The popular culture sometimes gives signals about a society’s trends: apocalyptic movies appear during times of stress, like right now with the War On Terror.
Tonight the premiere of a new version of a science-fiction series from over 20 years ago on ABC (?!!!?) contains elements of satirical criticism against the cult of MAObama!
If there were no market for such a series, you can bet that ABC would not be touching it.
The Chicago Tribune (!?!) has the story here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-tc-tvcolumn-v-1102-1103nov03,0,7062976.story
An excerpt:
“Imagine this. At a time of political turmoil, a charismatic, telegenic new leader arrives virtually out of nowhere. He offers a message of hope and reconciliation based on compromise and promises to marshal technology for a better future that will include universal health care.
The news media swoons in admiration — one simpering anchorman even shouts at a reporter who asks a tough question: “Why don’t you show some respect?!” The public is likewise smitten, except for a few nut cases who circulate batty rumors on the Internet about the leader’s origins and intentions. The leader, undismayed, offers assurances that are soothing, if also just a tiny bit condescending: “Embracing change is never easy.”
So, does that sound like anyone you know? Oh, wait — did I mention the leader is secretly a totalitarian space lizard who’s come here to eat us?
Welcome to ABC’s “V,” the most fascinating and bound to be the most controversial new show of the fall television season. Nominally a rousing sci-fi space opera about alien invaders bent on the conquest (and digestion) of all humanity, it’s also a barbed commentary on Obamamania that will infuriate the president’s supporters and delight his detractors.”
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
Daniel Horowitz
Jake Walker
Victoria Coates
truley surprising
kyle8 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:01PM EST (link)since the original was a thinly veiled attack at Ronald Reagan and the Republicans.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
Could you explain how it was an attack on Reagan and Republicans
Leopard1996 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:16PM EST (link)I probably missed it since when I watched it initially I was like 9 years old.
I will watch this tonight to see what is what with a more politically critical eye, that is for sure.
Lately, everything that is going on, I find myself looking at it through a political eye, and always asking the, “Que Bono”? question.
“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen
as I recall, the visitors had television commercials
kyle8 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:35PM EST (link)that were very reminiscent of the GOP “Morning in America” adds. And a few other similarities I don’t recall right at the moment.
Maybe I was hyper sensitive but it seemed to me at the time that EVERYTHING in the media was an attack on Reagan.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
I'll have to take a look at that too
Leopard1996 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:59PM EST (link)Currently Syfy is showing the whole series over and over today.
“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen
Wish I had time to watch it. nt
Flagstaff (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:22PM EST (link)“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
Wish I had time to watch it. nt
Flagstaff (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:22PM EST (link)“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
You had "ObamaEars" before they were cool.
Flagstaff (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:19PM EST (link)And you had them on behalf of Ronaldus Maximus.
“The press is so powerful in its image-making role that it can make a criminal look like he’s the victim and make the victim look like he’s the criminal. If you aren’t careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”– Malcolm X, Audubon Ballroom, December 13, 1964
I remember...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 9:13PM EST (link)now, “V” was did not have the intent they intended, because to young influential kids like me it seemed that the V were communists/socialists, not conservative individualists and freedom fighters. Free-press and all, wow this is giving me flashbacks to 7 years old.
No Hope Or Change At The Movies Recently
Ausonius (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:20PM EST (link)Last Saturday we sat through 8 previews – and remember that Christmas is coming – and 7 of the 8 were unrelentingly negative: aliens coming to destroy the planet, destructive spirits, mass murderers on the loose, etc.
From a semiotic point of view, and given the politics of Hollywood, these negative signs are most curious in our era of Obamatopia! And now with “V” we have – if the reviewers are correct – a not too subtle criticism of Mr. Hope-n-Change.
Ausonius: 310-395 A.D. Teacher, Poet, Consul, General, Farmer.
Personal Tutor to the future St. Paulinus of Nola and to young Gratian, heir to the throne during the turbulent final years of the Western Roman Empire. When his former student Gratian was assassinated, Ausonius threw up his hands and retired to his farm in Gaul. Rome was captured by barbarians 14 years after his death.
Cato@rock.com
is it my imagination?
kyle8 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:40PM EST (link)But are movies, in general really sucking lately. Not only are there more bad horror movies, but there are really really bad remakes of bad horror movies.
Likewise the comedies all seem derivative and unfunny with the one exception of the hangover.
And no big movie franchises on the horizon such as lord of the rings.
