Violence in films - my dialectic dilemma....
October 30th 2006 05:32
I recently saw The Departed and found myself in a dialectic dilemma. The quandary being that I was thoroughly engrossed in the film and the characters’ world while scared and disturbed at the same time. I don’t tend to see violent films that often and if I do, I usually prepare myself. It was a quick decision to see this film and a decision that has stayed with me since. The film was exciting, suspenseful and created a portal into the Boston/Irish underworld that I have never experienced before. Scorsese’s parallel plots worked cleverly and built suspense almost to a breaking point and despite its 2˝ hour running time, it really zips along.
So this has led me to wonder why I was able to watch and enjoy this film when there have been others that I have not been able to sit through such as Reservoir Dogs and The Proposition. Reservoir Dogs was also another dialectic dilemma for me, it was a charismatic, clever film, but the scene where they lop the ear of a guy with Stuck in the Middle in the background was the last scene I could endure. I had to leave and I have never been able to watch it again.
I saw The Proposition twice; the first time was an hour after discovering my car had been stolen, so I suspect my mind wasn’t quite in the cinema. In fact I’m fairly sure this was the case as the second time I saw the film on DVD, I couldn’t watch it. I had to leave the room, play music loud enough to cover the music and sounds of violence. Despite being an effective and interesting film, the brutality was too strong and the rape scene horrific.
So these films have left me to ponder the incidence of violence in films and how much I can tolerate. I know much of it has it to with what is happening in my life at the time, my mood and what I would like from a film. Sometimes, I want to be hurled into a world completely different from my own and stay in it for two hours and then other times it is just too much to bear so I opt for an easier and safe film to watch.
How do you react to violence in films? Do you find it hard to watch at times or do you relish it? What films have you found difficult to watch, yet enjoyed? Another one that comes to my mind is Pulp Fiction.
So this has led me to wonder why I was able to watch and enjoy this film when there have been others that I have not been able to sit through such as Reservoir Dogs and The Proposition. Reservoir Dogs was also another dialectic dilemma for me, it was a charismatic, clever film, but the scene where they lop the ear of a guy with Stuck in the Middle in the background was the last scene I could endure. I had to leave and I have never been able to watch it again.
I saw The Proposition twice; the first time was an hour after discovering my car had been stolen, so I suspect my mind wasn’t quite in the cinema. In fact I’m fairly sure this was the case as the second time I saw the film on DVD, I couldn’t watch it. I had to leave the room, play music loud enough to cover the music and sounds of violence. Despite being an effective and interesting film, the brutality was too strong and the rape scene horrific.
So these films have left me to ponder the incidence of violence in films and how much I can tolerate. I know much of it has it to with what is happening in my life at the time, my mood and what I would like from a film. Sometimes, I want to be hurled into a world completely different from my own and stay in it for two hours and then other times it is just too much to bear so I opt for an easier and safe film to watch.
How do you react to violence in films? Do you find it hard to watch at times or do you relish it? What films have you found difficult to watch, yet enjoyed? Another one that comes to my mind is Pulp Fiction.
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Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I know what you mean about the homophobic/misogynistic language in The Departed. I nearly fell of my chair with Mark Wahberg's language in the Leonardo's first interview, gosh. I just don't tend to see violent films that often, but this one really maintained my interest and was excellent in many ways.
It's a pity that violence is even prevelant in animated films like Over the Hedge, but then I was always surprised at the level of violence in some traditional cartoons such as Roadrunner...I guess we just get used to some things?
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
I think Wahlberg's interview scene was meant to be laugh-out-loud funny. It adds to Leo's 'what the hell is going on' state of mind.
I also find it interesting that you walked out of the ear-cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs - the most violent and talked about scene in cinema in a long time... and nothing happens! You can't see anything, and yet....
Violence for violence sake is dumba and pointless, but when it is very much a part of the culture whose story you are telling (eg GoodFellas, Raging Bull), then your film will have no veracity, no believability, no authenticity.
A movie about gangsters where the violence is toned down would just feel hokey, I think. The brutality that some of these guys peddle raises the stakes for the other characters...
Nice Blog, by the way, Tracy!