Michael Bay and Americana

[Nicholas D]

This is one of the things I love about Michael Bay films. He has the most exquisite eye for Americana - the montage at the end of Armageddon comes to mind most readily, especially the shot of the kids in the home made space shuttle wheeling past the old poster of JFK on the wall - although the shots of all the people worldwide celebrating the destruction of the comet falls under my general definition of Americana as well. I love that aspect of American life and I think it's great that he celebrates it in his movies.

Nothing earth shaking, just an observation and an expression of appreciation.

[OmarB]

Yeah, I love those flag waving patriotic scenes in his movies. You never see enough of those anymore. Even the GI Joe movie doesn't refer to them as Real American Heroes it seems.

[Bayhem]

I love that aspect of American life and I think it's great that he celebrates it in his movies.

Nothing earth shaking, just an observation and an expression of appreciation.

I'd say he's the only director who's doing it these days. And I applaud him for that.

[Crainy]

Well, his portrayal of other countries in armageddon was somewhat questionable, i might add.

[nelson]

Well, his portrayal of other countries in armageddon was somewhat questionable, i might add.

How so?

[Trigger Mike]

How so?

Good question.

[Bayhem]

Well, his portrayal of other countries in armageddon was somewhat questionable, i might add.

Somewhat questionable?


You have to be more specific.

[Trailbreaker]

Because Paris got completely destroyed by an asteroid? *shrugs*

[alexsm]

I don't think Bay's depiction of any country in the world is realistic. But I also think he never wants it to be.

His America is an strong idealization of the American dream. Maybe of the America he saw through his kids eye when he was young; it fits with the way it is portrayed in Armageddon (last Apollo missions and Skylab, while he was around 7-8 years old) and Pearl Harbor (from 50s and 60s war movies he presumably saw as a kid).

And with other countries he usually uses cliches to make them instantly recognizable even for those who don't know anything about the country he is showing.

[alexsm]

And with other countries he usually uses cliches to make them instantly recognizable even for those who don't know anything about the country he is showing.

I quote myself to complete my statement:

It's basic filmaking; if you are going to show a country just one minute, you can't waste one minute in the description of the country. You need a single shot who shows without any doubt what country are you showing.

[kevski]

I don't think it was that bad in Armageddon really. I usuallly get really bugged when I see England shown as a country full of red buses, telephone boxes and police 'bobbys'. 2012 was one of the worst films to do that for that!

Aside from the 'posh' accent of the news reporter in Armageddon I think the UK did ok. I completely agree with the comment that you only need to show something to identify a country with a 'cliche' in order to keep the story flowing etc, but in the case of 2012 it was too cliched and seriously takes the audience from that country out of the film. You're like, 'Hang on, we don't live like that!'.

At least Bay has never referred to the UK as England though. Now THAT would be a rant!

[Trailbreaker]

I think his movies are definitely made for an American audience. The same principle would work if you were a foreign filmmaker making a film for people in your country.

Heck if I were say a German filmmaker and wanted to depict the US for a few seconds, I would use a cliche shot of New York City with the Statue of Liberty or yellow cabs or something like that.

[Flyingheart]

This is one of the things I love about Michael Bay films. He has the most exquisite eye for Americana - the montage at the end of Armageddon comes to mind most readily, especially the shot of the kids in the home made space shuttle wheeling past the old poster of JFK on the wall - although the shots of all the people worldwide celebrating the destruction of the comet falls under my general definition of Americana as well. I love that aspect of American life and I think it's great that he celebrates it in his movies.

Nothing earth shaking, just an observation and an expression of appreciation.

I agree, i love that too the Americana style i mean
Michael knows how to capture those amazing American moments you know, even if your not American you can feel that in his scenes it's awesome to see that and hard to explain what i mean by this.
But you can really feel this with Armageddon and Pearl Harbor you know, i love that stuff.
That amazing team work between Americans and that fighting spirit to go on and beyond you know, it's just amazing in his movies.