Laurier student believes fear would exist without films

When a movie such as 2012 or Capitalism: A Love Story is put into public consumption, nothing but fear is administered to those who view it.

Lisa Gurney, a first year student at Wilfrid Laurier University's Brantford campus is voicing her opinions on apocalyptic and fear mongering films.

When asked about films that exploit fears, Gurney states, "I believe that [these films] are exploiting fears and also creating fears of their own. As more people hear about the movie [2012] and where it stems from, they are going to wonder whether the world is actually going to end ... this can cause a fear in society."

Though she admits that without these movies, apocalyptic theories and fears would not be as wide spread, they would still exist. "I think that it is human nature to fear what is unknown. As long as people have the ability to communicate, then they can still gossip amongst themselves. Even if a fear is based on a rumour someone decided to spread, until they dig deeper into an issue, then they aren't going to know the truth."

Gurney goes on to relate a situation such as a fear mongering film to a bomb rumour within a school. She elaborates, explaining that the general public would be the students in the school, who are being guided by their teachers - these films. The "bomb squad" would be the experts, such as NASA scientists, and researchers, who try to defuse the problem (or "bomb") and get the truth out to both the children and their teachers.

When faced with the two common forms of fear inducing movies - fictional versus documentary - Gurney states, "I think that it's always better to be blunt and come out with what you mean. Yet when it comes to fiction, there is also more drastic effects that you can spin into the story to cause the audience to walk away [with a] feeling [of wonder]. So [I believe that] both can be equally effective since they can tie into one another."

While Gurney is not necessarily pro apocalyptic films, she does believe that these movies are also a source of entertainment. "One person's fear may be another man's salvation. In other words, everyone has different views and just because something may be made to invoke fear, others may find comfort in it or find it interesting. It will effect different people in different ways. And fear, like any emotion, is a reaction which sometimes is all a person is looking for; a reaction to the information being presented."

A late welcome

Movies are a way that people bond – a way for two or more people to relate to one another, when no other common ground has been presented. When movies are viewed in a controversial light, they make for even better conversation, and potential debate, as anything that is seen as controversial has more than one side to it.

This blog will explore everything controversial, in respects to film. It will differ from most other blogs, as this is a unique topic that is universal and relatable; everyone has their own opinions, and I will merely provide you the facts.

Sit back, enjoy the controversy, and don’t be afraid to voice your own opinions.

Hollywood continues making money off people's fears

By now, most people have heard of the doomsday controversy surrounding the year 2012. In short, the myth, or reality, if you choose to believe so, is based upon the ending of the Mayan Long Count Calendar, which existed for 5000 some odd years, and ends on either December 21 or 23, 2012.

So, wanting to make money, obviously some Hollywood director would turn this apocalypse theory into a movie.

Enter director Roland Emmerich, the man behind similar apocalyptic movies such as The Day After Tomorrow, and Independence Day. The movie follows an academic researcher who is battling against the end of the world, which is set to occur in 2012.

The link below is to an interview done with NASA scientist David Morrison, who is assuring the general public that the year 2012 is being looked upon in a way that is similar to the Y2K theory was in 1999.

http://iambed.com/2009/11/16/2012-movie-traile/

Moore's newest film not doing so well

According to perezhilton.com, Michael Moore's newest film, Capitalism: A Love Story, has not been a box office hit, to say the least.

States Hilton, "Moore's latest effort, Capitalism: A Love Story, has only earned $14 mil at the box office since its release seven weeks ago!
At the height of his career, Moore's 2004 film, Fahrenheit 9/11, drew in an impressive $119 million in its year of release, and even 2007's Sicko managed to gross $24.5 million."

To view this specific post, see http://perezhilton.com/2009-11-16-michael-moores-running-out-of-steam, or for more Hollywood gossip, visit www.perezhilton.com.

Michael Moore’s Conservapedia page possesses information regarding all movies that Moore has released prior to the release of Capitalism: A Love Story. To view this page, visit http://conservapedia.com/Michael_Moore.

Sacha Baron Cohen is back

He did it in 2006 with his hit movie Borat, and now Sacha Baron Cohen is at it again...


Think of a minority, and it is likely that Baron Cohen has offended at least one member of it within his 2009 movie, Bruno. Bruno is the story of a homosexual Austrian fashionista, who upon ruining his credibility within German-speaking Europe, decides to move to LA for a fresh start on finding world fame. Bruno works his way through various events, television shows, etc. offending numerous people along the way. (Visit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0889583/ for complete information on the movie)


One of the first controversies that this film encountered was the opposition of Gay and Lesbian rights groups. While the film was pre-screened for some rights groups, it was instantly decided that the screening had taken too long, and that the changes that wished to be made by these groups were unable to be completed. Due to the inability of these changes, many homosexual peoples have attempted to have the film banned.


For a detailed list of controversial aspects of this movie, visit http://www.moviefone.ca/2009/06/19/sacha-baron-cohen-bruno-controversy/.