I've seen this movie for a couple of times. First it was in Russian language, and the translation of Walt's racial comments and jokes were really funny..and offensive as well.The original version was the way much better..I guess with more "American style of cursing"=) I don't know, in my opinion Walt could insult anybody..I mean if you are asian-take my racial insult about asian people, if you are a priest- take my insult about priests, believers and church too..
Anyway, majority of us were laughing at Walt's so called jokes, but we knew that in real life it's not so funny at all..
I think all men speak the same. Walt may have been slightly overboard but this is the way all men are. Not around family but for sure around friends. What Walt said was hilarious indeed but only if the person across didn't take it to heart. I have friends who speak like that all the time so this isn't new or offensive. To me it's the way men speak and if you are aren't involved in the conversation it is rather humorous. I believe that Walt never meant anything he said and just said it for fun therefore there is no harm or offence. It's just his way of fun, in some odd way I think he was rather sadistic, and enjoyed the fact that he could insult people, it made him happy. But then again I could be wrong and he could actually hold a very strong grudge against everyone but that does not seem right. Everything depends on perspective. In the spur of the moment it did not seem so offensive but but you sit down and think of the things he said you might think Walt was crazy, rude and a hater.
Describing the situation in the class while watching the movie, almost everyone was laughing at the way Walt was communicating with foreigners and calling them names. However, personally, this laughter was mostly caused by the shock that I experienced and the abnormality of the situation. I don't deny that we may use some funny names to call friends as an element of change and fun, but it is odd to call strangers such a names. And I'm sure that what was in the movie does not represent every single man in the US.
Overall, I did not find it very offensive. The main reason after this is because Walt behaved the same way on a daily basis. It was clear that he had a kind of personal problem. So if I have meat a person like Walt I would rather be sorry for him instead of being insulted because of his racist words.
i found it Funny and rude sometimes ! i was embarrassed when he says something rude because we men can deal with that but with girls being present, that was uncomfortable . i laughed a lot :P
I agree with Sana in that his racism is less offensive since he communicates with those words everyday and with almost everyone he meets. He obviously does not think about how those words affect the person he is talking to. In our class there was some laughter at his comments, but they were because he was speaking in a way that was not common to hear in everyday conversation. Not because it is actually funny to hear someone being called a racist.
This blog is for students at the American University in Dubai (U.A.E.) and Kettering University (Flint, Michigan, U.S.A.) to discuss the film Gran Torino and related subjects.
I've seen this movie for a couple of times. First it was in Russian language, and the translation of Walt's racial comments and jokes were really funny..and offensive as well.The original version was the way much better..I guess with more "American style of cursing"=) I don't know, in my opinion Walt could insult anybody..I mean if you are asian-take my racial insult about asian people, if you are a priest- take my insult about priests, believers and church too..
ReplyDeleteAnyway, majority of us were laughing at Walt's so called jokes, but we knew that in real life it's not so funny at all..
I think all men speak the same. Walt may have been slightly overboard but this is the way all men are. Not around family but for sure around friends. What Walt said was hilarious indeed but only if the person across didn't take it to heart. I have friends who speak like that all the time so this isn't new or offensive. To me it's the way men speak and if you are aren't involved in the conversation it is rather humorous. I believe that Walt never meant anything he said and just said it for fun therefore there is no harm or offence. It's just his way of fun, in some odd way I think he was rather sadistic, and enjoyed the fact that he could insult people, it made him happy. But then again I could be wrong and he could actually hold a very strong grudge against everyone but that does not seem right.
ReplyDeleteEverything depends on perspective. In the spur of the moment it did not seem so offensive but but you sit down and think of the things he said you might think Walt was crazy, rude and a hater.
A bit of both really; in my mind I knew it was offensive but I couldn't really help but giggle at his comments sometimes.
ReplyDeleteDescribing the situation in the class while watching the movie, almost everyone was laughing at the way Walt was communicating with foreigners and calling them names. However, personally, this laughter was mostly caused by the shock that I experienced and the abnormality of the situation. I don't deny that we may use some funny names to call friends as an element of change and fun, but it is odd to call strangers such a names. And I'm sure that what was in the movie does not represent every single man in the US.
ReplyDeleteOverall, I did not find it very offensive. The main reason after this is because Walt behaved the same way on a daily basis. It was clear that he had a kind of personal problem. So if I have meat a person like Walt I would rather be sorry for him instead of being insulted because of his racist words.
i believe it was humorous because of the way that Walt said the comments, but in reality obviously they were offensive.
ReplyDeletei found it Funny and rude sometimes ! i was embarrassed when he says something rude because we men can deal with that but with girls being present, that was uncomfortable .
ReplyDeletei laughed a lot :P
I agree with Sana in that his racism is less offensive since he communicates with those words everyday and with almost everyone he meets. He obviously does not think about how those words affect the person he is talking to. In our class there was some laughter at his comments, but they were because he was speaking in a way that was not common to hear in everyday conversation. Not because it is actually funny to hear someone being called a racist.
ReplyDelete