Bamspeedy said:
You aren't saying that because Paris gets destroyed in both movies, are you?(Armeggedon shows the actual destruction of it, whereas Independance Day just hints that Paris got destroyed).
No. Actually, it's quite a honour for a city to be destroyed in a catastrophe movie. It's proves it's a meaningful place. In a matter of frog pride, I feel quite honoured.
No the issue is the movie in itself. I could write a thesis about it but to summarize it expresses the fantasy of common Americans (once again easier to identify to) who save the whole world who wouldn't be able to survive without them.
Usually, there's always some kind of 45 second scene where the world is represented to make understand to the audience it's a worldwide stuff. Three places are represented in most of case, all with clichés so that it could be fastly identified.
Asia is represented with China... usually you see some buddhist monk medidating on the Great Wall. Africa is represented in general with massai warriors from Kenya, naked with a mask, a shield and a spear (usually celebrating the victory). And finally Europe is represented with either London or Paris, but France is generally preferred because it's continental Europe. Usually, people wear beret, moustache, holds some bread and drive cars from the 50's (even if it's today).
Bamspeedy said:
I kind of find it hard to imagine that a movie about a 'world-threatening' disaster could NOT be accused of propaganda/nationalism if it is set in a certain country and the humans from that country survive/prevent the disaster.
Well, a lot could be said on that topic. It's widely unconscious, however, scenarists and directors try to summarize things how they believe they are. That's why those movies are usually good caricatures about how the world is seen from America.
I should go to sleep, I would have posted a link to a former post I've written, unfortunately, I can't find it anymore. Is there a way to get access to a search tool ?