UK TV Spreading the Spin

   ITV (UK TV Network) currently continues to run its twice annual Bond season with the films Golden Eye, Tomorrow never Dies, and The World Is Not Enough. Have I missed something or do these films not leave a slightly bad taste in the mouth considering the current global situation? Not that I’m going to write to Watchdog or anything, but let us just examine the plot of each of these films for a brief moment.

· GoldenEye: with the technology and financial funds of the various governments of the worlds, a breakaway group intends to gain control of the world by targeting major cities with weapons of mass destruction (a plane is even seen crashing into a building).

· Tomorrow Never Dies: A Media mogul hell bent on world domination uses the facilities and manpower of terrorist network cells, while giving them financial backing, in order to start a third world war and carry out his evil plan to destroy freedom of information and control and manipulate the events of the world through his global news network. The news is determined and pre-recorded before it even happens, (highlighting the fact that terrorism is as much perpetrated, initiated and made powerful by the media and the corporations as it is by those who hold the weapons).

· The World Is Not Enough: (Oh this is good!) Oil barrens attempt to covertly take control of territories in order that they can lay fresh pipelines and exploit plentiful supplies which will make them millions.

    Of course our freedom is always defended and honoured by the British (and American) governent, and the world is saved. But let’s have a reality check; THESE ARE MOVIES NOT REAL LIFE. Is this ‘entertainment meant to subconsciously appease the public and quell their ‘fears’ in the dangerous times that lay ahead. By portraying the government as our saviours, and the ‘terrorists’ as power hungry mad men these films are intigrating themselves into the current propaganda struggle, fighting for the side of the ‘free’ world.

    The final irony in all of these films is the portrayal of each of the ‘terrorist’ villains’ cells as super organised militia groups with all manner of techno toys at their disposal. Submarines, Stealth ships, satellite weaponry, black helicopters. HANG ON A MINUTE, THIS IS OUR GOVERNMENT’S CHECKLIST OF EQUIPMENT. In reality The Taleban can hardly stretch to a few old tanks, yet in these films the great democracies have to overcome the most powerful and destructive weapons and machines there are. Where the hell do these ‘terrorists’ get this stuff from? The answer is of course painfully obvious and is perhaps the point; they get it from our governments who have to go and get it back.

    Of course the representations highlighted here in these Bond films are part of the most basic of intricate spy based plots, designed to seep the ideas effortlessly into our brains, and limit our ability to question the difference between what happens in the movie and actual reality. – Bond the bad guy, never!!!

    Oh and did I mention that in the middle of these presentations there is a half hour gap in order to broadcast the news, to show us what is really going on in the world… or is this also a part of the presentation?