6 Responses to “Too Terrible”

1. Sanisha says:
   May 25th, 2007 at 2:53 pm

   one day those movies will be in museums for strange and horrendous things like those guillotines and those tiny shoes that Chinese woman tried to squeeze into.

2. nemoDreamer says:
   May 28th, 2007 at 3:54 pm

   just reading this post made me feel nauseous.. i don’t ever want to see films that make me feel like that.
   what’s the purpose? it’s not a horror movie in the classic sense, since it’s depicting something that really happened, and my mind can’t forget that. there’s no suspension of disbelief, since it’s (nearly) all true..
   and if am going to go through a truly horrific true story, then at least it should have some historical importance, like Schindler’s List or the likes..

3. Human Owl says:
   May 28th, 2007 at 10:54 pm

   Regarding the previous comment. Why is it just historical importance that can justify graphic violence depicted in films? Surely social importance is just as valid.

   If the underlying message of such depictions can justify them being there then surely there are a whole load of possible justifications. Not just historic. I don’t know the specific film in question, but many films are made containing such terrible violence with no historic subtext but instead are an attempt to make powerful social/moral statement.

   Aslong as horrible things exist - so horrible they become taboo - then artists will use them (sometimes arguably misuse them) in order to add weight to something they see as a worthy message. Sometimes art like music is meant to unsettle, to challenge and to ultimately guide the observer/listener to where the artist/musician wants them to be. It’s up to us to decide if we see a wisdom in that.

   Clearly many people who saw Schindler’s list saw a wisdom in putting themselves through it.

   It’s when people cease to find meaning in it and simply draw satisfaction and joy from it that it becomes a problem.

4. Marshn says:
   May 29th, 2007 at 2:15 pm

   It is interesting how we don’t mind watching an action film where quite a few people die but we walk out on films like Irreversible (I know I barely made it through). Why is it ok to depict violence as long as it looks good (blowing up cars, heroes fitting bad guys….) and it’s morally bad if they show violence the way it is. Ugly.
   Any woman who has been raped will probably tell you it’s just as bad as it looked. Anyone who saw someone’s skull get smashed will tell you it’s quite nauseating.
   Why is it ok to make violence look cool and it isn’t ok to show like it is?
   I’m not saying I agree with graphic violence ( I must say I haven’t seen Zodiac) but I’m really wondering if we don’t forget, too often, that violence in reality is terrible, horrible and should be retired.

5. Sarmad says:
   May 29th, 2007 at 10:00 pm

   I wish Mogogo will enter this dialogue.

6. Mandel Cola says:
   May 30th, 2007 at 5:29 am

   Mogogo may be reserved due to his history of work as an action hero body double.

   I’m thinking we may reach a time where gratuitous violence will not look cool any more. It’s odd that video games are so deathly and bloody. Why should pretending to kill be a past-time? Surely it only acts to elicit, in some people, psychological imbalances and violent tendencies. Before anyone mounts their high horse in a moment of liberalist rage, let me state that I know that most people can enjoy these games and movies and remain healthy. It is possible to play Mortal Kombat and work for Doctors without Borders. But as a sociological phenomenon, spending millions glorifying violence and enjoying it’s visualisation isn’t healthy and can only lead to more violence.

   On the issue of violence to depict real life tragedies and social injustices, that is a separate issue. For example, ‘Life is Beautiful’ or other depictions of the Holocaust only raise nobler sentiments by showing the ugly nature of prejudice and violence, and raising our empathy for our human race. They make us want to ensure that such atrocities are not repeated. They do not glorify war - they only reflect its reality.

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