taking this a little too seriously.
sure its an idiot movie with an idiot storyline and an idiot message…but hollywood has ALWAYS put out crap…just because there are no more geniuses telling war stories doesn’t mean you’ve gotta take yourself and this movie that seriously.
you give the film and its idealogical brethren too much credit
ernesto on January 14, 2008 at 2:07 PM
This movie will tank like all the other crap anti-war films.
someguy on January 14, 2008 at 2:08 PM
I caught a mistake on Sweeney Todd. In the opening sequence through the fog we see Tower Bridge. Sweeney Todd takes place in 1846-47 but Tower Bridge was not built until 1894.
Hilts on January 14, 2008 at 2:10 PM
I want Hollywood to know that smearing the military will even hurt films that don’t, if you can’t see the latter without getting bombarded by the former. It’s my choice. You don’t have to agree with it. But as a former military member, I ask that you respect and not belittle it.
Bryan on January 14, 2008 at 2:12 PM
And to think that some are worried about the death of Hollywood. Gee, I wonder why.
Nothing like cutting your own throats.
Brass Pair on January 14, 2008 at 2:12 PM
My 17 year old son enlisted for Army Natl Guard this past week. Going to go to college then go active duty after that. He’s an honor roll high school student, could’ve gone to any college he wants and scored a perfect score on his ASVAB, with line scores high enough to pick any job in the military he wants. He wants to become a ranger and serve his country. Needless to say his mother and I are beyond proud.
b4itsover on January 14, 2008 at 2:12 PM
I guess my point of my post is, I will not be seeing this or any other Hollyweird smear campaign of our best and brightest.
b4itsover on January 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
You said it, no way that the film is going to be fair with a title like that. I’d also like Hollywood to point to one soldier, sailor, airman, or marine that was notified he’d been held on active duty on the last day of active service and would be heading out to Iraq to commit warcrimes in the name of the “failed Bush policy.”
In 2008, right or wrong, nobody serving on active duty is surprised by things like stop-loss. They don’t happen as often as the media would like you to believe but they happen often enough as troops are going back for third tours and the Navy is providing personnel to fill the jobs the Army is incapable of filling out of their far too specialized ranks. This stuff is part of the contract and when the military is engaged in combat operations in two theaters without a modicum of support from the Democrat party, what do you expect?
Wonder if I need to include a spoiler alert at the top of this post? ;-0
highhopes on January 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
Gotta love the irony of losing millions on a movie called Stop-Loss.
And yes, it will lose millions.
saint kansas on January 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
I saw the preview of the film and it made me very angry. Unfortunately I was a recruiter for 3 years and I can tell you that before a kid puts his John Hancock down on the contract (multiple times i might add) many people up the chain from me explained the 8 year deal (4 active, and 4 inactive) to all all young men and women enlisting. Hollywood portrays it like it’s a big ol surprise. They also portray it like it happens on a daily basis which it doesn not, if it did I might not be going over in the fall for my 5th tour. Semper Fi!
gator70 on January 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
To be honest last movie I saw in the movie theaters was the “Return of the King” as I am a big fan of Tolkein.
If anyone wonders where the democrats get their values its right out of hollywood where poverty is erased through magic by compassionate people who dont live in reality and war is something others do that you either cheer or curse based on position #1. You only fight wars to end poverty is hollywood’s mantra.
Would really love to see Fox use its movie studios to make some good old fashion movies some time
William Amos on January 14, 2008 at 2:15 PM
My wife and I went to see Charlie Wilson’s War this weekend. We were running late and got to our seats just as the move was starting. We missed the preiews and the commercials. That’s the way to see the movie. Hang out in the foyer until the movie starts.
Mallard T. Drake on January 14, 2008 at 2:16 PM
It’s no wonder they support socialism - I guess they figure they won’t take a hit with these anti-war/anti-American movies that continue to flop because the government will just pick up the tab.
Hmmm, the more I think about it, I may just support government oversight and regulation of the movie industry : )
Rick on January 14, 2008 at 2:16 PM
God bless you, I love it when our parents support their troops. Even when you reach a point where you’ve had it, and it will happen, he’ll need you to smile and stick it our with him. My mother has become very good at this herself. And she still sends the best care packages!
gator70 on January 14, 2008 at 2:18 PM
b4itsover, you have every right to be beyond proud.
