Forthcoming Movies

Is anyone else somewhat concerned about the current state of movies? (Yes, I know there are more important topics to discuss, but this is the one I chose for now.) Personally, I am somewhat concerned about the spree of needlessly gory films and the strong theme toward vigilantism that seems to be developing. Don't get me wrong, I love scary movies and action movies and I don't mind when some gore helps the story along. Saving Private Ryan would not have made such a "war-is-hell" impact without the sight of guts and dismemberment. But there is a fine line between purpose and gross. Example, 28 Days later was somewhat gory; it was a great movie. The infected killed people in horrible ways that just exaggerated how different the virus made them from who they had been before. However, 28 Weeks later took the gore a bit too far. Did we really need to see the father ripping out the eyes of his wife? No. We got the picture in the first few seconds following the father's infection.

And what is the deal with a vigilante theme? Vigilantes make great heroes. They answer to no one and do what they wish, which can make them interesting characters. However, it is one thing for a superhero to act (because let's face it, they are vigilantes) since they exist in a fantasy world. It is something else entirely to portray a normal man or woman who decide to enact their revenge. Revenge is not justice. Revenge is fueled by fear, anger and hatred, and is not something that should be glorified.

Now. There are two ways to handle a vigilante character, and strangely enough there are two films coming out soon that seem to handle the issue differently. The first is The Brave One with Jodi Foster (love her) and the second is Death Sentence with Kevin Bacon. Both movies follow how a character feels driven to vigilante status when the legal system fails them. Death Sentence looks extremely bloody and violent. And the main character (Bacon) does not seem to feel any remorse about personally going after his son's killer. Violence begets violence, and the main character's remaining family is threatened by the character's actions. How has that made his life better? He has betrayed his family by putting them at risk, betrayed himself by becoming something brutal and betrayed the memory of his child by becoming like the son's killers. I think that The Brave One may deal with the issue better. At least it seems that Foster's character recognizes that she is breaking the law and struggles with the fact that she is turning into a monster.

I guess my basic point is this: True revenge is never good. (And I'm not talking about petty revenge for some imagined slight.) Maybe it can be sweet, but is it really worth turning yourself into a monster to get it? Wow. That was a really long spiel...