MovieChat Forums > Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) Discussion > The Famous Kiss that would Change the wa...

The Famous Kiss that would Change the way We Kiss


OK...I love myself some Oprah BUT..the Kiss between Tea Cake and Janie that she went on and on and on and on and on about, wasn't life change at all. I was sitting there like "upm...Oprah has never been kissed before". Really!!! That kiss didn't leave a lasting impression at all. I've been kissed like that so many times. Poor Oprah..

Your thoughts?? Am I missing something here?!?!

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I suspect she was referring more to the book than the movie. Unfortuately, the film wasn't really constructed in a way that could eventually convey that moment.

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Nope, not the book was she referring to. The book doesn't really detail the kiss. I watch Oprah "evrahday" and she went on about that kiss between Halle and Michael and how she wanted Stedman to watch so that he could kiss her that way. Yes, those were her words. Yes, she broadcast to the world, that at 50 yrs old she had never had such a passionate kiss. I'm not being insensitive but I just didn't feel it through the screen last night. I just waiting for "when are they going to get to this infamous kiss". The only sensual part was when Halle was dancing around the Indians and in front of TeaCake.

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Are you kidding me? So the book doesn't detail the kiss. Big deal! Oprah took it and ran with it. I think the most critical people are the ones who have never had anything near to what Oprah was trying to come across with. To really enjoy a movie (based on a novel or not) one must throw caution to the wind, not watch with a critically closed mind but an open heart and soul to let the message come through clearly. There was definitely more than one sensual moment in this movie. What about EVERY time he held her? Especially after the storm?

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Lilrebal101 - I'm trying not to be critical of the movie. I literally just finished reading the book; Therefore, I'm totally emotional about it from that standpoint. All I was pointing out was the specific kiss that O just went on and on about. That's all! I'm not closed mind at all. I enjoy the discussion and am very open to what the viewers and readers are thinking. The discussion is about opening up and seeing the story in a different light.

Simmer down now.

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I didn't watch the Oprah episode but I think that you are all wrong. That was the most sensual and erotic kiss I've ever seen. It was amazing!!

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I agree, I could be content kissing Halle Berry all day long.

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You so crazy! : ) I am sure all of the SoulBrotha's out there would agree with you!

Chessjunkie

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I have to agree with lilreba101, that was a very sensual and erotic kiss. And yes I have been kissed like that so many times that I can’t even begin to count. But is still quite amazing and stimulating to watch. I myself thought was so tantalizing and a beautiful thing to watch.

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I most definitely thought the same thing. We were sitting there thinking "uh, I thought this was going to be the kiss to reinvent kissing" So yeah, I think OPRAH should be the one to take a few of you fellas up on that kiss offer. LOL

I do have to agree with the post by SoulBrotha when he said "the kiss was extraordinary in that, on mainstream television, you rarely get to see black couples kiss in a way that affirms intimacy and sensuality." Very good point. Beautiful.

Another poster pointed out that is was a attention grabbing tactic which makes alot of sense. However, Oprah is notorious for overhyping alot of stuff (to me anyway)on her show even if SHE isn't the one selling it, so who knows.

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I definitely did not see why O hyped it up so much. It was a very sensual kiss and very nice, but it was not all that. I waited just to see it because of all of the hype, I was excited, and then...that. Don't get me wrong, it was very well done and very nice, but O was a little too excited. What got me into the kiss after I saw it was that it was a truly loving relationship and they showed it in that kiss. As another poster mentioned, it showed an affirmation of intimacy between black people that we rarely see portrayed on television. Very tasteful, but verry simple.

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>>I waited just to see it because of all of the hype

That is the whole point, they got you to watch! I'm sure Oprah is genuinely proud of her production and should be, but deep down she knows that scene didn't 'reinvent kissing'. She was just selling the movie, giving people a hook and added incentive to tune in. The whole idea is to get people to watch you know, and you aren't the only one who tuned in just to see this super amazing never before seen kiss. Ever watch preview clips for apprentice / survivor or shows like that? Stuff always gets over exaggerated because it is all about snatching eyes and keeping advertisers happy. I wouldn't be surprised if ABC directly advised Oprah to put that extra spin and emphasis on the kiss scene.

Hype is important. Take the casting for example. Oprah/ABC knew this film would be a tough sell without a star. Yet there is this huge thread on IMDB about how Halle Berry is a bad choice because she is light skinned. Give me a break, it's not like they threw a white actress into the part. Hmmm.. lets see, some unheralded actress of darker shade or Halle Berry? Tough choice. I wonder which would get more ratings and exposure for the movie... But yea i shouldn't rant about that here, although it is quite funny how dumb those people are, not recognizing they probably wouldn't even be talking about the movie if Halle wasn't casted.

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Dave-1151 - Very good analysis and points. I didn't even go there. The Hype to draw viewers in to watch. See..This is why I enjoy book discussions - It goes beyond what the reader or viewer are thinking. God knows I've gotten sucker into the Apprentice with their "next episodes previews" - But no more am I a fool with the show. :-)

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I am not familiar with the hype prior to the showing of the movie from Oprah, but I have to say I was pleased with the kissing seen but was more pleased with the dancing she did for Tea Cake. Now I feel that was much more appeasing to the eyes, spirit, and body of their relationship and love for one another.

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I have had much better kisses! Oprah is a liar! LOL!

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ok well, the part about "Halle Berry is a bad choice because she is light skinned" does not make sense because, in the book, Janie is only supposed to be 1/4 black, so Halle is a perfect choice for that. I know those were not your opinion, I was just pointing it out. =)

And when does the kiss happen? I was waiting for it, but I never realized when it happened? When is it? Specifics please. Thank you.

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ok well, the part about "Halle Berry is a bad choice because she is light skinned" does not make sense because, in the book, Janie is only supposed to be 1/4 black, so Halle is a perfect choice for that. I know those were not your opinion, I was just pointing it out. =)

And when does the kiss happen? I was waiting for it, but I never realized when it happened? When is it? Specifics please. Thank you


In that case, Halle would still be wrong. There aren't any quarter black people that look like her.

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OK...I love myself some Oprah BUT..the Kiss between Tea Cake and Janie that she went on and on and on and on and on about, wasn't life change at all. I was sitting there like "upm...Oprah has never been kissed before". Really!!! That kiss didn't leave a lasting impression at all. I've been kissed like that so many times. Poor Oprah..

Your thoughts?? Am I missing something here?!?!

Heh, I thought thee same thing!

Your eyes can be so cruel, just as I can be so cruel.-Labyrinth

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I have a quick question. Does anyone know what the name of the song is that was playing when this famous kiss took place? If not any suggestions where I might secure this information.

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i agree Oprah overhyped the kiss. She just went on and on about it. When i saw it, i was like...that was it?

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