Bad Santa and Bad PR for Disney

CTXRover

CTXRover

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by prberk
I am sorry, but I do not think that the Academy Awards necessarily mean anything about "best picture" anymore.

And awards mean nothing with regard to simple right and wrong, and I think vulgarity in this context is destructive and unnecessary, especially since the story can be told (yes, meaningfully and well) without it.

Actors/writers/etc. are forever getting up on the Oscar stage and saying how they want to "make a difference" with their films. And that street works both ways: films like this make a difference, in glorifying purient interests and just plain trash.

Just think, Disney's money is not worth investing in traditional animation that is not entirely commercial (as Mr. Stainton gave as the reason for stopping production last week in Orlando), but this is worth the investment.... Hmmm...
Click to expand...

I should say that I am also disgusted by the quotes from this movie and would never endorse or see a movie of this type. I would never condone this type of behavior, especially when it centers around a character/spirit of innocence and childhood, nor do I support the use of profanity, either in film or on the "streets".

I was simply bringing to light that Miramax does bring us some very nice "artistic and entertaining movies" including last year's Chicago and The Hours. For every trashy movie they put out, there is some very classy and "award-winning" material out there. Perhaps its time for Disney to better monitor what movies they are making, but I do think it would be a shame to lose them as a studio.
 
Wilt Dasney

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
I just saw CNN's Lou Dobbs blast this movie on MoneyLine. Lou isn't exactly Matt Drudge--if more mainstream voices start in on this film, it could add some credence to the outcry.

I saw a trailer on TV today--it just looked coarse and mean-spirited. Like I said, I was willing to give the concept a chance, but nothing I've seen so far makes me think this was done well.
 
prberk

prberk

Well-Known Member
I did not see it on the Miramax web site. Where are all of you seeing it? Is it actually scheduled for release, or just in production?

Also, I never have gotten a clear answer to a question that I have asked before in these forums: what is the nature of the deal that Disney has with Miramax? If they own them, then they have editorial control, but I seem to understand that they entered into a contract that actually left the Weinsteins (sp?) in control, that Disney has only modest veto power. So, again I ask, what is the REAL power/control/relationship that Disney has with Miramax?
 
G

General Grizz

New Member
All I am finding in research is "Disney owns Miramax."

In other news...

from http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Interests.html :

"Disney owns the largest percentage, as a partner, in the biggest company in the soft-to-medium market.

Disney owns many of the huge record labels producing the very bands and topics the "Parental Advisory" label was created for - bands that glorify rape, drugs, murder, hate, racism, violence against women, violence, period.

Disney owns many of the huge movie studios producing some of the most outrageous crap yet to be made. You won't find any mention of those details as they push their Family Friendly, Pro-Family, Pro-Mom&Dad, Pro-Happy Safe Healthy Children Agenda though. As one insider said, "The New Disney will do just about anything to make a buck". "
 
M

MouseMadness

Well-Known Member
I must be the only person left who's not seen a trailer for this movie. However, a local reviewer was talking about it on the radio today, and it must not be marketed as a strictly adult film (even though it is rated R) because she said she took an informal poll of families leaving "The Cat in the Hat" this weekend asking about "Bad Santa" and many said they thought it looked funny and were planning on taking the kids to see it! :eek: So parents need to be held responsible for doing their homework as well as Disney making sure they aren't promoting worthless smut. (Which, while I've not seen trailers or the film, I think we can rest assured this in all likelyhood is.)
 
NemoRocks78

NemoRocks78

Seized
The movie infact does look funny, but it would be better if it wasn't under a Disney-owned studio. That's why Disney is going to recieve a lot of criticism for this. I don't think i'll see it though, I'll wait for DVD if I want to. You also shouldn't forget that this was John Ritter's last film.
 
M

MouseMadness

Well-Known Member
Originally posted by turkey leg boy
Want to get me a subscription? It's for members only. :lol:

Could you paste it or at least give some high or low points of the review?
Click to expand...

Say what now? :veryconfu I'm no member, lol! But yes, I will... I'll post the whole darn thing, because I find it quite amusing. :lookaroun That and it's relatively short. :)

"There used to be a distinction between tepid, flavorless mainstream comedy and the bilious black humor that bubbled up from underground. But if the rancid, one-note Bad Santa, inexplicably directed by Terry Zwigoff (''Ghost World,'' ''Crumb''), is any evidence, that distinction has become meaningless: Heartless outrage is just another spoke in the entertainment product wheel. Billy Bob Thornton, cast as a boozy, lecherous, dirty-mouthed, short-fused lout who scowls and screams his way through jobs as a department-store Santa, is introduced to us seated at a bar in his scraggly red suit, where he's pickling his poisoned soul with Old Grand-Dad whiskey. ''I've seen some pretty s---ty things in my life,'' he growls, ''but nothing has ever sucked a-- like this.'' If that doesn't make you laugh, be warned: The movie isn't going to get much wittier than that.

Why does this scurrilous loser, who loathes kids and loathes himself, work as a Santa Claus? It's all a scam, a means of gaining late-night access to department stores, where Thornton and his diminutive elf partner, played by Tony , proceed to crack safes and swipe merchandise. The movie could have been funny if it had used Thornton's garbage-tongued bum to spit at the excesses of the consumer-culture Christmas. But ''Bad Santa,'' which might just as well have starred Andrew Dice Clay, isn't up to much of anything besides pretending that swearwords and snot-nosed insults, served up by Santa with an almost institutional monotony, aren't just naughty. They're -- big joke! -- incorrect."

review by Owen Gleiberman
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom