"Dukes of Hazzard" movie: WTF?

[Fire Walk With Me]

African-Americans appear twice in the film. First, as a jailbird offering up witless quips against Boss Hogg, who is then knocked out after an offer of cash to do so; second, as a gang in Atlanta who want to beat the boys up for having a confederate flag on top of their car (and who back away when police arrive).

Racism is alive and well.

The confederate flag was pointed out several times, and no one did anything about it. It remained in place. It certainly didn't have to be there in the first place, much less become a centerpiece of attention without resolution (which is a statement in itself).

Ookay, what the fuck? My mind wanders back to Charleton Heston in Bowling for Columbine, saying that there may be an ethnic problem...

[name not needed]

1. Yet Cooter from the original series

is boycotting because of the supposed sexual nature of the movie. Funny, a guy named Cooter complaining about there being too much sex.

[Clark2008]

4. "Cooter" is also a Republican congressman

from Georgia.

Ben Jones is his name.

[kenny blankenship]

12. Ben Jones is not a currently serving representative and was a D.

D. as in Democratic Party, when he was in office.

[Clark2008]

15. He was a Democrat?

Could have fooled me.

And I think I knew he wasn't serving anymore.

Still... it's funny that Cooter was in Congress. :7

[flaminbats]

50. Mike Malloy had Ben Jones on his program in 1994..

Ben Jones ran against Newt in the 6th after losing in the fourth district in 1992. Ben Jones is no ordinary Democrat, he even supported Clinton when doing that was an act of political suicide in Georgia!

[wyldwolf]

16. Actually he's a Democrat

[bluestateguy]

52. Cooter is a DLC Democrat

Which is probably why he is a former congressman.

[WI_DEM]

70. actually he was much more liberal than Georgia would accept

which is why he is a former congressman--he even ran against Newt.

[Mythsaje]

5. Daisy Duke

(Catherine Bach) starred in many of my adolescent dreams...

obviously nothing sexual about the original show.

[beam me up scottie]

10. Right, we women who live in the

country ALWAYS run around in cut-off jean shorts and high heels.
:rofl:

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. They did make fun of adolescent college fantasy

with every single woman either in bra and panties or two roommates in towels obviously having just finished showering (together?).

This was a good joke per your statement; the flag was just offensive.

[beam me up scottie]

25. It was offensive.

And stereotypical but you're right about it being normal for its time.

We should know better now.

I think most of us do, some just don't care.

[Clark2008]

14. LOL! And don't forget the panty hose!

She wore PANTY HOSE with cut-off jeans and high heels!

:rofl:

[beam me up scottie]

26. That's right!

I almost got into an argument with someone at work who was talking about how "wholesome" the original show was.

Wholesome my non-pantyhosed ass!
:banghead:

[Lindacooks]

38. Not only that, but control top pantyhose,

which was basically made of iron - you couldn't get a run in those things they were so tightly woven.

[Mythsaje]

32. Of course...

regardless of how silly that would be.

[Bucky]

44. Yep. This is what real Southern country ladies look like.

As a matter of fact, this is Catherine Bach today.

[blondeatlast]

64. Damn, Hollywood's tough on it's used people.

Has-beenism causes one to become a red x in a box. Poor thing.

[vard28]

66. Especially when I'm...

... mucking out the calf stalls and scraping manure out of the parlor after we're finished milking. :rofl: Sheesh! Yes, there really ARE some of us who still do that for a living... LOL

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. The sexuality had some good slaps for the men involved

Daisy saying "that may be a new record"; and the "Georgia governor" making what appeared to be an ad-lib pass at Lynda Carter.. She blew him off, as she should. I can't imagine how difficult it must be, to be treated so plainly as an object. At least the film addressed that effectively; the flag brought no such response.

[Clark2008]

2. Of course racism is alive and well

But I want to point out that Hollywood made this movie - not some folks in the South.

I live here and I don't run, hauling ass, from the cops, yelling, "Yeeee-Haw," and neither do any of my friends, co-workers or family.

Racism in the South is a little more open than in other places, where it can remain hidden and hush-hush. We deal with it openly here.

