Beck gives thumbs down to penguin movie Happy Feet -- "an animated version of An Inconvenient Truth"
On the November 20 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck said that Happy Feet, an animated film about a dancing Emperor penguin, is "propaganda" and an "animated version of An Inconvenient Truth." Beck then discussed the film with Bob Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, who told Beck that "[o]f the 50,000 things affecting America's youth in negative ways today, I don't think the penguin movie is probably on that 50,000." Thompson then told Beck: "I don't think this story is going to get you a Peabody [Award]."
As the weblog Think Progress noted, on the November 20 edition of Fox News' Your World, host Neil Cavuto also referred to Happy Feet as an "animated Inconvenient Truth" and said that he "half-expected to see an animated version of Al Gore pop up." Cavuto's guest, entertainment critic Holly McClure, said she felt like she "was watching Dirty Dancing, penguin-style. You know, the preaching against the tap dancing and being liberal and stay conformed." Similarly, in a November 17 entry on his Townhall.com weblog, conservative talk-show host Michael Medved referred to the film as "Crappy Feet," and said it was the "darkest, most disturbing feature length animated film ever offered by a major studio."
From the November 20 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: All right. The director of the film publicly has said that he changed the original screenplay to amplify the environmental themes and that, quote, "You can't tell a story about Antarctica and the penguins without giving that dimension."
Call me crazy, but, yes, you can. And if you're going to include those themes, the least you could do is tell me, a parent. Tell me about it first, OK, so I know I'm walking into propaganda.
But with Happy Feet, no, they just couldn't. They couldn't shoehorn that into the marketing. That'd be too tough. I wonder if it's because they knew that people, you know, wouldn't go see it or not as many. They may not pull in $42 million if people thought they'd be watching an animated version of An Inconvenient Truth.
Maybe I'm in the minority -- and I probably am -- but you know what? I'd like to teach my children how to think for themselves about the issues, including global warming and the environment, instead of having them indoctrinated by some Hollywood director.
[...]
THOMPSON: I don't have a problem with hunters, but I don't mind that Bambi decided to have a hunter shoot the mom. Of the 50,000 things affecting America's youth in negative ways today, I don't think the penguin movie is probably on that 50,000.
BECK: Bob, let me tell you --
THOMPSON: I don't think this story is going to get you a Peabody.
From the November 20 edition of Fox News' Your World with Neil Cavuto:
CAVUTO: Well, those cute little penguins in Happy Feet winning at the box office, earning more than $42 million. Now, in the movie, the penguins are starving, the fish are all gone, and it's clear that humans and big business are to blame. Is Hollywood using kids films to promote a far-left message? Entertainment critic Holly McClure says yes and it's wrong. Holly, so you thought it was over the top?
McCLURE: Well, I did, Neil. I tell you. First of all, I went watching this movie thinking, "OK, great. A lighthearted, fun film. Love these animated pictures, and it's interesting how realistic it looks." And you get in there and you're enjoying all the fun and frivolity, and, yes, it's kind of a takeoff of the penguin documentary, and then along comes the subtle messages. And one by one they come in, and I felt like I was watching Dirty Dancing, penguin-style. You know, the preaching against the tap dancing and being liberal and stay conformed. And then it started to get into the other messages. Yes, we had that plastic ring around one of the penguin's neck. From there it got worse.
CAVUTO: Well, you know, Holly, I saw this with my two little boys. And what I found offensive -- I don't care what your stands are on the environment -- is that they shove this in a kids movie. So you hear the penguins are starving, and they're starving because of mean old man, mean old companies, Arctic fishing, a big taboo. And they're foisting this on my kids who, frankly, were more bored that it was a nearly two-hour movie, and they're kids!
McCLURE: Well, I'm just kind of curious. Were your kids scared or kind of bothered at all by the big walrus? Because I thought there were some pretty intense scenes. I don't call this a toddler -- a little-kid-friendly movie.
