… a conscious effort to inscribe this “Trek” in the storytelling traditions popularized by Joseph Campbell, in which heroes must suffer loss and abandonment before they rise to the occasion. The filmmakers admit that this is a deliberate homage to their favorite films, like “Superman,” “Star Wars” and “The Godfather Part II.”
From the New York Times via The New Republic’s Plank blog. The article in question discusses what J.J. Abrams has in mind for his reboot of the Star Trek franchise.
The quote is stupid because, as the Plank item points out, Godfather II ends with Michael Corleone’s soul and family in ruins: he is corrupted and he is alone. The Godfather films aren’t about someone being tested and rising to the occasion; they’re about someone getting pulled in, just like it says in that goofy line from Godfather III (you know, “they keep pulling me back in!”). Michael Corleone isn’t young Luke Skywalker or Clark. He isn’t callow and in need of challenge. From the start, he is a born leader, a paragon of competence and nerve, a decorated war hero and cool-headed tactician. He is the dream self-image of Mario Puzo, that poor shambling yutz who wanted to pretend he was hard, compact and capable. Corleone starts as a hero and always has the gifts of a hero, but he loses his way morally. This process begins, for all reasons, because he loves his father, who happens to be a Mafia chieftain. And that tragedy is the whole point of the Corleone story.
Doesn’t this matter? Can’t J.J. Abrams and the New York Times demonstrate some understanding of one of the most famous movies of our time? The story has nothing to do with Joseph Campbell. Nothing! If you want to feel important while talking about the Godfather films, just say “Shakespearean.” Go ahead, it feels good. You won’t be adding anything, but neither will you be demonstrating your ignorance.
UPDATE: Another point. Godfather II begins with Michael Corleone already in his father’s place, a man with wife, kids, and responsibilities. It’s in the first Godfather film that he’s a young man whose life is taking form. Mr. Abrams and the New York Times couldn’t even pick the right film to get confused about.
But those movies were made all the way back in the 70s! You can’t expect people to remember little details like what happens at the end.
I watched Abrams’ TED talk and nearly clawed out my eyes when he began TELLING THE AUDIENCE what films were really about.
Could the reference supposedly be to Vito…whose backstory we get in GF2 (The Deniro character)? He’s young, hungry, overcomes obstacles, etc.
A shrewd point. But the young Vito is already a man; even at age 10, when he flees Sicily, he’s a man, someone who has seen and withstood more than most of us can imagine.
Later, in America, he’s being pulled in, not tested. It’s the same as with Michael. Vito doesn’t have to rise to the challenge of killing Fanucci; he has to give in to the pull of circumstances, those circumstances being the need to support and protect his family.
Just as the gods used WWII to justify an influx of new technologies so will they use the impending pestilence which kills over half the world’s population to justify historical medical advances, including the “cure of aging”, initiating the “1000 years with Jesus on Earth”.
We’ve seen this tactic used recently with AIDS, targetted at homosexuals and blacks in Africa.
Then, as promised, The End will come with fire::::Global tectonic subduction.
There was a very real perception that bi-racial was much worse for the white than it was for the person of color. The liberal culture, which was designed and promoted with the god’s tools to achieve their Apocalyptic goals, screamed racism when there was a very reasonable explanation for this reality::::
In this white punishment known as the United States the person of color has already adopted the disfavors/temptations intended for another race. But by associating/mating with a person of color the white is newly adopting the disfavors of another culture.
And this is the reason why people of color are not welcome in the United States. The gods control everything:::The perception they want to create, the thoughts they want you to have.
People of color can’t recover from absorbing the temptations from two cultures. And why they become more and more like so many blacks in America:::Veterans at absorbing the temptations of two cultures.
To further illustrate this is why California’s educational system/funding was ranked #1 when California was white:::Education being the basis of the affluent economic system. Now even public higher education has become unaffordable.
Don’t forget the lessons the ‘ole white preacher taught:::Dancing is a sin, spare the rod spoil the child.
The gods used the liberal tool to ridicule away so many taboos, paving the way for the decay of society and ultimately the End Times::::::
Black behavior was controlled by the KKK. Men’s behavior was controlled by marriage for thousands of years.
When married by 15 men never gained the taste of promiscuity. Once the gods used the budding liberalism tool the men set the tone for the deteriorating enviornment centered around their gross disfavor.
Women’s relinquishing control of pre-arranged marriage will be what costs mankind everything in The End. It’s all their fault. Men are pigs, essentially just primally responsive disfavored beings who if given the freedom will abuse based on the impulses the god’s push them into. Whereas under pre-arranged marriage this behavior was contained now the promiscuous fraternity house epitomizes the pinnicle of what a “real man” should be like. And sadly the women fall into line.
12.14
9:55a
The gods kill 27/18 elementary school students in shooting in Conneticut.
They are disturbed. They are ufit to sit on this throne. But you all knew that from my life.
“We have a good reason.” And if you didn’t you’d manufacture one, like you did to prepare me.
Look how wicked the gods are. Die monsters.
You do good work. Kudos on another productive day.
Dirt. Filth. Inferior. Step aside.
Then they share they are talking about me being capable to do something like this when they did just did four hours ago. Filth. Hypocrite. Sick monsters. Shit.
Imagine the pathology which can dissociate from their behavior like this.
“They deserved it.” I don’t care if it is Hitler.
You put those involved with Prohibition into the Holocaust, disturbingly unjust. You cost me my tooth for a piece of bacon.
You have no credibility. Don’t come back.
If you want to waste your time you can investigate what the god’s positioned reason is, because they always create one to provide an excuse for the execution of their strategy.
If you knew how sinister you would be afraid. They are more Satan than god.
god was never on your side.
Thank you for this very educational post.
I like that “god was never on your side” line!
And great piece, Mr. Crippen!