Comments on: "Zero Dark Thirty" not good enough to justify torture fantasies http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 11:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: artbyjcm http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615637 artbyjcm Thu, 27 Dec 2012 01:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615637 "Hurt Locker" a title that brings a bitter taste to many people's mouths. “Hurt Locker” a title that brings a bitter taste to many people’s mouths.

]]> By: Vince Brown http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615617 Vince Brown Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615617 Lord knows we must have Hollywood let us know when to  be outraged.  Spoon fed morality and all that.  Kurt Loder did it right. Lord knows we must have Hollywood let us know when to  be outraged.  Spoon fed morality and all that.  Kurt Loder did it right.

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615507 wysinwyg Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615507  Your bizarrely determined and conspiracy-theory-like defense of the film are not really doing it for me.  Your bizarrely determined and conspiracy-theory-like defense of the film are not really doing it for me.

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615505 wysinwyg Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615505 <blockquote>There are many more movies which are far more harmfull yet I see far less outrage about them. That's hypocrisy.</blockquote>It's only hypocrisy if people agree with you that those movies are far more harmful.  If people disagree then they're just expressing their opinions without being hypocritical. How about some examples?  Which films are worse?

There are many more movies which are far more harmfull yet I see far less outrage about them. That’s hypocrisy.

It’s only hypocrisy if people agree with you that those movies are far more harmful.  If people disagree then they’re just expressing their opinions without being hypocritical.

How about some examples?  Which films are worse?

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615504 wysinwyg Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615504  You could make a movie about a plumber and it could be the best movie in the world with the richest characterization, moving conflict, whatever whatever.  And plumbers would still hate it because of that one scene where the dude's using a metric wrench but the hardware is clearly standard measurement.  Most of the Iraq vet critiques of that movie seem to be about details on tactics that don't seem terrible relevant to the movie. The reason for this is very simple: realistically-portrayed military service probably wouldn't make for a very good movie.  You could make a movie about a plumber and it could be the best movie in the world with the richest characterization, moving conflict, whatever whatever.  And plumbers would still hate it because of that one scene where the dude’s using a metric wrench but the hardware is clearly standard measurement.  Most of the Iraq vet critiques of that movie seem to be about details on tactics that don’t seem terrible relevant to the movie.

The reason for this is very simple: realistically-portrayed military service probably wouldn’t make for a very good movie.

]]> By: wysinwyg http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615499 wysinwyg Wed, 26 Dec 2012 18:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615499  And not too many people specifically said Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11.  All that needed to happen was that the White House had a couple of press conferences where Hussein and Al Qaeda were mentioned within a few minutes of each other and a few weeks later somewhere around 40% of USians thought Hussein was responsible for 9/11. Sorry, we live in a society of idiots.  If they're impressionable enough to believe that torture works because it did in 24 then they're impressionable enough to believe torture works because it did in this movie that's supposedly much more realistic than 24.  And not too many people specifically said Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9/11.  All that needed to happen was that the White House had a couple of press conferences where Hussein and Al Qaeda were mentioned within a few minutes of each other and a few weeks later somewhere around 40% of USians thought Hussein was responsible for 9/11.

Sorry, we live in a society of idiots.  If they’re impressionable enough to believe that torture works because it did in 24 then they’re impressionable enough to believe torture works because it did in this movie that’s supposedly much more realistic than 24.

]]> By: novium http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615335 novium Tue, 25 Dec 2012 18:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615335 Seriously, what is your problem? You think that was condescending? How about your original comment? Instead of engaging with me about it, you decided I needed educating. I'm aware of the problems of the movie, but you know, a comment about movies that aren't dour isn't really the place for a 500 word review of my thoughts on the film. You know, this is the single biggest thing I hate about the culture in the social justice community: the goddamn point scoring. You win! I mentioned enjoying a movie without digressing for an hour on how it represents racism in our culture. I lose.  Seriously, what is your problem? You think that was condescending? How about your original comment? Instead of engaging with me about it, you decided I needed educating. I’m aware of the problems of the movie, but you know, a comment about movies that aren’t dour isn’t really the place for a 500 word review of my thoughts on the film. You know, this is the single biggest thing I hate about the culture in the social justice community: the goddamn point scoring. You win! I mentioned enjoying a movie without digressing for an hour on how it represents racism in our culture. I lose. 

]]> By: TheMudshark http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615287 TheMudshark Tue, 25 Dec 2012 11:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615287 I wonder how the rest of the world manages to watch movies without people getting blown up in the desert. I mean it´s practically a basic requirement. I guess they´re just not as free while they´re doing it. I wonder how the rest of the world manages to watch movies without people getting blown up in the desert. I mean it´s practically a basic requirement. I guess they´re just not as free while they´re doing it.

