Hollywood’s “Rendition” is a “multiplex waterboarding”
Ah, here comes another entry in the pathetic parade of anti-war films Hollywood is regurgitating this fall. I’m glad, because I enjoy reading the brutal reviews of these silly movies. I probably enjoy them far more than anyone will actually enjoy the films themselves:
The movie’s goal is simple - use the power of movies to show us the cruelty and inhumanity of torture, and lead us to conclude that it’s always wrong, no matter how many layers you place between the act and the information that may result. An admirable goal, one that torture opponents like Sen. John McCain would heartily endorse.
“Rendition,” however, turns out to be its own kind of multiplex waterboarding - in fact, it may be used to elicit information from al Qaeda men in the future, much as rock music was used to smoke Manuel Noriega out of his Panamanian bunker back in the day.
Clips could wear down the most hardened terrorist: Talk, Osama, or be forced to watch Gyllenhaal take another languid hit from his hookah pipe!
Hey, I’ve got a story about rendition Hollywood can get to work on. It’s about this radical imam in Milan who was apparently recruiting terrorists for Saddam in the months before the Iraq War. And suddenly he found himself rendered to Egypt by the CIA. Now he claims the Egyptians tortured him.
And guess what? As I mentioned the last time I guest-blogged here, it’s a fascinating true story. But strangely, every time people talk about the Abu Omar case, that part of his background gets left out.
I’m sure some of the dozens of big studio executives out there reading michellemalkin.com are just itchin’ to get the true untold story of Abu Omar into production, so call my agent! I’ll be waiting by the phone.
UPDATE: Hot Air’s headlines also sends us this useful debunking of rendition myths in the WaPo, by a Brookings Institute fellow who served on Clinton’s NSC, no less. He mentions this stupid movie and how it will “spread this myth” of U.S. citizens or resident aliens getting shipped off to unpleasant places , which is actually illegal.
He mentions the Maher Arar case as something close to rendition, a statement Bryan and I would disagree with.
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I always thought torture was something that left an individual damaged physically - much like McCain. Today, torture has been so redefined that a short swim that simulates a drowing experience is now something to horrible to behold.
The goofy aspect of this debate is that the leftists would rather we all die than act in a nasty way to obtain information from the most violent of terrorists. The left is emotionally committed to an idea that is utterly illogical and desperately dangerous.
I hope it and every other anti American and anti-military film flops flat on it’s a$$. I liked Gyllenhaal in “October Sky” but he’s been terrible in everything since.
The problem with Hollywood anti-American flops is that the moguls recoup their costs through overseas distribution.
And there in lies one of the reasons the US is hated.
Great! Another Hollywood excrement pile I can avoid!
To hell with Hollywood.
“the purpose of war is fighting and fighting means killing.”
-Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate General, American Civil War
Why are we wasting time with 99 per cent of those captured?
They dont talk- kerblooweeiee!
Found out of uniform on a field of battle- shot if they don’t yield intelligence.
They aren’t covered under the Geneva Convention. And they are sworn to kill us in the name of their religion- ISLAM.
As long as lawyers are allowed to litigate the “rights” of Muslim killers not in uniform who prey on civilian populations, film schlock like this is going to be pumped out with feeling- at a tremendous cost to future generations growing up not knowing how to defend themselves from Muslim bloodlust.
I won’t pay anything to watch Merle Streep blow her gas all over the screen.
And Gyllenhal is a loser pure and simple. See him in “Jar Head”? Lame. Lame. Lame. “Broke Back Gyllenhal” see ya later. Send him to Waziristan for all i care.
One net result of this propaganda film will be even more sentiment on the Left to abandon the Jews to Muslim slaughter in Israel, and killing of Jews in Europe and here.
The maker of this film should be orange jump suited for sedition.
We are at war. The President must reinforce his grip on the civilian population so as to make this kind of crap unthinkable.
This is not a debate. This is war.
Dangit bear just when I was convinced it was a bumper sticker.
