Birth of a Nation - 2016 (1 Viewer)

[BLReed]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_a_Nation_(2016_film)

A 2016 jump on the bandwagon remake of a 1915 classic. Epic fail.

"Nat Turner is an enslaved Baptist preacher who lives on a Virginia plantation owned by Samuel Turner. With rumors of insurrection in the air, a cleric convinces Samuel that Nate should sermonize to other slaves, thereby quelling any notions of an uprising. As Nate witnesses the horrific treatment of his fellow man, he realizes that he can no longer just stand by and preach. On Aug. 21, 1831, Turner's quest for justice and freedom leads to a violent and historic rebellion in Southampton County."

 

[The Military Workshop]

I note this movie opened in USA on day you posted and you labelled it an Epic Fail. Is that based on you actually watching it ?

 

[BLReed]

Epic Fail. Is that based on you actually watching it ?

Yes, duh.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Yes, duh.

Thanks for clearing that up. It was just that in your other recent movie threads you made it quite plain you had seen them and made a few more comments than you did in this case.

 

[BLReed]

...... you made it quite plain you had seen them

Yeah, "Good movie," "Quite good," "This is an outstanding film." "Entertaining." I'll have to count all the rivets
in the future. Maybe.

and made a few more comments than you did in this case.

I generally have limited comment if I don't care for something.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Yeah, "Good movie," "Quite good," "This is an outstanding film." "Entertaining." I'll have to count all the rivets
in the future. Maybe.


I generally have limited comment if I don't care for something.

Not to worry. I dont pay much heed to your opinions about movies or otherwise.

 

[BLReed]

Oh, by-the-way. Theaters here open around noon. If no one else wants to see it I generally go by myself
in the early afternoon. Then save movies more agreeable for family night out with dinner on Sundays. Or to
a Dinner Theater Saturday evening. Then there is physical disc and my new favorite - streaming. Hope you can keep up.

Then sometimes import a DVD, i.e. Queen of the Desert, "A chronicle of Gertrude Bell's life, a traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, and political attaché for the British Empire at the dawn of the twentieth century." Hopefully in the mail today. Does not look like it will ever be released in the U.S.

 

[BLReed]

Not to worry. I dont pay much heed to your opinions about movies or otherwise.

That is what I figured in the first place. Strange when you asked if I had seen it.

 

[DETHKOR]

This isn't a remake and wasn't meant to be a remake.This takes place 30 years before the Civil War,the original was the last days of the Civil War and the early Reconstruction period.This is a true story,the original was based on a book and stage play and was D.W. Griffiths tribute to the KKK,who were making a big comeback in the early 1900's.Since it's been out 2 whole days it's way too early to call it a fail $-wise,but as a movie it's far from being a fail.Stories like this,12 Years a Slave,Underground,Free State of Jones and others might offend or disturb some people but it's our history and it's about time it's being told in a way that will reach as many people as possible.The average person is not a big reader anymore.

 

[jazzeum]

I've only read only one review and it was overall a good review. It's a movie I plan on seeing as it relates to one of the few slave revolts we had during slavery. It was also an important event in our history during the antebellum era.

 

[ivanmoe]

The average person is not a big reader anymore.

Not sure that the average person ever was.

-Moe

 

[BLReed]

.........Since it's been out 2 whole days it's way too early to call it a fail $-wise,.

You are correct as to Box Office. But so far it's only doing well in theaters in African-American neighborhoods. Maybe the
market has reached a saturation point. "Free State of Jones" didn't do well either. Interesting article.

http://deadline.com/2016/10/the-birth-of-a-nation-nate-parker-box-office-fox-searchlight-1201833362/

 

[DETHKOR]

Free State of Jones was also a good movie but it was DOA,hopefully this will do much better.History based movies are a hard sell now,the age group that pays the bills prefer anything comic book related.The guys back story doe'nt help.even though he wasn't convicted.

 

[jazzeum]

Depends when you refer to the average person. At the time of the Civil War there were hundreds if not thousands of newspapers and many journals and most were knowledgeable about the current events of the day. People probably started to read less with the advent of radio and television.

 

[Rutledge]

Thanks for clearing that up. It was just that in your other recent movie threads you made it quite plain you had seen them and made a few more comments than you did in this case.

Let me guess. You presumed the "r" word....:rolleyes2:

 

[BLReed]

Free State of Jones was also a good movie but it was DOA,hopefully this will do much better.History based movies are a hard sell now,the age group that pays the bills prefer anything comic book related.The guys back story doe'nt help.even though he wasn't convicted.

I didn't like Free State of Jones much. 12 Years a Slave was somewhat better, but even with an Oscar boost it didn't do that well in the U.S.
Just over $50 Million. Three times that in foreign markets. The Academy Awards was criticized last year for the whiteness of the Hollywood elite. Expect them to go over board this year with diversity. Birth of a Nation should do well at the Oscars.

The back story is an excuse for poor cinema performance. Yes, Parker was acquitted and the co-writer Celestin's conviction overturned. Back stories didn't seem to hurt Woody Allen or Roman Polanski.

Yes, the age group that pays the bills prefer comic book action. Maybe they are just tired of the selection geared to a small part of the
population. I've had to go to foreign film.

 

[Running-Buddy]

Yes, the age group that pays the bills prefer comic book action. Maybe they are just tired of the selection geared to a small part of the
population. I've had to go to foreign film.[/QUOTE]

In this politically correct movie era ther seems to be a sense of guilt with Hollywood for being too WHITE. Hence we get served up these kinds of movies to try to make amends and leave us with a sense of guilt ourselves about our past history. They will always be doomed to fail with that attitude and aimed at too small an audience.

Howard

 

[lancer]

Well, the movie is bombing at the box office. Has made a little over $12 million in 2 weeks, with most of that coming the first week. Receipts were down over 60% for the second week. That said, the movie budget was only $8.5 million, so they are moving into positive territory, even though it may not technically turn a profit in the theaters. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

Here is an interesting article about the movie from the excellent blog Student of the American Civil War, https://studycivilwar.wordpress.com/2016/10/11/the-birth-of-a-nation-and-nat-turners-rebellion/

 

[Mirof]

All dear friends
IMHO "The free state..." goes further ; pure slavery being no far from workers slavery at the same period, it's always the profit you make by not paying or underpaying the workers and when it become not possible anymore here, to go to countries where they are just allowed to shut their mouth


May I suggest you to see
Requien for an American Dream
and
The XIII
both well documented documentaries on Netflix

And about comics readers !!!! The golden Age of comics was in the 40ies 50ies 60ies