CLOVERFIELD and 9/11 imagery- Page 3

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:29pm

I'm so desensitized to 9/11 that it didn't even occur to me.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:33pm

I agree that it would be better if we actually SAW the film before we decided to judge the artists' intentions.

regardless, practically all sci fi and horror films are metaphors for our world. we can argue whether or not a work succeeds or is executed well, but to imply that any subject is too precious for artists to tackle is a mistake and a disservice to art in my opinion. it's the job of the artists to comment on even the most horrible situations. even in a 'popcorn flick'.

it's obvious from war of the worlds and the advertising of Cloverfield that deliberate allusions to 9/11 were being made. They aren't trying to trick you or take advantage of anyone. and good for them. more people saw and will see these two films that United 93 or World Trade Center, two excellent, respectful, 'serious' films on the subject.

And there's a place for both kinds of art and discussion.

I can't wait to see Cloverfield. And I will reserve judgement until I do.

Edit: respectful, not respective

Updated On: 1/9/08 at 05:33 PM

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:35pm

"ummm, so wait, Was the Godzilla movie with Matthew Broderick cashing in on 9/11 imagery? What about Armageddon? The only reason people are saying this has 9/11 imagery is because 9/11 has happened. Pre-9/11 movies with similar imagery aren't offensive because well, you have no right to be offended by them (for having such imagery).


The moral of a the story, jsut because you have a right to be offended, doesn't mean you have to be offended. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."



right Liverpool, but what we're saying is, even though those movies were made pre 9/11, when they are watched in a post 9/11 world, memories and coincidences are brought up, even though at the time those films were made, that's not how it was supposed to be.

But now those parallels can't be helped.

It's just like that tsunami scene from "team AMerica"., or that scene in "war of the worlds" where all the bodies are floating in the river. Those scenes weren't depicting the infamous tsumani, becuase It hadn't happened yet, but now in a post-tsunami world, those scenes are impossible to watch without stirring up some extra emotions.

As I said in a previous post, it's all about perception, and whether or not you perceive these movies to be a direct comment on world events.


I am sure people who didn't see "team America" until after the tsunami, and didn't realize that the film was made before the event occurred, thought that that scene was in horrible taste, and offensive.

but that is not the case.

Updated On: 1/8/08 at 05:35 PM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:39pm

really? cause those scenes don't make me think of the tsunami. Honestly, i don't understand all these knee-jerk reactions.

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:41pm

well, the tsunami scene from "world police" does make me cringe, but in the case of Cloverfield, I didn't see any 9/11 imagery, either.

Updated On: 1/8/08 at 05:41 PM

[Liverpool]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:44pm

well to be fair, i haven't seen Team America in FOREVER (i don't think ive seen the whole thing since i saw in theaters). But really, I jsut look at this like another disaster movie like Deep Impact, or Armageddon or The Day After Tomorrow, Sci-Fi fluff with a heart, (although to be honest, Deep Impact actually succeeded in being more about the people than the end of the world)

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:53pm

If the image of New Yorkers looking up and saying, "Oh, No!" is disturbing to you, then YOU have to do something about that.

I am responsible for how I react to things. I don't blame the other person for making me feel the way I do.

[nitsua]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:57pm

Amen!
That's one of the smartest posts I've ever read on BWW.

[Pippin]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 5:59pm

here, here!!


*golf claps*

[nitsua]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 6:05pm

I like JJ and I'll probably see this, but honestly, when HASN'T NYC been the center of the end of the world type movies?

No one's going to make you watch it.

I agree with Jerby. Art shouldn't have limits. It should push boundaries. It should make people feel something.

If you don't have a reaction to something, then that something is useless.

[geaj]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:11pm

Anytime, from September 11, 2001 on, if you show an imagine of battery park without the towers, imagery exists. Unfortunately we have to live with that fact now.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:08am

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/01/09/2008-01-09_filmmakers_view_new_york_as_a_disaster_w.html

[CJR]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 9:57am

Wow. Someone was ACTUALLY quoted as saying something so unintelligent as "can't you pick on your own city?"

A lot of my thoughts on this topic have already been expressed in this thread so I wont completely rehash. Personally, Im looking forward to this movie. It looks like a good MONSTER movie and I think it could be more than capable of living up to it's hype. Although I can obviously see the 9/11 connection some of you are making, it wasn't my immediate thought after watching the trailer. Typically, the monster and disaster movies happen in the big cities: New York, LA, DC.... How much fun is it to watch an alien blow up a cornfield in Iowa? Or a monster destroy a tiny town in Wisconsin? "Destroying" the bigger cities has more of an impact on the audience.

And Jerby, I couldn't agree more with every word of what you said.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 2:51pm

"How much fun is it to watch an alien blow up a cornfield in Iowa? Or a monster destroy a tiny town in Wisconsin? "Destroying" the bigger cities has more of an impact on the audience."

Perfect!

[nitsua]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 2:53pm

"a cornfield in Iowa?"

Worked for SIGNS.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 2:57pm

That movie sucked.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 3:05pm

Chances are this one will, too. Most major-studio releases in January are bottom-of-the-barrell stuff. With no press screenings? Not a good sign.


Although J.J. Abrams didn't write or direct this, his track record in film is not terribly strong. REGARDING HENRY, anyone? How 'bout that animal crackers love scene in ARMAGEDDON?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 3:15pm

I sat through Dragon Wars last night JUST so I could see them destroy downtown LA.

It works for me.

[roquat]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 3:17pm

Borstalboy, I'm with you. From the first view of the trailers, I assumed this was some kind of "what if terrorists attack again" paranoid thriller. Then I saw that poster with the headless Statue of Liberty and thought the same. Now I find out the moviemakers are just using those images to prop up some second-rate monster movie? They certainly have the right to do that--and I have the right to call it shameless and disgusting.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:13pm

"some second-rate monster movie?"

So, you've seen it?

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:21pm

I don't really understand the criticism of "You haven't seen it" when what people are actually criticising is the marketing campaign for this film and how it exploits 9/11 imagery to sell it's product.

Could the movie be an allegory? Sure. Could it have redeeming social value? Absolutely. But they most certainly are playing to 9/11 fears. For most people, who experienced that day through news reports, it may resonate (even subliminally) in a way to get butts into seats. For many of us who experienced the City that day, it's just doesn't sit too well.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:25pm

No, the comment was "some second rate monster movie"


I just wondered how they cam to that choice of words, you know, if they haven't seen it.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:25pm

They actually have the trailer playing on one of those subway billboards right across from Ground Zero (I think it is the end of the E line). The 9/11 imagery used in the advertising seems all the more blantant watching it there.

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:28pm

I got that, Diva...and actually meant to post that MUCH earlier in response to other posts. But the day got away from me. Fiddle Dee Dee!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 1/9/08 at 4:37pm

Well, all of that eye shadow must take time to apply.