“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” is catching heat from critics for its pair of “jive talking robots” that reportedly draw on black stereotypes for laughs. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but I know some of my closest friends who have and they said they were appalled by the way the characters potrayed black people. Director Michael Bay insists that the bumbling ‘bots named Skids and Mudflap, of which one sports a GOLD GRILL/TOOTH, are just good clean fun.
The debate is whether Hollywood has a bad rap sheet for being racially insensitive for laughs (especially in the Transformers sequel)? What do you think????
“Hollywood has a track record of using negative stereotypes of black characters for comic relief”, said Todd Boyd, a professor of popular culture at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, who has not seen the ‘Transformers’ sequel. “There’s a history of people getting laughs at the expense of African Americans and African American culture,” Boyd said. “These images are not completely divorced from history, even though it’s a new movie and even though they’re robots and not humans.”
Film critic Roger Ebert told ABCNews.com in an e-mail that “the total effect of the film is horrible.” “Some stereotyping still takes place,” Ebert said. “In films aimed at black consumers, such as Tyler Perry’s ‘Madea,’ it’s in the nature of an inside joke. When outsiders do it, it loses its humor and is simply offensive.”
What do you think???? Leave us your comments!
Thanks to my sweetie Fred for the Pitch/Post Idea!
In related news, Movie and R&B star, Tyrese Gibson answers some questions that have long been on the mind of fans. He offers candid facts on his intriguing personal life and exciting upcoming projects, including a much buzzed about comic book present and that little film so may know as ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’ Gibson also let’s readers in on body art obsession, his new life as a single dad and how he’s feels about his ex-wife. Check out the Essence.com interview here Essence.com: Tyrese Gibson: tattoos, divorce, ‘Transformers’ franchise
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7 comments
Tiffany says:
Jun 26, 2009
I was going to go see the movie tomorrow, but now I doubt I will; just not feeling in the mood to go to the movies (RIP Michael)…I’m mad that they went there with this movie because I was really looking forward to seeing it! Yes, the first one had “Jazz” and that made me raise a brow, but it sounds like they went much further with the stereotypes this time around. Maybe if a bigger fuss had been made about “Jazz”, they wouldn’t have went there at all with the sequel….
Babygurl_Dont_Care says:
Jun 27, 2009
The movie was hot. If you didn’t see it yet go see it. You be the judge of the movie.
CiCi bbyyy says:
Jun 27, 2009
That movie was good and funny and I am a black person and i found the characters to be funny people are now just blowing it out of proportion of what it is.
Shaunie says:
Jun 27, 2009
This is one of the best movies you’ll see this year. Believing that this movie is racist is like believing that MJ was a paedophile which we know he ain’t!
Don’t listen to peoples bad mind and decide for yourself!
KYA says:
Jun 27, 2009
OLIVIA FROM G-UNIT NEW CLIP WITH A Democratic Republic of the Congo SINGER CALLED FALLY IPUPA…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp8VxDi8M-0
DetroitFan11 says:
Jul 12, 2009
Racism? Seriously. They we’re stupid robots acting stupid for laughs. If you felt like that connected to black people, then I guess we all know what we think of the majority. It was never clear that they were acting like anything but stupid to make people laugh. But you the critics, try to find some way to bring down america’s number 1 movie. You the critics are racist for thinking that. Your are idiots.
Good day.
danielle brown says:
Aug 26, 2009
AS A BLACK PERSON I’M SAYING THT ARE PEOPLE ARE SOO SENISTIVE OMG GET OVER YOURS SELF WE KALL EACH OTHER NIGGA ALLLLLLL THE TIME 365 DAYS 24/7. SOOO STFU