- Sep 22, 2013
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In the strange but intriguing 'vigilantism-paranoia' M. Night Shyamalan film Unbreakable, a brooding security guard named David meets an eccentric and handicapped comic book art dealer named Elijah who is convinced he is some kind of superhuman hero sent to Earth to protect people. As David confronts the possibility that he does indeed possess a strange invincibility that lures him to become a vigilante, he also discovers the possibility that Elijah may be a deranged terrorist who is frustrated with his own handicap, luring him to become (ironically) a super-villain.
At the end of the film, as David is walking away shocked (after considering the possibility that Elijah may be a super-villain), Elijah stares off towards him (while sitting in a wheelchair) and says hauntingly about his scarring childhood, "They called me Mr. Glass!"
Americans love comic books and strange superhuman characters with fantastic and bizarre names such as Plastic Man, Batman, Aquaman, and Deadpool. Perhaps because Americans are fascinated by dialogue about self-determined governance (a prominent face of democracy), vigilantism themed storytelling becomes popular.
These days comic book adapted films abound in Hollywood (USA).
I remember the news stories about crazy 'copycat crimes' modelled after the controversial Oliver Stone violence-glorification film Natural Born Killers.
It wouldn't be surprising if these flurry of comics-adapted films motivated some fanatical silly person to don a cape and mask and prowl around New York City as a comic book superhero such as Batman or Green Arrow, trying desperately to be some kind of vigilante. Would this be called 'copycat heroism'?
Well, Elijah's proclamation (in the Shyamalan film) that his handicap/vulnerability made him feel like he was what kids taunted him as being --- the shattered Mr. Glass (a man enraged by his frailty) --- hauntingly suggests that we Americans are intrigued by frailty and strength.
If there really were superhumans, they would certainly resemble in behaviour firefighters, comic book superheroes, or super-guardians.
What does Mr. Glass (from the interesting Shyamalan film) represent? Is there an urge in the human heart to idolize the unusual, and how do Americans contribute to this discussion?
At the end of the film, as David is walking away shocked (after considering the possibility that Elijah may be a super-villain), Elijah stares off towards him (while sitting in a wheelchair) and says hauntingly about his scarring childhood, "They called me Mr. Glass!"
Americans love comic books and strange superhuman characters with fantastic and bizarre names such as Plastic Man, Batman, Aquaman, and Deadpool. Perhaps because Americans are fascinated by dialogue about self-determined governance (a prominent face of democracy), vigilantism themed storytelling becomes popular.
These days comic book adapted films abound in Hollywood (USA).
I remember the news stories about crazy 'copycat crimes' modelled after the controversial Oliver Stone violence-glorification film Natural Born Killers.
It wouldn't be surprising if these flurry of comics-adapted films motivated some fanatical silly person to don a cape and mask and prowl around New York City as a comic book superhero such as Batman or Green Arrow, trying desperately to be some kind of vigilante. Would this be called 'copycat heroism'?
Well, Elijah's proclamation (in the Shyamalan film) that his handicap/vulnerability made him feel like he was what kids taunted him as being --- the shattered Mr. Glass (a man enraged by his frailty) --- hauntingly suggests that we Americans are intrigued by frailty and strength.
If there really were superhumans, they would certainly resemble in behaviour firefighters, comic book superheroes, or super-guardians.
What does Mr. Glass (from the interesting Shyamalan film) represent? Is there an urge in the human heart to idolize the unusual, and how do Americans contribute to this discussion?
