Hollywood appologizes

[Blind_Io]

Ok, first of all I posted this here because Clarkson is always bitching about how U-571 portrays the Americans as single handedly capturing the Enigma.

Well, They're sorry about that.
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.ph...8-111839-2602r

[Cobol74]

Right the list of the offended: -
The Brits who did much of the code breaking - big up Alan Turing, The Poles whose bravery and initial work on the Enigma allowed the later British successes, The Australians whose airmen actually sunk the U-571. The NCAAP who could not be but absolutely astonoshed at the portrayal of Black men in Submarines of the time negating their civil rights work of the 50's and 60's and finally the Germans whose Navy in General and Submarine arm in particular are ARE NOT STUPID.

Now people say its only a Film and it does not matter, but it does because there are more people in the world getting their history from Hollywood than anyone with sense would credit.

So thats OK then they've said sorry, until they can again make money out of a historical lie.

[Blind_Io]

I never said it was excusable, but at least one guy has come to his senses. As a history nut, it ticks me off when Hollywood mucks things up. I can't even begin to list all the things that they have done.

This is a start.

[the Interceptor]

Agreed, but isn't it more like it's only the writer of "U-571" who apologised? The thread title is a bit misleading.

Apart from twisting history, it is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It may have to do with the fact that "Das Boot" is my favourite one, and I bought the "U-571" DVD blindly, thinking that it can't be that bad. Well, it is, and now I know why it was so cheap to buy.

[nomix]

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

I never said it was excusable, but at least one guy has come to his senses. As a history nut, it ticks me off when Hollywood mucks things up. I can't even begin to list all the things that they have done.

This is a start.

As a history nut, I get quite angry every time some silly movie portray Americans as the most heroic, most perfect, best, most beautifull, and kindest people in the whole god damned world.

Not to say I dislike Americans. I just dislike the damned stupid way of presenting it.

But you know what the real problem is?

HOLLYWOOD WON'T LISTEN TO ME!

[Chupacabras]

Originally Posted by the Interceptor

Well, it is, and now I know why it was so cheap to buy.

the same reason the newest version of the Four Feathers was spotted at the $3 DVD bin

[Blind_Io]

Originally Posted by nomix

As a history nut, I get quite angry every time some silly movie portray Americans as the most heroic, most perfect, best, most beautifull, and kindest people in the whole god damned world.

Not to say I dislike Americans. I just dislike the damned stupid way of presenting it.

But you know what the real problem is?

HOLLYWOOD WON'T LISTEN TO ME!

Hollywood doesn't listen to anyone. They are stuck in their own little world where politics and catastrophes are just a way for actors to grandstand and promote films.

The smug levels are astronomical.

[nomix]

Absolutely correct. They are quite simular to the music industry, actually. They have a buissness(?) idea they follow as to what to produce. "This month next year, we should have finished a film about some terrorist who steals a nuke from the most secure place in the world, to use a false requisition slip to place the five tonne bomb in the boot of the presidents car, without anyone noticing."

Prime example. The Day of the Jacal vs. the resent remake.

In the original, the Jacal has a .22 sniper rifle with high explosive rounds, which is hidden in a pair of <insert thing you use to walk when your legs are broken which I can't spell>, and he tries to pick off Charles deGaulle.

In the 90s remake, he has a stupendously large automatic weapon. He could take down a commercial airliner with the damned thing. Typically Hollywood. Use a 88mm flak to hunt ducks. Why not a shotgun?

[fbc]

Nice to see at least one person responsible for the movie feels regret.

[zenkidori]

I don't see why this even matters. I saw U-571, I never thought it was even trying to be historically accurate, just to be a good war movie, which it wasn't.

Why does there need to be historical accuracy in films? Those are called documentaries, not movies.

[bone]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

I don't see why this even matters. I saw U-571, I never thought it was even trying to be historically accurate, just to be a good war movie, which it wasn't.

Why does there need to be historical accuracy in films? Those are called documentaries, not movies.

x2, a holywood movie shouldn't be more accurate as clarkson is

[Cobol74]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

I don't see why this even matters. I saw U-571, I never thought it was even trying to be historically accurate, just to be a good war movie, which it wasn't.

Why does there need to be historical accuracy in films? Those are called documentaries, not movies.

Read my post above that is why it matters.

[nomix]

The problem comes when Hollywood, which lays in the western part of the US of A, begins rewriting history to make the same US of A take a larger part of it.

