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General impression: ick ick ick.
I think this was the first film in which I became aware of how Arab soldiers in asymmetrical conflicts were being used as the replacements for communists in American action films in the 90s.
Watching this is thoroughly nauseating; it is clearly the sort of thing that contributed to the way that many Americans unquestioningly cheered on their organs of state security after 9/11. All of the villains are generic terrorists from central casting, all helpfully equipped with kaftas so you tell what their feelings about the nakba might be.
An interesting thing that the film missed: the character traits needed to be able to execute the plan of the terrorists would be a combination of the bravery, discipline and leadership needed by SAC strategic bomber pilots, Navy SEALs, and CIA agents.
This film includes much armament porn.
You know that Tia's character is evil because:
a) she drinks champagne in the back of her own limo
b) she obviously has some deep understanding of things related to the Middle East, and has read specialist monographs and understood them
c) she looks a little bit unWhite (as opposed to Arnie and Jamie, who are about as White as you can get)
This is the first American film of recent vintage that I have seen which has no major African-American characters.
While Tia's character is supposed to be evil because she sells out, I really have to wonder how all of those Arabish extras in the film must have felt afterwards.
Given the way that Arnie treats Jamie in the middle of the film, her only appropriate response would involve a lot of practicing biting down on beef jerky and then executing a tearing and twisting motion.
Possibly, this is Faith's backstory.
Possibly the French original was better, but it could very well have been worse. There is much room for comedy based on the sad absurdities re: aggressive agents of the organs of state security and wars on terror, but Cameron didn't bother making any jokes of that sort in a film that made heavy use of loaned Harriers.
If I hadn't seen Terminator 2, this would have discouraged me from seeing any further james Cameron films.
I think this was the first film in which I became aware of how Arab soldiers in asymmetrical conflicts were being used as the replacements for communists in American action films in the 90s.
Watching this is thoroughly nauseating; it is clearly the sort of thing that contributed to the way that many Americans unquestioningly cheered on their organs of state security after 9/11. All of the villains are generic terrorists from central casting, all helpfully equipped with kaftas so you tell what their feelings about the nakba might be.
An interesting thing that the film missed: the character traits needed to be able to execute the plan of the terrorists would be a combination of the bravery, discipline and leadership needed by SAC strategic bomber pilots, Navy SEALs, and CIA agents.
This film includes much armament porn.
You know that Tia's character is evil because:
a) she drinks champagne in the back of her own limo
b) she obviously has some deep understanding of things related to the Middle East, and has read specialist monographs and understood them
c) she looks a little bit unWhite (as opposed to Arnie and Jamie, who are about as White as you can get)
This is the first American film of recent vintage that I have seen which has no major African-American characters.
While Tia's character is supposed to be evil because she sells out, I really have to wonder how all of those Arabish extras in the film must have felt afterwards.
Given the way that Arnie treats Jamie in the middle of the film, her only appropriate response would involve a lot of practicing biting down on beef jerky and then executing a tearing and twisting motion.
Possibly, this is Faith's backstory.
Possibly the French original was better, but it could very well have been worse. There is much room for comedy based on the sad absurdities re: aggressive agents of the organs of state security and wars on terror, but Cameron didn't bother making any jokes of that sort in a film that made heavy use of loaned Harriers.
If I hadn't seen Terminator 2, this would have discouraged me from seeing any further james Cameron films.
