n Paragraphs: Tom Clancy's Without Remorse

 2021, Stefano Sollima (Sicario: Day of the Soldado) -- Amazon

I used to be That Guy, that guy during the VHS & DVD days that wondered why people would rent such standard Action Flick crap instead of seeking out good, "proper" movies. Why digest pabulum when you can get so much more from a meal with substance and flavour? Of course, I was a hypocrite as I also enjoyed own fair share of crap, because it fit my desired genre. But these days, even more so during The Pause, and yes, I know I have already said this, I find easy-to-digest is usually crap. Oh, there are exceptions, but in general, when I click (press a button?) on an action flick or adventure movie or thriller, I am usually getting something I know I will easily understand, and I am not all that offended if its bad.

But then you get something like the latest in Amazon's Tom Clancy love affair (they also rebooted Jack Ryan into an international terrorist hunter) with Without Remorse. It has a pretty decent production budget, has some recognizable faces, including one of the most currently bankable actors Michael B Jordon (The Wire). And they waste him on a not just "jingoistic" (to quote Kent; its such a great word) but also an extremely murky (morals and lighting) flick that, also as Kent said, is really just meant to pander to the Republican gun-loving crowds out there, but not TOO obviously, so people like myself, who enjoy heroic action flicks, can enjoy.

But at the heart of the movie is the cliché and rather empty "plot" that another war has to be started, that the US needs another easily identified enemy. Only then will the economy be rebooted, will America divided become one nation again. So, despite Jordon's John Kelly actually figuring out that, and coming down hard on the (American) Bad Guy who orchestrated all of this, you get the idea that at least part of the audience is expected to agree with his tactics. Kelly remains the boyscout who does what is "right" but many Americans will agree that manipulated murder of Russian citizens is fine, as long as it benefits the US in the long run. And in many ways, we kind of know that is how some Americans feel. From drone bombs on civilian targets to anti-mask movements, we know some Americans are OK with innocents dying, as long as they get what they wanted. Well, as long as they don't have to do it themselves; and not always then.

From a production view, the movie was fun to watch, when you could actually see what was going on. Like the Call of Duty FPS video games I play, the load-out of gear and weaponry is tightly depicted, and mostly realistic. The attack by the waiting snipers with high caliber weapons, was particularly tense and exciting to watch. But part of me kept on wondering where the movie would go, as it couldn't be going in the incredibly obvious direction it seemed to be. But it was, and that was entirely a letdown.

So, while it wasn't just another Straight To (again, not sure that term applies anymore) flick starring Bruce Willis or Frank Grillo or Nic Cage, it definitely was not solid in the least.

ReWatch: Olympus has Fallen vs White House Down

This blog is as much about blogging as it is about movies and other aspects of pop culture, especially when it basically has an audience of one (me) or maybe two, when Kent isn't tearing down walls or raising up puppies.

I guess that makes it also as much about writing as it is about the other topics, because we hit 1000 published posts, have been around for eight years or so, but I don't believe I have improved. And I have been thinking a lot about writing of late, having moved from my notebooks full of vignettes (flash fiction?) to an actual intent on completing something whether it be short story or novella or even great white whale novels. And since this is my usual outlet, that aspect of my writerly brain seeps in. That is the obtuse way of explaining the man on the bicycle posts here and there -- a brief and odd attempt to reboot my creative brain, because if I am not improving then I am at least changing.

ReWatches may seem lazy. But to me, the blog is more about consuming pop culture than it is writing movie reviews. And sometimes consuming means absorbing what you already like (The Shelf) or just watching something easy, because fully paying attention is a challenge. I took to these two movies mainly because in today's Age of Trump, we need to be reminded that there are still those out there that still revere the Presidency and the White House.

Think about it. We are in an era where the entire world is watching the USA and the buffoon in charge, and not with a fond glance but more with the gaze at a car wreck. No longer is he the "Leader of the Free World", no longer can even the American people look to their leader with misplaced adoration and even possible worship. Both of these movies take the topic of an attack not only on American soil, but a brazen attack on a symbol of her power -- the President in his own house. Can that even be taken seriously these days?

I saw Olympus has Fallen when it came out, and I admit I am still surprised I really like Antoine Fuqua's movies. They are middle of the road actioners, but they are straight forward Heroic Movies. His heroes are classically damaged but once the movie begins, they are unfettered and just get the job done. The protagonist & plot is straight forward but the movie affected me in ways I didn't expect. The casualty rate was so high, so blatant and spread across the innocent victim range, it staggered me. That didn't change in second viewing.

Conversely, White House Down contains its mayhem. The former was all about us really REALLY hating on the bad guys because of what we saw them do, while the latter has us frowning at the baddies for daring to touch their precious White House. This movie really worships the palace of the American royalty, even giving us a vehicle to experience this adoration, with Channing Tatum's daughter desperate to see inside the walls, and because she does. Interesting that while the former movie's main focus is having ex-Secret Service Banning desperate to rescue his friend and President, Tatum is more concerned with rescuing his daughter. Comment on family over duty?

Some side characters of note. Both movies have pretty, young, brunette background characters who get to die tragically during one of the plots misdirections. They are accessible, attractive and sympathetic characters, the girls next door whom we can mourn. Meanwhile, both movies also have an inside man, a character originally presented as one of the inner circle but whom betrays them for personal reasons or gain. James Woods plays the disgruntled head of the Secret Service who hates his soft, black President. I like that he pretty much played himself, based on what we know about him IRL these days.

Jamie Foxx is obviously playing the Obama analog, and the motivation behind the attack is basically the MAGA elite deciding to take him down. It has a chilling comment on current USA with maybe them realising the best way to take down the government was from within? Meanwhile, Aaron Eckart is the idealized white President, more than a little naive as to what his government actually represents. Or maybe, just maybe, he is from that alternate reality where they really, truly are a force of Good in the world.

So, we come to these movies with Hero Worship, directed at the President and the people who will risk anything to protect them. Compare this to the current culture where the people who would apply the same fervour would be considered absolute wingnuts. The white men in these movies, the ones who we call the Bad Guys, are more reflective of current American presidential culture. I don't know about you, but I find this rather chilling.