View Full Version : Love, actually
Last night, I went to see a fabulous movie...funny and warm. Love Actually. I laughed out loud, I got all warm and fuzzy inside.....and left the theater in a very pensive mood, discouraged and saddened.
Why? because it behooved whoever made this movie to sully the spirit of it by using it as a means to make their point about America.
Now, don't get me wrong...Whatever this person feels about America are his/her valid feelings. I have no problem with that. My saddness lies in the fact that an evenings entertainment....an escape, if you will is taken away from me (after paying 18 bucks for the privelege). I could have slipped delightfully into this wonderful film, enjoying my 2 hours away from news, and politics and hate....but the makers of this film wouldn't allow it.
This film is made up of several stories going on at once. One of them is about the new british prime minister (hugh grant). His story line was about the feelings he had for a girl who worked on his staff. Inserted into this story (the plot had no need for this at all)...was a meeting he had with the american president, who of course, was portrayed as a ...pr*ck (sorry, no other word suffices here). A president who tried to take advantage sexually of the young girl in question (ok, so at first i thought it was a shot at clinton)...and who tells the new PM that as long as he gets what he wants, (politically) the relationship between them will be fine. Of course, Hugh Grants character gets up in public, humiliating the president...and telling his people he will be very strong in the face of this horrid president. (He of course, becomes the hero of the film). I am still trying to figure out where that whole scenario belonged in this otherwise wonderful film about love and angst in 5 peoples lives.
The second "shot" , if you will....comes when a rather homely english young man in the film (Colin)..laments his inability to attract women. He is not very good looking, kind of goofy, and holds menial jobs. His solution? He will go to america! because the girls there think english accents are cute, and in america, girls line up in bars just to get laid. (How lovely, eh?). He of course, finds not one girl, but four, all poor white trash, gorgeous, sluttily dressed and all wanting him to come home with them. Surprise Surprise, in the end, he brings home one girl for him, and one for his friend as well.
Neither of these things were essential to the plot of this otherwise fabulous movie.
Any thoughts on this? Is the entertainment industry able to simply entertain the "masses" anymore without alienating, or conversely, pandering to....peoples politics?
Missouri Mule
11-09-2003, 11:52 AM
Eighteen dollars? You weren't by yourself were you? I wait for the cheap night here in P-Town and it is four dollars. Oterwise I wait until it comes to PPV or HBO.
To answer your question, the movie makers seem to have lost their way. Far too many are "formula" movies. They recycle the same basic plots over and over with different faces and slightly different dialogue.
My idea of a terrific movie was "Chicago." Now that was a truly fabulous movie with Renee Zewelleger and she should have won the Oscar with all due respects to Nicole Kidman.
As an aside Renee is bulking up again for Briget Jones II.
Blueangel
11-09-2003, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by dove
Any thoughts on this? Is the entertainment industry able to simply entertain the "masses" anymore without alienating, or conversely, pandering to....peoples politics? Well it makes a change from all the American films that portray people with a European accent as terrorists.
It's a shame your entertainment was tarnished, but this film is a work of fiction and should be taken with a massive pinch of salt. I would advise that you see the irony in it, considering Grant's past exploits. ;)
It's also a shame that film makers, all to often, resort to inaccurate stereotypes for the sake of entertainment.
Profit won out over art. There are few risk takers in Hollywood. You need a sure thing. And that leaves out art. Too much for people to not like. Too subjective don't know.
No, we want happy endings and warm fuzzies, that or predictable screams and tears.
I am not a fan; can you tell?:p
MM - nope. 18 bucks was the price for my husband and I.
Hollywood can manage to churn out some really good stuff amongst all the crap. Yes Blueangel, it was a work of fiction. most all movies are. (unless of course you really believe there is a little guy named ET running around saying "phone home") ;)
I've always loved the movies. Too bad entertainment cant just be entertainment anymore.
gopman
11-10-2003, 02:03 PM
Try "Elf." I think you'll find the kind of apolitical entertainment you're looking for!
Missouri Mule
11-10-2003, 05:30 PM
Every once in a while I see a movie that I recommend. Most of the time I forget them before I get to the parking lot. I'm definitely going to see "Chicago" again. That was one fine movie. Brilliant dancing by Rene Zewelleger. She wuz robbed.
My wife and moi saw "Love, Actually." A first rate Brit flic, and especially of note is the PM standing up to the bullying US President . . . :D :cool:
Missouri Mule
11-18-2003, 11:32 PM
Then I think I will stay home. Sounds like a typical "Blame America First" flick from the left.
Simon666
11-19-2003, 11:14 AM
Originally posted by Missouri Mule
Then I think I will stay home. Sounds like a typical "Blame America First" flick from the left.
You just can't take criticism. Any. You crawl back in your shell like a lobster when confronted with reality. Reality is most Brits don't like Bush and he is unfriendly to anyone that disagrees.
Missouri Mule
11-19-2003, 03:38 PM
Why should I fill my head with negativity? Besides I don't believe your percentages square with reality; at least not the ones I saw posted yesterday. I've been in touch with a lady in UK who is 110% behind our actions. More pro-American than I am.
Simon666
11-19-2003, 04:13 PM
Surprise surprise. :rolleyes: Did you really believe all inhabitants of the UK would be against it perhaps? You found a lady in favor, so what? You think this means that people in the UK are in favor of the US? Statistically, your little fact means nothing. I can probably find 3 million Belgians in favor of the US, but as we are a nation of 10 million it means the majority can still be against you and it is.
And why is it negativity? Is the entire movie negative perhaps? Have you seen it already? No, Mr. Mule doesn't like one little aspect in it. It is "anti-American". Can I ask you something: what did you think of "Wack the dog?". Is it anti-American or did you - as I suspect - enjoy it because a president like Clinton is made fun of?
