Is it just me or is anybody else disturbed by the hype generated about Pearl Harbor? When I first saw the trailer last summer or so, I was psyched about it because I’m a history buff and all. But now I never want to see the movie. This hype…well, that’s part of the reason why. I’m just generally disturbed by this. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, I mean it’s great that people are being informed about a major historical event in our country’s history. But people should be interested and informed all the time, not just when some big blockbuster comes out. It’s fake interest, like when Titanic came out and I got all those books about the ship. They, the people, have a short interest in it just because some big name Hollywood star is attatched. Plus, it’s made by the maroons who made Armaggedon. And it’s been getting bad reviews. I don’t know. There’s something about this movie that doesn’t settle with me, which is weird because I’m fine with other historical films like Schindler’s List, Anne Frank, or Gettysburg. Now all the learning channels will be throwing those Pearl Harbor documentaries because they think, or know, that no one will care after a few months.
Short-term intrests & “fads” will, for some people, develop into a lifelong intrest in history. The benefits that those few realize are worth a tempoary “bad taste in your mouth” aren’t they?
We are, after all, dedicated to Fighting Ignorance!
Maybe it’s hype, and I have’t seen the movie, but today I went to our local Ren Fest. There was an old guy sitting there, sitting at a display of swords at the local castle (interesting story - the guy who built it had planned it in high school, and has been building it for 20 years now. He hosts the Ren Fest to offset his building costs. 20 years and he has three rooms completed. But it is based on 13th century Welsh castles. Building his dreams - very cool.) we were talking and he said he’d rather have one of his 3 Thompson submachine guns instead of the swords. it turns out this guy was in the CIC (Counter-intelligence outfit) in Europe in WWII. He had some great stories to tell, and I think he was glad to have someone to listen. He says the history books have the little details wrong. So if by this movie we can thank the peple who fought for the freedom of Europe and America almost 60 years ago, I say it’s a good thing. If it makes people listen to the stories of old men, it’s okay.
It would be worth it if millions of other people did not develop such an interest and therefore thought that what they saw in the movie was completely accurate…
once they get intrested in real history, they will begin reading history books, or at least watching documentaries. That will correct any earlier misaprehentions (sp?) quickly enough.
Well, I hope that’s the cae, but the cynic in me thinks that most people who watch this movie - and really, any movie - are not going to pick up a book to read more about the actual events; the closest they’ll get will be the book adapted from the movie.
I mean after all, this board might be dedicated to fighting ignorance, but my bet is that the masses are not.
In the mid 1980s I knew that a new version of The Phantom of the Opera was coming out when I suddenly saw copies of Gaston Leroux’s book all over the place. (This as just before the release of the Broadway musical)I looked for a copy for yearsuntil I finally found one – and that copy only came out because a movie version of it had just been released (the 1960s Hammer version, starring Herbert Lom). Since then there have been a LOT of edtions of TPOTO, mainly becase the play is still running.
I’m annyed by such pumped-up interest, too, and so is Pepper Mill. There is just so MUCH hype on Peal Harbor on the news, on the cable stations, in he magazines and newspapers, that have gone the other way and not paid any attention to it at all. That’s pretty uncharacteristic of me – whe Tora!Tora! Tora! came out I went out of my way to read Walter Lord’s Day of Infamy and Ladislas Farago’s The Broken Seal. I would’ve read Gordon W. Prange’s book Tora, Tora, Tora, but in an odd reversal of these things, it was not reprinted, even though it nd the Farago book were the ones upon which the film was based. In fact, as far as I can tell, it hasn’t been back in print since, although Prange wrote anpother book since on the topic. As I type this, neither Prange book seems to be back n the shelves, although Lord’s book is.
I’m also annoyed a the way the news and entertainment folks don’t say anything about erson while he’s still alive, but sudden;y you get a lot on him or her when they die. By then it’s too late to try and contact them, or for the to appear on TV anything. A&E’s series “Biography” at least gives them some pre-death exposure.
