MovieChat Forums > The 51st State (2002) Discussion > A few answers for the reviewer up top *S...

A few answers for the reviewer up top *SPOILERS*


As much as the story behind the film fills me with joy and hope the film itself isn`t up to much . In fact it`s quite woeful in places and most of it`s down to the script . For example why does Jackson`s character walk around in a kilt ? Why do Manchester United fans travel to Liverpool the day BEFORE the match . Why are a bunch of neo-nazi skinheads after Felix ? That`s because logic and common sense are discarded to set up scenes later on in the movie . To set up a joke about " a black man in a dress " , to set up a superflous scene in a Liverpool bar and to set up a funny joke about " The sh*t is gonna hit the fan " . They`re all throw away scene that don`t push the plot forward , the proper term is " Underdeveloped " a fault of many scripts from inexperienced writers , oh and does anyone care to explain to me why one of the characters likes to wear women`s underware ? No don`t bother " Underdeveloped " script is the reason . I should also point out that Stel`s script is a bit too mid Atlantic for my taste , I mean look at the characters names : Felix Desouza , Dakota Phillips , Virgil Kane , Leopold Durant and Iki . What strange names for a bunch of Scousers . Mind you some scenes did raise a smile like " Okay let him down " and " You said get rid of him " , corny I know but they still raised a smile so credit where it`s due . Just a pity the screenplay wasn`t stronger.

A number a questions are asked above that I would like to address:

1. Why are the skinheads after Felix? They're not. They've caught wind of the drugs McElroy has and want to steal them. They say so in so many words.

2. McElroy's kilt; This appears to be a slavery inspired culture hijack. Remember the castle at the end?

3. Iki wearing women's underwear. Why does any man wear women's underwear? They want us to think Iki's a big freak.

4. The "Mid-Atlantic" names. I'd like to point out that the underworld of any country is usually heavily populated by immigrants and the offspring of immigrants. Iki looks like a born brit; "Iki" is undoubtedly a nickname. Dakota Phillips also looks like a born brit. Her real name is "Dawn," as several characters called her. She appears to have started calling herself Dakota when she moved to the US.

I recommend using closed captioning whenever possible. Its easy to miss stuff with just audio.

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If you look where Felix tells the driver to go at the start of the film.......guess what you'll see on the signpost?Manchester - Where the bar is situated and also the airport which answers the question of what he was doing there

TIP:Drinking beer may make you think you have Kung Fu powers resulting in getting your ass kicked

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