Introduction
Action drama movies are usually characterized by actions which more often than not drive emotion on the viewer. Depending on the emotion that a movie arouses through actions, words and setting, it can affect people either positively or negatively. Scarface, The Patriot and Blood Diamond are three powerful movies which can affect people in both good and bad ways, as this essay explains.
The Patriot
The Patriot is an American historical movie released in 2000, which is set during the American revolutionary war. As the main actor (Farmer Benjamin Martin) fights with others in the French-Indian war, the viewer can be led to develop positive feelings about nationhood, especially due to the movie’s depiction of the fight for freedom. On the same note, however, the movie has the potential to affect the people negatively through its depiction of violent scenes where characters kill other mercilessly. This could possibly lead some people to develop violent tendencies as the film appears to praise such behavior by linking it to heroism and power. What is more, Benjamin’s renunciation of violence and decision to concentrate in farming, a transition which possibly stirs powerful emotions, can have a positive impact on a person and probably cause positive behavior change. The powerful scenes and war-based story can affect individual in either way.
Scarface
Scarface is an essentially crime-based movie in which criminality (violence, murder, and drug dealing) is the underlying theme. The main character (Tony Montana) kills, deals drugs for a powerful drug lord and breaks the law at will. The film’s powerful storyline, scenes and characters can have both good and bad effects on the people. On the one hand, some people may get a feeling that crime is a good way of life as the criminal actors live powerfully and above the law as depicted in the film. This could likely lead to bad people in the society who engage in crime with a false notion that it is glorious, without considering its consequences on the society and themselves. On the other hand, certain people could hate the actions undertaken by the characters in the film, such as violence, murder and drugs, and shun such criminal lifestyles. The movie could also lead to enlightenment about such criminal elements in society. In some cases, the criminal scenes in this film can cause some people to be more vigilant and report suspicious characters in the society, leading to increased society peace and reduction in crimes.
Blood Diamond
Blood diamond is basically about smuggling of valuable metals (diamond) and the associated consequences, whereby a South African mercenary and a Mende fisherman strive to get a valuable pink diamond. The film is characterized by killings, smuggling and military attacks in the middle of a civil war. The violent actions in the film can have negative effects on people, including encouragement of violence and other crimes such as smuggling and murder. Conversely, seeing that the smuggler’s fate is sad, some people can be influenced to shun the crimes explored in the film, such as smuggling and violence. This way, the movie could have an impact towards positive behavior change and a negative attitude towards crimes.
Conclusion
All in all, the three movies are powerful in various ways and, depending on individuals they can affect people in both good and bad ways as described in this write-up.
Works Cited
Blood Diamond. Dir. Zwicks Edward. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Connelly, and Djimon
Hounsou. Warner Bros, 2006. Film.
Scarface. Dir. Brian de Palma. Perf. Al Pacino, Mitchell Pfeiffer, and Steven Bauer. Universal
Films, 2003. Film.
The Patriot. Roland Emmerich. Perf. Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, and Jason Isaacs. Columbia
Pictures, 2000. Film.