Cannot hep it. I am reading a must read right now: Wars of Blood and Faith: The Conflicts that will shape the 21st Century by Ralph Peters.
We’re in desperate shape over these IslamicFascist killers- and the kicker to this is it is a repeat of the 15th century Peasant War in Germany/Switzerland following the Reformation.
And somebody spent Millions making that silly flick.
Pizzas here and its time to tuck in for the night. C y’all next time.
Bear1909 out!
Should do well in Europe and Islamic hellholes.
Let’s see, if I recall correctly, two American soldiers were kidnapped as part of an ambush in Baghdad several months back. Their tortured bodies were later recovered, mutilated and eviscerated. That story disappeared very quickly from the media. Heaven forbid that Americans might actually get angry at the ENEMY.
Sorry, Hollywood, I’ve watched the videos of the beheadings of Eric Armstrong, Nick Berg and an unnamed Korean hostage. Muhammad was very much into slicing off his enemies’ heads and did so on many occasions. The tradition lives on today. I’ve watched videos of stonings in Iran, floggings and beatings in pre-invasion Iraq, limbs being broken in pre-invasion Iraq, tongues being cut out in pre-invasion Iraq and that is torture, my friends.
We’re the good guys. The Admin may have made some blunders in the conduct of the war (it has), and the Admin may have greatly misjudged the nature of Islam (it has), but America is the last hope in the world to stave off this latest wave of Jihad and thereby save our civilization.
We’re the good guys. And no slimy America-hating movie producer who needs to study Middle Eastern history, shave and take a bath is going to change my mind. That’s my two-cents worth.
Are there any conservative or traditional producers of films anymore? Why all this hatred of the USA in Hollywood? Don’t these louts realize that under Islam or Communism that they could never produce films they way they want to? Also the gay community is to chicken to confront the Muslims on why they disregard homosexuality as evil. They have no problem knocking Christianity knowing there is no retribution there but boy their bravery ends at confronting Islam.
What hollywood wants is for us to lose the war, pure and simple. What hollywood doesn’t get is that if we lose it’ll be their heads literally on the sawing-off block.
They think they’ll be immune to the consequences of their actions. The first rule of a successful invasion / conquest is to get rid of the 5th column, otherwise the 5th column will use what they have learned from you about overthrowing a government against you.
I’m going to say it first: They aren’t patriotic.
Bear- ditto.
“No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won the war by making the other dumb bastard die for his country.” - Gen. George Patton. When it comes to answering jihad, I don’t believe in taking any prisoners.
The Inconvenient Truths About Rendition (Not That The Truth Matters To Some)
There’s no denying a decidedly left lean among actors, directors and others in Hollywood as it relates to political views and the ability to get certain “message movies” green lit. However, at the end of the day, what the studios and producers care about most above all other considerations is making as much money as humanly possible. I think many of these sort of “anti-America” movies end up being relative box office bombs, but get made nonetheless because certain left wing directors and actors have the juice necessary to get “passion projects,” as they’re known in the biz, financed and distributed. It’s worth noting that there are quite a few examples of “pro-America” movies that have been released over the last 15-20 years, such as:
Saving Private Ryan
Black Hawk Down
The Patriot
Apollo 13
World Trade Center
Flight 93
Behind Enemy Lines
Clear and Present Danger
Independence Day
Pearl Harbor
Patriot Games
Hunt for Red October
The Right Stuff
The Sum of all Fears
3 Kings
We Were Soldiers
all 3 Rambo movies
Forrest Gump
There are many more, but you get the idea.
bear1909, interesting post as always. You’re an entertaining and talented writer. I’m going to stick with Johnny Mac and my man Colin Powell on this one though. I like to refer back to Jefferson on stuff like this and lean on his notion that we should love our country, but distrust our government. I’m a checks and balances, separation of powers guy myself.
Has there been any anti-military anti-US movie that has made money, because there are none that I can think of.
