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Spike Lee: 'Django Unchained' is 'Disrespectful,' I Will Not See It

David Lee

The filmmaker, who has long had issues with Quentin Tarantino, also tweeted "American slavery was not a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. It was a holocaust."

Spike Lee will not be seeing Django Unchained when it is released on Christmas -- or on any other day after that.

The prolific filmmaker, whose films -- including Malcom X and his most recent, Red Hook Summer -- often address race in America, said in an interview last week that he would not be seeing Quentin Tarantino's new, Jamie Foxx-starring western about slave vengeance.

"I can't speak on it 'cause I'm not gonna see it," he told Vibe Magazine, when asked about Django. "All I'm going to say is that it's disrespectful to my ancestors. That's just me... I'm not speaking on behalf of anybody else."

STORY: Tarantino's 'Django Unchained' Reignites Debate Over N-Word in Movies

Later, Lee continued to criticize the film's take on the subject matter, which alternates between the brutal, including depictions of torture and whippings, and the comic, highlighted by much of the dialogue assigned to Christoph Waltz and Leonardo DiCaprio.

"American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western.It Was A Holocaust.My Ancestors Are Slaves. Stolen From Africa. I Will Honor Them," Lee wrote, which he then followed with responses to fans both critical and supportive of his stance.

After a fan wrote that Django was just a film and not to be taken seriously, Lee responded, "Wrong.Birth Of A Nation Got Black Folks Lynced [sic]. Media Is Powerful. DON'T SLEEP. WAKE UP YO."

Lee has long been a critic of Tarantino, whose films often deal with race in controversial ways. Following the release of Tarantino's 1997 blacksploitation tribute, Jackie Brown, Lee said, “I have a definite problem with Quentin Tarantino’s excessive use of the n-word. And let the record state that I never said that he cannot use that word -- I’ve used that word in many of my films -- but I think something is wrong with him."

I Love Spike Lee. In fact I would say he is one of my favorite dircectors!, but with that being said. Whenever there is a movie revolving an African American main character in it he always puts in his 2 cents. I think his heart is in the right place at times, but I also believe he doesn't think a white director can tell a story revolving around African American history... which I think is not true. And besides all that it's a Tarantino movie!, it's not trying to be 100% historically accurate . That would be like saying the Xena and Hercules TV Shows were 100% accurate to mythology lol.

Also on the talk of the ''n'' word. It's a word no one likes to hear in movies, Tarantino has been known for saying that & many other non PG rated words.

And Spike Lee has also used the n word in many of his films to... So him coming after Tarantino because of his use of the word is strange.

plus, Lee and Tarantino have already had their fair share of bad blood in the past, this is moreso a personal thing then it is something moral.

[Edited 12/24/12 15:40pm]

Urgh, I saw this yesterday and my first thoughts were why doesn't he just shut the fuck up. Seriously. This isn't anything new with him, he does have a right to an opinion, but damn, he's always bitching and moaning and bitching and moaning about somebody else's film...especially if the stars of the film or the cast is predominantly African American.

What I really don't get is that how he can have an opinion on a film he hasn't even seen? I mean its one thing to say, "I don't have any interest in seeing it. That's it"...but it's another to say I don't have any interest because it "disrespects my ancestors"...how do you know what the film does if you haven't seen it??? His reasoning doesn't make sense and seems like it's just yet another dig to make at Tarantino whom we clearly know from past criticism that he doesn't care for.

I think Spike is salty because his films generally don't do well at the box office...and not only that, his films don't get decent promotion....as both Tyler Perry's and Tarantino films do.

[Edited 12/24/12 16:27pm]

I take it that Spike NEVER seen Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2. That specific Quentin Tarantino film did NOT use the word "n***er" OR "n***a" at all.

missfee said:

Urgh, I saw this yesterday and my first thoughts were why doesn't he just shut the fuck up. Seriously. This isn't anything new with him, he does have a right to an opinion, but damn, he's always bitching and moaning and bitching and moaning about somebody else's film...especially if the stars of the film or the cast is predominantly African American.

What I really don't get is that how he can have an opinion on a film he hasn't even seen. I mean its one thing to say, "I don't have any interest in seeing it. That's it"...but it's another to say I don't have any interest because it "disrespects my ancestors"...how do you know what the film does if you haven't seen it??? His reasoning doesn't make sense and seems like it's just yet another dig to make at Tarantino whom we clearly know from past criticism that he doesn't care for.