Just some perspective for you. :hi:

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. That's what gets me-- Who in Hollywood thought it a good idea?

Then again, Hollywood just gave us a clone of a clone film- The Island. And The Dukes of Hazzard is a film based upon a television series..

Can I change my answer?

[Clark2008]

18. Yeah, Hollywood seems fresh out of ideas of slop

to feed the masses and has resorted to scraping the bottom of the barrel.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

59. it's not that hollywood is out of ideas

it's that concepts that the public already knows about are cheaper to advertise. All these remakes of TV shows don't require that they you be introduced to and educated about the product, you already know what it is. They make these movies because it is cheaper. you don't have to spend 30 seconds of a commercial explaining what it is, the public already knows what it is.............YeeehaaaaW!

[Mythsaje]

3. Ever watch the show?

The confederate flag belongs there.

[Clark2008]

7. You know, I watched the show when I was a kid and didn't think

much one way or the other about the Confederate Flag on top of a car named the "General Lee."

It was kind of like, "Well, duhhhh."

[Fire Walk With Me]

9. That's what, 20 years+ ago?

Just after Man first walked on the moon and such.. You'd hope that there would be progress.

[Mythsaje]

31. I think, for some,

the confederate flag signifies resistance against tyranny than it does racism.

[Conservativesux]

35. True, but for many Blacks it's the equivalent of a portraying KKK flag.

[Mythsaje]

45. An effect I'm sure is heightened

by the fact that everyone keeps pointing this out. Those who are so proud of that aspect of it, for whatever reason, would stop displaying it if it didn't raise people's ire.

[GracieM]

61. It wouldn't be the dukes of hazzard without it

You can't have the General Lee without the flag, you can't have a movie without the General Lee.

Racism and sex aside. Anyone have anything good to say about the movie. A redeeming quality? The previews made it look like the worst movie this side of Gigli.

[beam me up scottie]

8. The target audience for that piece of garbage

is your ordinary garden variety Bubba and stupid people who don't know any better.

Hollywood, as usual, is giving the public what it wants.

[OhioBlue]

17. you might be right about the "target audience"

but, I used to watch the show all the time when I was a kid, still do sometimes in syndication. Bo & Luke were do-gooders going against the corrupt pol - Boss Hogg. Haven't seen the movie, but I didn't see the TV series as some covert op to "buck up" the red-necked "bubbas" to power.

[beam me up scottie]

29. Actually I was referring to the movie.

The target audience for most sitcoms is not that narrow.

[tenshi816]

20. I grew up in the south

(as you know beammeupscottie, from our recent exchange in the UK forum) and absolutely loathed the "Dukes of Hazzard", and for the life of me I can't figure out why it was resurrected (other than as a showcase for Jessica Simpson's body - and God knows, it won't be a stretch for her as an actress).

I already have enough people in my family who resemble the "Dukes" characters. I moved 4000+ miles away to avoid people like that, and now it starts all over again. Sheesh.

[beam me up scottie]

24. Yes, I remember!

And loathed is the word for exactly how my parents felt about the show.

When we were kids we never realized why they were so critical of the boob-tube, but I get it now.

And I felt like crying when I heard they were making a movie about the show.

[tenshi816]

28. They definitely had the Dukes over here too -

in fact, the term "Daisy Dukes" means shorts that have been cut off short enough to expose, well, pretty much everything. So, yeah, I guess it must have been big on TV here as well (I've got to start interrogating my friends to see who watched it first time around!).

BMUScottie, you've got to come visit the UK. Probably something for another thread or a PM, but think about it.

[beam me up scottie]

30. I will definitely keep it in mind, something to look forward to.

So sorry about Robin Cook.
I started a tribute thread in the UK forum for people to post their memories and thoughts.
Very sad day for the UK.

[tenshi816]

33. You're on -

and I'll check out your Robin Cook thread. Puts "Dukes of Hazzard" into perspective, doesn't it, as to how unimportant it is?

PM me if you ever decide to visit.

[beam me up scottie]

34. I will, thanks.

I think Dukes of Hazzard is a symptom of the terrible state of this country and people should be aware of the connection.

At least the progressives see it, too bad there aren't more of us.

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

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[Greeby]

19. (VIDEO) Stephen Colbert cuts through the crap

http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/002278.html#002278

Enjoy :evilgrin:

[rudeboy666]

21. It's supposed to be cartoonish!

Even the original series was not supposed to be taken seriously.

I(a minority) used to LOVE that show.

Jumping, racing, crashing cars, etc..........

As a kid, I(along with friends) used to anxiously anticipate every new episode.

Granted, as a kid I had no idea about the Confederate Flag or General Lee. Nevertheless, the show did not have bad intentions i.e. to promote racism or neo-Confederacism(at least that is how I see it now).

Yes, looking back and hearing the opening lyrics 'just two good ole boys' and the Confederate flag makes it surreal in light of what I know as an adult. Still, the above point remains i.e. cartoonish.

This film plays up to the nostalgia of not neo-Confederates but of the millions like me who grew up watching that show.

Finally, an argument could be made that this film(along with the TV show) is Hollywood's condescending view of Southerners and their culture.

[QC]

46. "Hollywood's condescending view of Southerners and their culture"

True, but don't expect any acknowledgment of that, since an awful lot of people here at DU share that condescension.

[Mojambo]

22. I thought the show was shitty and I suppose the movie is too

But I still support it being made if it inspires the comeback of Daisy Duke shorts (which in my observation, it has)

It's a net positive overall.

[OneTwentyoNine]

23. Awww Cooter,your just pissed because they didn't hire you.....

I won't see it,hell I never watched it on TV when it was on, but a boycott?!?!?

Doesn't have those good moral values the TV series had?? Bawhahahah,guys just tuned in to see those ASS CHEEKS coming out of those shorts,or wait was it to see if Boss Hogg would catch those "good ole' boys" that week??

[ThoughtCriminal]

27. I noticed the early ads for the movie

Seemed to conceal the top of the car.

[ecstatic]

36. That's how the car was in the orginal version of the show

So I wouldn't have minded seeing that part. However, it's sad that they would resort to showing so many negative stereotypes of blacks. I wouldn't dare go see this trash-- I figure its just a movie for people who want to see Jessica S. half naked.

[baldguy]

37. Next, they'll remake Birth Of A Nation

With the KKK as heroes again.

[MrSlayer]

39. What exactly did you expect from this movie?

It's based on the stupid show, of course the Confederate flag is going to be displayed. Did you think they were going to PC the thing? Bo and Luke with a black friend who is shown in a strong light while they bungle about or what? It's silly to expect any kind of enlightened dialog or situations within this ridiculous premise. Why the hell would you even waste your time seeing this in the first place?

[Fire Walk With Me]

41. I expected pap, and got pap.

I did not expect racism with my pap. I'm so naive!

[seabeyond]

40. movie is a slap against blacks, slap against women

so who is going to go see.

not me. of course my right wing brother will be taking his 10 and 12 yr old boys. just more shit to reinforce their already redneck bravado

[Fire Walk With Me]

42. And the black judge.. Who couldn't figure out that only the sheriff

arriving at a hearing regarding strip mining the entire area, was fishy to any extent.

"Where is everyone else? Don't they care?"

"Guess not, your honor." Moo-hoo-haa-haa.

Boy, that tricky white sheriff put one over on that college-educated (black) judge.

This is time-release bullshit, that's what it is.

Wonder what Condi Rice thinks about this.

[TheDonkey]

43. the movie looks like trash, but I did notice that about the black man in

jail when I saw the trailer. They are really just hyping it up for racists bumpkins on the country even though hopefully others can watch it with out agreeing with the negative symbolism.

[AtomicKitten]

47. White Trash Crap Festival

Didn't watch the TV series.
Won't watch the movie.
If I want to see white trash close up, I'll talk to a Republican.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

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[bluestateguy]

53. The rebel flag

I have always opposed the rebel flag as an official state symbol on state flags, or being on government buildings. It's not a symbol that all Americans can reasonably be expected to honor.