The last movie I saw in the theater was 300, which was at least 17 kinds of awesome. But no way am I giving my money to America- and military-hating liberal propaganda.
ReubenJCogburn on January 14, 2008 at 2:20 PM
You know, they could have made a film about a soldier sent back to Iraq who does something heroic, like save his platoon or whatever. Had they done so they’d most likely be sitting on a multi-million dollar profit. But…They never ask me what I think.
scatbug on January 14, 2008 at 2:20 PM
how did you like it? the guys at Libertas weren’t wild about it because of the lack of mention of Reagan. They kinda do that underhand jab at Rudy also in it. Anyway, I thought it was about as good as we can hope for from Hollywood and tells an important story. Wilson himself has said that Reagan authorized everything he did and in today’s climate it would be politically impossible to get stuff like that done.
jp on January 14, 2008 at 2:20 PM
I smell box office SMASH!!!!
Isn’t this what we have all been clamoring for?
Idiots
Won’t even see my Netflix queue.
ej_pez on January 14, 2008 at 2:21 PM
You can comment directly to Kimberly Peirce the director on the Stop-Loss/Soundoff page. I first discovered it in December and owned that page with several comments under the handel “ROBERT” and gave the director and her minons a piece of my mind.
Paramount Studios who run the site recently began moderating and censoring the content so only servile and insiped comments are allowed now..
RobCon on January 14, 2008 at 2:21 PM
go Pat Dollard
.
a little truth never hurt anyone!!!
lobosan5 on January 14, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Be sure to thank him for all of us. Your son is a true example of who our brave soldiers are!
Eclectic on January 14, 2008 at 2:23 PM
And Hollywood criticised Bush when he talked about staying the course. I guess they will follow this up with their own surge hoping to yield the same results as we did in Iraq.
In honor of the recently retired Gen Honore, they are “Stuck on stupid”.
Just A Grunt on January 14, 2008 at 2:24 PM
P.S. so…how exactly is J.Deep getting around the dhimmi tax in Francistan?….jus’wonderin’.
lobosan5 on January 14, 2008 at 2:25 PM
Good thing is that I’ve read this movie was to have been released last year in time for “Academy consideration” but with all the lefty-flops it was placed on hold to be released in March, the elephant graveyard when it comes to movies being released (not quite Christmas, not quite summer, “when people don’t go to the movies” is the ready-made excuse)
Marcus on January 14, 2008 at 2:29 PM
No wonder Hhollyweird is going broke. They keep making these sh%#$y movies no true American’s want to see. Didn’t they learn anything from the last 10 anti-American/Soldier/Patriot movies they released?
kcd on January 14, 2008 at 2:31 PM
These guys are relentless. We have to be twice as relentless.
dostrick on January 14, 2008 at 2:33 PM
It will provide us one more opportunity to relish a Hollywood failure.
drjohn on January 14, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Yeah, I thought the same thing. Especially because it was Murtha’s committee that cut off the funding (according to the movie, at least).
MayBee on January 14, 2008 at 2:33 PM
I guess the way to fight Bushs “Surge” is with a Hollywood “Purge”
Both figuratively and litterally
William Amos on January 14, 2008 at 2:34 PM
Murtha’s
Now there’s a real patriot…NOT!!
kcd on January 14, 2008 at 2:35 PM
No kidding. The fake accent insinuates general ignorance. It makes it look like Americans who enlist voluntarily are a bunch of ignorant, southern rednecks.
Pis*es me off, actually.
This is yet one more reason to hate Hollywood. Good riddance.
pullingmyhairout on January 14, 2008 at 2:37 PM
I stopped going to the movies years ago. In the last ten years I’ve only been twice: Blair Witch Project (garbage) and The Passion of the Christ (excruciating).
Boycotting is the way to go. I won’t even rent a movie from Blockbusters because it’s owned by Viacom. I’m currently living in the UK and and never watch any of the BBC channels (there are at least 10 of them). Unfortunately, I still have to pay for a TV Licence Fee (about $300 a year) and every penny goes to the Beeb. Sometimes, you just can’t win.
infidel65 on January 14, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Same here. Most of the times, even when watching those supposedly family or PG movies, I wonder why the heck they should insert those unnecessary sexual innuendos and cursing that the movie can do without. Can you imagine “Gone with the Wind” if it were made today? A full frontal nudity or steamy bedroom scene will be inserted just to make it more “artistic”.