]]> By: Norbert Korzus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615053 Norbert Korzus Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615053 As much as in previous years I'd agree this year it has little strong competition. The Master that is 2nd shares the same bad traits as ZDT - it's good only on technical level but not on a conceptual story level. Amour will probably not get even a best pic nom.  As much as in previous years I’d agree this year it has little strong competition. The Master that is 2nd shares the same bad traits as ZDT – it’s good only on technical level but not on a conceptual story level. Amour will probably not get even a best pic nom. 

]]> By: Norbert Korzus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615050 Norbert Korzus Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615050 Academy awards are not really best movie awards. At least they haven't been for years. In terms of scriptwriting, editing and cinematography the movie is still very good. What you judge here is the story but the story is trying to be as close to real life events as possible. Success or not you can't make a docu drama that is not predictable if you also want for it to be realistic.  Story wise yes I wasn't entertained. It felt kinda banal, predictable and think but life often is that way. On the other hand it was hard for me not to see it as a properly made movie. Were there better movies this year? Yes. Are there better movies racing for the best pic this year? It's hard to say, it's a weak year full of movies that may be properly made but are nothing worth remembering. Though I haven't seen silver linings playbook, django, rust and bone (though this sounds super oscar bait) and beasts of the southern wild.  Amour blew me away but it being a foreign, for many people very depressing movie it has little chances outside the foreign oscar category.  Academy awards are not really best movie awards. At least they haven’t been for years. In terms of scriptwriting, editing and cinematography the movie is still very good. What you judge here is the story but the story is trying to be as close to real life events as possible. Success or not you can’t make a docu drama that is not predictable if you also want for it to be realistic. 

Story wise yes I wasn’t entertained. It felt kinda banal, predictable and think but life often is that way. On the other hand it was hard for me not to see it as a properly made movie. Were there better movies this year? Yes. Are there better movies racing for the best pic this year? It’s hard to say, it’s a weak year full of movies that may be properly made but are nothing worth remembering. Though I haven’t seen silver linings playbook, django, rust and bone (though this sounds super oscar bait) and beasts of the southern wild. 

Amour blew me away but it being a foreign, for many people very depressing movie it has little chances outside the foreign oscar category. 

]]> By: Norbert Korzus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1615038 Norbert Korzus Mon, 24 Dec 2012 16:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1615038 I think you missed the point. Their output = there are anti army/ anti militaristic movies. You don't really have to be very movie savy to even try to google the term. Or even remind yourself the little movie called avatar and it's stance on the military. Unless you expect the movie that is called" I hate the army".  I think you missed the point. Their output = there are anti army/ anti militaristic movies. You don’t really have to be very movie savy to even try to google the term. Or even remind yourself the little movie called avatar and it’s stance on the military. Unless you expect the movie that is called” I hate the army”. 

]]> By: Nathan Hornby http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614988 Nathan Hornby Mon, 24 Dec 2012 13:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614988 How do middle eastern wars enable us to watch TV? How do middle eastern wars enable us to watch TV?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614913 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614913 The Thin Man was in 1934, 12 years before Best Years of Our Lives. The Thin Man was in 1934, 12 years before Best Years of Our Lives.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614901 C W Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614901 "what is that argument in Hurt Locker?  What is it asking us to support" And end-goal at any cost. “what is that argument in Hurt Locker?  What is it asking us to support”

And end-goal at any cost.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614900 C W Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614900 "It's not a propaganda film." Proof in the success of marketing counter-culture to the masses. “It’s not a propaganda film.”

Proof in the success of marketing counter-culture to the masses.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614898 C W Mon, 24 Dec 2012 03:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614898 "Many of the top names are very anti army." Irrelevant considering their output. “Many of the top names are very anti army.”

Irrelevant considering their output.

]]> By: signsofrain http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614878 signsofrain Mon, 24 Dec 2012 02:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614878 Right Millie, because not fueling the demand for torture porn by not buying it is just a totally worthless choice for C W to have made. The only 'correct' action is to not pay taxes (which are used for a lot of good things too, btw) Right Millie, because not fueling the demand for torture porn by not buying it is just a totally worthless choice for C W to have made. The only ‘correct’ action is to not pay taxes (which are used for a lot of good things too, btw)

]]> By: Matthew Stringer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614863 Matthew Stringer Mon, 24 Dec 2012 01:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614863 No problem, I wouldn't have mentioned it if I hadn't just randomly seen the correct info yesterday. :-) (BTW, thanks for your awesome post about City of Hope ["How you do a video PSA about childhood cancer"] from a few months back - I work on the web marketing team and we really loved seeing Gavin's story show up on BoingBoing!  I've really enjoyed you blogging about your cancer journey - all the best!) No problem, I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I hadn’t just randomly seen the correct info yesterday. :-) (BTW, thanks for your awesome post about City of Hope ["How you do a video PSA about childhood cancer"] from a few months back – I work on the web marketing team and we really loved seeing Gavin’s story show up on BoingBoing!  I’ve really enjoyed you blogging about your cancer journey – all the best!)