The Three Kings was NOT a pro-American movie and in fact was the start of Clooney’s anti-American movies he has done lately and it bombed at the box office also.
Yes, it bombed at the box office also.
Our household is showing Hollyweird how much we appreciate their open treason and sedition by not going to the Movie Theatres or by supporting their floundering DVD sales. Our DVD collection is only growing through purchasing many pre-60s movies with some of old Hollywood’s greatest actors and actresses. Acting skills have been replaced by special effects along with patriotism being replaced with treason and sedition.
Dakine:
I agree with everything you said. It’s also intersting to note, that a lot of left leaning liberals produced, directed and starred in many of the films you listed…even Oliver Stone.
Another problem with the new Iraq war films coming out is that it’s too dang soon. Americans have war fatigue. The great Vietnam films that were both profitable and critically acclaimed started coming out in 1978, 3 yrs after the war ended, and rolled along until about 1987. Despite Bush’s proclamation of “mission accomplished” years ago, this war has “No End in Sight”.
Lastly, I completely agree that it’s important and possible to love your country and distrust government, or at least question government. It’s a cheap and pathetic shot for conservatives to accuse liberals of being anti-American, just because they condemn some American policies.
This support U S A no matter what hardline is dangerous with a history of:
-Seperate but Equal
-Japanese Internment
-Watergate
-Years of supporting S. Africa’s aparthied regime
-Iran/Contra
-Whitewater
-The hypocritical Queen Edgar Hoover led FBI w/ COINTELPRO, and I’ll stop there for now.
In my opinion, this is the greatest country in the history of mankind, and our good has far, far outweighed our bad, but it’s flawed, and checks and balances are crucial.
Actually Mr. Stone had nothing to do with any of those movies listed. Born on the Fourth of July and Platoon, which were NOT pro-America, were the only war movie he was ever involved in.
Yes there are many liberal actors in movies in pro-American movies because there are no more conservatives left in Hollywood.
No, the problem with almost every Iraq War film coming out is they are anti-American and Americans are fed up with Hollywood doing this.
Yes, they click their heels together 3 times and say I am a Patriot and Love America while they burn the American Flag.
*Flash Update*
I just found a copy of the DNC event schedule.
______________________________________________
2008 Democratic National Convention Schedule of Events
7:00 pm ~ Opening flag burning
7:15 pm ~ Pledge of Allegiance…to the U. N.
7:20 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
7:25 pm ~ Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
7:45 pm ~ Ceremonial tree hugging
7:55 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:00 pm ~ How I Invented the Internet - Al Gore
8:15 pm ~ Gay Wedding Planning - Barney Frank presiding
8:35 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:40 pm ~ Our Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry
9.00 pm ~ Memorial service for Saddam and his sons - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
10:00 pm ~ “Answering Machine Etiquette” - Alec Baldwin
11:00 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:05 pm ~ Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund - Barbra Streisand
11:15 pm ~ Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay -* Sean Penn
11:30 pm ~ Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton
11:45 pm ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:50 pm ~ How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers - Howard Dean
12:15 am ~ “Truth in Broadcasting Award” - Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
12:25 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
12:30 am ~ Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
12:45 am ~ Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi
1:00 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
1:05 am ~ Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton
1:30 am ~ Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
1:35 am ~ Bill Clinton asks Ted Kennedy to drive Hillary home
Pressto: You know better, dontcha?
Oliver Stone directed “World Trade Center”, you know that, don’t go all Hannity on me and play dumb. There’s no way you can tell me “World Trade Center” was anti-American, and this is Oliver freaken Stone we’re talking about it.
There are indeed more liberals in Hollywood than concervative(yes there are conservative in Hollywood, you know that). However, as you also know the liberals have indeed made some pro-American patriotic movies. Cause you know what, most liberals are patriotic, and love America.
pressto, couple of things:
…I give you 20 odd pro-America films released in the last 20 years or so (and I could list 20 more very easily), and you pick out one as not being pro-America? That’s lame. One of the messages of that movie was that Bush 41 failed to let the military do its job and continue on into Iraq to liberate the Iraqi people. When’s the last time you watched the movie? I know it’s kind of subtle, but a movie can be pro-military, while at the same time being critical of a particular administration’s policy and strategy.
