Hollywood Wouldn't Back Lucas Film About Tuskegee Airmen Due to All Black Cast

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by Denny Crane, Jan 12, 2012.

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  1. GriLtCheeZ

    GriLtCheeZ "Well, I'm not lookin' for trouble."

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    No I don't remember the Jar Jar step in poop scene. I only watched Episode I once right when it came out. I've probably seen Episode III 50 or 60 times and I'm pretty sure there wasn't one black person in that movie.
     
    GriLtCheeZ, Jan 19, 2012
    #61
  2. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Come at me bro.

    [​IMG]
     
    speeds, Jan 19, 2012
    #62
  3. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    episode 3 has samuel motherfucking jackson getting thrown out a window with his arm chopped off
     
    3RA1N1AC, Jan 19, 2012
    #63
  4. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    People complained about the lack of diversity in Episode IV when it came out. There were British accents in the future but only whites.
     
    speeds, Jan 19, 2012
    #64
  5. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Lucas whines about THX and American Graffiti being re-edited by the studios but there is a longstanding rumour that Star Wars, in its original Lucas cut, was a complete mess, and that only by having competent editors come in and save it was it turned into a great film. The best film of the series (V) wasn't written or directed by Lucas (although he still feels he has the right to make endless alterations to it).
     
    speeds, Jan 19, 2012
    #65
  6. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    lucas should sell the rights to chris nolan or someone that could do episode 7-9 justice, i would go see those in a heartbeat
     
    3RA1N1AC, Jan 19, 2012
    #66
  7. GriLtCheeZ

    GriLtCheeZ "Well, I'm not lookin' for trouble."

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    oops I meant Episode 4.
     
    GriLtCheeZ, Jan 19, 2012
    #67
  8. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    This is kind of ridiculous... I mean, the first name that popped in my head after I saw your list was Don Cheadle, but Maris has a point. There are a number of other great black actors.... or are you talking about SUPER STARS who command the big bucks?
     
    Natebishop3, Jan 19, 2012
    #68
  9. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    You're right Hope is basically all-white aside from Vader's voice. Empire is deliberately more diverse as a response to the criticism of there being no minorities in space (often falsely referred to as the future despite the fact the film takes place "a long time ago").

    I refrained from questioning why on Earth you would watch Episode 6 that many times... Watching it once is exhausting.
     
    speeds, Jan 19, 2012
    #69
  10. Denny Crane

    Denny Crane It's not even loaded! Staff Member Administrator

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    Big bucks, get to pick their roles, get scripts written for them, big advertising after the picture is made.
     
    Denny Crane, Jan 19, 2012
    #70
  11. porkchopexpress

    porkchopexpress Well-Known Member

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    That is the point that Maris has failed to grasp (or chosen to ignore). No one here was saying there aren't talented black actors. What I and Denny were saying that there are only a few black movie stars (ones who can sell a movie on their name alone, or star (not support) in a top TV show. Don Cheadle, while a very good actor, does not fall into this definition of star. Neither does "the friend" on Mike and Molly. I think the studios would put out anyone who will sell. My point was that a movie that stars a black lead (excluding those few stars) is a tough sell, and that falls on the viewing public more than anything.
     
    porkchopexpress, Jan 19, 2012
    #71
  12. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Ebert is impressed by the entertaining visuals but less so by the lack of historical nuance. He basically says its a flashy movie about dogfights and special effects that lacks substance. Imagine that.

    The film is currently at 48/100 on Meta after the first four reviews.
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2012
    speeds, Jan 19, 2012
    #72
  13. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    And my point would be that the proportion of black stars to white stars in America is probably comparable to the proportion of black residents to white residents, and that to expect there not to be a preponderance of white stars (or complain about it) is silly and pointless.
     
    PtldPlatypus, Jan 19, 2012
    #73
  14. porkchopexpress

    porkchopexpress Well-Known Member

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    Of the top 15 earners in 2011, 1 was black. Not quite representative. How many network TV shows have a POC as the star? And again "the friend" on Mike and Molly does not count as a star.
     
    porkchopexpress, Jan 19, 2012
    #74
  15. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    That's why Hollyweird wouldn't back it. If Lucas had changed the Tuskegee Airmen to an all-white unit who brutally tortures some innocent enemies, he'd probably get an Oscar for his efforts.
     
    Last edited: Jan 19, 2012
    PapaG, Jan 19, 2012
    #75
  16. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Out of curiosity, who is the modern Sherman Hemsley? Hell, I remember when Jackee' had a Top 20 TV show with 227. Redd Foxx was arguably on the same level as Carroll O'Connor and Henry Winkler in the '70s in terms of being a comedic lead.

    I admit that I don't watch much network TV these days, because I don't really find much there outside of sports that interests me, but who are the major black leads on network TV today? Is there anything like Good Times, or What's Happenin', or even Benson on TV now, where a black male is the 'star' of the show, or with an all-black cast?
     
    PapaG, Jan 19, 2012
    #76
  17. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    I forgot Eriq La Salle was on ER. I never watched it. I do remember him as the Soul Glo dickish boyfriend in Coming to America!

    [video=youtube;sr7XI5auZMU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr7XI5auZMU[/video]
     
    PapaG, Jan 19, 2012
    #77
  18. RR7

    RR7 Well-Known Member

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    I think there's quite a few, but not on the "big 3" networks. Tons though on UPN/WB/whatever the hell those two networks are called now.
     
    RR7, Jan 19, 2012
    #78
  19. GriLtCheeZ

    GriLtCheeZ "Well, I'm not lookin' for trouble."

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    Yeah Lucas should have made mention of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment.
     
    GriLtCheeZ, Jan 19, 2012
    #79
  20. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    I loved the original Tuskegee Airman movie, so this one has a high bar to reach. I don't have a lot of faith in Lucas at this point in his career.
     
    Natebishop3, Jan 19, 2012
    #80
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