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- Is Every War Movie an Anti-War Movie? Spielberg Seems to Think So
- Does ‘Warfare‘ Look Pro-War?
- How Will These Debates Impact ‘Warfare’ Next Year?
As a war veteran who has seen the horrors of combat up close, I find it fascinating to analyze movies that attempt to portray the realities of war. And when it comes to “Warfare,” as someone who was there during the Iraq War, I have mixed feelings about this upcoming film.
War is awful. War is hell. War is a good opportunity to gather a bunch of attractive young stars, stick them in some camouflage and write over some of the most controversial conflicts in US history. The highly anticipated Warfare from A24 dropped its first trailer, and it’s already causing controversy. Some say it’s recklessly re-writing America’s widely condemned involvement in Iraq, and others said, “Oh, that’s the guy from Stranger Things” and smiled when they saw the explosions.
The internet often portrays two opposing viewpoints regarding war movies and warfare in particular. However, a more nuanced perspective exists that allows for multiple truths. For close to the time we’ve been able to record moving images, we have also recorded wars. This brings up discussions about whether films can ever be purely pro or anti-war, but as always, there is no definitive answer.
The fact that war movies continue to be categorized as such, and the ethical implications of producing war films, especially from an American perspective, are being debated by filmmakers and viewers. One might wonder if Warfare, due to its focus on America’s role in Iraq, is promoting a glorified image of the country’s military engagement. Are movies inherently pro or anti-war? What implications could this early discussion have for Warfare when it releases next year? Here’s what you should be aware of.
Is Every War Movie an Anti-War Movie? Spielberg Seems to Think So
Steven Spielberg’s comment about “Saving Private Ryan” being inherently anti-war is a complex issue with differing perspectives. Toby Miller, author of Global Hollywood 2, argues that the film serves to validate America’s righteousness and position as the world’s savior, while Spielberg himself denies this. However, Sheril Antonio, a professor at NYU, delves further into the debate by suggesting that, like war itself, directors may unconsciously express their patriotism in their work, which could be interpreted as either agreeing or contradicting with Spielberg’s stance.
In his perspective, war films often struggle to convey their intended message about conflict because the violence and gunfire usually overshadow the underlying themes. This suggests that viewers must actively seek out the subtext, which could potentially be problematic if there isn’t any meaningful subtext to discover. If the audience is expected to find meaning, as Antonio implies, directors must navigate this delicate balance carefully.
Does ‘Warfare’ Look Pro-War?
If war films typically depict a struggle between goals and diversion, it seems that Warfare leans more towards the latter, offering an abundance of action to create an enticing trailer. However, this doesn’t make it a film promoting war as Miller pointed out, because it carries an undercurrent of American nationalism that allows for America to be portrayed as either a hero or a villain. This was one of Hollywood’s significant oversights in films like American Sniper, which is among the most successful American war movies in recent years. At this point, Warfare only presents the American perspective, but this doesn’t imply it will support their actions.
For a movie to be pro-war, it needs to show a complete lack of vulnerability in the side you are mainly following. There aren’t many World War II movies from the Nazi perspective because of the lack of vulnerability and humanity the Nazis are often remembered for. Warfare has a gentle line to walk, but the attitudes of those firing the guns matter the most. Spielberg’s thoughts are grossly simple, but at the same time, to take out the bias from a war movie would seemingly defeat the purpose.
How Will These Debates Impact ‘Warfare’ Next Year?
In everyday language:
It isn’t as easy as that, and to inject an opinion like that dilutes the experience the movie might be trying to implicitly tell you. The fact is, no one film can entirely change our memory of a war, and Warfare‘s ultimate result will not dissuade those who think America was in the right to invade Iraq. Warfare can show us something without having to comment, just as it can stand on the battlefield while people on Twitter/X argue. A war veteran is co-directing, too, suggesting a hopeful layer of accuracy that can be true to one man’s experience, but we know that wasn’t the only experience.
The movie Warfare, set to release in 2025, won’t automatically be considered a pro or anti-war film. Instead, it’s up to the individual viewers to decide its stance, and this can be both illuminating and maddening.
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2024-12-21 02:31