Posted by Racist Caricatures in Transformers 2 under scrutiny:
A controversy has arisen since the blockbuster release “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” It surrounds the portrayal of two of the robots, which some of deemed a racist caricature. The robots are named “…Skids and Mudflap…” and “…both characters speak with voices that sound like urban black stereotypes, have big ears and buck teeth and proclaim that they ‘don’t do much readin’‘. Skids even has a gold tooth.” Co-writer Alex Kurtzman claimed: “It’s really hard for us to sit here and try to justify it. I think that would be very foolish, and if someone wants to be offended by it, it’s their right. We were very surprised when we saw it, too, and it’s a choice that was made. If anything, it just shows you that we don’t control every aspect of the movie.”
This is part of a tradition of racial caricatures in animation or CGI films. Early Disney cartoons are rife with terrible racial stereotypes. The Star Wars prequels had Watto: the flying buzzard-like pawn shop character who was an obvious Jewish stereotype. The worst offender in the prequels was the much reviled Jar-Jar Binks–who was another African-American stereotype. I have not seen Transformers 2, and I am in no hurry to do so. Personally, I think using ethnic steretypes is just a crutch used to cover bad writing. I am sure that it is not going to hurt the bottom line–the huge gross, which is presently estimated at $125,946,000. The target audience for this film does not tend to take time debating the ethical ramifications of racial stereotyping among killer robots.
To find out more, check out:
http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/25/no-one-wants-to-own-up-to-racism-in-transformers/
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers2.htm
Extra-Sized Watchmen?!?
The world can soon expect an extended version of “The Watchmen.” “Warner Bros. has set a one-week theatrical release for Zack Snyder’s director’s cut of “Watchmen” on July 17 at four venues in Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and New York…Snyder’s cut contains 25 additional minutes of footage. He had indicated during the March premiere that a theatrical release of the longer version was under consideration.” This is essentially just a publicity stunt to “promote the DVD and Blu-ray releases of “Watchmen: The Director’s Cut” and “300: The Complete Experience” on July 21.” The only aspect of the story that I find particularly interesting is the inclusion of a new feature on the Blu-Ray entitled “BD Live.” This feature will allow those people who have bought the “Watchmen” Blu-Ray to watch “the movie and discussion (hosted by director Snyder) at Comic-Con (on July 25th) simultaneously.” The potential for this technology in future film screenings is enormous. Imagine watching the new Scorsese film preceded by a live Q and A? Sounds pretty promising.
I’m sure that many people are wondering the same as I: Why would such an attempt be necessary as the film was so bloated and overdone anyway? With an extra 25 minutes, that brings the film’s running time to almost three hours. Maybe if the original cut was trimmed of much of its excess, there might be an artistic justification for a reinterpretation. Otherwise, this is just a cheap attempt by WB to make more money off a film with a lukewarm reception at the box office (only about 50 million dollars over and above production costs).
For more info: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118005369.html?categoryid=13&cs=1
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=watchmen.htm
La Toya Jackson scene taken from Bruno:
The new satirical film from Sacha Baron Cohen, centered around his alter-ego Bruno “hastily cut a scene featuring the singer’s(the late Michael Jackson) sister LaToya prior to the premiere at Mann’s Chinese Theater. (The timing was so short notice that the cut was made in the projection booth.)” According to UK’s “The Sun,” the scene included “Bruno destroy(ing) LaToya by joking about Michael while they both eat sushi off a naked Mexican immigrant.”
There is no question that keeping the scene in would have crossed the line between irreverence and just plain meanness. Just surfing the net in the wake of MJ’s death, I could not believe the vitriol that came from some people commenting on him. The last thing that Cohen and the top level studio people want would be the negative publicity that the perceived insensitivity leaving that scene in would cause, especially when Jackson hasn’t even been buried yet. There is already one Bruno lawsuit, they probably want to curtail the bad press onslaught of a series lawsuits that a popular and controversial comedian like Cohen may attract.
The removal was a good publicity move as well, seeing as all things Jackson-related are capturing the media and public’s attention in a ferocious way, they have garnered plenty of free prerelease media by excising the scene. Should they keep it in for the wide release? What do you think??? And by the way, even though Im the billionth person to say it, rest in peace, Michael.
http://www.avclub.com/articles/latoya-jackson-scene-cut-from-bruno,29730/?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=feeds&utm_source=avclub_rss_daily
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/2502546/Michael-Jackson-scene-cut-from-Bruno-movie-by-Sacha-Baron-Cohen.html
http://www.usmagazine.com/news/studio-bruno-lawsuit-is-baseless-200956
The movie Bruno is the worst case of infant abuse I have ever seen on a movie screen. How dare he refer to a Black child as a ‘Dick Magnet’. The very implications of this movie is ominous. There are rules and laws that protect infants and children against abuse on movie projects and films. If the current laws are not applicabale then they should be reworked so tht they do. This is ridiculous. I would never subject an infant to this type of abuse regardless of what race the child is. This is uncalled for. Why did he pick a Black infant? Good question!
