MovieChat Forums > Defendor (2010) Discussion > Did this really affect anyone else? - Sp...

Did this really affect anyone else? - Spoilers

posted 14 years ago by YoungLondon
8 replies | jump to latest

One of the most powerful scenes for me was the flashback when he was with his grandpa and he asked how his mom died and he replied "captains of industry did this to her".

I don't know why but for some reason this really struck me. The whole movie he was under the false impression (as were I and our friends when watching up until this point) that it was one particular person he was looking for. Captain Industry. When in reality it's the whole lot of drug cartels/dealers/traffickers/users. Even if he would have killed the leader of that gang, whom he thought was Captain Industry.... the actual "captains of industry" his grandfather was referring to would still be all over the world, causing the same heartbreaking situations. Beautifully tragic plot twist I thought.

I just wanted to know if that bit of an ironic twist had the same impact on anyone else when watching this film. Honestly, I was just impressed, before seeing this I was expecting a bold/profane/darkly comic/drug glorifying comedy, and wasn't excited whatsoever to see it as my brother was killed my a meth addict only a few years ago (I try to avoid movies with drug use but got suckered into watching this one with a really cute friend). Again I thought it was beautiful and captured the desperate and sad reality of drug use and the effects it can have... (children being born with mental handicaps like Arthur, gorgeous young girls selling themselves and resorting to stealing and sacrificing any sense of self worth sexually, murders, etc.)

[–] BobStage 14 years ago

My sympathies to your loss.

I found this movie to be very powerful as well. But like all Canadian films that aren't horrors or named "Porky's", the financial success is a bare minimum.

[–] perineum1 14 years ago

So many parts of this movie moved me in a similar way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi5PFI3rMTQ

[–] Phroggy 14 years ago

I thought that was not only an unexpected twist, but also fitting with the sad tone of the movie. More than anything, it reminds me of "Fade to Black", even if it's different on the surface. And indeed… not a comedy !!!!!!!!

[–] paulrulezdd 14 years ago

i agreee 100%.
i love this movie, Woody is the greatest actor.

[–] JazukaiX 14 years ago

I was actually under the impression that "Captain Industry" was referring to that kind of thing and didn't understand why he was going after one person, or atleast I didn't think he would care who the leader was, as long as he found the boss.

I didn't think this was made clear enough to have such an impact on me.

[–] fvcollazo 13 years ago

I, too, am sorry for your loss, YoungLondon.

This film was powerful and had a deep, lasting effect on me. It's the darker, grim side of KICK-ASS. Instead of a naive kid who just wants to do what's right (and eventually ends up saving the day in the most glorious manner), you have a man with noble intentions that is extremely limited mentally and doesn't really belong in the world in which this movie takes place. Things are beyond his understanding but he does what he does because of his child-like sense of right and wrong. It's black and white for Arthur.

He believes that he must stop "Captain Industry" to make things right in Hammertown but the audience knows that while his intentions are good, Defendor will never stop all the evil that's out there. He fights the good fight and it's tragic yet oddly comforting that he's naive and idealistic enough to do so.

When his grandfather says "the captains of industry," I got chills. We know then that Arthur is misguided but completely noble.

My favorite part was when his friend Paul said "Do you remember when you saved Jack's life? I'll never forget what you did that day. You were just a regular guy doing something remarkable. You don't need a costume. Ordinary people, they do extraordinary things all the time. You're always going to be that hero, Arthur, just by being yourself."

I had to break out the tissues. Just thinking about that scene makes me cry.

[–] faithfulnes 13 years ago

That is excellent script writing there, loved it!!

[–] cableaddict 12 years ago

It should be pointed out, to the OP and I guess all the other posters, that the term " captains of industry" does NOT refer to drug dealers & other criminal lords, but to all the powerful LEGIT people who own or control businesses.

Granted, most of them are white collar criminals of the highest order, but technically they are not criminals, and the bulk of the people look up to them.

So, the line about how his mother dies is actually even more powerful.