Heavy Symbolism

Ferris,

I know it's been months since you posted this, but who knows, maybe you keep checking on the Amigos page for believers. Well, here's one. Of course it's important. Why put a Singing Bush and Invisible Swordsman in the middle of any movie, even an SNL-related, quasi-absurdist one? I think the fact that Randy Newman plays the Bush is very important, given what Newman has had to say over the years about American imperialism and domestic inequality. Besides the fact that G.H.W. Bush was the actual president during Reagan's pre-alzheimer's decade (when Omar Torrijos and Jaime Roldos were offed by Bush's friends in the CIA); as well as the man who bought United Fruit in Guatemala; and who, 3 years after the Three Amigos was released, would bomb thousands of Panamanian civilians out of the blue; there is the matter of the burning bush, of course, which showed up in a desert and, very important: was intelligible. The Amigos find out about this Bush from the religious folk of Santo Poco, and it all makes sense to the Santo Pocans, but the incantations our heroes are instructed to speak are ridiculous, probably why Dusty can't follow the instructions and shoots the Swordsman dead. You're probably right that the Swordsman, if this is an allegory, which it so clearly is trying to be, represents 3rd world people in general, but when I first came to question this scene (at a Mexican restaurant after several beers), it struck me immediately that the Invisible Swordsman might represent Adam Smith's idea of the "invisible hand of the free market". I mean, isn't it perfect that these locals who are sold on religion (though to their credit they are the only ones in the movie with any semblance of virtue--Ned almost had it, but then he forgot himself and tried to accept the money at the end) would also be faithful to the capitalism that is destroying their community (El Guapo's guns are purchased from the Germans in a deal that foreshadows NAFTA and screams Iran/Contra), but when the Amigos (who lack faith) try to follow the trail, it turns out religion is gibberish, and capitalism is worthless as a guide? It's interesting too that the Amigos are not led by the Bush or the Swordsman, but by the arms dealers themselves (just like many of us who are angered by our current administration and their illegal war say: "follow the money"), who fly overhead in a "Tubman 601". I did a casual Google search for Tubman 601s, and only found zip codes and Harriet Tubman.

So to those who think this is just a piece of stupid slapstick (a la the beautiful Kentucky Fried Movie) and one's IQ is misspent contemplating it: please give the writers some more credit. Lorne Michaels might be a lily-livered exec now, but Steve Martin and Randy Newman have always had a sense of literature, history and social justice, so it might be kind of you to do some work with your head while you watch their flick. And Ferris, who cares if your IQ's 188 anyway? It's insecure to have to tell people that. I got a 1500 on the SAT. See how dumb that looks? I wish you all well. Maybe one day, we can all overcome our own El Guapos.

Dick

[deleted]

So they're SEERS? Is that what you're suggesting? Sure dude, and the 9/11 attacks were specially encoded onto a $20 bill.

Can somebody say "Satire".

Lol, I actually thought it was a reference to the Singing Sword of Arthurian Legend and the burdning bush of the Bible. But that's just me. Seriously.

The *beep* is right though. Thats exactly what that bush was symbolizing

Trust me, it's just you.



"What's the matter, Colonel Sandurz? CHICKEN?"

And "El Guapo" is an anagram of "U PO Gale" - a PO'd gale is technically a Hurricane. And as the Singing Bush was rooted to the ground, it was powerless to act against El Guapo. This is prescient foreshadowing of how Bush would be powerless and distant in the face of the New Orleans natural disaster.

My word, I salute you for your incisive exposé into the hidden meanings of this film. Ostensibly a comedy, it is actually the filmic equivalent of Nostradamus's Quatrains. And I salute some of the comments for perpetuating the stereotype of not understanding irony.

Salutes all round!