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Post by Porscheguy on Jul 4, 2013 16:14:34 GMT -5
Finally got around to watching this movie and I'm not sure what my final take is. It's a spin on the old spaghetti westerns with a healthy dose of slavery and way over the top gratuitous violence. It's about a freed slave Django (Jamie Fox) who partners with a bounty hunter as they travel to Mississippi in an attempt to find and free Django's wife from a sinister cotton plantation owner. The production values, set design, foley work and music score are brillant, but I can't really say that about the story. It has moments and some great acting from Leo DiCaprio and Samuel Jackson but Christoph Waltz steals the show as Dr. Shultz the German bounty hunter. He was mesmerizing. Quite frankly Jamie Fox was a disappointment to me looking wooden and off his stride though most of the movie, quite frankly Denzel would have been perfect in this role.
If you can get past the ridiculous amount of blood shooting out of dozens of actors bodies as they are shot, heads being blown off, watching slaves fight till the death (complete with bone breaking), and even a slave being ripped to shreds by a pack of dogs as a punishment, you might find some redeeming value to this movie. Tarantino's trademark is horrendous violence in most of his pictures, most of which is pointless. This movie could have been so much better if it had a subplots that worked but it didn't, so it doesn't.
For me, one of the more offensive things in this movie is the use of the "N" word. If it was used once or twice or even several times to punctuate the reality of the slavery struggle it would have meant something. I lost count after hearing it 100 times, and it became clear to me that it's only real use was for shock value. It diminishes the profound struggle by African Americans for freedom and turned them into caricatures. You can't have it both ways. You can't hide behind history when you spin it for entertainment.
While unrelated, it's notable that Food Network icon Paula Deen's entire empire has been taken down because she uttered that same word some 20 years ago. Funny how the Hollywood elite get a pass for doing it in the name of "entertainment".
Movie 3
Production values 5
Video 5
Audio 5
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Post by danny01 on Jul 4, 2013 16:32:16 GMT -5
Thanks! Great write up. The movie is good and quite artistic by today's standards, but this is not Tarantino's best. Doesn't come close to Inglorious Basterds.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 4, 2013 16:32:40 GMT -5
I thought this thing was very offensive and grotesque. I walked out. There is nothing "redeemable" about this horrid piece of shite.
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Post by Porscheguy on Jul 4, 2013 16:54:30 GMT -5
Well, at least I'm not the only one that thought it was crap... It got great reviews though... 8.5 on IMDB
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LCSeminole
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Res firma mitescere nescit.
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Post by LCSeminole on Jul 4, 2013 17:07:15 GMT -5
I wasn't impressed either as noted by the blu-ray being ejected about an hour in and being replaced with "The Last Stand", which I did enjoy.
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hemster
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...still listening... still watching
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Post by hemster on Jul 4, 2013 17:12:31 GMT -5
If you can get past the ridiculous amount of blood shooting out of dozens of actors bodies as they are shot, heads being blown off, watching slaves fight till the death (complete with bone breaking), and even a slave being ripped to shreds by a pack of dogs as a punishment, you might find some redeeming value to this movie. I'm afraid there's no redeeming value in this movie. Very disappointing output from the Tarantino stable. It was a struggle to finish the movie.  |
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Post by Porscheguy on Jul 4, 2013 17:18:13 GMT -5
Being almost 3 hours long didn't help. I'm surprised that it has reviewed so well. I don't get it. And where is the African American community to poo poo such verbose language? Is it because its Quentin and Jamie?
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hemster
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Post by hemster on Jul 4, 2013 17:23:03 GMT -5
A lot of people left before the movie finished. I too wonder about IMDB reviews...
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 4, 2013 17:32:01 GMT -5
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Post by Porscheguy on Jul 4, 2013 17:38:41 GMT -5
Thanks for that David. I agree with some of her hypothesis but not all. In the end she give QT a pass. I will not. Nor Jamie Fox either.. |
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selkec
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Post by selkec on Jul 4, 2013 19:31:19 GMT -5
I wasn't impressed either as noted by the blu-ray being ejected about an hour in and being replaced with "The Last Stand", which I did enjoy. THATS exactly what I did. Even replaced it with the same movie you did...... Django is terrible movie |
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Lsc
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Post by Lsc on Jul 4, 2013 19:47:55 GMT -5
Yes. It was over the top and just horrible. Totally tasteless.
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Post by Gary Cook on Jul 4, 2013 23:17:51 GMT -5
I haven't seen it yet, the bluray is sitting on the shelf, waiting for an opportunity to be watched. It's a Tarantino movie, I knew that when I ordered it, I know what to expect. Not the point of the post though.
