People from England are so strange... - Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (2006) Discussion

[–] Pugton2K 17 years ago

The UKs education system is nothing like the american one and the makers of this film either have never visited a british school/college/university for research or it was done as a deliberate thing so the americans would understand it more.

All the things that they do in the film are just various things that go on in the UK but not necessarily in a school/uni. The dog show was just something they will have put in so that Taj's dog had a part to play. And sports like fencing are only done by posh schools/university.

The whole film had elements of the UK education system but made with a whole american attitude so that american audiences wouldnt be confused about what was going on.

reply

[–] lee-roberts987 17 years ago

uni's/colleges in england dont have fraternitys nor do they have dog shows

all that really happens is we get laid and go out most nights/days!

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] beelzababes_exquisitely_ 17 years ago

man this film is brilliant.

I'm british and i didnt stop laughing at it. It's a really funny satire of the upper-class brit - and whats more its pretty darn accurate, which is what makes it funnier. All stereotypes come from truth, otherwise they wouldn't exist.

This film is Very typically american, with the frat houses + the general storyline being typical of most american college films, although it really reminded me of an education-based version of beerfest..

But why Shouldn't america take the mick out of england like this? the way the upperclass english act is rediculous, I cant stand it myself and i love all satire of it.

the film itself is nothing special, but all you guys that hate it seem to have had a stronger reaction to it than you probably have to any other college/uni based film.

I dont personally know many americans, but im sure they arent how they are portrayed in the american college films - road trip, america, pie, etc etc etc.. and im sure just as many americans were annoyed by the way they were represented in those films.

jeez, the english really need to take the sticks outta their b*tts + get a sense of humour.. theres stiff upper lip n all that but seriously, its a Comedy. it's meant to be stupid.

All the english (for i doubt any irish scots or welsh are that bothered, as theyre less up themselves..) that are going on a rampant tirade about this film, chill out.. its HUMOUR.. just think of it like watching uhm.... blackadder - think it was all like that? or hollyoaks.. or neighbours, do you really think all australians are like them? if you do, im ashamed to be associated with you.

But yeah, british people, especially of the age in the film, do enjoy getting wasted and drinking pints.. an its hellishly good fun :D

love peace and chicken grease..

reply

[–] generalhacker 17 years ago

This is probably the last post I'm gonna make on here unless someone's ignorance really infuriates me.

Someone said up above that oil purchasing doesn't fund terrorism. (and to whoever that was, yes I am referring to Arab terrorists.) That is a completely laughable statement. Where'd Osama Bin Laden get his 150 million dollars? I don't think he worked really hard to get it. Oil profits do not go to the Saudi Arabian government, they go to families fortunate enough to find where the oil is first. Those families include terrorists like Bin Laden in them. Where ever you're getting your facts, it's a completely incorrect and invalid source.

My conclusion: The English mentality throughout history (maybe not now, at least not overtly) has been to colonize lands to harvest its resources to bring back to the Queen.

I'm sorry to say but the world has become too civilized for England.

reply

[–] jmrapp 17 years ago

actually, he made his money in construction.

reply

[–] lump66 17 years ago

generalhacker
what you have said here is far more funny then the film
its self and ive am british , thank you for making me laugh
yeah we brits do have a sense of humor (shock horror )
do you really think we are like the people in the film
its just a film and not real ? .

reply

[–] live4coffee 17 years ago

Yes, England has more "dirty laundry" than many places, but don't forget that it's been in existance a hell of a lot longer than most other countries! America has committed millions of human rights abuses in its relatively short lifetime; Many 'regular' Germans collaborated with the Nazis; the Middle East is a hotbed of dogmatic religious intollerance... yada yada yada - I fail to see the point?

Your original post said that fraternity dog shows and fencing competitions seemed bizarre. You may have assumed that these things actually happened at British universities - and that's okay! But what does labouring on about the harshness of the Treaty or Versailles have to do with it?

I think most British are grown-up enough to laugh at the tea-drinking polo-playing stereotypes without thinking we're under a personal attack - just as most Americans will laugh when we Brits say we think they all Americans wear stetsons and don't believe in evolution!

"The dead do not suffer the living to pass"
"You will suffer me"

reply

[–] samirforce29 17 years ago

I'm sorry General hacker, but ur statement still doesnt make any sens at all!!!

I'm sorry to inform you that i'm canadian lebanese, and before going to UNI in montreal, i lived in saudi arabia(jeddah) and U.A.E(dubai) with my dad for 5 years...

Fist of all Bin LAden did not get his money from saudi arabia's oil, his family is already one of richest families in Saudi Arabia,,, his father is of yemeni origins and was a very succesfull merchant, in fact they have one of biggest construction companies called (in S.A)''bin laden group'' they built maybe 30% of saudi arabia, ...the point is that he is already rich... and by experience saudi arabia and its neighboors do not support terrorism specially after 9/11, they are rather taking big measures to stop it, per example u cant transfer anymore more than 50 000 sr(15000dollars) out of the country like that, they are reinforcing security everywhere and u can see a lot of check points,...
and also oil money do not go to big families they dont even go to the king,, the king has a salary, and the money goes to the goverment... you really dont know anything about saudi arabia...and i'm not sorprised.

