Escape to the Movies: Red State

[JoesshittyOs]

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

It seems to fit, and it sort of goes along with the colors of our flag.

Have you ever thought of a different color to represent Republicans and Democrats?

It's strange because in the rest of the world red is the color of the comunism.

Well. Communism isn't exactly a big party in America.

 

[C.S.Strowbridge]

i really hope that bob reviews a good movie next time, it's not like there isn't any out there

Like...?

Contagion, Warrior, The Debt. You could include Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, which is on Video on Demand right now and has a limited release at the end of the month.

 

[C.S.Strowbridge]

I know I'm a bit late on this but...
He can't seriously be looking forward to the Muppets movie, right? It's going to be a shitty cash-in movie like the Smurfs is going to be, and just because they're the Muppets doesn't mean it's going to be good.
Please drag your hopes down, Moviebob, or you're going to be wounded terribly.

Actually, the guys who wrote the Muppet movie, Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, did so because they loved the Muppets as kids. They are not just doing it for a quick cash grab. It could suck, but it could be really good. I hope it is as good as Enchanted was, but that's probably askign too much.

 

[Verlander]

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

It seems to fit, and it sort of goes along with the colors of our flag.

Have you ever thought of a different color to represent Republicans and Democrats?

Well, I'm not American, but in most other countries the colours are reversed (Blue=Conservative, Red=Liberal). In Britain it's slightly different, with Red representing the Labour Force Party (which isn't alway liberal), but that kinda fits in with American politics where the Democrats aren't technically very liberal. It just looks like you guys ahve got it the wrong way around, and it confuses my simple mind

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

Technically, the American news media use Red and Blue refer to states won by Republicans and Democrats respectively in the Electoral College vote [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_College_(United_States)] for president. Before the 2000 election the colours were not actually set and could vary every election (historically, the Democrats were often Red). But because of the controversy over the 2000 election, the Red = Republican/Blue = Democrat divide was fixed in the popular consciousness, and propagated by the media.

Ah ok. Cheers!

 

[Treblaine]

Doesn't sound good. If I was him I'd quit cannabis for good. Because he's been getting worse, he's definitely losing grip on that i-don't-know-what that keeps us glued to planet earth, mentally.

Then again, I don't know how much he is smoking now, nor exactly how much he used to smoke at the height of his career. I just don't want to wait for the 20-year studies on the mental effects of cannabis, like my grandfather's generation waited for confirmation of the "proven link" between smoking and cancer. It was too late for him.

Weed should be a rare treat, NOT something that should be consumed in any way habitually. Not even monthly. I'm talking birthdays or distant reunions.

He never smoked weed before Zack and Miri "bombed" at the box office and sent him into a depression (yet it grossed more money than any of his other movies). He's been preaching about pot like it's a miracle lifestyle choice ever since, saying he gets stoned multiple times a day. On Mohr Stories many episodes back, Jay Mohr and his manager were trying to figure out just what the hell happened to once great black comics like Martin Lawrence and Dave Chappelle. The manager said he didn't think it was money or fame or bad luck. It just boiled down to the long term effects of drugs, altering brain chemistry and creating/exacerbating psychological problems like depression and bipolar disorder when they weren't present before.

It's a little troubling for a long time fan, even though he really hasn't had any apparent problems yet. But the stuff he says like "Worry is just paying interest on a loan that never comes due" and the general attitude of "it doesn't matter if you think my movies suck because I'm going to retire soon anyways" don't exactly paint the picture of a guy who values himself very much. I'm probably just projecting because I myself am a self hating loser, but still. The man is talented and he puts himself down constantly, almost to silence someone else who isn't there. The guy used to defend himself, justify his opinions, and school people with his quick wit. Like I said though, he's still really funny even (and especially when) stoned. I guess I'll enjoy it while it lasts, but it's getting old.

I think Kevin Smith may need an intervention.

 

[JoesshittyOs]

Well, I'm not American, but in most other countries the colours are reversed (Blue=Conservative, Red=Liberal). In Britain it's slightly different, with Red representing the Labour Force Party (which isn't alway liberal), but that kinda fits in with American politics where the Democrats aren't technically very liberal. It just looks like you guys ahve got it the wrong way around, and it confuses my simple mind

That... is actually rather mind blowing.

