Lately I’ve found myself rooting for the Villainous Team, the sinister man with the plan who, unlike the modern day heroes of the silver screen, can stand on his own, and has a purpose beyond the defeat of some foe.
Heroes in our modern day are not builders or explorers, rather they are killing machines who sit around doing nothing until other people (who are more in love with killing) hatch an evil plan that involves killing. That basically sums up every superhero film I’ve seen, including the ones I like (Watchmen/The Dark Knight) and the ones I don’t like (every _Marvel_ film ever)
**_Villains are the only characters in modern films who actually have values that can be emulated._** They’re usually anti-social, industrious, and selfish. My kind of people. Of course they always turn out to be murderers in modern flicks, because that’s just about the only way Hollywood can brand a character as universally evil. They have to be industrious and selfish and rich so that the masses can feel _la revolucion_ for 90 minutes, but then again the entire audience might not be feeling that vibe (Steemit Anarchocapitalists). In order to make a character universally condemnable, that character needs to be more than a capitalist, they need to be a murderer to boot.
I don’t blame the actors, or even the writer/director. I suppose ‘blame’ is a harsh word given that I do not claim the right to dictate the content that flashes across the silver screen. That being said, this pattern of story telling has occurred across thousands of films and therefore must be the result of someone’s volition…
(This is who movie producers have been getting they're cigars from. This explains everything.)
The producer. The producer secures financing for a film, and it is audience appeal that drives the worthiness of an investment in a film. Producers know that the masses don’t want a hero that reminds them of their greedy capitalist bosses, they want a hero that reflects their values… but since they have no values what we’re left with are these empty shells (superheroes) that stand for nothing, have no ideals, and who pretty much only leave the couch when the villain commits and action. Their only value is a non-value given that it’s pretty much impossible; being at the right place at the right time to prevent a negative event from occurring.
That was why I actually liked watchmen. Even though the characters let 50+ million humans die in the end, at least they had some principals and ideals. Dr. Manhatten valued world peace, and so he was willing to take the blame for Veidt’s crime, while Rorshach couldn’t live with the lie because it violated his code of ethics. At least this was a piece of entertainment that had a point other than; “killing humans is wrong (except when the gov’t does it) and having plans is evil (because having volition is evil).”
(Quick side note: I have mountains of respect for successful Hollywood producers, they're art lies in chasing the $, not in determining what philosophical content will tickle my overly discriminating tastebuds. The story telling landscape of Hollywood is a reflection of the values of viewers, those whose wallets democratically determine the most common content at the theater.)
That’s why the films I write and produce feature heroes that have to make decisions beyond “Do I kill the villain who so villainously killed a bunch of innocents” or “Do I save the hot babe or do I save the world?” My heroes and villains emulate reality, not fantasy, and they all stand for something.
(A still from my latest film)
I’ll be sharing footage from both my previous and upcoming films right here @escapehatch, an evil bunker built deep below a secret volcano, where great stories sit in cryo-chambers waiting to be read. Don’t keep them waiting any longer!
How I (accidentally) DELETED The Work Of An Entire Film Production
https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@escapehatch/villain-how-i-accidentally-deleted-the-work-of-an-entire-film-production
The Philosophical Betrayal Of Mirror’s Edge Catalyst
https://steemit.com/capitalism/@escapehatch/villain-the-philosophical-betrayal-of-mirror-s-edge-catalyst
Decentro wanted Apocalypse to win in the new X-Men... H-Wood should start making movies where the bad guys win - Decentro would love the change to storytelling.
That is another trend I've noticed, stories about villains, a lot of times with no real heroes whatsoever. (Can't say I'm opposed considering the last bunch of movies I saw.
I agree with you here. I think the line between villain and hero is way too polar. Bad people do good things. Good people do bad things. Eventually when you've seen a certain amount of life you see most people's decisions and beliefs are determined by their life experience. Therefore there isn't really good and bad in the world. Most of the world is various shades of grey.
Furthermore, supposedly good people tend to have the darkest shadows. Think the catholic church.
However this doesn't fit with how the majority of people want to see themselves. So Hollywood has to use these damp squib plots of good vs. bad. Where I, like you, cheer on the villain.
I think thats why stories with more complex character development are gaining traction in the market - people are tired of the simple Clark Kent who is good because he is good - audience members want real people - and in the real world you can find yourself as the villain if your not careful - nor is being a villain as simple as 'being rich' or 'being selfish' just as good is not as simple as 'being in the right place at the right time' and 'standing up for the weak and the downtrodden' - think about those who made this site - I bet they're real heroes, but there were probably times when they were tested, and failed
by the way you can find more villainous reads over at @escapehatch
-I just posted this article: https://steemit.com/life/@escapehatch/film-i-m-producing-will-challenge-political-correctness