Popcorn Movies And Mindless Violence

[Not The Philosopher]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axE83zcx6wY

[PhuturePriest]

I think this might be part of the reason that, when it comes to violent movies, I tend to prefer the rather grittier ones. Not because I enjoy the violence, but because I think it is preferable to be a little shocked by it, even a little horrified. Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco come to mind first of all. Dark Knight and Dark Knight Rises, for sure. Taken, perhaps. I saw Reservoir Dogs once, and that was a bit much for me. 

I do still like some of the big blockbuster action movies. The original Star Wars trilogy is among my favourites, and Kill Bill. But I like those for different reasons. I go into a movie like that with a different mindset. It works, but it is different. But by and large I prefer a movie where violence has actual consequences, not just for the bad guys, but also for innocents, and even the protagonists.

 

For instance, what kind of weird world is it where a hero can gun down a hundred bad guys and just walk away? That is terrifying. Sometimes violence is justified, but it should never be casual. Even when it is justified, I think it must also damage the 'good guy'.

 

This is why I think The Hunger Games is one of the best things that has happened to the film industry in a long time. In the second movie, you see Katniss struggling very much with the fact that she has killed people, and she has major PTSD over it. It shows the reality: That although she is very capable at killing, like many people are, she has a soul, and is more than just a bloodthirsty killer. So many movies show the hero as this impenetrable killing machine who never feels consequences, when in reality it is quite the opposite. The Hunger Games shows this quite clearly with all of the characters, even the ones who are evil (Think Cato at the end of the first movie, when he says "Do it; I'm dead anyway. I always was; I never realized it until now.")

[Not A Mallard]

This is why I think The Hunger Games is one of the best things that has happened to the film industry in a long time. In the second movie, you see Katniss struggling very much with the fact that she has killed people, and she has major PTSD over it. It shows the reality: That although she is very capable at killing, like many people are, she has a soul, and is more than just a bloodthirsty killer. So many movies show the hero as this impenetrable killing machine who never feels consequences, when in reality it is quite the opposite. The Hunger Games shows this quite clearly with all of the characters, even the ones who are evil (Think Cato at the end of the first movie, when he says "Do it; I'm dead anyway. I always was; I never realized it until now.")

Though I haven't seen the second Hunger Games (I saw the first one on Netflix, which apparently has scenes taken out), this is making me think about how much the Marvel superheroes glamorize violence.  Though Captain America is a just man, he kills countless bad guys and he doesn't seem haunted by it (unless the super serum turned him into a mindless killing machine).  Tony Stark blows a guy's chest out in Iron Man 3 and he makes a one-liner afterwards.  He's more traumatized by his experiences in The Avengers than he is about killing people.

[Perigrina]

I suppose there could be a problem for people who take the fighting in Winter Soldier and similar movies seriously, but it is about as realistic as the battle scene in the Nutcracker Suite.

 

http://youtu.be/rlVgLtZvHLc

 

I would be more concerned about first person shooter games, since one imagines oneself as the agent of violence.

 

 

[Socrates]

I much prefer intelligent, well-planned and executed violence.

[Not A Mallard]

To tie back to the opening post, my enthusiasm for Transformers [4] has died down.  Even if it isn't as raunchy as the first three, I don't feel right supporting a movie based on kids toys that's not even made for kids.

[Not A Mallard]

To tie back to the opening post, my enthusiasm for Transformers [4] has died down.  Even if it isn't as raunchy as the first three, I don't feel right supporting a movie based on kids toys that's not even made for kids.

Well, I just learned that comic books were made for kids in the first place, so I guess this isn't much different.