T3B@psuvm.BITNET (08/18/85)
Maybe I'm losing touch. I went to the $2 matinee yesterday to see Michael
Cimino's new film. Despite its flaws, I've seen DEER HUNTER several times,
and there are things about it I admire enormously (the wedding scene; the
way the actors are allowed to carry scenes; etc.). I didn't see HEAVEN'S
GATE, but I was ideologically prepared, despite the publicity, to believe
that another heroic director was undone by unimaginitive studio management.
And there have been so few movies this summer worth watching -- so many
stupid, raunchy flicks aimed at teenagers with nowhere else to go.
I'd like someone to talk me out of this--even to tell me that YEAR OF THE
DRAGON was spoiled by the editors or the studio. But from the ground up
this film is inconsistent, sleazy, poorly acted, lacking in simple
continuity, racist, sexist, and unbelievable. Even Mickey Rourke, a
wonderful actor, seems shallow and pretentious. I'd be willing to settle
for either a film that delivers simple entertainment, or one that works
against the genre to achieve a new style. This does neither. And I don't
think it was just me -- the few other people in the theatre were laughing
and groaning in the wrong places, too.
-- Tom Benson
{akgua,allegra,ihnp4,cbosgd}!psuvax1!psuvm.bitnet!t3b (UUCP)
T3B@PSUVM (BITNET) 76044,3701 (COMPUSERVE)
mkw0@bunny.UUCP (Maurice Wong) (08/23/85)
> ...... But from the ground up > this film is inconsistent, sleazy, poorly acted, lacking in simple > continuity, racist, sexist, and unbelievable...... > > -- Tom Benson > I haven't seen this movie, but I probably won't because of a flyer distributed by the Asian American Resource Workshop in Boston. I will try to reproduce the flyer below for your information. (Side 1 of flyer) BOYCOTT "YEAR OF THE DRAGON" AN END TO RACIST AND SEXIST FILMS! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Day of Protest : Write: President Saturday, August 24 : SACK Theaters Picket SACK 57 - 200 Stuart St. : 141 Tremont Street Downtown Boston : Boston, MA 02116 Film times are 1:30, 4:30, 7:30 : and 10:15 pm : President : MGM/UA Entertainment Show your concern : 1350 Avenue of the Americas about anti-Asian films! : New York, NY : : Tell them you support the : boycott! --------------------------------------------------------------------- NO MORE STEREOTYPES! STOP ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE! Information: Asian American Resource Workshop, 27 Beach St., Boston, MA 02111 (617) 426-5313 (Side 2 of flyer) YEAR OF THE DRAGON - FACT OR FICTION? In the YEAR OF THE DRAGON, director Michael Cimino (_The_Deerhunter_) and screenwriter Oliver Stone (_Scarface_), have teamed up to create new heights in cinematic racism, sexism, and violence. YEAR OF THE DRAGON offends everyone with its racial slurs and distorted images of Asians, Blacks, and women. If Hollywood can get away with this film, who will be next? Cimino's version of Chinatown distorts fact with fiction, and extends damaging cliches and stereotypes. ******************************************* FICTION: Chinatown is a war-zone, where the leaders are criminals and the youths are thugs. FACT: Chinatown is a vital and diverse community of businesses, community organizations, arts groups, social services and all the elements that make up a neighborhood. ********************* FICTION: Tracy Tzu is "an aggressive television reporter who develops an antagonistic and yet ultimately passionate relationship with police captain Stanley White." FACT: The submissive Tzu character is a rehash of the old Suzie Wong formula. Women are tired of these sexist images. ********************** FICTION: Producer Dino de Laurentis provided major and meaningful employment for Asian American actors. FACT: The price of employment in this movie is the perpetuation of destructive and demeaning stereotypes. ********************** FICTION: YEAR OF THE DRAGON provides a service to the Chinatown community by bringing world attention to its problems. FACT: The movie does a disservice to Chinatown by sensationalizing crime. At the same time it makes light of problems like housing, employment, health care, and anti-Asian violence. ************************************************ Fact: You can make a difference! Send a message to Hollywood: We won't pay to see racist and sexist movies! ************************************************* -- Maurice Wong ARPA or CSnet : wong%gte-labs.csnet@csnet-relay UUCP: ...harvard!bunny!mkw0