MovieChat Forums > Annie (2014) Discussion > ok. the makers of this film DESPISE your...

ok. the makers of this film DESPISE your SIMPERING INTELLECTS

posted 9 years ago by bijinius
18 replies | jump to latest

so, stacks has gone up five points in the polls, because footage of him saving Annie from the van was captured. so his advisor shows the, uh, "footage of Stacks" saving Annie? taken "by a guy with his cellphone"...? it shows the on-coming van, stacks steps in, AND THE CAMERA ANGLE CHANGES to a shot behind them. This "guy with his cell phone" had some time on his hands, man!! AND had the van almost run Annie over again- Wait. that's simply the footage from the film. Right. The director of this movie truly believes the people watching this abortion of a film are apes. its confirmed.

and, um, one OTHER thing. (yes, i ABSOLUTELY watched the whole thing, obviously.) - the evil stacks-fiend guy says he KNOWS he's found Annie's real parents, as he "ran a DNA test." well, yeah, that would cinch it, but for a DNA test, even a fraudulent one such as his...doesn't Annie have to participate too? Just so, yknow, they would KNOW WHAT DNA IS NEEDED TO MATCH? DNA is a fascinating reality of life...perhaps MOSTLY because it's different for every single one of us.

[–] Thornspike 9 years ago

It's really not that impressive that you saw through the perspective change during the cell phone street filming.

[–] Sage_Beckett 9 years ago

Good points. But not the main issue.

In trying to be cool, and edgy and modern.... They took a story about surviving as an Irish orphan in the Great Depression, a story that also gave kids an awesome historical and political lesson.... For the cheap trick of a race swap to basically carry the entire story.

African Americans aren't oppressed in NYC 2015, the way the Irish were in 1933. And there is no factual political information whatsoever.

They took something that was really educational, but still a lot of fun, and they made it an MTV for Tots music video. How are we so arrogant in the USA, as to decide the people this story was written about , no longer matter and are obsolete? How are we so entitled, that we believe , instead of writing an original story, we can just change and butcher anything so more people "relate"?

It isn't a good thing to cater to the lowest common denominator, who would rather eat glass than learn about someone other than themselves.

The intentional ignorance is astounding. It amazes me that people actually say they'd hate the original Annie.... Because all you're saying, is that you have no appreciation for what people went through before you existed.

[–] Sage_Beckett 9 years ago

And another note, for the people who play the "little black girls need someone to look up to, too!" card- I'm quoting a post, by the way- yes. I agree. They do.

But there is enough imagination in the world to create a new story. You don't change someone else's story just because you cannot relate to it. That's being entitled. You create a new one. That's being creative.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

Come on Sage, you're not that stupid. Suppose they had made the same movie but called it "Clairice" instead. Just "Clarice". Or how about "Little Orphan Clarice."

Would that have attracted as much potential viewer attention as "Annie"? Of course not.

People do remakes to get a new set of people work. Using a well-know name helps people understand what the story is all about. Or approximately about.

I have often used the term "representative" (not generic) when referring to the character Orphan Annie and her story. There are orphans in every culture. There are girls in every culture who are named Annie. There is no reason, other than narrow-mindedness, that anyone would object to a non-Caucasian little girl playing Annie. In fact it would be good to see productions of Annie with a number of other ethnicities, it is the type of survival story that any kids can relate to.

Further, if you were to look up the origin of the Annie story, a poem, and pay attention to the references used in that poem, you'd most likely conclude it was referring to a little black girl.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

Little Orphan Annie is a specific character with a specific white/ginger/redhead appearance. She's not a generic orphan, nor a visually generic orphan, nor a representative of the world's orphans. She's the girl seen in 31,000 comics over 86 years.

Lassie is a specific dog with a specific appearance. Not a generic dog, nor a visually generic dog, nor a representative of the world's dogs. Yet there are dogs of all breeds named Lassie. Can any breed of dog be Lassie in a remake?

Snoopy is a specific dog with a specific appearance. Not a generic dog, nor a visually generic dog, nor a representative of the world's dogs. Yet there are dogs of all breeds named Snoopy. Can Snoopy be a brown Chihuahua (not a white Beagle) in the next Peanuts movie and anyone who objects is bigoted against Chihuahuas?

Superman is a specific superhero with a specific appearance. Not a generic superhero, nor a visually generic superhero, nor a representative of all superheroes.

There is no reason, other than narrow-mindedness, that anyone would object to a 4'0" man playing Superman in a purple suit. Superman doesn't look like that in the comics, but it would be bigotry against short people to object.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

What people here need to know is Cyclorider has been coming to this board even before the movie came out and every post of his badmouths "Annie". He always comes from the racist point of view, not only here but on other boards. He believes strongly in separatism, the whites have their own things, the blacks have their own things, and they need to keep them separate.

He views Orphan Annie as something the whites have and he resents what he sees as an effort for any other ethnic groups to infringe.

