----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Birgit Kellner wrote: >I would say that TArantinian and Jacksonian violence is considerably >different. Both might be said to compose parodies to a certain genre, >although I think it doesn't do Jackson much justice to describe his >films as mere parodies (I haven't seen _Heavenly Creatures_, but >am especially referring to his extremely delightful _Meet the Feebles_). >However, every single image of Jackson's films (the ones I've seen) >carries the message "fun!", and I don't think the same could be said >with reference to Tarantino. To put it bluntly: Jackson makes fun >all over the place, and this stretches out through the violent >scenes, as well, whereas Tarantino does make a lot of fun, but not >in the violent shots. Yes, there's a difference between Tarantino and Jackson in their respective ways of depicting violence. Tarantino never goes over the top the way Jackson does. On the whole, though, there's a big similarity between the two - both filmmakers mock the genre they're working in. Jacksons first film, BAD TASTE was a semi-successful attempt to make the definite splatter/splatstick movie. BRAINDEAD is nothing but more of the same thing with a higher budget and a couple of hundred gallons of more blood & guts. How could anyone make a serious attempt to make a splatter film after that? And, has anyone seen a decent splatter film after that? I haven't. The way I see it, Tarantino is to a certain extent trying to do the same with the action cinema. I mean, hitmen dying as a result of taking a dump or arguing over the sexual connotations of a foot massage. Can you get more obvious assault on the action film clich`es? The traditional horror/splatter film is dead, and the action film isn't feeling too well, as a number of recent films would indicate. Just the fact that the major stars, Arnie & Sly, has mocked the modern action hero in THE LAST ACTION HERO and DEMOLITION MAN should tell us that the genre as we know it is dying. The first signs of the decline of a genre is usually the rise of parodies. Comments, anyone? Ulf Ulf Dalquist Phone: +46 46 104266 Dept. of Sociology Fax: +46 46 104794 Box 114 221 00 Lund SWEDEN E-mail: [log in to unmask]