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Spike Lee IDs The Director Of George Lucas' RED TAILS!!

First I guess...? by J.B.M.A.	Sep 25th, 2008 10:44:28 AM

But seriously by J.B.M.A.	Sep 25th, 2008 10:45:32 AM
it'll be nice to see something by Lucas not Star Wars or Indy related. Been a while...
Damn, was hoping for Eastwood. by Nice Marmot	Sep 25th, 2008 10:47:35 AM
Thank you, goodnight!
The dude directed both BSG and The Wire episodes by drturing	Sep 25th, 2008 10:48:22 AM
fucking A george, give him the budget and ILMs resources and leave him the fuck alone this might be the best thing youve had a hand in for years
The only thing "awkward" is Merrick's man-obsession of Lucas by Atticus Finch	Sep 25th, 2008 10:50:24 AM
Merrick is like the spurned lover Lucas kicked to the curb years ago, the way he always tries to take cheap little pot-shots at Lucas every time his name comes up. His obsession is funny and sad at the same time.
Go Roscoe! by FILMFUNK	Sep 25th, 2008 10:50:43 AM
This needs to be a Spike Lee joint! Give it the Bamboozled treatment!
So Why was Spike Lee cryin' in the first place? by KenKRK	Sep 25th, 2008 10:57:44 AM
Why was he complaining about films not focusing on black soldiers during WW2, when he himself was already involved in TWO high-profile projects based on the topic?!? He's got the film he directed AND this film that he's co-producing with George freakin' Lucas!!! I could understand if he weren't an established director, but he IS! And these films are happening! So why is he crying like black soldiers were going to continue being excluded from WW2 films?!?
Jar-Jar Binks by BrooseTheScharuk	Sep 25th, 2008 10:59:20 AM
I guess this is Lucas' opportunity to not only make another movie about an era he clearly loves, but to also shake off the racist image he developed with characters like Jar-Jar "Stepin Fetchit" Binks. "I'm no racist. See? Not only am I making a whole movie about black people, but I'm even letting one of 'em direct it!"
Oh that's good... by TooWhippy	Sep 25th, 2008 11:00:11 AM
that the movie is being directed by a black director because a white or asian director would never be able to tell this story.
Ah, Dogfights... by cuthbert84	Sep 25th, 2008 11:03:52 AM
...I miss that show.
BrooseTheScharuk by BackRiverCatfish	Sep 25th, 2008 11:05:00 AM
In Lucas' defense, which is hard to do recently, he was talking about Redtails before TPM and Jar Jar. He's also dating a black woman.
I' by fassbinder79	Sep 25th, 2008 11:08:36 AM

