To British people - Shanghai Knights (2003) Discussion

[–] amzywamzy23 18 years ago

no it doesnt offend me. My whole family thinks it's hilarious and we were crying with laughter the first time we saw the film. I think only really serious british people would be offended by it. I think part of our culture is to laugh at ourselves so if a films making jokes about Britain i always laugh, unless they are saying it to try and offend us.

i found all of his lines hilarious!

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[–] Knoxvicious 18 years ago

Thanks you replying.
Nobody else did

"I should sue you for breaking my heart! I should sue you!!"
-Knox films

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[–] amzywamzy23 18 years ago

no problemo! :)

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[–] lorddeseiz 14 years ago

I think part of our culture is to laugh at ourselves so if a films making jokes about Britain

Yes and you British are masters of that kind of humor :)
British sketches are always the best.

_____________________
Any last words ?
Shut the *beep* up
-Mutant Chronicles-

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[–] emm-5 18 years ago

I'm not british but my best guy mate is and he thinks it's so funny (because it is ;))

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[–] TR_Wolf 18 years ago

No, all of his jokes just made him look like a "dumb/ignorant American" with such statements.

The only thing I did notice were the incorrect things for the time period, bits that were set in London etc but really obviously not there etc.

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[–] journalist1 18 years ago

Yes, it shows how ignorant americans can be about history.
Historical revision by hollywood especially is revolting as many viewers without further education might take these remarks and may other hollywood 'lies' as fact.
Its one thing to try and convince yourself that your bs is real but when you go on to try to desperately convince others thats truly sad.

One of the funniest and most telling one for me was 'Saving Private Ryan' when Tom Hanks mentions that he thought Montgomery was incompentent, the same 'Monty' who kicked Rommels ass out of Africa, the reason it was scripted into the movie was many americans at the time and even to this day were outraged that Clarke the US commander who had been in charge was replaced by Monty after Italy for true incompetence.

tb

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[–] jawrig11 17 years ago

that was actually true about what Tom Hanks said. Most Americans didnt like Monty because they felt he moved to slow. Patton and Monty really didnt like one another and almost had physical altercations many times

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[–] Matty_D 17 years ago

I'm British but didn't find the film offensive! It was good fun.

I especially loved the part when Jackie & Owen mananged to used a car to get out an exploding barn in London and then crash into stonehenge!

That's some crash!

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[–] cyberdine101 18 years ago

Hi, I just saw this movie today, it was on BBC1 over here in England.

Anyway...

Yep, I was offended.

Typical movie where the British guy is the evil posh 'baddy' and we all speak like the Queen.

Then there's all those historical inacuracies...

Dave

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[–] owen-ness 18 years ago

the historical inacuracies are a joke thats the fun of it

im british and it dosnt bother me because u no wat its only a film

my yahoo group:-
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/dupree_fan/

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[–] cyberdine101 18 years ago

The only problem is, (no offence) but alot of Americans are so deluded they will actially take the history in this film as fact.

That's the problem.

I don't want to go on a holiday to America and get asked if I'm a member of parliament or a member of the Royal family.

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[–] govenor_phatt 18 years ago

I'm British and while i didn't think the film was offending, i loved it and the first film, I did get a little annoyed at the American Revolution jokes. You can say that it was meant to show Roy's ignorance if you want but it seems to me to be a very typical American statement to make. Like when you hear loads of Americans that they "Saved the British" in WW2.

Some of the stereotypes annoy me also, but i can forgive them because many British do the same of Americans.

But still, i don't want to start any debates, its just a silly fun movie and nothing detracted from that. :)

She was certainly first in the queue when god was handing out... chests...

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[–] missdubois 18 years ago

i wasnt offended but you know what i cant stand the way in which if england/uk is portrayed in us movies they only ever go to london or if its uk... scotland!i.e. theres always a guy with a kilt.
its so naff and shows a lack of i dunno ...research, i wish england was portrayed outside of london it gives everyone the impression that the only place worth going to is london, yet in reality(dont wanna cause no one no offence) its an over priced tourist trap.

so if your comin over go to london see the sites and then go else where and see the real england its beautiful.

and why do we all have posh toff accents in these films as well??? very annoying.

Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?

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[–] zxcv-9 18 years ago

I didn't find it offensive at all, though there are lots of inaccuracies and sillynesses which British viewers might find jarring.

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[–] kenichiku 18 years ago

<but alot of Americans are so deluded they will actially take the history in this film as fact>

I would agree for 'serious' movies as mentioned but for a Jackie film, somehow I think audiences will overlook the historical flaws because his films are about fun and don't take themselves too seriously (unlike a Mel Gibson film). Jackie 'winks' to audiences who goes with the program & they wink back. Jackie caters to a more wholesome (& younger) crowd with his brand of entertainment and I think that buys him a lot of forgiveness. I was actually surprised that I had a good time watching this old-fashioned buddy flick after being disappointed by the rest of his Hollywood stuff of late. The man's getting old but this one had a good dose of the slapstick kung fu action that reminded me of the old days.

BTW, good to hear the British voices overall are truly the good sports that you're known to be. If not, I'm sure we can all settle it with a giant pillow fight.