For the record no child or infant of any race should be subjected to this kind of abuse!
For all concerned please write a letter of protest to:
Dan Glickman,CEO
Motion Picture Association of America
1600 Eye St. N.W.
Washington D.C. 20006
——————————-
A. Robert Pisano,Esq.,C.O.O
Motion Picture Association of America
15301 Ventura Bl. Bldg. E
Sherman Oaks Cal. 91403
The movie Bruno is the worst case of infant abuse I have ever seen on a movie screen. How dare he refer to a Black child as a ‘Dick Magnet’. The very implications of this movie is ominous. There are rules and laws that protect infants and children against abuse on movie projects and films. If the current laws are not applicabale then they should be reworked so tht they do. This is ridiculous. I would never subject an infant to this type of abuse regardless of what race the child is. This is uncalled for. Why did he pick a Black infant? Good question!
I read one comment that these robots were “black” please tell me how they were black??? I saw the same movie and the their colors were green and orange…What about the Madea movies that glorify black sterotypes and other black movies that make fun of white people? No one cares then…people only see what they want to and if you think that these robots were black/racist sterotypes your probably the one who is racist
Actually you are right. No one care about any of those movies but we still find Madea, Michael Bay and all the other shit you mentioned above offensive. Listen you need to face the fact that you are not very smart. I recommend going back to school or at least reading once and a while. Use that brain of yours.
I just got back from it and loved it. 86% of the budget was spent of explosives for sure !!!
I thoroughly enjoyed it! Was heaps of fun. I’d also like to go to Autobot heaven.
I died and went to heaven and I saw Autobots. Primes… Autobot heaven is great.
LOL…but the concept of having living, independantly thinking maching that turn into recreational vehicles is okay. To think that they could actually die and have some kind of an afterlife…well that is just too much to handle? I agree with most of your opinions on movies, but yeah, we completely disagree on this one ; )
LOL… well my nephew liked it so I guess it was worth the money I spent. It’s a really strange film and I can’t wait to talk about it. I did like most of the first Transformers movie.
Well actually that did happen in the cartoons if you remember. But it’s when Optimous died and he had to give the Metrix to Rodimous and then he became a Prime. But ya making “spike” Spike do it instead was dumb
Okay, now I am going to start getting upset.
1 – in no way was this movie racist. fact of the matter is, plenty of kids talk like those 2 robots do, be they white, black, or martian green. If you listen to rap long enough, you will talk like them too. Furthermore, who’se to say that those 2 robots, or even JARJAR for that matter, aren’t representations of “white” people trying to be something that they are not.
2 – find me one scene where they were racists against Arabs.
3 – I still can’t find 1 decent explanation as to why people hate this movie. Because the humor revolved around sex? How many movies have toilet and/or sex based humor? all kinds!
you dislite this movie, that’s fine. Everyone is entitled to their own personal choices and preferances. But don’t start calling this movie something that it wasn’t.
I don`t hate the movie for being racist, sexist or juvenile. I just did not enjoy the film. However I agree. I didn`t think it was racist at all. I think people are just trying to find more reasons to hate Michael Bay.
The film is incredibly racist, because it finds humour in, and inadvertently perpetrates, negative stereotypes of African Americans.
I don’t think Michael Bay is smart enough to see that. I think calling him ignorant would be more accurate but I honestly don’t think it was intentionally racist…. if that makes any sense.
Oh, I think you’re right in that respect. Part of where the argument against the racist label may be nomenclature. Bay’s not DELIBERATELY trying to be racist. He’s not in the Klan or anything. He’s just an idiot, and too stupid to see that having two illiterate ‘black’ robots with gold buckteeth and big ears as comic relief in a movie full of white people is not going to go over well in the African America community.
The big surprise is that Steven Spielberg let him get away with it.
I also read interviews with two of the screenwriters who, while taking great pains to be diplomatic, note that the Twins were added by Bay himself during re-writes.
Perhaps ‘racist’ should be substituted with ‘incredibly offensive reinforcement of negative stereotypes.’
Very well put
Fuck you all.
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE FALLEN or whatever it’s called, in my opinion, is the worst film of the year thus far. Believe it or not, I like most of Michael Bay’s films. The only ones I didn’t care for were BAD BOYS 2, PEARL HARBOR, and this…
Sorry guys, but Indi 4 was the worse movie ever, and the South Park “review” of it (especially since they threw in Stars wars 1,2,3 )was the best commentary I have heard in a long time.