I'm sorry but I'm very much over the ever increasing number of people who are just looking for an excuse to be outraged over something, anything. Frequently it's nothing more than a competition to see who can be the most appalled, just political correctness overload. Are we really complaining that the language used in a period movie is a reflection of the actual language used in that period? I know it's somewhat different, fictional characters and all, but it is nonetheless similar to changing history because in the present time it's no longer acceptable language. The saying goes that those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Well you can't learn much from history that is sanitised beyond the reality.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by paintedklown on Jul 5, 2013 0:08:30 GMT -5
OK, well it looks like I am going to be the lone wolf here and say that I absolutely LOVE Django Unchained. In fact, after watching it for the first time, I immediately bumped Scorsese from my "favorite director of all time" (and he has held that position for many years) to replace with Tarantino. I have watched his entire catalog several times and absolutely love his writing style. He has a flair for dialogue IMO. Yes, DU is way over the top in every way, but if it weren't, it wouldn't have the same impact IMO. I found DU to be a very funny movie actually. Funny? Yes, the humor comes from the absurdity of it all, the same way Tarantino's films are almost always comedic. The delivery of the dialogue, especially from Waltz, is especially amusing because of his usage of proper English, wit, and ability to use the ignorance of his various antagonists to his advantage. Over length wasn't an issue for me either, with only the scenes were Django gets sent off to Tarantino's Australian slave labor crew to be completely self indulgent and unnecessary. Even with that in tact, I cannot say that I can find much to fault in this film. Oddly enough, I actually have just returned from a BBQ in a predominantly black neighborhood (was invited by a friend from work) where I was the only white guy in attendance (all black people) and this film was brought up. All of them also liked it, and none of them found it to be racist at all. In fact, one of the younger guys stated that "That was just the culture back then" and everyone essentially agreed and none were offended by it. To be honest, I was a bit surprised to log on and see there was such a disdain for this film among the members here. What DU boils down to is a revenge plot. In order for the audience to buy into the idea that it was ok to have a former slave kill almost every white person in the film, there had to be a catalyst (over the top racism from their characters) to make you WANT to see Django as a hero, rather than simply out for blood. Just my opinion, and others are free to have their own. YMMV and all that...  |
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Post by jevans64 on Jul 5, 2013 8:43:34 GMT -5
It was yet another anti-white piece of garbage dreamed up by the Hollywood elite in an unjustified attempt to make white people feel guilty about slavery.
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Post by Porscheguy on Jul 5, 2013 9:01:14 GMT -5
Not sure about that, but it was not a positive time in our history....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2013 9:32:38 GMT -5
I agree with GaryCook and PaintedKlown and I enjoyed the movie. And I must admit that I'm about sick and tired of seeing white folks trying to outdo each other with their political correctness. As the Brits say "Give it a rest, luv..."
>> While unrelated, it's notable that Food Network icon Paula Deen's entire empire has been taken down because she uttered that same word some 20 years ago. <<
And this makes my point rather well. Paula Deen is being excoriated by, essentially, the white community so that they can improve their street cred among other guilt-ridden whites. The fact of the matter is that Paula Deen is not a racist and yet she is being taken to task for something she said well over 2 decades ago. Talk about a tempest in a teapot! If using "the N-word" - Lord I *hate* that term - is wrong, then it's wrong for everyone. And black rappers and many in the black community should not get a pass on this - but they do! To hold a white person to a different standard is, plain and simple, racist...
-RW-
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Post by mfeust on Jul 5, 2013 9:35:13 GMT -5
OK, well it looks like I am going to be the lone wolf here and say that I absolutely LOVE Django Unchained. In fact, after watching it for the first time, I immediately bumped Scorsese from my "favorite director of all time" (and he has held that position for many years) to replace with Tarantino. I have watched his entire catalog several times and absolutely love his writing style. He has a flair for dialogue IMO. Yes, DU is way over the top in every way, but if it weren't, it wouldn't have the same impact IMO. I found DU to be a very funny movie actually. Funny? Yes, the humor comes from the absurdity of it all, the same way Tarantino's films are almost always comedic. The delivery of the dialogue, especially from Waltz, is especially amusing because of his usage of proper English, wit, and ability to use the ignorance of his various antagonists to his advantage. Over length wasn't an issue for me either, with only the scenes were Django gets sent off to Tarantino's Australian slave labor crew to be completely self indulgent and unnecessary. Even with that in tact, I cannot say that I can find much to fault in this film. Oddly enough, I actually have just returned from a BBQ in a predominantly black neighborhood (was invited by a friend from work) where I was the only white guy in attendance (all black people) and this film was brought up. All of them also liked it, and none of them found it to be racist at all. In fact, one of the younger guys stated that "That was just the culture back then" and everyone essentially agreed and none were offended by it. To be honest, I was a bit surprised to log on and see there was such a disdain for this film among the members here. What DU boils down to is a revenge plot. In order for the audience to buy into the idea that it was ok to have a former slave kill almost every white person in the film, there had to be a catalyst (over the top racism from their characters) to make you WANT to see Django as a hero, rather than simply out for blood. Just my opinion, and others are free to have their own. YMMV and all that... I agree 100%. I laughed my azz off during this movie. Way too many sensitive people here. It's just a movie. Mark |
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Post by Hair Nick on Jul 5, 2013 9:36:12 GMT -5
I had a great time with this movie. 8/10. I put it right behind Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill Vol. 1 as my favorite Tarantino films.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jul 5, 2013 9:46:24 GMT -5
"Just a movie" is no excuse for racism. And if you think it is a legitimate excuse then perhaps you should check yourself.
As far as Tarantino is concerned, he's a hack who had one great idea. I have only liked one of his movies (Pulp Fiction) and that was because of the writing, not the film making, which was forced and amateurish. I only tried to watch Django because my wife wanted to see it. We were both completely offended and grossed out by it. Never again.
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