Because a just cause is always worth fighting for.
Posted on: Mon, Aug 11 2008 3:36 PM
Posted by: shellGVchick Posts: 1,261
I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS MOVIE, BUT IT WAS ON YAHOO AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING....
Groups that advocate for the disabled called on Sunday for a national boycott of the Ben Stiller comedy "Tropic Thunder," citing what they say is its negative portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities.
"We are asking people not to go to the movie and hope to bring a consciousness to people about using derogatory words about this population," said Peter Wheeler, spokesman for Special Olympics, one of 22 disability groups nationwide protesting the satire.
The film, directed by Stiller, will be released on Wednesday by Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures and its DreamWorks unit.
The groups plan to picket the movie's premiere on Monday evening in Los Angeles's Westwood community.
"That will be the start of a nationwide protest," said Wheeler. "We will continue to be vocal about the destructive effect of this film."
He said the groups are particularly offended by the film's repeated use of the word "retard" regarding a character, Simple Jack, played by Stiller in a subplot about an actor.
Representatives of the Special Olympics, the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People with Disabilities and other groups met with studio executives last week to discuss the film, but DreamWorks did not make any changes.
Peter Berns, executive director the Arc, said in a memo the groups presented various ideas to the studio, from requesting an apology to fixing the film before its release, to producing a national educational campaign.
Chip Sullivan, a spokesman for DreamWorks said: "We have had productive discussions with representatives of disability advocacy organizations and look forward to working with them closely in the future. However no changes or cuts to the film will be made...
"'Tropic Thunder' is an R-rated comedy that satirizes Hollywood and its excesses, and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the top characters in ridiculous situations. The film is in no way meant to disparage or harm the image of individuals with disabilities," he said.
The film also features Robert Downey Jr. as a white actor who changes his skin color to play a black soldier.
Sullivan said that prior to the meetings, DreamWorks had taken down an online promotion, removing references to Simple Jack it felt could appear offensive when taken out of context.
The film was shown in more than 250 promotional screenings around the country since April.
Posted on: Mon, Aug 11 2008 5:45 PM
Posted by: Lieslmcq Posts: 2,303
I got an email alert for that from AAPD? I think? Anyway, I have wanted to see this movie and probably will. I can't take someone else's word for whether or not its offensive. It seems to take a swipe at a lot of people, not just the cognitively challenged.
Posted on: Mon, Aug 11 2008 10:44 PM
Thought you might find this interesting, Mssssssssssss. Shelley. (hey, why are you in Italy? just visitin' with the illegals? )
Posted on: Mon, Aug 11 2008 10:56 PM
After we lost the baby it was hard to stay in that house, Ed came up with all these instant vacation plans and basically said lets go. So yep I'm in Italy, I've been for 10 days now and I love being among my fellow illegals and aliens....or family and friends, whatever you want to call us.......LOL leave it to you to find this
Posted on: Mon, Aug 11 2008 10:59 PM
I like it, I'll be forwarding it to some I know........at first I thought you were just implying something to do with Italians. I so agree with what end of it.
Posted on: Tue, Aug 12 2008 12:09 AM
Posted by: Becky Posts: 1,555
Not really my kind of movie. I'll probably wait for the DVD.
Liesl, thanks for sharing the video. I hope it's shared in every US classroom. Although kids can be so cruel, no doubt some will miss the message.
Becky
Posted on: Tue, Aug 12 2008 12:18 AM
shellGVchick:After we lost the baby it was hard to stay in that house, Ed came up with all these instant vacation plans and basically said lets go. So yep I'm in Italy, I've been for 10 days now and I love being among my fellow illegals and aliens....or family and friends, whatever you want to call us.......LOL leave it to you to find this
I'm glad you're there. I cannot tell you how envious I am, though! I was just watching Joyeux Noelle; they showed a shot of Hadrian's wall and oh man, I wish I could just take history tour after history tour, especially Roman tours.
And no, not implying anything about Italians!
Posted on: Tue, Aug 12 2008 9:15 AM
Oh Mama likes not many people know what Hadrian's Wall is. Even who the Emperior was. For you guys who don't know we'll fill you in. "Hadrians Wall" is the most important monument built by the Romans in Britain. It stretches seventy-three miles from Wallsend near Newcastle, across the neck of England to Bowness-on-Solway in North West Cumbria, and stands today as a reminder of the past glories of one of the world's greatest empires.
Just tell your husband that you know this woman and she's traveling and she says for you to take me on vacation lol.
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