Sometimes I think Spike is salty because his films generally don't do well at the box office.

[Edited 12/24/12 16:21pm]

it's called haterism,

i haven't seen this YET, but i'm willin to bet

he mad cause he didn't think of it first. and as far as ancestors go,

his musta been too 'houshish' to go out and kill whitefolks.

(houshish; another new word brought to you by King Bad)

missfee said:

Urgh, I saw this yesterday and my first thoughts were why doesn't he just shut the fuck up. Seriously. This isn't anything new with him, he does have a right to an opinion, but damn, he's always bitching and moaning and bitching and moaning about somebody else's film...especially if the stars of the film or the cast is predominantly African American.

What I really don't get is that how he can have an opinion on a film he hasn't even seen. I mean its one thing to say, "I don't have any interest in seeing it. That's it"...but it's another to say I don't have any interest because it "disrespects my ancestors"...how do you know what the film does if you haven't seen it??? His reasoning doesn't make sense and seems like it's just yet another dig to make at Tarantino whom we clearly know from past criticism that he doesn't care for.

Sometimes I think Spike is salty because his films generally don't do well at the box office.

[Edited 12/24/12 16:21pm]

Bingo!

And also, Spike still does NOT want to pass Tyler Perry the freaking torch already. But I will not start that again.

Staying on topic, Quentin's films just kicks ass. You do not watch films like Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill for anything education, inspiration, OR uplifting for that matter. You watch these films because you find dark comedies entertainiment and funny.

Spike Lee and Tarantino both made 2 good movies...Thats it..

Sergio didn't start the spagetti westerns..it was Glauber Rocha.

Nuff said..LOL

TonyVanDam said:

missfee said:

Urgh, I saw this yesterday and my first thoughts were why doesn't he just shut the fuck up. Seriously. This isn't anything new with him, he does have a right to an opinion, but damn, he's always bitching and moaning and bitching and moaning about somebody else's film...especially if the stars of the film or the cast is predominantly African American.

What I really don't get is that how he can have an opinion on a film he hasn't even seen. I mean its one thing to say, "I don't have any interest in seeing it. That's it"...but it's another to say I don't have any interest because it "disrespects my ancestors"...how do you know what the film does if you haven't seen it??? His reasoning doesn't make sense and seems like it's just yet another dig to make at Tarantino whom we clearly know from past criticism that he doesn't care for.

Sometimes I think Spike is salty because his films generally don't do well at the box office.

[Edited 12/24/12 16:21pm]

Bingo!

And also, Spike still does NOT want to pass Tyler Perry the freaking torch already. But I will not start that again.

Staying on topic, Quentin's films just kicks ass. You do not watch films like Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill for anything education, inspiration, OR uplifting for that matter. You watch these films because you find dark comedies entertainiment and funny.

And Tarantino films are highly promoted. The first Django preview I saw was way back this summer...starting in September, I could have sworn they started putting the promotion into overdrive. Spike's films, with the exception of "Malcolm X", generally don't receive proper promotion. The reasoning behind his bitch fests and rants could simply stem from jealousy. Period.

And it's not to say that Spike's films suck (well not all of them, there's been more than one occasion that I've walked out the theater after 2 hours wondering what the hell was that)...some of his films have been very good but bombed at the box office because the audience had no idea it was in the theaters. It's sad and unfortunate, but damn when you start burning bridges and making public rants about other films..instead of using it to your advantage, then what do you expect?

There are more slaves now than during that periode.The Dutch fucked up big time.

Hollywood is just stereotypes 'n shit.

Who's always sitting front row at NBA games..who runs the NBA?

missfee said:

And it's not to say that Spike's films suck (well not all of them, there's been more than one occasion that I've walked out the theater after 2 hours wondering what the hell was that)...some of his films have been very good but bombed at the box office because the audience had no idea it was in the theaters. It's sad and unfortunate, but damn when you start burning bridges and making public rants about other films..instead of using it to your advantage, then what do you expect?

Spike's last good film that was worth watching was Bamboozed. It wasn't a hit at the box office. But it was Spike's biggest selling DVD & BluRay film ever.

I wanted to see Red Hook Summer, but it never made it in any of the theaters in the Little Rock areas at all.

