Can Hollywood change its ugly version of USA?

USA Today ^ | 10-15-01 | Michael Medved

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Will Hollywood play a positive role in helping America win the new war on terrorism? The answer depends on the willingness of the entertainment industry to confront and correct the destructive and dysfunctional elements of its own recent past. Celebrities recently have engaged in a brief, refreshing flurry of flag-waving. But such gestures can't instantly erase many years of damage to the nation's psyche and to its image abroad.

[SocialMeltdown]

How else could an objective observer interpret the idea that the armed forces turn first to millionaire screenwriters to understand the thought processes of mass-murdering terrorists?

Hatred for America comes easily for the Hollywood crowd. They are the obvious choice to turn to to reveal a deep revulsion for America.They probably fall asleep at night imagining scenarios to destroy the United States. Their movies certainly reflect their hatred.

[blackdog]

Interestingly enough, they have painted themselves into a corner. They have really become people without a country. Think about it!

[livius]

Good post. I think the folks in Hollywood are certainly contaminated with that mystifying hatred of the system and country that has made them all rich, but I also think a lot of it is simple stupidity. They seriously believe that they are "artists," and of course art, as defined by contemporary intellectual society, has to reject all values and exalt the "transgressive." Strangely enough, though, this is something one can afford to do only in a decent, stable society: it's a luxury. I think that the threat to this society may actually make some of them - the handful with brains, at any rate - reconsider some of the "artistic" stupidity that has become practically like the air they breathe in their Hollywood circle.

[TKEman]

I expect the craven people in Hollywood to flip right on over at the first sign of Anthrax. Watch it happen. Then, for the next 10 years, we'll see movies lauding the FBI, CIA, etc.

[Nitro]

They already punked out, they were all afraid to go to the latest self-congratulatory festival!

All of my favorite movies have already been made!!

[summer]

Thanks for posting this. He makes some very good points, IMO.

[uncbob]

He forgot to mention Holywood's anti-military, anti-Christian extreme bias

[summer]

FYI. :)

[Moonmad27]

Good article. I disagree on only one point - when the Islamic extremists see the battle as being between "faith and atheism", it doesn't matter that the US is the most churchgoing western nation; the extremists call us atheists because we're not Allah-worshipping.

[ELS]

Mr. Medved's main idea is related to the idea that what one watches does affect their behavior. The Hollyweird people say that a 30- or 60-second commercial can affect one's behavior, but a 90-minute movie cannot. Uh-huh. Maybe some of them will get a clue...

[FITZ]

It's interesting, because even though Hollywood celebrities are very hateful of the USA and would love to be on the side of anyone attacking us, this enemy we have now despises Hollywood. They see it as part of "zionism", they believe Jews control Hollywood, plus movie stars --especially the women are bad influences on their culture. Conservative Americans believe the same but this enemy believes it even more. Hollywood will be attacked --I'm quite sure.

[FITZ]

It's interesting, because even though Hollywood celebrities are very hateful of the USA and would love to be on the side of anyone attacking us, this enemy we have now despises Hollywood. They see it as part of "zionism", they believe Jews control Hollywood, plus movie stars --especially the women are bad influences on their culture. Conservative Americans believe the same but this enemy believes it even more. Hollywood will be attacked --I'm quite sure.

[Irene Adler]

"Most people — particularly those in developing nations — will get no closer to the real America or its citizens than the movie or TV images aggressively marketed in their homelands. If you make your home in Seattle or Cincinnati, you probably understand that lurid media fantasies — with their emphasis on violence, sexual adventurism and anti-social behavior — don't represent everyday reality for you or your neighbors. If you live in Indonesia or Nigeria, however, you'll get little chance to balance the negative impressions you draw from The X-Files, Hannibal or Natural Born Killers with any firsthand experience with America or Americans. No wonder so many Islamic extremists (and so many others) now look upon the USA as a cruel, godless, brutal and vulgar society — a "Great Satan," indeed."

This is SO SO TRUE! It makes us look AWFUL to people all around the world. Michael, I believe you may be a Freeper. I hope you are, and I would like to THANK YOU so much for this article. Also thanks to Oldeconomybuyer for posting it.

[LS]

Well, his question is answered in part by TWO new television series, "24," in which Kiefer Sutherland plays a CIA agent trying to thwart a terrorist attack, and "The Agnency." While including a few backhanded comments about previous activities, the one segment of "The Agency" I saw generally portrayed the CIA agents as heroes. That is a BIG change.

[Irene Adler]

" In recent weeks, it has become fashionable to ask, "Why do so many people in other countries hate us?" Part of any honest response involves the movies, TV shows and popular music we export around the globe. It certainly didn't come as a complete surprise when anti-American rioters in Quetta, Pakistan, recently targeted five movie theaters showing U.S. imports. "Look what they did!" <p.Couldn't resist copying another great quotation from the article. Why do they hate us, indeed.

[BlackJack]

Recently in Canada I saw The Mexican. It made mexicans look like idiots.......one scene Brad Pitt shoots a guy "because its the american way"! I also saw Snatch......gross out. A lot of pigs eating human flesh. Hannibal was an upscale Natural Born Killers with a dash of cannabilism. I thought I'd found a goodie 2 weeks ago.......Rat Race.....more garbage. Lovitz is driving hitlers car....girls going to the bathroom out car windows and shit hits officer in face....gross movie. American movies are ghastly. Haven't seen a good movie in years. Hollywood is sick.

[Piquaboy]

With people the likes of hose nose Barbara Striesand there is no way they will change their stripes. Also like a previous comment made, they have made all my favorite movies.

[RGSpincich]

All of my favorite movies have already been made!!

A WWII era Bump!

[bluetoad]

When was the last time the Hollywood made a movie respectfully of the Christian Church in American? This is a serious question!!!