When movies get facts wrong. . .

[Asher]

I don't see it as propaganda. It's not pushing any sort of government policy in most cases.

Many movies are nationalist though, which really annoys me as a Canadian.

(I just got back from seeing The Majestic )

[Zoid]

Rewriting history or glorification of a way of life and/or military actions is propaganda in my book.

[Alynzia]

I'm annoyed.

I'm always annoyed when movies gloss over a character being homosexual or bisexual just to make a story to please the majority.

The guy in 'A Beautiful Mind' was gay.

The guy in 'The English Patient' was gay.

The guy in 'Bletchly Park' was gay.

And then Ed Harris' movie about Pollock glossed over the fact he was also a little gay. (Pollock, not Harris!)

Hey, heoric dead people, you can be a hero as long as we don't portray you as gay.

Alynzia

[Usually Insane]

I agree, as plain action movies the movies are just about mediocre to good, but as historical dokuments, well, nazis claiming that the holocaust didn't happen should have a field time according to you, in my opinion

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Usually Insane
I agree, as plain action movies the movies are just about mediocre to good, but as historical dokuments, well, nazis claiming that the holocaust didn't happen should have a field time according to you, in my opinion

Could you elaborate on this, I´m not quite sure I understand what you mean.

[Usually Insane]

glorifiyng rapists(the Patriot), claiming certain feats for Yourself which in reality bolonged to someone else (u571), and saying it is okay, because it isn't (a historical document, but an action movie)

well, If they wish, nazis should just make an action movie about the holocaust not happening, because that's okay, right!

[Serb]

Originally posted by Asher
I don't see it as propaganda. It's not pushing any sort of government policy in most cases.

Many movies are nationalist though, which really annoys me as a Canadian.

(I just got back from seeing The Majestic )

Then what are you call a propaganda then? And how you call a lies about history events, which is common in Hollywood's movies?

[Drekkus]

The main problem I have with historic inaccuracy in hollywood movies is that movies have far more impact on a generation than a 'boring' history book.
When younger people watch Saving Privat Ryan and U-571, they will come to believe that the US of A singlehandedly defeated the forces of evil. It belittles the efforts made by other allies and falsely claim achievements that aren't theirs.

On the other hand I must say that Band of Brothers is the best war epic I've ever seen. Realistic (as far as I can tell) and honest about crimes on both side of the spectrum.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Usually Insane
glorifiyng rapists(the Patriot), claiming certain feats for Yourself which in reality bolonged to someone else (u571), and saying it is okay, because it isn't (a historical document, but an action movie)

well, If they wish, nazis should just make an action movie about the holocaust not happening, because that's okay, right!

Err, no. The point I tried to make was that (some) american movies are equally propagandistic as Riefensthals and Eisensteins. I haven´t said that this is a good thing.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Drekkus
On the other hand I must say that Band of Brothers is the best war epic I've ever seen. Realistic (as far as I can tell) and honest about crimes on both side of the spectrum.

Have you seen "Stalingrad" ? It´s as realistic as a movie will ever get I reckon, almost a documentary.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Kamrat X


Have you seen "Stalingrad" ? It´s as realistic as a movie will ever get I reckon, almost a documentary.

What kind of Stalingrad are you talkin about? I hope this is not "The enemy at the gates." This movie is bull**** like all others Hollywood movies about Red army in WW2.
I'm absolutly sure that americans can not make right movie about our history, as well I belif that russians can not make movie about americans wild west period.

[Drekkus]

Originally posted by Kamrat X

Have you seen "Stalingrad" ? It´s as realistic as a movie will ever get I reckon, almost a documentary.

I did see it, and was a bit disappointed. A positive thing was that German soldiers were shown as more than 2 dimensional caracters, but only the soldiers. The officers still are sadistic perverts. The battlescenes weren't that spectacular. The opening sequence of Enemy at the gates is far more impressing. But still a good movie about one battle were 3 times as many soldiers died than the USA lost in the whole war.

[Serb]

Originally posted by Drekkus
The main problem I have with historic inaccuracy in hollywood movies is that movies have far more impact on a generation than a 'boring' history book.
When younger people watch Saving Privat Ryan and U-571, they will come to believe that the US of A singlehandedly defeated the forces of evil. It belittles the efforts made by other allies and falsely claim achievements that aren't theirs.

This is what I've mean. Those films create myths, and next generations of people start to belive in such bull****. This is what realy drives me mad. A LIES.

[Bereta_Eder]

I still laughed my ass off (and actually became enraged) when in some second grade american TV war serial they prortrayed SERBS as the evil guys!!! and made them look something like neadertal people for fook's sake

Anyway the answer is really simple. Don't take american "historical" films seriously. Here few people do (if any). There is a certain kind of filter which I believe is strong and does not let even the slightest form of "messages" pass through. Or at least I hope so.
Besides you can read about the films' inaccuracies everywhere
AND the Greek cinema is starting to flourish again after so many years (and I'm not talking about high-elite Cannes winner hyper - cultural - please kill me I can't take it anymore it's that boring Aggelopoulos films )


BTW Serb do you mind if I ask you something else? (Sorry I very rarely see Russians in the forum and I have a lot to ask ) During the NATO bombardement in Serbia did anything about the formation of the Orthodox Axis (union from Russia down to Greece) was discussed in Russia?
Here it is very marginal but during the bombing of Serbia it took a kind of momentum and then was forgotten again.

[mactbone]

Alright, some of you are obviously missing out on the main prpose of a movie. It's there to entertain. Second, noone forced you to watch them, in fact, I could've told you in advance that "The Patriot" would be extremely untrue (someone using a couple of hatchets back then? setting up multiple guns?) Third, most movies have to have a bad guy, and a good guy. Wanna know why? Most people like everything to neatly fall into their places, that guy is bad, he just killed people for fun, that guy is good, he tried to save those children, you see where I'm going? So, they clearly define who the bad guys and the good guys are, with hardly a plot twist thrown in.

What about the accuracy of "The Hunt For Red October"?
What about the accuracy of "Forrest Gump"?
What about the accuracy of "Animal House"?