My goodness, I even have to cover my daugther’s eyes watching commercials on TV — on Nickelodeon!
And the animal cartoon movies, they are so full of evironmentalist and socialistic crap!
maynila on January 14, 2008 at 2:39 PM
Can’t we have just one pro troop/pro america movie…? One.
therightwinger on January 14, 2008 at 2:40 PM
That wasn’t quite as egregious as portraying a square-rigger cruising up the Thames, at night, under full sail. No captain in his right mind would have done that.
But I generally liked the movie. Or perhaps I wanted to like it more than I did. I’m still not sure.
SWLiP on January 14, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Thank goodness for ‘House’ and ‘Bones’ reruns, hunting shows on Versus and of course, the ‘Built Ford Tough PBR Tour’. No need to waste my hard earned $10.50 on the usual Hollyweird slop like this…
Biffstir on January 14, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Last movie I went to? “3:10 to Yuma”. Why? Russell Crowe, baby!!
I rarely go to the movies anymore - too expensive, too humorless, too full of themselves. Nonetheless, I miss the entertaining stuff they used to put out.
My general rule is if the general movie critics like it, I’ll avoid it like the plague. The last movie were I ignored my rule was “Munich” and I regret it to this very day.
So Hollywood, bring me your goofy Adam Sandler movies and Russell Crowe movies. Leave your “thought provoking” crap at the door, thanks.
mjk on January 14, 2008 at 2:47 PM
This was one of my comment to the Director Kimberly Peirce on the Stop-Loss website last month before Paramount recently started censoring content:
RobCon on January 14, 2008 at 2:48 PM
We always wind up getting into this same discussion. I think you give lefties too much credit, on just about every matter, plain and simple. No hard feelins or nothing, we agree on the substance of the argument just not where we go from there.
sure they like smearing the military, but would you really forgo seeing a sick-ass movie you really wanna see in a theater just because hollywood puts crap anti-war trailers on before? i know i hate those lefty flicks as much as the next guy, but forgoing a decent theater experience to make that statement seems like im spiting myself.
ernesto on January 14, 2008 at 2:48 PM
The question that remains at the forefront of my mind re Iraq is this…
How can the political left demand withdrawal from Iraq when it started 4 months ago and shows no signs of slowing before the election?
Or how about…
How can Democrats (KOSsacks, DUmmies, ANSWER, Code Pinkos, DNC, DLC, whatever) excuse pulling the handle/electing a president who:
promoted the invasion of Iraq
authorized the invasion of Iraq
supported the invasion of Iraq
funded the war in Iraq
called for more troops to Iraq
Supported reinstating FISA’s so-called illegal wire-tapping
and so much more?
I mean, if Hillary did all that which is the source of so much Bush-hate, then how can they elect her knowing that, and knowing that she’ll continue the war until the Bush Admin objectives are met…even if it’s another 5yrs?
Granted, I’m already stocking beer and microwave popcorn now for the anti-war protests outside the DNC convention, and I can’t wait to see the full on alienated and oppressed shift their Bush hate to Hillary hate, but isn’t that a tough lever to pull in the booth come November? ROFL!!!
scottm on January 14, 2008 at 2:48 PM
I make a point of watching at least one clip of Pat’s work every day just to keep me grounded. That one is in heavy rotation around my house.
TBinSTL on January 14, 2008 at 2:49 PM
Thanks for the heads up Bryan. I will forgo even watching the trailer.
sonnyspats1 on January 14, 2008 at 2:51 PM
I’ll rent DVDs, I’ll watch pay-per-view, etc, but I’ll avoid the theaters altogether. I like the theater experience but I’m fed up with Hollywood preaching to me and I’m beyond fed up with feeding that beast.
I just want to remind you that there are many, many people who’s livelihoods depend on movie revenues that have absolutely no say in what kind of movies are produced.
Furthermore, the producers of the craptacular movies will make their money on DVD and pay-per-view sales. It is the low-level people that don’t get royalties on those sales, including the writers of the movies that you *do* like and decide to rent.
If you want to hurt the producers and send a message, don’t go to the movies you don’t like. Don’t buy those DVDs. And if you want to, complain to the theater owner and managers about the trailers. They have an interest in who goes to the theaters.
