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Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:43 pm
by 03Lightningrocks
I rented it at a red box. I didn't go see it at the theater because the previews chased me away. It is a pretty good movie. I have to admit I had not really considered some of the racial issues going on around me as a kid growing up. Funny, I could remember this stuff being on the news and what not as a teen but I was more concerned with other things. I was born in 1961 and much of the movie is set during the racial turmoil of the sixties and early seventies. It's a pretty good movie. Surprised me because I don't normally go for the "heavy topic" type movies.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:59 pm
by howdy
I've heard it was a great movie but I watch nothing that Jane Fonda is in.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:20 am
by 03Lightningrocks
howdy wrote:I've heard it was a great movie but I watch nothing that Jane Fonda is in.
I just realized it was her. She was only in it for about thirty seconds, if that long. If I refused to watch any movie that had an actor with different politics than me, I would never get to watch any movie. I try not to let them control me like that.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:05 am
by RPBrown
I held fast to not watching it because of her but then I found out she only had a very small part (like you said 30 seconds) so I watched it. It was a good movie in spite of having Hanoi Jane in it.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:20 am
by jimlongley
03Lightningrocks wrote:
howdy wrote:I've heard it was a great movie but I watch nothing that Jane Fonda is in.
I just realized it was her. She was only in it for about thirty seconds, if that long. If I refused to watch any movie that had an actor with different politics than me, I would never get to watch any movie. I try not to let them control me like that.
I not only refuse to watch anything with Hanoi Jane in it, I refuse to watch anything she is associated with in any way and have redacted her from that branch of my childrens' family tree (my late wife was descended from Isadora Fonda) Of course I was well on my way to a free tour of southeast Asia when that went down, and I was disgusted and even felt betrayed because I had been such a big fan. When I got home one of the first things I did was destroy my carefully preserved "Barbarella" poster. I lucked out and never took that trip, I didn't have enough time left on active duty, but that has never assuaged my festering resentment of her - she was advocating killing me.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 10:55 am
by philip964
howdy wrote:I've heard it was a great movie but I watch nothing that Jane Fonda is in.
there is not a "like" button, so this will have to do. :iagree:

There was some discussion that not all the President's were treated accurately. I will never know because of Jane. No doubt she was given the role of Nancy Regan, which probably only makes it worse.

My understanding was that the POW's were beaten longer and extra hard before and after her visits, so they understood the consequences of what would happen if they acted out during her visits. :patriot:

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 11:25 am
by WildBill
03Lightningrocks wrote:I rented it at a red box. I didn't go see it at the theater because the previews chased me away. It is a pretty good movie. I have to admit I had not really considered some of the racial issues going on around me as a kid growing up. Funny, I could remember this stuff being on the news and what not as a teen but I was more concerned with other things. I was born in 1961 and much of the movie is set during the racial turmoil of the sixties and early seventies. It's a pretty good movie. Surprised me because I don't normally go for the "heavy topic" type movies.
I haven't heard much about the movie other than the supposed "snubbing" of Oprah for Oscar nominations.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:01 pm
by Oldgringo
I'll check it out. We graduated from HS in 1960, me in Nashville and Martha in Birmingham. She was in UA when the late Gov. Wallace made his 'segregation forever' speech. Those were tough times, boys and girls.

As for Jane Fonda, that is yesterday's news.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:07 pm
by puma guy
WildBill wrote:
03Lightningrocks wrote:I rented it at a red box. I didn't go see it at the theater because the previews chased me away. It is a pretty good movie. I have to admit I had not really considered some of the racial issues going on around me as a kid growing up. Funny, I could remember this stuff being on the news and what not as a teen but I was more concerned with other things. I was born in 1961 and much of the movie is set during the racial turmoil of the sixties and early seventies. It's a pretty good movie. Surprised me because I don't normally go for the "heavy topic" type movies.
I haven't heard much about the movie other than the supposed "snubbing" of Oprah for Oscar nominations.
I have not seen the movie, but from what I've read the film is rife with fantasy. They even make up the story of how he was hired. But it's Hollywood, right? I think I'll rent it, though. I like Forest Whitaker.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:14 pm
by 03Lightningrocks
Oldgringo wrote:I'll check it out. We graduated from HS in 1960, me in Nashville and Martha in Birmingham. She was in UA when the late Gov. Wallace made his 'segregation forever' speech. Those were tough times, boys and girls.

