Tropic Thunder

[jindojim]

I found the trailer one of the funniest I've seen in awhile, so I went to go see this movie. Over-the-top hilarity; I laughed at most of the jokes, although some went over my head. The beginning of the movie and Tom Cruise's role were definitely worth seeing the movie just for them alone.
I've heard that there's some controversy regarding this movie concerning its use of "retard" and supposed blackface. I personally don't see the offensiveness after seeing the movie and think the complaints are overblown. Still, I'm wondering what other people think about this movie.

[Roxie]

It's not "supposed" black face, it is black face
Also, the head of the Special Olympics is calling for a boycott b/c he considers the usage of the word "retard" and the portrayals in the film to be hate speech..

Check out NPR (http://www.npr.org/search.php?text=tropic+thunder)for more of the controversy.

I was going to see this movie in a screening, but theater was waaaay too far, considering gas prices. About an hour away.

[bluestars87]

Might see this movie tonight, but I really don't feel like paying nearly ten dollars to see a comedy. I'm not too high on them. I'd rather see The Dark Knight again instead.

[harper]

I didn't think it was a great movie and it started kind of slow, but I liked it.

[Citizen]

I didn't think the movie looked particularly funny, but the people who are complaining about it really need to just shut up.

You're supposed to pay attention to the fictional characters, not the fictional fictional characters, which are more like plot devices or aspects of character development than anything else.

I'll watch it when it hits TV next year, doesn't look good enough to spend money on.

[h2orowe]

Why is black face considered so offensive in this context? I know why black face itself is considered offensive, but they used it in the movie to be like... ironically offensive, I guess? He was trying to act "black" and blahblah, while the actual black character was like "WTF, MAN." It wasn't like they did the black face in one of those overdone, offensive clown-like ways.

Also, as for the retard thing. I can kinda understand being offended by it, but when it comes down to it. Don't watch the film. Simple as that. It was about acting not about making fun of the cognitively deficient. If you can't tell the difference between Stiller's character "Simple Jack" and an actual person with down syndrome, then gtfo the theater and go watch something less WHACKY.

Also, that wasn't aimed at Roxie, just aimed at the complaints about it.



Anywho, I saw it yesterday at the AMC theater near Times Square. It was awesome. I was dozing off near the beginning because of a lack of sleep, but as soon as the first explosions happened, I was wide awake. Great movie. Loved all the characters. All of them. ALL.

[jindojim]

All I'm gonna say is that if it is blackface, it was handled probably as non-offensively as possible.

And, as for the stuff about "retards", I think that wasn't handled as well, but if people don't understand that it's really meant to be a satire of Hollywood actors and not of handicapped people in general, they really need to stop putting things out of context. Especially from a movie that they haven't seen yet.

Oh, and I saw a $5 matinee showing, so I think it was totally worth the ticket price :)

[h2orowe]

Wait, is blackface a specific technique or is it just making someone look black? Is there even a difference, really?

[Roxie]

We are on the internet people.

Basically, blackface or black face is when people who are not black take on black "characteristics", usually with make up and wigs and act as if they are black.

For history and all that, google it.

[haterllnation]

The reversal is when they did "whiteface" in White Chicks...a disaster of a movie.

[D-pad]

Roxie, I envy you.

If getting offended by things got me off, well I guess I'd understand you more.

[harper]

Roxie, I envy you.

If getting offended by things got me off, well I guess I'd understand you more.

She didn't sound offended to me. We are on the internet and too many people can't be bothered to look things up.

Blackface was used for a long time in theater and later films to depict black people in a stereotypical way. Two more recent examples were Amos n Andy and The Jazz Singer. I didn't have to look any of that up, but if you do, you'll probably find out a lot more.

I don't think Tropic Thunder really falls in the same category. It's satire and pretty obvious at that.

[Swede]

It also carries over to different ethnicities as well; probably most famously in Breakfast at Tiffany's, but it still happens all over.

[Roxie]

Roxie, I envy you.

If getting offended by things got me off, well I guess I'd understand you more.
Fortunately for me, you don't understand me at all.
As your assumption isn't the case.

[Black fist]

I thought the guy was black until I saw a longer trailer and they were talking about the character being on the slumps so he got surgery to get deeper in is role. I laughed, then I saw the trailer with the black guy making fun of the "black" guy and I laughed even more.

[Swede]

I went out to see it earlier today and thought it was fucking hilarious. I think anyone who got seriously offended over anything in it was kind of missing the point.

[jindojim]

I'm guessin they either didn't get the movie or, more probably, they didn't even go see it and are protesting it off of only the few clips of it they've seen.

[Beowulf]

Just saw it and it was pretty fucking funny. People complaining should probably watch the movie before they bitch.