Personal Boycott of Hollywood Military Films

[New Edom]

I just watched the movie "Emperor" which is supposedly about Douglas MacArthur's occupation of Japan and his insistence on finding a reason to spare the life of Emperor Hirohito. I started watching this movie because I find him a fascinating historical figure, I'm interested in WWII and like Tommy Lee Jones who plays MacArthur in the film.

I didn't think this was a fantastic film, but that's not why I'm boycotting or encouraging my friends and everyone I know to boycott watching Hollywood films about the American military. I'm simply tired of how they are depicted on many levels, but none more than the way that so often in these films American soldiers, sailors and airmen don't return salutes of foreign miltiary personnel. So often it is not enough to glorify their own nation--which is fair--but so often it comes at the expense of other nations' history.

There's no reason for this to happen. America has its own stories of courage, resourcefulness, clever strategies and brilliant leadership; volumes have been written and in the past much better films were made. The ones made in the last twenty years or so are arguably made with amazing special effects, acting and production values, but historical accuracy has taken a downturn. I don't think some of the crappy movies out there even do justice to AMERICAN history. I don't think this is 'America' so much as it is Hollywood writers and producers being lazy and shallow in their approach to it.

For me, the problem here is that I'm tired of sifting through the crap out there to find another "Blackhawk Down" which I thought was good. After seeing "Fury" "Emperor" "U-571" it seems to be a trend rather than the exception. I encourage others as customers of movie watching if they care about this to be vocal about it and clear about why they refuse to watch such movies or pay any money for them until there is some improvement.

[Noord-Eurys]

I understand why you want to boycott these, and you're free to do what you want, but this thread kind of feels like you're throwing a fit.
change the thread up a bit to encourage some discussion.

[Saiwania]

Well the problem you're having is that you're watching relatively recent Hollywood war films. The old ones from the mid 20th century or older are fairly good, in my view anyways. The more recent ones are almost always going to have silly things like a romance that never happened or a liberal bias injected into it.

For example, that lame Pearl Harbor movie by Michael Bay. It can never beat Tora! Tora! Tora!

[The Republic of American Freedom]

Well the problem you're having is that you're watching relatively recent Hollywood war films. The old ones from the mid 20th century or older are fairly good, in my view anyways. The more recent ones are almost always going to have silly things or a liberal bias injected into it.

For example, that lame Pearl Harbor movie by Michael Bay. It can never beat Tora! Tora! Tora!

This is basically the problem with modern Hollywood.

[New Edom]

Well the problem you're having is that you're watching relatively recent Hollywood war films. The old ones from the mid 20th century or older are fairly good, in my view anyways. The more recent ones are almost always going to have silly things like a romance that never happened or a liberal bias injected into it.

For example, that lame Pearl Harbor movie by Michael Bay. It can never beat Tora! Tora! Tora!

I absolutely agree. Even sillier ones like "Kelly's Heroes" are fun and not taking the subject matter too seriously, and so you know it's tongue in cheek. Others like "Tora Tora Tora" "A Bridge Too Far" and so on are more about the events that happened, and even ones that are about fictional material like "Bridge on the River Kwai" are still ones I found enjoyable.

[New Edom]

Well the problem you're having is that you're watching relatively recent Hollywood war films. The old ones from the mid 20th century or older are fairly good, in my view anyways. The more recent ones are almost always going to have silly things or a liberal bias injected into it.

For example, that lame Pearl Harbor movie by Michael Bay. It can never beat Tora! Tora! Tora!

This is basically the problem with modern Hollywood.

Well that's probably true as well.

[Infected Mushroom]

War movies are fine. Not sure why historical accuracy is important in movies. Movies have no obligation to be historically accurate.

That said, many war movies (such as Fury) are fairly ridiculous and the propaganda of the invincible American can get on my nerve a bit.

[Rhyfelnydd]

War movies are fine. Not sure why historical accuracy is important in movies. Movies have no obligation to be historically accurate.

That said, many war movies (such as Fury) are fairly ridiculous and the propaganda of the invincible American can get on my nerve a bit.

When they purposefully advertise that it is based on history, yeah, then it kind of makes them obligated. Otherwise, you are correct.

Try The Longest Day, Battle of the Bulge (with Nazi Quint from Jaws ), or Battle of Britain, older movies that are light years better than modern Hollywood schlock.

[Israeli Defense Force]

I'm simply tired of how they are depicted on many levels, but none more than the way that so often in these films American soldiers, sailors and airmen don't return salutes of foreign miltiary personnel.

Can you name five films where this happens?

I understand why you want to boycott these, and you're free to do what you want, but this thread kind of feels like you're throwing a fit.
change the thread up a bit to encourage some discussion.

Also this tbh fam. It's a great blog OP though.

[Israeli Defense Force]

That said, many war movies (such as Fury) are fairly ridiculous and the propaganda of the invincible American can get on my nerve a bit.

