In regards to “Battle: Los Angeles,” there is a class of films that are violent fantasies, including such film masterpieces as “Battle: LA,” “300,” “Alien vs. Predator” and every film ever made by the governor of the state you love to hate. These movies do not enlighten us, instruct us on moral values, or generally inspire us to self-sacrifice or greatness.
The plot of “BLA” was not only thin; it was formulaic. That being said, I really enjoyed the film. I understand that most film critics want high art, so I don’t get my underwear twisted every time a critic expresses a negative emotion.
I own a gun. I am third-generation Navy, but I am also a grown man who can distinguish between violent hero-fantasy and real life. This paranoid hero fantasy, which is at the core of the recent right-wing fanaticism, is dangerous.
When I was in the Navy, a young man who had already gotten himself into a good deal of trouble decided that he would start a small fire in an engine room. The ship was moored to an ammunition pier, which made a fire potentially catastrophic. The young man sounded the alarm and then extinguished the fire; he had firefighting equipment already laid out, with the hopes of being credited for saving the ship. It was clear what he had done, and he found himself out of the Navy the next day.
Frankly, hero fantasy might get young men into the military, but their fantasy doesn’t generally help them be successful in military service. For young men in combat it’s especially hard.
Steve, we get it, you lived in Hollywood. We get it, you write a conservative blog about Hollywood from OKC. Most writers are more coherent, thought-provoking and insightful.
I wish you would write something that wasn’t pandering and actually broadened our understanding of the world.
You could teach me something from your unique perspective, but all of your letters so far have been very disorganized attack pieces bordering on nonsense.
In one letter, you have defended Hollywood (the film) by attacking Hollywood (lefty turds and local critics) for criticizing a movie that is about the destruction of Hollywood (which is in LA)? Let’s make a deal: I’ll quit being a snark when you quit writing like a crank.
—John R. Junger III
Oklahoma City