Missouri Mule
11-19-2003, 04:29 PM
Simon: With all due respect you are taking this business much too personally. The television screens are filled with those and their agendas. In order to know what the general public feels we would need to see reliable polling data. The numbers I saw yesterday do not support your position.
Simon666
11-19-2003, 04:37 PM
Sorry, I was for a second because I really feel you just can't accept Bush is perceived that way around the world and quite frankly, they are not that far off.
Missouri Mule
11-19-2003, 06:01 PM
I may not even vote for Bush. But I don't believe you will a "President Dean" any better. He shoots from the lip and doesn't abide fools gladly.
Simon666
11-19-2003, 06:38 PM
Don't know about him as from what I've heard from the likes of you he doesn't stand a chance as being ultra left. With such description, I think too he doesn't stand a chance.
Simon -
as for myself....i can and do accept the perceptions of Bush by the rest of the world. Love, actually was a really fabulous movie, which did the brits justice.
My dismay over it is not the idea that the brits dislike bush. It was that they had to *force* it into a movie put out for sheer entertainment. It didnt add to the plot, in fact, it had nothing to do with the movie whatsoever. Also the aspect that they felt they had to completely slam american women on the whole, as whores, for some reason.
It was meant to be a "feel good movie"....like sleepless in seattle and "You've got mail" and movies of that ilk.
And it would have been. There are enough plots to go around that one can "work in" politics and political statements. To force it into what is sold to you as a sweet "date night" movie to be mean spirited (toward an american audience that I'm sure they count on making scads of money from in ticket sales) does not reflect well on the wonderful director and actors in this movie to me.
Sadly, it would have made it into my "all time favorite movie" category.
By the way simon - the title of the movie you made reference to is "wag the dog" not "whack the dog". I correct you on this not in a mean spirit, but if you know american slang, "whack the dog" is a WHOLE different thing, and it would be rated x! :D
Missouri Mule
11-20-2003, 12:01 AM
Wag the Dog was the Dustin Hoffman movie.
Simon666
11-20-2003, 05:36 AM
Originally posted by dove
My dismay over it is not the idea that the brits dislike bush. It was that they had to *force* it into a movie put out for sheer entertainment. It didnt add to the plot, in fact, it had nothing to do with the movie whatsoever. Also the aspect that they felt they had to completely slam american women on the whole, as whores, for some reason.
Yes, I understood your point dove, but that of Mule I didn't. I believe his dismay was over the idea that Brits dislike Bush. And I don't think it was forced into it, if you make a movie around the British PM you can't really go around actuality.
Originally posted by dove
By the way simon - the title of the movie you made reference to is "wag the dog" not "whack the dog". I correct you on this not in a mean spirit, but if you know american slang, "whack the dog" is a WHOLE different thing, and it would be rated x! :D
:o
And sorry about that little incident, I'll try to keep it in mind, I honestly didn't know. :angel:
Simon -
in regard to going around 'actuality"...
if you were making a movie about the british PM and his life, his job, even a ficticious account of a world situation, sure.
But if you saw the movie, it was all about the love lives of 5 different people. it isnt an "actuality" that the british PM fell for a tea server with fat thighs on his staff, is it? (actually, that sounds a heck of a lot more like Clinton!)
it was forced in. it was meant to be a "statement". I'm all for that, just dont force in a political statement in a movie where it doesnt belong.
Simon666
11-20-2003, 09:43 AM
Originally posted by dove
Simon -in regard to going around 'actuality"...
Sorry, another language mistake, literal translation of Dutch "actualiteit", which apparently has an entirely different meaning than "actuality (http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/actuality)". Don't know the exact translation. It's more like "in the light of current events", but then one word.
Originally posted by dove
if you were making a movie about the british PM and his life, his job, even a ficticious account of a world situation, sure. But if you saw the movie, it was all about the love lives of 5 different people. it isnt an "actuality" that the british PM fell for a tea server with fat thighs on his staff, is it? (actually, that sounds a heck of a lot more like Clinton!) it was forced in. it was meant to be a "statement". I'm all for that, just dont force in a political statement in a movie where it doesnt belong.
I haven't seen it, or these 5 different people not all somehow working for that PM or so, or connected? It was really more in response to Mule's reason for not going than yours I responded. He probably doesn't care if it belongs there are not, just that it is there seems to upset him.
Missouri Mule
11-20-2003, 11:28 AM
"He probably doesn't care if it belongs there are not, just that it is there seems to upset him."
You don't get it. This is not about "upsetness." It is about freedom to choose what I see and hear. People have the right to make whatever movies they wish to make. I have the freedom to not listen or patronize their movies. Generally speaking I don't like "message" movies. I go see the movies for entertainment.
Simon666
11-20-2003, 12:49 PM
I know you're free to chose and I'm free to think you are ridiculous because of the childlikeness of your decision. You run away at the first glimpse of criticism at your president.
Missouri Mule
11-20-2003, 01:14 PM
Baloney.
Simon666
11-20-2003, 01:46 PM
It's something I've noticed time and again.
Missouri Mule
11-20-2003, 05:06 PM
That I don't agree with you? I'm right and you're wrong. What part of that don't you understand?
Missouri Mule
11-21-2003, 01:12 AM
All of what I say is right and all of what you say is wrong.
Simon666
11-21-2003, 04:07 AM
For someone who uses the signature "The Truth Patrol", a hardly surprising statement. Perhaps you should join Al Qaeda, they are also some sort of patrol who claim to have the ultimate truth and nothing but it.
Missouri Mule
11-21-2003, 01:46 PM
Azov and I were just sparring Simon. He knew that even if you don't.
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