Django Unchained or The live version of Catcher Freeman
Forget what Spike Lee has to say about Django Unchained, I want to know if Aaron McGruder recognized his work on the big screen.
After reading what Quentin Tarantino said about Roots, I had plans to sit this one out. Then I got an invite to see it.
Tarantino called out Roots as inauthentic as a part of his battle with Lee, who accurately said Django was disrespectful to his ancestors. About ten minutes into this overly long spaghetti western/blaxplotation flick, I wanted to make a tee shirt that would read, SPIKE WAS RIGHT.
Tarantino should've made a western with a black hero -- the slavery aspect of the movie was just so unnecessary. Granted, this movie is a work of fiction and not based on any historical slavery story. And yes, people go to the movies to be entertained, but overly violent movies aren't entertaining to me. However, I digress.
The fact that some many people are talking about how "original" this movie is proves one thing: Y'all don't watch The Boondocks.
I'm not saying QT, as his fans call him, stole this idea from McGruder -- actually I'm saying he stole several ideas from him.
Samuel L. Jackson's Stephen character is Uncle Ruckus.
Django is Catcher Freeman.
QT may call Roots inauthentic, but at least it wasn't based on a cartoon.
After reading what Quentin Tarantino said about Roots, I had plans to sit this one out. Then I got an invite to see it.
Tarantino called out Roots as inauthentic as a part of his battle with Lee, who accurately said Django was disrespectful to his ancestors. About ten minutes into this overly long spaghetti western/blaxplotation flick, I wanted to make a tee shirt that would read, SPIKE WAS RIGHT.
Tarantino should've made a western with a black hero -- the slavery aspect of the movie was just so unnecessary. Granted, this movie is a work of fiction and not based on any historical slavery story. And yes, people go to the movies to be entertained, but overly violent movies aren't entertaining to me. However, I digress.
The fact that some many people are talking about how "original" this movie is proves one thing: Y'all don't watch The Boondocks.
I'm not saying QT, as his fans call him, stole this idea from McGruder -- actually I'm saying he stole several ideas from him.
Samuel L. Jackson's Stephen character is Uncle Ruckus.
Comments
Yes all of this preexisted lots of things, but McGruder is the ONLY person who has successful brought it to life in recent times, on this level. Quinten needs to Credit this man for inspiration. On that note, Id rather watch any episode of boondocks over the tripe QT produced. At least Mcgruders work has a message. QT's film was straight bafoonery.
Roshomon
Blazing Saddles
Charlie Brown
Shaolin Soccer
Star Wars
Just about any John Woo film
Gangster movies
Friday
Chapelle Show
And that's just off the top of my head. Should people behind all of those be pissed at McGruder for "ripping them off"?
2) Samuel Jackson's character physically looked a lot more like Uncle's father, Mister Ruckus. Also seeing how Sammy J is one of the voice actors for The Boondocks, it is hardly "theft" if he used the Uncle Ruckus character as some of the inspiration for his portrayal of an Uncle Tom character of his own.
3)The Boondocks and Django Unchained share a common producer. They gonna sue themselves?
4)Spike Lee (any anyone else) should shut the hell up about how bad a movie is until he actually bothers to at least watch it.
All I'm getting from the author in this is that she's sacrificing critical thinking just to get cool points and show off how much of a Boondocks fan she is.
You might want to give some of the credit for Ruckus to the man who was able to make the character work on screen better than he did on paper - Gary Anthony Williams.
Either way, original point reminds. A lot of people borrow from each other and are inspired by numerous sources in the creative world. I honestly can't see McGruder considering Django Unchained to be ripping him off in any way. If somehow the next comiccon around here is able to get him as a guest, that's going to be one of the questions I want to ask him. I'm willing to bet that a guy who blatantly took scenes from things like Mad Max would be cool with it.
As far as the question of respect of black people in Django, I can't prononce myself because I,m not black, I'd rather leave it to black people. However, I don't think Tarantino wanted to disrespect the African-American community. I think he just wanted to make an entertaining movie and so he did.