Comments on: Weekly Movies, November 10-16 http://mootpoint.wrenkin.net/2008/11/18/weekly-movies-november-10-16/ On pop culture and feelings Sat, 16 Oct 2010 02:16:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: brenda http://mootpoint.wrenkin.net/2008/11/18/weekly-movies-november-10-16/comment-page-1/#comment-13284 brenda Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:22:37 +0000 http://mootpoint.wrenkin.net/?p=767#comment-13284 <p>I...really liked parts of it, but I seriously found the whole broad parody of "primitive" cultures really hard to watch, since you would never have a white actor hamming it up to mock an actual culture, especially when the culture winds up being wiped out at the end of the movie in blink of an eye, to expedite the union of the white couple at the centre of the film. I'm sure you could argue that it was meant to be a parody of the way other movies portray non-white cultures, but my gut-level reaction was just "oh my <em>god</em>."</p> <p>Especially in light of the magical black cab driver who gives Joe a makeover.</p> <p>I did like the rest of it, though.</p> I…really liked parts of it, but I seriously found the whole broad parody of “primitive” cultures really hard to watch, since you would never have a white actor hamming it up to mock an actual culture, especially when the culture winds up being wiped out at the end of the movie in blink of an eye, to expedite the union of the white couple at the centre of the film. I’m sure you could argue that it was meant to be a parody of the way other movies portray non-white cultures, but my gut-level reaction was just “oh my god.”

Especially in light of the magical black cab driver who gives Joe a makeover.

I did like the rest of it, though.

]]> By: Kevan http://mootpoint.wrenkin.net/2008/11/18/weekly-movies-november-10-16/comment-page-1/#comment-13283 Kevan Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:53:15 +0000 http://mootpoint.wrenkin.net/?p=767#comment-13283 <p>Oh MAN. I'm glad to not have my hopes up for when I can see the star trek trailer (i.e., when I'm not at work). I really didn't like enterprise much at all, and it'll be interesting to see what Abrams does with it. He does atmosphere really well, and that's always been something very distinct about each instalment of ST.</p> <p>Joe vs. the Volcano. One of my all. time. favourites. (full stop) I pretty much quote the second meg's poem on a weekly basis. And yes, the luggage salesman - one of the most understated, but brilliant, charicatures I've ever seen in a film. At least worthy of a "most expressive eyebrows" award.</p> <p>I'm equally incapable of explaining why it's so good, although I wouldn't describe it using the words "astounding racism". I always took it more to be an observation of how strange the effects of waves of colonization can be. If there was any cultural stereotyping going on (<i>hava nagila</i> excluded), it would be the suggestion that polynesian peoples are technologically backward and still wearing the equivalent of grass skirts and coconut shells, which isn't inconceivable if there were actually an island that was relatively untouched by globalization and trade.</p> <p>I guess I just found that aspect pretty harmless.</p> <p>Plus, "Are you Joe?"... "Are you Joe BANKS?" Awesome. Abe Vigoda (sp?) was just plain great.</p> Oh MAN. I’m glad to not have my hopes up for when I can see the star trek trailer (i.e., when I’m not at work). I really didn’t like enterprise much at all, and it’ll be interesting to see what Abrams does with it. He does atmosphere really well, and that’s always been something very distinct about each instalment of ST.

Joe vs. the Volcano. One of my all. time. favourites. (full stop) I pretty much quote the second meg’s poem on a weekly basis. And yes, the luggage salesman – one of the most understated, but brilliant, charicatures I’ve ever seen in a film. At least worthy of a “most expressive eyebrows” award.

I’m equally incapable of explaining why it’s so good, although I wouldn’t describe it using the words “astounding racism”. I always took it more to be an observation of how strange the effects of waves of colonization can be. If there was any cultural stereotyping going on (hava nagila excluded), it would be the suggestion that polynesian peoples are technologically backward and still wearing the equivalent of grass skirts and coconut shells, which isn’t inconceivable if there were actually an island that was relatively untouched by globalization and trade.

I guess I just found that aspect pretty harmless.

Plus, “Are you Joe?”… “Are you Joe BANKS?” Awesome. Abe Vigoda (sp?) was just plain great.

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