I Saw Tropic Thunder

[MB]

I had to go see it on Weds. due to my position with our local Ds parent group.

I do enjoy a good farce. To this day, I can watch the movie Airplane and have tears from laughing so hard. But this movie.....

Frankly, I am embarrassed for Ben Stiller and all of the other actors in this film. It is beyond a farce. It is an incredibly immature story that borders on soft pornography. The plot is missing and the pace is agonizingly slow. I can't tell you how many times I looked at my watch.

If the screen went black during the film, I would expect the entire audience to be charged for listening to a 1-900-***-**** sex number. Line after line after line includes use of the "F" word. There is no sexual "inuendo", it is the most raunchy, blatant use of degrading sexual terms I can remember.

The idea that any of these men's children will someday see this film as young adults, turns my stomach.

The visual images of people's limbs being blown off and guts hanging out of heads, stomachs and arms is something found in a middle school horror production featuring a lot of spaghetti and tomato sauce.

Having said that, it has been my experience that films are hyped for the premiere and word of mouth determines their drawing power. This movie is so bad that I really don't think anything will come of the movie. It will only take one person to see it to let everyone else know that it is not worth the price of gas to go buy the ticket.

mb

[mollysmomma]

my son's friends went...he did not *beam* he is 23
in college..and works in a bar ....so he was the target audience.

the friends came to report..that the worst scene was SO bad that no one in the theater laughed....and that
they could have cut the entire scene and not hurt the rest of the movie any!

pretty astute from young men...

i hope it bombs....and wish horrible things on those that defended making it...

it really hurt my feelings...not just the movie, but the public in general...still, after
all that has happened....not quite getting it.

*sigh*




oh ps....hpybday!

[Renee']

I am glad you went to see it. I wanted an opinion of someone to tell me what they thought. I have been a little taken back by the attitude of others about the film. I agree that so many just don't get it.

I will be spending my money on something else.

[Emilysmom]

Thanks for the review, MB. Sounds like it was even worse than I had imagined!

Our local movie reviewer did a review of Tropic Thunder in yesterday's newspaper. I don't know why I had any hopes that she'd do the RIGHT thing in this case. I never ever seem to agree with her reviews!! But she went on and on about how hilarious it was and how she'd see it again. At the very end she commented on the "silliness" of how "nonprofit noses were bent out of shape" over the use of the word "retard". She went on to say that those people (groups like the NDSC) should have realized that the movie was NOT making fun of anyone with intellectual disabilities!!!! They were simply saying that the movie tycoons were acting like "retards"................GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! And she thought that was better??
The last line of her review said "Hate mail can be sent to........" and listed her email address. Maybe I'll discuss this with her.

[Jackie]

DO IT

and....They were simply saying that the movie tycoons were acting like "retards"................GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! And she thought that was better?? if you don't address this with her you will stop being my friend (for one day at least.. ;D).

Go GET HER....Susan!!!!!

Jackie

[Jackie]

Susan...if you email her (which YOU WILL...I am sure...LOL)...CC the Editor and the Editor's administrative assistant as well....

Jackie

[MB]

Care to give us a link to the review Susan?

MB

[Emilysmom]

MB,
I just checked the online newspaper, and it's not in there. But then, I've not been able to find other stuff in the online paper at times before. BUT, it was in yesterday's newspaper and I read it at work. I'll find the paper and post it as soon as I can.
Susan

[Jackie]

This woman is not just "talking" about the word...she is "using" it...off with her head! and down with her job I say. Remember what happened to Don Imus.

Jackie

[Emilysmom]

Well, I can't find the movie review online to give you a link, but I now have a newspaper from yesterday. It's a lonnnnnnnnnng review, so I'll just give you some of the "highlights", but I'll include the whole section about the "R" word. The title of her review is: "Nothing Sacred in Tropic Thunder". I believe that to be true!!


"Ya just gotta love a movie that makes merciless fun of Hollywood's reputation as a cultural cesspool, while still managing to work within its parameters, and satisfy both the industry's moneylust and our desire not to be talked down to. This movie did it, and did it good. Tropic Thunder was thunderously hilarious, as it rips through war-as-entertainment and book writing Vietnam vets as well as the Oscars [font=Verdana]and self absorbed actors who exploit people's disabilities in order to win one."[/font]
[/color]
"If you have a problem with so-called bad language and innuendo ad.infinitum save yourself the aggrivation and go Disney. If you're like me and don't care, you'll be highly entertained.

Apparently, there has even been some hoopla and some nonprofit noses bent out of shape over some characters use of the word 'retard'. The complainers don't realize that those being made fun of are not people with mental disablities, but rather, pompous actors who take their craft and themselves too seriously. This film is sure to offend a lot of people. Too bad for them. I'd go see it again, and pay full price".

OK, so the reviewer didn't actually use the word "retard" on her own, but she obviously fails to understand at all why it's offensive...............and as she says, she does not care.

[MB]

I was really hoping for info on how to respond to the review.

mb

[CC]

I have not seen this movie and do not intend to see it. Kodi Lee and Colin actually are going to see what all the buzz is about with this flick.

Just throwing this out there but the more buzz it gets, just might make more see that maybe would not, do you KWIM??

I am a big believer in free speech and my daughter and hubby are old enough to view this flick and I would never tell them not to even though I will not.

I am almost afraid to post this here cause I don't want to be pounded on BUT the Imus and Rutgers stuff honestly would never have been so big if not for the media and I am thinking this is the same in a way. You know the more one fights it the more attention it gets. Just a thought...

I honestly had to ask myself why would I be offended if I have ever laughed at any thing that was mocking anyone.

I am sure I am the odd ball out here but I think if one is bugged by this they should be just as bugged by any and all jokes so called towards anyone.

CC ~

[victoriasdad]

cc you forget we dont have to be bugged by the other jokes, the target of those jokes can defend themselves, freedom of speech is defined by the parameters of the society from which it is spoken, the question is is this the society in which we want to live?

[Jackie]

You know...my first thought was "just let this go". But it is all the related stuff...the merchandise that will be with us...maybe forever... and the adoption of the term"retard" into every day English. It is a word that sadly has been with us for a long time but will NOW be REALLY with us. Used as a noun it is synonomous with BAD...and my Emily is not BAD.

I too believe in Free Speech ...but don't condone using racial slurs and still break out in a cold sweat when a friend of mine (sad to say is somewhat racist) uses the "N" word and all sorts of other equally defaming terms about racial issues...all races. I think calling someone a "retard" or using the word in a manner that suggests that...is the same as a racial or ethnic slur.

I don't know the exact number of developmentally disabled people in this world...but a good number of them ARE unable to speak for themselves. I believe it is my duty to stand up for them and help preserve their dignity in this world. So as for me and mine...we will continue to sound out on issues like this.

Everyone else can do as they choose...because we do indeed have free speech. No need to turn this into a fight because I think we probably all feel the same way about words that defame and hurt.

Susan...I hope you share with everyone here your response to the Editor that you ran by me...it's excellent.

Jackie

[Chris too]

RottenTomatoes.com has given Tropic Thunder more than 80% fresh rating, but the snips of the reviews are mostly less-than-stellar. The snips seem to be mostly that there were some funny bits & so give it a pos rather than neg rating. It's the number of ups, not the degree of those ups that is counted on Rotten Tomatoes.

I'm mentioning this because Rotten Tomatoes gathers "all" of the reviews on movies into one location & you may find a reviewer to whom to give feedback