no, you're on base. everything you say is true, Smith just needs in my opinion to jump in a take a chance. Perry definitely brings in mostly black audiences, but Will Smith has a built in likeability factor for white audiences. again, i'm just wondering how much popularity is enough, how much money is enough, for him to do it?
-------------- Original message -------------- From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Good point, but I think Perry is making movie history, by proving that > you can make lots of movies with a predominantly Black audience that is > not in the teen target demographics. As far as I know, less than 20% > of Perry's audience is not African American. I think someone with a > smaller budget flick and black or black love will at some point have a > mega-hit. It will cause the ditto-head decision-makers to try to > duplicate that success over and over. This will enable the masses to > adapt. I think that is how they got used to interracial match-ups. I > think that for it to work, it can not be with a predominantly Black > cast, but with a cast similar to most mainstream movies, but the > difference is the male and female leads are both African American. The > problem with Smith taking a risk with that movie is the budget and the > high profile. If he had taken the risk you think he should have and it > was a low budget movie (maybe even one he bankrolled) that became a > breakout hit great. If it failed, it would not have been as much risk > to his clout in Hollywood. Just my cynical musings. I actually hope > I'm way off base and that he is just gutless. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > i think that when the like of Tyler Perry can do fifty million in less than > two weeks, Will Smith would have been a success with "Hitch". he still would > have drawn in a lot of whites, and blacks would have seen it too. It may have > only made one hundred million instead of, say one hundred seventy-five, but > when > is the time to take a chance if not then? I hear what you're saying, but if > America isn't ready now, when will they ever be? > > > > -------------- Original message -------------- > > From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" > > > > > > >> Your assuming that he has enough clout to survive if (in my opinion- > >> when) they were proved right and it turned out not to be a block > >> bluster. I think, though he might has sold out in a way, he was shrewd > >> enough to realize that it was a battle that if he won, would do him > >> harm. American Audiences are not ready. I think he should fight for > >> such a goal in an art house, low budget venture with less to loose if it > >> does not deliver at the box office. Hollywood decision makers are > >> fickle. do you remember when Travolta could not get a reading after two > >> flops. It took several years to revive his career. Smith only has one > >> flop that I know of ..Wild West, had that romance flopped he would have > >> been perceived as not being able to be a romantic lead. no star, of any > >> race has enough clout to survive flops caused by going up against the > >> big decision makers > >> > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >> > >>> You're right on. I was really thrown when i heard that "Master and > Commander" > >>> > >> changed the book's premise, changing the bad guys from the Americans to > >> the > >> France. That really pisses me off. > >> > >>> As for Sali Richardson in "Legend" tha'ts really just a throwaway roll. > >>> See, > >>> > >> the problem with Hollywood isn't giving a Black man a Black wife in a > >> movie > >> where the romance isn't the focus. It's in a straight up romantic comedy > >> or > >> dramatic love story where the love is the focus when they balk. Hence, > >> Smith > was > >> told that giving him a black lady would have made it a "black" movie, and > scared > >> away white audiences. And a white love interest would have scared away > >> white > >> audiences as well, so they got something that to their puny minds was in > >> between: a Latina. I find that to be contemptible, and I'm more than a > >> little > >> pissed that Smith didn't use all that supposed clout to fight for a Sister > >> anyway.... > >> > >>> -------------- Original message -------------- > >>> From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" > >>> > >>> > >>>> Keith, you are assuming the US audience is intelligent and open to > >>>> alternative perspectives, like yourself. I was reading an American blog > >>>> for Blood+, an anime on Adult Swim, in which the US creates a global > >>>> plague for which they have the cure and thus power. The blogger was > >>>> shocked that a lot of Anime positioned the US as a corrupt bad guy. I > >>>> understand why they are inclined to see our government that way. But, > >>>> most Americans perceive us as "the men in White," always doing good, > >>>> even when we do wrong; Many unenlightened White Americans, also have no > >>>> interest in seeing Black on Black love. While I have heard backlash > >>>> over Will Smith being the lead in "I am Legend", I have not yet heard > >>>> anything negative about Salli Richardson being his love interest. If > >>>> movie makers, who make decisions based on the bottom line, start raising > >>>> their expectations of viewers and moviegoer, when