Movies and Politics, mix at your own risk

Although the subjects of this post are relatively old, I recently, as of last night, got another smattering of the subject. The most recent facet of the concept is derived from the release of the movie, 300, a stylized blood-thirsty adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel of the same name. The story itself is built, however loosely, on the tale of the 300 Spartans who fought a horde of Persians at the battle of Thermopylae. The idea of this battle has been romanticized for several millenniums now by those involved in the military, or those simply outnumbered by intimidating opposition.

Although 300's take on history is farcical at best, and its stylish representation screams that the images on screen take place in some pseudo-reality separated from the real world by at least ninety degrees, some people have been incapable of believing that the film is nothing else but a commentary on the war terror. Depending on one's interpretation, the Persian Hordes can either be symbolic for the "direct" metaphor of Islamic Fundamentalists or not so directly represent the formidable, and "evil" American forces staunching out "freedom" in the middle east today. On the other side, the 300 Spartans, to the denizens of political commentary, can represent the unilateral, and ultimately justified as represented in the film, American forces or the technologically limited "freedom"-fighters of Iraq. Of course, the president of modern day Iran, denounced the film as western propaganda against his Muslim nation which is descended on some level from the Persians involved in the war against Greece. But of course, President Ahmadinejad failed to acknowledge that the Persians represented in film, or even in documented history, were not Muslims. In fact, Islam did not even exist until over a thousand years after the battle of Thermopylae. So a direct correlation between the film's content, and the "Infidel's unjustified war on the righteous" is unfounded. Despite this, people in the middle east and within the the United States, fail to see the film as anything but commentary on the current state of the world. To those people I have one thing to say. It is a movie based on a comic book written years before America's War on Terror ever commenced. Get over it people. Go see the movie if you like violent action combined with great visuals. Do not expect to be enlightened, educated, or informed in any way. If you do, you are as intelligent as those who believe George Clooney should run for president.

Now this rant, if it can be called that, was fueled last night when I sat around with peers of mine while watching the 2005 film V for Vendetta. This film, based on a graphic novel by Alan Moore, was and obvious attack on fascism. The type of fascism that grows from apathy and fear. At the time he wrote the story, Moore was commenting on a right-wing shift happening in England (Which is obviously far far more left leaning than he would probably admit) and it's potential to mirror the horrors wrought by the Nazis given the right global catastrophes. These catastrophes included terrorism, a nuclear war, and the virtual collapse of the American Government not to mention the rest of the world, leaving England virtually untouched by most of the madness. During the process, fascists seize power over England using fear and the willingness of the public to sacrifice their liberties for security as foot-holds. With a holocaust under their belts, and the English people under their boot-heel, these fascists are assaulted by a terrorist/freedom-fighter named V, who destroys their government within a year and exacts vengeance on those who wronged him. The film version of this story becomes a lot more relevant to the current political situation in the world, replacing the world war three aspect entirely with terrorism and the like. Compliments of this slight shift in the exposition and other tweaks to the story, many instantly believed the film was a commentary against President Bush. Yet, most of the key elements from the comic book written in the early 80's are still intact, providing a clear argument against fascism of any sort, let alone the mild variety many people attribute to Bush and his cronies.

I guess my point, if it exists at all, is that movies should be seen as entertainment first, especially in the case of 300. Although I won't argue against the possibility that the producers of V for Vendetta were taking pot-shots at the current administration, I do believe that such aspects of the film should be taken as comments against fascism and sacrificing one's liberties as opposed to a direct attack on Bush. So go ahead and complain about such films and ignore any source material that is far removed from current events at your risk.