…popular wars with widespread public support result in movies with a pro-military, pro-America bent. Unpopular/controversial wars result in movies with negative or mixed messages about the war in question and as a by-product, the military. Again, studios and producers like money, ALOT. Take a look at the various wars and resulting movies beginning with WWII:
WWII - you’d be hard-pressed to come up with an anti-America movie about WWII. It was the ultimate righteous war, and everyone in the country made sacrifices and felt they had a stake in the outcome. Hollywood is still making movies about that war (Flags of our Fathers for example).
Korea - not a very popular war, so you get a mixed bag out of this one. Hamburger Hill and MASH are the only two Korean War movies that come to might off the top of my head.
Vietnam - obviously, a very unpopular and controversial war. Lots of negative movies, some with mixed messages and a handful of positive films. Platoon and Apocalypse Now were both anti-war I would say, but both did well at the box office. When We Were Soldiers and Rescue Dawn both depicted positive aspects of the war, but didn’t do very well.
Grenada - Easy to get behind military action…no controversy. Heartbreak Ridge with Clint gets made and is unabashedly patriotic. Not a very good movie though, so doesn’t do that well.
Somalia - a pretty righteous police-type action. The very pro-military Black Hawk Down results.
Gulf War I - popular and righteous war with wide public backing. There wasn’t much to this one though in terms of fodder for movie plot lines, so you get films such as 3 Kings and Jar Head which deal with sort of tangential stories. BTW, Jar Head is an adaptation from the memoir of the same name by a combat Marine.
The Balkans - again, while maybe not hugely popular, generally seen as righteous. Behind Enemy Lines was pretty pro-America.
9/11 and Afghanistan - right behind WWII in terms of popular support and righteousness level. Flight 93 and The World Trade Center were extremely pro-America, and both did solidly at the box office.
Iraq - see Vietnam.
Cold War - obviously, the general population was solidly behind the effort to defeat the evil empire that was the USSR, and there were many movies made on this topic and the vast majority were pro-America. Hunt for Red October, Red Dawn, Top Gun are just a few examples.
Sorry to ramble, but I think folks sometimes make way too much out of this “liberal Hollywood” thing. Bottom line is that studios make movies to make money.
Late 2005/early 2006, Bruce Willis was talking of producing a movie about the 26th Infantry Division’s heroics in Iraq. Haven’t heard a peep since.
BrianNY, I remember reading about that proposed Willis project as well. Looking at IMDB.com, it looks like he’s currently in production on a Vietnam movie called “The Last Full Measure” and is in pre-production on another Vietnam movie about the investigation of the My Lai Massacre. Here’s the plot summary of the first movie:
“Thirty-three years after his death, during one of the bloodiest days of the Vietnam War, Air Force Para-rescue Jumper William H. Pitsenbarger is awarded the Medal of Honor after a young Washington bureaucrat and fellow veterans of Operation Abilene get Congress to reconsider the legacy of his sacrifice. From a true story.”
Lets see what were the last movies, I watched, that these folks were in…
Meryl Streep- Death Becomes Her, because I like Bruce Willis, I watched his last movie “Live Free or Die Hard” in fact when it comes out on DVD, I will buy it.
Robert Redford- he directed? A river runs through it. I am from this part of the country.
Tom Cruise- I think it was the Minority Report, because nothing else was on TV. Oh unless you count the clip of him jumping on Oprah’s couch.
What do they call America?
The land of opportunity.
What do I call these movie stars?
Opportunist.
This is the topic in the news “War on Terror” and these egotist, want face time to appear relevant.
To save me the trouble of watching this trash, maybe someone call tell me how the dreaded “Panties on Head” torture was handled by Hollweird.
Did they do it justice or just use it to bash America?
/sarc