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Sony Pictures exec: 'Zero Dark Thirty' does not advocate torture

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its might not "advocate" torture but it certainly seems to "normalise" it as a practice that produces "results" (dubious as these results may be)

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Cripes it is a movie, while based on facts, it's still just a movie. I saw the movie and saw nothing it in where they were promoting torture. Yes torture was used to gain information, but that's a part of the story.

I guess from now on all war movies or any movies having torture in them will be forced to defend their position from idiots.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

"This film should be judged free of partisanship," she said, adding that the film "does not advocate torture."

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) does not advocate non-liberal agenda.

But keep those cards, letters, and tax loopholes comin'...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Funny, people were being tortured every week on "24" all those years and there was no uproar about it. This movie shouldn't be nominated because it's based on a whopping lie. There's no photographic evidence, no autopsy record, a "body" was conveniently "buried" at sea and nobody in the ship's crew witnessed it. Two weeks later, a helicopter crash allegedly eliminates almost all the SEAL team that carried out the raid, leaving behind a handful of guys to write contradicting books, advise on screenplays, etc.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

@Jeff Ogrisseg - I am sincerely fascinated. Tell more about the SEAL team crash. How many of them were killed, and how do you know it was those same people who carried out the attack?

For now, I absolutely agree with you that if these film is being criticised based on its illustration of torture, that is utter hypocrisy from those critics.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Funny, people were being tortured every week on "24" all those years and there was no uproar about it.

That show was carried by FOX.

'Nuff said.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

This movie shouldn't be nominated because it's based on a whopping lie. There's no photographic evidence, no autopsy record, a "body" was conveniently "buried" at sea and nobody in the ship's crew witnessed it. Two weeks later, a helicopter crash allegedly eliminates almost all the SEAL team that carried out the raid, leaving behind a handful of guys to write contradicting books, advise on screenplays, etc.

^^THIS. ^^THIS. and ^^THIS. For a thousand years.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Although "just" movies, these kinds of realistic portrayals do indeed have an affect on people, such as of making such blatant viciousness appear as just another ho-hum aspect of everyday life, feeding many people's already enveloping apathy to the growing militarization & violence around us, and enticing the crazies among us to see torture as moral and enriching when it's anything but. Of course, one can't see any of that unless they step outside the rah-rah military bubble they're in. This movie may not advocate torture but it sure makes it seem normal or acceptable, when it never is and never should be (not in civilized society, anyway).

It's becoming natural that a film like "Zero Dark Thirty" would emerge from the minds of people in the States, who are becoming ever more used to increasing militarization with war after war after war abroad as well as at home, not to mention an attitude about guns that's just plain psychotic. Just because some media folks want their films -- any films, no matter the social effects -- to bring them oodles more money (the obvious theme underlying any corporate executive's rant), and just because more and more Americans are becoming accustomed to militarism as a solution to everything, doesn't mean the rest of those who want a more livable society have to act like sheep and follow them.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

since i'm in the habit of saying things that ruffle people's feathers. I think a movie like zero dark thirty is hardly oscar material. That's usually more for tear-jerker movies imo. I can understand the reaction of Sony since in reality it will probably have been a lot worse than anything that would be shown in a movie. Or the movie would simply not appear on big screens. As for the reality of reality. You don't get answers by asking pretty please, not from people who already consider themselves dead. I don't like guantanamo. I don't like the part where the americans think they can just tell the world what to do (even if they can somewhat). But i certainly don't like religious nuts shooting 14 year old girls in the name of whatever. I can't speak about the movie itself but i'm sure it will conveniently forget to mention explicitly it took them more than ten years to get Osama Bin Laden. Which shows how resilient these warriors of their own god are. Dire times, i dont think we've seen all of it yet. I dont think the death of Osama will do more than a dent in morale. It's probably forgotten already except to those who see it as yet another reason for revenge. So, lots of innocent people will probably still die. That's how terror works. Last thing i read al qaeda even refused medical treatment to pakistani people, their own people, as a means of pressure to make americans stop drone attacks. And on the other sides, much restraint will be put on personal liberties in the name of counter-terrorism. Or at least they will try. The sword cuts both sides as usual.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

" and just because more and more Americans are becoming accustomed to militarism as a solution to everything, doesn't mean the rest of those who want a more livable society have to act like sheep and follow them."

Agreed. Over the years, people have become desensitized to the horrors of military violence via movies and tv. Back when I was a Democrat(early 60's), the Democratic party was the "peace" party, or so many people thought until LBJ took office.

This is just another mili-porno.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I just got back from watching the movie and it shows torture, unless you consider sleep deprivation to be torture, to be ineffective where the prisoners keep lying to them. For example the first prisoner is water boarded and after being water boarded continues to mock and lie to the interrogator which results in a successful attack by AQ because the prisoner did not give them up.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Torture was not involved in getting the info on the courier. When picked up on this, the studio said they know that torture was not used in this instance, but they are portraying a compilation of 10 years of anti-terror tactics. The studio admits they added the torture knowing it was not true. Maybe for that they should miss out on an Academy Award.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Nothing new in this film for any informed person. I will not see it because it would totally traumatize me to watch overt torture. Hope this film will be a wake up for many sleepers. Torture is counter-productive.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You're dreaming

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Maria, conspiracies aside for a minute, the Seal team heli crash in N Afghanistan was all over the news. Google it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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