Abaddon the Movie, Answering the Critics17:47 May 11 2008
Times Read: 1,130
The following are samples taken from interviews about the film and it's disturbing nature.
Q. "You've been criticized by many Catholics for putting the Church in such a bad light. Doesn't it seem wrong to preach morality but at the same time alienate a billion Catholics?"
A. "First I'm not preaching anything all I'm doing is literally telling it like it is. The Church was founded for and only purpose, to serve Christ and spread his message, not to become a global power or set itself up as anything more than a group of Christian people and definitely not go around burning 100,00 "witches" or turning people away just because they're different.
If the Church didn't want to be criticized then it would take an actual active role in stopping priests from tea-bagging 12 year old boys, it wouldn't pander to the masses for the sake of political-correctness, it would actually do what Christ said to do "Spread My Gospel of Salvation through Redemption."
Now of course I don't think individual Catholics are bad, nor do I think every Church is running some scheme. The Catholics have done a heck of a lot for people but the Church in Rome has also been responsible for every single act of transgression it's leadership has made and they are responsible for the millions who have left the Church. In this case Rome has themselves to blame for this one."
Q. "Another issue people are having a problem with is the fact that one of your main characters is gay. Not only is he gay but he's one of the major good guys. How do you explain this?"
A. " I've been asked this many times and the simple fact of it is this " How dare you have the audacity to think that a person can't be Godly and gay." Look, this is 2008 and the main cast, of which there are 12, is very contemporary. Homosexuals have been around since the dawn of time, in most cultures they were accepted and in some even revered, it's only been a recent development that they become "sinners" or "just not natural."
In fact if you do your history right you'll discover that without us queers Western Civilization probably wouldn't be here.
But beyond the morality of it all theres a more logical reason for it. Gays and Lesbians make up at least 3% of the population, far more than the Jews and they're everywhere (I joke) it's about time the gay community had a serious role on the big screen. And not some fairy with body glitter but an intelligent, serious and leading part. Will & Grace just doesn't cut it, all though I do like the show."
Q. "This movie is supposed to let people understand the beauty of goodness. How does that enter into it when this will be, perhaps, the most violent film is history?"
A. " I love this question. The point of this thing is to answer once and for all the age old question "Are people born good or bad?" And the answer to that is almost always bad. There are some horrific events in the movie but almost none of them are "artistic license" they've been taken from actual events in the real world.
I am hoping that by showing the absolute worst with the best in human nature I can get people to understand that the vast majority of everything that goes wrong on this planet can be traced back to what we as individuals and societies do.
And I'm not talking about "save the whales" or "stop the American Empire" either. We all have a part to play and everything we do from taking a breath, to raising a good child, to killing your husband will all effect every last person on this planet in one way or another.
America, Russia, Germany, Israel, Iran, the UK, and even Canada (you get my point) has all commited terrible acts, no matter the intent. When we bombed Japan did that help end the war and save millions more lives? yes. But we also melted 100,000 people and left many more with years of cancer.
Now do I think there is a place for war, of course. But I also think it should be our absolute last option. WWII was good, not just because of the Jews (6 million of them died while 45million died to save 'em or as "collateral damage") but because if we didn't many more would have died and because you can't just get up and invade a sovereign country.
The next question becomes rather political at this point usually so I'll answer it before you ask it!
Do I think the Iraq War is justified? Hell no! Did we have a right to go into Afghanistan? Absolutely. The war on terror has cost us more lives than on 9/11 it has also drained our economy beyond the tipping point, not to mention the whole legality of the thing. To the guys in Washington I say "Grow a brain you retarded little fucks" and to the troops I say "God bless you all, you've always made us proud!"
Q. "With so many controversial aspects in your movie wont it be hard to make it a blockbuster?"
A. " If a person won't watch it because they have a weak constitution or because if they do then their 14 year old kid will want to by all means don't go see it. But if you won't because it may offend you or you disagree with the plot twists or because it may disturb you then you need to be forced to see it.
If having a moral center and exercising logic has become controversial then perhaps this film has come to late. If the real story here is offensive then maybe we should have eugenics laws.
We have plenty of "rainbows and puppy dogs" in our world now it's time to get offended. If you don't get offended then you won't wake up and see what an actual ass most of you are.
Killing is killing, rape is rape, murder is murder and death is final. The moment we start to question the legitimacy of life, be it in the womb or in a 90 year old patient with dementia is the moment we start becoming Hitler. Of course you have a right to choose, if you'd die in labor for example but if you don't want to have a baby because you got knocked up in the gym room or just because you didn't like the father, screw you. You made a life so who cares if your's is ruined.
Women have the right to choose abortion the same amount as husbands have a right to come home and beat their wife. If she's coming at you with a knife, stop her and if you were raped it's not your fault and it's ok.
As for being a blockbuster, I never expect it to happen. In fact if it did I'd be afraid people were watching it just to get off too, not to get disturbed."
Q. " Do you want it to be a lesson in ethics or good entertainment?"
A. "Can't it be both? You can have a "moral to the story" and still make great entertainment. I mean come on you've got a crazy Scottish dude and a hot Asian chick, not to mention violence and a few good jokes...whats more entertaining than that?"
Q. "You, as a writer, director and creative force have been seen to come off as "crass, arrogant and down right offensive. What do you have to say about that?"
A. " In all honesty I don't mean to come off like that, I'm not a "shock-jock". But I do intend on people understanding why I do what I do and I want them to actually learn something about themselves and of the amazingly great potential of them.
Of course I don't have the most gentle personality put I am passionate and in the end really pushing on behalf humanity. Thats really what this is all about, never mind morality and the benefits of religion all I want is for there to be a real future for us. Not one marked in charred earth but peace and prosperity. When human ingenuity and thought are free to express themselves as exploration of Mars, cures for Cancer, a Bridge across Gibraltar and yes even the occasional horror flick."
I hope you liked it :)
COMMENTS
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CryingDutchess
19:33 Sep 16 2008
Oh, you little skank, I remember when this happened, I was drugged to the gills!! I couldnt form a coherent sentence if I used an interpreter! You wicked, wicked man! LOL, I love you to smidgeons... but will take my revenge *hides truffles* ;P