by Jean-Marc Bovee
Much was made of the political implications inherent in that Star Wars flick Revenge of the Sith. In it, Vader says to Obi-Wan, “If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy.” This was George Lucas’s reference to George Bush’s State of the Union speech. Obi-Wan says to Vader, “Only a Sith deals in absolutes,” which was an obvious moral relativistic slam at conservatives. Padme exclaims that diplomacy is the answer to war, implying that the political right prefers to shoot first and ask questions later. When the Chancellor is given more power from the Senate, Padme laments, “So this is how democracy dies, to thunderous applause,” a clear reference to the Patriot Act and those who supported its implementation. The Chancellor, in pulling Anakin to the “dark side,” states that “good” depends on one’s perspective, which is another homage to moral relativism. Obi-Wan tells Padme that Anakin, and all other Jedi’s, were “deceived by a lie,” a clear reference to Colin Powell’s testimony before the U.N. regarding WMDs. After using a blaster (gun), Obi-Wan states that they are “uncivilized,” an anti-NRA snipe.
Hollywood movies are replete with these sort of clumsy political sentiments. Those with only a rudimentary knowledge of politics can see what George Lucas and other Hollywood filmmakers are trying to convey. It is the same thing that the entire entertainment industry in general has been preaching for years- liberal political philosophy. Moviemakers have been pushing their views on audiences for some time now. What follows are some liberal themes and only a few of the films that support them.
Southerners are dimwitted: Judge Dredd, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Deliverance, Wrong Turn, Smokey and the Bandit, Men In Black, Vacation. Corporations, corporate executives, and capitalism in general are sources of evil: all Alien movies, Resident Evil I & II, Wall Street, Jurassic Park II, Batman Returns, Christmas Vacation, You’ve Got Mail. The military and police are corrupt and evil: Avatar, First Blood, Dances with Wolves, Mars Attacks, L.A. Confidential, Spies Like Us, Dark Blue. The government and even the president (usually only during Republican administrations) are corrupt and pernicious: Clear and Present Danger, Brainstorm, Dave, E.T., The Dead Zone, Splash, Escape From L.A., Canadian Bacon, Total Recall. Christians are crazy and mean: most Stephen King or John Carpenter movies, Sleepy Hollow, Contact, The Mosquito Coast, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, Fletch Lives. Left-wing environmental propaganda (The Day After Tomorrow, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Batman Returns), and the list goes on.
Clarence Thomas, an innocent conservative, is referred to as a sexual offender in Jerry McGuire. “Religion divides people,” was said by a man in Flight of the Phoenix. Pleasantville was, if nothing else, a statement about how stodgy, prejudiced, and oppressive the 50’s were. The Dead Poets Society portrayed the old school way of doing things as heartless, oppressive, and even deadly compared to the new school way, which is liberating and enlightening. Troy may have the record for taking the most jabs at religion in a single film. In Scream II, the killer states that, “The Christian Coalition will pay my legal fees” and “Bob Dole will take the stand and testify [for me].”
You can bet that if you see someone smoking a cigar in a movie chances are that is the villain (Wall Street, Darkman). The wealthiest people in movies tend to be unscrupulous, vicious and unbeholden to any sort of morality (Land of the Dead, Titanic) or destructively naive (Jurassic Park, Prometheus). If there is a Christian character in the film you are watching, you can bet they will probably either be the first to die or end up insane (The Ghost and the Darkness). Any quasi-conservative character is usually portrayed as stiff and sexually repressed (Meet the Fockers).
Hollywood films today are nothing more than glorified after school specials, and their bias continues to be more pronounced. They are being exposed due in part to the awakening of astute viewers, but also from the underestimation of them from brazen filmmakers who are losing their finesse and whose propaganda is becoming more and more transparent. Freedom of expression dictates the perfect right of moviemakers to incorporate their personal political, religious, and/or social views into their films. It also extends to those who wish to call them on it, and expose their personal biases for all who care to examine them. Movies influence people, especially kids who are heavily dosed with these stereotypes from a very early age. They are the most susceptible because these messages are imperceptible to them. This is why a watchful eye must be maintained. Now, “let’s all go to the movies.”