Glorification of mob violence and thuggery
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4177160.stm
This abortion of a concept has just come to my attention.
So, a film launched in the nick of time, in fact. I was just thinking to myself that the world needs another fawning account of football hooliganism. After all, the Football Factory was over a year ago now, and wasn't that just an "edgy" and "exciting" treat, based on a book by a sodding technology journalist and adapted by a middle class idiot infatuated with working class violence? (his own new film, 'The Business' is to be a decadent story of working class gangsters acting tough and sh@gging birds in the sun, another feather in the proud cap of our contemporary culture. Well, that's original).
Anyway - this latest piece contains the usual "Ahhh! But I think football hooligans are actually decent people! Ahhh!" reversal that supposedly lends such films their intrigue. Is this really true though? Are football hooligans really decent people at heart, who would "throw themselves in front of a train" for you at a moment's notice? Or are they just a bunch of louts striving to make drinking and fighting sound more noble than it actually is?
I'm pretty clear on what I think. This film looks like it might make me want to throw things around in rage.
>> Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 6th September 10:41
This abortion of a concept has just come to my attention.
So, a film launched in the nick of time, in fact. I was just thinking to myself that the world needs another fawning account of football hooliganism. After all, the Football Factory was over a year ago now, and wasn't that just an "edgy" and "exciting" treat, based on a book by a sodding technology journalist and adapted by a middle class idiot infatuated with working class violence? (his own new film, 'The Business' is to be a decadent story of working class gangsters acting tough and sh@gging birds in the sun, another feather in the proud cap of our contemporary culture. Well, that's original).
Anyway - this latest piece contains the usual "Ahhh! But I think football hooligans are actually decent people! Ahhh!" reversal that supposedly lends such films their intrigue. Is this really true though? Are football hooligans really decent people at heart, who would "throw themselves in front of a train" for you at a moment's notice? Or are they just a bunch of louts striving to make drinking and fighting sound more noble than it actually is?
I'm pretty clear on what I think. This film looks like it might make me want to throw things around in rage.
>> Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 6th September 10:41
Theres a big market for this type of film or book. That can mean only one thing, there are lots of people that have an interest in it?
Does this mean that the general public sympathise with the thugs or indeed join in? I don't think so.
Why was 'The Godfather' such a popular bunch of films? Probably the same reason, its a fantasy world for most to visit. But it has an edge as its also reality. A place where people want to touch but not get burnt?
This is surely the point.
Does this mean that the general public sympathise with the thugs or indeed join in? I don't think so.
Why was 'The Godfather' such a popular bunch of films? Probably the same reason, its a fantasy world for most to visit. But it has an edge as its also reality. A place where people want to touch but not get burnt?
This is surely the point.
Lzyitus, you are undoubtedly right; some sort of societal voyeurism means that films like this have a market. And it's not so much the concept that gets to me - I mean The Godfather, Lock Stock and a host of others from opposite ends of the industry spectrum have glorifed bad behaviour. What really got me going here was the comments of the idiot director of this latest film, in the BBC article (click the hyperlink). I mean, what a vapid mong.
I am not a football hooligan, absolute.
However, in my years of going to football matches, I have been in situations that have at the time been very, very scary.
I have never been punched or thrown a punch as part of a football crowd.
But, I have been in the middle of such situations and not through choice.
The one thing I can report and I don't mind saying this, I got a massive buzz. Right or wrong, it has been an adrenalin rush, scary to be in but fantastic to get out of. Much like stepping into and out of a racing car.
I have not got into these situations by choice and have always been thankful to get out of them.
But I can see the fascination and pull for those involved in this warfare. It doesn't mean its right. It just means it happens.
However, in my years of going to football matches, I have been in situations that have at the time been very, very scary.
I have never been punched or thrown a punch as part of a football crowd.
But, I have been in the middle of such situations and not through choice.
The one thing I can report and I don't mind saying this, I got a massive buzz. Right or wrong, it has been an adrenalin rush, scary to be in but fantastic to get out of. Much like stepping into and out of a racing car.
I have not got into these situations by choice and have always been thankful to get out of them.
But I can see the fascination and pull for those involved in this warfare. It doesn't mean its right. It just means it happens.
Funnily enough, I had the exact same conversation with a friend about this film after seeing the trailer in a cinema.
As far as I could see it definitely glorified football violence - disaffected American youth comes to Britain and finds himself by joining a gang of football hooligans? The tone of the trailer was definitely along the lines of "it's a great thing to be in a gang, no matter what they're doing".
Bad, very bad.
As far as I could see it definitely glorified football violence - disaffected American youth comes to Britain and finds himself by joining a gang of football hooligans? The tone of the trailer was definitely along the lines of "it's a great thing to be in a gang, no matter what they're doing".
Bad, very bad.
_dan_ said:
If you don't like it then don't f king watch it!!! Simple really isn't??
Bet you write to Points of View aswell!!
Thank you for your intelligent and insightful comments. Obviously any criticism/discussion of any genre is invalid, as I could 'just ignore it'. As such, all opinions are invalid.
Well done. No, really, good work.
ETA - I see MILF beat me to it.
>> Edited by Harry Flashman on Tuesday 6th September 11:28
silversun said:
As far as I could see it definitely glorified football violence
Just out of interest have you ever seen Mean Machine
www.imdb.com/title/tt0291341/
If so do you think this promotes violence on the field as opposed to the terraces
Dan has a point in a way.
If you are saying that people should not be allowed to see such films because it will cause crime you are abandoning the concept of personal responsibility.
It is just the same as a lawyer arguing his client should receive a lesser sentence because he has a 'deprived' background.
If you are saying that people should not be allowed to see such films because it will cause crime you are abandoning the concept of personal responsibility.
It is just the same as a lawyer arguing his client should receive a lesser sentence because he has a 'deprived' background.
Jaglover.
I dont think people object to what dan said, because obviously each individual has their own perspective, but more the way he went about saying it ?
In the alternative & taking into consideration the subject matter, he may well have just been so sarcastic that its gone completely over our heads (though sadly doubt it).
I dont think people object to what dan said, because obviously each individual has their own perspective, but more the way he went about saying it ?
In the alternative & taking into consideration the subject matter, he may well have just been so sarcastic that its gone completely over our heads (though sadly doubt it).
JagLover said:
Dan has a point in a way.
If you are saying that people should not be allowed to see such films because it will cause crime you are abandoning the concept of personal responsibility.
It is just the same as a lawyer arguing his client should receive a lesser sentence because he has a 'deprived' background.
This wasn't an argument for censorship at all.
It was more an opinion that this film, the concept behind it, and the vapid "I was a hooligan honest" director all look to be a little bit crap
.
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