They did not make Transformers 2 for script, story, or cinematography. This is a movie that was strictly meant to entertain with light hearted humor and wicked … Read Morespecial effects. They were not trying to win an Oscar, but instead were trying to be the blockbuster hit of the year. They had all the key elements, and kept true to the history of the franchise. Indi 4 was a farce and a brutal raping of an iconic action figure. Trans 2 had some great one liners, like “I rise, u fall” that were reminiscent of the “I’ll be back”. As far as summer hollywood movies go, this was a GREAT movie, and I think the numbers over the next few weeks will bear that out.
Well I am glad to see that you too hated Indy 4 but like I said Gary, I went in there expecting a brainless action summer film. I wasn’t expecting great acting nor a good story but I simply did not enjoy the film at all. Believe me I tried to enjoy it but it wasn’t for me.
I love to hate Bay. I hate to love The Rock. I am trying to forget Transformers 2 and I won’t see his next film.
But without spoiling the movie for Simon, the Optimus fight was good and the few transformation we do see was spectacular so thats why ill but it as the 2nd worst big budget. But was i was surprise at is not the Fact that Bay made a bad film because we all know he’s a horrible director but the fact that Spielberg allowed this shit. He is the producer and for god sakes. why didnt he say something?
Yeah Spieldberg needs to apologize for this shit.
He apologise for indy 4 at the same time.
I think that was Lucas who ruined Indy 4 so he needs to be shot in the nuts. Keep him alive just in case he ever makes another good movie.
Was it just mee or did it seem that Lucas had a touch in Transformers because those damn Twins remided me so much of JARJAR. Actually they were worst bacause there’s two of them
I thought that was Bernie Mac re-incarnated twice
Bernie was much better than those two goof balls. And they were they for the entire 2 1/2hrs
Bernie was there in spirit. What is up with the new hacker?
oh u mean the one who was crying throughout the whole film. And one of the many things that pissed me off was this. Im watching the transformers. I want to be in a transformers set of mind. why the hell did Bay have to show his BAD BOYS 2 poster. Just to say try make us remember he actually made a decent film?
The fact that I am paying full price to see this today reaffirms my foolish commitment to movie reviewing.
I would have to kinda agree with you. I went from say it was good to ok but more i talk about it i think i really didnt like it at all. The only thing I liked about it was seeing Prime on screen but thats not enough to make me like a 2 1/2 hour film. But would I say It’s the worst big budget film mmmm I would prob say the 2nd I still think water world was worst.
No dude, Waterworld at least had great cinematography and you could understand where the money went. Filming a three hour long movie on the ocean isn… Read More’t an easy task. This movie was sexist, racist, juvenile, completely missing a plot. Wait scratch that thought. It had no story. We got to see robot testacies, several scenes of dogs humping each other, humping Megan Fox’s leg and humping some Autobots. John Turturo at his worse, (keep in mind this is a talented actor) and let’s not forget the repetitive scenes of planes landing, slow motion walking by the sun setting and lots of computer generated metal flying around for two and a half hours. Michael Bay is clearly retarded.
I think he proved how retarded he was with the island lol.
I never saw The Island. Maybe I should.
Y0U STUPID HEAD IT WAS A GREAT MOVIE AND DOT TRY TO PULL THE EVERYBODY HAS THERE OWN OPINION ACT.SOME ONES ALWAYS GOT TO BE THE HATER AROUND HERE
Considering you can’t form a proper sentence or spell any words right, your opinion is so valuable. Good Job Laquita!
I just have to get this out of the way now and move on. I know it’s fashionable to rip on Michael Bay and I realize Transformers is a movie based on a toy, and I am not trying to piss anyone off…. but in all honesty, I feel that Transformers 2 is hands down the worse big budget film to ever to come out of Hollywood. That is just my opinion but I enjoyed maybe five minutes of the entire two and a half hours.
worse than Mission: Impossible 2? I’ll see about this…
Yeah sorry man but this is the worse film ever made.
In all honesty, I think that Transformers 2 is the worse film I have ever seen.
seriously? i paid £7 to watch this film and felt i got my monies worth. Its by far not the best film in the world but its based on kids toys/kids cartoon what did you expect? a oscar nominated film full of excellent performances and deep meaning? That would be foolish.
I went in there with that very same attitude. I was expecting one of the better Michael Bay films. Hell I even enjoyed the first movie to some degree and yes I kept reminding myself that it was indeed based on a comic-based on a cartoon-based on a toy. Unfortunately I walked out thinking that this is the worse studio film I have ever seen.
I have to agree with Ricky. The film was absolute torture to sit through. I can’t remember actively hating a film so much. And I liked the first one.
The Transformers franchise (the Michael Bay one) is just plain awful, and the rabid anti-Arab sentiment in the second movie is more than distasteful and unnecessary. Makes me wonder how someone could green-light this project in the first place with a script like that.
Rabid anti-arab sentiment? what did i miss?