stratoman Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 http://www.drudgereport.com/bufsol.htm The WALT DISNEY CO. is set for maximum controversy when it releases a "warts-and-all" portrait of U.S. Army life with the fuss-film BUFFALO SOLDIERS. As American men and women put their lives on the line in Iraq and other locations throughout the world, DISNEY and its subsidiary MIRAMAX have set a July 25 opening for the story of enlisted man running a profitable drugs and stolen goods business out of an Army base! [A promo snap for the film -- "Steal all that you can steal," a riff on the US Army's own pseudo-empowering "Be all that you can be" slogan, while below actor Joaquin Phoenix stands before an American flag -- comes as TIME magazine alleged in a cover story that American troops looted and vandalized the Baghdad airport after it was secured.] The film's director Gregor Jordan describes SOLDIERS as a robust satire illustrating the corruption, drug use and violence that goes on in US Army bases. At the film's open, a painted US flag is on the ground and is stepped on by marching soldiers. The film features an excessive amount of profanity by senior officers, suggestive sex [oral sex in bed, sex in a car, sex in a swimming pool], theft of government property, and rampant drug use by soldiers. Actor Phoenix explains, "I don't know why anyone would be offended. It wasn't a movie that was intended to offend. And if we don't show things as they really happen, then what's that about? Censorship!" The movie studio has been receiving complaints from military insiders, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. One letter written by a retired Army Colonel, representing the Ninth & Tenth [Horse] Cavalry Association, the group of real "Buffalo Soldiers," warns of the film's racial overtones. "Scenes show MP's, who are black, committing acts of violence and engaging in corruption," writes Col. Franklin J. Henderson. "These scenes, intentionally or unintentionally, provide a bad image of black soldiers and degrade the sterling service of the real 'Buffalo Soldiers' who were mostly black men." Director Jordan was so concerned by the mood of the country during the most recent military activity in Iraq that he asked for the movie's release to be delayed from springtime. "I thought, This is not the time to be putting this movie out. If we leave it a couple of months, the war'll be over and off all the front pages. Then we'll go." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefhogskin48 Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Absolute garbage. A disgraceful portrayal of people willing to fight and die for their country. Typical Hollywood- sufficed to say I will not be watching this movie and hopes it fails miserably. Now Kurp, Larry, Burgold, phishead, et al- come to this movie's rescue. :laugh: All in fun, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redman Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Originally posted by stratoman Actor Phoenix explains, "I don't know why anyone would be offended. It wasn't a movie that was intended to offend. And if we don't show things as they really happen, then what's that about? Censorship!" :doh1: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratoman Posted July 15, 2003 Author Share Posted July 15, 2003 Originally posted by redman :doh1: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: yeah, the Phoenix family aren't the sharpest steak knifes in the drawer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJWatson3 Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 well, hate to say it, but i've known a few in the military that dealt drugs... so it can't be all that improbable, while not popular. reality happens... god bless out troops all the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 My question would be, "do things like that happen?". I honestly don't know because I've never been in the military. If it does happen, then what's all the crying for, if it doesn't, then people have a right to be upset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 I doubt there is anybody (well, OK, maybe Jane Fonda) who would say that theft and drug dealing are normal in our military. OTOH, I would doubt there is anybody (well, OK, maybe some people here) who would say that it's never happened. So, what it then comes down to is: Since both the reality and the film are "grey", then is the film too dark a grey? Chief: I suspect that the only "rescue" this film's going to need is at the box office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince62 Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 of course it happens....the military is a reflection of society. however, the military addresses its problems forthrightly and, on the whole, does a better job than many other elements of society in mandating expected behaviours and holding violators accountable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 People, ITS A MOVIE!!!! Did anyone see (or remember) Murder at 1600? It portrayed the Pres as a murderer. Or CopLand? Cmon people. It's entertainment. Now if Michael Moore put it out as a documentary and claimed it was true, that's different and would be par for the course with him. But as a work of fiction, it's no big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 What Kilmer said. It's a movie, just like Stripes and Major Payne and Taps and A Few Good Men. Unless it's a Michael Moore 'documentary' then what's the big deal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackC Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 It's just a movie. Give people credit. Why so much thin skin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soliloquy Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Dang, i thought this movie was going to be about THESE buffalo soldiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Kilmer said it best, it's a movie, it's entertainment, how can anyone say that they like it or don't unless they have seen it. What I was asking is if there was a rampant drug problem in the military... does this movies make light of that? Does this movies portrait "one guy using or selling drugs"? There's a lot of questions I would ask before getting offended. Of course, if the intent of the movie is to show the military as a completely drug infested organization, than our better judgement would tell us thats not true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romo Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 I agree with all those that pointed out it is "just a movie". Even if this movie reflects some sort of reality, not sure if it does, what is wrong with that? Should movies only reflect the good of the military not the bad? As long as its not documentary-style ala Michael Moore what is the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Two words... Three Kings Now..about Buffalo Soldiers..what's weird to me is that this was filmed over 2 years ago (2001). Took a long time to get released, I guess. Anyways...I guess it won't be up there with Catch 22, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fansince62 Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 kilmer....it wasn't clear from the post and the quote if this was presented as a comedy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Genius Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Fan, This is the plotline from IMDB.com 1989. The Berlin Wall is about to fall, and the world is about to be made safe for the new world order. But outside of Stuttgart, West Germany, at Theodore Roosevelt Army Base, Specialist Ray Elwood of the 317th Supply Battalion (Joaquin Phoenix) is about to find his own cold war turn white hot. Elwood's a loveable rogue, a conscript who's managed to turn his military servitude into a blossoming network of black market deals, more out of boredom than ambition. Officially, there's his day job as battalion secretary to the inept but caring Commander Wallace Berman (Ed Harris). On the side, there's everything from selling the locals stolen Mop'N'Glo to cooking heroin for the base's ruthless head of Military Police, Sgt. Saad. When a new top sergeant (Scott Glenn) arrives, with the avowed intention of cleaning the base up, Elwood thinks the new blood is nothing he can't handle, especially after he lays eyes on the top's daughter, rebellious Robyn (Anna Paquin). But that was before he figured in the $5 million in stolen arms that just landed on his lap, Berman's jealous wife, an insane Turkish drug dealer, and, of course, the resulting lust, betrayal, and murder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funkyalligator Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Sounds like an interesting movie, nothing I'd go to the movies for but I would rent it. Why are people making a big deal about the movie???? Who cares..... it is just entertainment!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codeorama Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Originally posted by The Evil Genius what's weird to me is that this was filmed over 2 years ago (2001). Took a long time to get released, I guess. Star Wars EP III is being filmed right now, but won't come out till 2005 because of editing.. I think that's pretty standard for many films. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golgo-13 Posted July 15, 2003 Share Posted July 15, 2003 Dude, chill. The movie will probably bomb and it will become a non-issue as long as people don't make a big deal about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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