Movies that have been slightly ruined/diminished due to annoying conservative co-opted analogies

[Tommy_Carcetti]

Can anyone list any movies of which your enjoyment has been somewhat spoiled due to the fact that conservatives have co-opted them and tried to claim there is some conservative message about them? I can think of two:

The Incredibles--I think someone tried to claim that it was a movie that espoused Ayn Rand philosophies. Thus, what could have been an enjoyable animated film was somewhat ruined by annoying thoughts about Atlas Shrugged.

The Dark Knight--Someone sufficiently douchey--I think it was Glenn Beck--tried to draw the analogy that Batman was George W. Bush. Yuck.

[MrCoffee]

1. Red Dawn

There's nothing ideological about wholesome American boys shootin' up some Commies.

[darkstar]

2. Forest Gump

and that director's follow up, Contact.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. How so?

[darkstar]

5. Here's a pretty good take on it

http://www.cinephobia.com/forrest.htm

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. Then you'd love the National Review's list of Top 50 most conservative songs

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NzZkNDU5MmViNzVjNzkzMDE3NzNlN2MyZjRjYTk4YjE=

Who knew that The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Bob Dylan, The Kinks and The Clash were all right wing Freepers.

[darkstar]

12. I'm not sure what you're saying?

You disagree with this author's POV? He's a lefty (I thought) complaining about how the movie was slightly ruined by a right-leaning agenda. That other site is about wingers co-opting largely left-leaning artists, i.e. the exact polar opposite of the FG critique and what I thought was the intent of this thread, i.e. subtle and not-so right wing shadings of movies.

So, in short, I'm not interested in that list and don't see why you might think I would be. Sorry. If you are way into the movie FG and took that as a slight, it wasn't intended. However, iat was fairly conventional wisdom among lefty-leaning culture watchers when it was released that it was a "deep" right wing fantasy. Rush loved it and Pat Buchanan called it the best post-WWII movie Americ had produced, or words to that effect.

[darkstar]

13. More....

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/usercomments-66

Some of its critics say that "Forrest Gump" is little more than a right wing fable whose message is "Vote Republican." Yes, Forrest is the embodiment of "traditional values," a simpleton who worships God, honors his mother, does what he's told, and never asks questions. Good old Forrest succeeds in life by embracing the values of mainstream society while Jenny, the girl he loves with a blind passion, pursues the fancy-free lifestyles in vogue at each time period portrayed: In the 1960s, she joins the counterculture, strumming a guitar, smoking dope, dropping acid, and protesting the war in Vietnam in which Forrest courageously fights. In the 70s, while Forrest is a successful businessman, Jenny is a fast living, sexually promiscuous member of the disco set.

Forrest represents America, or, rather, the America that right wing propagandists want everyone to believe is the true America. Do what you're told, never talk back, and you'll be successful and happy. Jenny, on the other hand, epitomizes rebellion and the rejection of the unthinking way of life that the government would prefer we pursue. Forrest is good. Jenny is bad. Forrest further strengthens his image of goodness by always, always, ALWAYS taking Jenny back whenever her latest flirtations fail to fulfill her. Like Jesus, Forrest loves Jenny unconditionally, never questioning her lack of faithfulness. Yes, this film says, America forgives all of you long-haired, dope smoking, draft-dodging sex perverts, or we will if you agree to shape up, and fast. For Jenny, however, it was too late. Once she settled down into a respectable middle-class life, her past caught up with her.

Of course, some people see the above interpretation as hogwash. They maintain that "Forrest Gump" is simply a fable promoting such tried and true values as honoring your parents and your God. It's the story of innocence uncorrupted by a greedy, frequently hateful and dishonest world. No matter how evil the times, goodness can prevail.

I must say I can relate to the criticisms; they have validity. But so do the arguments of those who champion the film. It is with the latter group that I side, and Tom Hanks, more than anything else, is the reason. Not since James Stewart has an actor so believably portrayed kindness and decency. Hanks makes this film work, and his performance can even help you overlook the often awkward special-effects (the scene in which Forrest appears on "The Dick Cavett Show" with John Lennon failed to convince). I think Morgan Freeman deserved the Oscar that year for "The Shawshank Redemption," but of all the people who took home Oscars for "Forrest Gump," no one earned theirs more than Hanks. I can't imagine another actor (a living one, anyway) taking on this character and pulling it off as splendidly as he did.

[mcctatas]

4. The Passion of the Christ...

some of the conservative wankers actually tried comparing it to Jesus!

*edit to add we all know it was really thinly disguised snuff porn

[Blue_Tires]

6. Patton

of course, the beauty of that film is that depending on your views, you can make very strong pro- or antiwar arguments from it

[Blue_Tires]

7. Charley Wilson's War

for obvious reasons

[NJmaverick]

9. How about a TV show- 24

[Tommy_Carcetti]

10. I think conservatives think that is a reality show as opposed to being mindless action fluff.

Given the fact that they list it as reason why we have to torture.

[NJmaverick]

11. That was just what I was thinking

[LisaM]

14. Juno.

I know that it's a good movie. My problem with it is that it doesn't deal realistically with the issues of birth control and abortion.

[darkstar]

17. Nice one, I think....

Perfect example of ideology shading pop-cultural ideas.

:hi:

[mitchum]

15. "Triumph of the Will"

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

16. not a movie, but the original Law and Order

especially the older episodes, whenever the story line had a politician in it, it was always a Democrat and they were always corrupt.

on edit, not to mention sleepy Fred Thompson, who always got to spew right wing talking points, that seemed to be straight from the RNC fax machine with absolutely no rebuttal. Like it was just because he said it, it was the end all, be all, I have spoken type of thing.