Remember when going to a ballgame meant skipping the commercials endured while taking in the game via television or radio? Remember when sweet trailers and posters for upcoming movies were the only advertising found at the theater? We use to be able to "get away" to these places and others, able to remove ourselves from the "day to day". While going to games and movies remain a few of my favorite activities, the money spent no longer pays for freedom from pesky commercial advertising.
We've identified the connection between professional sports and the US military in the past. Though budget cuts may have ended "fly overs" for the foreseeable future, we have to expect continued, likely enhanced, use of wounded veterans of war in professional sports. Honored for their sacrifice before the start of the game, throwing out the first pitch, flipping a coin on the 50 yard line, bearing the flag during The Star Spangled Banner, saying "gentlemen, start your engines."
Lets be clear on a point before moving forward. Few respect the talents, efforts, technology, and power of the US armed services more than I do. Few acknowledge the sacrifices made, understand the value of lost life, or respect the bravery of men and woman in combat more clearly than I do. At the same time, I am among the very few are willing to dig deep and recognize the misuse and exploitation of these brave men and women, a member of the select few belonging to the un-silent minority willing to call a spade a spade and speak the truth about power misused and abused.
As has been well established over the chronicles, the same corporate interests that run our government/military also own the mass media. It should come as no surprise that Hollywood has once again romanticized American military activity, however this time, they've gone too far. Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, film and television have been painting technicolor pictures to recount the toils of war. From inserted just cause to exaggerated tales of heroism and valor, history has quite literally been re-told and re-sold as a big-budget blockbuster.
Many of us, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, found The Hurt Locker to be one of the great war films of all time. In addition to collecting the Oscar for Best Picture, Kathryn Bigelow was awarded the Academy Award for Best Director. Along with its technical and artistic merit as a film, it also served as one of the most accurate representations of our current conflict in the Middle East. These elements combined to create the perfect platform for what was to come; telling the story of the events surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden.
Lets keep the framework simple. The story of the mission was crafted and broadcasted in unison by the aforementioned architects. Bin Laden shot dead in a CIA led operation by an elite Navy SEAL team, 1 round in the head, 2 in the chest. Body taken to Afghanistan for identification, wrapped and dropped into the North Arabian Sea because no country would "accept his remains". The President watched live on television via satellite.
This is the story that will soon appear in history books and encyclopedias.
Unquestioned.
Like clockwork, within 18 months, Zero Dark Thirty is produced, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture. If the ramifications are not big enough, just prior to the announcement of Best Picture at this years ceremony, on the screen above the stage appears our nations First Lady. Mrs. Obama delivering a message of congratulations to all the nominees and the Hollywood community in general. The military has cooperated with Hollywood for years, providing aircraft, watercraft, hovercraft, tanks, trucks, weapons of all kinds, even servicemen and women in bit parts and as extras. But never before has a feature film been so meticulously crafted by the CIA with such a resounding endorsement from the Hollywood community.
A precursor that should have foreshadowed this films arrival was another titled Act of Valor. You may have noticed how television commercials for joining the military and those for combat video games like Call of Duty are almost indiscernible. From music, to camera moves, to weapons and vehicles, it's tough to tell which is which until the end. When I first saw the trailer for Act of Valor is when the theme of this entry was conceived. I didn't know if it was another annoying movie theater TV commercial, an ad for joining an armed service, a video game, or a reality show. Turned out is was none of the above. It was a new breed, a feature film starring actual members of US Special Forces in a story "inspired by true events".
Full integration.
I watched Battleship for the first time on HBO a few weeks back. Director Peter Berg is a good filmmaker who makes entertaining movies (though I think he wants to be Michael Bay). It seems Berg, like Gary Sinise, is a huge supporter of our military, and more importantly, our veterans. Though based on the board game from Hasbro, Battleship was largely an advertisement for the US Navy. Army is also represented as the film takes place on Oahu, home to a base from each of Americas armed forces.
Shortly into the film we meet angry Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales, portrayed by Colonel Gregory D. Gadson. It turns out in real life Col. Gadson is actually a highly decorated combat veteran, having served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Joint Forge, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In May of 2007 he lost both legs and badly injured his right arm in a rode side blast in Baghdad. He was retuning from a memorial service for 2 men in his brigade when the incident occurred. The image of "Mick Canales" begrudgingly walking on his prosthetic legs is enough to stir the emotions of most viewers. His frustration feels genuine, he even says "I lost my fight when I lost my legs." As a viewer, I was already upset thinking about the price he paid and to what end. My deep concern was that the general population would perceive his loss as "for a good cause" such as "protecting our freedom." Things take a turn for the worse in the film when one of many aliens threatening civilian safety is within reach of Col. Canales. He looks to the woman on his left and says "I got this," then precedes to charge one of the aliens, wrapping it up in a bear hug, striking it with a few head shots, grabbing it by its head, pulling towards his mechanical knee crushing its face shield exposing it to dangerous UV radiation. From here the Colonial proceeds to pummel the alien with his fists, pugilist style, ultimately, effectively kicking the aliens ass. So in this case, it seems Lt. Col. Canales has the advantage, perhaps his new legs are better than the old.
