The Boondock Saints and Vigilantism

I'm bored to fuckin' tears, so let's discuss. Boondock Saints. For those of you who haven't seen this spectacular film, lemme give you the premise of the question it poses. The two main characters, the MacManus Brothers, believe it is their duty to God to rid the world of all the scummy people corrupting it. The movie begins in a church with the priest preaching, "We must all fear evil men, but there is another kind of evil, which we must fear most - and that, is the indifference of good men." Heeding these words, the brothers set out to take the law into their own hands, killing members of the Russian and Italian mafia, made men, and other such crooks. At the end, the movie poses the question, "Are these brothers saints?"

It is said that it is better to help someone in need, than stand by and allow whatever evil falls upon them. The brothers only killed bad guys - Not once did they kill an innocent person. So, are these guys saints? Is it better to take the law into your own hands, or remain indifferent and let these bad guys continue with their evil deeds?

I completely agreed with their vigilantism. It doesn't necessarily have to be a duty to God, look at all the superheroes kids immortalize. Spiderman for example. He he only went after bad men, sans the "super villians".

The movie did a great job making sure the point remained in the middle, at the end, cause there were the same amount of people disagreeing and agreeing.

In my book, they are saints, and where the fuck do I sign up?

Hmmm... never seen it but it sounds a bit like Falling Down - a vary depressing movie where Michael Douglas snaps while in a traffic jam and goes on a rampage, killing all manner of sinners (e.g. Neo-Nazis) along the way. Mind you, that poses no real question about whether he was right or wrong.
Boondock Saints sound very interesting though - I'll have to go see if I can rent it.

Falling Down and Boondock Saints are both great films. I had a public viewing of the Boondock Saints in my dorm room last semester as well as two viewings of Equilibrium. It seems that vigilantism and revolutionary thought fascinate our generation even more than that before. I know quite a few people that would love to become just like the Boondock Saints.

All I have to say on this one is....."I'm ready to get busy...I'm ready to get busy"

I view the law as my bible. I do not believe that anyone is capable of seeing all ends, capable of truly seeing what is just and what is not. We, however, the citizens of the Free World, have put that power in the hands of a judge. He will declare what is just and what is not.

Whether or not someone is innocent or not is irrelevant, it is all about perception. Though this may be a crooked image, a mafia chieftain may just decide to stop one day and give millions to the poor and help the children of the third world get food...

I was going to quote Gandalf about the wise not seeing all ends and that Frodo should not judge too harshly on who get's to live, but I'm too lazy to search.

Mr U

Go buy it now, Mazman... It's that good. I'll have to rent this "Falling Down" as well.

I view the law as my bible. I do not believe that anyone is capable of seeing all ends, capable of truly seeing what is just and what is not. We, however, the citizens of the Free World, have put that power in the hands of a judge. He will declare what is just and what is not.

Whether or not someone is innocent or not is irrelevant, it is all about perception. Though this may be a crooked image, a mafia chieftain may just decide to stop one day and give millions to the poor and help the children of the third world get food...

The mafia bosses MAY decide to change their entire way of life, but that is VERY unlikely. Much more unlikely than them continuing their crimes. I remember reading something about how mobmen like those portrayed as Tony Soprano truly have psychological problems causing them to do the work they do. Also, if you've ever seen Goodfellas, it shows a true story of a mob guy that cleaned up his act in the end. At the end of the movie, he states that he's not happy with his new life, just being an ordinary Joe. So, in essence, unless it's a one-time deal, these mobsters aren't likely to clean up their act.

Now, also in the Boondock Saints, Papa Joe (the main boss they were after) was sent to court. It was clear, however, that he was going to walk free. It was then that the saints came in and put three bullets in the back of his head. Had they not done that, who knows how many more lifes would have been claimed once Papa Joe was back on the streets.