MayBee on January 14, 2008 at 2:52 PM
I won’t watch Sweeney Todd even if it’s the greatest movie ever made. Johnny Depp is in it, and he’s near the top of my own Hollywood blacklist, which also includes Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon. I haven’t seen Depp’s Pirate movies and never will.
infidel65 on January 14, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Ugh…
While watching Juno, I got hit in the face with a illegal alien movie preview starring that crappy kid from the 2nd Zorro movie. Just makes me want to rent more than ever.
hellyan on January 14, 2008 at 2:53 PM
actually thats not to far from the truth at least when I was in the Army 90-93.I went home on leave to CT. in 92 and all my friends commented that I sounded like I had a slight southern accent.
as for the movie its just one more movie I will refuse to see and the people who are involved with it I will try to advoid spending my money on any of their projects.
warren on January 14, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Oh to just be able to bring back those lazy, hazy, crazy days of Vietnam. Fragging CO’s, the draft causing havoc with angry people in uniform, cool people from Hollywood getting plenty of bonus IQ points siding with those killing our boys, and all the pro-US and pro-military types feeling like the minority losing their voice in government It was the incubator of the post modern Democratic party, and all the anti-American politicians that got their seats for life.
If they, and all the Euro-wanna-be’s in Hollywood just keeping painting over the truth with their 60’s brush, maybe it will work? Just keep trying……hacks. Meanwhile in the real world, the real America fights the war to keep you all in fantasy land.
Hening on January 14, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Gah! Saw the trailer for this bullcrap in front of Sweeny Todd.
Well.. it’s Hollywood. WTF do you expect?
thareb on January 14, 2008 at 2:56 PM
I bet that if you mentioned the names Paul R. Smith, Jason L. Dunham and Michael Murphy to the writers, producers and directors of this slop, they’d be like, “who?”
baldilocks on January 14, 2008 at 2:57 PM
These antiwar antiAmerica movies are old hat by now. Brian DePalma makes one for each war. His antiIraq war had a bunch of evil American soliders raping a sweet Iraqi teenager and then covering up the crowd. DePalma made the same movie in the 1980s but he used the VietNam war instead (Casualties of War). But the plot was the same. Evil American soldiers rape a sweet VietNamese teenager and cover up the crime. You have to wonder with DePalma if there is some behavioral issue at work since he keeps coming back to the same plot: Evil American soldiers rape innocent sweet thirdworld child. The Hollywood crowd ridiculed all those proAmerica Chuck Norris movies from the 1980s but unlike Redacted and Casulaties of War and Lams and Lions, the Chuck Norris movies made some money for the investors.
Larraby on January 14, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Well, you predictably come in here to pop me every time I criticize leftwing propaganda. You either don’t take them seriously enough or you’re just posing as a conservative so you can take the left’s side.
Bryan on January 14, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Exactly the reason I refuse to go to theaters for anything. Hell, television is becoming just as bad. I used to love watching Boston Legal, but just can’t take it anymore. Literally ever episode contains a 5 minute anti-everything sermon about the woes “this administration” has caused the country. It’s not the federal government, but “this administration.” James Spader was good in his role, but now I’d just like 5 minutes with him to critique his views on his lofty platform.
stacman on January 14, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Ryan Phillippe starring? WOW — nothing like a B list celebrity to ensure your movie sucks. It will just get kicked to the curb much the way Phillippe was by Reese Witherspoon.
D2Boston on January 14, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Wouldn’t it be great to slip that Pat Dollard clip into the previews of a Stop-Loss showing. I would love to see their faces.
badpenguin on January 14, 2008 at 3:05 PM
It seems like leftist propaganda is just about unavoidable, period, anymore in mainstream entertainment.
I watched the ridiculous action flick Shoot ‘Em Up the other night.
For the first 3/4 of the movie, it was an enjoyable, ridiculous, over-the-top action flick.
And then……..little did I know……the villains turn out to be evil “gun nuts” (i.e. proponents of the Second Amendment, those bastards). And the film’s message is that all guns are bad. They make a big point of telling us that the hero’s family was killed as innocent bystanders during a fast food robbery. With the gun that HE sold the robbers!!!!! Oh the humanity!!! GUNS ARE BAD GUNS ARE BAD GUNS ARE BAD GUNS ARE BAD!!!!!!!! (Nevermind that lives could have been saved if the shop owner also had a gun, as we saw with the recent Colorado church incident.)
