Team Rocky: World Matrix...

First of all, I never thought that 'Team America: World Police' would be a film that i would use as a study in my degree work, but what do you know it seems to fit in perfectly with this weeks topic...

Intertextuality, the transposition of one or several symbols into another, or ... 'In jokes' in Layman's terms, is a technique used in most films (especially comedies) to give a deeper meaning to scenes. This is very common in childrens movies for entertaining the onlooking parents who can relate intertextual scenes back to their original sources.

Trey Parker's (the creators of southpark) Team America: World Police (2004) is a some what contraversial movie, it uses puppets to mimic and indirectly make fun of America, including some clever intertextuality along the way...

Apart from the general look and style of the movie being an intertextual reference to 'Thunderbirds,' roughly 3 quarters through the movie we see the main character Gary Johnston changing his ways and deciding to save the rest of the team, but he knows nothing of being a spy... the fastest way to learn?

ROCKY TRAINING MONTAGE

With a soundtrack that says 'Even Rocky had a Montage' they certainly weren't trying to be subtle with this Intertextuality, it is a clear stab at other movie directors that over use 'the montage' approach as if it were an original idea. Not long after the montage when Johnstone is fully trained we see him attempt to infiltrate Kim Jong-il's Palace; what better portrayal of the complete solider do you need other than a Jedi? We see him dressed in a brown cloak (almost a universal symbol of a Jedi) and to convince the guards he is authorised to enter he waves his hand casually infront of them, the classic gesture for forced convincement via use of 'The Force.'

Apologise for bad quality video!

To continue with this scene the creators of TAWP reach to another action movie (and also several others) 'The Matrix' where we see Neo conceal his weapons under his jacket and reveal them to the enemy via a rather dramatic opening of the front.

Matrix Version

 TAWP version

For me, Intertextuality presents a win-win situation, directors can use other peoples ideas but gain a deeper reaction from the audience because they can link it back to the original source. They are effectively feeding off the success of a previous film in a way that complements both movies. Theres no harm done and the audience feels a sense of achievement that they have noticed the link. Any Movie producer would be mad not to use it!