In Pearl Harbour, all Japs are bad, all Americans are good. I really don't like that sort of stereo types.

Why not rewrite the history even more, make it look like the Germans bombed NY dec 7th 1941, at the same time as the Japs hit Pearl.

Ever watched movies about WW2 from the 50s? Notice the fact that the Americans are allways ten times as accurate as the Germans.

Please don't misunderstand, I don't think Americans during WW2 were useless, if we look away from early conflicts in North Africa, but you might expect that from unexperienced soldiers going against a prepared and better armed enemy.

[Cobol74]

Flame on. Well it really really ticks me off when Hollywood rewrites history. Worse is when the indefensible is defended by sane rational people. I will now point out that the capture of the naval enigma machine cost lives in real life and these were not American.

http://uboat.net/boats/u110.htm

"U-571 sank on its eleventh war patrol after fighting on the surface with an Australian Sunderland aircraft from RAAF 461 Squadron. The aircraft pilot noted that most of the crew got into the water, but froze in the cold water. U-571 is listed as sinking with all hands at 52.41N; 14.27W."

It would appear that it is allright to tick off foreginers because films do not have to be historically accurate. That is OK? Suppose the Poles decided to make a film about their landing at Normandy on Omaha beach, or the Brits made a film about how the landed and took Iwo Gima? It would matter to the Americans then! Flame off.

Hollywood could make a film about U-505 - well deserved medal of Honor awarded.

[nomix]

Well, I think the Poles did land somewhere in Normandie. Omaha beach, not so sure, but I think they did.

How about the Italians making a film about how they kicked Monty's Churchill tanks back to Egypt?

[Cobol74]

Originally Posted by nomix

Well, I think the Poles did land somewhere in Normandie. Omaha beach, not so sure, but I think they did.

How about the Italians making a film about how they kicked Monty's Churchill tanks back to Egypt?

Poles fought very bravely in all theatres of the European war, but not at Omaha beach which was a totallt American affair. I don't think that most Italians wanted to be in the war at all, Italian member could correct me on that one.

[nomix]

I'm not Italian, but from what I gather, most Italians were very much anti war. Italian troops did very well in Ethiopia, where they fought a 19th century army. But up against British and American armour, they had no chance. Italian armour were.. well.. crappy. British and American armour weren't that good, but in relation to the Italian, it was most definatly superior.

But the Italians were not a very war hungered people, like the Germans, let's face it, for the first part of the 20th century, Germany was a very militarised society.

il Duce never did as well as Der Führer when it came to making his people ready for war.

One might be glad for that. If the Italian troops were as fanatic and as well equipped as Germans, there would be something like 3 million more troops to get across. And it would most definately have meant alot more suffering for the Italian homeland.

But then again, WW2 was a war for production. Socialism and Capitalism won that war, Facism lost it. We should be glad for it.

And just to have it said. Most countries in war with the axes had very brave troops that did a lot to win the war. Kinda proud, on of the most effective fighter squadrons(?) in the RAF was Norwegian!

[zenkidori]

Originally Posted by Cobol74

Read my post above that is why it matters.

no, that's why people are stupid. This is the same type of thinking that leads parents to want an industry or government to shield thier kids from the terrible violence of playstation. It's not thier fucking responsability to teach you or shield you or any of that bullshit. It's just entertainment, plain and simple.

If you want history watch the history channel and stop bitching. It's just entertainment. Just like top gear is just entertainment. People get all up in arms about top gear and JC being politically incorrect and not caring about the environment, you're using the same train of thought as they are.

If you're wondering why American movies portray Americans in a good light, well you've just gone and answered your own question, idiots.

[zenkidori]

P.S. Why the fuck is this in the Top Gear section? Because Clarkson mentioned it?

[nomix]

Originally Posted by zenkidori

If you're wondering why American movies portray Americans in a good light, well you've just gone and answered your own question, idiots.

I'm not wondering, you stupid ignoramous, I would rather use the word concluding that they are stupid enough to make movies that just plain and simply don't tell the truth. And please don't tell me it doesn't matter to be realistic, if you start messing with history in any part, you might as well make a fucking movie that shows the Polish Blitz Krieg attack on Germany sept. 1st 1939.

I'm going to Japan, to make a movie about the dec. 7th attack on the Japanese port of Pearl Harbour. Why not? I promise, it'll be very entertaining!

To conclude. The POINT is, that you make a good movie go patethic if you portray "your" side as perfect in all ways.

Yes, I don't spell too good, but then again, English ain't my first language.