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[–] iamtigger2005 17 years ago

I'm British and I didn't find it offensive...just very unoriginal lol

It was about as funny as all those other "goes to London" sequels...Cody Banks, Garfield, etc. to name a few hehehe

Another complaint - I watched it with my grandad who is quite a traditionalist - when they tore our flag down Buckingham Palace, his eyes practically bulged out of his head LOL

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[–] x-princess-kerry-x 17 years ago

I'm originally from England and I found it absolutely hilarious. Especially the quote from Roy when it starts raining - "This country blows!" - Soooooo true! What Brits have to remember is that it's all played for a comic effect, not intended to insult anyone. But why is always London? I'm from Up-North, Liverpool to be specific, and I always wonder why it is always London they go to? I know it's the most well known city in England, but I think It'd be nice for a change. What do you think?

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[–] amzywamzy23 17 years ago

The little thief Charlie's accent wasnt posh. his was cockney. But if u are going to take this film seriously you might assume they are making a statement that anyone without a posh accent in england are thiefs.

you cant really take any of it seriously though. yes the historical inaccuracy's portray a certain ignorance but its only a film, so there really isnt anything to be offended by.

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[–] sugarsi 17 years ago

Im British and i wasnt offended by the stereotypes.

But 2 things did bug me.

1. the belt fed gatling gun (which wasnt invented until the 1970's - before then they were chamber fed)

2. It was so obvious Jack the Ripper would appear, but why was he competant in martial arts?

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[–] laslopaniflex 17 years ago

>>>>>>>>It was so obvious Jack the Ripper would appear, but why was he competant in martial arts?

But who knew he wasn't?!?!?! lol!

I didn't mind it, i'm getting used to a ready stream of jokes about our bad teeth (i myself floss every day thank you!) bad weather (which is pretty bad) and bad service (which is worse than the weather!) As the singer Tom Waits says 'cold woman and warm beer...' I think he may have a point.

Yeah everyone spoke like a cockney geezer or a plummy arisocrat, but hey it's a Jackie Chan film... it's not pertaining to be a real life snap shot of life in Victorian London. I find it funny.

"What are you, some kind of doomsday machine, boy?"

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[–] Littlebitsofgaming 17 years ago

One of the good things about us British is the ability to laugh at ourselves.
We see jokes as just that...jokes.
No need to get offended, it's just a bit of fun.

As for the "historical inacuracies"...I guess if you think that then this film went way over your head.
It's NOT a documentary. There are many modern day references in both films.
Hell, they even had Paint It Black by the Rolling Stones playing in this film (among others).
It's not meant to be a history lesson, it's supposed to be fun...and it is.

Imagine there's no heaven.
It's easy if you try.

God is an imaginary friend for adults.

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[–] budt3 17 years ago

In my opinion, the only people that would be offended are the tight as...s that would be offended by anything. You know, the politically correct police.
Plus they probably wouldn't get it.

Be yourself, everyone else is taken

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[–] kentatm 17 years ago

2. It was so obvious Jack the Ripper would appear, but why was he competant in martial arts?

that scene quickly went from mildly funny gag to worst in the flick when they translated the girls cursing as "@%#*^ LOSER!" Just have it be stupid loser or not even translate at all.

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[–] kneazle_ 17 years ago

In my opinion, the only people that would be offended are the tight as...s that would be offended by anything. You know, the politically correct police.
Plus they probably wouldn't get it.

That's alright for you to say; you're not English.

I loved the film -- didn't offend me as such but a few of the stereotypes do get a bit tiresome, like the ever-present upper-class, evil English man. But then again, I guess we stereotype Americans too, and at the end of the day we do have James Bond, Stephen Hawking, and Harry Potter. So we're not all bad.

I fully support the use of "crisis" as a verb ...

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[–] karawolf 9 years ago

we do have James Bond, Stephen Hawking, and Harry Potter

Don't forget Mr. French, Monty Python and the late, great Gentleman Chris Adams.

**this head movie makes my eyes rain...waaaaa **

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[–] BigbrothersTwistedSister 17 years ago

i found the bad teeth with the pretty girl pretty funny, but i usually take it lightly, assuming all American viewers aren't ignorant enough to take all the stereotypes literally.

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[–] kneazle_ 17 years ago

I never get that stereotype -- why are British people always portrayed as having bad teeth?

I fully support the use of "crisis" as a verb ...

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] liamgveronica 16 years ago

And what us with Americans boasting about the American Revolution?

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[–] Nikon11 16 years ago

Yeah, and Americans are never portrayed as loud-mouth know-it-alls in English TV and movies.

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[–] chrismahon2005 16 years ago

Im a brit and cant see how any one could be offended to be honest, its after all a fun action comedy flick, they take the piss out of a lot of peoples and countrys, maybe asians are more offended that as per norm they are shown as yout typical martial arts expert and thats about there lot in films, and oh yes they never get the white chicks

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[–] xdevilmaycryx 15 years ago

A lot of people keep talking about Americans being ignorant of the "historical innacuracies." Are we watching the same movie? I'm not here to see an award winning period piece, I'm here to watch a comedy. Who cares if I might not notice that the lamp on the table was not from that time or the building architecture might have been different.

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