While Michael Bay is off making sub par action films that don't require thought, Spike Lee is out there making films that matter, films that invoke thought. (Now this isn't the case for ALL of his films, but still) With a film like Do the Right Thing, it depicted the lives of city kids not usually shown on screen. It discussed important issues like race, gender, and inequality and used them as a vehicle for making a very transformative film.
When I watched Do the Right Thing for the first time, I knew that it was a big deal. Now this could be because I've been told of how great of a film it is and how it kicked started Spike Lee's movie making career. But, it really was as good as everyone says. It was interesting to watch and made me want to watch other films by him and learn more about his activism and believes in regards to society, race and so on.
Well done Megan. Yes, there are good things about Do The Right Thing. I remember one of my professors as an undergrad showing it in class as an example of race/class issues, and even for all of its shortcomings, he did put racial issues out there not previously discussed. It was also powerful enough to make people really angry, whether they feared his racial politics or did not think he went far enough, it got people protesting. Anytime you have folks respond so vehemently to an artistic production, the artist is usually on to something.
ReplyDeleteCheers,