]]> By: Pope Ratzo http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614816 Pope Ratzo Sun, 23 Dec 2012 23:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614816  mmm...Myrna Loy.   Even later, in the Thin Man movies, she was spectacular.  mmm…Myrna Loy.  

Even later, in the Thin Man movies, she was spectacular.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614767 EH Sun, 23 Dec 2012 22:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614767 I believe the goal of the movie was to be "journalismic," so she <i>is</i> at the mercy of information provided unless she wants to make a different movie. I believe the goal of the movie was to be “journalismic,” so she is at the mercy of information provided unless she wants to make a different movie.

]]> By: Xeni Jardin http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614755 Xeni Jardin Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614755 Matthew, thanks. Both errors are corrected! Matthew, thanks. Both errors are corrected!

]]> By: wilberfan http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614718 wilberfan Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614718 And, for additional perspective, there's this tweet from  KUMAIL NANJIANI:  Senators are getting upset at Zero Dark Thirty, which is a movie. Wait till they find out what happened in America last week. And, for additional perspective, there’s this tweet from 
KUMAIL NANJIANI:  Senators are getting upset at Zero Dark Thirty, which is a movie. Wait till they find out what happened in America last week.

]]> By: Jeremy Sweeney http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614717 Jeremy Sweeney Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614717 Whoa. Bringing out the corpse of Fraulein Leni. 0-Poe's law in 24 hours. (also, I agree with you.) Whoa. Bringing out the corpse of Fraulein Leni. 0-Poe’s law in 24 hours. (also, I agree with you.)

]]> By: wilberfan http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614703 wilberfan Sun, 23 Dec 2012 19:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614703 Here's what *really* baffles me: ZDT leads (at this writing) Best Film of the Year awards from various critics associations:  http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/editorial/news/1926508/awards_leaderboard_2013/ Here’s what *really* baffles me: ZDT leads (at this writing) Best Film of the Year awards from various critics associations:  http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/editorial/news/1926508/awards_leaderboard_2013/

]]> By: Matthew Stringer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614661 Matthew Stringer Sun, 23 Dec 2012 16:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614661 If I could make a couple of corrections to your article: Danny Elfman did not compose the score to Zero Dark Thirty, Alexandre Desplat did. Also, you credit Barry Ackroyd as cinematographer, but the article you cite actually credits Greig Fraser, who was in fact the DP on Zero Dark Thirty. Ackroyd was the DP on Bigelow's previous film, Hurt Locker (it seems they both incorporated the same gritty, hand-held style, though). If I could make a couple of corrections to your article: Danny Elfman did not compose the score to Zero Dark Thirty, Alexandre Desplat did. Also, you credit Barry Ackroyd as cinematographer, but the article you cite actually credits Greig Fraser, who was in fact the DP on Zero Dark Thirty. Ackroyd was the DP on Bigelow’s previous film, Hurt Locker (it seems they both incorporated the same gritty, hand-held style, though).

]]> By: Xeni Jardin http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614649 Xeni Jardin Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614649 Exactly. A LonnnnnnnggggggGGGggg episode of 24 without the benefit of Kiefer. Exactly. A LonnnnnnnggggggGGGggg episode of 24 without the benefit of Kiefer.

]]> By: [A] http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614648 [A] Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614648 "getting blown up", ha. you're so naïf.. “getting blown up”, ha. you’re so naïf..

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614642 millie fink Sun, 23 Dec 2012 14:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614642 Thanks for the lesson. That pat on the head feels mighty nice. Thanks for the lesson. That pat on the head feels mighty nice.

]]> By: YamaraTheGod http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614635 YamaraTheGod Sun, 23 Dec 2012 14:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614635 I think Xeni is implying that we shouldn't assume that Confederate vampires look like the ones in <i>Near Dark</i>. I think Xeni is implying that we shouldn’t assume that Confederate vampires look like the ones in Near Dark.

]]> By: Neal Schreier http://boingboing.net/2012/12/22/zero-dark-thirty-not-good.html#comment-1614632 Neal Schreier Sun, 23 Dec 2012 13:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=202577#comment-1614632 Please read: http://badassdigest.com/2012/12/18/zero-dark-thirty-does-not-endorse-torture/ Please read:

http://badassdigest.com/2012/12/18/zero-dark-thirty-does-not-endorse-torture/

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