Then another thing goverments like United arab emirates (dubai) are becoming one of the most touristic places in the world, donald trump is even investing there, and theres about 200 000 westerners that live safely and happily in dubai,,, and when i used to live there i met so many english and americans mostly english,

another thing too ur a little right saudi arabia funded a portion of alQuaida in the 70's and 80's but thats because there was a war going on between afghanistan and U.s.s.r(RUSSIA),, and it was a cold war context and america supported alquaida against the communists way more than S.A,,,she trained binladen gave him weopons, HOW DID ALQUAIDA DESTROY 800 RUSSIAN ATTACk CHOPPERS???!!!! OH YEAH ITS WITH the stinger missile launcher THAT WAS INVENTED BY THE AMERICANS at that time.

another thing, why do u hate english that much? ok they did bad things, but the past is the past, and what counts know is the present and the futur, and whats is going on now is that U.S.A wether u like it or not is supporting israelis in everything they do by giving her the right of defending herself,(defending herself against WHAT???!!!! a punch of poor desperate palestinians seeking for food everyday!!) I say as an arab and as a canadian who have a lot of arabs friend that arabs(specially the youth) adore american tv shows(everybody in s.a sees theOC) and technology, lifestyle...and if the palestinian-isreli conflict is resolved i think terrorism will become extinct... its easy to go blaiming another country for terror and invading it,,,but thats only like beating up the surface, while u should go after beating the heart...and beating the heart is resolving peacefully the israeli-palestinian problem and making arabs feel like they're not treated inferiorly to israelis. AND THAT's a HUGE EFFORT TO MAKE...

And for everybody else do some searching on DUBAI its a pretty good place for a family holiday, low-prices, lot and lot of malls and attractions, huge skyscrapers, beaches that look like the carribean beaches.

(sorry for my spelling mistakes my first language is arabic then comes french)

reply

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lbharris812 17 years ago

I would just like to apologize to everyone in the world for the statements of my fellow American 'Generalhacker'. He seems to have some education in his background but then again he wonders if this movie is a representation of ALL english scholastic society. Everyone, please understand 'General' is a knucklehead. He states his arguments clearly and erroneously so as to leave us all befuddled (General, in case you are reading this, that means confused or perplexed).

I understand why his arguments are bewildering (Again General, that is a synonym for confusing), and somewhat inflammatory. Be aware that 'General' is an American. Our national history is not the same as the rest of the worlds. In fact every nation has it's own notion of what history is. 'Generalhack-er' has his history skewed by either his American studies or by the American media (which are both American propaganda).

Regardless of 'Generals' witless remarks (that means stupid, General), you have to agree that the USofA is the greatest nation on the planet. Only because we have Thanksgiving day or Turkey Day as it is sometimes called. I mean where else in the world do you have a holiday feast to celebrate the enslavement of an indigenous people, the destruction of their culture, and the theft of their land?

reply

[–] foolofatook74 17 years ago

Thats amazing! I want a turkey day to celebrate all the shady things we've done! maybe in a hundred years we'll be sitting round a table celebrating the assasination of Diana!

I do find it funny that Bush excuses the execution of a bird but wont sway on capitol punishment, which we had the sense to get rid of in the fifties

Im a student here and our Sunderland uni is nowhere near posh. ok, we have a fencing team but theres also womens football which is probably the roughest bunch you can get!!!

And we don't need fraternaties to behave like morons. we have sports teams for that!

and as for other stereotypes.... I have good teeth, being a scouser, I am unable to speak the queens english, and I need my beer cold!

Although to be fair I do drink about ten cups of tea a day...whats better than a spliff and a mug of milky sugary tea? ...and for some reason i REALLY want a bowler hat.

Did anyone see louis theroux' documentary on the Topeka Baptist Church? Only in America!

(by the way I'm in no way anti american. I have lots of good american friends. Thanks for the tobacco and aeroplanes! my main target for offence here is uni sports teams in sunderland, cos theyre utter *beep*

reply

[–] generalhacker 17 years ago

in case, you, lbharris, ever look at this, i just want to know why you felt it was neccesary to define your words

reply

[–] Makaveli187 17 years ago

As an English man, i just want to say most of us are well known for our sense of humour, and dont mind if we are the subject of comedy as it is all in good fun. though there is a minority who do take offence to such things, i for one do not.

Another thing, how the hell!!? did a topic in 'The Rise Of Taj' get so political!? its just a film and i cant believe some of the ignorence portrayed by both sides in this argument. English history like WW2 has nothing to do with the topic at hand, and neither does American history like how the Native Americans were treated, as someone stated earlier in this topic.

So before people get to politicaly motivated by this topic again just remember, You are argueing over a bloody Van Wilder film not which country has made the most mistakes in thier history!!!!!

Competetive? im not competetive. infact im the least competetive so therefore i win!

reply

[–] desert_hype 17 years ago

You say it was english stubborness that reduced Germany to starting WW2, when actually it was the French who wanted such a harsh settlement imposed on the Germans. Infact America didnt even join the fledgling League of nations, effectively crippling and making it redundant leading to WW2.

If we're looking at history here, America is the only country in the world to use the nuclear bomb TWICE on civillians. You've treated South America like your back garden for 150 years, Deposing democratically elected leaders with dictators favourable to the American Mandate. America continues to be the most isolationist country ever, backing out the kyoto agreement and not supporting the International Court of Justice. Its American arrogance the idea that you worlds greatest nation that led to Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. America carries on funding Israel in oppressing muslims in Palestine.

Don't have a go at the British because the Americans are no better. Slavery in Britain was condemned by a judge as early as 1760, while 90 years later the nine supreme court justices were still in favour of slavery. Emancipation Proclaimation was an executive order by the president, you had to fight each other to get over slavery.

You also bizarrely attribute the Great depression on us, when in actual fact it was an international crisis

That said Britains record was not exemplary either, but to say that we are not as civilised as other nations is a very grave mistake.

reply

[–] silver_fly 16 years ago

i feel sorry for you.

i mean, who the hell is stupid and gullible enough to take a Van Wilder-created-stereotype seriously?

please go educate yourself.

reply

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] StrawberrySky483 15 years ago

God, it's people like you who make British people bitch all the time about how movies portray there country in a bad way. If you want to form an opinion, just go there and judge real life instead of some comedy

Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy

reply