You mean like in Fury where all the American tanks are destroyed and they lose the fight in the end and everyone but the rookie die? That invincibility?

[New Edom]

War movies are fine. Not sure why historical accuracy is important in movies. Movies have no obligation to be historically accurate.

That said, many war movies (such as Fury) are fairly ridiculous and the propaganda of the invincible American can get on my nerve a bit.

Actually it's less that they are historically inaccurate than the tone of them and what the historical issues say. What you said about invincibility is a case in point. Over the last twenty years or so it has seemed like EVERY American WWII drama is about triumphalism, America as the ONLY worthy nation on the planet worth respecting, and that American victory is inevitable. This goes beyond respecting your nation's history and playing with details a bit for drama to being ridiculous.

And having said that, I like American history. I enjoyed studying the Civil War, I have extensively studied and watched things about WWII and about WWII and other conflicts.

Like most people, I used to try to find the gems in movies I watched or try to not get too distracted by the irritating elements, but I've noticed it seems to be the rule rather than the exception now,so I'm boycotting and encouraging others to do the same. The only way to change something put on the market is customer response being so negative those producing the product have to respond, so that's what i'm doing.

Of course I'm a fair person so I'm willing to be proven wrong, but I've put a lot of thought into this, and decided life is too short to be irritated by movies. They're meant to be entertaining and on some level enjoyable even if this subject matter is dark or disturbing. So if people love the way such movies are being made, great, this thread doesn't speak to you. If you do find them frustrating as I do, then I encourage you: boycott them and vocally tell others you are doing the same.

[The 502nd SS]

War movies are fine. Not sure why historical accuracy is important in movies. Movies have no obligation to be historically accurate.

That said, many war movies (such as Fury) are fairly ridiculous and the propaganda of the invincible American can get on my nerve a bit.

Yeah, scenes like the Tiger fight and the last engagement were painful to watch as a WWII Armor enthusiast.

It felt like the Germans were blind and just plain stupid

[Rhyfelnydd]

That said, many war movies (such as Fury) are fairly ridiculous and the propaganda of the invincible American can get on my nerve a bit.

You mean like in Fury where all the American tanks are destroyed and they lose the fight in the end and everyone but the rookie die? That invincibility?

The fact one tank crew holds against pretty much an entire, if I remember right, armored brigade (of the SS no less) is pretty overblown and American brovado-chestbeating-esque

[Vassenor]

I just watched the movie "Emperor" which is supposedly about Douglas MacArthur's occupation of Japan and his insistence on finding a reason to spare the life of Emperor Hirohito. I started watching this movie because I find him a fascinating historical figure, I'm interested in WWII and like Tommy Lee Jones who plays MacArthur in the film.

I didn't think this was a fantastic film, but that's not why I'm boycotting or encouraging my friends and everyone I know to boycott watching Hollywood films about the American military. I'm simply tired of how they are depicted on many levels, but none more than the way that so often in these films American soldiers, sailors and airmen don't return salutes of foreign miltiary personnel. So often it is not enough to glorify their own nation--which is fair--but so often it comes at the expense of other nations' history.

There's no reason for this to happen. America has its own stories of courage, resourcefulness, clever strategies and brilliant leadership; volumes have been written and in the past much better films were made. The ones made in the last twenty years or so are arguably made with amazing special effects, acting and production values, but historical accuracy has taken a downturn. I don't think some of the crappy movies out there even do justice to AMERICAN history. I don't think this is 'America' so much as it is Hollywood writers and producers being lazy and shallow in their approach to it.

For me, the problem here is that I'm tired of sifting through the crap out there to find another "Blackhawk Down" which I thought was good. After seeing "Fury" "Emperor" "U-571" it seems to be a trend rather than the exception. I encourage others as customers of movie watching if they care about this to be vocal about it and clear about why they refuse to watch such movies or pay any money for them until there is some improvement.

So nothing about the way that films rewrite history to make it look like America won WW2 single handedly? U-571 was a pretty big bugger for that.

[Israeli Defense Force]

You mean like in Fury where all the American tanks are destroyed and they lose the fight in the end and everyone but the rookie die? That invincibility?

The fact one tank crew holds against pretty much an entire, if I remember right, armored brigade (of the SS no less) is pretty overblown and American brovado-chestbeating-esque

I wouldn't say Fury is a good movie, but there's nothing about invincibility in it. And the event, though in my opinion questionable with a Sherman tank, had parallels in actual events in WWII. There is the story of a single Soviet heavy tank that held up an entire German division for a day, for instance. I'm waiting for Putin to make the movie on that one.

[Staythefout]

Haha do bollywood films always take special care to include american achievments? What about russian movies?

[Zoo Trouble]

For example, that lame Pearl Harbor movie by Michael Bay. It can never beat Tora! Tora! Tora!

Nonsense!

