Page 2 of 2
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 6:03 pm
by Malcolm
I can't think of one, either. But any number of low budget flicks starting in the '60s has a chance. Nixon and Dubyuh would be my two top guesses.
Oh yeah, Black Dynamite beats the shit out of Nixon.
Edited By Malcolm on 1437084425
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 6:37 pm
by Alhazad
Leisher wrote:BTW, did you notice there were two blatant shots at Republicans in the film ("I don't care what you do to her, I'm a Republican!"), and then Obama was portrayed as joining the bad guys and being killed?
Has any other film ever visibly "killed" (not just off camera or a guy playing a fictional president) a sitting president? Couldn't they get in trouble for that? I always thought that's why fictional presidents are always used in movies. Do they avoid trouble by just showing the back of his head and never using him name?
Neither of those is a shot at the GOP. The 'republican' comment is in reference to the Princess Tilde character's imprisonment and comes from a 'Scandinavian' Republican, i.e. someone who doesn't care what happens to a Scandinavian royal. Portraying Obama as agreeing with a genocidal madman isn't even remotely anti-republican, just anti-Obama. And no, they didn't depict his face, they just showed the back of a light-skinned black man with close-cropped hair and a kinda-similar-but-not-really voice.
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:34 pm
by TPRJones
...they just showed the back of a light-skinned black man with close-cropped hair and a kinda-similar-but-not-really voice...
...who was sitting in the oval office. It was supposed to be him, face or no.
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 8:56 pm
by Leisher
Alhazad wrote:Leisher wrote:BTW, did you notice there were two blatant shots at Republicans in the film ("I don't care what you do to her, I'm a Republican!"), and then Obama was portrayed as joining the bad guys and being killed?
Has any other film ever visibly "killed" (not just off camera or a guy playing a fictional president) a sitting president? Couldn't they get in trouble for that? I always thought that's why fictional presidents are always used in movies. Do they avoid trouble by just showing the back of his head and never using him name?
Neither of those is a shot at the GOP. The 'republican' comment is in reference to the Princess Tilde character's imprisonment and comes from a 'Scandinavian' Republican, i.e. someone who doesn't care what happens to a Scandinavian royal. Portraying Obama as agreeing with a genocidal madman isn't even remotely anti-republican, just anti-Obama. And no, they didn't depict his face, they just showed the back of a light-skinned black man with close-cropped hair and a kinda-similar-but-not-really voice.
Because everyone is so familiar with Scandinavian Republicans? You may be right, but why not say Scandinavian Republican? I have to assume Vaughn is familiar with American politics and Hollywood's left preference. He would know what saying "Republican" would mean to American audiences.
Also, you read my statement incorrectly. I was not saying "Obama joining up with the bad guys" was a shot at the GOP. I said there were two shots at Republicans and gave an example of one in the quotes. THEN I mentioned how Obama, a Democrat, was portrayed. (Go back and read the sentence again.) I should not have edited out my next line speculating on Vaughn's political message...
The other shot was a throw away line from later in the film, but I don't remember the quote exactly or the scene.
The only reason I even brought them up was because the one line was so blatant. However, you're saying it's a shot at Scandinavian Republicans. Would you happen to have proof of that or is it just speculation? I'm now curious to know who he was taking a shot at.
As for the Obama thing, yeah first amendment and all that, but I think that the one person you can't legally threaten? Of course, I have a few right wing uncles on FB who should probably be in jail if that's true.
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 9:07 pm
by TPRJones
You may be right, but why not say Scandinavian Republican? ... Vaughn is familiar with American politics and Hollywood's left preference. He would know what saying "Republican" would mean to American audiences.
1) Because the character would have no reason to say that? She's Scandinavian and so is they guy she was referencing so it's assumed. Having her specify it would have been out of character.
2) Because the movie wasn't written just for people not able to follow along with those sorts of details? I for one prefer movies not to be dumbed down for the lowest common denominator audience.
Maybe he did intend a parallel shot at the GOP, but I think that's reading your own biases into it.
As for the Obama thing, yeah first amendment and all that, but I think that the one person you can't legally threaten?
Legally you can't threaten anyone. THe only difference is if you threaten the President then the SS will investigate, which is not true of everyone you threaten.
But to be legally considered a threat it must be specific and direct. It has to be exponentially more blatantly a threat than this. That's not to say the SS may decide to do "investigate" (i.e. harass) someone anyway, but that's more about the Cops Being Dicks thread.
Edited By TPRJones on 1437095441
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 9:55 pm
by Leisher
1) Because the character would have no reason to say that? She's Scandinavian and so is they guy she was referencing so it's assumed. Having her specify it would have been out of character.
2) Because the movie wasn't written just for people not able to follow along with those sorts of details? I for one prefer movies not to be dumbed down for the lowest common denominator audience.
Apparently, 90% of the world that don't follow Scandinavian politics, myself included, are the "lowest common denominator audience". Could you type slower? I'm having trouble following.
Also, she was out of the scene already and did not say the quote in question, so you must mean "He" specifying it would have been out of character? How so? "I'm a Republican" versus "I'm a Scandinavian Republican". How does the second one take him out of character?
Maybe he did intend a parallel shot at the GOP, but I think that's reading your own biases into it.
Just seems an odd line to have in a film that:
-has nothing to do with Scandinavia aside from needing a princess for a final scene
-is directed by an Englishman (who is married to a German)
-was adapted for the screen by that Englishman and an Englishwoman
-was made for an American company
-in an industry driven by Americans
-and was NOT in the source material
I don't mind Easter eggs in films even if I have no idea what they're referencing. I don't mind words or examples of cultures that I'm not familiar with in entertainment. I just found this line odd.
Maybe he did intend a parallel shot at the GOP, but I think that's reading your own biases into it.
I must have missed the part where you showed Matthew Vaughn's quote about HIS intent for the line? 
Legally you can't threaten anyone.
Well duh, but for some reason the threatening of the president always stuck with me. Perhaps a civics class back in the day hammered home the SS investigation part? I've always thought it to be along the lines of yelling fire in a crowded theater. You know, the whole "You have free speech, but there are certain words if said in certain circumstances that can get you arrested."
And I'm still a bit shocked by the scene. Both because he is a sitting president and because having Obama be in league with the baddies and then killing him would seem to risk drawing the ire of the Hollywood left.
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 10:04 pm
by TPRJones
Leisher wrote:Apparently, 90% of the world that don't follow Scandinavian politics, myself included, are the "lowest common denominator audience". Could you type slower? I'm having trouble following.
Nah, you're smart enough. You just weren't paying attention. It's possible you were already looking for political messages and use of the word Republican threw you off. It helps to know that how the word is used in other countries, but there was enough context involved to tell that it wasn't about American politics - at least not directly.
Sorry I'd forgotten the details as to who said it. Now that you've said that I remember, though. And yeah, character reasons still apply. The implication otherwise would be that all politics elsewhere revolve around America and that just ain't so.
It's not so far out of character that it would have annoyed me. But it's marginally better writing without it.
I must have missed the part where you showed Matthew Vaughn's quote about HIS intent for the line?
Nah, that's just me showing my bias about how I doubt it was meant as a bias. I'm making just as much of an assumption as you are. I could certainly be wrong. 
You know, the whole "You have free speech, but there are certain words if said in certain circumstances that can get you arrested."
Oh, sure, but you can get arrested just because someone with arresting authority doesn't like your face. Getting convicted and sentenced has a bit more control, but anyone can be arrested at any time for any reason at all and thanks to cops-protecting-cops type stuff even if it was a blatant misuse of power they may never get in any trouble for it unless you yourself are a powerful person. Welcome to America.
Edited By TPRJones on 1437098787
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2015 11:45 pm
by Leisher
Nah, you're smart enough. You just weren't paying attention. It's possible you were already looking for political messages and use of the word Republican threw you off. It helps to know that how the word is used in other countries, but there was enough context involved to tell that it wasn't about American politics - at least not directly.
I just did a google search for "Scandinavian Republican" and several results came up about Bernie Sanders?
I honestly wasn't looking for political messages. I typical don't focus on that stuff because I expect it at this point. Hollywood is mostly left, so they take shots at the right. This got my attention because it was so blatant and highlighted.
And I do realize words mean different things in different countries, and some words are complete bullshit. However, in this case I will plead ignorance because I know very little about Scandinavian politics.
Nah, that's just me showing my bias about how I doubt it was meant as a bias. I'm making just as much of an assumption as you are. I could certainly be wrong.
I really want to know what he meant now. I know they referenced Republicans one other time in the film, and clearly his portrayal of Dems, hell, ALL politicians was less than flattering.
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:04 pm
by Alhazad
Leisher wrote:I just did a google search for "Scandinavian Republican" and several results came up about Bernie Sanders?
There are several countries in Scandinavia: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia (tee hee). In the film it was never specified which one she and the minister whom you quoted were from; they were referred to as 'Scandinavian'. It does raise the question as to why the writer singled out Obama but protected Scandinavian royal families by making up a fictional princess, but maybe that's because American audiences aren't expected to know minor European politicians and royals, or maybe it's because she takes one in the dumper during the credits.
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:10 pm
by GORDON
I thought it was weird they took a dig at republicans and the guy had a foreign accent. Never occurred to me it was supposed to be a different party of foreign republicans, I thought it was just hollywood being hollywood. It isn't like jabs at republicans are uncommon.
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:10 pm
by TheCatt
There's a lot of words here for a non-spoiler thread. Is it still non-spoiler?
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:33 pm
by TPRJones
TheCatt wrote:There's a lot of words here for a non-spoiler thread. Is it still non-spoiler?
Oops.
No, it is not. There are some specific but unimportant spoilers, and some vague but very important spoilers. I don't think there are any specific and important spoilers, but it's probably not worth the risk.
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 9:56 pm
by GORDON
It's all vague, in my opinion. Nothing related to the plot.
Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2015 10:10 pm
by Alhazad
You should really see the movie. If nothing else, it's two hours of "turn your brain off" goofy violent fun.
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 1:57 am
by Leisher
Yeah, stop reading and just see it. Definitely not one to miss.
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 9:11 am
by TheCatt
TPRJones wrote:TheCatt wrote:There's a lot of words here for a non-spoiler thread. Is it still non-spoiler?
Oops.
No, it is not. There are some specific but unimportant spoilers, and some vague but very important spoilers. I don't think there are any specific and important spoilers, but it's probably not worth the risk.
Well, I stopped reading the words just in case.
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 2:57 pm
by Malcolm
Saw it.
The 'republican' comment is in reference to the Princess Tilde character's imprisonment and comes from a 'Scandinavian' Republican, i.e. someone who doesn't care what happens to a Scandinavian royal.
Yes. After realizing a Scandinavian chick has nothing to do with American politics, it shouldn't be that hard to make a jump to, "Oh yeah, anti-Royalists." What was he supposed to say? "I'm a commoner."
Anyhoo, onto the flick.
1) Colin Firth wasn't the guy. At no point in time was I buying his bad-ass act.
2) This flick wanted to be James Bond so fucking bad. And it suffered every time it tried.
3) It's always annoyed me how a character goes from "wuss" to "kick your ass" in the span of one film. The only time I ever bought it was in The Matrix.
4) Fuck the fucking twerp kid. That was the best actor you had?
That said, it's a mindless action flick with decent upside. I wouldn't call it anything special.
Edited By Malcolm on 1450036709