From: sdo@lossage.mitre.org (Sean D. O'Neil)
Subject: Re: spike lee &  boston celtics
Organization: Research Computer Facility, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 22:51:56 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.212243.27945@u.washington.edu> iho@cac.washington.edu writes:
>reiher@ficus.cs.ucla.edu (Peter Reiher) writes:
>
>> By the way, if people are skipping his films because they don't like
>> Lee personally, you are missing some very good films.  Regardless of
>> whether you agree with him, Lee is a talented filmmaker whose films 
>> don't resemble anyone else's.  There is strong artistic merit in Lee's
>> films, and those serious about film are making a mistake if they skip
>> his films.
>
>I've seen a few of his films (_Do_The_Right_Thing_, _Mo'_Better_Blues_,
>and _Jungle_Fever_) and have to disagree with you.  While they were
>interesting to watch, I wouldn't have minded missing them.  I watch
>a lot of movies and will probably see _Malcom_X_ eventually, but I
>won't go out of my way to see it.
>
>If you don't agree Spike Lee's public opinions, chances are fairly good
>that you won't like his movies.  

I disagree.  I too have seen many of Spike Lee's movies, and I disagree
with his personal opinions on many things (e.g., I am a Celtics
fan, and I think Spike was too quick to cry racism over his not winning
at Cannes).  However I think he is one of the most outstanding and 
distinctive filmakers today.  Why do I think that?  Because I have never 
seen a false character or stereotype in a Spike Lee movie.  Perhaps you 
disagree with the situations that Spike explores in his films, but he gives
a perspective that is distinct from the same old that most of Hollywood,
however enlightened or well-intentioned, gives us.  And it's not just
this perspective--consider the movie _Boyz_N_The_Hood_.  It was an
auspicious debut by John Singleton, and it was a good movie, but Spike
could have made that same movie ten times better, I am convinced.

>His movies incorporate a lot of very
>stylistic elements and uniquely innovative techniques.  I could really
>get into them if it weren't for his in-your-face, shove-it-down-your-throat
>style of preaching in these movies.  

Again, I disagree.  Spike is never black and white, and I am constantly
amazed at how balanced his treatment of various subjects is.

>It's also blatantly obvious that
>the movies were written and directed by a black person, and I think
>there's a lot more to life than that.  His movies reflect (and encourage)
>thinking in very limited terms.

This last statement leaves me speechless.  I am white, I grew up
exclusively among whites, and yet it seems crystal clear to me that
99% of what we see in movies is presented from a fundamentally white
perspective.  I'm not preaching against this--it's just the way
things are given the background of the people in Hollywood, most
of whom are well-meaning, I don't doubt.  But I am amazed that you could
level this charge against Spike Lee and not pause to reflect for
a second about how we accept certain perspectives as the "natural"
ones just because they predominate.

Sean
From: gorrindo@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Sue Gorrindo)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 18:29:12 GMT
Subject: Re: Favorite Vampire one-liners
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server