I can’t watch a single solitary episode of Family Guy without Seth McFarlane’s liberalism smacking me in the face. (That goes for the Simpsons too.) Just last night I get jokes saying “WHY AREN’T WE FUNDING STEM CELL RESEARCH?”, and a reference to George Bush stealing Iraqi oil (albeit veiled in the guise of satirizing Robin Williams).
It’s no wonder that conservative talk radio is such a succcess. It’s the only freakin’ refuge we have left anymore.
Screw Hollywood.
Hawkins1701 on January 14, 2008 at 3:06 PM
missed that it was his subcommittee but not suprised. I was about to barth when Wilson stated in film that Murtha had the highest of ethics when they were asking him to testify on his behalf. I think that is actually true though, that Wilson did back him up.
jp on January 14, 2008 at 3:06 PM
We need a blockbuster movie version of this documentary:
http://inthefaceofevil.com
jp on January 14, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Yeah, I had a good recruiter, like yourself, and was fully aware of all aspects of my service committment. As opposed to a guy I knew who signed up to be a 13F (Fire-Support Specialist) who thought he was going to be a fireman on an Army base somewhere; boy, did he get a rude awakening!
As others have said, I thank him for his service.
Frozen Tex on January 14, 2008 at 3:08 PM
I don’t take them as seriously as you do, but i’m definitely not posing as a conservative. When it comes to things like movies, I just can’t see where the real impact comes in. Do you really think that this movie will convert people to their dangerous foreign policy mindset? Am i really naive to think that this movie, like redacted before it, is a giant waste of time on their part, and subsequently, ours?
ernesto on January 14, 2008 at 3:11 PM
My son, who just returned from Iraq, had a perfect system for “beating” the stop-loss clause in his contract.
After serving the first three years, he simply signed up formally for the remaining five.
These people make me ill.
dinasour on January 14, 2008 at 3:12 PM
I lost interest in the “movie theater experience” when they decided to force me to sit through commercials for television programs. TV commercials pay for the programs, I understand this - But when i am paying $8 or $9 for a movie ticket, another $4.50 for a soda and $4 for a box of Goobers, I feel I have already done my part to subsidize the film, and I should not be forced to endure paid advertisements for products and TV shows, or be forced to watch “public service” announcements trying to guilt me into making a donation for this, that or the other.
And they wonder why box office totals have been going down the drain for the past several years.
Schmucks.
Alalazoo on January 14, 2008 at 3:14 PM
I saw Sweeny Todd and thought it was great. You can always tell a Tim Burton film from the rest of the pack, and Depp, Bonham -Carter and Rickman et al were brilliant!
As for the trailer…well let me say that this is the first time I’ve ever heard a trailer boo’ed.
Pulchritudinous Patriot on January 14, 2008 at 3:17 PM
Good news!
baldilocks on January 14, 2008 at 3:21 PM
I actually thought that was really interesting. You note that it was Wilson’s unquestioning support of Murtha that earned him a favor from Tip. It was also the card that Wilson thought he held with Murtha when Murtha took over Doc’s position.
So the way I read that was….not a lot of people thought Johnny Murtha was so clean, but Wilson knew supporting Murtha would benefit himself.
Someone else mentioned Rudy, and I didn’t see the movie as making a dig at Rudy at all. Rudy was right, Wilson had done drugs and did hang out with hookers. He just got away with it.
Anyway, sorry to get off track from Bryan’s post.
MayBee on January 14, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Hollywood just never learns.
SoulGlo on January 14, 2008 at 3:23 PM
From the Marines, I picked up “Y’all”, “Daggone” and others fromt he southern Marines in my units. And I’ve been mistaked for a southerner while I’m a dam yankee from PA.
Mazztek on January 14, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Hollywood just never learns.
SoulGlo on January 14, 2008 at 3:23 PM
Nope.
BTW, did you take your nick name from “Coming to America”?
Pulchritudinous Patriot on January 14, 2008 at 3:26 PM
Here’s a hint for Hollywood. If I can’t bring myself to pay $9.00 to see a decent movie in the theater, what makes you think I’ll pay to see a crappy movie?
