The Rule of Cool – Militainment Watchalong Series: Part 2 – E082

We’re back on our Watchalong series about ‘Militainment’, and this week Madison and Tristan are looking at the first two examples, Transformers (2007) & Battleship (2012). We discuss the style, character backgrounds, and lines that establish a very important aspect of Militainment: THE RULE OF COOL.

Now, you can pause and save this episode as a download if you want to go watch the movies first, or you can catch them after our conversation and see the film through a different lens.

If you’d like to stream today’s movies, use the links below or rent the movies on your favorite VOD service.

As a reminder, we’re looking critically at propaganda, Militainment, and the influence that movies subliminally and blatantly have on us as viewers. That doesn’t mean they’re bad movies (we love every movie on the list), but it does mean we need to understand the biases and beliefs that can be fostered through the powerful mediums of film, television, song, spoken, and written word.

We hope you enjoy today’s episode, and below you’ll find our list of movies and where to watch each one. Be sure to comment and answer our questions in the poll on Spotify, and DM us on Instagram (@theindiemagandpod) with what you think of our episodes, and our series. We’d love to hear what you think, and may include answers and responses from listeners on the next episode.

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Militainment Watchalong Series — Movie List:

- Episode 1: INTRO

- Episode 2: THE RULE OF COOL

Transformers (2007): Watch on Paramount+, or rent on VOD 

Battleship (2012): Rent on AppleTV+ or your favorite VOD

- Episode 3:

Top Gun (1986): Watch on Paramount+, PlutoTV,  or rent on VOD

Top Gun: Maverick (2022): Watch on Paramount+, Prime,  or rent on VOD

- Episode 4:

Pearl Harbor (2001): Watch now on Hulu, Disney+, Tubi, or rent on VOD

Black Hawk Down (2002): Rent on Prime, YouTube, AppleTV, or your favorite VOD site

- Episode 5:

Iron Man (2008): Watch now on Disney+, or rent on VOD

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): Watch now on Disney+ or rent on VOD 

Captain Marvel (2019): Watch now on Disney+ or rent on VOD 

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Further Readings:

- Air Force: “Military unites with Hollywood on 'Transformers'" (2009)

- San Diego Union-Tribune: “Battleship displays local muscle”

- Fast & Company: "You Consulted On My Battleship! How The Military And Hollywood Collaborate"

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Intro Song: “DRIVING FORCE”

Composer: Nicholas Robert Phoenix

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Outro Song: “MARCH OF THE DEMI QUAVERS”

Composers: STIX RANDOLPH

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