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I don't see Idiocracy as leaning either way. I think it takes some heavy duty swipes at both sides.
It has been one of my favorites and the humor is over the top (which I like). But lately Idiocracy is seeming more and more like a Stephen King story. Very scary. It's scary because it seems to be coming true. And no, that is not me taking a swipe at liberals or conservatives. It's me taking a swipe at society in general.
Oh, heck, I was terrified by Idiocracy the first time I saw it. And profoundly depressed, because it was so clearly going to happen.
But it's happening a lot faster than I thought it would.
The three movies that comprise "Atlas Shrugged" - they were better than I expected, but I think they were done primarily to hold copyright. "The Fountainhead" is an obvious one.
The problem is in defining conservatism. Old school mainstream conservatives would be seen as liberal by some today. There also is the crossover between conservative and Christian, which personally I find a hoot, since Jesus was anything but conservative, and probably more socialist than anything.
Conservative in movies tends along the line of patriotic chest thumping. (Which, BTW, is NOT conservative because it is an unexamined acceptance of the values in power). GWTW is primarily a conservative movie. "When Worlds Collide" is mostly conservative. There actually are some decent conservative values movies that have been made, but if the OP is looking for historical validation of extremism, that is going to be a list of fascist fairy tales.
I am gonna have to offer a disclaimer: I tried to stick to good movies. I am not claiming they are "conservative movies", but they all at least have one or more conservative themes. I also am not suggesting all conservatives share these values, but they all have been values espoused by people claiming to be conservatives. And none of this is meant to be taken too seriously!:
Ghostbusters (1984): The villains of the flick are a liberal professor, academics and science, the EPA, and new age pagans.
Black Sunday (1977): A conservative Israeli's wet dream of a movie. Robert Shaw as a super Mossad agent out to defeat the Palestinian terrorists, and kicks some butt.
Taxi Driver (1976): Politicians are phonies, women are harlots, and the streets are filth. Vigilante becomes hero.
Death Wish (1976): Same as Taxi Driver really, minus the political stuff.
Adam's Rib (1949): Who prevails in this battle-of-the-sexes flick about attorneys married to each other? Spencer Tracy of course, putting Katherine Hepburn in her place.
Cinderella (1950): A woman's place is in the home, unless she marries a prince.
Forrest Gump (1992): Liberals ruined America in the 1960's with their drugs and loud music. Intellectuals are nothing special. Homespun cliches about chocolate is all you need for comfort.
Birth of a Nation (1915): America is for white people.
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956): Communism will sneak up on you while you sleep. Don't be seduced!!!
Logan's Run (1976): Dystopian liberal world euthanizes its own population as it reaches 30 years old. The hero escapes and then destroys it.
The Passion of the Christ (2004): Pesky, meddlesome Jews.
Jurassic Park (1993): Pesky, meddlesome scientists.
Brazil (1985): Pesky, meddlesome bureaucrats. Only the only American in the film, Robert DeNiro, can cut through the morass.
Dirty Harry (1973): A hippie with a peace medallion is the villain, but Harry smokes him good.
Rocky (1976): No matter how much of a schlub you are, you can hoist yourself up by the bootlaces and become champ.
Idiocracy (2006): Losers have too many babies, which will be the nation's downfall.
Hardcore (1979): Pornography destroys lives.
Top Gun (1984): A celebration of Reaganism, the military, and American might. Also has many shots of photogenic young men in tight-fitting underwear, for conservatives into that...
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939): Triumph of the simple man over Washington.
Arlington Road (1999): Conspiracy theorists are right, and the FBI building is blown up by ultra-right terrorists. Impotent, liberal professor fails to save the day.
The three movies that comprise "Atlas Shrugged" - they were better than I expected, but I think they were done primarily to hold copyright. "The Fountainhead" is an obvious one.
The problem is in defining conservatism. Old school mainstream conservatives would be seen as liberal by some today. There also is the crossover between conservative and Christian, which personally I find a hoot, since Jesus was anything but conservative, and probably more socialist than anything.
Conservative in movies tends along the line of patriotic chest thumping. (Which, BTW, is NOT conservative because it is an unexamined acceptance of the values in power). GWTW is primarily a conservative movie. "When Worlds Collide" is mostly conservative. There actually are some decent conservative values movies that have been made, but if the OP is looking for historical validation of extremism, that is going to be a list of fascist fairy tales.
^^^^
One of the few thoughtful posts from either (or any) perspective in this disappointing thread.
But I'd like to add Advise and Consent -- a 1962 adaptation of Allen Drury's 1959 novel, to the list.
The story revolves around the nomination of a controversial figure for a Cabinet post, which draws the scrutiny of a conservative Utah Senator, which leads in turn to a campaign based on blackmail and smear after a same-sex liaison by that Senator during a wartime assignment is discovered.
It's a fine portrait of a less-predatory day when statesmen were expected to be gentlemen, and while homosexuality remains a "dark corner" subject due to the times, it should serve as an example of how far our understanding of what was formerly viewed as "deviant" has been recast as we've all matured.
There will be a contingent of absolutist dinosaurs who will condemn it outright, and another clique of young militants who will whine that it didn't go far enough, but from my viewpoint, it presents an accurate picture of the times.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 05-17-2017 at 04:15 PM..
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