As for Jane Fonda, that is yesterday's news.
Wow... Oldgringo....Sounds like you folks were smack in the middle of it all. I agree about the Jane Fonda thing. Why empower her by allowing her to keep us from seeing a movie. I suppose if she were the main player I would understand it more but with her being so insignificant in the movie, one could actually get a kick out of how far she has fallen. The key to my success in life has been my refusal to empower those I disagree with.


Sorry about the constant edits. My dad gummed iPad tries to guess what I am typing and changes the words. Sometimes I don't catch it until after I post.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:21 pm
by 03Lightningrocks
puma guy wrote:
WildBill wrote:
03Lightningrocks wrote:I rented it at a red box. I didn't go see it at the theater because the previews chased me away. It is a pretty good movie. I have to admit I had not really considered some of the racial issues going on around me as a kid growing up. Funny, I could remember this stuff being on the news and what not as a teen but I was more concerned with other things. I was born in 1961 and much of the movie is set during the racial turmoil of the sixties and early seventies. It's a pretty good movie. Surprised me because I don't normally go for the "heavy topic" type movies.
I haven't heard much about the movie other than the supposed "snubbing" of Oprah for Oscar nominations.
I have not seen the movie, but from what I've read the film is rife with fantasy. They even make up the story of how he was hired. But it's Hollywood, right? I think I'll rent it, though. I like Forest Whitaker.
Yeah... Like anything else Hollywood turns to a movie, they tend to twist the facts. I was watching a show on the history channel yesterday about the real life story Braveheart was based on. Wow! Talk about getting away from reality...LOL. The character Mel Gibson played was not even a farm boy. In real life he was a trained soldier who became an outlaw.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:31 pm
by Oldgringo
03Lightningrocks wrote: Wow... Oldgringo....Sounds like you folks were smack in the middle of it all. I agree about the Jane Fonda thing. Why empower her by allowing her to keep us from seeing a movie. I suppose if she were the main player I would understand it more but with her being so insignificant in the movie, one could actually get a kick out of how far she has fallen. The key to my success in life has been my refusal to empower those I disagree with.
Martha more so in Birmingham than me in Nashville. She remembers the dogs and the church bombing....all to well. Me, we just had sit-ins and lay-ins in Nashville. Those were dark times in our nation's history. (no pun intended)

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 1:43 pm
by puma guy
03Lightningrocks wrote: Yeah... Like anything else Hollywood turns to a movie, they tend to twist the facts. I was watching a show on the history channel yesterday about the real life story Braveheart was based on. Wow! Talk about getting away from reality...LOL. The character Mel Gibson played was not even a farm boy. In real life he was a trained soldier who became an outlaw.
Every once in a while they do it right. I remember the first time I saw a movie titled "Heartland" starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell about early 20th century ranch life in Wyoming. Brutal and heart rending reality about the "good old days". Though, it's a little slow compared to most movies these days it's a little known film treasure worth watching.

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:12 pm
by 03Lightningrocks
puma guy wrote:
03Lightningrocks wrote: Yeah... Like anything else Hollywood turns to a movie, they tend to twist the facts. I was watching a show on the history channel yesterday about the real life story Braveheart was based on. Wow! Talk about getting away from reality...LOL. The character Mel Gibson played was not even a farm boy. In real life he was a trained soldier who became an outlaw.
Every once in a while they do it right. I remember the first time I saw a movie titled "Heartland" starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell about early 20th century ranch life in Wyoming. Brutal and heart rending reality about the "good old days". Though, it's a little slow compared to most movies these days it's a little known film treasure worth watching.
The words, "dramatic, historic and poetic license" comes to mind. I would be willing to bet they stretch the truth more now than they did in the "good ole days".

Re: Anyone else watch a movie called "The Butler" ?

Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:43 pm
by WildBill
03Lightningrocks wrote:
puma guy wrote:
03Lightningrocks wrote: Yeah... Like anything else Hollywood turns to a movie, they tend to twist the facts. I was watching a show on the history channel yesterday about the real life story Braveheart was based on. Wow! Talk about getting away from reality...LOL. The character Mel Gibson played was not even a farm boy. In real life he was a trained soldier who became an outlaw.
Every once in a while they do it right. I remember the first time I saw a movie titled "Heartland" starring Rip Torn and Conchata Ferrell about early 20th century ranch life in Wyoming. Brutal and heart rending reality about the "good old days". Though, it's a little slow compared to most movies these days it's a little known film treasure worth watching.
The words, "dramatic, historic and poetic license" comes to mind. I would be willing to bet they stretch the truth more now than they did in the "good ole days".
Never let the truth stand in the way of telling a good story. :rules: