Movies Enlighten and Entertain

Zero Dark Thirty

By Barbara Latimer

Thirty minutes after midnight in darkness and secrecy . . . the decade-long manhunt for Osama bin Laden was finally over. The al-Qaeda leader and mastermind of the most egregious attack on the United States (U.S.) in contemporary times was found and killed in an exchange of gunfire with elite Navy Seals.  The elimination of bin Laden became the most politically significant news story of 2011 in the U.S.

The movie Zero Dark Thirty is an historical dramatization of the epic journey and sacrifice of the dedicated intelligence and military operatives who finally gave America justice. The film’s director, Kathryn Ann Bigelow, meticulously filmed and brought the bin Laden mission to life based upon the perspective of the men and women who lived it.  The dialogue is at times intense and combative, and there are several scenes that summon powerful emotions for the audience. On cue, however, the film diverts the viewer’s attention to the dangerous world of terrorism and the steadfast debt the American public owes to those who protect them.

As with all great movies, there has been some political controversy with the film’s insinuation that waterboarding and other forms of torture were used as interrogation tools against al-Qaeda militants and sympathizers.  For most Americans however, the film reflected realism based on our understanding of the irrationality of normal communications with extremists. The tone of the movie is apolitical – with a focus on storytelling that exulted the spirit and heart of the American people.

The film leaves no doubt that the U.S. is a country with a long geographic reach who will pursue its enemies to hell and back.

Edited by: Mikki Dixon

Zero Dark Thirty

By: Maria Brown

Zero Dark Thirty is a thrilling historical drama that highlights the take down and capture of Osama bin Laden. The movie walks the viewer through the entire United States' operation which included capture, interrogation, and torture. While the movie was certainly one of the most significant political news stories of 2011, there were others that were equally if not more significant. For example, the Occupy Wall Street movement had its own share of publicity and was addressed by President Obama himself. What started as a small New York City gathering grew to an international movement.

Zero Dark Thirty showcases the dangerous world of terrorism, but it also makes the viewer wonder how far is too far to go for revenge? It begs the question, how many lives have to be taken in the name of vengeance? The amount of money that was spent in pursuit of Osama bin Laden over the course of eight years could have been spent on many other things that the U.S. so desperately needed. I agree that many Americans were happy when bin Laden was captured because of the pivotal role he played in the attacks on the Twin Towers; however, I also think that many Americans were just relieved that the pursuit for him was over.

The controversy surrounding the movie is well understood. It should never be acceptable to water board, walk a person on a leash and/or humiliate a prisoner. This is even truer when the prisoner hasn’t had the opportunity to be tried before a court of law.  Human beings should be treated as such. The further we push the envelope on what is considered acceptable interrogation, and by extension torture, the more immune we become to its effects. It is important to consider, what type of world would we live in then?

Zero Dark Thirty brings to light the CIA’s hidden dirty little secret.  The secret is they will use “any means necessary” to get what they want, even at the expense of shredding the moral fiber that separates human beings from animals.

Edited by: Mikki Dixon