If IRON MAN can pull an "Arnold on the Taliban", why not film G.I. JOE the right way?

[toddly6666]

As I've just seen in the live-action IRON MAN trailer, Iron Man goes Arnold Schwarzennegger on a group of Afghans. In fact, the first half of the trailer felt pretty patriotic/American to me, even doing the mid-90s action-movie thing of blowing away Arabic terrorists a la True Lies. I don't think IRON MAN is going to do poor at the box office in USA and abroad. In fact, in many of the recent superhero movies (Superman Returns, Spidermans), there are many direct touches of American patriotism.

So why the heck can't they film the G.I. JOE movie the way it's supposed to, if other financially successful action movies, at home and abroad, get away with it?

 

[mr. peasant]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since when was blowing up Afghans considered patriotic? Personally, I don't find the idea of killing anyone patriotic at all. True, the killing of terrorists can be considered patriotic but this is because the people doing so are stopping a threat to one's country and saving people. Stopping terrorism by diplomatic and/or non-lethal methods is no less patriotic.

Also, I didn't find the trailer particularly patriotic. Most of the comments sounded more like tongue-in-cheek criticisms of American military strategies, funny because they're true.

Additionally, I'd like to ask, what are the the patriotic touches in Spidey and Superman Returns? If it's posing next to an American flag, there's nothing patriotic about it. Any wannabe can pose in front of the flag but that doesn't make him patriotic in any way.

 

[Desslar]

Any wannabe can pose in front of the flag but that doesn't make him patriotic in any way.

No, I'm pretty sure that one's been scientifically proven.

 

[bullets]

that was tacky in spiderman3 the flag pose as he is racing to save mary jane's life.

 

[DJ Kornphlake]

The difference between Iron Man and G.I. Joe is that IM isn't a branch of the U.S. military. He's also not engaged in an unpopular war right now.

 

[toddly6666]

My point is this: who cares that there could be some American flag waving in G.I. JOE (american flags in foreground or background is pretty patriotic)and who cares that G.I. JOE is going to be blowing away COBRA (they are not iraqis or afghans). The G.I. JOE movie will certainly not have the blowing away Afghans like the first part of an Iron Man trailer which looks like the political incorrectness that G.I. JOE producers fear. They shouldn't change G.I. JOE one bit now to make it politically correct.

 

[mr. peasant]

Once again, explain to me how the placement of the American flag in a movie (whether foreground or background) makes it any more patriotic than if it hadn't.

Times like when the American soldiers planted the flag on Iwo Jima were patriotic, not because they planted the flag but because of the courage and sacrifice it had taken for them to do so. The planting of that particular flag was memorable because it captured their bravery. That moment would have been no less patriotic had they not planted any flag or if they had planted the U.N. flag. To say otherwise would be the true insult and disservice against the brave men and women of the military.

 

[Desslar]

Times like when the American soldiers planted the flag on Iwo Jima were patriotic, not because they planted the flag but because of the courage and sacrifice it had taken for them to do so. The planting of that particular flag was memorable because it captured their bravery.

Right, it's just like when Duke carried the flag to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

 

[toddly6666]

Mr. Peasant, flag waving is one of the many examples of patriotism - what don't you understand? And didn't you see Flags of Our Father? That planting of the flag wasn't an act of courage. It was just used to sucker more Americans into continuing the war.

 

[mr. peasant]

My point is that anyone can wave a flag, even enemies of that particular country (though of course they'd more likely burn it but that's beside the point). What I'm saying is that the simple act of placing a flag in a movie does not automatically make it more patriotic than it would be had it not appeared.

At least to me, patriotism is a state of mind; It represents one's love and devotion towards one's country. It might be my cynicism on the matter but lots of people wave the American flag but probably aren't really 'patriotic' in the sense they would not willingly sacrifice their lives to defend their home and country. In other words, I don't really see flag waving on its own as an act of patriotism since anyone could do it.

 

[MaximusCannabis]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but since when was blowing up Afghans considered patriotic?

OMG, what rock did you crawl out from under? Blowing up Afghani's is as American as mom and apple pie.

I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America

And to the republic,
for which it stands

On nation...
under God...
indivisible...
with liberty and justice for all

LET'S GO KILL SOME AFGHANI'S!!!