Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Violent Movies, Who Doesn't Like Them?


First of all, a moment of silence so we can give thanks that there are so many ridiculously violent and amazing movies out there to choose from and watch.

I just watched Assault on Precinct 13, and I was thoroughly entertained. It was nicely shot, had good action, and something interesting was always happening (mostly someone getting shot or blowed up every 3-5 minutes). Most of us like this last fact because at heart we are all sadists.

Anyways, Assault on Precinct 13 is one of the few kinds of movies I've been able to watch since I've been ill. Why you ask? I'll actually be serious for a moment. My headaches can be pretty bad and last a long time, so it's hard to focus on anything that isn't extremely visceral and carnage-ridden. Nonetheless, I've always had a love of the violent at every stage in my life, whether it be Schwarzenneger, Stallone, it doesn't matter who does the blowing up, so long as it gets executed in the most bombastic and theatrical ways possible.

Seeing things getting blown apart is satisfying to us all. Yet while I love and treasure this violence, I am at heart such a peaceful person. You could call it the paradox of my existence, of every man. Maybe the love of violence and destruction is part of our cultural rage because we are frus.... haha just kidding, who cares, just go throw in a crazy ass violent DVD right now and soak up all that stuff getting blown up, and be proud of our culture that is cool enough to allow this kind of wacky and seriously messed up shit to be made in the first place.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey snap....we watched this yesterday....I liked the bit at the start when he was undercover and the guy step out from that bin and he shot him in the head...though it got a bit silly in a tactical way....those sniper type dudes would of thrown the tear gas or torched the place sooner in reality....I thought the radical dude on the bus was the undercover guy for a while...didnt pick the big dude...cant remember his name...from cocoon

Anonymous said...

I feel sick when I watch violent movies. Literally drained and ill. Like Saving Private Ryan. I felt sick for like 3 days.....Must be a chick thing....

Sebastien Millon said...

Shaymus: That's funny we both watched it at the same time! Yeah, those elite sniper guys would've taken those guys out in a sec in reality. It was a fun movie though.

Imhelendt: I totally understand that. Most sensible people would feel ill watching very violent movies. The scary thing I think is the fact that a lot of us become desensitized to the violence from an early age.

Anonymous said...

I LOVED Assault on Precinct 13!!

Makes you proud to be an American when you see stuff being blown up for no reason doesn't it? I think I'm tearing up... excuse me while I step away to regain my composure...

Anonymous said...

Yeah. I think that's the problem. It didn't bother me when I was younger but now it horrifies me. Especially because we've got friends and family on active military duty. So any military film really gets me. My husband refuses to watch any film where children get kidnapped or hurt. We've become big babies. We don't enjoy the violence. There's enough violence in this world without having to watch pretend violence. Although I understand your problem.

I had mono for almost 2 years because I relapsed. Which is very rare. Your headaches are weird though. I never had them with mono and my brother just had mono too a few months ago and didn't get headaches either. Did you get a second opinion on those? I mean after 10 months, I hope to God you got a second, third and fourth opinion on everything.....

Sebastien Millon said...

DB: Haha! I think I'm tearing up too now!

Imhelendt: I understand the aversion to violent films when so many you know have to deal with it in reality!

In terms of my illness it's very difficult and frightening. The pain is terrible at times, but I have seen many doctors, internists, a neurologist, an infectious disease guy at Scripps in San Diego, done tons of tests(blood tests, MRIs, catscans, echocardiograms). Everything is ok, except the EBV virus is still active. The guy at Scripps said it will go away. I'm believing in that, because my energy is starting to come back, I feel more alive than I ever have throughout this whole thing. But the headaches and body discomfort I get for days at a time really break me down mentally at times, and scare the shit out of me. I'm going to try and see more doctors, and just continue fighting this battle that has been chosen for me! Of course I'm worried about complications, but I really try and not think about other illnesses that could be triggered by this thing. I try not to mention it too much, but I am very very scared, these headaches are insane, I didn't know so much pain was possible for so long.

You were sick for two years?? Was the virus active throughout, or was that mostly time spent recovering from the virus? What kind of doctors did you see?

Reel Fanatic said...

Why do so many movies make us choose between sex and violence, when all we, the moviegoing public, is loads of both? This moviemaking thing doesn't need to be so difficult!

Sebastien Millon said...

