View single post by MAubrecht
 Posted: Thu Oct 27th, 2005 04:41 pm
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MAubrecht
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Joined: Wed Sep 7th, 2005
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
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Mana: 
 To be honest, I have not watched the film (yet), but I have followed the promotion closely, and from what I can gather, the entire pretense of this movie is almost comical. (Except that it's not funny.) Although the film's website is VERY well done, this movie, and the disturbing insight behind it, really makes me angry. It serves absolutely no purpose other than to help spread historical ignorance, rekindle the flames of racial division, and tarnish any reputable histories of the Confederacy in the eyes of the common public.

The film's so-called "historical perspective" is founded on total speculation (filled with serious satirical and offensive content) and I would liken it to taking one of Spike Lee's favorite historical figures and rewriting imaginary history simply to ignite a flame. IE: What if his hero Malcolm X would not have been killed, the Nation of Islam becomes a major political body, and Islam becomes the national religion pushing the U.S. into the same crisis experienced now in the Middle East. Sounds absurd right? That is the exact type of "philosophy" and extremism behind this film.

Plus (as an example of the lack of accuracy) it appears that they are only using the C.S.A. battle flag (where applicable) in place of the correct Confederate flag. I assume they did this as most people (in the general public) don't know the difference. Now I'm all for free speech and artistic expression, and Spike Lee has made some good films in the past, but I cannot see anything constructive in this project other than to tick off both blacks and whites with one person's skewed perception of history and futurism.

Does anyone (deep down) actually believe that if the South had won the war, we would be watching the "Slave-Shopping Network" and surfing "E-Slave" in 2005? Would we not have righted the wrongs of the past by the times of today's modern and more civilized society? I like to think so. Regardless, this is not what I would call good, debate generating entertainment or remotely educational in any form. (JMO)

Also - I don't want to make it sound as if this topic isn't worth exploring - just that this appears as an extremely one-sided, sensationalized, and profit-driven way to do it. Look out for more "hurt" than "help" thanks to this one. I have always respected Spike Lee's work, but this project has left me questioning his motives. I will not be spending one cent on a ticket at the theater, but I will probably rent it on video and revisit this topic at a later date.

Last edited on Thu Oct 27th, 2005 05:38 pm by MAubrecht