The sum of all idiots

[Aaron Brachowitz]

Apparently the Arab presence as villains in the movie "The Sum of All Fears" was reduced after 9/11. So it's okay to portray them as terrorists conspiring to blow up an American city, until they actually blow up a sizeable portion of an American city, and then it's not okay anymore. :crazy:

[Pseudolus]

The change in baddies was made prior to last September. See, for instance, two notes at upcomingmovies.com:Premise Note: (2/1/01) The Muslim terrorists of the novel have been modernized for the film to be European neo-Nazi terrorists. (4/8/02) One might wonder why "modernized" was used in that previous post, but the reason is, that prior to September 11th, there was a move away from portraying Muslims as stock terrorist villains, partly because of consistent (and understandable) protests by Arab-American groups. But now, after 9/11, Islamic terrorists don't seem quite so "worn out" as villains... so this movie, in a way, is sort of a time capsule of our former innocence.

http://www.upcomingmovies.com/sumofallfears.html

[Mr. Grim]

Should we really be giving the neo-fascists ideas? (neo-fascist whoever, the hell that is - I am sure they are similar to the right wing extremists or at least that is what Hollywood would want you to believe)

[Gomer]

I just finished the book, and of the five main terrorists, two are German neo-fascists, two are Arabs, and one is a disaffected Native American. The lead scientist who helps make the weapon is also a German. So it's not a huge stretch to just make them all neo-fascists.

[Aaron Brachowitz]

In a more perfect world, the film's release would have been delayed in order to recast more of the villains as Saudis and perhaps the odd Egyptian or Yemeni. Remember when Hollywood used to make films like "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "The Green Berets" while the wars were still being fought?

[Mr. Grim]

Let's make it more believable. Two Arab terrorists and two Israeli radicals, come together to show the world they can make peace. After drunken escapades to the local Florida topless bar, they decide to detonate a nuclear bomb at the Super Bowl.

[Mr. Grim]

showing your age, AB.

[Aaron Brachowitz]

OK, I wasn't actually alive when "Sands of Iwo Jima" was released. I might not have even been alive for "Green Berets." I was speaking rhetorically, I guess.

[Gomer]

In a more perfect world, the film's release would have been delayed in order to recast more of the villains as Saudis and perhaps the odd Egyptian or Yemeni. Remember when Hollywood used to make films like "Sands of Iwo Jima" and "The Green Berets" while the wars were still being fought?

I didn't realize we were at war with the Saudi's, Egyptians, and Yemeni's. I thought we were at war with terrorists, many of whom happen to be Arabs, though some are probably Persians, and at least two were American citizens. Let's see if Hollywood can sort that out.

[JO]

Speaking of Saudis, it's an American a French and a Saudi in a plane sitting next to each other. The flight attendant asks the American "Sir would you like anything to drink?" He responds "Yes, a Coors Light please". She asks the French (who puts his nose in the air) "Yez, zI will have ze glazz of Bordeaux". Then she asks the Saudi "Sir, anything to drink?" to which the Saudi replies "No! I fly plane later on!"

P.S. Can I get banned for this?!

[Mr. Grim]

I love Bordeaux.

[E. Blackadder]

from Slate (http://slate.msn.com/?id=2066272&device=).

[The Drunken Actuary]

I hadn't bothered to click on the link until now because I assumed it was really just another National Review link. :D

Seriously, I just saw the movie. It was pretty good but not nearly as good as the book. It was odd that they had Affleck playing a youg Ryan when in fact this was a later book and Ryan was already well into his career. In fact, I could be wrong, but I think the book ended with Ryan becoming DDO or something if not Director of CIA. That was ok but I thought the last half of the movie was kind of silly, I mean why wouldn't those pricks he worked with just relay the info to the president?? It was done much better in the book.

[Han Solo]

In fact, I could be wrong, but I think the book ended with Ryan becoming DDO or something if not Director of CIA.
Actually, in the book, Ryan is Deputy Director of the CIA the whole time, and resigns at the end, pretty much burned out and disgusted.
It was done much better in the book.
Definately. I've read all the books in that series, and IMO, the film adaptations have gone downhill with each one. Red October was the best and they have gotten worse, and deviated farther from the book each time. The books are always better anyway. In fact, I don't think I can think of an instance where the movie is better then the book. Hmm, that sounds like a good idea for another topic.....

[The Drunken Actuary]

In fact, I could be wrong, but I think the book ended with Ryan becoming DDO or something if not Director of CIA.
Actually, in the book, Ryan is Deputy Director of the CIA the whole time, and resigns at the end, pretty much burned out and disgusted.

Well, that would at least make it reasonably believeable that the Pentagon would give him access to the hotline. That was pretty silly. In fact everything after the bombing was pretty bad.

I've read them all too (a while ago) and agree with you about the movies going downhill. However, I did like the guy they had playing John Clarke better in this one than that dude from Clear and Present Danger.