We've identified the connection between professional sports and the US military in the past. Though budget cuts may have ended "fly overs" for the foreseeable future, we have to expect continued, likely enhanced, use of wounded veterans of war in professional sports. Honored for their sacrifice before the start of the game, throwing out the first pitch, flipping a coin on the 50 yard line, bearing the flag during The Star Spangled Banner, saying "gentlemen, start your engines."
Lets be clear on a point before moving forward. Few respect the talents, efforts, technology, and power of the US armed services more than I do. Few acknowledge the sacrifices made, understand the value of lost life, or respect the bravery of men and woman in combat more clearly than I do. At the same time, I am among the very few are willing to dig deep and recognize the misuse and exploitation of these brave men and women, a member of the select few belonging to the un-silent minority willing to call a spade a spade and speak the truth about power misused and abused.
As has been well established over the chronicles, the same corporate interests that run our government/military also own the mass media. It should come as no surprise that Hollywood has once again romanticized American military activity, however this time, they've gone too far. Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, film and television have been painting technicolor pictures to recount the toils of war. From inserted just cause to exaggerated tales of heroism and valor, history has quite literally been re-told and re-sold as a big-budget blockbuster.
Many of us, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, found The Hurt Locker to be one of the great war films of all time. In addition to collecting the Oscar for Best Picture, Kathryn Bigelow was awarded the Academy Award for Best Director. Along with its technical and artistic merit as a film, it also served as one of the most accurate representations of our current conflict in the Middle East. These elements combined to create the perfect platform for what was to come; telling the story of the events surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden.
Lets keep the framework simple. The story of the mission was crafted and broadcasted in unison by the aforementioned architects. Bin Laden shot dead in a CIA led operation by an elite Navy SEAL team, 1 round in the head, 2 in the chest. Body taken to Afghanistan for identification, wrapped and dropped into the North Arabian Sea because no country would "accept his remains". The President watched live on television via satellite.
This is the story that will soon appear in history books and encyclopedias.
Unquestioned.
Like clockwork, within 18 months, Zero Dark Thirty is produced, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, and nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture. If the ramifications are not big enough, just prior to the announcement of Best Picture at this years ceremony, on the screen above the stage appears our nations First Lady. Mrs. Obama delivering a message of congratulations to all the nominees and the Hollywood community in general. The military has cooperated with Hollywood for years, providing aircraft, watercraft, hovercraft, tanks, trucks, weapons of all kinds, even servicemen and women in bit parts and as extras. But never before has a feature film been so meticulously crafted by the CIA with such a resounding endorsement from the Hollywood community.
A precursor that should have foreshadowed this films arrival was another titled Act of Valor. You may have noticed how television commercials for joining the military and those for combat video games like Call of Duty are almost indiscernible. From music, to camera moves, to weapons and vehicles, it's tough to tell which is which until the end. When I first saw the trailer for Act of Valor is when the theme of this entry was conceived. I didn't know if it was another annoying movie theater TV commercial, an ad for joining an armed service, a video game, or a reality show. Turned out is was none of the above. It was a new breed, a feature film starring actual members of US Special Forces in a story "inspired by true events".
Full integration.
I watched Battleship for the first time on HBO a few weeks back. Director Peter Berg is a good filmmaker who makes entertaining movies (though I think he wants to be Michael Bay). It seems Berg, like Gary Sinise, is a huge supporter of our military, and more importantly, our veterans. Though based on the board game from Hasbro, Battleship was largely an advertisement for the US Navy. Army is also represented as the film takes place on Oahu, home to a base from each of Americas armed forces.
Shortly into the film we meet angry Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales, portrayed by Colonel Gregory D. Gadson. It turns out in real life Col. Gadson is actually a highly decorated combat veteran, having served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Joint Forge, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In May of 2007 he lost both legs and badly injured his right arm in a rode side blast in Baghdad. He was retuning from a memorial service for 2 men in his brigade when the incident occurred. The image of "Mick Canales" begrudgingly walking on his prosthetic legs is enough to stir the emotions of most viewers. His frustration feels genuine, he even says "I lost my fight when I lost my legs." As a viewer, I was already upset thinking about the price he paid and to what end. My deep concern was that the general population would perceive his loss as "for a good cause" such as "protecting our freedom." Things take a turn for the worse in the film when one of many aliens threatening civilian safety is within reach of Col. Canales. He looks to the woman on his left and says "I got this," then precedes to charge one of the aliens, wrapping it up in a bear hug, striking it with a few head shots, grabbing it by its head, pulling towards his mechanical knee crushing its face shield exposing it to dangerous UV radiation. From here the Colonial proceeds to pummel the alien with his fists, pugilist style, ultimately, effectively kicking the aliens ass. So in this case, it seems Lt. Col. Canales has the advantage, perhaps his new legs are better than the old.
Message?
If you get cut in half on Uncle Sam's behalf, he's got new legs for you to stand on. Keep your trust in him. Prepare to go back out and fight for him with those new legs. Continue to serve your fellow man and follow your nations interests without a second thought. You witnessed it live at your favorite sporting event, you heard it in 6.1 surround sound on your car stereo, you got the message in the palm of your hand on your smartphone, you saw it on the big screen at the theater, and you saw it at home on your HD TV in 1080p.
You've been fully integrated.
Good word Ben. I too remember the times when we would sit patiently in the theater in anticipation for the film to begin. Now we sit through "first looks" "presented by..."
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