... the retarded guy was beaten to death? I mean, I know this is supposed to be a dark comedy, but that was almost to the point where the movie would come to a screeching halt for me and not recover. Fortunately, I still thought it was an okay flick and stuck through it. But man, that was harsh.
shareI wasn't. I did have it in my mindset that he had taken severe brain damaging blows in his boxing career, and he was not born with a mental handicap, so that might have been why.
When I first watched the film, I was taken back by how violent the scene was, implied violence or not.
The whole movie had politically incorrect scenes throughout, so one scene did not stand out for that reason to me.
I'm sure a lot of people agree with you there, though.
he was supposed to be the annoying, 'how do i get rid of him' character...and yes, he was NOT retarded, just had a typical boxing career...so to answer your original question, i didn't feel bad for a moment
shareIf the scene had been played for laughs, it would have been inappropriate. But it wasn't. It's one of those "Oh, *beep* moments, like when Polonius is killed in Hamlet. This film rides a very delicate line between dark comedy satire and drama at points. The comedy and satire wins out, but I do think there are moments that are truly just dark and disturbing, and this is one of them. And I think DeVito handled it very well.
shareTake your morality rules and bring them with you to some movie that has one tenth the life of this one.
shareThe scene is supposed to be both dramatic and ironic (as the boxer is beaten to death).
I don't want to go too much into this, but please educate yourself and don't refer to mentally handicapped people as "retarded"
he wasnt mentally handicapped (in the manor your suggesting) he had issues related to his long boxing career which gave him as sheldon puts it the sweet disposition of a five year old. plus it was actually supposed to be sad and it was filmed that way. granted the hey what round is it was funny. and the subsequent smoochie is fuchsia moochie is burgundy tirade was a hoot.
spinner was a funny character but he was also sympathetic and had a good heart so i had no issues with that scene.
Not to mention it wasn't really meant to be an attack on the handicapped or that specific character, it was meant to show the ineptness of the two hit men, they thought it was Sheldon who they were killing and they got the wrong rhino, relax OP, it's not that serious!!
shareWhy is a term that has been used for decades suddenly not OK? Is it because we as a country have become too politically correct? It is NOT meant as a derisive term. It is used simply as a factual affliction.
shareI guess it's as an appropriate time as any to revive this 5 year old sub-thread. First off, I see where you're coming from. How far is too far for political correctness? At what point are we so sensitive that we stifle free expression? This question has been discussed heavily over the last political cycle. Let me attempt to offer a point of view that's outside of....some people's echo chambers.
The n-word wasn't meant to be a derisive term either at first. It was just a factual neutral term for dark-skinned people. Plenty of folks used the word 'correctly' (and continue to try). But what happened to that term? Due to decades...centuries...of deep racial prejudice the term became ubiquitously known as a deeply hurtful racial slur. To this day, to use the word, is to remind...and even perpetuate...the crushing hate that was once accepted. That same ni**er you neutrally referred to is the same ni**er that doesn't deserve to be considered human. My point is that the same word has developed wildly varying usage and meaning. Our language is an ever-evolving corpus.
Maybe you think you can use the term appropriately and presume that everyone around you understands your intentions impeccably. Maybe you think you're above it and feel that people are too sensitive, too dramatic, and too politically correct. Perhaps your loved ones are too tough to be phased by similar language; and speech has no deeper impact.
Anyways, we're not talking about racial minorities. We're talking about a minority that is afforded less respect and even less opportunities to defend itself. It's easy to only think about yourself when you use these terms and disregard those annoying self-righteous hypocrites. But do consider the kind of ignorant, sadistic, arrogant folks that you're being (incorrectly) mistaken with. Are you so set on a particular meaning of a word that you can't give it up for the positive (if indirect) benefit to others? It may not be the most optimal way for us to progress past societal prejudice, but I do think it is important.
There are so many well-intending folks, like yourself, that have been using the same words, the same thinking, the same behavior for decades. Why consider changing it....
Mentally handicapped people are retarded of average brain function. It's absolutely the correct terminology unless you're a PC, SJW.
shareI'll admit... I chuckle whenever I watch that scene now. But the first time I saw it, I thought it was harsh.
Better to be king for a night than schmuck for a lifetime - Pupkin
I didn't feel really disturbed, but I did feel bad.
But just to throw in a quick correction, he wasn't "beaten to death", he got into a quick fist-fight for about 10 seconds of screentime (even quipping "What round is it?", implying he was confused and thought he was in a match, and therefore wasn't really panicked or upset) and then was shot to death quickly after without suffering really. It was almost sort-of funny in a weird way, but I thought it could have been handled a bit better if they were playing it for dark humor.
And FURTHERMORE, this is my signature! SERIOUSLY! Did you think I was still talking about my point?
I thought the scene was realistic - he was far from "beaten to death". When the hit-men approached Spinner, they both got struck by Spinner, as Spinner shows he still has some old tricks he learned from he's boxing career. Unfortunately, for Spinner the hit-men thugs were younger and more able- and they had a gun which Spinner couldn't counter.
It would of been stupid if the hit-men took Spinner down without a fight. I mean for crying out loud he's a former boxer for goodness sake. I think Devito handled it well, when Spinner goes down after being shot you hear the boxing bell, signaling a KO. This scene while sad was not meant to disturb the viewer as it was a black comedy.
It was kind of upsetting, but at least it was painted in a tragic light. Sheldon was truly devastated by Spinner's death, which was surprising, considering the cynical and dark tone of the film.
share