SPIFF1669 on January 14, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Among many others on my blacklist, indeed. Oh well, throw another celebrity on the fire.
I bought an awesome huge LCD TV and a great sound system, and I just pick and choose what movies I wanna see and rent them. No celebs from the blacklist allowed.
Also, its so much nicer. I used to love going to the movies but all the anti America and stuff combined with increasingly rude audiences are too much for me.
I only have time for a few movies a year anymore, so, I’d rather just stay home.
NickTx on January 14, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Dear Ryan Phillipe:
Go to hell. Go directly to hell. Do not pass go, do not collect one red cent.
I laugh in devillish glee as Hollywood’s profits tumble. I giggle as millions discover that video games (or even books) provide far more entertainment for their money, and far less snide condescencion. May the writer’s strike last a thousand years.
I report in today, after having been recalled into the USMC less than one year after the end of my active duty. I’m not sniveling about it. Maybe I’ll buy a bootleg copy of your new film from an Iraqi store to laugh at and pick apart with my friends.
All the worst to you.
joewm315 on January 14, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Thanks for showing me that trailer. I wish someone had shown me the trailer for “Jarhead” because it was just as crappy as that movie looks! At least I only wasted $4.00 dollars on that waste of film.
Torch on January 14, 2008 at 3:46 PM
The impact of movies on society and culture is very real. Bryan is 100% right. Filmmakers, like most other artists, are taught to view themselves as agents of societal change.
Here’s a real world example: In film school, I read and heard lectures that all said the same thing to directors: Every shot you compose, every prop you place in the shot, every place your actors stand, every line your actors read, and every music cue that plays over that line is to affect the emotion of the audience and change the world.
Young directors read Film Theory and Criticism: Introductory Readings
by Leo Braudy and Marshall Cohen, How to Read a Film: The World of Movies, Media, Multimedia: Language, History, Theory by James Monaco, Signs and Meaning in the Cinema by Peter Wollen, and other swollen tomes that basically all point to Sergei Eisenstein’s Soviet Era silent movie Battleship Potemkin as the greatest film ever made. It was the first example of mass media (every living person in Russia was required to see that movie from 1925 on) laying an emotional foundation for a Marxist ideology directly into the hearts of the Russian people.
If you don’t see the Hollywood doing the same thing with Valley, Redacted, or Stop-Loss, then you’re either ignorant or blind.
ScottMcC on January 14, 2008 at 3:55 PM
I’m really looking forward to not seeing this!
Kensington on January 14, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Right, because ordering everyone to see a piece and just putting a crappy movie out to market are OBVIOUSLY the same thing…Sure they THINK they have a real impact and they THINK they are trying to change the world…
but they aren’t. Valley and Redacted and this new piece of crap aren’t changing anyones minds…
i just cant take these idiot hollywood directors seriously…im sorry but they aren’t converting anyone, just blowing smoke and being douchebags.
ernesto on January 14, 2008 at 4:03 PM
i don’t understand what the all the hub-bub is about, it looks like a good movie, well acted, good production, highly unlikely yet plausable story. i say this being an iraqi vet, although this particular tale is far-fetched,(on the last day of his contract, he is stop-lossed) but stop loss happens. i served with a guy who had done his active contract and was home enjoying life when he was notified. in no preview that i have seen, do i get the impression that the film suggests the other soldiers commited war crimes, sorry Brian, but i have to disagree with you there. from what i’ve seen, the protagonist is a good honorable man who gets screwed by the system, and tries to escape it.
for those who would see this and get the impression that this happens all the time, they don’t understand that if your on contract in the system(files, computer files) it dosen’t matter if it’s your first day or your last. however if he were to ETS(End Time of Service) he could leave during the deployment. we had a few guys do it. i didn’t come here to argure with anybody i just think Brian was misguided in his post.
RMC1618 on January 14, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Bryan, Trust your instincts. If it left you wishing you hadn’t seen it, it wasn’t a good film. All bad films are like that!
Nyog_of_the_Bog on January 14, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Damn straight.
Combined with the advent of 527’s and their own shadowy affect on the way things are now run, I think Mr. McCain helped deal a deep wound to the people of our Country that’s yet to be fully realized.
ChipDWood on January 14, 2008 at 4:10 PM
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