Zeigeist: Part 4

2000 - 2008
George W. Bush President

This is the final installment in my series of ruminations on the patterns of paranoia and a growing sense of alienation we can find in the movies of the last 20 years. Not surprisingly, we see more fantasy films, more superheroes and more supernatural happenings. The worse things get, the more we turn to fairy tales (Shrek) and comedy. But for me the most telling shift comes in 2004. Our favorite horror fantasy is Saw. In a world of terrorists, torturers, liars and corrupt politicians, many flock to a movie that portrays the victims’ (our) complete vulnerability to an unreasonable, sick sadist. I wonder if it’s a coincidence that Bush was reelected this year. Sadly, Saw has become a very profitable series (there is even a reality show on TV to find the next big skank/star of the upcoming Saw 6). Let’s hope that the next four years brings us Obama, peace and…. the next Gene Kelly?


Major Events
Ariel Sharon elected
9/11
US strikes Afghanistan
Iraq invasion
Robert Hanson—FBI Russian spy caught
Bush tax cuts
Budget surplus dwindles
Anthrax scare
Bush’s Axis of Evil
Enron scandal/Ken Lay Busted
Dept. of Homeland Security created
Asian tsunami
Abu Grahib
No WMDs
Hurricane Katrina
NSC spying on Americans
Economic meltdown

Popular Films

2001
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Lord of the Rings
Shrek
Monsters, Inc
Rush Hour 2
The Mummy Returns
Pearl Harbor
Ocean’s Eleven
Jurassic Park III
Planet of the Apes

2002
Spider Man
Lord of the Rings 2
Star Wars II
Harry Potter II
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Signs
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Men in Black II
Ice Age
Chicago

2003
Lord of the Rings 3
Finding Nemo
Pirates of the Caribbean
Matrix Reloaded
Bruce Almighty
X2
Elf
Terminator 3
Matrix Revolutions
Cheaper by the Dozen

2004
Shrek 2
Spider Man 2
Passion of the Christ
Meet the Fockers
The Incredibles
Harry Potter
The Day After Tomorrow
Bourne Supremacy
National Treasure
Shark Tale

SAW

2005
Star Wars III
Chronicles of Narnia
Harry Potter
War of the Worlds
King Kong
Wedding Crashers
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Batman Begins
Madagascar
Mr. & Mrs. Smith

2006
Pirates of the Caribbean
Night of Museum
Cars
X-Men: Last Stand
The Da Vinci Code
Superman Returns
Happy Feet
Casino Royale
Ice Age 2
Pursuit of Happyness

2007
Spider Man 3
Shrek 3
Transformers
Pirates of the Carribean
Harry Potter
I Am Legend
Bourne Ultimatum
National Treasure
Alvin and the Chipmunks
300