Escape to the Movies: Branded

[Gnoekeos]

Wow! This movie was so bad it caused Bob's accent to return!

Crap...and I was kind of hoping the advertisements WERE some kind of alien infestation. It would definitely have explained quite a few things.

I was wondering if it was just more apparent this time or if I was just picking up on it really well since I had just heard him using it a few hours ago

 

[axlryder]

But fat people are something we need to be shaming in the same way that smoking tobacco has become a general taboo. In it's absolute worst form they'd have you believe that the laws of thermodynamics don't apply to them and that genetics is the be-all end-all of how fit you are. It's the height of hypocrisy that they can claim that while drinking soda like it's water and being set to whole grains and lean meats what water and sunlight are to witches and vampires, that their weight isn't a product of what they're shoving down their gullets while half the world starves. They'd have you believe that the 250+ pound human is perfectly normal.

To say nothing of the health risks and costs you throw on everyone else's laps as you eat yourself into obesity. We've become a society that can't tell itself no, and then refuses to accept responsibility for what happens.

Unfortunately I don't think that's really what this movie's trying to broach at all though.

While it isn't necessarily a good thing, getting people to hate themselves for it is not the way to go and solves absolutely nothing.

Yes it is. Unless you mean to tell me that fat people lack the basic human reflexes like, "Oh, that makes me fat. I don't like being fat, ergo I shouldn't eat that" then it's absolutely a good idea.

The bigger issues are the lack of real health and diet education and the misunderstanding of what a workout does.

I find a similar approach tends to work with money. People are so terrible with money that some times the only way to get themto stop spending is to make it abundantly clear just how foolish and self-destructive their spending habits are to them, those close to them and society as a whole.

 

[Gnoekeos]

Double Post. Nothing to see here. Move along people. Move along . . . . I said move along dammit!

I'll have to re-watch his recent spider man review to confirm that, I remember him being noticeably pissed at the movie for good reason but not so much accent

 

[Allthingsspectacular]

But fat people are something we need to be shaming in the same way that smoking tobacco has become a general taboo. In it's absolute worst form they'd have you believe that the laws of thermodynamics don't apply to them and that genetics is the be-all end-all of how fit you are. It's the height of hypocrisy that they can claim that while drinking soda like it's water and being set to whole grains and lean meats what water and sunlight are to witches and vampires, that their weight isn't a product of what they're shoving down their gullets while half the world starves. They'd have you believe that the 250+ pound human is perfectly normal.

To say nothing of the health risks and costs you throw on everyone else's laps as you eat yourself into obesity. We've become a society that can't tell itself no, and then refuses to accept responsibility for what happens.

Unfortunately I don't think that's really what this movie's trying to broach at all though.

While it isn't necessarily a good thing, getting people to hate themselves for it is not the way to go and solves absolutely nothing.

Yes it is. Unless you mean to tell me that fat people lack the basic human reflexes like, "Oh, that makes me fat. I don't like being fat, ergo I shouldn't eat that" then it's absolutely a good idea.

The bigger issues are the lack of real health and diet education and the misunderstanding of what a workout does.

Actually, personally I think it is a parenting issue. Not an education issue. The education IS there, but kids don't pay attention.

Overworked parents prefer to have convenient comfort food for their kids and get them to shut up easily over cooking decent meals.

I grew up with decent food being cooked in my home. Things like fast food is disgusting to me.

But I do know some overweight individuals and the "fat shaming" only harms their chances of getting the motivation to get fit and eat well.

 

[Evil Smurf]

thank Steve Jobs I now know fat people are the devil......What what?

 

[Katya Topolkaraeva]

Dude. that movie sounds awesome! i got to go see it!

 

[ExtraDebit]

There's nothing wrong with a movie saying fat is bad, because to be honest it is bad. For your body and for your health. This might be hard to swallow but intolerance is a powerful trend setter.

I grow up in the Caribbean and countries there mostly tuned into american TV with all its advertising. The results is a generation of youth afraid and feel shameful to wear anything but a nike, if you don't you'll be looked down upon and mocked. This may seems dumb and stupid, but the world if filled with stupid people. While this stupidity does nothing but fills the pocket of nike, intolerance of obesity can makes you strive to get thinner thus makes you healthier.

There's two side to every coin, there is no absolution in the world.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

I don't approve of the way you pronounce Max von Sydow's last name.

Anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zMT3SqgRfk

 

[Olas]

Pretentious with pointless overwrought CGI imagery and popular ironically? Too bad it doesn't have scantily clad chicks fighting giant robot samurai.
-_-

A lot of words could be used to describe Suckerpunch, but I don't see "pretentious" being one of them.

 

[Littaly]

Boston accent breaking through? It's that bad huh?

It's interesting though, this is the second review of Branded I've seen that wants me to stay away from it but somehow has the opposite effect ^^

 

[MetalMagpie]

Never even heard of this movie until now, but the videos Bob played throughout reminded me of another Russian movie, Nightwatch which sounded like a neat premise, but the execution was just a cavalcade of "how much acid do I need to take for this to start being good?" I definitely dislike it when people mishandle easy concepts like this, but considering how my town sucks so much we don't even get The Master, I doubt we'll be getting this any time soon.

Nightwatch is (very loosely) based on a book of the same name by Sergei Lukyanenko. The book is actually pretty awesome (even translated into English) and well worth a read if you like urban fantasy with a gothic feel.

 

[CoL0sS]

I stopped this video near the end because I presumed Bob would be the voice of reason and try to dissuade me from seeing it. Honestly, this sounds jaw-droppingly idiotic - something I would very much enjoy (between slapping myself across the face and softly sobbing, wondering how someone could get this funded)

Captcha: take care - see, even captcha is advising caution

 

[maninahat]

Hmm I gotta say your review did exactly as you meant it not to. This review has got me interested in seeing this even if it is bad. One thing that has got me a weird is that you seem personally offended by the "Evils of obesity" message of the film and it's affected your review However, If that is the message of the film then I agree with it and now you've roped me into seeing it.

I agree that Bob makes it sound very tempting; I want to see this piece of shit, if only to see how shit it is.

Also, it is hard not find an "evils of obesity" message somewhat disturbing, at least if it is anything like how Bob is describing it (and judging by other critics, it most certainly is). There's a difference between saying "fat is unhealthy/problematic", and saying "fat people are idiotic, repulsive hoi polloi, who should be villified". This ain't no Wall - E.

 

[planet.tyler]

Hmm I gotta say your review did exactly as you meant it not to. This review has got me interested in seeing this even if it is bad. One thing that has got me a weird is that you seem personally offended by the "Evils of obesity" message of the film and it's affected your review However, If that is the message of the film then I agree with it and now you've roped me into seeing it.

my thoughts exactly; obesity should be frowned upon in the same way anorexia is in the media as they are both extreme weight conditions that should be looked upon as unhealthy.

 

[Delta2501]

I haven't seen the film so maybe it's handled as badly as he suggests and just an excuse to say "Aren't fat people disgusting", but couldn't obesity be seen as a legitimate symbol of consummerist excess? Alcoholism and general materialism would also work, but would be harder to portray, whereas obesity has obvious physical symptoms. The fact it is also bad for your health also helps you villify the "evil corportations" who want to spread their products regardless of the damage they do.

Evil corporations enslaving consumers with addictive or damaging products is hardly a new idea in media, why should the fact this portrayal had them preying on our natural predeliction for salt, sugar and fatty foodstuffs be so much more objectionable?

 

[Archer666]

This sounds surprisingly like a movie I'd made. Fat people being used as blobby fuel for the apocalypse. Totally seeing this!

 

[Hugga_Bear]

Yes, being fat is your fault. It's not only your fault, but living in a post-indsutrial society does not absolve you from the fact that you're using your body the wrong way. Not only is it evident that your physical activity is pitiful, it's also showing that you have little criteria in what you ingest. You don't need to eat out everytime. Cook at home and take lunch to work it there's no healthy place near you. Oh, it takes time and effort? Well, it's better that time and effort than the persitent damage your organs and bones are suffering from being forced through overweight. Also, if you're going to throw out the biological argument for fat storage, you can't just forget your body was also made to move. I'm not saying anyone should try to look like models, with zero fat deposits (and all their metabolic disorders that carries), but it is everyone's duty -yes, I use that word, duty- to keep their own body within healthy boundries of weight. If you are now overweight, my question always is: why didn't you stop before you got to this point? If you're here, being complacent with your obesity and asking everyone to not offend your sensibilities won't bring you back to a healthy body. If I sound callous, so be it. More often than not, it's poor habits and terrible discipline and education that make people obese, not some genetic disorder that couldn't be avoided.

You don't really get how being overweight works do you?

See, it's not about not exercising or eating bad food, for most people in the world it is very simply this:
They eat too much food.
Healthy food, good food, balanced food. Just too much.

Take me (hi), overweight and dropping it at a decent pace, I used to be a semi pro rugby player and rower and seriously fit but when I started to suffer from depression I cut those out, I still worked out 2/3 times a week and I have ALWAYS eaten good food, being taught to cook young but I gained weight fast. I was eating the same amount I used to but I'd changed how often and much I exercised. I am a truly terrible person.

I'm not saying all fat people should be given a Christian side hug and a doughnut but really, if you're going to chastise people for something you could at least get the facts straight.

For what it's worth I don't give a shit if people are fat, it just doesn't matter. There's a point where it becomes bad but that's well beyond fat and stepping in to morbid obesity, I'd rather people were smart and physically inept than statuesque idiots. Of course, I'd quite like all of humanity to be geniuses and look like gods but ideals are pointless to bring in. Realistically being overweight doesn't make much of a difference, going too far? Well, yeah, obviously. Some people don't care about the strain it puts on their bodies though and frankly I'm okay with that too. Just...yeah, don't be so silly.

 

[talideon]

You know a movie's bad when Bob goes full-Bahston

 

[Lieju]

One must remember that a small percentage of fat people have glandular or other issues that tend to make them larger with almost no input on their part. For most it's a lack of exercise, and for the rest it's overeating. And THEN not exercising enough to counteract it.

Even some glandular (not all) problems can be fought against though. One of my ex girlfriends had the problem and struggled with the weight all the time but if you're committed you can stave off most of the weight. Exercise and careful diet can maintain a decent size even with glandular issues.

Define 'decent size'. I think a part of the problem is that the concept of 'overweight' can be totally twisted and unrealistic in Hollywood movies. I'm normal weight, but by movie-standards I'm a whale.

 

[DugMachine]

Define 'decent size'. I think a part of the problem is that the concept of 'overweight' can be totally twisted and unrealistic in Hollywood movies. I'm normal weight, but by movie-standards I'm a whale.

Normal weight I mean. Hell even slightly overweight is fine. Movie standards are just that, movie standards. We're not celebrities and everyday society doesn't expect us to be. Maybe the media and teenagers want to look like that but once you grow up you realize those standards mean shit.

It's not a matter of how you look, it's your health that must be looked at. Morbidly obese people are unhealthy, someone 10-30 pounds overweight isn't that bad off.