With better timing and a cooler day
This evening, through the wonder of home cinema, we watched a war movie. Or a political movie. The colours are certainly more vivid than in the old days, but themes vary little. War as politics; politics as war.
Actually, our choice this week was a historical reproduction of one of the fifteen attempts to cause political change during war, as seen in the context of Germany and its band of merry men. The movie: Valkyrie, with Tom Cruise as the one-handed, one-eyed wonderkind, off to save the world in his own blundering way. The best laid plans of mice and men, etc. etc. As a war movie, the special effects budget came down to a few firecrackers and some rented rifles. As a political commentary, we had another chance to learn that changing the government without a ballot box is not so simple. Word to the wise to our gang up in Ottawa.
The suspense lacked, given that we all know how the real story turned out. The Germans had great communication networks, and good marching drill, but their skill in assassination was rather lacklustre. Fifteen attempts, and not one dead Fuhrer. Revenge, on the other hand, is handled with surprising efficiency. This isn’t a great film, but it does tell a story. Did I mention how much better the colours are in modern war movies?
I wonder if the DVD is available in other countries. Say, North Korea. They’re about due for a change in dictators, and sometimes all that it takes is a good idea and a few good men.
