Pure toy manufacturing is just a labor-intensive industry (many of Hasbro's toys are believed to be Made In China), but the entire toy culture is strongly spread through a full range of media means (TV, movies, comics, games). , that is domineering integrated marketing. Since it is integration, the hidden ideological infiltration and value output behind toys and games cannot be ignored. Every time Hasbro makes a move, it is actually accompanied by a show of American military power on the big screen. Compared with hard advertisements, implanted advertisements are much more acceptable, and the American hegemony spirit is implanted in toys and comics. And in film and television works, nature is much better in terms of communication effect.
In "Super Battleship", the show of the strength of the US military is vividly displayed. Of course, compared with multi-arms show movies such as "Transformers", "Super Battleship" mainly focuses on the US Navy's surface ships (disabled Army combat The hero can only be regarded as a side supplement) - the entire aircraft carrier formation encountered an alien attack during the exercise, giving the director enough time and space to brag about the US Navy's surface ships one by one. Of course, this "alien invasion + US counterattack" model has long been common in Hollywood. In "Independence Day", the US Air Force destroyed the alien mothership, and in "Battle of Los Angeles" the US Marine Corps took the aliens again. People beat the shit out of it. In short, once faced with an emergency situation of alien invasion, when the audience saw the figure of the US military, they knew in their hearts: the earth is saved again this time!
Compared with other similar films, "Super Battleship" pays special attention to the rendering of the US military history. The literal translation of the English title also means "battleship", which actually refers to the "Missouri" battleship. As a product of the "big ship and artillery doctrine", after the rise of naval aviation, the battleship represented by the Missouri has actually withdrawn from the ranks of the contemporary world navy. Although the Missouri has been refitted many times and returned to active service, it is only As a naval fort to carry out long-range artillery strikes and face-to-face naval battles, the old-fashioned Missouri has long been unfit for it. But for the U.S. Navy, the USS Missouri has a deeper historical connotation - the signing ceremony of Japan's World War II surrender was held on the USS Missouri, and now the USS Missouri is purely a military history museum.
"Super Battleship" put the Missouri back into battle at the end of the film, which is indeed a wonderful pen. Those veteran soldiers of World War II with white beard and hair undoubtedly also show the glorious war history of the US Navy (please pay attention to the medals on their chests). Under the command, the old soldiers let the Missouri roar again, and completed the fatal blow to the enemy of the alien invasion. In this passage, the inheritance of the honorary spirit of the US military is shown in the blood.
Interestingly, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force is also fighting side by side with the US military. The battlefield of "Super Battleship" took place in Hawaii. The outbreak of the Pacific War was caused by the Japanese Navy's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor here. The military alliance seems to be "unbreakable", and Japanese naval officers also flashed on the US warships fighting against aliens.
Children's toys, young people's movies, and the concept of the national army have formed a close cultural-public opinion chain in the sincere cooperation between Hasbro, Hollywood and the Pentagon. As we all know, my country's Bayi Factory is also responsible for the screen promotion of the image of the People's Liberation Army. Perhaps, "Super Battleship" can give us some useful inspiration?
(Published in the 14th issue of "Southern People Weekly" on April 30, 2012)
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