"Wag the Dog" or "Primary Colors"...better political satire?

scott1598 · 09-28-07, 07:00 PM

So between those two, which is the better political satire to learn from in a High School Government class? The one that would be more entertaining to a 17 year-old who might not particularly dig politics.

MartinBlank · 09-28-07, 09:18 PM

Isn't 'Primary Colors' based on the Clinton campaign?

'Wag' is more of a satire.

Sean O'Hara · 09-28-07, 10:07 PM

Bulworth.

But only if you don't care if you get fired.

DeputyDave · 09-28-07, 10:11 PM

Although Primary Colors is funny in parts, I don't consider it a "satire".
Wag the Dog, I would consider a "satire".

A beter question is which would a 17 year old like more?

Wag the Dog, because it is more over the top.

scott1598 · 09-29-07, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeputyDave

Although Primary Colors is funny in parts, I don't consider it a "satire".
Wag the Dog, I would consider a "satire".

A beter question is which would a 17 year old like more?

Wag the Dog, because it is more over the top.

that is my thinking, though they do know the whole Clinton/Monica scandal, but well? i am not so sure since they were like 2.

Giggles · 10-01-07, 03:46 AM

Wag the Dog is one of the most hilarious films I've seen. And tells pretty much about the world we live in. My vote is for WtD.

Star Wars Guy · 10-01-07, 07:28 AM

Wag the Dog. Primary Colors was so boring that it'll easily put every student to sleep.

mdc3000 · 10-01-07, 08:14 AM

I prefer Primary Colors...I thought that movie was hilarious in parts and flat out entertaining... I did a project in grade 11 on the book and then saw the movie, so I guess I do have a slight bias since I thought both were excellent... Wag the Dog I haven't seen since the theatre and then I thought it was overhyped and while it had it's moments, as a whole didn't quite work for me.

majorjoe23 · 10-01-07, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott1598

that is my thinking, though they do know the whole Clinton/Monica scandal, but well? i am not so sure since they were like 2.

Wag the Dog actually predates the Clinton/Lewinsky thing by a few months, which might interest them.

scott1598 · 10-01-07, 05:20 PM

well, i'll let you all know. i decided to go with WTD and made up a nice little quiz about it so kids will have to pay attention. hopefully they get into like i did when i previewed it the other day.

al_bundy · 10-02-07, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinBlank

Isn't 'Primary Colors' based on the Clinton campaign?

'Wag' is more of a satire.

kind of

it's based on the book Primary Colors originally written by Anonymous. After years of secrecy Joe Klein of Newsweek I think it was admitted to writing the book as a satire of the Clinton campaign.

People remember things differently now, but back in 1991 and 1992 the Clinton campaign was top notch entertainment. Pretty much the whole presidency was entertainment and if someone ever wrote Primary Colors II it would be a hit as well.

Too bad there is no both, but I prefer Primary Colors. The scene with Cathy Bates threatning to shoot the lawyer's balls off was classic as well as her picking out a lesbian lover from the campaign staff.

I liked Wag the Dog, but I thought it was too overboard. The modern news media would tear the fake war story apart in a minute.

rexinnih · 10-03-07, 07:53 AM

WTD. Always enjoyed it.

View Poll Results: Better political satire?
"Wag the Dog"	23	56.10%
"Primary Colors"	9	21.95%
Neither	8	19.51%
Other (please specify...)	1	2.44%
Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll

09-28-07, 07:00 PM	#1
scott1598 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: I want to go to there! Posts: 19,346	"Wag the Dog" or "Primary Colors"...better political satire? So between those two, which is the better political satire to learn from in a High School Government class? The one that would be more entertaining to a 17 year-old who might not particularly dig politics. __________________ "stranger than fiction" Movie collection "almost famous" SteelBook™ collection "Even though I am no better than a beast, don't I have the right to live?"

09-28-07, 10:07 PM	#3
Sean O'Hara DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Gitmo Nation Central Administrative Zone Posts: 8,383	Bulworth. But only if you don't care if you get fired. __________________ My Blog Pulp Electronique Goodreads Profile \| Facebook \| Twitter

09-28-07, 10:11 PM	#4
DeputyDave DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 12,562	Although Primary Colors is funny in parts, I don't consider it a "satire". Wag the Dog, I would consider a "satire". A beter question is which would a 17 year old like more? Wag the Dog, because it is more over the top. __________________ DVDSpot, RIP

10-01-07, 03:46 AM	#6
Giggles Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 727	Wag the Dog is one of the most hilarious films I've seen. And tells pretty much about the world we live in. My vote is for WtD. __________________ My DVDs My Texas Chainsaw Massacre collection My SAW collection

09-28-07, 09:18 PM	#2
MartinBlank DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,032	Isn't 'Primary Colors' based on the Clinton campaign? 'Wag' is more of a satire.

10-01-07, 07:28 AM	#7
Star Wars Guy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 783	Wag the Dog. Primary Colors was so boring that it'll easily put every student to sleep.

10-01-07, 08:14 AM	#8
mdc3000 DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Guelph, Ontario Posts: 9,451	I prefer Primary Colors...I thought that movie was hilarious in parts and flat out entertaining... I did a project in grade 11 on the book and then saw the movie, so I guess I do have a slight bias since I thought both were excellent... Wag the Dog I haven't seen since the theatre and then I thought it was overhyped and while it had it's moments, as a whole didn't quite work for me. __________________ Armchair Directors - Video Movie Reviews Letterboxd Rank 'Em As You See Them 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 Spending Tab 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

10-01-07, 05:20 PM	#10
scott1598 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: I want to go to there! Posts: 19,346	well, i'll let you all know. i decided to go with WTD and made up a nice little quiz about it so kids will have to pay attention. hopefully they get into like i did when i previewed it the other day. __________________ "stranger than fiction" Movie collection "almost famous" SteelBook™ collection "Even though I am no better than a beast, don't I have the right to live?"

10-03-07, 07:53 AM	#12
rexinnih DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Relocated to Bot-Hell Posts: 8,655	WTD. Always enjoyed it. __________________ On the outside lookin in, and it's funny.