Skids and Mudflap...how does everyone feel about the racism accusations?

[redqueenar]

I would just love one of these supposedly educated film critics to explain to me how they can equate being illiterate with being black.

[lightning]

As i'm sure you've all heard the new york times, aint it cool news and others have accused M.Bay and others involved in making TF2 brought to the surface negative black stereotypes in their protrayal of these 2 characters..

Manohla Dargis of the New York Times said that "the characters [...] indicate that minstrelsy remains as much in fashion in Hollywood as when, well, Jar Jar Binks was set loose by George Lucas."The characters have been given ape-like appearence, speak in street-slang dialog, and confess an inability to read; one of the characters also has a gold tooth."

How does everyone feel about all this?

whoever accused the movie of racism is an illiterate dummie. the movie was funny. even jar jar binks was not that offensive.

[pearllharbourwasntthatbad]

You know, i think there are some truths to the accusations..BUT...i don't think it is limited to this movie. These sorts of stereotypes of all races, sexes, sexual preferences ext, are all over television, film, and in music. I think the fact that its a childrens movie, an assumed blockbuster, and by critically despised micheal bay, TF2 is way more under the microscope then other things.

Its there, but, its everywhere. So i'm not saying its ok for him to do it, but, its not just him. Nor do i think ti was intentional, but these things rarely are these days

[b-bug]

I agree. It was kinda funny the first time, but around the tenth humping and cuss, now it's just crude and gross. Wasn't this a somewhat-family movie? But I still like the twins.



Thank you, some one finally said it. They pretty much 'downloaded' the way they talk from the internet, and like Jazz, they chose a 'different' personality then from the others.
So of COURSE! They must be racist, right?(Sarcasm) Anyways, that's all they are, posers. They try to act cool, and that's what they think is cool. I wish people wouldn't nitpick.

Yeah the humping got old real fast but no one has mentioned how Michaela seemed to like it and that "Sam" had to force him off her :wtf. I guess she was trying to make Sam jealous. Still VERY unnecessary for a robot. Did Wheelie download the personality of a horny dog or something?


As far as the twins go.....I've heard white guys talk like the twins do and it's pretty disturbing and scary when you hear it in real life but not so much coming from robots (at least for me). So it's not really a "race thing", it's a small part of the "American culture" thing. It's been said before and I agree that they are just posers. What got me was them talking about "busting caps" in someone's a$$ (not cool, especially if the twins are aimed at the kids).

Overall I enjoyed the movie though.

[Wordski]

First off,let me say that I am black and in no way was I offended by any of the comments said during the movie.I think they were created for comic relief and what better way to do that then to give audiences something they can identify with,we all know atleast one person who acts like these retards.This is a damn popcorn,feel good,have a good time and be entertained movie.And they entertained the hell outta me.People need to just relax,pull the tampon out,and find something else better to bitch about.

[MovinForward]

First off,let me say that I am black and in no way was I offended by any of the comments said during the movie.I think they were created for comic relief and what better way to do that then to give audiences something they can identify with,we all know atleast one person who acts like these retards.This is a damn popcorn,feel good,have a good time and be entertained movie.And they entertained the hell outta me.People need to just relax,pull the tampon out,and find something else better to bitch about.

Lol, agree in full. People are just TRYING to find racism now(in everything).

[Andreas]

You know, there's a little movie coming out on July 24 from producer Jerry Bruckheimer. It's called G-Force and it's about a team of guinea pigs, trained elite operatives working for the government... yes, it's a Disney movie. Anyway, one of the guineas are voiced by actor/comedian Tracy Morgan and if you've seen the trailers he also talks like a gangster... so, does that make G-Force a racist movie as well?

[Jennar]

You know, there's a little movie coming out on July 24 from producer Jerry Bruckheimer. It's called G-Force and it's about a team of guinea pigs, trained elite operatives working for the government... yes, it's a Disney movie. Anyway, one of the guineas are voiced by actor/comedian Tracy Morgan and if you've seen the trailers he also talks like a gangster... so, does that make G-Force a racist movie as well?

Obviously, especially since the female is a pig and talks like a latino woman. Definitely racist.

/sarcasm

-J

[redqueenar]

You know, there's a little movie coming out on July 24 from producer Jerry Bruckheimer. It's called G-Force and it's about a team of guinea pigs, trained elite operatives working for the government... yes, it's a Disney movie. Anyway, one of the guineas are voiced by actor/comedian Tracy Morgan and if you've seen the trailers he also talks like a gangster... so, does that make G-Force a racist movie as well?

YES! I keep telling people to take their smaller children to see that one.

[redqueenar]

If these people really wanted to hone in on something that gives a person pause in this movie, how about the pencil neck deciding that America is the sole global authority? And then he gets chucked out an airplane because he's an asshat. How about that?

[Jennar]

If these people really wanted to hone in on something that gives a person pause in this movie, how about the pencil neck deciding that America is the sole global authority? And then he gets chucked out an airplane because he's an asshat. How about that?

I thought it was classic case of a politician sticking his nose where it doesn't belong, in a military operation.

Would have been funnier to see him swallowed by Devestator though followed by some witty snap by Epps.

-J

[S!gma]

From what I saw

For the twins the green one was Hispanic, the Brown one was Black [...yea, they probably had names.]

I didn't really have a problem with the twins But i didn't appreciate them either.

Why Autobots would have earthican accents baffles my mind, they proved themselves ignorant and things like "I dont read" or whatever
didnt help.

One can say its Offensive The others wont... I just remember a little character called Jar Jar Binks

[Ed Fuego]

The problem with this ridiculous notion that the characters are racist is that it completely waters down the term "racist". There is a great deal of racism in this world, real racism, and if CNN or Fox or a newspaper spends too much time talking about the stereotypes (and that's what they are) in this movie, that's a waste of time and does nothing to help the problem of racism.

The characters were funny (at least to me) BECAUSE they were stereotypes. The use of stereotypes is one of the most commonly used comedic techniques among filmmakers, writers, comedians, etc. Stereotypes are not inherently racist or sexist or and other kind of -ist that exists. Everyone, and I mean everyone, falls into a stereotype, or in actuality, multiple stereotypes. White men can't jump. Asians are good at math. These stereotypes only become racist when the person or persons (aka the Klu Klux Klan) espouse the idiotic claim that a particular stereotype actually REPRESENTS EVERYONE within that in-group.

That was obviously not the case here. And not the mention that the characters, in the context of the movie, acted bravely. Someone who was really trying to depict a racist character would never allow that to happen.

You want to see a racism movie, a real racist movie, rent Birth of a Nation. Then get back to me about racism.

I honesly can't believe that there are so many people who are COMPLETELY OVERREACTING to this, and in doing so, are completely missing the actual destructive power of true discrimination.

And hey, I live in America, and I firmly believe that people should have their say, just like me. But the ridiculuous reaction to this is, ironically, an example of ignorance.

Anyway, I thought the movie was fucking awesome.


Ed Fuego

[taybrian1]

You know what...people can find racisim in the smallest things. Okay, the characters get their language skills from the internet. That's what they found. End of story, move on.

[spencey7]

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/06/25/...-transformers/

Kurtzman & Orci distance themselves from The Twins and condemn the characters. Very interesting...

Demand for a public apology is certainly growing.

[kmdrum79]

How is this any different than Larry The Cable Guy voicing Mater, Cheech Marin as the lowrider, George Carlin doing the VW hippie van and Jenifer Lewis as the caddy in Disney's Cars movie? All of those voices and characters were complete stereotypes. I didn't hear one person bringing that up when the movie came out. Is it ok to make fun of hillbillies with only a few teeth and treat them like they aren't very smart? Disney apparently thinks so and I guess it was ok because it was Disney. Geez.

[SamWitwicky]

From what I saw

For the twins the green one was Hispanic, the Brown one was Black [...yea, they probably had names.]

i think they dont have a race because they are alien robots! lol

[The Last Autobot]

Jazz: "This looks like a cool place to kick it."

Sam: "How'd he learn to talk like that?"

Optimus: "We've learned earth's languages throught the world wide web..."


or something like that.

If they are able to download the whole net and learn everything about us, then why can't Jazz like rap? Why can't the twins have the same taste as Jazz? Why can't he like the lingo? How is that racist? If anything, it's a compliment.

These are mechanical sentient beings that saw what options they had in the english language (there are plenty) and picked which one they liked best. Nothing to do with race. It just shows how different we all are, and that's they way I like to perceive it. Bay isn't racist and this thread isn't going in a healthy direction.

Ratchet: sounds like my doctor. won't say what race he is, because it doesnt matter. All i'll say is that he's educated and respected.

Ironhide: Sounds like Clint Eastwood. (dont hear white people complaining about that one)

Jetfire: Sounded like he was from England. Didn't hear the Queen launch a protest.

If humans are multicultural, why can't the bots? It gives the characters more depth. IMO.

It would be soooo lame if they call spoke in the same tone/accent.

[taybrian1]

They are red/orange and green. Last time I checked, they weren't a member of anyones race.

[Trailbreaker]

The twins were just a couple of goofballs.

[taybrian1]

They just mentioned the whole thing on Conan O'Brian.

For the last time people, STUPID IS NOT A RACE!

[xSoundwave]

I think this whole thing is utterly ridiculous.

[spencey7]

What got me was them talking about "busting caps" in someone's a$$ (not cool, especially if the twins are aimed at the kids).

They ARE aimed at kids - Michael Bay said exactly that at (numerous) press conferences. "Busting caps" and "p*ssy" references? Even without the increasing "Sambots" controversy, they were ridiculously poorly handled.

For all you people defending the Twins and calling them hilarious - you're laughing at something which was EXPLICITLY included for 6-year-olds.

I'm curious - what does everyone make of (writers) Kurtzman & Orci's comments? They seem to thihk there's a problem, and are doing their best to distance themselves from it.

[Grazer]

I'm curious - what does everyone make of (writers) Kurtzman & Orci's comments? They seem to thihk there's a problem, and are doing their best to distance themselves from it.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and what some see as offensive, others see as fine. I think its a stupid statement to be releasing and think its done out of fear due to the (in my view - ridiculous, OTT and largely unjustified) critisism that the movie is receiving over it. It reaks of grandstanding and trying to simply protect themselves

[pearllharbourwasntthatbad]

I still don't know how i feel