MovieChat Forums > Pitch Black (2000) Discussion > Interstellar Islam

Interstellar Islam

posted 15 years ago by tommix42
40 replies | jump to latest

it's interesting that this movie came out just before Sept 11, 2001. I think if it had come out a couple of years later, the filmmakers might have felt pressure to be more politicized, one way or the other. Especially after the US invaded Iraq, people in Hollywood started having powerful feelins both for and against Islam.

But in this film, Islam just seems to be a religion that was able to accompany humanity as we spread out to the stars. Maybe some other religions also made it out into the wider universe, or maybe not. It isn't really discussed.

I think that's kind of cool. The preacher dude just seemed like a pious, devout man. He could have been any religion, it just happened to be Islam. No big deal. I liked that.

Pardon my signature line down below: I'm usually very immature. This posting here is a rare exception.

You are toast, my toasty friend.

[–] filmbuff1974 11 years ago

I liked that the filmmakers projected Islam into the future in PITCH BLACK.

Another movie that projects a religion into the future on other worlds is in STARSHIP TROOPERS. Except in that movie it is Mormonism.

I wish the Hollywood industry would do more of this in the movies.

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[–] theonemoviebuff 11 years ago

I only wish they cast someone who could pronounce Allah correctly - not like Keith David saying 'Ela' :-)

[–] GrumpyArab 11 years ago

Those "Arabs" are an insult to true Arabs. They look nothing like Arabs (nor any other Muslim culture I'm aware of), wear clothes that look more cartoony that the ones in Disney's Aladdin, and have names that were used back in the middle ages. Seriously, when is Hollywood going to use a tiny bit of its infinite billions to hire some cultural advisers to get these things finally right??? First, it was the Indian guy in Lost who played as an Iraqi, and now this.

I mean *beep* hell that was hard to watch. On top of that he is not only black skinned, but a proper African (and yes there are Afro-Arab, but they are like 1% of the population of Arabs). GET IT RIGHT!

Fun facts: Arab is an ethnicity, Islam is a religion. The majority of Muslims are not Arabs!!

[–] Salt-Horizon 11 years ago

I mean *beep* hell that was hard to watch. On top of that he is not only black skinned, but a proper African (and yes there are Afro-Arab, but they are like 1% of the population of Arabs). GET IT RIGHT!

There are a little more than 1%. You have black Arabs across the Arabian Gulf, North Africa and of course in Sudan. Plus at least one of the other Arabs in this film was played by a Lebanese.

http://le-sinequanon.blogspot.ae/

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] VaticanAssassinWarlock 11 years ago

You've completely misunderstood the film. Riddick is space Jesus. The film is saying that Jesus was insane and we should all convert to Islam. Can't believe you missed it.

[–] VaticanAssassinWarlock 11 years ago

Chronicles of Riddick came out in 2004 and still didn't pander to the kind of gung-ho Islamiphobic nonsense you're talking about. In it the planet Helion Prime, home of New Mecca (and some other religions) is itself invaded by a religious extremist force but one that is closer to the Borg or some kind of space nazi cult. Terrorism may have entered the public consciousness after 2001 but it's only the really stupid media that tends to support the xenophobia that accompanies it. As pulpy as the Riddick franchise is, it's at least got some brains.

[–] Stratego (31059) a year ago

"Terrorism may have entered the public consciousness after 2001"

Uh, because terrorist attacks in the West have only increased after 2001. Just like the Riddick franchise, you've got peas for brains.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kray2013 8 years ago

Good comments, I agree. As cartoony as the clothes were and arab-muslim mistakes aside, I thought the film did a pretty value neutral depiction on Islam - which may or may not be accurate. I did, however find it a tad disconcerting that the depiction suggestion that Islam has lost none of its rigour or mania even in the future which is certainly a frightening prospect.

[–] Stratego (31059) a year ago

Islam is not "cool".

[–] [deleted] 9 months ago

It's the real reason why the movie is considered scifi horror.