Posted on 07/13/2009 11:16:41 PM PDT by Natty Bumppo@frontier.net
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen lacks just about everything that defines a good movie: plot, script, and credible acting – but it is still this summer’s blockbuster hit, benefiting from a vast “suspension of disbelief” from audiences knocked over by the special effects. Pretty much everyone is willing, to quote The Wizard of Oz, to “pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.”
T2 is not for those who prefer a bit of realism in their summer films (never really been a strength of summer movies). Summer movies are usually retreats from reality that please the senses without especially informing the intellect. But while it may be easy to set aside skepticism for a summer movie, it’s not quite so simple when it comes to summer politics. Half a year into “Hope and Change”, it’s getting harder to be entertained by a Presidency whose agenda continues to defy prudence and whose presentation relies mostly on special effects.
Competing with a news cycle that seems sadly obsessed with Michael Jackson, the President has had to substitute fireworks and staged bits – e.g., special effects – rather than substance to get his message across, but it is, as he likes to say “a false choice.” National debate has morphed into infotainment, and the news outlets have been more than happy to play along, hoping for better ratings.
Two weeks ago ABC ditched any claim to objectivity by producing a White House “infomercial”, an uncontested presentation of the President’s thoughts on health care. Despite appeals to present dissenting points of view, ABC even refused to sell commercial time to those with contrary views of “Obamacare.” On the heels of that, the White House staged a “town hall” meeting so canned it even offended the journalistic sensitivities of Helen Thomas – with questioners who either supported government health care, or were Obama campaign hands. But it looked good, didn’t it? Darn good TV!
While the Iranian thugocracy was busy stealing an election and murdering protesters, this President grandstanded about how the United States shouldn’t “meddle,” as if telling Israel to stop building settlements isn’t “meddling.” A week later, when the Honduran Supreme Court intervened to prevent their own President from shredding their constitution, the President was more than happy to speak out and look Presidential. But someone should tell him that acting tough with allies is no substitute for being tough with adversaries. North Korea figured this out, even if Obama has not.
In the meantime, the White House is putting a full court press on imposing a sweeping tax increase on almost all forms of energy production, all in the name of populist environmentalism. A bill that will inhibit growth in just about every economic sector is somehow being touted as a “jobs bill.” The suspension of disbelief in the House was apparently sufficient to pass this bill without a single member actually reading it, which, since the enactment of TARP, seems to be the standard for Congressional oversight. Details be damned, if it sounds good, it must be OK, right?
In an environment where news outlets are selling their influence with political figures, such as the recent $25,000 dinners with Katherine Weymouth of the Washington Post, it’s hard to say anything makes for good TV, merely good special effects. As in Transformers, it doesn’t matter how many buildings we see the alien robots wreck – nothing even got stressed except for a few computer hard drives generating the graphics for the movie.
While it may be easy to suspend disbelief for a summer movie, it’s not a healthy thing to do when the fate of nations is at stake. Succumbing to the demonstrably false special effects of this White House is the worst kind of suspension of disbelief. The campaign-style rallies and misleading labels may look good or sound good, but they don’t necessarily lead to good policy good legislation, or good law.
The Wizard of Oz, “the man behind the curtain” closed off debate by declaring that “The great and all powerful Oz has spoken.” Ironically, that was right before the dog pulled that curtain aside to expose him as a showman and a huckster. The President may keep shouting what he wants Americans to hear, but it’s time the curtain got pulled aside so Americans can decide for themselves just what all the special effects are hiding.
I vote these days with my dollars as well as the one at the ballot box
Thus I wait till I can borrow the movie for free if I really want to see it. Not a penny from me to media or hollywood if I can help it.
Bottom line movies are always considered JUST entertainment if we deem it worthy of bringing into the home. This movie is what we see as a kids movie. Neat effects and story line for target audience of 12 year olds per se.
Just my opinion...
if we deem it worthy of bringing into the home...at our own descesion.. For me and my house, we will abstain...nothing further!
A couple of these recent movies I probably couldn’t resist going to see at the movie theater if I could afford to. But, of course, my discretionary entertainment budget is zero in the “world Obama made”.
hulu.com is free movies and TV for those on a budget.......;o)
The success of Transgenders, er I mean Transformers, explains what’s wrong with American and why Obama was elected. People are wowed by superficial special effects just like they were wowed by superficial nature of Obama. People no longer understand substance or hard facts like they no longer want a meaningful story to their movies. People buy into the lies and trickery. The ability to rationally think no longer exists. We see that with the media who has covered for Obama at almost every turn.
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