all evidence is > >>>> pointing to the fact that Americans are not as smart as they once were, > >>>> then they will start to lose money. Just remember, we who seek out new, > >>>> different and challenging stories, are not their target audience. > >>>> > >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> yeah, i'd read that. That's one of the strangest ironies: that the film > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> actually pulling back from the more overt anti-religious themes of the > books > >>>> angers some Christians, becuase they fear that makes it a stealth film, > >>>> > >> harmless > >> > >>>> in and of itself, but then leading kids to the heathen books. > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> Again, i haven't read any of the books, but i have to say, the more i > >>>>> see > >>>>> > >> the > >> > >>>> trailers the more i want to see this movie. I believe in God--and you > better > >>>> believe as a self-styled scientist, engineer, and someone who seeks > >>>> knowledgeable friends, i've heard all the "it's stupid to believe in a > >>>> God" > >>>> arguments. So for me, the subject matter isn't a problem. > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> I do find myself always sighing when i read the words "such-and-such > >>>>> was > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> changed to appeal to US audiences". That's the same crap that allowed > >>>> Will > >>>> > >> Smith > >> > >>>> to punk out and not cast a black female love interest in "Hitch" (white > >>>> Americans wouldn't see the resultant "black" movie), the reason the > >>>> movie > >>>> "Master and Commander" changed the bad guys from the US (as it was in > >>>> the > >>>> > >> book) > >> > >>>> to the French (didn't want to piss off US audiences), and the reason > >>>> "Harry > >>>> Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was changed to "Harry Potter and the > >>>> Sorcerers's Stone (they were afraid American kids didn't know what a > >>>> Philosopher's Stone was). > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> Geez, anyone ever think of American audiences freakin' *increasing* > >>>>> their > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> intelligence instead of expecting movies to dumb down theres??! > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> -------------- Original message -------------- > >>>>> From: "Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)" > >>>>> > >>>>> You probably saw this, but just incase I thought I would post this text > >>>>> from wikipedia > >>>>> > >>>>> Controversies > >>>>> > >>>>> Several key themes of the novels, the rejection of organized religion > >>>>> and the abuse of power in a fictionalized Catholic Church, are to be > >>>>> diluted in the adaptation. Director Weitz said "in the books the > >>>>> Magisterium is a version of the Catholic Church gone wildly astray from > >>>>> its roots" but that the organization portrayed in his film would not > >>>>> directly match that of Pullman's books. Instead, the Magisterium will > >>>>> represent all dogmatic > >>>>> organizations.^[34] > >>>>> > >>>>> Weitz said that New Line Cinema had feared the story's anti-religious > >>>>> themes would make the film financially unviable in the US, and so > >>>>> religion and God will not be > >>>>> referenced directly. Attempting to reassure fans of the novels, Weitz > >>>>> said that religion would instead appear in euphemistic > >>>>> terms, yet the decision has > >>>>> been attacked by some fans,^[35] > >>>>> > >>>>> anti-censorship groups, and the National Secular Society > >>>>> (of which > >>>>> Pullman is an honorary associate), which said "they are taking the > >>>>> heart > >>>>> out of it, losing the point of it, castrating it",^[36] > >>>>> > >>>>> "this is part of a long-term problem over freedom of speech." The > >>>>> changes from the novel have been present since Tom Stoppard > >>>>> 's rejected version of the > >>>>> script,^[23] > >>>>> > >>>>> and Pullman himself believes the film will be "faithful."^[34] > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> On October 7 , 2007 > >>>>> the Catholic League > >>>>> called for a > >>>>> boycott of the film.^[37] > >>>>> > >>>>> League president William A. Donohue > >>>>> said he would not > >>>>> ordinarily object to the film, but that while the religious elements > >>>>> will be diluted from the source material, the film will encourage > >>>>> children to read the novels, which he says "denigrate Christianity" and > >>>>> promote "atheism for kids."^[5] > >>>>> > >>>>> He cited author Pullman as saying that he is "trying to undermine the > >>>>> basis of Christian belief."^[38] > >>>>> > >>>>> The League hopes that "the film [will fail] to meet box office > >>>>> expectations and that [Pullman's] books attract few buyers."^[39] > >>>>> > >>>>> Other evangelical groups, such as The Christian Film and Television > >>>>> Commission , are adopting a > >>>>> "wait-and-see" approach to the film before deciding upon any > >>>>> action,^[40] > >>>>> as > >>>>> is the Roman Catholic Church in Britain > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> ,^[41] > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>> while the /Catholic News Service/ suggests that instead of a boycott, > >>>>> it > >>>>> may be appropriate for Catholic parents to "talk through any thorny > >>>>> philosophical issues" with their children.