Posted on 12/30/2004 11:00:21 AM PST by Ellesu
The cast member on the Dukes of Hazard movie that had the filmmakers scratching their heads has not been publicity-drenched Jessica Simpson or her rabble-rousing smart-ass co-star, Johnny Knoxville.
It's the General Lee, the bright orange 1969 Dodge Charger central to all Duke boys escapades. More specifically, it's the Confederate Flag emblazoned on the General's roof, a symbol that has become quite the object of controversy since the original TV series' seven-season run starting in 1979.
The filmmakers didn't want to alienate modern audiences, the Wall Street Journal reported recently in a story headlined "Flag wavering." Nor did the moviemakers want to anger long-time fans by tinkering with the Warner Bros show. "So they struck a compromise with the studio."
Quoting a source involved with making the film, the Journal says the film includes scenes where the flag is "derided as an inappropriate symbol of the dark past."
For example, Bo and Luke ask a group of African-American college students for directions. "Is this a joke? Some kind of reality show?" one of them asks. Bo, the dimmer of the Dukes, explains the flag is cool and that their friend Cooter, a Civil War buff, painted it when he fixed the car. But Luke understands, and explains to Bo that some people find the flag offensive and a "symbol of slavery." That Luke, he always was perty' smart.
There's a black guy around here that has a Confederate Flag plate on the front of his car. I've not asked him why. But I will one day just out of curiosity.....
Bless you sir!!
I'm not going anywhere near this movie, though. No way am I gonna listen to these idiots tell me that peabrained Jessica Simpson is an appropriate substitute for the lovely Catherine Bach, or that Johnny Freakin' Knoxville ought to be a Duke Boy.
And this whole Confederate Flag thing.... geez. I guarantee you that by trying to tack on this "disclaimer", they're going to alienate almost as many people than if they'd just left it off altogether.
-Dan
I hate that flag.
Having said that, it is the height of hypocrisy and inanity to mesh with the G.Lee this way. Make the movie and be faithful of don't make it.
LOL!! Really, what IS the delay in the massive exodus of leftists? Could it be they don't REALLY want to give up the best lifestyle on the planet?????
"Before the era of political correctness no one found it offensive."
Bingo! That's how a lot of the PC crowd makes a living. We aren't smart enough to know what offends us, so they spend there days looking for things we should find offensive.
You proved my case, the only people that show could offend was/are white southerners.
How hard is it to just make a movie where two Southern moonshiners and their crazy relatives and friends drive around in a cool car and outwit/outdrive the crooked county government?
Those are my sentiments exactly.
That is good!
If you put up the money, you can get any movie you want made.
She's a lovely girl. Talented singer - but can she act?
Well, that little blurb was enough for me to decide not to see the movie. I was a big fan of the series, but it is really pathetic how they've taken a great show and PC'd it rather than remaining faithful to it.
I won't miss it....I won't see it, but I won't miss it!
Having said that, it is the height of hypocrisy and inanity to mess with the G.Lee this way. Make the movie and be faithful or don't make it.
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