How do you feel about movies based on true events?
A lot of movies make that claim, and often do have some of the source as their influence. For example, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was influenced by the story of Edward Gein. I mean if you watch the movie, then read about Ed Gein, there’s barely anything similar about both…But you have movies that take place in certain time periods, or certain events. Movies that happen during WWII, movies that focus on the Renaissance, or that take stereotypical approaches on certain people or cultures. Then you have movies based on recent events like 9/11.
For example there’s a horror movie called Chernobyl Diaries which is, essentially, just a typical slasher movie that takes place in the abandoned city of Pripyat. But do you think that people who have been through this, and who’s lives are still affected by that event, would get offended or insulted by the movie? To see a horror movie made out of it? Or what about 9/11 movies turned into cheesy, overdramatic action/drama flicks? These are things that those who went through it, and many who haven’t, feel strongly about. What would Edward Gein’s mother think if she saw TCM? Would they care or not?
Of course, some movies take their source much more seriously. Schindler’s List or The Pianist for example, I think most people see these movies as an honest take on WWII and its atrocities.
There are plenty of sides; those who exploit a source, others who wish to inform, those who want to shock with a well known happening, and those who want to share what they feel about something that occurred. Many more, probably.
But what about you? How do you feel about ’‘based on’’ movies? Based on a true story, based on an event…I guess it can depend a whole lot. How the movie treats its source and what it does with it.
I totally love horror movies, but I was thinking that if I had been through Chernobyl or had lost someone because of it, I may not have appreciated the CD movie so much. Then again, it’s just a movie, right? Maybe some who experienced the event got a silly kick out of it. Or perhaps not.
Where do you stand in this? How much respect should influences get, or does it not matter? I’d find it hard to see a movie that glorifies school shootings, but I bet at least one exists somewhere.
I keep thinking of examples that I, personally, think either do justice to something, or completely disrespect it. But let’s hear what you think.