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NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > VIETNAM VETS PROTEST TROPIC THUNDER RELEASE

VIETNAM VETS PROTEST TROPIC THUNDER RELEASE

Aug 6 2008

Hollywood, CA – Despite being beset with controversy, Tropic Thunder is still aiming to steal the box office crown from the blockbuster Dark Knight when it releases this week. Though protests over some of the subject matter may have come as no surprise to the filmmakers, the recent attacks against the film seem to have come out of nowhere.

The films, which portrays a film crew making a Vietnam film and are accidently drawn into a real conflict, has already been the subject of much controversy. One major issue has been the performance of Robert Downey Jr. playing a white actor who undergoes surgery in order to play a black character in the film within the film. Another is the use of the word ‘retard’ in reference to another character. Now, a group of Vietnam veterans has organized a protest against the film.

“We believe that the portrayal of Veterans in the film is totally inaccurate and inflammatory. It is obvious that our war is being exploited in order to make money,” said the group’s leader David Philips who served two tours of duty in the war. “They’ve got this big fat guy (Jack Black) running around. Come on. He wouldn’t have made it up the first hump. It’s obvious they aren’t taking the war seriously. But I was there man, and it was real.”

The film, which is a comedy, was never intended to be a serious depiction of the war which ended in 1975 according to the filmmakers. “We always intended for the film to be a comedy,” said director/writer/star Ben Stiller. “We respect the veterans and the sacrifices they made, but we were just making a movie. I don’t really understand the argument to be honest. This is far from the first movie about the Vietnam War. I apologize for anyone we may have offended. And just for the record Jack is fat, but he’s incredibly agile.”     

The apology though isn’t enough to appease Philips or his group. “We would like to see the film pulled from theatres. Especially in this day and age, when our country is at war, how could anyone be so irresponsible and disrespectful as to make fun of the sacrifices we made? This is an insult to us, to the people who died, and to all American soldiers who fought for the freedom these Hollywood dilettantes enjoy. We will not stop fighting until we win.’

Dreamworks, the studio behind the film, dismissed the protests. “There’s like five guys in the group and I think one of them is senile. When did that war end? Like thirty years ago? I’m surprised any of those guys are still alive,” an executive said.

Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent

NEWS > ENTERTAINMENT > VIETNAM VETS PROTEST TROPIC THUNDER RELEASE

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