(no subject)

[camwyn]

So this movie 'The Purge' is supposed to be set in a future America where once a year you get twelve hours in which just about any crime is legal, from what I've been able to glean from a couple of sources.

All I can think is that I had a great-grandfather who successfully defended himself in court against charges of high treason against the crown of England and a similarly generational grandfather (I forget how many greats) who died of jumping out a brothel window to escape the police at age 94, so how do I go about living up to either of their examples.

I may not be the target audience.

(Alternatively: "So does this mean that once a year Utah suddenly gets three-ring binders full of marriage licenses issued to the same man but multiple different women? Or does it not cover that kind of OH WAIT ONCE AGAIN I AM MISSING THE SOCIAL COMMENTARY POINT.")

("... also how would this have affected Bernie Madoff and the various scandal ridden banks if they'd just timed things a little.... never mind, shutting up now...")

Comments

[leeshajoy]

My immediate thought upon hearing the premise was "so for one day a year, the rest of the country gets to find out what it's like to be a rich white guy?"

[camwyn]

Something like that. I don't know, I haven't heard much about it except a few dribs from one Tumblr and a review I read this morning. Said review indicated that there were some indications in the movie that part of the reason crime was down, social disorder was down, and unemployment was up the rest of the year was because the rich were taking the opportunity during the Purge night to go out and kill as many desperate poor people as they could... more than that and 'Oh look, Ethan Hawke' I don't really know.

[leeshajoy]

Oh, and it gets better. During those twelve hours, all emergency services are unavailable. And you still can't attack high-level officials because that's still against the law! (Not that there would be any way of enforcing that since, y'know, the police are part of emergency services.)

[kyrielle]

...so wait, not only is any crime allowed, but f*** you if you have the bad luck to get sick during it?

...UGH.

[sdelmonte]

I heard the premise, and thought of that episode of old Trek where there is this inexplicable 12 hour festival of sex and violence once a year. That this movie doesn't seem to have that at all is a total failure of even the most basic tawdry imagination.

[thebattycakes]

I wonder what is says about me that my big "Crime" would be to run lose in the grocery store eating all the things, and let all the balls out of their cages at Walmart.

And tip over a vending machine, because who hasn't wanted to do that?

Hrmm... maybe it says that I'm hungry.

[camwyn]

I wonder if the suspension of law covers maritime law within the twelve-mile limit? Does this mean I can commit barratry without punishment? Because that'd be pretty cool.

[batyatoon]

You just KNOW there are going to be a bunch of smartasses who go around committing the weird crimes.

[camwyn]

"You know, I really thought there were going to be more dead people this morning. I wonder why?"

"Not sure. On an unrelated note, the RIAA's board of directors all got letters pinned to their doors last night saying 'Okay, we're done now- see you next year'..."

[hannah]

I suspect I'm far from the target audience as well. You want to hang out together and go see Mud instead?