Comments on: Funny Games - The AMG Review http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/ Sat, 10 May 2008 01:30:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: The Oracle http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1820 The Oracle Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:58:50 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1820 Didactic B.S. The whole Natural Born Killers/Cannibal Holocaust school of nonviolence is absolutely ridiculous. To make a point about the evil of sadism just proves that whoever is making the film is no better than those who watch that sort of thing. I have no problem with violence on film, but am horrified at violence in real life. Somewhere down the line, we've forgotten that they are people who can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. If the filmmaker is so moral, why go to the trouble making a harsh treatise on how immoral the audience is? Why would he morally debase himself to morally debase the audience? Why not just say "Violence is Bad" and move on? Didactic B.S. The whole Natural Born Killers/Cannibal Holocaust school of nonviolence is absolutely ridiculous. To make a point about the evil of sadism just proves that whoever is making the film is no better than those who watch that sort of thing. I have no problem with violence on film, but am horrified at violence in real life. Somewhere down the line, we’ve forgotten that they are people who can tell the difference between reality and fantasy. If the filmmaker is so moral, why go to the trouble making a harsh treatise on how immoral the audience is? Why would he morally debase himself to morally debase the audience? Why not just say “Violence is Bad” and move on?

]]> By: Jason http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1898 Jason Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:41:46 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1898 "Why not just say “Violence is Bad” and move on?" Well, the obvious answer is there's not much of a movie in that... In all seriousness though, agree with him or not there's no denying that Haneke is an artist who is attempting to make a statement about violence. The fact that we're even debating the issue at all would indicate to me that his artistic endeavor was a successful one regardless as to if he is "wrong" or "right" in either of our opinions. Do I think Haneke is any better than you or I? Of course not. But that's not really the point here, and neither - I would argue - is the fact that some unfortunate souls don't possess the mental capacity to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Those folks might be just as easily set off by a particularly violent episode of the Three Stooges, and by suggesting that artists begin to censor themselves for the sake of the protecting others I personally believe one starts sailing into some pretty choppy waters. “Why not just say “Violence is Bad” and move on?”

Well, the obvious answer is there’s not much of a movie in that…

In all seriousness though, agree with him or not there’s no denying that Haneke is an artist who is attempting to make a statement about violence. The fact that we’re even debating the issue at all would indicate to me that his artistic endeavor was a successful one regardless as to if he is “wrong” or “right” in either of our opinions.

Do I think Haneke is any better than you or I? Of course not. But that’s not really the point here, and neither - I would argue - is the fact that some unfortunate souls don’t possess the mental capacity to distinguish between reality and fantasy. Those folks might be just as easily set off by a particularly violent episode of the Three Stooges, and by suggesting that artists begin to censor themselves for the sake of the protecting others I personally believe one starts sailing into some pretty choppy waters.

]]> By: The Oracle http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1933 The Oracle Fri, 21 Mar 2008 01:28:42 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1933 I would never suggest that anyone self-censor, I just wish this guy would let go of his moralizing and make a straightforward horrifying thriller. I would never suggest that anyone self-censor, I just wish this guy would let go of his moralizing and make a straightforward horrifying thriller.

]]> By: Jason http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1954 Jason Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:30:28 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-1954 I hear ya... To try and defend a movie life Funny Games is a futile endeavor - nothing anyone says is really going to change anyone else's opinion about a movie like this. I agree that he may be moralizing a bit here, but I guess I'm willing to forgive him that because it got me thinking. With so much mindless junk cluttering up the box office and television screen these days I appreciated that - even if it did depress/disturb the living hell out of me. I hear ya… To try and defend a movie life Funny Games is a futile endeavor - nothing anyone says is really going to change anyone else’s opinion about a movie like this. I agree that he may be moralizing a bit here, but I guess I’m willing to forgive him that because it got me thinking. With so much mindless junk cluttering up the box office and television screen these days I appreciated that - even if it did depress/disturb the living hell out of me.

]]> By: Juan http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-2064 Juan Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:45:12 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-2064 oracle - can you clarify what exactly a cannibal holocaust school of non-violence is? last few times i watched it i was under the impression it was an exploitation film celebrating violence and gore. perhaps deodato is operating above my head. gratefully you're here to enlighten. oracle - can you clarify what exactly a cannibal holocaust school of non-violence is? last few times i watched it i was under the impression it was an exploitation film celebrating violence and gore. perhaps deodato is operating above my head. gratefully you’re here to enlighten.

]]> By: The Oracle http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-2205 The Oracle Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:15:54 +0000 http://blog.allmovie.com/2008/03/14/funny-games-the-amg-review/#comment-2205 Some suggest that the point of Cannibal Holocaust was to rape your senses and convince you that liking violence is bad. So why do you continue to propogate violence in film if you think violence in film is bad? Some suggest that the point of Cannibal Holocaust was to rape your senses and convince you that liking violence is bad. So why do you continue to propogate violence in film if you think violence in film is bad?

]]>