I'm mixed race (black and white) by fassbinder79	Sep 25th, 2008 11:10:26 AM
I don't see anything wrong with Lucas saying he was choosing "a black director." What he was probably trying to say when he did that was that he knew he wanted an a black filmmaker to tell the story which I appreciate. So he probably looked around for the right person who could understand the point of view of the characters where racial discrimination is concerned. Lucas is tops in my book.
Hopefully ILM will make this look pretty by Gungan Slayer	Sep 25th, 2008 11:19:18 AM
This project has potential. Remember Lucashaters, George Lucas is not directing or writing the script. He's just the producer, and maybe the "story by" guy. Can't wait to see some awesome dog fights
yeah - wishing this film all the best by Mr Gorilla	Sep 25th, 2008 11:30:35 AM
I'm a life-long Lucas lover, and this director he's hired has had a hand in some brilliant TV. Let's hope this one realises its potential
KurtLockwood by ChildOfMen	Sep 25th, 2008 11:30:35 AM
Wait, which Tuskegee are you talking about? This is about the Tuskegee Airmen, but the way you talk about what the gov't did, it sounds more like you're referring to the Tuskegee syphilis study? I would think that is more comparable to the example you're citing than the racism related to the Tuskegee Airmen.
Couldn't be worse than Flyboys. by HoboCode	Sep 25th, 2008 11:34:07 AM
Has there been a review on here of Miracle at St. Anna?
This... by Bruce Leroy	Sep 25th, 2008 11:52:14 AM
Sounds pretty good! Now THIS is cool news! First that excellent interview with Spike Lee and now this! Best of all it's not a remake!
SPIKE LEE SUCKS..... by GoodTimeBobby	Sep 25th, 2008 11:55:48 AM
they say the best way to comment on a film is to make another...High Noon/ Rio Bravo for example. if Lee thinks the Black Contribution to the wars are under represented in film then he should make his own black war film..not go whining to Clint Eastwood about it. ..and now Lee is like the Jesse Jackson of war films, where you have to go through him to get approval? thats bullshit- he has nothing to do with Red Tails' long road to production?
Spike Lee and Jar Jar by sapno_krei	Sep 25th, 2008 12:03:30 PM
I seem to recall an interview with Lee where he denounced the portrayal of Jar Jar Binks in TPM. He admitted he hadn't seen the movie, but he had heard from friends of his who had, and he'd formed a negative opinion of GL as a result. I guess they made nice? Or perhaps it was a brewing controversy that wasn't.
Anyone who directs eps from BSG and the Wire is cool by newc0253	Sep 25th, 2008 12:05:18 PM
that is all.
Spike Lee is a shit-stirrer... by LordPorkington	Sep 25th, 2008 12:11:39 PM
He'll flap his mouth about any old crap to get attention.
Was hoping it was a film about spanking... by Behemoth	Sep 25th, 2008 12:16:33 PM
...as in chicks...spanking other chicks...throughout the centuries...VERY disappointed in this news.
MON CALAMARI CIVIL WAR by Dude_Diggler	Sep 25th, 2008 12:57:11 PM
That was hilarious.
GoodTimeBobby by ezdz	Sep 25th, 2008 01:09:48 PM
Spike Lee did just make a black ww2 film, Miracle at St. Anna
Lucas needs to not write anything! by FILMFUNK	Sep 25th, 2008 01:10:58 PM
Just finished Force Unleashed and while it has it's problems with playability it kicks the new Prequel Trilogy in the Jar jars as far as old school Starwars story and atmosphere is concearned!
I saw this movie already by Scarecrowruinme	Sep 25th, 2008 01:38:06 PM
it had Laurence Fishburne in it and was called the Tuskegee Airmen
So he SHOULDN'T be called a black director? by Speed Fricassee	Sep 25th, 2008 01:53:18 PM
Why should Lucas lie?
I Missed The Part With Spike Lee... by Frodo T. Baggins	Sep 25th, 2008 02:04:38 PM
Seriously Wheres The Mention Of Spike I Hate White People Lee? The Only "Normal" Movie Spike Lee Did Was Inside Man. And Inside Man 2: Man Inside.
Inside Man 2: Side Walls by Frodo T. Baggins	Sep 25th, 2008 02:05:20 PM
Ok Thats My Favorite
Doesnt George Lucas Own Slaves? by Frodo T. Baggins	Sep 25th, 2008 02:06:07 PM

benditlikelucas... by Boo Cocky	Sep 25th, 2008 02:08:32 PM
LOL!!
Starring Hayden Christenson in Blackface by Charlie_Allnut	Sep 25th, 2008 02:32:22 PM

