End of the 70s, end of the 70s class

70s Film and culture has finally come to an end and as well with my school career. I learned a lot more than I thought I would from this class, especially about film before and during the 70s. It is a “trip” to think of how “rebellious” film had become from the previous decades with their unwritten but followed censoring. Being at the age I am and within the era I live in, it’s hard to have what is displayed to me as being “shocking” or the “first of its kind”. From issues to having an African American as a hero and not guaranteed to be killed, or a female protagonist with real life issues put out in the open was nothing new.
I also found it eye opening on how much of what was happening within the 70s and previously was being displayed within these films. Beyond the obvious issues within the storyline, there was a message within them all. Whether it was to protest the war, our government, or even the way people are treated in prisons. Beyond having a shark problem along the east coast, there was a problem with the government not being upfront to its own people and men were coming together to help one another out, even with their different backgrounds, beliefs, and personalities. I have always noticed people claiming such absurdities of hidden messages within films, such as with James Cameron’s Avatar people claimed it to be anti-American or even anti-human. Granted those are fairly present themes within the film, I just don’t feel the same way about it. Nor do I feel that was the aim of the film or intentional beyond just being part of a story. I don’t know if I can say that movies in the 70s hold more meat to their bones than today’s films, but they surely molded a generation and raised more questions to the viewers, the people.

Assault on the Precinct

Assault on Precinct 13 by John Carpenter was a movie that pushed the boundaries of no reason killing and death. The theme was clearly not picked up or liked by whoever did the remake, giving it a new setting and reasons for why there was an assault. In the original movie by Carpenter, there is a ruthless gang called street thunder, and they rape and pillage the village for no assumed reasoning. There is a key scene that is over-looked in the beginning; the scene has a few gang members, sneaking around. Not sure if they’re running away, or setting up an ambush, but next thing you know several police with shotguns above the small corridor these members are bottlenecked into. The police are unloading, granted these gang members were armed to the teeth, there was no warning. We don’t know what previously might of lead to this, but you can tell there is a significant back and forth battle between the gangs. Yes I included the police as a gang, cause they are, a large organized group. And judging by the first scene they act just like a street gang, brutally murdering people without any warning. I believe this movie was definitely questioning the role of a police officer and violence that can go hand in hand with the job. I think a big question that is asked at the end of this is what is life worth? Who will you trust with yours? If the situation called for it, would you let a convicted murderer protect you?