Reel fanatic, I have a feeling the Great American movie will be the one that seamlessly blends an insane amount of sex and violence. Quentin Tarantino is half way there, just needs to add more sex.

Anonymous said...

I think I'm the one that isn't so fond of the violent films. At least not the graphic type.

Okay, so I'm a wimp! ;)

Sebastien Millon said...

Nicole, you are not a wimp! Well, I mean, you might be, but not watching crazy violent films doesn't make you a wimp.

Anonymous said...

Seb-
I had mono- not epstein bar virus. That's actually a little different. EBV is like a chronic mono and there is a test for that.

I think I was sick for 6-8 months the first time. Then I felt better for like 6 weeks and then relapsed and got it again and was sleeping 18 hours a day again. The only remnants I have of it now are that I still sleep a lot. I can not get by with less than 9 hours of sleep a night. I had mono 20 years ago. Sigh.

Do an online query and look for someone in SoCal who specializes in epstein bar virus, then go see them. I know of an awesome Dr. in northern california that could probably help you. She's a neurologist by trade, but was chief of medicine at one of the Bay Area hospitals so she is an expert in a lot of fields. She is the most thorough and knowledgable doctor I've ever met. Her name is Susan Hansen. Her office is in Mountain View, CA. I bet she could do something about your headaches at least......

Anonymous said...

there is a big difference between saving private ryan type pics and precinct 13 types...The later isnt trying to be nessesarily real just entertaining...we all have our aversions...I switch off if I see violence towards children especially if it is portryed as real...Thats nit entertainment... I usually get 5 dvd's a week coz I dont watch much tele....well the back of my head watches it while I type into this thing...this week Precinct 13,What lies beneath,herby fully loaded. night stalker(stupid), Bubba Ho tep (seen before Great pic!)

Sebastien Millon said...

Imhelendt: Thank you for all that info! I will certainly keep the doctor's info you passed along to me. We are currently trying to get in contact with a specialist in ebv out in Houston, but I'm trying to avoid travelling because my symptoms kill me for weeks because of the exertion or stress on my body. I hope we can do a phone interview with them and work with an infectious disease person here. It's so tricky, not many doctor's have any idea what's going on and what to do. Thank you though, I'm going to see what happens with this doctor in Houston, and then I'll try and contact the doctor you gave me!

Shaymus: You're right. Violence is used for different purposes in film. Not all film violence is created equal. I've heard Bubba Ho Tep is good, gotta see that one!

Anonymous said...

watched a good movie today...harold and kumar go to white castle...funny film

Sebastien Millon said...

I love that movie! One of my favorites, I love it when they get stopped for jaywalking. Hilarious!!!

Anonymous said...

yeah the battleshits was funny....I liked having a leak on the bush.....thats the sort of stuff that happens to me

M said...

:D Brilliant! Said violence though, should be accompanied by smart ass one liners, or it's one even half the fun (think Dirty Harry, or Cobra saying criminals are the cancer and he is the cure, etc.) I loved The Last Action Hero!

Sebastien Millon said...

Shaymus: I'm having trouble deciphering your message! Not quite sure what you're saying, but I want to know! Is it part of your code for overtaking the world?

Mariana:Oh my God!!! I love Last Action Hero!! Do you remember the part where Schwarzenegger is playing Hamlet, and he rides in on a horse and blows the place up with grenades(if I remember correctly). Geeenius!! Probably my favorite scene from any movie, ever!

Anonymous said...

Yes some of my comments may seem to be in code. This is due to the fact that my blog is infact in an entirely different time space continuem to this world. I have managed to build a vortex so that I may transfer my blog to your side and that you and others may see it. We from this dimention are not interesting in taking over yours. We are only interested in eating the humans in it. Please disregard any words in comments that appear to be spellt defferent as this is part of the downside of keeping the vortex open for long periods. Have a nice day!

M said...

We are so totally on the same page! I once saw a small excerpt of an interview with Charles Dance(the posh Brit playing the villain in that movie) where he said Schwarzenegger's Hamlet was the best he had ever seen! :D

Sebastien Millon said...

Shaymus: Haha! I figured something of that nature was taking place!

Mariana: That is so great! Schwarzenneger would make a great Hamlet. I just put up a vid with a fake trailer for Hamlet using clips from Last Action Hero.