Originally Posted By Rebekah This topic is for discussion of the 11/17/2003 news item <b><a href="http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_839113.html" target="_blank">Ananova: Bad Santa shocks Disney bosses</a></b> Disney subsidiary Miramax's film <I>Bad Santa</I> has been met with outrage by senior Disney executives.
Originally Posted By kennect I just have to ask this...How could Disney execs not be aware of this film being made?
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 ^^^ I was thinking the same thing, the movie was directed by Terry Zwigoff who made the documentary Crumb which was pretty disturbing, a story by the Coen Brothers, starring Billy Bob Thorton, who's not known for family films.
Originally Posted By nic_wd_03 hmmmmmmmm <<"Nothing appears sacred, anymore, this is just not in the spirit of Walt Disney," a source close to Chief Executive Michael Eisner is quoted as saying.>> coming from the man who brought us, down and out in beverly hills.....and who is responsible for miramax being a subsidiary....
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan That's why they have a Miramax division, so that there is a distance between more adult, raunchier films and family animated features.
Originally Posted By Daannzzz Perhaps Mirimax could put out a new animated Easter movie called "Bad Thumper".
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Here's the trailer. <a href="http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/bad_santa/" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/trailers/ miramax/bad_santa/</a> Doesn't look particularly promising. In fact, it looks pretty forgettable. A huge outcry against it would help drive business.
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 When I saw the commercial for "Bad Santa" on TV I was mortified. I thought, "Ewwwwww! You don't DO this to Santa! Disney! How COULD you?!" Given that I love "Chicago" and several other very adult Miramax films, and that I have no problem with Disney being the parent company that produced them, I cannot justify my feelings about "Bad Santa". But I guess you don't always have to be rational.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I just saw the trailer and discovered that John Ritter also has a role in the movie. What a sad swan song film for such a funny man... Personally, the trailer didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. The lead character (portrayed by Billy Bob Thornton), is a DEPARTMENT STORE SANTA, not the 'real' one. Although it looks appallingly unfunny to me, it looks like it is trying to be a "bad guy goes good" story after discovering the "true meaning of Christmas".
Originally Posted By kennect Sorry I thought the first promo I saw was funny...Then I read this story and none of it makes sense to me....Here we have a film ready to hit the theaters and all of a sudden the execs say they are shocked by this film....Please tell me where have the socalled execs been while this film was being made? To me it sounds as if they are trying to cover their rear ends if the film doesn't do well with the critics and the public....Disney does a pretty good job with "spin" when it seems necessary....
Originally Posted By Shooba What exactly about this movie shocked Disney? Miramax just released "Kill Bill" which has more limbs flying and blood spurting than you can imagine. Sounds strange that only now would they have issues with a Miramax release. Maybe the execs who were "shocked" by this movie were busy having lunch with the execs from CBS, the ones that were "shocked" when they finally saw that Ronald Reagan movie that *they* ultimately decided to ban.
Originally Posted By arstogas You know, the subject of this movie has been explored before... Most notably and probably for the first time as a classic TWILIGHT ZONE episode known as "Night of the Meek", starring the recently departed Art Carney. And if you forgot, in the original MIRACLE ON 34th STREET, the REAL Santa Claus is pulled into the story precisely BECAUSE a "Bad Santa" is drunk and about to ride the sleigh in the Macy's Day Parade. Though I've not seen it, I think the point of the film, ultimately, is about the redemption of a wounded soul. Is that so bad?
Originally Posted By Dlmusic If the movie is picturing a department-store Santa, then I don't understand the outrage. I mean, I don't see 'R' rated films in general so I'm not about to support it, but I don't understand why this one is particularly bad.
Originally Posted By Jim Too funny, the Eisner quote. Since about 1980, has most of what Disney done been in the spirit of Walt Disney? Was PRIEST? COLOR OF NIGHT? HEAVYWEIGHTS? JUNGLE BOOK 2? CHICAGO? MR. MAGOO? THE PAINO? The list goes on an on.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Perhaps Mirimax could put out a new animated Easter movie called "Bad Thumper<< I think that was already done in the Porn industry. I also dread that, just the controversy alone, will make this movie a sleeper season hit for Disney and Dimension Films. It's too bad that this is the late John Ritter's last film appearance.
Originally Posted By kennect What Walt would have done or have not done down the road is something we will never know....But this effort to hold onto the past to me is getting very lame....Were Disney films and its subsidaries simply still churning out family fare over the last twenty years the film division along with the company would probably be out of business now....
Originally Posted By Jim I would disagree. Strongly. I just think the studio lacked the vision to continue in the tradition of Walt Disney. To me, what is of utmost concern is that Walt Disney's name has been attached to many different projects his own words and life would appear to reject. As John Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE says (paraphrased) . . . "It's my name, and I cannot have another in my life."
Originally Posted By kennect Well Jim, It seems from what I am reading "Bad Santa" is getting some rather good reviews...Obviously it isn't a family film...Also, I don't think the average movie goer has any clue as to the relationship this film has with Disney....In fact I doubt the average person on the street even knows Disney owns ABC....
Originally Posted By basil fan Well, I finally saw a commercial for this movie. I admit it looks raunchy & disgusting, but I don't see why that should upset people more than any other piece of trash that comes out of Hollywood. I didn;t see anything that made it look like this film tarnishes the image of Santa, or makes reference to the "real" Santa, or anything like that. Disney Trivia Quiz <a href="http://www15.brinkster.com/wtstsgalor/dquiz.html" target="_blank">http://www15.brinkster.com/wts tsgalor/dquiz.html</a>
Originally Posted By Jim Over the years, the line has been blurred between the distribution arm of these films, including in various Disney trivia pieces and in Disney publications. Though you're right . . . Most people will probably not connect the two (or shall I say kennect). I'd also agree with basil fan, and I saw the commercial some time ago, it doesn't seem to be much worse than anything else out there, both Disney produced and non.
