Then what kind of movies ARE ok that won't tick someone off???

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Advocates Protest 'Blindness'

 Hollywood has trouble with portraying disabilities. Even when they try to do the right thing, they still manage to tick people off. That was the case for this summer's blockbuster comedy Tropic Thunder and it's happening again with this week's release Blindness.

In "Tropic Thunder," Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) tells fellow actor Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) to "never go full retard." The scene is hilarious, satirizing Hollywood stars' tendency to play disabled in pursuit of Oscar gold. Think Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump" and Sean Penn in "I Am Sam." The film's satire, however wasn't appreciated by disability advocates who slammed the use of the R-word as "offensive and demeaning...it fuels social stigma against vulnerable people."

Fast forward a couple months and a similar controversy is playing out with Miramax's latest release. "Blindness," based on a book by Nobel Prize-winning author Jose Saramago and directed by Academy Award nominee Fernando Meirelles, depicts a city in the thrall of a virus that suddenly robs its citizens of their sight. Soon society collapses and stricken descend into a brutal Hobbesian new order. When the book came out, it was praised for its use of blindness as a metaphor. But as the movie is about to be released, it has been lambasted by Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind.

  • "The National Federation of the Blind condemns and deplores this film, which will do substantial harm to the blind of America and the world. Blind people in this film are portrayed as incompetent, filthy, vicious, and depraved. They are unable to do even the simplest things like dressing, bathing, and finding the bathroom. The truth is that blind people regularly do all of the same things that sighted people do."

Miramax responded, "We are saddened to learn that the National Federation of the Blind plans to protest the film 'Blindness,'" and that director Meirelles "worked diligently to preserve the intent and resonance of the acclaimed book."

So, is the NFB justified in its criticism of the movie or are they missing the point? You can watch the first five minutes of the film below to decide for yourself.

"Blind people in this film are portrayed as incompetent, filthy, vicious, and depraved. They are unable to do even the simplest things like dressing, bathing, and finding the bathroom. The truth is that blind people regularly do all of the same things that sighted people do."

Ok. So their argument is that they are portrayed as incompetent among other things. They have a problem with blind people being unable to do simple things like bathe, getting dresses, etc. YES, blind people can do these things. BUT, when a person is suddenly thrown into something they are unfamiliar with, they need time to adjust. People can't suddenly loose their sight and expect to funtion in the same manner as they have their entire lives. It's not like they suddenly develop sonar once their eyesight is gone. Attitudes and complaints regarding something in a movie is unecessary and rediculous. If you don't like it, don't watch it. That's why they have movies. SO you can see something not normally allowed to be aired on tv. To see something controversial. Something different.

Comments

RE-TARD-ED!!!! OF COURSE ...

RE-TARD-ED!!!! OF COURSE the blind is portrayed that way in this movie! according to the description..."depicts a city in the thrall of a virus that suddenly robs its citizens of their sight." the people catch a VIRUS!!!! it's NOT meant to say that ALL REAL LIFE blind people are this way!!! and what do they care...they can't SEE the movie anyway!!!!...::ducks and runs::....

F**k the blind. They, like ...

F**k the blind. They, like ALL "differently advantaged, " always cry and boohoo" we ant to be treated like everyone else." Okay you ARE being treated like everyone else. Okay....usually it's the black guy that ALWAYS gets killed in the horror movies, right? Do you hear the black people bitching. NO!!! I hear them joking and laughing about it. In the black people movies, the white guys are always portrayed as no dancin skill havin, walking like we have a stick up our asses, pocket protector wearin crackerasses. Do you hear us bitchin? NO!!!! Do you hear about the jews being portrayed as money grubbin tighwads? NO!!!! F**k those crybabies boohooin about the blind people being offended. I will bet 10 million bucks not ONE of the people bitchin is blind. LOL !!!! Weetawds. I'll say it again....being offended is a CHOICE. If you're too immature to rise above it than you decerve every moment of misery you have CHOSEN to put yourself through.

Oh, and I have deceased ...

Oh, and I have deceased relatives that were zombies. (one even rode a horse) I will be sure to file a lawsuit next time a zombie movie comes out. Or, because I have Polish blood in me (shut up TGIX) I'm gonna sue my wife. She was born in Germany and lived there til she was 7. Surely her family KNEW some nazis during the war. Therefore I'm entitled to reparations of some kind right? Should I be offended because Germany attacked Poland first? I see how her grandmother looks at me. I'm gonna sue for her retirement and her dead husbands pensions. He was captured and killed by the Nazis but he SPOKE to a Nazi at SOME point. I want my money!! LOL!!!! Let's all be offended at something. I'm offended I just wrote what I wrote. I think I'll punch myself in the balls. Then I can sue me and take everything I own. I won't be much better off but I will send myself and me's like me a very strong message that I will NOT tolerate my abuse of myself.

"I’m offended I just wrote ...

"I’m offended I just wrote what I wrote. I think I’ll punch myself in the balls."
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ROFL!!!!!

But yeah. It's a movie. ...

But yeah. It's a movie. It's fiction. Fantasy. Made up. Not real. Someones imagination acted out. That's all.

"they can’t SEE the movie anyway!!!!…::ducks and runs::…. "
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I totally said the same thing yesterday. "If it bothers them that much, just don't watch it! OH! OH! Look what I said!" lol.

<p>"Then I can sue me and ...

"Then I can sue me and take everything I own. I won’t be much better off but I will send myself and me’s like me a very strong message that I will NOT tolerate my abuse of myself."

LOLOL!!!!

slappy has such a way with words!!!

"Weetawds. I’ll say it again….being offended is a CHOICE. If you’re too immature to rise above it than you decerve every moment of misery you have CHOSEN to put yourself through. "

AMEN BROTHER!!!!

AMEN people!! What is ...

AMEN people!!

What is up with people being soo thin skinned these days?? It's a FREAKING movie? Don't like it?? Change the stupid channel!!

I'm an animal lover and got engrossed in a really good book until it got to the part about animal abuse and condoning it. Did I turn around and write the auther a nasty letter expressing my anger?

Nope....I just quit reading and threw the book in the garbage!!

Amen, people, and double ...

Amen, people, and double ROFL to Slappy!