Can you ignore the message in a "message movie", and just enjoy a good film?

[KLB]

Depends on the movie and the message. Most that are done subtly I can still enjoy. If the movie just keeps bashing me over the head with it's woke message, I probably won't even go to see it, but if I do I'll likely not enjoy it. I've noticed most films and TV shows are very anti-captitalism and the bad guy is often some rich business owner who'll do anything to make more money. Look on Hulu or any of the other streaming sites and you can find at least a half a dozen shows where the "corporation" is an evil entity trying to take over the world or something like that. Some of these shows aren't too bad, but I feel like all together I'm just getting beat about the head and shoulders over this message. I heard there was a guy trying to start up a conservative movie studio. It would be nice if we start getting movies where the bad guys are idiot leftists destroying the world with their moronic policies...

Seems like idiot leftists and corporations go hand in hand these days.

Anti-capitalist and anti-corporate are not the same thing. Sadly there is a history of corporations doing anything to make money. A lot of people have died because of decisions by corporations to ignore or hide issues. Not to mention exploiting people or resources. Therefor it isn't much of a leap to imagine a corporation doing something to make them the antagonist in a movie.

 

[Super Bee]

The American President with Michael Douglas. They actually do not try to hide any agenda, they just throw it in your face. Global Warming and rounding up all the guns, whats not to love about that.

 

[Ruger_Ronin]

The Outlaw Josey Wales:
"Hell with them fellas. Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms."

A message I can get behind.

 

[wtburnette]

Seems like idiot leftists and corporations go hand in hand these days.

Anti-capitalist and anti-corporate are not the same thing. Sadly there is a history of corporations doing anything to make money. A lot of people have died because of decisions by corporations to ignore or hide issues. Not to mention exploiting people or resources. Therefor it isn't much of a leap to imagine a corporation doing something to make them the antagonist in a movie.

I understand what you mean, but it's the amount of films and shows. Yes, corporations have not always been the good guys...

 

[johny5]

The Outlaw Josey Wales:
"Hell with them fellas. Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms."

A message I can get behind.

+1

 

[JettaKnight]

Artists (e.g. directors, writers, actors) have always skewed liberal.

Left leaning messages in movies are not new, and probably not in a higher percentage.




Just off the top of my head, I'd point to the The Searchers staring John Wayne.

 

[HoughMade]

I was gonna say Dances With Wolves, but you already mentioned Avatar, which is Dances With Wolves in space.

When I realized that "Dances With Wolves", a epically over-long snoozefest (but with the "right" message) beat "Goodfellas" and "Awakenings" for best picture, I knew that the Academy was useless and tasteless. It was good to learn that in my early '20s.

 

[JettaKnight]

When I realized that "Dances With Wolves", a epically over-long snoozefest (but with the "right" message) beat "Goodfellas" and "Awakenings" for best picture, I knew that the Academy was useless and tasteless. It was good to learn that in my early '20s.

You know, I remember that... and sort of having the same opinion, and writing off Kevin Costner. Which, was the right move considering he went on to Waterworld.

 

[Dulla]

There's an interesting documentary out right now that kind of addresses this topic, Out of the Shadows https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12131262/

It's pretty hard to find on youtube for some reason but here's a link (while it works) for anyone interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wTiCxXgrJw

 

[printcraft]

Overt messaging turns me off and ruins the movie.

District 9 and Avatar, yeah I get it but you can really just ignore it when it's subtle. (save the planet etc yeah)


Don't get me started on "the force is female" bull**** that the last 3 SW movies shoved down your throat.
Every male character was a bumbling idiot that needed saving, saving by a superior, cool, collected woman.

 

[JettaKnight]

There's an interesting documentary out right now that kind of addresses this topic, Out of the Shadows https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12131262/

It's pretty hard to find on youtube for some reason but here's a link (while it works) for anyone interested https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wTiCxXgrJw

Out Of Shadows claims to lift the mask on how the mainstream media and Hollywood manipulate and control the masses by spreading propaganda throughout their content. The goal is to wake up the general public by attempting to shed light on how we all may have been lied to and potentially brainwashed by a "hidden" enemy with an apparently sinister agenda. This project was the result of almost two years of blood, sweat, and tears by a team of self proclaimed "woke professionals". It's been independently produced and funded and is available on many different platforms for free for anyone to watch. Donations keep our team fed and clothed.

