Re: [Marxism] Crusades

[Simon Kennedy <simonmotorbike@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This seems a strange basis on which to criticise a movie. Of course it is 
historically inaccurate. Of course its characters are cliche.

But here is a film in which the eastern Other is stronger, more resourceful, 
clearer, morally unambiguous and more intelligent than the western forces. The 
European invaders are shown as divided and weak, a good number of them crude, 
bloodthirsty, twisted, malevolent idiots--and that's just the leaders. 
Christian religion is lampooned and denigrated. Muslim tolerance is emphasised.

Ridley Scott's western hero's dominance over the narrative is continually 
subverted by Selahaddin, intentionally or otherwise.

Here is a Hollywood director doing his best to grapple with the complexities of 
identity and religion, and, unsurprisingly, finding it all really a bit too 
complicated. But it is an enormous step forward from the nasty Black Hawk Down. 
I get the impression that the director was stung by the criticism of that 
movie, and did this piece as reparation.

It is, however, a pretty poor artistic work, but that's another discussion.

Simon Kennedy


                
---------------------------------
 Yahoo! Messenger  - want a free & easy way to contact your friends online?
_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism