MovieChat Forums > Safe (2012) Discussion > human life = no value???

human life = no value???

posted 12 years ago by post-orgasmic-mood
17 replies | jump to latest

In my defence, I dont normally watch these types of movies - this is the first Jason Statham film i've seen. It was just REALLY noticeable to me that absolutely no-one in this film cared who they were shooting! for example, the scene in the chinatown nightclub - so many innocent people were shot just because they were near enough in the same kinda vacinity as the "bad guy".

Maybe I just dont get it, but this point kinda made me think of nothing else durin the entire movie

I want to fly on a magic carpet, to meet with the king of the Potato People and beg for my freedom.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] post-orgasmic-mood 12 years ago

why is this funny? i clearly just dont get it then?!

I want to fly on a magic carpet, to meet with the king of the Potato People and beg for my freedom.

[–] Jaydep 12 years ago

Yippee Ki Yay

[–] AtheistRevolution 12 years ago

I don't know who I'm shooting but I know their dead.

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.

[–] zarreff 12 years ago

Have you ever seen the movie "Total Recall" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? There was one scene were the main character uses an innocent bystander as a human sheild and the poor guy gets riddled with bullets. Then the main character throws his shot up body at his pursuers while he flees from them. This was probably the most callous thing I had ever seen in a movie and a lot of people were upset by it back when the movie was released in 1990.

But yes many of the grittier action movies portray characters in situations where many innocent people are killed just from being in the wrong place at the wrong time...but this kinda stuff happens all the time in real life sad to say.

[–] darkstorm97 12 years ago

zarreff, that scene is so horrible that it's funny. You almost have to laugh at the level of violence. But that's Verhoeven for ya.

Anarchy's coming to town. A firey invader.

[–] JeffAtlanta2004 12 years ago

There was one scene were the main character uses an innocent bystander as a human sheild and the poor guy gets riddled with bullets.

You missed the most important part of that scene. The innocent bystander had already been shot and killed before his dead body was used as a shield.

[–] borislav_mitev 11 years ago

if one goes to play in a casino that is known to be run by the mafia, getting killed by the very mafia even as a bystander shouldn't be considered entirely accidental.

[–] s_campanale 12 years ago

It's one of this films main characteristics. I think the Luke Wright character was pretty dead on the inside to begin with. He was basically a sanctioned executioner in a dirty war against crime with a lot of blood on his hands. This being an Elmore Leonard style story, he is trying to get away from violence, which is why he let himself get beaten up as a cage fighter and did not fight the Russians who killed his wife. When he is forced to go back to killing, he throws up in disgust, but after he's crossed that line it's back to normal again. He is not a "hero" and really no different from any of his supposed antagonists, which is one of the ironies of the story. This is not a "good against evil" story but one man finding a way out of a crazy no-win situation he got accidentally thrown into. The ending where he spares the two people who have wronged him most in his life shows he is still trying to grab a little redemption though, same as protecting and providing for Mei.

[–] fliphop 12 years ago

campanale - thanks for explaining that, but personally i still do not 'get it'. the lives that are lost essentially mean nothing to the filmmaker or to the characters. the range of human emotions portrayed is extremely narrow - greed, blood lust, greed, blood lust, greed, blood lust.

he wants to protect the girl .... but you never see him actually afraid for her. he does not have a moment where he has doubts. or fear. or worry. or any of the emotions any of the rest of us would have when trying to save a little kid. its hard to get 'in' to this video game style of a world.

[–] super_nashwan 12 years ago

You're not supposed to relate to this kind of character. This type of movie is a kind of wish-fulfillment fantasy, not an accurate portrayal of real life. For most fans of action it's a thrill to see a character who is virtually invincible, fearless, uncompromising in their convictions, in ways that normal people can't be. Real life heroes get scared, they get hurt, they don't always win. Those characteristics evoke a different set of emotions in the viewer such as vulnerability and tension, and there are movies which cater to that. But action movies seek to evoke emotions such as aggression, and feelings of invincibility. Perhaps those emotions do nothing for you and that's why you can't get 'in' to it.

[–] subase 12 years ago

jason as a ex-high level super spook killer always had a plan, fear would only get in the way.

[–] drtrance2003 12 years ago

The fact that it seemed like everyone had such a callious view of human life just made this movie seem sooooooooo unrealistic. I just couldnt enjoy this movie because of it. I mean who does/reacts this way? REALLY?

on a side note anyone seen the kinda stuff happening in syria lately? JEEZ!
/sarcasm off

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] shadaif 11 years ago

Thanks for explaining that s campanale. That actually makes sense to me now why he changed so suddenly in the movie. It's not a great movie. I'm glad i borrowed it for free at the library (instead of redbox). But we did enjoy watching it.

[–] chivers677 11 years ago

I know exactly what the OP means, well at least I think I do.

Humans not associated or tied in anyway with the main character(s) are always treated as if they are objects. Dozens of hitmen are thrown about the place showing on mercy. I mean, what about their families? These bad guys could have mouths to feed! Show some empathy will you?!

"Stop looking at the walls, look out the window." ~ Karl Pilkington On Art

[–] Augustus_Octavian 8 years ago

They are not entirely innocent. Many of them didn't take cover even when it was feasible.