Why are slave themed movies so popular?

It appears that if you want to make a sure-win blockbuster movie, just get a script about someone went from un-free to being free. Granted there are great movies like Roots, Glory and 12 Years a Slave, but there are also mediocre movies that were overrated and blown completely out of proportion. Here's a list of successful, slave-themed movies that I can think of: Django Unchained, Taxi Driver and The Equalizer. There are many more.

The fact that these movies were so popular serves as a bitter reminder that American people are projecting their inner thoughts unintentionally onto the silver screen. At heart, many American people think they are chained and shackled, that they are not "free". Why is that? Who or what is mentally (or physically if you are married LOL) enslaving Americans?

Or it could be, of course, people just love watching some good ol' torture, incarceration and gratuitous violence. Oh and Denzel Washington.

 

American Sniper crushed Selma in tickets. Seems more people are interested in Patriotic movies than black plight movies.

 

Actually that's... something pretty insensitive to say.

Also you kinda missed the point. The point is that American people feel that they are caged, which is partially translated into movie choices. They want to be free. Matter of the fact is America is THEE most free nation on this whole blue and green water ball. In Japan for example,their culture emphasize a lot of discipline.But their popular movies are usually about ancient tales, family and romance.

 

It's only because that's the theme this time around. These usually last a couple of years and then go away. The prime example I also use is the movie "Armageddon", it was an asteroid themed movie and during that same period of 2-3 years there were tons of asteroid movies coming out.

It's Hollywood and those movies are just the theme right now, eventually it will disappear.

 

insensitive or not... blacks go to these movies to reaffirm their "yeah, that's why I'm mad" beliefs, and the whites that go are white apologists....

 

It assuages white guilter's consciences.

 

The left has been telling Americans that slavery will return and the Hollywood liberals are doing their part.

 

Waiting for Mandingo to be re-released.

 

"White Guilt" proper term is "Democrat Guilt". Party of the slave owners and racists deflecting their roots and shame onto anyone dumb enough to carry that cross.

 

I think people are just tired of seeing the same thing all the time.

If Sniper came out back in that era between Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty and the others.... it would have received less attention.


I just like how the left celebrates Hollywood for the slave movies a year ago.... then calls them racist this year.
A funny bunch they are.

 

I'm not sure how accurate it is to say that just now these movies are really more popular than other movies, but assuming they are;

The theme of obtaining freedom makes for a dramatic story. Freedom is one of the most fundamental rights that should be afforded to every individual. Watching someone going from no freedom to complete freedom is a tear-jerker for many people.

Maybe it's the current state of political/social turbulence in the US that is drawing more people to this theme. And yes, US citizens are afforded a great deal of freedoms, but I don't think it's wrong for the American people to continue raising their voices for a more perfectly free society for everyone. Granted, a lot of the voices going around thinking they are doing that are actually very misguided... But for those who truly are pushing for more freedoms, I think we should celebrate that. We as a people have an obsession with freedom, so why should we stop striving to perfect it?

 

what will you do when/if the rolls are reversed?

 

Learn how to pander off the government and try to weigh others down with unfounded guilt. Heck, the more I can make you feel guilty for things you didn't do the easier it is to get things.

 

And why do Asians, "hispanics", etc, go to these movies?

And why do these slave themed movies bother conservatives so much, when you guys claim conservatives ended slavery?

 

hating the white man??? idk....


these movies only do moderately well..... of course, it's the movie you choose if you are looking to define yourself as a good person. "oh I'm not racist, I went to see 12 years/Selma...."

 

Oh, so everyone who is "non white" goes to see these movies do so to "hate the white man", eh?

12 years was actually a good movie, and it has nothing to do with "white guilt" or "hating the white man" or whatever other garbage talking points right wingers come up with. It was a good movie. Why can't slave themed movies be good in the eyes of right wingers?

I mean, these types of movies really seem to get you guys all riled up. It's amusing , and telling at the same time.

 

I'm sure if you're a democrat, Selma was right up your ally.... whether you were a white apologists, you needed verification for your distrust of whitey... cop haters I'm sure went, as well as blacks who still want to benefit from other people's plight.

 

It's okay, I understand why conservatives despise these movies so much. I mean, your ideology was responsible for both slavery and Jim Crow, so i understand being reminded of these atrocities hurts.

 

Actually most blockbusters are the ones with no depths. Slave-themed movies have depths.

If you want to make a blockbuster movie, put lots of robots, lots of explosions, lots of hot chicks in it.

I actually think the white people who appreciate these movies are the good white people who don't have a sense of entitlement to the benefits built on slavery, who see the error of their ways and stand up for what's right.

It's these people that helped brought slavery and segregation to an end. What more will they bring?

 

Selma was a great movie. It showed some of the black civil rights struggles pretty well. The opening scene was powerful, where a black person was denied the vote for an arbitrary reason. The rest of the movie was about Mart Luther King's fight to march in Alabama, and a Republican Governor's efforts to stop him. For the past 60 years, Republicans have been trying to suppress black people, and this movie represents this well.

 

Except that Governor you are upset about was a card carrying DEMOCRAT. dang pesky things like facts keep interferring with agenda, doesn't it

it was historically inaccurate. on all counts. but those that think movies like Selma and Sniper are historically accurate are low info voters.

 

You kinda overdid it when making implications to Michael Bay's movie.

Wait what? Are you trying to say America was built on the blood and tears of slaves? Don't you think that's a bit too dramatic or even radical?

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Except there are a lot of black republicans.

Pardy oh Pardy, partisan hackery is strong within you.

 

The thing is, there had never been many high-info voters.

A voter that does his homework, research, study, google on serious subjects and adopt nuanced views is about as hard to find as a hornet pilot that landed perfectly 3 times in a role.

 

George Wallace was never a member of the Republican Party.

 

We like movies where someone with no power, gets power and overcomes their aversites. Django Unchained is really not much different than Star Wars or Kung Fu Hustle when you look at it that way.