For the last week or so, I’ve been playing a new game called Helldivers 2. It’s a futuristic shooter where the brave citizens of Super Earth venture out into space to push back the masses of bloodthirsty Terminid bugs and villainous Automaton threats to keep humans everywhere safe. Thematically, it is an incredible satire of fascism, the military-industrial complex, and xenophobia. It’s also a dead ringer for an unlicensed
Will, I, like Steven, had never heard of Poe's Law and on first reading I thought it was a satirical decree re:,
how many ravens you could bake in a pie (that's why I'm a photographer & not a writer). Also, as Steven mentioned about Starship Troopers, I don't believe I've ever seen that film, but it's entirely possible that I did (will attempt to view to refresh my addled memory). Finally, re: Steven, Dr. Strangelove is in my top 25 films...which I saw in a movie theatre that had only one screen. For my money, I vote for PUTNEY SWOPE, the 1969 film written & directed by Robert Downey, Sr. . This film was incredibly irreverent and satirized the advertising world, portrayal of racism in Hollywood and the nature of corporate corruption. It's a must-see film for those who appreciate the above topics...AND, it's has diversity casting, long before checking boxes were in fashion. So, if you watch PUTNEY, I'll visit/revisit Starship Troopers! WRITE ON!
Your dad's pick. Dr. Stangelove, is also my all time satirical favorite. Another Peter Sellers classic, Being There , is a worthy contender. One more great satire, The Loved One, ranks near the top.
Paul Verhoeven (sp.?) is an interesting director, who also did the Robo-Cop series, which also took movie violence to an almost comic book level, with satirical takes on the standard cop-hero trope, and corporate willingness to do anything for a profit. It's kind of odd to use violence to critique violence (Dr. Strangelove didn't really show the consequences of nuclear apocalypse, ending with Slim Pickens whooping as he rode a bomb to oblivion). All three movies can be taken on multiple levels, depending on how deep a dive you want to take. So, I guess there are satires, and meta-satires and uber-satires. There are a lot of other satires that are worth a look, one of my favorites is The Ruling Class, starring Peter O'Toole, and a bunch of other British movie stalwarts.
I haven't heard of Starship Troopers, but it sounds perfect for current times. As for missed-the-point satire...I saw This Is Spinal Tap in a movie theater when it came out. Loved it. Leaving the theater, I was beside a guy and two girls, probably late 20s/early 30s. One of the girls and the guy were saying how much they loved it, but the other girl was surprised by their reaction and said she didn't like it at all. After a beat to let this register, the guy said something like: You know it isn't a real band, right? To which the girl replied, "Oh." As I walked off, I really hoped the other girl was this guy's date.
Your columns always make me laugh and sometimes make me cry. This one made me smarter! I'd never heard of Poe's Law and while I'd heard of Starship Troopers, I'd never watched it. Which I will do now. My all time favorite satire is Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, which I loved from the first scene of the first time I watched it (Peter Sellars is one of my comic heroes and plays three incredible characters; George C. Scott, a brilliant actor primarily known for drama, steals every scene he's in with a performance of utterly committed daffiness; and Sterling Hayden, probably best known as the corrupt cop shot by Michael Corleone in The Godfather, plays an unhinged right wing nutjob who happens to command a wing of nuclear armed bombers. Good old Roger Ebert gave it four stars and it got nominated for four academy awards. Also made money. A rarity for a satire this pointed, but it was released as the 60s headed into its sweet spot of protest and questioning authority. And it still holds up.
Will, I, like Steven, had never heard of Poe's Law and on first reading I thought it was a satirical decree re:,
how many ravens you could bake in a pie (that's why I'm a photographer & not a writer). Also, as Steven mentioned about Starship Troopers, I don't believe I've ever seen that film, but it's entirely possible that I did (will attempt to view to refresh my addled memory). Finally, re: Steven, Dr. Strangelove is in my top 25 films...which I saw in a movie theatre that had only one screen. For my money, I vote for PUTNEY SWOPE, the 1969 film written & directed by Robert Downey, Sr. . This film was incredibly irreverent and satirized the advertising world, portrayal of racism in Hollywood and the nature of corporate corruption. It's a must-see film for those who appreciate the above topics...AND, it's has diversity casting, long before checking boxes were in fashion. So, if you watch PUTNEY, I'll visit/revisit Starship Troopers! WRITE ON!
People thinking the Colbert Report was real
Your dad's pick. Dr. Stangelove, is also my all time satirical favorite. Another Peter Sellers classic, Being There , is a worthy contender. One more great satire, The Loved One, ranks near the top.
Paul Verhoeven (sp.?) is an interesting director, who also did the Robo-Cop series, which also took movie violence to an almost comic book level, with satirical takes on the standard cop-hero trope, and corporate willingness to do anything for a profit. It's kind of odd to use violence to critique violence (Dr. Strangelove didn't really show the consequences of nuclear apocalypse, ending with Slim Pickens whooping as he rode a bomb to oblivion). All three movies can be taken on multiple levels, depending on how deep a dive you want to take. So, I guess there are satires, and meta-satires and uber-satires. There are a lot of other satires that are worth a look, one of my favorites is The Ruling Class, starring Peter O'Toole, and a bunch of other British movie stalwarts.
I haven't heard of Starship Troopers, but it sounds perfect for current times. As for missed-the-point satire...I saw This Is Spinal Tap in a movie theater when it came out. Loved it. Leaving the theater, I was beside a guy and two girls, probably late 20s/early 30s. One of the girls and the guy were saying how much they loved it, but the other girl was surprised by their reaction and said she didn't like it at all. After a beat to let this register, the guy said something like: You know it isn't a real band, right? To which the girl replied, "Oh." As I walked off, I really hoped the other girl was this guy's date.
Your columns always make me laugh and sometimes make me cry. This one made me smarter! I'd never heard of Poe's Law and while I'd heard of Starship Troopers, I'd never watched it. Which I will do now. My all time favorite satire is Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, which I loved from the first scene of the first time I watched it (Peter Sellars is one of my comic heroes and plays three incredible characters; George C. Scott, a brilliant actor primarily known for drama, steals every scene he's in with a performance of utterly committed daffiness; and Sterling Hayden, probably best known as the corrupt cop shot by Michael Corleone in The Godfather, plays an unhinged right wing nutjob who happens to command a wing of nuclear armed bombers. Good old Roger Ebert gave it four stars and it got nominated for four academy awards. Also made money. A rarity for a satire this pointed, but it was released as the 60s headed into its sweet spot of protest and questioning authority. And it still holds up.
The first satire that comes to mind for me is Heathers - I will watch it over and over forever. Just always appreciate a good nonconformity message🤘🏼