Faith In The Cold War

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Similar to the change in the apocalyptic threat, ideas of hope and future are addressed through different aspects in each version. The Cold War version suggests faith as the only solution in the war against the Martians and therefore, as the only symbolic solution for the Cold War. The emphasis on faith is typical for Cold War films, because “American filmmakers in particular were remarkably versatile propagandists in fusing religion and Cold War issues” (Shaw 127). Faith as solution instead of technology and military is mainly represented through the opening picture of a church, the last scene in the church as the last safe place and finally, God’s victory over the invaders. In contrast to the desired faith, Pastor Matthew symbolizes a naive Protestantism with an optimistic believe in progress and negotiations with the Martians, which finally costs him his life.…show more content…
in the film is not clear, but some positive ideas are presented, like a possible union of countries, which fought together against the invaders. This union reminds of the United Nations or the European Union and suggests a possible, foresighted solution for the Cold War, which makes the film itself hopeful. All in all, the happy end offers the depiction of a post-apocalyptic world, in which America’s survival suggests a chance to “fresh start again” (Matthews 50). In contrast, in the 2005 version, God’s victory over the invaders gets less important and the film even criticizes religion by depicting the destruction of a church already in the beginning. In addition, the film does not offer an attempt for

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