I don't know, the colors just seem right to me. Seeing Democrats as Red would be confusing for me.

 

[Verlander]

Well, I'm not American, but in most other countries the colours are reversed (Blue=Conservative, Red=Liberal). In Britain it's slightly different, with Red representing the Labour Force Party (which isn't alway liberal), but that kinda fits in with American politics where the Democrats aren't technically very liberal. It just looks like you guys ahve got it the wrong way around, and it confuses my simple mind

That... is actually rather mind blowing.

I don't know, the colors just seem right to me. Seeing Democrats as Red would be confusing for me.

In the UK, the Liberal-Democrat Party is yellow, take of that what you will...

 

[Treblaine]

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

Probably because it would be a BIT too inflammatory to call Democrats on the left side of the spectrum "Red" when there was a time that America has a huge paranoia of Communism which at the time was given the colour personification of "Red" as in "Red China".

So back when days were a bit more honourable, The GOP accepted the "Red" colours and Democrats in "Blue". And, I don't know, it makes sense making "red-blue" colour distinctions, they are both on opposite ends of the colour spectrum and also the two primary colours of the American flag.

But it makes no sense here as all the people involved in this film are FAR beyond the scope of any Republican ideals. Way, WAY out there. It's as dumb as saying Obama is a Stalinist communist because he is merely on the left side of the political spectrum.

 

[Verlander]

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

Probably because it would be a BIT too inflammatory to call Democrats on the left side of the spectrum "Red" when there was a time that America has a huge paranoia of Communism which at the time was given the colour personification of "Red" as in "Red China".

So back when days were a bit more honourable, The GOP accepted the "Red" colours and Democrats in "Blue". And, I don't know, it makes sense making "red-blue" colour distinctions, they are both on opposite ends of the colour spectrum and also the two primary colours of the American flag.

But it makes no sense here as all the people involved in this film are FAR beyond the scope of any Republican ideals. Way, WAY out there. It's as dumb as saying Obama is a Stalinist communist because he is merely on the left side of the political spectrum.

Especially considering in some countries, he'd still be considered to be on the right hand side of the spectrum! Cheers though. Now I kinda get the distinction, although it's Red and Blue in many countries, I was just wondering why it seems reversed over there. Makes sense with the anti-Communist propaganda though

 

[Neverhoodian]

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

It seems to fit, and it sort of goes along with the colors of our flag.

Have you ever thought of a different color to represent Republicans and Democrats?

It's strange because in the rest of the world red is the color of the comunism.

Funny thing is, the colors weren't always this way. Back in the 70's liberal states were considered "red" states and conservative ones were the "blue" states. I don't know exactly when they decided to switch the colors around or the reasoning behind it.

I always felt the old version made more sense, given the whole "communism = red" mentality.

 

[PorkChopXpress]

I just checked how the movie ends over on Wikipedia. It's more stupid than I thought.

The ending was actually Michael Parks idea, don't blame Smith.

 

[Treblaine]

Why do Americans make conservative states red, and liberal ones blue?

Probably because it would be a BIT too inflammatory to call Democrats on the left side of the spectrum "Red" when there was a time that America has a huge paranoia of Communism which at the time was given the colour personification of "Red" as in "Red China".

So back when days were a bit more honourable, The GOP accepted the "Red" colours and Democrats in "Blue". And, I don't know, it makes sense making "red-blue" colour distinctions, they are both on opposite ends of the colour spectrum and also the two primary colours of the American flag.

But it makes no sense here as all the people involved in this film are FAR beyond the scope of any Republican ideals. Way, WAY out there. It's as dumb as saying Obama is a Stalinist communist because he is merely on the left side of the political spectrum.

Especially considering in some countries, he'd still be considered to be on the right hand side of the spectrum! Cheers though. Now I kinda get the distinction, although it's Red and Blue in many countries, I was just wondering why it seems reversed over there. Makes sense with the anti-Communist propaganda though

Yeah, Americans don't have any time for that communist bullshit.

