Top 10 Movies Where Audiences Get the Moral Wrong
#10: “Starship Troopers” (1997)
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On the surface, “Starship Troopers” might seem like a no-brainer monster flick. But only if you were just watching for the action scenes. As revealed through the propaganda newsreels and draconian citizenship rules, the movie is actually a satire of militarism and fascism. This is also shown in more subtle ways, such as the Gestapo-inspired uniforms. Director Paul Verhoeven unpacked this message in the DVD commentary, remarking that “War makes fascists of us all.” As he also said, he created a perfect fascist world for the movie, but all it was good for was killing bugs.
#9: “Parasite” (2019)
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Bong Joon-ho’s black comedy “Parasite” was a huge hit with both audiences and critics. The story follows the schemes of a poor family that tricks a rich family into employing them. However, a cloud of misinterpretation has followed the film from start to finish. It began with fans of Bong’s monster flick “The Host” believing that “Parasite” would be a sequel. But even after people saw the film, some… just didn’t seem to get it - and, to be fair, there are a lot of layers to wade through. As Bong himself has explained, the film is a criticism of social inequality and capitalism today; the label “parasite” applies to both the poor family, and the rich, who are “parasites in terms of labor.”
#8: “American Sniper” (2014)
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When “American Sniper” was released, some members of the public as well as some professional critics had issues with the seemingly propagandistic style of the movie. They saw the word “American” shining on the marquees and they saw the American flag on the posters. And to them, this indicated that it was a movie celebrating decorated war veteran Chris Kyle himself. Of course, this was never the intention. As Clint Eastwood said, he was trying to make a statement about the treatment of veterans and their mental states, and that it was “the biggest antiwar statement any film can make.” Whether he succeeded in making that statement is another thing entirely.
#7: “First Blood” (1982)
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Some still cheer on Rambo today as he methodically hunts the police through the jungle, and they clap when he returns to the town and blows it up. The thing is, we’re not necessarily supposed to like Rambo as he causes harm and destruction – he’s a man who has been programmed to be a killing machine, and that’s to be feared, not admired. This isn’t ‘80s action-hero-takes-on-a-horde-of-bad-guys schlock (although the sequels clearly didn’t do anything to help this perception). It’s a complex and introspective movie about PTSD, the damaging nature of war, and the mistreatment of veterans. Hey, still a fun movie, though!
#6: “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
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Contrary to what many may think, this movie is much more than an ‘80s chick flick. While the dancing is fun and all, it’s really just a metaphor for Baby’s maturity, in terms of both her sexuality and independence. The film is set in 1963, at a time when overt sexuality was still taboo. This forces Peggy to get a back-alley abortion and Baby to conceal her sexual relationship with Johnny. At the climax, they dance a provocative number, the dirty dancers join in, and Baby is finally able to overcome her fears in the movie’s most iconic scene.
#5: “American Psycho” (2000)
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To say that “American Psycho” was controversial would be an understatement. Bret Easton Ellis faced significant difficulties when trying to publish the novel, and received death threats after its publication. Upon the release of the film nine years later, some critics still attacked its morbidity and apparent misogynistic themes. However, it’s fairly clear that this story isn’t glorifying violence through Patrick Bateman, but criticizing him. “American Psycho” is a satire about the narcissism, materialism, and dehumanizing aspects of capitalism - and a terrifying glimpse into the mind of a killer. Watching Bateman, we’re SUPPOSED to feel horror.
#4: “Natural Born Killers” (1994)
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With a name like “Natural Born Killers,” you can see how Oliver Stone’s crime film would be controversial. The movie was immediately criticized for glorifying violence, and it was blamed for a number of copycat crimes. To the media, this was a movie that showed how cool murder was, and it needed to be shut down. That’s definitely ironic, because the film actually satirizes the mass media’s obsession with violence. The fact that this aspect was missed by reviewers, and the people who allegedly committed crimes under its influence, somewhat proved its point.
#3: “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
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Martin Scorsese’s biographical black comedy depicts the life of excess, and as with many such films, some people got the wrong idea and began cheering for the lifestyle rather than questioning it. A few professional critics saw the movie as a glorification of excessive living, and some financial workers allegedly cheered at an advance screening. It got so bad that Leonardo DiCaprio even had to defend the movie and its themes. The film is meant to show the destructive nature of not only such excess, but also of corrupt and overly-ambitious professionals. We’re meant to be disgusted with Jordan’s actions ... not cheering him on.
#2: “The Godfather” (1972)
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Like “Goodfellas” and countless other gangster movies, “The Godfather” depicts a life of crime as something to be feared. Throughout “The Godfather,” we watch as the mild-mannered Michael devolves into crime and brutality before finally being crowned The Godfather in a moment of sheer tragedy. However, some viewers took this to be a moment of triumph, and the glorification began instantly. Suddenly the mafia was cool, and interest in it skyrocketed. Even some real-life gangsters loved the movie and began integrating it into their work, for example calling bosses “Godfather.” What was meant as a warning instead became something else entirely.
#1: “Fight Club” (1999)
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Upon its release, David Fincher’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel “Fight Club” divided critics, who were skeptical of its message. But its popularity with fans soon made it a cult hit. However, even some fans seem to misinterpret the movie’s moral. Brad Pitt’s character Tyler Durden is eminently quotable, but while his critique of capitalism IS part of the film’s message, he’s also a psychotic terrorist, whose solutions are simple, nihilistic and violent. In other words, he’s not really someone you want to base your worldviews around. The film isn’t saying that the status quo is desirable, but it isn’t endorsing Durden’s nihilism either.
