Posted on 01/14/2014 8:18:44 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The radical left in America has long rooted against the U.S. military. Beginning in earnest with a mismanaged effort in Vietnam, soldiers have been pilloried by elitists who view any military action as a show of aggression against a helpless foe.
As the War on Terror continues to rage, these sources have embraced increasingly derogatory rhetoric in describing the Middle East effort. When a Hollywood blockbuster film, “Lone Survivor,” dared to present the story of Navy SEAL bravery, the anti-military crowd naturally rushed to criticize the project and the real-life soldiers portrayed therein.
In a recent review written for The Atlantic, Calum Marsh complained about the film’s supposed pro-war stance and bemoaned the fact that Taliban murderers were portrayed as the enemy.
He said the SEALs appeared to be “ordinary guys” in the movie’s “exaggeratedly casual introduction,” complaining about the “way the film brings in its Taliban villains.”
Though the movie is based on the experiences of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and company, Marsh treats the film as a work of military propaganda. Regardless of the countless Hollywood attempts to undermine the American military, leftist ideologues will always attack the rare pro-military sentiment as a terrifying portent.
He said the movie “plays out like an advertisement for the Marine Corps,” despite acknowledging that “as the title suggests,” the mission “does not end particularly well.”
According to Marsh’s jaded viewpoint, “Lone Survivor” is “the sort of film you expect to seem at least a little propagandistic.”
Instead, he alleges, the Peter Berg project portrays Taliban terrorists as “a faceless mass, a manifestation of evil.”
He might be surprised to learn that a large swath of America actually believes the Taliban should be considered America’s enemy. In fact, a quick survey of the terrorists involved would likely reveal that is exactly how they see themselves.
Marsh bemoans the movie’s ostensible ability to “legitimize feelings of xenophobia and American execptionalism,” once again trashing the views of those who dare celebrate the greatness of this nation.
He goes on to suggest that all Hollywood war movies are inherently pro-war. Of course, such a conclusion is likely much easier to reach among those who themselves are intrinsically anti-military.
Considering the rarity of such films actually being released by today’s Hollywood, it is natural that the far left would react with outrage and confusion. Meanwhile, the millions of Americans who actually root for and support the U.S. military are ensuring this movie will become one of 2014’s most successful releases.
Guy is a ten pound sack of stupid.
The real reason liberals were opposed to Vietnam is because they didn’t want us fighting a communist army.
The Taliban is, in fact, an openly declared enemy of the Western way of life. So Berg got it right. But I would not expect a limp-wristed leftard to get that.
And our military should correct him with dignity. They might turn an enemy into a friend that way.
We’re a bunch of Chicken Littles acting as if each other were causing the sky to fall!
Send the PoOS on a one way ticket to live with the goat humping vermin!
“, Marsh treats the film as a work of military propaganda. “
And my response to that is “So what?”.
I was a kid during WWII and was practically reared on war movies.
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Calum Marsh? Never heard of her.
Courage and honor are ideals that are so foreign to the left that they consider them to be fiction.
Liberals are all legends in their own minds - no one can be more important, more moral, more sophisticated, more with it than a liberal - and anyone or group which doesn’t share the lib’s perspective and values, yet wins massive admiration and respect from the public, is thus a threat to be held in contempt and marginalized - so it is with the military which is an affront to the libs’ belief that they are so compassionate and intelligent and sensitive that any conflict can be resolved through understanding and talk - the military reminds them that this is just nonsense.....
Marsh’s review is so full of spin, he must have written it in a tumble dryer.
I’ll bet Calum Marsh has an islamofascist, Taliban boyfriend. His closet is probably full of burqas.
The concepts of honor, duty, courage, and Country apparently mean nothing to Calum Marsh.
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That is true, but on the campus front, where I was from 65 to 68 the number of healthy males who were just absolutely terrified of being anywhere near combat was amazing. That is what filled the ranks of many of the ‘anti-war’ demonstrations. A mass of physical cowards. That was the first indication I had that a lot of my fellow Americans were weak weasels and trouble of the sort we now have was inevitable.
The critic is getting in a last shot at the military before obama totally disbands it, now that al-Qaeda is defeated and world peace has been produced by Jon Cary.
You are so right on that. I was reading an article on the teenage girl who had references to God removed from her school’s prayer.. She said she cannot imagine a world without her voice of activism. What kind of psychosis makes a person think that way? It is truly an admission of insanity.
I think the Taliban as murderers is far too kind. Maybe Hollywierd needs to see a little genital mutilation of young girls for a more accurate understanding. Or maybe a school burning.. think that would help with accuracy? Maybe a little something of their treatment of homosexuals.
I went to see the movie, Lone Survivor, yesterday afternoon. Usually the theaters in Gainesville are not packed on a Tuesday afternoon. Mostly old, retired folks like myself. But the theater was almost full for this showing.
I enjoyed the movie immensely. It is not a movie for the faint of heart. Its very intense. Only a couple of camaraderie-type laugh lines early on before the SEALS engage in their mission. After that, it was all business. I will not give away the story or the ending but when the film was over, you could hear a pin drop. Very somber crowd. Tears running down peoples faces as they left the theater.
The movie beat out every other competitor for this last Fri-Sun weekend box office receipts totals. $38 million. The Hollywood left and liberal criticscan only decry movies like this because they cannot for the life of them, see why people like these movies and go see them in droves. Its not your typical Hollywood crap fare. Religious oriented movies that make us feel good about ourselves and wartime movies that make us feel good and proud of our country, are always going to do well at the box office.
I love it that critics like this Marsh fellow doesn’t get it and that the real American public rubs his face in his ignorance and condescending attitude towards our troops. Everyone sees through liberals’ “we support our troops but don’t support the war” crap. If he doesn’t even know enough to know that the SEALS are Navy but not the Marines, then he hasn’t either seen the movie or he just is ignorant about what he is writing about. I hope this movie continues to do well at the box office. It’s a word of mouth type movie. You won’t hear the lame stream media pushing it. They push the Wolf of Wall Street, with its record number of “F” bombs, as the best there is. It is not. It is disgusting.
Watched ‘Combat’ back when I was a teen...great show.
Before the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, they didn't want the US to aid England against Germany because the Germans were allied with the Soviet Union.
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