The most offensive part was at the end with Christian Stereotype #2 saying "it's a miracle he's been healed" or whatever
-
hadmatter — 12 years ago(January 16, 2014 12:20 PM)
I think that referring to Young Earth Creationists as "an entire culture" is a bit generous. They are a very tiny minority, their beliefs are ridiculous, and the thing that makes their beliefs ridiculous is that they steadfastly deny mountains of evidence against those beliefs. Kristin Wiig's character starts out there, but Paul gives her knowledge and she rises above what she was taught to believe. When faced with
knowledge
, she changes. She is the contrast to the other characters even when they see the truth, they refuse to acknowledge it.
I think the problem here is that you seem to think this was meant as a joke. There was not supposed to be a punchline, it was an observation. Some people really do choose to be beyond redemption, and that is sad.
The writers make no secret of their feelings about religious whackadoos, that's why they feature in the movie. The particular stripe of YEC in the film is largely exclusive to rural America; the writers found that weird and fascinating and included the phenomenon in their road movie.
I am the sod-off shotgun. -
kyluvjesus — 12 years ago(February 04, 2014 05:47 PM)
I disagree. Nobody's going to differentiate between YECs and Christians. And also, no one exists in real life like the characters portrayed in the film. Absolutely no one. What the filmmakers did was stereotype a group of people and make a film about how we should hate them.
"I think the problem here is that you seem to think this was meant as a joke. There was not supposed to be a punchline, it was an observation. Some people really do choose to be beyond redemption, and that is sad."
Well, it is a "comedy" so I should have been expecting a joke. The message that some people are beyond redemption is awful. This is a hate film disguised as a comedy, and I'd feel the same if the group of people hated on belonged to any non-violent subculture. -
hadmatter — 12 years ago(February 07, 2014 11:08 AM)
I disagree. Nobody's going to differentiate between YECs and Christians.
I am proof that you are wrong. I've also watched this movie with lots of people, and nobody I know had any difficulty making that distinction. There is a
huge
difference between YECs and general Christians.
And also, no one exists in real life like the characters portrayed in the film. Absolutely no one.
Wrong. Absolutely, 100% wrong. Are you from America? Have you ever
traveled
in America? Have you spent time in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, Southern Oregon I have met these people in all of these places. I am related to
literally dozens
of people who believe
exactly this nonsense
.
You haven't met folks like that? Bully for you. It doesn't mean they don't exist, and you're making a fool of yourself trying to claim otherwise.
What the filmmakers did was stereotype a group of people and make a film about how we should hate them.
How was this film "about how we should hate them"? I don't think you watched the same movie I did.
Well, it is a "comedy" so I should have been expecting a joke.
There are lots of things that happen in comedies that are not jokes.
The message that some people are beyond redemption is awful.
So what? It's
true
, and the
truth
can be awful. If this is such a problem for you, then you should be trying to change
reality
, not complaining about the way reality is reflected in a movie.
I am the sod-off shotgun. -
king_of_bob — 11 years ago(March 19, 2015 09:11 AM)
I disagree. Nobody's going to differentiate between YECs and Christians
You can disagree all you like, but the facts disagree with your position. As most people can differentiate between Christians as a whole and biblical literalists. Just because YOU can't doesn't mean "nobody" can or will.
And also, no one exists in real life like the characters portrayed in the film. Absolutely no one. What the filmmakers did was stereotype a group of people and make a film about how we should hate them.
You are absolutely 100% wrong. People like the two characters in this film absolutely do exist. Only they're not nearly as funny to deal with in real life. Good job proving how limited your experience is with the world, though.
Well, it is a "comedy" so I should have been expecting a joke. The message that some people are beyond redemption is awful. This is a hate film disguised as a comedy, and I'd feel the same if the group of people hated on belonged to any non-violent subculture.
It is a joke. Just not a typical "Setup\punchline" type joke. It's a one liner. Maybe you should educate yourself as to the fact that there are more than one type of joke. Most standup comics don't use the format you refer to, in fact.
Also, while the movie overall is a comedy, not every line has to be a joke.
And what the beep are you talking about? At no point did the film suggest ANYONE one beyond redemption. Redemption wasn't even a theme in this movie so that comment makes absolutely no sense.
This can ONLY be seen as a hate film if you conform to the views of the two characters you're talking about here. If you aren't a bible literalist, there's literally NOTHING to be offended by in this film.
The new home of Welcome to Planet Bob:
http://kingofbob.blogspot.ca/ -
overfiend1976 — 11 years ago(November 25, 2014 05:51 PM)
I think that referring to Young Earth Creationists as "an entire culture" is a bit generous. They are a very tiny minority, their beliefs are ridiculous, and the thing that makes their beliefs ridiculous is that they steadfastly deny mountains of evidence against those beliefs.
Except, sadly, this isn't the case at all: http://www.gallup.com/poll/155003/hold-creationist-view-human-origins.aspx
It really IS an entire culture.
Violence. If it's not solving all your problems, you're simply not using enough.
-Zaraki Kenpachi -
king_of_bob — 11 years ago(March 19, 2015 09:13 AM)
No. It's a subculture.
The new home of Welcome to Planet Bob:
http://kingofbob.blogspot.ca/ -
ZAROVE — 11 years ago(June 07, 2014 12:41 PM)
Actually, he attributed it to God, not to god. No, the word god not not a Title, and yes, the word god can be used as a name. You're identifying a specific entity. the reason God is capitalsied is because its used in place of, and thus as, a name.
I know its a fad with really bitter Militant Atheists but, leaving god in lower case is just stupid. -
lewisworld — 11 years ago(April 19, 2014 06:06 PM)
You can't even correctly remember the part you are complaining about! It wasn't Paul, it was Ruth. And she didn't say you can't LIVE with these people but you can't WIN with these people. The underlying punch line is it's that she used to believe as her father still does and, ha-ha, she now complains about the absurdity of clinging to belief in the face of contrary evidence.
I thin you are trying really hard to be offended here. -
rustyd5150 — 11 years ago(August 19, 2014 12:09 PM)
Actually, I'm a Christian and I laughed when he said that. I thought it was funny. Also, the remark afterward about not winning with these people, I thought that was funny also.
I don't get my theology from a movie or a fiction novel (hint, hint, Left Behind) and enjoy other's points of view about religion.
If a movie can, literally, change someone's whole religious belief, then it wasn't very strong in the first place.
Attacking a movie like this for it's supposed intellectual content is futile. -
Korios — 11 years ago(October 06, 2014 12:48 AM)
There was no punchline there. No humor. Just an angry writer screaming on the page
.
When Pegg & Frost wrote that line they were
anything but
angry, trust me. They were actually having quite a lot of fun. You take your beliefs too seriously. Also I think you deliberately altered the real quote from "You can't WIN with" that
Ruth
, not Paul said, to "You can't LIVE with..", to strengthen your point and make it appear more offensive. A HUGE difference, right? Intellectually dishonesty is a very frequent trait of christian apologists and you appear to be no exception.
Fanboy : a person who does not think while watching. -
terryperring104 — 11 years ago(February 13, 2015 04:12 AM)
It is a joke-a mild one at that, but its a joke nonetheless. Its a sort of 'raise your eyes to the ceiling' moment for Paul and everyone who is watching, with half a brain.
Which is what most Christians lack, I'm afraid. -
infanttyrone-1 — 11 years ago(March 09, 2015 06:03 PM)
You misheard the line. She says "
You just can't win with these people
." That
is
a punchline before the resurrection, Paul was a demon, after the resurrection, it was a miracle. The joke here is that with some fanatics (
any
fanatics, whether religious or political or social) it doesn't matter what the facts are, they will find a way to make them fit into their inflexible worldview.
I suppose I can understand how, if you didn't hear the actual line, you might not think it was very funny. It's also possible you were looking for things to be offended by. Religion plays a tiny part in this movie. It's not a sweeping indictment of all religion. There's one fanatical character, who serves an actual purpose in the story. It's a comedy. There are a lot of things in the world that are actually offensive, like human trafficking or genocide or child labor. A little perspective may help you enjoy fictional movies about weed-smoking aliens. -
king_of_bob — 11 years ago(March 19, 2015 09:05 AM)
The most offensive part was at the end with Christian Stereotype #2 saying "it's a miracle he's been healed" or whatever, then Paul tells his buddy "you can't live with these people."
You were offended by a line you can't even quote correctly? He said "You can't win with these people."
THAT'S NOT A JOKE! There was no punchline there.
Not all jokes have a punchline. This is what is commonly referred to as a "one liner." The joke being, he's just found out that Paul is an alien not a demon and yet he STILL thinks that Paul is a supernatural being and that his healing ability is magic.
I also didn't get any "anger" from the line either. I think you're seeing what you want to see.
Also, why did Hader's character all of a sudden become so evil? And why was Christian Stereotype #2 hanging out with the gang at the end, even though he'd just murdered someone?
Hader never became evil. He became focused once he found out what they were actually doing.
I presume by "Christian Stereotype #2" you mean, Moses Buggs. Kirsten Wigg's characters father? He's with them at the end because he isn't a bad guy, just misinformed. Probably not too unlike yourself.
And your criticism might carry a bit more weight if you actually referred to the characters by their names.
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