TonyVanDam said:

missfee said:

And it's not to say that Spike's films suck (well not all of them, there's been more than one occasion that I've walked out the theater after 2 hours wondering what the hell was that)...some of his films have been very good but bombed at the box office because the audience had no idea it was in the theaters. It's sad and unfortunate, but damn when you start burning bridges and making public rants about other films..instead of using it to your advantage, then what do you expect?

Spike's last good film that was worth watching was Bamboozed. It wasn't a hit at the box office. But it was Spike's biggest selling DVD & BluRay film ever.

I wanted to see Red Hook Summer, but it never made it in any of the theaters in the Little Rock areas at all.

See that's what I mean. "Red Hook Summer" I thought hadn't even hit theater's yet period. According to Wiki... it was released in theater's in August and was released to home video Dec. 21st. I haven't seen not one commercial or preview for the movie at all.

Well, if it is any consolation Mr. Lee. I am pretty ticked off at you for not lobbying harder to direct, "Red Tails",(Not that the director did a bad job). I think that movie, would have been right up your alley. Then again, had you directed the movie you would have had to give up your prized seat at the Knick game.

[Edited 12/24/12 18:00pm]

Glad most of you guys & gals agree!

I do love Spike and he is one of my favorite directors. But he is just so damn bitter all the time

Sometime i highly agree with what he says like his quote on Tyler Perry. And his quotes on Hollywood is afraid to do non sterotypical black movies quite a bit.

But his attitude about having movies with black characters, and a white director he just gets way to pressed.

And as mentioned him & Trarantino have had bad blood since the 90's when he commented on the use of the n word in Jackie Brown.

This was Tarantinos comment

''As a writer, I demand the right to write any character in the world that I want to write. I demand the right to be them, I demand the right to think them and I demand the right to tell the truth as I see they are, all right? And to say that I can't do that because I'm white, but the Hughes brothers can do that because they're black, that is racist. That is the heart of racism, all right. And I do not accept that ... That is how a segment of the black community that lives in Compton, lives in Inglewood, where Jackie Brown takes place, that lives in Carson, that is how they talk. I'm telling the truth. It would not be questioned if I was black, and I resent the question because I'm white. I have the right to tell the truth. I do not have the right to lie''

And a quote from Samuel L. Jackson

I don't think the word is offensive in the context of this film ... Black artists think they are the only ones allowed to use the word. Well, that's bull. Jackie Brown is a wonderful homage to black exploitation films. This is a good film, and Spike hasn't made one of those in a few years.

Gunsnhalen said:

Glad most of you guys & gals agree!

I do love Spike and he is one of my favorite directors. But he is just so damn bitter all the time

Sometime i highly agree with what he says like his quote on Tyler Perry. And his quotes on Hollywood is afraid to do non sterotypical black movies quite a bit.

But his attitude about having movies with black characters, and a white director he just gets way to pressed.

And as mentioned him & Trarantino have had bad blood since the 90's when he commented on the use of the n word in Jackie Brown.

This was Tarantinos comment

''As a writer, I demand the right to write any character in the world that I want to write. I demand the right to be them, I demand the right to think them and I demand the right to tell the truth as I see they are, all right? And to say that I can't do that because I'm white, but the Hughes brothers can do that because they're black, that is racist. That is the heart of racism, all right. And I do not accept that ... That is how a segment of the black community that lives in Compton, lives in Inglewood, where Jackie Brown takes place, that lives in Carson, that is how they talk. I'm telling the truth. It would not be questioned if I was black, and I resent the question because I'm white. I have the right to tell the truth. I do not have the right to lie''

And a quote from Samuel L. Jackson

I don't think the word is offensive in the context of this film ... Black artists think they are the only ones allowed to use the word. Well, that's bull. Jackie Brown is a wonderful homage to black exploitation films. This is a good film, and Spike hasn't made one of those in a few years.

Ouch. I bet he added "muthafucka" to the end of that sentence too.

missfee said:

Gunsnhalen said:

Glad most of you guys & gals agree!

I do love Spike and he is one of my favorite directors. But he is just so damn bitter all the time

Sometime i highly agree with what he says like his quote on Tyler Perry. And his quotes on Hollywood is afraid to do non sterotypical black movies quite a bit.

But his attitude about having movies with black characters, and a white director he just gets way to pressed.

