Posted on 10/14/2005 11:53:56 AM PDT by Cool Chick
Timing is everything. But for some things, no time is ever the right time.
And that applies to "The War Within," in nationwide release Friday. No time is ever the right time for a movie sympathetic to homicide bombers and terrorists.
Given last week's rumors--hoax or not--about possible bombings of the New York subways and this summer's actual bombings of London subways, "The War Within" is especially loathsome now.
Someone needs to tell that to Executive Producer and Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban.
The movie, about a Pakistani Muslim homicide bomber who blows up New York's Grand Central Station, is especially frightening because the goal is to get you to like the terrorist, Hassan (played by Ayad Akhtar). Hassan does not have a scary looking Mohammed Atta-esque visage. He is a laid back, very likeable, devout guy, with regular values that could be those of the religious Christian or Jew next door.
And that's the point. Producers want you to sympathize with Hassan, understand his point of view. At the end of the film, viewers may find themselves actually rooting for this hail-terrorist-well-met to blow up Grand Central.
(Excerpt) Read more at debbieschlussel.com ...
Bump for later...
A suggested poster when Cube's NBA team comes to town...
BOMB THE MAVS!!
Allegedly Mark Cuban writes Debbie this on her website:
"Have you even seen the movie ? It sure doesnt sound like it.
If you had, you would not come out feeling the slightest bit of empathy for the terrorist. You would feel sick to your stomach over what he did.
Thats the point of the movie.
We all can be trying to live the American dream and not know the people we think we know. You could be the lady that had lunch with your neighbor, the BTK killer. Or with Timothy McVeigh.
You could have had a conversation about politics with them, and because you thought you knew them, never in your wildest dreams ever envisioned the horror they could create.
Thats what happens in The War Within. A family that has come from Pakistan is living the American Dream.They let their old friend , who they assume is following the same path , live with them. Never knowing , but at times suspecting that he has gone over the edge.
In the end, the people we care about most in the movie , an immigrant family, ( just like my family, and Im sure your family as well Debbie) see their family and lives destroyed by extremism.
if you came out of the movie,(if you saw it), feeling empathy for the terrorist instead of all out hate, then the problem is yours Debbie. Not the film.
And you totally mischaracterize what the director said. His point was that even the lowest of low , when you meet them , can seem to be normal. That you wouldnt know how horrific they can be. That you would treat them like anyone else and their cirumstances.
Just because we dont treat the bad guy as a stereotype , with a turbin and beard, doesnt change the horror of who he is and what he does.
I would have thought you would have had the insight to see that.
"
He can be a jerk, he's more demanding than any boss i've ever seen, frequently expecting more than what is possible. But the man gets results.
One thing I know for sure is that he is NOT sympathetic to terrorists and he despises those who attack the country that he loves.
I don't buy for a minute that the point of the film is to make a terrorist look like a hero. I'm thankful that a Hollywood movie finally represents a terrorist as a Muslim instead of a white european neo-nazi.
If you question Cuban's patriotism, then go here: http://www.fallenpatriotfund.org
Insanity. The distributors are letting greed get in the way of their better judgment -- though I doubt this film will do very well in American theaters. Overseas . .. .
See post #5. The comment from Cuban makes a lot of sense. Sounds like Debbie has not seen the movie. Cuban would not be that stupid to make a movie like the one Debbie describes. I give him the benefit of the doubt. I would like to hear about it from someone who actually saw the movie.
Debbie has been off on a few other things too. Seems like she has rushed to judgement a few other times also.
He (Cuban) is supposed to be interviewed by a local radio guy later today. (Dallas) Maybe David Gold. I'll try to find out.
Guys its a movie
I am not a fan of Mark Cuban but its a movie
And? Do you have a point?
Cuban is the epitomy of everything I despised about the 'dotcom boom.' It ushered in overnight millionaires/billionaires who had no class and no concept of how to handle themselves and their money. And it created this silly notion that it's okay to come to work in tennis shoes, put your feet up on your desk, play foosball and disrepect experienced business professionals. Too many used the Internet as an excuse to ignore hard work and dedication.
The late 90s sucked balls.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
I do not agree with Debbie that "a terrorist cannot be a protagonist in a movie", at least not if he is portrayed as the terorist swine he really is. For example, to use Hitler as an example (again). If you made a detailed film of his rise from failed artist, to WWI soldier to Nzzi pary member to Führer, you would see a character's rise to power, but it need not make the character sympathetic.
Another good example is Shakespeare's Macbeth. Basically, Macbeth and his wife are amoral murderers. Just because Macbeth is the protagonist, or lead role, does not make hime "a good guy".
It might have been interesting to see inside the mind of a jihadist without making him a victim (of something other than the the religion of pieces).
Schlussel saw the movie. Check her site. She responds in a post about that. Sounds like Cuban is not only a loudmouth, but completely clueless.
How long are we gonna have to wait for rednecks to be extended the same courtesy?
Boy you sure sound bitter and extremely jealous. Too bad.
Schlussel saw the movie. Check her site. She responds in a post about that. Sounds like Cuban is not only a loudmouth, but completely clueless.
Beside the the tennis shoes, this is the exact opposite description of Mark Cuban.
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