But outside of the government sphere, that's a different ballgame. Americans are free to fly the flag in front of their homes, or as bumperstickers on their cars or on their clothing. That is protected free speech, which must not be infringed. There is no constitutional right to not be offended.

[bluestateguy]

51. The Dukes of Hazzard is one of my all time favorite shows

So it gets a "PC-pass" from me.

This is a non-issue for me.

[NeoTraitors]

54. The Dukes is my favorite show of all time because

they are the most caring family in tv history. The Dukes only use for money was to help the less fortunate which they did every episode.

'A two modern day Robin Hood' wasn't just a line from the theme song, it was who the Dukes were. It may seem extremely laughable to some DUers, but I have actually cried during certain episodes when the Dukes are the first to help an ex-con get back on his feet, or when they befriend an orphan and find him a home.

Uncle Jesse once said, 'A stranger is just a friend the Dukes haven't met yet.' I don't recall any 'high-brow' shows that delivered a more powerful message than that.

[noonwitch]

62. Did I babysit for you in the 80s?

Every little kid I babysat for watched the Dukes on Friday night. That was always the deal-watch "Dukes in Hazzard" and go to bed, so I could watch "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest".

I got so sick of seeing the same car chase footage over and over and over. How many times did Roscoe land in that creek, anyways?

But I guess you do have a point about how they were always trying to help out the little guy. Also, I never felt the show had a racist tone to it (except the flag), and always thought the sheriff of the neighboring county, who was black, was portrayed as a serious and honest lawman who the boys did not want to get caught by, and who Roscoe and Boss Hogg did not want to deal with.

[NeoTraitors]

65. Heck, you might've!

I wish the damn flag wasn't involved in the show, but the show's message was always a positive one IMO. And, yes, Sheriff Little of the next county over was the only serious and halfway competant lawman on the show.

[TheDonkey]

55. 9th largest theater release, 121st largest box office opening

in other words it bombed haha. I guess other people didn't care for this lame, racist, sexed out piece of shit movie.

[fujiyama]

56. The movie looks like trash

but I have to say there is a bit of nostalgia in the actual show. I was four at the time and that funny lookin flag at the top of the car didn't mean anything at the time.

All I knew was that there was some funny fat guy named "Boss Hog" and the car practically flew.

I think getting rid of the flag may have been a bit awkward. I'm dead set against the flag in public places (and feel the same way most blacks feel about it considering I'm a minority as well), but in the original show's context I really don't think it was meant to be offensive.

[GracieM]

69. People like trash

[NAO]

57. deja-vu and "The Dukes". Boss Hogg + Roscoe = Cheney + Bush

Ok, last fall I watched an episode of "The Dukes of Hazard". It's always good for a few cheap laughs.

Anyway, I suddenly realize that I am LIVING in Hazard. Ok, in the TV show there is a mean bald guy who thinks he is above the law and he has this moronic idiot sheriff who smirks and giggles like an idiot. Does that remind you of anything? Mean bald guy... thinks he is above the law...has an idiot sidekick...anyone? anyone?

Roscoe P. Coltrane even SOUNDS like George W. Bush when he talks.

Roscoe: "Guh guh, I'll catch them Duke boys!"
Dubya: "Guh guh, I'll catch them evildoer terrorists!"

...you get the picture.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

60. our president Roscoe comes complete with his own Flash, lol

http://photos1.blogger.com/img/144/1547/640/bush+dog.jpg

[NeoTraitors]

63. NAO, I have thought the very same thing before!

* and Cheaney are real life, EVIL, Boss and Roscoe!

[FrenchieCat]

58. One movie that I won't be going to see...

and I didn't ever, ever watch the series either!

I like a little though provocation with my movies these days.

[SwimmerFilms]

67. #1 Box Office this weekend

Probably a funny movie, if you leave the scrutiny at home. Not every movie can be Forrest Gump.

[okieinpain]

68. you mean they weren't in the movie wanting to have sex with mrs.

simpson. well if that's so then I would say that they've taken a major step forward in movies.