General Discussion

ThatPoetGuy

(1,747 posts)

44. I don't think the Godfather has gratuitous violence,

Mon Dec 17, 2012, 07:17 PM

Dec 2012

any more than history or Shakespeare does.

Violence isn't glorified in it. It exists, and it existed, as part of history. Small-time guys struggling to make a living, and other people, also wanting a living, when immigrants weren't likely to receive concern from the police.

In the Godfather, violence tears people apart. One character is brutally gunned down, and then his father weeps over his corpse. "My boy," he says. "My beautiful boy. They killed my beautiful boy." I weep at that scene.

The brutality isn't made pretty. It isn't slick, flashy, or fun.

The consequences of violence are shown as real, tragic, and overwhelming. Which is a good message about violence.

I enjoy some boom-boom escapist fantasy, but I also enjoy classical theatre. And the Godfather is closer to Antigone than Star Wars.

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I'm so sick of these moral panics every time a tragedy happens. [View all] white_wolf Dec 2012 OP

Do you think there are no societal reasons for this mass murder? uppityperson Dec 2012 #1

There are always societal factors, and they should be addressed. kestrel91316 Dec 2012 #23

YES! Guns may not "cause" but they sure do facilitate all to hell! Care Acutely Dec 2012 #48

The bomb in OKC killed 168 people in the Federal Building. The Ryder truck full of common jtuck004 Dec 2012 #72

I believe we might have a chance at doing something... 6502 Dec 2012 #79

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This message was self-deleted by its author 6502 Dec 2012 #82

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This message was self-deleted by its author 6502 Dec 2012 #83

Did he forget that humbled_opinion Dec 2012 #69

You are right Lordquinton Dec 2012 #89

And the media Peregrine Dec 2012 #2

You know what I get sick of? Skidmore Dec 2012 #3

Hear! Hear! earthside Dec 2012 #9

x2 AnotherMcIntosh Dec 2012 #28

There are more reasons for these massacres than our corrupt simple minded politicians Cynicus Emeritus Dec 2012 #57

Yes. I wish I could rec this; thanks, Skidmore! n/ t ms liberty Dec 2012 #62

So what should we work on? Should we split up? Some of us A Simple Game Dec 2012 #66

We need to engage on all fronts. Skidmore Dec 2012 #74

I am not a binary thinker, I know we have many problems A Simple Game Dec 2012 #91

So guns have a magical power to make people do things but other things don't? The Straight Story Dec 2012 #4

No, but guns enable it. white_wolf Dec 2012 #6

No. Guns are the indispensable part for actually killing people. JackRiddler Dec 2012 #61

You mean like ComplimentarySwine Dec 2012 #71

The casualties from bombings in the US are dwarfed by gun killings. JackRiddler Dec 2012 #92

They create a tactical advantage, which is what they were invented for. quaker bill Dec 2012 #63

Some people just have a major screw loose Warpy Dec 2012 #5

Good analysis. Chemisse Dec 2012 #26

Amen. Don't tell me I can only drink milk because a baby can't eat steak. n/t backscatter712 Dec 2012 #40

Yes, because the worse thing in the world would be to not have more shoot-em-up and valerief Dec 2012 #7

Excuse me for enjoying The Godfather. Bicoastal Dec 2012 #11

Of course, I don't want the Hays code. I want Hollywood to take responsibility. valerief Dec 2012 #13

The Godfather doesn't have a gun providing a happy ending. Quite the opposite. KittyWampus Dec 2012 #17

Casablanca does. Bicoastal Dec 2012 #22

So how many great films would we lose under your system? white_wolf Dec 2012 #14

Wow, 3 I could care less about!!! nt valerief Dec 2012 #16

Those 3 are widely considered great and influential films. white_wolf Dec 2012 #18

Critics are paid by the movie industry and moviegoers can only see what's available not valerief Dec 2012 #21

Critics are PAID by the movie industry?! Bicoastal Dec 2012 #25

Agreeing about the weapons industry... BUT ThatPoetGuy Dec 2012 #29

And gratuitous violence. That's the part I don't like. I hate horror, too, because of the gore. valerief Dec 2012 #36

Shakespeare has violence, the Odyssey has violence, Beowulf has violence Fumesucker Dec 2012 #42

I don't think the Godfather has gratuitous violence, ThatPoetGuy Dec 2012 #44

But other people DO enjoy them, a lot. Chemisse Dec 2012 #31

The "victims' in first-person-shooters are not other humans. Codeine Dec 2012 #34

Oh gee, I thought they were real. Duh! Chemisse Dec 2012 #52

But wait when you kill the Forsaken you are killing humans. white_wolf Dec 2012 #53

Lol! Chemisse Dec 2012 #67

You play WoW but want to ban FPS games? RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #59

Exactly. I don't mind violence in video games. Chemisse Dec 2012 #75

Pretty hypocritical RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #77

Yeah nearly every PC in every MMO from WoW to TOR is a mass murderer. white_wolf Dec 2012 #90

You must be congenitally incapable of having any sort of fun. n/t backscatter712 Dec 2012 #39

I was thinking the same thing. n/t white_wolf Dec 2012 #46

So your answer is censorship is ok, as long as you don't like it. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2012 #51

every cowboy movie .. SummerSnow Dec 2012 #58

Gee, the Hays code was wonderful for free expression. backscatter712 Dec 2012 #38

I might put a "faux" in front of moral panic. 99Forever Dec 2012 #8

Good sig line... Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #88

Can you imagine a slow guns movement? LiveNudePolitics Dec 2012 #10

Bring back the musket shot, I always say. Ztolkins Dec 2012 #65

I'm not blaming comic books. I'm not even blaming the hypocrites who say they want peace but enjoy KittyWampus Dec 2012 #12

KittyWampus, YOU'RE the hypocrite. Bicoastal Dec 2012 #19

LOL! As a matter of fact I and many of my friends have all matured to the point where we consciously KittyWampus Dec 2012 #30

I am honest. And I will not change my tastes in entertainment for you or anyone else. Bicoastal Dec 2012 #35

So tell me how do you feel about classic literurtarue such as... white_wolf Dec 2012 #43

I for the most part don't like really violent shows and I'm not a gamer Fumesucker Dec 2012 #47

People blame "Culture" because they know it gets them off the hook. Bicoastal Dec 2012 #15

Why do you THINK Limbaugh's doing it? white_wolf Dec 2012 #20

LOL! DU'ers have been pointing fingers for the last several days. Culture changed re: smoking KittyWampus Dec 2012 #24

You're using "Culture" to mean anything you want it to mean at this point. Bicoastal Dec 2012 #27

Why do you THINK Limbaugh's doing it? DJ13 Dec 2012 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author FredStembottom Dec 2012 #32

do people in Canada, Japan, watch Batman ? JI7 Dec 2012 #37

Yes. white_wolf Dec 2012 #41

Isn't it funny... Bicoastal Dec 2012 #45

Exactly! BattyDem Dec 2012 #54

We can walk and chew gum at the same time. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2012 #49

There are killers with high body counts all the time - but usually one at a time REP Dec 2012 #50

one television show is not and cannot be, in and of itself, The Reason. LanternWaste Dec 2012 #55

I wrote to Canadian Tire riverbendviewgal Dec 2012 #56

Ever hear of imprinting? L0oniX Dec 2012 #60

I think the media has gotten the message on the coverage. AtheistCrusader Dec 2012 #64

Garbage in - garbage out! KT2000 Dec 2012 #68

[]=> white_wolf, you are 111% right!!! 6502 Dec 2012 #70

Right On - Guns Are The Root Of The Problem And They Should Be Outlawed Now cantbeserious Dec 2012 #73

Ok you are sick of morals panics Shivering Jemmy Dec 2012 #81

If Republicans want to alienate even more of our young people by blaming video games FreeBC Dec 2012 #85

I'm suprised it took that long for the anti-video game idiots to pop up. Odin2005 Dec 2012 #86

They have the same video games in Japan, the same movies in Germany... Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #87