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Actors' politics pollute 'Ring'
USA Today ^ | 1/11/2004 | Michael Medved

Posted on 01/12/2004 1:46:45 PM PST by trajanus_red

Edited on 04/13/2004 1:41:41 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]

"If you want to send a message, call Western Union," said Hollywood pioneer Samuel Goldwyn to filmmakers and stars who sought to use their movie projects to advance some political agenda. Although the telegraph is a largely irrelevant alternative in this Internet age, the thinking behind Goldwyn's advice remains sane and solid: Political preachments, on or off camera, only interfere with the entertainment value of creative work by major Hollywood stars. Recent comments by some of the prime participants in the triumphal box-office hit The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King illustrate the uncomfortable implications of trying to impose timely messages on timeless fantasy.


(Excerpt) Read more at usatoday.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: activistactors; answer; antibush; boycott; boycotthollywood; bushbashing; communists; entertainment; film; hollywoodleft; lordoftherings; lotr; michaelmedved; movie; newzealandfilm; notapeacemovement; shutupandsing; socialists; stalinists; stalinsusefulidiots; usefulidiots; viggomortensen
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To: Dionysius
So you would punish patriotic Americans like Rhys-Davies and Sean Astin because one of their co-actors is stupid and enjoys demonstrating his stupidity in public? Remember, there are a lot of good people involved in that movie, also. Me, I'll see it again and again and again . . .
41 posted on 01/12/2004 2:16:05 PM PST by Timmy
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To: Xenalyte
Hey I can voice my opinion. Don't like the stuff. Never will!
42 posted on 01/12/2004 2:16:33 PM PST by trajanus_red
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To: trajanus_red
I feel the same way about Rush. (The band, not the radio guy.) Ain't America grand? :)
43 posted on 01/12/2004 2:19:30 PM PST by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: StoneColdGOP
I agree with you - to a point. I mean, I think they have the right to say whatever they want. And what they think has no concern for me, except for one thing. I know that money I put in their pocket may get contributed to groups like ANSWER or moveon.org. Plus as they get more popular, they use their fame as a platform.

So I usually don't go see a movie with real leftist types all over it, unless it has some redeeming value.

And I frankly admit certain artists are so obnoxiously leftist I don't WANT to see anytning they are in. For instance, I don't care if Barbra Streisand were to star in the best film ever made, I wouldn't put one cent in her pocket. Just looking at her sends creepy feelings up and down my spine, like claws on a blackboard.
44 posted on 01/12/2004 2:20:20 PM PST by I still care
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To: trajanus_red
Huh?????
45 posted on 01/12/2004 2:22:25 PM PST by richardtavor (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem in the name of the G-d of Jacob)
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To: jtminton
While very small, some portion of that purchase will be going into his pocket.

Not neccesarily. Actors often get their flat sum up front and that's it. Writers are far more apt to draw residuals.

MM

46 posted on 01/12/2004 2:23:22 PM PST by MississippiMan
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To: shaggy eel
Hey! Looks like one of the Nazgul captured the Ring after all...
47 posted on 01/12/2004 2:25:36 PM PST by StoneColdGOP (McClintock - In Your Heart, You Know He's Right)
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To: trajanus_red
I like X.

I haven't seen the movie yet, I am dying to see it. I hope I make it this week.

48 posted on 01/12/2004 2:27:05 PM PST by diotima (tithesthai ta phenomena)
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To: trajanus_red
Peter Jackson probably groans every time Viggo opens his mouth. I quite enjoyed the LOTR movies, even though Viggo turns my stomach. However, of all the protagonists, I found Viggo to be only adequate in his portrayal. Most, like McKellan, Wood, Bloom, Bean, Rhys-Davies, Blanchett etc were ideal. Viggo did well enough in the first movie in depicting the dark, moody "Strider" part of Aragorn, but I found him weak when it came time to assume the mantle of kingship. His speech before the last battle was sure no Crispin's Day classic....

