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5. February 6-8, 2001: Hannibal Media Blitz Hits the USThe nation was struck by the marketing and media blitz for
the movie Hannibal, a grisly sequel to Silence of the Lambs.
Everywhere I turned, in the newspaper, on TV, on the Internet, I hear
promotions, and what passes for news stories, about the film, Hannibal, that I
definitely won’t be seeing. I didn’t really notice
anything unusual about the Hannibal media hype until I heard a sound clip,
promoting the film during a National Public Radio news segment.
NPR has been traditionally thought of as avoiding commercial excess, but
now appears to be deteriorating to the least common denominator along with other
news sources. The media just don’t get it.
Or worse, maybe they do get it but they choose to ignore the obvious,
because this hype draws attention and generates advertising revenue.
I’ve had enough of news anchors, wagging their heads sadly at each new
tragedy and talking heads commentating on the deterioration of society, while
their networks spoon-feed our poison to our children. See success stories for a positive update posted 03-04-01 regarding Hannibal These are media excerpts about the film Hannibal: A theaterful of grossed-out celebs groaned their way through the gory Silence of the Lambs sequel Hannibal at the Ziegfeld in New York Monday night, February 5th. When the crowd broke into applause at the end, we weren't sure whether they were cheering its campy excesses, or glad that the stomach-turning final scenes were over. (From TV Guide Insider) Yet for all its jolting moments, Hannibal never reaches the apex of fright that marked the horrific terror-in-the-dark finale of its predecessor. It has only one truly scary sequence: when the naughty doctor terrorizes a victim before doing him in. And it's pretty darned good. But many of the other supposedly scary moments are of the hit-the-audience-over-the-head variety. (From Hit-and-run horror by Michael Janusonis, Providence Journal) With Anthony Hopkins reprising his superstar-making role as the urbane, insane killer psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter, want-to-see levels for the film are so high that the $80 million-plus project is all but assured a huge box-office take. "Hannibal Lecter is the major star character in the world today," rationalizes Dino De Laurentiis, who has been producing films in his native Italy and throughout the world for 60 years. "Tom Cruise is a big star, but to me, Hannibal Lecter is bigger than any star. He's not just another serial killer; he is a man who is full of humanity, culture and style. And when he kills people, he kills people the audience would like to kill, too. This is so charming; when this man kills, the audience is with him." Arguably the world's greatest repository of Renaissance and medieval culture, Florence and its classic buildings had to be locations for the film to at all faithfully reflect the book. But from the start, blocs of Florentines, including the spokespeople for a local political party, loudly protested the use of their beautiful city for what they considered a vulgar exercise in cheap, horrific thrills. (From Production of cannibal thriller was torture by Bob Strauss Los Angeles Daily News.) The news links below are outside Your1voice.com. Use the back button on your browser to return to Your1voice after viewing these links. Hannibal review: TV guide insider What does mass marketing of Hannibal do to us as a society and what risks does it expose our children to? Below are link to news stories dated December 20-21, 2000, which revealed details of a 1996 kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of a 10 year old boy by a former mental patient, with a history of assaulting children in Montana. Use your back button to return to Your1voice after clicking the links. Warning, these news stories contain information, which many will find disturbing! Do not open these links unless you are prepared. Convicted Pedophile Charged in Bizarre Slaying Case: ABC News Shock in Montana-Cannibalism Charges Stun Great Falls: ABC News What do you think is going to happen with millions of people getting the message that Hannibal is entertainment? Your1voice will make a difference to curb the promotion of inappropriate entertainment by applying market pressure. Let the media sponsors who promote violence know you find this material offensive. See a call to action to learn what you can do. On May 23, 2001 the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a Career Column by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Dave Murphy. It was shocking to see a respected newspaper portray Hannibal Lecter as a character to be admired or emulated. Click for a letter to the editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from Chuck Anastasia, President of Your1voice raising awareness about the deterioration of culture and society caused by the media's daily portrayal of unspeakable acts of violence as entertainment. Click here to read Dave Murphy's email response to Your1Voice Click "Up" to go back to the list of six
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