John, John, John, isn't that all a bit busy?

I think the larger observation is that he actually thinks his movie is important. It's just a throwaway green-men-from-mars summer diversion flick, not a larger allegory on the current state of the American psyche. The only post-9/11 unease it reflects is the continued ability of Tom Cruise to put asses in seats (since he appears incapable of late of keeping his own ass in his own seat).

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes an alien invaders movie is just and alien invaders movie. Me thinks Mr. Spielberg takes himself too seriously.

Ease up, guys. I know I for one would be lost if it weren't for the underlying political wisom he's displayed in all of his movies.

Especially The Goonies.

John, pal, don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

First off, Spielberg has been making some (minor) 9/11 allusions for a while now, so this is nothing new. It's just getting more press since we're getting closer.

Second off, it's not like War of the Worlds hasn't been used before as social commentary. H.G. Wells may have been not a little influenced by British colonialism, and later adaptations also hit on contemporary themes (1938 = just before WWII, 1954 = Cold War).

I don't necessarily have any problems with Spielberg if he wants to play up any allusions to 9/11 in his story, which features America under attack, and people coming together to face such an attack. Gee, what's so controversial there?

Now, I'm not saying they won't be *clumsy* allusions. . . I'll just give the guy the benefit of the doubt. I mean, c'mon, this *is* Steven Spielberg, he makes great movies, regardless of whatever he spouts off about to interviewers.

Cheers,
Dave at Garfield Ridge

No mountain. I'm just saying that regardless of his political convictions, I think he's playing this up for the sake of publicity.

And I don't think his statements are especially controversial - I think he's trying to create controversy.

If it got him bad press, I think he'd be a bit more discrete. The guy is not only a great director, he's a marketing whiz and an accomplished salesperson.

John from Wuzzadem:

discrete = singular, atomic
discreet = modest

Improper word usage makes the baby Jesus cry.

Snarky "improper word" post was me.

I should add that loose-shit posting such as leaving one's name off a snarky post also makes the baby Jesus cry.

My penance is six head-knocks and a good swift kick in the ass. I will go my way and sin no more.

Shouldn't your name be spelled Monte?

Shouldn't your name be spelled Monte?

A "y" is the only correct way to spell the name; the "e" is a Gallic bastardization introduced by the Normans in 1066, a bit of nastiness I (and other Montys out there) have been paying for ever since.

Less the French Montague and more the German Montag, if you will.

I don't think Spielberg can laugh at himself. Since he's gotten his Oscars its all about Art as opposed to make fun films. Now someone like Shatner knows how to laugh at himself.

Monty

My penance is six head-knocks and a good swift kick in the ass. I will go my way and sin no more.

I have noticed that I've gradually been corrupted by this blog. I need some penance too, or perhaps I need to leave it alone for awhile and pray.

Speaking of Shatner, and to pick up on an earlier thread, maybe Spielberg could do a film adaptation of TJ Hooker. Let's see him get all artsy fartsy over that! ("It reflects a post-modern uncertainty in the context of heightened expectations that arise from what can only be termed the bleak prosperity of the modern urban landscape. Also it has a lot of car chases and a chick with large breasts.")

Feh. You see this crap from mediocre artists all the time--you go into art school because you like painting big pretty flowers or you enjoy the smell of the paint. And you personally have nothing to 'say' through your work (or nothing which would interest the 'art world') BUT you want your pretentious fool professors/critics/reviewers to compliment your work and make you feel special. So when it comes time to present your finished work for review, you become a past master at throwing great gobs of bullshit at the wall until something sticks.

Politics comes up so often in modern art for no other reason than that it's simply the easiest way for a hack to make a splash. Because the 'art world' has convinced itself that it requires great bravery to piss on a cross in America, it gladly overlooks the objectively crappy quality of most such 'art' itself as ART.

As for Spielberg, he's just at that stage of life where every 'popular' artist makes a last pass at being considered a 'great' artist.

Spielberg pissed me off when he tried to pass Oscar Shindler off as someone other than a Nazi fuckhead (which I railed about in sixth grade).
He is a quasi-intellectual of the lowest order. The problem is, he really believes that his films have a meaningful social impact. He does not realize that no one gleans any more understanding of the human condition from his newest endeavours than they might from Jaws.

Speelberg has one great talent -- he can hook ya and evoke emotion really really well. And not one freaking time has he ever paid off on his promise. Not One Freaking Time!

Well done flash and dazzle with no soul, no heart, no guts -- empty as a diet soda. Yet so good at evoking emotions and making ya [ok - me] willingly suspend disbelief that I am still mad after a 15 year boycott.

He doesn't need publicity -- he needs to give that talent to someone who has a fucking point. That and a swift kick in the head.