Wicker Man is Hate Speech?

[Joe Wordsworth]

There was a big hubub around town about a claim made in an opinion article in a local newspaper about how "The Wicker Man" wish Nick Cage is flagrant hate-mongering movie directed at pagan people, intended to undermine their beliefs, and that there ought be a ban on it--a protest of its distribution.

The crux of the argument was that it is a threat to religious tolerance.

Anybody see it? Have a comment?

(besides commenting on how the original was "better")

 

[TheEarl]

There was a big hubub around town about a claim made in an opinion article in a local newspaper about how "The Wicker Man" wish Nick Cage is flagrant hate-mongering movie directed at pagan people, intended to undermine their beliefs, and that there ought be a ban on it--a protest of its distribution.

The crux of the argument was that it is a threat to religious tolerance.

Anybody see it? Have a comment?

(besides commenting on how the original was "better")

I saw the original, which I thought was a little bit ridiculous, but not overly insulting. It would be like saying a film that involved an evil Christian cult was hate-mongering to Christians.

Don't know what the new version's like. I'd kinda hope that they'd make a distinction between 'pagans' and 'this particular group of crazy pagans', but, if it's anything like the original, intolerance is going to be the least of its flaws.

The Earl

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I saw the original, which I thought was a little bit ridiculous, but not overly insulting. It would be like saying a film that involved an evil Christian cult was hate-mongering to Christians.

Don't know what the new version's like. I'd kinda hope that they'd make a distinction between 'pagans' and 'this particular group of crazy pagans', but, if it's anything like the original, intolerance is going to be the least of its flaws.

The Earl

Haven't seen it yet (probably will though) and I didn't even know it was a remake, so I can't say anything about whether or not I feel it was a statement of hate or not. But I will say this in response to what you said (I bolded in the quote):

I don't really see that it matters whether or not a distinction is made between Pagans as a whole or individuals who happen to be crazy or evil and Pagans as well. Honestly, I don't really see that it makes much difference. It is just fiction, just a movie. I mean, let's face it, the only people who can be so easily misled are those who want desperately to be led. I don't see these people as having the intelligence to be anyhing more than led. If this film is such a statement, then if it isn't misleading them, then something else will, in a different, equally wrong direction. I don't see that it's avoidable, and therefore, it being out of my control at least, I don't see the sense in worrying about it.

Q_C

 

[TheEarl]

I don't really see that it matters whether or not a distinction is made between Pagans as a whole or individuals who happen to be crazy or evil and Pagans as well. Honestly, I don't really see that it makes much difference. It is just fiction, just a movie. I mean, let's face it, the only people who can be so easily misled are those who want desperately to be led. I don't see these people as having the intelligence to be anyhing more than led. If this film is such a statement, then if it isn't misleading them, then something else will, in a different, equally wrong direction. I don't see that it's avoidable, and therefore, it being out of my control at least, I don't see the sense in worrying about it.

Q_C

I have to disagree with that one. When I told my mum that I was considering converting to Wicca (a form of Paganism), she wanted to make sure that it wasn't to do with ouija boards, black magic and dangerous stuff. Quite often, people's only knowledge about paganism is from television and film and things like Charmed, Buffy, The Craft, etc, push the idea that there is an evil, dangerous side to it. You say that only the gullible will be led, but all I knew about Wicca when I first heard of it was what Buffy told me.

I personally (thank god), had no problems from friends or family when I converted to Wicca, as they're all reasonably fair people and listened when I explained I wouldn't be sacrificing puppies or devil worshipping. However, for some people it's very difficult, because all their families know about it is that Charmed told them people get killed by bad Pagans. And Buffy said it and those films as well.

The Wicker Man (if it follows the same plot) is about a loony pagan cult who sacrifice people. The distinction should be made that they do this because they are loony, not because they are pagan.

The Earl

 

[Tom Collins]

God. I am so sick of every body screaming they're being mistreated over the least little thing. Christ on a crutch, you can't sneeze now-a-days without some asshole bitching that you're infringing on the rights of germs to live and someone else spraying you with Lysol and bitching that you're spreading disease.

I saw it, and while it's not the best movie ever, it's not bad. I wouldn't say that it's hate mongering toward pagans. I would say that the people were deluded/misinformed as to how they should have been aquiring their sacrifices, seeing as how originally it was criminals who were used, but it's rather probable that someone performing those rites in this day and age would be misinformed. Also, I think they had little recourse since it didn't appear that they had any criminals.

Whatever, man. People need to stop being so damned sensitive. Especially the fanatics among us.