^[42] > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Pullman has since said that the books do not have a religious agenda, > >>>>> saying of Donohue's call for a boycott, "Why don't we trust readers? > >>>>> Why > >>>>> don't we trust filmgoers? Oh, it causes me to shake my head with sorrow > >>>>> that such nitwits could be loose in the world."^[41] > >>>>> > >>>>> In a 28 November 2007 > >>>>> discussion with Donohue on CBS > >>>>> 's /Early Show > >>>>> /, Ellen Johnson > >>>>> , president of American > >>>>> Atheists , said that > >>>>> rather than promote atheism, the film would encourage children to > >>>>> question authority , saying that > >>>>> would not be a bad thing for children to learn.^[43] > >>>>> > >>>>> Director Weitz says that he believes /His Dark Materials/ is "not an > >>>>> atheistic work, but a highly spiritual and reverent piece of > >>>>> writing",^[35] > >>>>> > >>>>> and Nicole Kidman has defended her decision to star in the film, saying > >>>>> that "the Catholic Church is part of my essence. I wouldn't be able to > >>>>> do this film if I thought it were at all anti-Catholic".^[26] > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Some commentators have indicated they believe both sides' criticism > >>>>> will > >>>>> prove ultimately impotent and that the negative publicity will prove a > >>>>> boon for the film's box office.^[44] > >>>>> > >>>>> ^[45] > >>>>> > >>>>> ^[41] > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Reception > >>>>> > >>>>> The film has been met with a mixed-to-good reaction, with some feeling > >>>>> that the movie was at times too fast paced and overlooking the core > >>>>> elements of the novel, whilst also arguing that select scenes were well > >>>>> made and the technical dimensions of the movie were excellent. James > >>>>> Christopher of The Times was > >>>>> disappointed, praising the "marvellous" special effects and casting, > >>>>> but > >>>>> saying that the "books weave a magic the film simply cannot match and > >>>>> citing a "lack of genuine drama."^[46] > >>>>> > >>>>> The Sun called it a "magical > >>>>> tale" and a "star-studded rollercoaster ride," praising the cast and > >>>>> concluding the film was "a well-written, beautifully delivered > >>>>> adventure."^[47] > >>>>> > >>>>> The Guardian gave it a mark > >>>>> of four stars out of five, praising Nicole Kidman's casting in > >>>>> particular and saying it had "no other challengers as this year's big > >>>>> Christmas movie."^[48] > >>>>> > >>>>> /The Hollywood Reporter > >>>>> / predicts a > >>>>> "substantial" box office for > >>>>> the film, praising the special effects and stunts, strong storyline, > >>>>> viable characters and the acting.^[49] > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Martin wrote: > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>>> I bought the first two when they came out, and I just dug them out for > >>>>>> reading. (Never did read them- back when I worked steadily, I bought > >>>>>> books right and left, and never had the chance to read them, because I > >>>>>> worked steadily.) First few pages come across as though written for > >>>>>> young adults. I won't let that stop me, because I've read a couple of > >>>>>> YA books that came out as really good. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >>>>>> I'm actually looking forward to seeing this film. I know nothing about > >>>>>> the books, but the trailer looks cool. Reminds me of "Narnia" or some > >>>>>> aspects of "Lord of the Rings". For me, being able to see a scifi or > >>>>>> fantasy film based on material that's completely unfamiliar is a > >>>>>> really exciting thing, like discovering new treasure. I understand > >>>>>> there's quite a bit of controversy because the auther is an avowed > >>>>>> atheist who said his books are about "killing God". Christians are > >>>>>> upset because they say the film has been watered down, the atheist > >>>>>> stuff removed. But then, they say, kids will want to read the books, > >>>>>> and then be subjected to the anti-religious slant of the author. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Anyone read the books? Are they any good? Are they that overt in their > >>>>>> preachments against spirituality and do the children indeed kill > >>>>>> God--or a god--in them? > >>>>>> > >>>>>> *************************************** > >>>>>> http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/blog/us/featured/story/lyras-world/ > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> There is a world where witches rule the northern skies, where ice > >>>>>> bears are the bravest of warriors, and where every human is joined > >>>>>> with an animal spirit who is as close to them as their own heart. But > >>>>>> this world is dominated by the Magisterium, which seeks to control all > >>>>>> of humanity, and whose greatest threat is the last remaining Golden > >>>>>> Compass and the one child destined to possess it. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Twelve year-old Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) lives an > >>>>>> extraordinary life as a ward of distinguished Jordan College. Tearing > >>>>>> unsupervised through the streets on mad quests for adventure with her > >>>>>> loyal friend Roger (Ben Walker), Lyra is accompanied everywhere by her > >>>>>> daemon, Pantalaimon (voiced by Freddie Highmore) â?" a small, > >>>>>> ever-changing animal that serves as a constant voice of reason. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> But Lyraâ?^(TM)s world is changing. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Her uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), is embarking on a trip to the > >>>>>> Arctic Circle to investigate a mysterious element intriguingly called > >>>>>> Dust, but the Magisterium would go to any lengths â?" including > >>>>>> shutting > >>>>>> down Jordan College â?" to stop him. At the same time, rumors of > >>>>>> children mysteriously disappearing and being taken north become > >>>>>> terrifyingly real when her best friend Roger goes missing. Lyra swears > >>>>>> to go to the ends of the earth to rescue him, and when a new figure > >>>>>> appears at the college â?" Marisa Coulter (Nicole Kidman), a beguiling > >>>>>> scientist and world traveler â?" she sees her best chance to get away. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> But Lyra finds that she has been drawn into a trap designed to take > >>>>>> from her the one thing she possesses that the Magisterium desperately > >>>>>> seeks â?" the Golden Compass. Given to her as a gift by the Master of > >>>>>> Jordan College (Jack Shepherd), it is a mystical, powerful device that > >>>>>> can tell the truth, reveal what others wish to hide and foreshadow â?" > >>>>>> and even change â?" the future. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> At that moment, Lyra realizes that she will have to break away from > >>>>>> Mrs. Coulter and embark on her own journey to rescue Roger and stop > >>>>>> the Magisterium. But fate puts her in the company and protection of a > >>>>>> tribe of seafaring Gyptians led by Lord Faa (Jim Carter), Ma Costa > >>>>>> (Clare Higgins) and Farder Coram (Tom Courtenay). Banding together an > >>>>>> unlikely alliance with the Gyptians, the mysterious witch Serafina > >>>>>> Pekkala (Eva Green) and Texas airman Lee Scoresby (Sam Elliott), Lyra > >>>>>> is flung into an adventure that will take her over sky and ocean, to > >>>>>> the wilds of the icy north, where she gains a powerful ally in a great > >>>>>> armored bear named Iorek Byrnison (voiced by Ian McKellen), who > >>>>>> pledges to serve her in her campaign until she prevails. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> A great war is coming â?" one that threatens not only Lyraâ?^(TM)s > >>>>>> world > >>>>>> > >> but > >> > >>>>>> all the parallel worlds waiting just beyond the northern lights. With > >>>>>> her band of friends and allies, and the power of the Golden Compass, > >>>>>> Lyra will need all her skill and all her courage, to stop it. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> New Line Cinema presents The Golden Compass, an epic fantasy adventure > >>>>>> starring Oscar® winner Nicole Kidman (The Hours), newcomer Dakota > >>>>>> Blue > >>>>>> Richards, Sam Elliott (We Were Soldiers), Eva Green (Casino Royale) > >>>>>> and Daniel Craig (Casino Royale). Based on Philip Pullmanâ?^(TM)s > >>>>>> best-selling and award-winning first novel in his Dark Materials > >>>>>> trilogy, the film is adapted and directed by Academy Award® nominee > >>>>>> Chris Weitz (About A Boy). > >>>>>> The Golden Compass is produced by Deborah Forte and Bill Carraro, with > >>>>>> executive producers Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne. Toby Emmerich, Mark > >>>>>> Ordesky, Ileen Maisel, Andrew Miano and Paul Weitz also executive > produce. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The distinguished cast also includes Academy Award® nominee Tom > >>>>>> Courtenay (The Dresser), Derek Jacobi (Gosford Park), Jack Shepherd > >>>>>> (Charlotte Gray), Ben Walker (BBCâ?^(TM)s â?1/2Sweeney Toddâ??), Simon > >>>>>> > >> McBurney > >> > >>>>>> (The Last King of Scotland), Jim Carter (Shakespeare in Love), Clare > >>>>>> Higgins (Stage Beauty), Magda Szubanski (Happy Feet) and legendary > >>>>>> actor Christopher Lee (The Lord of the Rings trilogy) > >>>>>> > >>>>>> The film also features voices of Oscar® nominee Ian McKellen (Gods > >>>>>> and > >>>>>> Monsters, The Lord of the Rings trilogy), Oscar® winner Kathy Bates > >>>>>> (Misery, Titanic), Oscar® nominee Kristin Scott Thomas (The English > >>>>>> Patient), Freddie Highmore (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and > >>>>>> Golden Globe winner Ian McShane (TVâ?^(TM)s â?1/2Deadwoodâ??). > >>>>>> > >>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links > >>>>>> > >>>>>> "There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will > >>>>>> get organized along the lines of the Mafia." -Kurt Vonnegut, "A Man > >>>>>> Without A Country" > >>>>>> > >>>>>> --------------------------------- > >>>>>> Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. Make Yahoo! your > >>>>>> homepage. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> Yahoo! Groups Links > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> Yahoo! Groups Links > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> > >>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Yahoo! 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