Meh. There's nothing hidden or sinister about it - They believe in leftist ideals, they make movies that promote ideals they think are superior.


I did find this article about it: https://www.small-screen.co.uk/out-of-shadows-creator-exposed-youtube-hollywood-jeffrey-epstein/
Isn't that guy suppose to be raising a barn right now?

The people involved in the documentary seemed to be very focused on people like Marina Abramović and oddly enough, Katie Perry music videos. They claimed that many people in Hollywood are using satanic symbolism to control the masses.

Is this another "Satanist are everywhere!" movie, a la Eric Holmberg's Hells Bells? (which is so conservative it's laughable)


Then there's this in the article:

There are some videos on there that are very transphobic and homophobic.
He’s very close to religious fanatical extremism and that does make me worried.
He posts a lot shouty videos in which he’s trying to ‘save people’s souls’.

Oh. Maybe I'll actually like this movie. I'll put it on my 'watch later' list. Thanks for the pick.

 

[KLB]

Overt messaging turns me off and ruins the movie.

District 9 and Avatar, yeah I get it but you can really just ignore it when it's subtle. (save the planet etc yeah)


Don't get me started on "the force is female" bull**** that the last 3 SW movies shoved down your throat.
Every male character was a bumbling idiot that needed saving, saving by a superior, cool, collected woman.

You forgot wimpy, weak men and strong women.

 

[maxwelhse]

If I can ignore it for 60 years of Star Trek, I can ignore it for just about anything else that is half way decent.

Stuff like Snowpiercer, The Hunger Games, The Table,basically all Marvel movies, modern Disney, etc, etc are all just so dumb and on the nose that I can't take it. If you want to make people think your ideology is superior to another in some way, you may want to start with making a movie that requires any amount of thought at all from the viewer. I understand that's not how they make money...

As others have said, District 9 is an excellent example of this.

I'll chuck out another favorite of mine that provokes thought in the generally opposite direction: Equillibrium. I don't know if Christian Bale noticed he was making an anti-communist movie or not, but I'll take it. Same goes for The Lego Movie. I'm digging pretty deep into the back catalog here, but Mr. Smith Goes To Washington cannot be ignored either.

As far as that goes, I'd say High Noon falls in here too... When it came out, tons of people called it communist propaganda, but I saw it as the exact opposite. So, no matter which side of the fence you're on, it at least makes you think.

 

[judgecrater]

I don't do "message movies."

 

[Rubix]

All movies have a message, some more blatant/controversial than others. I'm reminded of a philosophy class challenge. Create a monster. Everyone scribbled furiously to showcase their incantation. When it was time to reveal our creation it was the usual science-fiction space alien Michael Myers hellhound. Upon further examination we all realized nothing was original. It was just rehashed variations from books/TV/movies we've all experienced. Teeth, fangs, claws, 48 eyes, bug-like, alien-like, knives, saws, entrails, ethereal 4th dimension entities... you name it. All just slight variations, nothing "original."

I thought I was being clever. I drew a normal person, but humans can be monsters too. What's the catch? All entertainment is derived from these ideas. There is not one iota of originality in any of it. Once you realize how formulaic it is it becomes hard to watch. In my free time I like to write and once you catch yourself falling into these formulaic plots it gets harder to progress, even harder when you realize that's all there is. All of it is designed for a demographic and to sell advertising to get you to part with your time and money. Maybe, maybe, it was not like this in the past, but I doubt it.

I take the Aristotelian stance, it's all bread and circuses, but I still indulge every now and then, but it is getting harder.

 

[2A_Tom]

I like message movies.

• Sgt. York
• Band of Brothers
• Last true measure
• Hacksaw Ridge
• Schindler's list
• Life is Beautiful
• The sands of Iwo Jima
• The Patriot
• Braveheart

The list goes on and on.

ETA: The common thread in the movies that I like is the unquenchable human spirit. Many of these depict men drawing from their inner beliefs to gain victory not only over the "enemy" but their own prejudices or beliefs.

 

[buckwacker]

To the original question, a question as an answer. Why would you willfully help subsidize the effort to destroy your culture because you want to be entertained?

 

[2A_Tom]

Personally I never go to a movie, I have never rented a movie. I have bought a number of movies from disc replay and I get them from the library.

 

[NKBJ]

Even the TV commercials are just extremely brief message movies.
Brain washing 24/7.

 

[2A_Tom]

We mute them and spend time on our other devices.