Lucas has had Redtails in development for decades by Arteska	Sep 25th, 2008 02:43:26 PM
So he deserves credit for getting this pulled together. As for the reflexive bashing and traffic that ALWAYS comes up whenever Lucas is mentioned in this site (and therefore, he's mentioned a lot) it has become a telltale sign of ignorance and laziness. Prequel bashing is like an internet fart from 1999 that never diffused. The people doing it have seen each of the prequels numerous times and have closets full of new Star Wars toys falling off shelves. The prequels are in fact pretty damn good when you look at them as a whole and those people jumping on "The Force Unleashed" as some kind of second coming should probably acknowledge that for the most part its story and settings would make little to no sense without the prequels. The people that pile on the prequels, the new Indy and Lucas are utterly divorced from the reality of how the originals were perceived by the cognitive elite (now debased to include everyone with an internet connection) in their day or completely ignorant of the sensibilities that inform the very existence of both series. Muppets belching and Chewie tarzan'ing were all clapped and cheered by the same people that go apoplectic over new animation that is today's equivalent of the old Saturday morning Ewok's cartoons. People that clamor for auteur treatment for He-Man, GI Joe and Transformers so the "true subtext" of these properties can be finally realized are comically sad when at the same time they fail to grasp most of what Lucas was doing with his latest movies. Let go of your hate.
Spike IS making a WW2 movie by BizarroJerry	Sep 25th, 2008 02:50:38 PM
Yeah, Spike Lee IS making a movie involving black soldiers in World War 2. That's kind of why he brought it up. In fact, that's why Ebert's interviewing him. You kind of should have mentioned that, Merrick. And I think it's perfectly fine Spike is saying blacks have been under represented in WW2 films. I think it's true, actually. I mean, how many have films have their been, except for the OTHER Tuskeegee Airmen movie, that show their contribution? It's been sixty years and there have been a LOT of WW2 films. I thought his comment about the levees getting blown up was ridiculous, too, but I think he was on the mark with these comments. Or at least not too far off. So, we've got Lucas producing ONLY and some others writing and directing? That's how it should always be. I'm hoping this turns out to be a good flick.
Hi George by hallmitchell	Sep 25th, 2008 03:08:39 PM
Can you please put out a good movie? YOu haven't done that since 1989.
P-51, Cadillac of the skies!! by morGoth	Sep 25th, 2008 03:36:44 PM
Lucas better take a cue from Speilberg and, at least, get the aircraft correct. If I see a damned T-6 Texan dressed up as a P-51C I'm going to throw my partially masticated Dum-dum's at the screen. This is a great story and I'm really looking forward to seeing it told (again) on the Big Screen.
P-51 by MrMojok	Sep 25th, 2008 03:55:12 PM
There are more than enough P-51s still around to pull this off. I saw ~80 of them last year at an airshow in Columbus. No need to dress up another plane to make it appear as one. Of course I am sure ILM will just animate them for the dogfight scenes, like they did in Pearl Harbor. Hopefully this time the animators will not have them manuever like T.I.E. fighters, like they did in P.H.
If there are shortcomings by Arteska	Sep 25th, 2008 04:01:52 PM

