"Violence and sexuality are overabundant in movies and television nowadays," said Dad.
"I agree. Poor little Jimmy can't even look up to sports icons anymore. Thank goodness there are still good wholesome superhero movies to take him to so he has some heroes to look up to, even if they are fictional."
"I don't know, sweetheart," interjected Dad, "Iron Man had a decent amount of sexual inuendo..."
"Sure, but Jimmy din't understand that part. That's for us adults," Mom said, giggling.
"Good point, dear. What time does Batman start?"
...But a Batman movie that even adults might not fully comprehend? We, the proud American parents, will have none of it. This is, after all, a comic book movie, so it's likely that a few parents' egos were bruised when they realized the Joker couldn't quite be figured out.
The worst part about it? He makes a hell of a lot of sense.
The Dark Knight has no sexual inuendo, that I can remember, minus the Joker's single reference to Rachel as Harvey's "squeeze;"
The violence is not excessive, as nothing involving blood is actually seen on screen;
Most importantly, the moral of the story is a great one: Batman champions the common good and fights for what is right, even if it is not in his best interest.
So why has The Dark Night become the latest scapegoat du jour for parents of pre-teens and young children?
"It's too violent and the kids just won't understand. It's too dark."
But ultimately, that's the point. No one understands the Joker. No one knows where he came from, what kind of gain he is attempting to achieve, and this is why parents are not very fond of the newest installment in the Batman series.
The conflict in the Dark Knight is a philosophical one. The Joker believes that nothing about life is sacred since it can be taken away at any moment, for no reason, and nothing is ever guaranteed. Since Batman is the opposite, believing life is more sacred than anything else, the Joker is calling his life, his fight against injustice... A bad joke.
Funny, no?
Perhaps the Joker is an analogy for the modern day terrorist. People fear most what they don't understand, which is why the Joker is such a frightening figure. Similar to terrorists, he is not looking for monetary profit, he is not afraid of death, and he refuses to tell his audience exactly what his motivation is.
That being said, The Dark Knight is easily the best film of the Summer, and probably one of the most impressive films in years, encompassing action, drama, humor, and horror all at the same time. However, it is NOT simply a comic-to-film adaptation. Anyone under the influence that this is a simple story should steer clear of the movie theatres for a while.
Might I suggest renting the 1966 Batman which starred Adam West? It's probably right up your alley.
xO
7.26.2008
7.14.2008
Politics of Fear[ing Political Cartoons]
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080714/pl_politico/11719
--
The Obama campaign is upset about the cover of an upcoming issue of the New Yorker, which shows caricatures of Barack and Michelle Obama in terrorist garb, burning the American flag, with a picture of Osama Bin Laden above their fire place.
So, in turn, the McCain campaign expressed its sentiments of disappointment with the magazine's cover as well (if for no other reason than to seem sensitive to the issue so as not to have it used against them later in the campaign).
For Christ sakes, this is satire, people!
These kind of cartoons have been around forever and have always had the intent of pushing people's buttons. And there are entire websites dedicated solely to cartoons ridiculing George W. Bush.
Example: http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworstpresidenthistory.htm
So it's acceptable to poke fun at the current President for mental retardation, but not the Democratic nominee for religious beliefs because the latter is an issue that might actually jeopardize Barack's chances of being the President?
My understanding is that Obama himself has not made an official statement about the magazine cover, but I'm guessing he shares the sentiments of his campaign (or else he would have asked them not to make it an issue).
Dear Mr. Obama, if this irritates you, I suggest you pray to God (or perhaps Allah) that you do NOT win the election, as you will only be scrutinized, satirized, and made fun of even more than you currently are. I know you haven't been in politics for that long, but surely you were around to see the cartoons making fun of John Kerry during the 2004 campaign... Just because you're only the nominee does not mean that you are not subject to the same kind of parodies as every other pundit involved in the government.
So get over yourself.
"The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: 'On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in ‘The Politics of Fear,’ artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.'"
Sad that even when the magazine explains satire, it's still not enough.
'Thank You For Smoking' and the idea of placing a skull and crossbones on cigarette packs come to mind.
The 'Politics of Fear' issue of the New Yorker goes on sale Monday, July 21, 2008.
I'm going to buy a copy and frame it, before its distribution is banned.
I may buy a second copy and mail it to Ray Bradbury with a note attached reading, "You were right, Ray."
Something wicked this way comes...
xO
--
The Obama campaign is upset about the cover of an upcoming issue of the New Yorker, which shows caricatures of Barack and Michelle Obama in terrorist garb, burning the American flag, with a picture of Osama Bin Laden above their fire place.
So, in turn, the McCain campaign expressed its sentiments of disappointment with the magazine's cover as well (if for no other reason than to seem sensitive to the issue so as not to have it used against them later in the campaign).
For Christ sakes, this is satire, people!
These kind of cartoons have been around forever and have always had the intent of pushing people's buttons. And there are entire websites dedicated solely to cartoons ridiculing George W. Bush.
Example: http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworstpresidenthistory.htm
So it's acceptable to poke fun at the current President for mental retardation, but not the Democratic nominee for religious beliefs because the latter is an issue that might actually jeopardize Barack's chances of being the President?
My understanding is that Obama himself has not made an official statement about the magazine cover, but I'm guessing he shares the sentiments of his campaign (or else he would have asked them not to make it an issue).
Dear Mr. Obama, if this irritates you, I suggest you pray to God (or perhaps Allah) that you do NOT win the election, as you will only be scrutinized, satirized, and made fun of even more than you currently are. I know you haven't been in politics for that long, but surely you were around to see the cartoons making fun of John Kerry during the 2004 campaign... Just because you're only the nominee does not mean that you are not subject to the same kind of parodies as every other pundit involved in the government.
So get over yourself.
"The magazine explains at the start of its news release previewing the issue: 'On the cover of the July 21, 2008, issue of The New Yorker, in ‘The Politics of Fear,’ artist Barry Blitt satirizes the use of scare tactics and misinformation in the presidential election to derail Barack Obama’s campaign.'"
Sad that even when the magazine explains satire, it's still not enough.
'Thank You For Smoking' and the idea of placing a skull and crossbones on cigarette packs come to mind.
The 'Politics of Fear' issue of the New Yorker goes on sale Monday, July 21, 2008.
I'm going to buy a copy and frame it, before its distribution is banned.
I may buy a second copy and mail it to Ray Bradbury with a note attached reading, "You were right, Ray."
Something wicked this way comes...
xO
7.01.2008
Just Wondering...
Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?
Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks and trailers are?
Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?
When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?
Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?
Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?
When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a "vanilla" Iowa , because that's the way God wants it?
Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?
Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?
How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?
----
The media has an interesting way of reporting what it wants to the way it wants to.
Things are only as important we make them, people.
So what's important to you?
xO
Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks and trailers are?
Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?
When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?
Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?
Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?
When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a "vanilla" Iowa , because that's the way God wants it?
Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?
Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?
How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?
----
The media has an interesting way of reporting what it wants to the way it wants to.
Things are only as important we make them, people.
So what's important to you?
xO
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