Best movie I have seen in the last several years is GranTorino. not much fun with any of the others.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
No, Not Your Imagination: Derivative Movies
Ausonius (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:49PM EST (link)are the game of the day: sequels of sequels and remakes of things that were not very good to begin with e.g. “Red Sonja” which was an Arnold “epic” from the 80′s, made in Italy, a kind of “spaghetti sword ‘n’ sorcery.”
Or The Pink Panther: Steve Martin must need to make those Mercedes payments.
Better movies can be found outside the studios, so look around for smaller “independent” movies.
Ausonius: 310-395 A.D. Teacher, Poet, Consul, General, Farmer.
Personal Tutor to the future St. Paulinus of Nola and to young Gratian, heir to the throne during the turbulent final years of the Western Roman Empire. When his former student Gratian was assassinated, Ausonius threw up his hands and retired to his farm in Gaul. Rome was captured by barbarians 14 years after his death.
Cato@rock.com
as far as sequels...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:54PM EST (link)I recommend getting the Ghostbusters video game, a better sequel to the 1st then the 2nd could ever be.
I thought "V" had a very anti-socialist message...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:44PM EST (link)when I was young. I was 7 when that show came out, and I thought the good guys appeared to be like Reagen, well that is the way I viewed it at 7.
I was a young republican at the time, like I said...
kyle8 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:59PM EST (link)I might have been hyper sensitive.
“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle
Those were my thoughts too
Leopard1996 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 5:00PM EST (link)The fact that the resistance was armed, and fighting for freedom and all.
“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen
Remember "Red Dawn"?! The Ultimate 80's Pro-Freedom Movie!
Ausonius (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 5:41PM EST (link)Hokey, sure! But how much fun was it watching American teenagers blast Russians?!!!
Ausonius: 310-395 A.D. Teacher, Poet, Consul, General, Farmer.
Personal Tutor to the future St. Paulinus of Nola and to young Gratian, heir to the throne during the turbulent final years of the Western Roman Empire. When his former student Gratian was assassinated, Ausonius threw up his hands and retired to his farm in Gaul. Rome was captured by barbarians 14 years after his death.
Cato@rock.com
LOL
Leopard1996 (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 5:54PM EST (link)Yeah, I always stop to watch that movie when it is on.
“The accumluated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout, “Save Us!”….and I’ll look down and whisper, “No”…The Watchmen
wow, the storyline of "V" [possible spoiler]...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 9:07PM EST (link)It is all coming back to me now, accept the journalist in the original was female and the leader was a man, wow, nostalgia, they even used 0bama campaign statement, that is the V’s
I think every true American male
WarEagle01 (Diary) Wednesday, November 4th at 12:26AM EST (link)who watched that movie at the time wanted that to happen. Just to get the chance to blow apart some Russians.
“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg
“The alternative to the awful extremity of abortion is the indispensable joy of introducing this flawed world to someone who might make it better.”–John Hayward (AKA Dr. Zero)
From the little that I remember of V(it came when I was like 6[1983])
Richard Mullins (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 8:37PM EST (link)it seemed to take a swipe at progressive “utopias”. Of course that what I remember. If this get to the level of the remake of Battlestar Galactica(at time it looked like a full on assault of George Walker Bush), then it be good. I’m really amazed that ABC even decided to run a good Sci-Fi series.
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Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.
Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.
This is a Pleasant Suprise; But I Dont Know The Story Arch
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Tuesday, November 3rd at 4:27PM EST (link)In the original, which I loved as a kid, the visitors ultimately were reptillians who planned on enslaving the humans. I dont know if these hopeandchangers are going to follow the same story.
Sound cool though. Kudos to the producers if they had the balls to parody The Messiah.
Surprisingly, the first episode took multiple shots at 0bamao
WarEagle01 (Diary) Wednesday, November 4th at 12:33AM EST (link)Although the Leader is an attractive woman, so maybe the Dems will try to spin it as some kind of Palin hitjob. The part that reeked of Barry 0 was when the TV interviewer was cautioned by the Leader to not ask any questions that might make her look bad and, at least for now, the TV guy complies.
“A wise, doughy leg with rich tingly experiences will always reach better conclusions than will a more tanned, muscular leg that hasn’t felt those thrills.” –Chris Matthews’ Leg
“The alternative to the awful extremity of abortion is the indispensable joy of introducing this flawed world to someone who might make it better.”–John Hayward (AKA Dr. Zero)