From what I have read, Jackson was rather haphazard in the choice of Mortensen. Apparently the original Aragorn was judged to be too young, so they turned to Mortensen. He must have found him to be a mumbly, whiny actor. I guess he figured with the right costume and makeup and editing, he could make an Aragorn out of anyone. Probably has more to do with keeping the cast "no name" so as to save payroll money.

49 posted on 01/12/2004 2:27:31 PM PST by Sans-Culotte
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To: Timmy
So you would punish patriotic Americans like Rhys-Davies

I assume that Rhys-Davies is a Brit rather than American... which makes it even more pathetic that HE is more pro-American than an "American" citizen like Viggo Moron-sen.

50 posted on 01/12/2004 2:28:01 PM PST by Sloth ("I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" -- Jacobim Mugatu, 'Zoolander')
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To: Timmy
not to nit-pick, but John Rhys-Davies is Welsh, not American.
51 posted on 01/12/2004 2:29:35 PM PST by plastic_positive
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To: trajanus_red
Watch the movie and get lost in the story. The backgrounds and special effects are so incredible it would be a petty shame to let an actor's politics ruin 3 hours of fantasy diversion from everyday life.

52 posted on 01/12/2004 2:32:13 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Sans-Culotte
I agree completely with your view of Mortenson as Aragorn. Broody poetic wanderer, maybe. Charismatic King of legend, no chance.

He was probably too old, and too well known for the part, but I always thought Liam Neeson would have made a perfect Aragorn. He's taller and more imposing than Mortenson, for starters. He had the part exactly right in Rob Roy, and wouldn't have to fake an accent either.

53 posted on 01/12/2004 2:39:35 PM PST by XJarhead
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To: Sans-Culotte
When I read about the problems PJ was having casting Aragorn, I wondered why he didn't use Sean Bean, who was already on his way for Boromir.
54 posted on 01/12/2004 2:39:45 PM PST by Mamzelle
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To: trajanus_red
I suppose you think Prince Charles, the heir to the throne of Britain, is a manly man?
55 posted on 01/12/2004 2:40:01 PM PST by CalKat
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To: Xenalyte
Los Angeles is one of my all time favorite songs.
56 posted on 01/12/2004 2:40:59 PM PST by CalKat
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To: I still care
There are some in Hollywood so repugnant that yes, their presence alone would keep me away from the film. Streisand is one (then again, the kind of movie she'd be in probably isn't the kind I'd want to see anyways).

But no one in the LOTR trilogy fits anywhere near that description.

In fact, with a few exceptions, I don't recall having ever seen any other films with those actors in them. The exceptions being:

Sean Astin: Saw him last in "The Goonies" and "Encino Man".

John Rhys-Davies: Saw him in the Indiana Jones (I and III) films, and in "The Great White Hype". Don't recall offhand, but there may have been another...

Christopher Lee: "1941", and any number of horror films.

Liv Tyler: Have seen (and will see) her in anything.

All the other actors I have never seen on the screen before.

And you know, even if they do turn around and put the $10 I gave them every time I went to see the movies to ANSWER or the DNC or some other rabble of Reds, so what? I give way more than that in time and money to Republican candidates and conservative causes dear to me that it all balances out quite well.
57 posted on 01/12/2004 2:41:45 PM PST by StoneColdGOP (McClintock - In Your Heart, You Know He's Right)
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To: CalKat
"Her hands turn red 'cause the days change at night . . ."
58 posted on 01/12/2004 2:42:07 PM PST by Xenalyte (I may not agree with your bumper sticker, but I'll defend to the death your right to stick it)
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To: Sans-Culotte
If Jackson could make an Aragorn out of anyone with the right costume and makeup and editing, then why didn't he just stick with the original Aragorn?
59 posted on 01/12/2004 2:43:42 PM PST by CalKat
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To: Sans-Culotte
"His speech before the last battle was sure no Crispin's Day classic...."

More like a 'Crispin Glover's Day' classic.

60 posted on 01/12/2004 2:47:17 PM PST by Tench_Coxe
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