Friday, August 31, 2007

Starring: Iraq

We've already seen movies and tv shows about the war in Iraq. Brian De Palma isn't the first, but he may be the worst. In his new film, "Redacted", De Palma focuses in on the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and her family that took place in 2006 by American soldiers.
"The movie is an attempt to bring the reality of what is happening in Iraq to the American people," he told reporters after a press screening.
So, this incident is an example of what's happening in Iraq? Not the troops trying to build up the Iraqi police and military forces? Not them rebuilding schools and hospitals? Taking little children and caring for them day and night in the hospital? But rape and murder? This shouldn't surprise anyone. This movie, and others that will be coming out, follow four of the rules I made up for a "great" Hollywood movie.

Rule 5. If your film shows the U.S. military in ONLY a positive way, it's bad.
Rule 6. If your film shows the U.S. military in ANYWAY negative, it's good.
Rule 7. If your film shows America in ONLY a good, positive way, thats wrong.
Rule 8. If your film shows America as the evil, oppressive place we know it to be, it's a hit.


Of course Tim Robbins, who claims that American troops have killed over 400,000 civilian, is going to love this movie. But the same can't be said for Pete Hegseth of Vets for Freedom.
"These statements reflect the utter ignorance of Robbins and DePalma about what American soldiers are actually doing in Iraq. At every opportunity, they use their celebrity status to bash the very soldiers and Marines who are fighting for them. They reflexively side with radical Islamic terrorists rather than take an honest look at the situation in Iraq."

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