They had their revolution against the "establishment" in the 1770's, there is really little need for communism in America. In Europe it is very much an anti-monarchy/anti-traditionalist political force, when America did that over 200 years ago only replaced it with Reformation ideals such as from John Locke... rather than the ideals of the likes of Lenin and Stalin.

The only thing communism has to offer is getting rid of capitalism. I think Americans love it way more than they hate it.

 

[Treblaine]

Iraq will go down as one of the worst military operations in our history.

No, that would be the War of 1812 when the Canadians invaded Washington DC and burned down The White House. THAT was the worst military operation in US History.

 

[Treblaine]

I just checked how the movie ends over on Wikipedia. It's stupider than I thought.

Doesn't seem that stupid.

Spoiler

Religious folk are rather easy to troll, though ironic how the day is saved by MARIJUANA FARMERS! Whoever's idea it was, I find it very interesting that Smith decided to go with this ending considering his heavy cannabis use of recent years.

The main stupid is the "shoot to kill" order. This is not unprecedented with such cases of armed uprising but it seems to lack context or consistency. Are they worried that it would be impossible to get a conviction so this was the only way these law officers say they could get justice? The "no witnesses" thing does not follow.

I might see this film, though as I rule I don't watch those so called "torture porn" flicks, and this seems to be that. I like classic horror, like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre that suggested a lot but actually showed very little gore. Even Tarantino shows more restraint with gore, he knows when to cut away, or use black-and-white, or have deaths off camera.

Imagine if Pulp fiction showed Marcellus Wallace actually torturing the rapist? It didn't have to; the dialogue including "Blow torch and a pair of pliers" and "Medieval on your ass" was enough to know he would get his just deserts yet not show it.

Torture porn genre is the main reason I am pursuing a career in gaming rather than film. I don't want to have to compete in the same market as that shit. Even the worst of gaming is down right civilised in comparison to the worst of film these days.

 

[Varya]

Woah! To even have a fleeting comparison done to "The Room" is really not what you'd expect from Kevin Smith. Sad really, how the mighty have fallen.

 

[SargeantGunlock]

You know every one wants to blame the weed but what is wrong with that? if it makes him happy why should we give a fuck? the dude likes to toke and frankly its no where near as bad as alcohol. the dude had a mid-life crisis he found something to cure it if his movies suffer that it's purely subjective. I would have liked his shit ether way his podcast are still funny as hell though and that's want he says he wants to do with his remaining life

 

[praus]

I might see this film, though as I rule I don't watch those so called "torture porn" flicks, and this seems to be that. I like classic horror, like the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre that suggested a lot but actually showed very little gore. Even Tarantino shows more restraint with gore, he knows when to cut away, or use black-and-white, or have deaths off camera.

Imagine if Pulp fiction showed Marcellus Wallace actually torturing the rapist? It didn't have to; the dialogue including "Blow torch and a pair of pliers" and "Medieval on your ass" was enough to know he would get his just deserts yet not show it.

Torture porn genre is the main reason I am pursuing a career in gaming rather than film. I don't want to have to compete in the same market as that shit. Even the worst of gaming is down right civilised in comparison to the worst of film these days.

I wouldn't call this a torture porn, I hate those too. It kinda uses the style of those movies but doesn't stick to the outcome, though it kinda makes you think it's going to. There's blood but you don't see people eviscerated or anything.

I actually liked this movie, I'd probably give it 3.5-4 out of 5. The complaint I see from some in this forum is it doesn't follow a formula their used to and that bugs them (like the guy finding a room full of guns). I don't mind that so much. It has good pacing. The story builds correctly from the beginning to the end, and I like the wrap up at the end, gives closure. The story, for the most part, makes sense.

I think the charters act in a way thats believable. We've seen religious extremists do stuff like this recently, usually it's in another country besides America and it's not the Christian religion (at least not for the past couple hundred years). Case in point, the gays who are executed in the middle east.

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

Red State

What the hell is going on?

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MovieBob, you just got trolled by Kevin Smith. You and whoever else watched this movie. That is my belief and I will stick to it even if it denies me access to the pearly gates.