The Movie Crash

4 hours and no response. I'll take that as a "no".

 

SFIC,

I have not seen the movie, and truthfully hadn't heard of it until this thread. When I looked at the trailer, the immediate feeling I got was that it was simply more liberal bashing of America and conservative points of view based on what people percieve to be the truth about America inside Hollywood. It, truthfully, doesn't look very appealing to me, and I probably won't see it...ok maybe I might rent it some day.

However, I think I should probably respond to this idea that we should not look at or read any depictions of evil, even if it is condemned. As I read your remarks, the immediate question which came to mind was this:

Are their any depictions of evil in the Bible? Should we, then, not read the Bible?

Joseph Botwinick

 

I thought the movie was underwhelming and pedestrian. It requires absolutely no thought, and like most of Hollywood it assumes that the viewer has no intelligence or curiosity. But I don't suppose I should ever expect an intellectual challenge from a Hollywood movie.

If you are interested in a more than elementary, cursory view of race relations then I suggest some of Johnathon Kozol's books.

 

Why?

Joseph Botwinick

 

That does not mean it always has to do with race...and it also does not mean that it is always a bad thing. I prefer my wife, for example, because we are like minded on our Biblical beliefs, for one thing. This is a good thing, is it not?

Joseph Botwinick

 

So is much of scripture.

 

That is true, but there's a difference between preferrence and prejudice/bigotry.

I like oranges. I'm only demonstrating unrighteousness if I espouse an attitude that other fruits are morally inferior.

I like the color green. I'm only demonstrating unrighteousness if I espouse an attitude that other colors are morally inferior.

I like the KJV. I'm only demonstrating unrighteousness if I espouse an attitude that other translations are morally inferior.

I like classical music. I'm only demonstrating unrighteousness if I espouse an attitude that other forms of music are morally inferior.

A black man who preferrs black friends is not a racist. A black man who carries the attitude that non-black men are unworthy of associating with is a racist.

I am financially middle class. I'm only demonstrating unrighteousness if I espouse an attitude that other income classes are morally inferior.

BTW, aside from the issue of race, there is no shortage of peope who truly believe their preferences are morally superior, demonstrating the fact that there are other forms of bigotry besides racial.

 

Well stated johnv. I agree 100%. I particularily enjoyed Crash because it did not explore race relations in a one dimensionally. Nothing is ever that simple in life.

Joseph,

I did not get the impression that the movie was bashing conservatives or their beliefs, but I thought your analysis was interesting. If you ever see the film i would like to hear your thoughts

 

Did we watch the same movie? Please explain more thouroughly. "Hollywood" did not even want to make this movie, and it was not your typical Hollywood movie. No it was not Kozel, whose Shame of the Nation... was excellent, but it was not pedestrian.

 

This is a very limited argument. I don't have to see a porno flick to know not to watch it.

But since we are on the subject of "Crash", I will say that it sounds like a good movie, but I don't think I will or personally should watch it unless my wife is there to censor it for me.

I think the last line in this snippet from a review is hilarious.

 

But the argument is valid when the critique was inaccurate. Iin this case, it was inaccurate.

The Mrs and I saw it together. VERY thought provoking, quite cerebral. Definitely not a "feel good" flick. Not for everyone, though. I'm one of the few who wasn't surprised that it won best picture. Partly because it was the most thought provoking I can remember in a long time, and partly because little of the faire offerred by hte studios in 2005 was much more than adequate. BTW, I admittedly haven't seen Munich, so I'm not qualified to say that Crash was better than Munich. Perhaps someone else can chime in on that.

 

From what I understand, the movie seems to be a contest to see who can curse more and be more vulgar in their language. Sorry...but I don't need to watch the movie to understand the reality of racism. From what I understand, the movie had over 180 curse words in it. I'll pass. All the "intellectuals" in Hollywood can enjoy their vulgarity...I have no desire to see it.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Why you would want to encourage fellow Christians to watch such vulgarity is really beyond me.

Joseph Botwinick

 

But Joseph, you don't understand. That is how life really is. We should put it on a giant screen and watch it with popcorn and sugar water, and cry.

 

I started watching it but quit not because of the language but because I got the feeling the director was preening and saying, "Everyone's racist but me!" I thought it was smug and emotionally manipulative. I prefer something more realistic.