they exist in the orginals the same way by Arteska	Sep 25th, 2008 04:02:13 PM

frodo dude funniest shit ive read all week by drturing	Sep 25th, 2008 04:10:42 PM
and thats because i know people who work at ilm.
benditlikelucas by kwisatzhaderach	Sep 25th, 2008 04:28:30 PM
I'd love to see some of these prequels the fans think they can make better.
Can they find a part for OJ? by www.valiens.com	Sep 25th, 2008 04:32:28 PM
Help a brotha out!
I still wish Lucas was directing this. by StarWarsRedux	Sep 25th, 2008 04:47:44 PM
Seriously. The man knows how to make movies about pilots.
Frodo- you are dead on! by PirateEmery	Sep 25th, 2008 04:59:57 PM
I, too, know folks that work at the Presidio. The whole management at that site are douchebags...
Those clips look like the intro to a PC game by Orionsangels	Sep 25th, 2008 05:03:07 PM
Anyway, this movie sounds cool.
Interested by Cobbio	Sep 25th, 2008 06:11:51 PM
As critical as I've been of Lucas in recent years, I think he made good choice with Hemingway. Doesn't matter to me if the director is black or white, since Spielberg made a wonderful "The Color Purple" years ago, but Hemingway's credentials are top notch. "Battlestar Galactica" and "The Wire"? I'm interested.
Strange as it may seem ... by DennisMM	Sep 25th, 2008 06:17:38 PM
one of the most prominent portrayals of blacks in WWII came in the early '70s, on episodic network TV. "Roll Out" tried to build on the popularity of MASH and black films of the time, telling a comic-dramatic story of the Red Ball Express, black supply unit loaders and drivers who humped food, ammo, replacement weapons and sometimes people through the worst parts of the war. Some real heroes came out of the Red Ball. But almost no one remembers them, and the network canceled "Roll Out" pretty quickly when white America showed a disinterest in the WWII subject matter and the racial politics. I remember it very vaguely but with some fondness.
Re: Artesta by Cobbio	Sep 25th, 2008 06:19:41 PM
You wrote, "The prequels are in fact pretty damn good when you look at them as a whole..." That's your opinion, not a fact. My opinion differs significantly from yours, as do most people's. You're welcome to express your view, obviously, but don't expect people to be swayed by it.
Starving Artist by DennisMM	Sep 25th, 2008 06:23:02 PM
Take a deep breath, please. There have been lots of movies about fliers and fighters in WWII that highlighted their heroism. There haven't been many films about how blacks were blocked from most combat service and had to fight just for the right to serve their country as something other than cooks and mechanics and drivers. That fact doesn't get taught in schools, much either, so lots of Americans have no idea how the USA discriminated against blacks in a moment of dire need. They should know, just as they already know about the achievements of whites. The sociopolitical message is the whole point of the movie. Without it, it's just another movie about fighter pilots. Do we really need another one of those?
I think a lot of you just have knee-jerk reactions to "black mov by terry1978	Sep 25th, 2008 06:56:49 PM
That's pretty much all it is. I don't blame you too much, as I know society has basically made it cool to be as politically incorrect as possible due to backlash from the quote unquote "race card." But as was mentioned, many minorities in past wars did a hell of a lot, and in some cases moreso than their white counterparts, and were more than likely viewed as lower than the fucking dogs and horses that the white guys rode...so, yeah.
Not trying to sway opinons really by Arteska	Sep 25th, 2008 07:18:16 PM
but I do think that many of the criticisms leveled at those movies and those sustained and repeated vs. Lucas have pretty weak legs to stand on for the most part and devolve into weird misplaced vendetta territory. There are few movies that couldn't be improved in this way and that and it's pretty easy to understand why some of the most popular movies of all time would have so many opinions about how new installments should unfold - what's not easy to understand is how you could possibly reconcile all of them into something that made sense or pleased everyone, much less the person creating it in the first place.
Presidio Management and Friends at ILM... by SK229	Sep 25th, 2008 09:12:19 PM
to the two who mentioned that shit, can you elaborate? Would love some good gossip on that place... know you prolly gotta be discreet, but any funny stories or anecdotes you can relate about it?
ILM, Dogfights and... by Maestro610	Sep 25th, 2008 11:37:29 PM
a director that has worked on both The Wire and Battlestar Galactica. I don't care how much hate you have for Spike Lee or George Lucas.... they're only producing this movie. This thing is heading in the right direction to be fantastic.
drturing & PirateEmery by Frodo T. Baggins	Sep 26th, 2008 12:39:02 AM
Ah Thank you.
Pathetic Criticism of Lucas by DarfurOnTheRocks	Sep 26th, 2008 03:35:45 AM
It is almost as if he is compelled to trash Lucas in order to gain some fans here....
Red Tails versus Red Nails by Dingbatty	Sep 26th, 2008 03:56:47 AM

They fly into a mysterious cloud and end up by Dingbatty	Sep 26th, 2008 03:59:04 AM
in the Hyborian Age.
There was already a Tuskeegee Airmen film... by TheGoddamnSiege	Sep 26th, 2008 10:40:24 AM
It starred Lawrence Fishburn. Do we really need another one?
For starters, Starving_Artist… by morGoth	Sep 26th, 2008 12:01:28 PM
…how about the movie ‘Memphis Belle’? That bomber crew was a part of the Eighth and though I don’t remember a specific name, I’m quite sure the crew in ‘Twelve O’clock High’ was part of the Eighth also since it wasn’t until later that the Fifteenth started operations from Italy. I think your snarky comment is completely inappropriate and wholly unjustified…how many other WWII movies, besides ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ have involved mostly minority war fighters?
morGoth by DennisMM	Sep 26th, 2008 04:00:06 PM
Thank you. This film is not going to be about one unit's sacrifice, so far as I can tell. It's going to be about what the men had to do simply to be allowed to make that sacrifice. It's a political issue story as much as a war story. TheGoddamnSiege: That was 13 years ago, on TV. That may as well be 50 years ago for most people. From that position I guess we don't need any more WWII films at all, since there have been so many and you can find Hitler on The History Channel at any random moment. And we don't need any more action movies ever. The existence of certain hit films wipes out the need for entire genres. wink

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Spike Lee IDs The Director Of George Lucas' RED TAILS!!

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