Why 'Tropic Thunder' shouldn't be seen

[JULIAFERNO 0]

I thought the movie was hilarious, although I didn't laugh at the mental disability humor...I don't find that humorous.

But aside from that, the movie was very funny...and Tom Cruise dancing at the end...that made it for me.

[sparkofcreation 0]

I'm really sick of how overhyped this is. It was even on my local news this evening, "People are protesting because Ben Stiller plays a character named Simple Jack with developmental disabilities..." Um, no, do some f***ing research. Ben Stiller plays an *actor* who tried to make a name for himself by playing a character with developmental disabilities, but who instead did a really s****y job. In other words, the movie makes fun of actors (like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks) who play characters with disabilities in order to win awards.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I'm really sick of how overhyped this is. It was even on my local news this evening, "People are protesting because Ben Stiller plays a character named Simple Jack with developmental disabilities..." Um, no, do some f***ing research. Ben Stiller plays an *actor* who tried to make a name for himself by playing a character with developmental disabilities, but who instead did a really s****y job. In other words, the movie makes fun of actors (like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks) who play characters with disabilities in order to win awards.

word to your mummy

[IAMX 3,055]

I'm really sick of how overhyped this is. It was even on my local news this evening, "People are protesting because Ben Stiller plays a character named Simple Jack with developmental disabilities..." Um, no, do some f***ing research. Ben Stiller plays an *actor* who tried to make a name for himself by playing a character with developmental disabilities, but who instead did a really s****y job. In other words, the movie makes fun of actors (like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks) who play characters with disabilities in order to win awards.

These protests are much ado about nothing related to common sense.

Reminds me of when I went to the last Heaven and Hell (Dio's Black Sabbath) concert, there were protesters up and down the HP Pavilion telling me I'm going to hell for listening to Black Sabbath. ###### idiots wasting their time.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm really sick of how overhyped this is. It was even on my local news this evening, "People are protesting because Ben Stiller plays a character named Simple Jack with developmental disabilities..." Um, no, do some f***ing research. Ben Stiller plays an *actor* who tried to make a name for himself by playing a character with developmental disabilities, but who instead did a really s****y job. In other words, the movie makes fun of actors (like Dustin Hoffman and Tom Hanks) who play characters with disabilities in order to win awards.

That's the best explanation I've read so far. Stiller may have tackled a subject that was inevitably going to get misinterpreted, because even though he's playing an actor who's playing someone who is mentally disabled, his comedic exaggeration plays up to the stereotypical mockery of 'retarded' people for laughs. I haven't seen it, but I'm curious if people are laughing at the actor he is playing or laughing at his imitation of a retarded person?

[IAMX 3,055]

Well, having seen it, Stiller's character, playing a 'retard' character, was a bit embarrassing because it was practically child-like humor. That was clearly the hyperbole, because it wasn't meant to be the funny part. The real humor was aimed at, as mentioned, the actors who suck at playing retarded people. Of course, this never seeps into the heads of idiots protesting over entertainment.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Well, having seen it, Stiller's character, playing a 'retard' character, was a bit embarrassing because it was practically child-like humor. That was clearly the hyperbole, because it wasn't meant to be the funny part. The real humor was aimed at, as mentioned, the actors who suck at playing retarded people. Of course, this never seeps into the heads of idiots protesting over entertainment.

Interesting. I think the same thing happened over Archie Bunker's character in All In The Family. Many people tuned into to see Archie tell it like it is, not realizing that his character was a mockery of that type of personality.

[MichelleN 0]

Wow, I must have been under a rock or something because this is the first time I've even heard of this film.

But outside of that....I think protesting a movie, especially to the point of picketing it, is silly. Any publicity is good publicity you know. All it accomplishes is to make people want to see the movie more just to see what's so 'offensive' about it.

[IAMX 3,055]

Wow, I must have been under a rock or something because this is the first time I've even heard of this film.

But outside of that....I think protesting a movie, especially to the point of picketing it, is silly. Any publicity is good publicity you know. All it accomplishes is to make people want to see the movie more just to see what's so 'offensive' about it.

You'll find nothing offensive unless you like turning molehills into mountains.

Same thing with me though, never heard of the movie, only overheard from NPR that there was some protest about a movie regarding retarded people. I only picked this movie since the horror movie I planned to watch at the time (forgot it's name, made by the people from House on Haunted Hill or whatever?) got a horrible RT rating, so, not caring to see Batman for a 3rd time, decided to take a chance with this one. So far liked every movie I saw this year (including this one), which was only a few.

Edited August 18, 2008 by SRVT

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"What kind of farmer are you?"

"I'm a lead farmer muthaf*cka!"

Did you also notice that for all the shooting and blowing up - the director is the only character who actually dies?

Edited August 18, 2008 by Number 6

[Shpat_Argjira 0]

I heard it was funny, but I dont really like going out to the movies I usually end up downloading them online.

If anyone wants any DVD's let me know...

[Mags 112]

I don't think they're really making fun of retarded people. They're making fun of actors who portray them in movies in order to get awards or have people take them more seriously as an actor.

That was my take on it anyway.

Ding ding ding!

I get sick of this ridiculous society that sees an insult in every film. Grow a flippin' sense of humour, seriously!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I think there is *a* point there that certain subjects shouldn't really be made light of, but in these sorts of movies the characters aren't exactly all there themselves so its more like: what do you expect...?

The smoking thing is another one I find a bit distasteful - there is a group that basically lobbies against films that show characters smoking or to give them an automatic "R" rating. Consequently - James Bond hasn't been shown smoking cigarettes for something like 20 years - though you occasionally see the odd cigar (the non-habit forming, luxury version of the habit) creep into the mix.

I think objecting to specific imagery or words is a bit silly as all of these sorts of things ignore the context in which they are presented.

As with censorship the idea becomes doubly ridiculous when applied to books - do people really object to the mere presence of specific "offensive" words being on the page? I think they consider the whole...