[Chestaan]

Movies like American Sniper piss me off because they are blatantly pieces of bullshit propaganda. I guess most movies are not anywhere near that bad though.

[Staythefout]

Movies like American Sniper piss me off because they are blatantly pieces of bullshit propaganda. I guess most movies are not anywhere near that bad though.

why did you think american sniper was propaganda?

[New Edom]

I'm simply tired of how they are depicted on many levels, but none more than the way that so often in these films American soldiers, sailors and airmen don't return salutes of foreign miltiary personnel.

Can you name five films where this happens?

I understand why you want to boycott these, and you're free to do what you want, but this thread kind of feels like you're throwing a fit.
change the thread up a bit to encourage some discussion.

Also this tbh fam. It's a great blog OP though.

"Emperor" and "The Three Kings" immediately come to mind for the saluting thing.

this article was published on lack of accuracy in uniforms alone. Dale Dye makes a good poitn about how wardrobe is often delegated to get it right but doesn't know what they're doing without a military adviser.

I'm sure people have their own opinions on this subject and I am glad to read them.

[Rhyfelnydd]

The fact one tank crew holds against pretty much an entire, if I remember right, armored brigade (of the SS no less) is pretty overblown and American brovado-chestbeating-esque

I wouldn't say Fury is a good movie, but there's nothing about invincibility in it. And the event, though in my opinion questionable with a Sherman tank, had parallels in actual events in WWII. There is the story of a single Soviet heavy tank that held up an entire German division for a day, for instance. I'm waiting for Putin to make the movie on that one.

It isn't quite like what you are thinking most likely, if you are referring to Raseiniai. It was an incident in part of a larger battle, and the tank was a KV. Not a Sherman. The Germans did not have good enough firepower to penetrate it with what they had which led to the impasse. More over, the German;s did not send human wave after human wave in a frontal assault on one tank only for them all to somehow die either. The tank destroyed important equipment like guns and disabled communications more than anything, which led to the hold up by blocking the road.

[Rhyfelnydd]

Movies like American Sniper piss me off because they are blatantly pieces of bullshit propaganda. I guess most movies are not anywhere near that bad though.

why did you think american sniper was propaganda?

Portraying him as some kind of man without sin or saint comes to mind.

Haha do bollywood films always take special care to include american achievments? What about russian movies?

What does Bollywood and Russian cinema have to do with Hollywood, as clearly outlined in the title?

[Staythefout]

why did you think american sniper was propaganda?

Portraying him as some kind of man without sin or saint comes to mind.

lots of movies about martin luther king or lincoln come to mind...
but clint didn't do that with chris. he was shown as being remorseful and implied he didn't support the war...i thought it was a good movie but chris didn't do any of that shit.

[New Edom]

I just watched the movie "Emperor" which is supposedly about Douglas MacArthur's occupation of Japan and his insistence on finding a reason to spare the life of Emperor Hirohito. I started watching this movie because I find him a fascinating historical figure, I'm interested in WWII and like Tommy Lee Jones who plays MacArthur in the film.

I didn't think this was a fantastic film, but that's not why I'm boycotting or encouraging my friends and everyone I know to boycott watching Hollywood films about the American military. I'm simply tired of how they are depicted on many levels, but none more than the way that so often in these films American soldiers, sailors and airmen don't return salutes of foreign miltiary personnel. So often it is not enough to glorify their own nation--which is fair--but so often it comes at the expense of other nations' history.

There's no reason for this to happen. America has its own stories of courage, resourcefulness, clever strategies and brilliant leadership; volumes have been written and in the past much better films were made. The ones made in the last twenty years or so are arguably made with amazing special effects, acting and production values, but historical accuracy has taken a downturn. I don't think some of the crappy movies out there even do justice to AMERICAN history. I don't think this is 'America' so much as it is Hollywood writers and producers being lazy and shallow in their approach to it.

For me, the problem here is that I'm tired of sifting through the crap out there to find another "Blackhawk Down" which I thought was good. After seeing "Fury" "Emperor" "U-571" it seems to be a trend rather than the exception. I encourage others as customers of movie watching if they care about this to be vocal about it and clear about why they refuse to watch such movies or pay any money for them until there is some improvement.

So nothing about the way that films rewrite history to make it look like America won WW2 single handedly? U-571 was a pretty big bugger for that.

That is why I wrote "So often it is not enough to glorify their own nation--which is fair--but so often it comes at the expense of other nations' history." America has lots of big moments in history that Hollywood barely makes any movies about,s o why steal other people's?

[Staythefout]

why did you think american sniper was propaganda?

Portraying him as some kind of man without sin or saint comes to mind.

Haha do bollywood films always take special care to include american achievments? What about russian movies?

What does Bollywood and Russian cinema have to do with Hollywood, as clearly outlined in the title?

i'm saying that those countries have movies from their perspective and hollywood generally has movies from an american perspective. why isn't the poster demanding a boycott of those?