So, as all of you read cyclorider's comments just keep in mind he is always coming from his racist point of view, he never has any intention of actually discussing the movie or the acting.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

As usual, all of your judgements are completely wrong, TxMike, but that doesn't stop you from telling lies in your pathetic pursuit of self-righteousness.

Just know the results are in, and this movie failed critically, commercially and in the public's ratings.

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

He believes strongly in separatism, the whites have their own things, the blacks have their own things, and they need to keep them separate.

No, TxMike. Wrong.

It depends on the production. Some are diverse. Some aren't.

You're one of the white jerks who opposed The Wiz production because you strongly believe black people shouldn't "have their own things," everything black people do must be diverse with a sprinkling of white people in it. Right?

You consider The Wiz "separatism" because it has an all-black cast. And moreover, consider an all-black cast a sin!

You must also consider the original Wizard of Oz racist along with countless other film productions that weren't diverse.

You must hate Chinese and Japanese films because they aren't filled with diversity, which by your definition, is racist.

Your "logic." Or lack thereof.

It works both ways, TxMike.

[–] Sage_Beckett 9 years ago

You're correct, Mike. My having a different opinion than yours, doesn't make me stupid. Thanks for realizing that. :)

There was a person with your name on the Annie forums I used to go to. If it's you, you actually have known me for many many years.

So let me throw this out there for you- I would be okay with having a child of any race play Annie, as long as they stuck to the original concept. 1933, Great Depression, FDR, New Deal, and the struggles of being an immigrant.

Also, I truly disliked the score. It didn't work at all for me once it was modernized. They took 8 part harmonies and some very complex musical scoring, and changed it to mostly one note, repetitive phrasing and overly simple musicality.

I think it could have worked if it was a "based on" Annie- for example, Hook. Based on the story of Peter Pan, but not the original story and not pretending to be. Still gets the attention from the name, tells an original story based on an older idea.

I think if they'd found a way to set this in the right time period, and kept with the original spirit, Annie didn't have to be Caucasion. But it was like, they expected just moving it to modern times and changing the race to carry the entire story.... When this is a play/movie that was written to be based on historical events.

Yes, I've read the original poem. I also own the comic strips. I'm not speaking about those, I am speaking about this movie Annie as an interpretation of the stage musical that premiered at Goodspeed in 1976 and went to Broadway in 1977.

Here's another thought for you. We have "Annie: A Royal Adventure". It's not at all based on the play, except for maybe two characters. They kept the name for promotional value, but they didn't try to change the original story. They wrote their own.

I just don't think it has to be one or the other, the way you say. But I can tell you that I have enjoyed productions of Annie where Annie was played by a Chinese girl, an American Caucasian girl, an African American girl, an Aussie girl and a Scandinavian girl.

The music and the particular story, politics and all, are what matter most. I appreciate the intellectual debate, and think we may have to agree to disagree on this one.

Happy holidays.

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

The Little Orphan Annie comic strip was published for 86 years and was a product of the times (1924-2010). She was not trapped in the Depression era for 86 years, but a reflection of current events.

If Annie can be anything, then Annie is nothing.

Should all visual icons be reduced to visual generics?

A cartoon dog that can be any color or breed of dog is a generic dog. Not Snoopy.

A cartoon bear that can be any color or species of bear is a generic bear. Not Winnie the Pooh.

A superhero who can look like anyone or anything is a generic superhero. Not Superman.

Little Orphan Annie is not a generic orphan either. This insidious movie claims she is. It's the primary reason why this insidious movie failed.

A very specific character with a very specific appearance was hereby reduced to a generic character who can look like anything and anyone.

Arab-American Annie?
Mexican-American Annie?
African-American Annie?
Indian-American Annie?

Then Superman can be any color, look like anyone and be a short person standing 4'0" tall. People who are short need a role model.

Then Snoopy can be any color or breed of dog and need not remain a white Beagle. Why should Snoopy remain a white Beagle?

Would changing those be acceptable?

As a female, the icon Annie is considered less important than a famous dog or superhero, so the push to genericize her into a faceless concept is deemed acceptable to some, but not enough.

Thankfully, this insidious movie failed as it deserved to.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

Sage, this comment of yours just illustrates why we are 180 degrees apart on this:

" So let me throw this out there for you- I would be okay with having a child of any race play Annie, as long as they stuck to the original concept. 1933, Great Depression, FDR, New Deal, and the struggles of being an immigrant. "

While that certainly is a very valid idea, in fact if we could magically see every school, community theater, or professional stage production of "Annie" over the years we'd probably find that it has already been done.

Where I disagree is that the character Annie is representative (NOT generic, as that fool CycloRider wants to make it out as) of orphans everywhere, both during the depression and now in the present. There is less value in continuing to remake Annie frozen in one period in time. Just as many stories have evolved over the years Annie can and should evolve too. While we can certainly argue about the most recent Annie, whether or not the story, acting, singing, etc was top-notch or not, to argue that it should NOT have been set in modern times is tunnel vision, failing to recognize that a good story like that can represent orphans of today also.

Those movies of the Great Depression Annie are still with us, no one is taking those away, we can see them any time we want. Why continue re-making the very same thing?

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] Sage_Beckett 9 years ago

You're right, the originals are still there. So why remake them at all?

Yes, what you said (done in every theatre in every country) is really what I would have liked to see. I think we just have to disagree, because I think the story is just as much about the struggles of the Great Depression (there's a song called "We'd Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover" and several scenes in Hooverville and FDR appears more than once in the play, which is what this movie seems to be trying to base itself upon).

The story of Annie, to me, is as much about the hopelessness of a nation, and the transition to hope, as embodied by the little girl living through it.

The problem with remaking it, and basically changing the entire story , to make it just like any other "poor girls becomes rich" Cinderella story, was that it eliminated so much of what made Annie matter. And if you make a dumbed-down remake, and it's just a shallow mess... Why would anyone even bother seeking out another version, after that?

We studied the musical Annie in elementary school. Because it had educational and historical value. We also studied it in music, because for a musical from that time, it's extremely complex. I'm not sure what showing this version of Annie in a school would accomplish in terms of education.

But the educational value and the depth of the subject matter, are, to me, what made Annie so popular. Otherwise, it would be no different from any other Cinderella story.

[–] rdhaun 9 years ago

I understand some of your discontent but I did like the movie a lot. For me, I get edgy when great Asian movies are remade (Ringu, The Eye, Shall We Dance, for example). I'm not bugged that the lead isn't Asian in the American remake (but I do think the original is much better). I do however try to see it as making the story accessible to a new audience (Americans, in the case of Asian movies) though some movies don't translate well or they do a poor job of remaking it.

I do believe that putting a black girl in the role of Annie makes a ton of sense. I can understand that making Annie into purely a kids movie would rile some people but also be helpful to others.

And I have heard stories about some friend-of-a-friend's black daughters falling in love with the movie and seeing Annie as a role model. And that is of value -- as is learning about 1930's culture and history.

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

It makes literally no sense.

The change only makes sense if you believe Annie should be reduced to a faceless, generic orphan and the film lose millions of dollars at the box office as this film did. Not to mention its rotten 27% rating on RT and low 5.2 rating on IMDb.

Superman would likewise make sense as 4'0" tall little person in a purple suit (as opposed to the traditional blue). The change would touch hearts as it would give short people a role model. Hence Superman's height should be reduced to 4'0" and his suit color made purple because color doesn't matter.

And still haven't seen a reason why Snoopy shouldn't be changed from a white Beagle to a brown Chihuahua in the next Peanuts movie.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

CycloRider your racist-based circular separatism arguments have never made sense and they don't make sense now.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

Baloney.

TxMike, your racist self-righteous protests against the all-black WIZ production, which you call "separatism" because it didn't have any white people in it, exposes the depth of your bigoted hypocrisy.

Your half-baked solution is to reduce all visual icons into faceless generics who can look like anything and anyone. There should be no iconic character images in entertainment, right? Just faceless concepts. All.

Understand...

A dog that can be any color or breed of dog is a generic dog. Not Snoopy.

A bear that can be any color or species of bear is a generic bear. Not Winnie the Pooh.

A superhero who can look like anything or anyone is a generic superhero. Not Superman.

Annie isn't a generic orphan.

Snoopy doesn't represent all dogs. Winnie the Pooh doesn't represent all bears. Superman doesn't represent all superheroes. Annie doesn't represent all orphans. Each is a unique individual.

TxMike represents the old communist method of tearing down the uniqueness of the individual and replacing it with a faceless concept approved by the state.

A very specific character with a very specific appearance was hereby reduced to a generic, faceless concept.

Thankfully, this insidious movie failed as it deserved to.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

You must be on drugs, Cyclorider, I never posted anything against The Wiz and it's cast, I think it was fine just the way it was presented.

Have you EVER written anything truthful?? I have no evidence that you have. You are a racist and all your posts show that.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] Cyclo Rider 9 years ago

More lies and libel by TxMike.

You must be on drugs, Cyclorider, I never posted anything against The Wiz and it's cast, I think it was fine just the way it was presented.

You did when you protested "separatism" because The Wiz meets your definition of "separatism." You don't think black people can have their own productions? Or do you hold a double standard according to race like the good racist you are?

Have you EVER written anything truthful?? I have no evidence that you have. You are a racist and all your posts show that.

Wrong. Completely wrong. Again, where's your evidence? Where are your examples? Still no rebuttals to the valid points that were made? I posted a series of truths which is precisely why you have no counterpoints and no counterarguments against them. None. It's because TxMike lives in his own little made-up fantasy world that permits him to lie without being held accountable as an empty-headed, self-righteous idiot.