And as mentioned him & Trarantino have had bad blood since the 90's when he commented on the use of the n word in Jackie Brown.

This was Tarantinos comment

''As a writer, I demand the right to write any character in the world that I want to write. I demand the right to be them, I demand the right to think them and I demand the right to tell the truth as I see they are, all right? And to say that I can't do that because I'm white, but the Hughes brothers can do that because they're black, that is racist. That is the heart of racism, all right. And I do not accept that ... That is how a segment of the black community that lives in Compton, lives in Inglewood, where Jackie Brown takes place, that lives in Carson, that is how they talk. I'm telling the truth. It would not be questioned if I was black, and I resent the question because I'm white. I have the right to tell the truth. I do not have the right to lie''

And a quote from Samuel L. Jackson

I don't think the word is offensive in the context of this film ... Black artists think they are the only ones allowed to use the word. Well, that's bull. Jackie Brown is a wonderful homage to black exploitation films. This is a good film, and Spike hasn't made one of those in a few years.

Ouch. I bet he added "muthafucka" to the end of that sentence too.

I thought that was a bit harsh... cause Sam was in Do The Right Thing & i think all of Spikes movies in the 90s were great

Ugh! it sucks when 2 artist you like are at such odds.

Also i take issue with this

"American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western.It Was A Holocaust."

What is Spike talking about here? Westerns as a genre deal with the most tragic moment in American history - the settlement and colonization of the frontier at the expense of Native Americans. Is he really saying that its OK to make the usual Western produced in the backdrop of an the actual American genocide but not one dealing with American slavery? Seems like a ridiculous double standard for him to have.

shorttrini said:

Well, if it is any consolation Mr. Lee. I am pretty ticked off at you for not lobbying harder to direct, "Red Tails",(Not that the director did a bad job). I think that movie, would have been right up your alley. Then again, had you directed the movie you would have had to give up your prized seat at the Knick game.

[Edited 12/24/12 18:00pm]

GOOD LORD THIS

That movie was a mess!, the first all black cast for a war film. And a great cast at that... and it was a mess

Spike could have done something really good with it.

Gunsnhalen said:

Also i take issue with this

"American Slavery Was Not A Sergio Leone Spaghetti Western.It Was A Holocaust."

What is Spike talking about here? Westerns as a genre deal with the most tragic moment in American history - the settlement and colonization of the frontier at the expense of Native Americans. Is he really saying that its OK to make the usual Western produced in the backdrop of an the actual American genocide but not one dealing with American slavery? Seems like a ridiculous double standard for him to have.

Can you name on director, (Black or White) who, has dealt properly, with the subject of slavery on film? I can't. Also, the word "tragic', is relative. Just like I will never know what it was like for the jews during the Holocaust, I doubt it that, you could identify with what a black person had to go through in those times, even leading up to today.

Oh shut your ignorant militant wannabe ass up, Spike. Goddamn you're annoying.

shorttrini said:

Well, if it is any consolation Mr. Lee. I am pretty ticked off at you for not lobbying harder to direct, "Red Tails",(Not that the director did a bad job). I think that movie, would have been right up your alley. Then again, had you directed the movie you would have had to give up your prized seat at the Knick game.

[Edited 12/24/12 18:00pm]

In fairness to George Lucas (who is non-black), even he had a difficult time getting support to make Red Tails. Had Spike won the rights to the script, that film would have been in "production hell".

TonyVanDam said:

shorttrini said:

Well, if it is any consolation Mr. Lee. I am pretty ticked off at you for not lobbying harder to direct, "Red Tails",(Not that the director did a bad job). I think that movie, would have been right up your alley. Then again, had you directed the movie you would have had to give up your prized seat at the Knick game.

[Edited 12/24/12 18:00pm]

In fairness to George Lucas (who is non-black), even he had a difficult time getting support to make Red Tails. Had Spike won the rights to the script, that film would have been in "production hell".

Oh no. I'm not blaming Mr. Lucas at all. Yes, your right for it being in production hell, has Spike won the rights for it. My point was, if telling our story is so important to him, he would have made that movie a LONG TIME AGO. Long before Mr. Lucas ever came into the picture. Spike has gotten complacent in his old age and chooses to play "Arm Chair Quaterback", instead of...."Doing The Right Thing"...Pun intended.

Gunsnhalen said:

Glad most of you guys & gals agree!

I do love Spike and he is one of my favorite directors. But he is just so damn bitter all the time

Sometime i highly agree with what he says like his quote on Tyler Perry. And his quotes on Hollywood is afraid to do non sterotypical black movies quite a bit.

But his attitude about having movies with black characters, and a white director he just gets way to pressed.

And as mentioned him & Trarantino have had bad blood since the 90's when he commented on the use of the n word in Jackie Brown.

This was Tarantinos comment

''As a writer, I demand the right to write any character in the world that I want to write. I demand the right to be them, I demand the right to think them and I demand the right to tell the truth as I see they are, all right? And to say that I can't do that because I'm white, but the Hughes brothers can do that because they're black, that is racist. That is the heart of racism, all right. And I do not accept that ... That is how a segment of the black community that lives in Compton, lives in Inglewood, where Jackie Brown takes place, that lives in Carson, that is how they talk. I'm telling the truth. It would not be questioned if I was black, and I resent the question because I'm white. I have the right to tell the truth. I do not have the right to lie''

And a quote from Samuel L. Jackson

I don't think the word is offensive in the context of this film ... Black artists think they are the only ones allowed to use the word. Well, that's bull. Jackie Brown is a wonderful homage to black exploitation films. This is a good film, and Spike hasn't made one of those in a few years.

Damn Sam!

But even Spike's blackest films like She Gotta Have It & School Daze were NOT blaxploitation films per se.

I think John Singleton's Boyz N Da Hood & Baby Boy were a lot closer to blaxploitation.

shorttrini said:

TonyVanDam said:

In fairness to George Lucas (who is non-black), even he had a difficult time getting support to make Red Tails. Had Spike won the rights to the script, that film would have been in "production hell".

Oh no. I'm not blaming Mr. Lucas at all. Yes, your right for it being in production hell, has Spike won the rights for it. My point was, if telling our story is so important to him, he would have made that movie a LONG TIME AGO. Long before Mr. Lucas ever came into the picture. Spike has gotten complacent in his old age and chooses to play "Arm Chair Quaterback", instead of...."Doing The Right Thing"...Pun intended.

Agree.

Fuck a Spike Lee.

missfee said:

Urgh, I saw this yesterday and my first thoughts were why doesn't he just shut the fuck up. Seriously. This isn't anything new with him, he does have a right to an opinion, but damn, he's always bitching and moaning and bitching and moaning about somebody else's film...especially if the stars of the film or the cast is predominantly African American.

What I really don't get is that how he can have an opinion on a film he hasn't even seen? I mean its one thing to say, "I don't have any interest in seeing it. That's it"...but it's another to say I don't have . Make me interest because it "disrespects my ancestors"...how do you know what the film does if you haven't seen it??? His reasoning doesn't make sense and seems like it's just yet another dig to make at Tarantino whom we clearly know from past criticism that he doesn't care for.

I think Spike is salty because his films generally don't do well at the box office...and not only that, his films don't get decent promotion....as both Tyler Perry's and Tarantino films do.

[Edited 12/24/12 16:27pm]

See. Spike need to go somewhere and sit his black ass down and . Get on my nerve. I think he's jealous. Always got something to say about everybody else's stuff. I wish he'd stop with his pontificating and concentrate on doing something entertaining for a change, and I don't mean looking at his ass in one of his own films. Who does he think he is? Hitchcock? Not by a long shot, bruh.

Now, to add insult to injury

NIGGAH, PULEESE!

Yeah, I said it dammit.

[Edited 12/24/12 20:45pm]

Spike loves to talk bad about directors and their movies but when others talks bad about his movies he gets a hissy fit. Spike acts like directors needs his permission for a movie to be made. I still remember what a stupid dumb fuck he was when he tried to get Spike TV to change their name. For the record the best Spike ever is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

kpowers said:

Spike loves to talk bad about directors and their movies but when others talks bad about his movies he gets a hissy fit. Spike acts like directors needs his permission for a movie to be made. I still remember what a stupid dumb fuck he was when he tried to get Spike TV to change their name. For the record the best Spike ever is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Spike just being Spike, nothin to see here folks.

I will see DJango Unchained and I will still be a Spike Lee fan.

LOL I ain't been a fan of his films since He Got Game...to be honest. Bamboozled was probably the last decent film he made and he was starting to lose his touch then.