CAVUTO: Well, you know, Holly, I think you're right. You raise a good point. But my biggest thing was, you can make a political statement all you want in an adult movie and all. I just think it's a little tacky and big-time objectionable when you start foisting it on kids who don't know any better.
McCLURE: Well, what's even more objectionable is the fact that they present all these things about man being mean, and taking the fish away, and the -- you know, killing the wildlife and fish and penguins. And then furthermore, which, I don't want to ruin anything for anybody, but to see penguins in an aquarium situation. OK, are we supposed to tell our kids then it's not right to go to San Diego Sea World, or it's not right to go to your local zoo, or it's not right to have animals where you can go observe them? Should they feel guilty, then? I think the message is, "Yeah, we subtly put it in there." But where does it stop? It doesn't give you any solutions. So our kids should feel guilty, then, for enjoying to see wildlife, you know, in man's environment?
CAVUTO: But even more telling to me was the fact -- I though it was like an animated Inconvenient Truth. I half-expected to see an animated version of Al Gore pop up. And I must be the only one in the theater having this reaction because, you know, my boys are just bouncing off the wall because it's so damn long. But the other issue is that, you know -- this is animated Inconvenient Truth. That's what it was to me.
McCLURE: And Neil, did your boys enjoy all that dancing? I mean, if it makes tap dancing more popular with guys, OK, it had served a purpose, but --
CAVUTO: I don't know. The tap dancing was cute. Robin Williams had some good zingers in there. But, I mean, that's the --
McCLURE: And one more song -- I thought it was overly done with the songs, too. I agree with you. It's just a preaching message that could have been more fun than so political, and I think it's ruined some things for -- I thought it was too dark for little ones.
CAVUTO: Well, I -- you know, preach to adults, Holly, I'm all -- if you want to preach to adults, fine. Leave the kids out of it. It's not your role, not your place. Stop it.
McCLURE: Yeah. Make it fun for kids.
CAVUTO: Yeah, exactly. But the penguins are cute. Holly, thank you very, very much.
McCLURE: Thank you so much for having me on.
Priceless.
I guess I missed the memo about attacking "Happy Feet"...
I guess the only good kids movie for these people would be one with seeing christians being persecuted and rising above to beat down the heathens.......
oh please..
March of the Penguins' was promoted in evangelical circles because 1) they wanted it to beat Fahrenheit 9/11 for highest grossing documentary in history and 2) they thought the doc was a proponent of "intellligent design." And now the Penguin-obsessed 'Happy Feet' is a "liberal" film. Geebus Save Us.
why does the right have to make protecting the environment a partisan issue? Every time they attack it, call it a left-wing agenda or propaganda and such, they just make themselves look stupid.
they attack it so vociferously because it is an issue that could unite the masses, thereby, peeling off a substantial portion of their Christian base. It's about being good stewards of our planet.
Everyone, I mean everyone on the planet needs clean air and clean water.
CAVUTO: "...my kids who, frankly, were more bored that it was a nearly two-hour movie, and they're kids!"
Acccording to the Internet Movie Database, the U.S. release of Happy Feet runs 87 minutes.
You gotta remember . . . Beck has a rather short attention span.
complaining about the length of the movie, right?
That's the sort of attention span and capacity for complex thoughts that gets you a job on Fox.
And makes you vote Republican.
If your Dad is Neil Cavuto, every minute must feel like 2 hours.
Yes fellow Americans, we must rise up and put an end to the penguin agenda!! First it's same sex penguins adopting, then it's tree hugging enviormentalist wacko penguins!!! I wouldn't be suprised if penguins are for cutting and running!!! They must be stopped.!!!!
not "suprised"
environmentalist not "enviormentalist"
ugh!!!
I like how you can see the frustration on Beck's face as he's cock-blocked by that other man, and you can see the look of satisfaction on Cavuto's face as he relieves his load all over that 'critic'.
"think of the children!"
Its fun to watch these fox pundants and equate facial expression to sexual frustation/satisfaction. It's an especially fitting circumstance when all they try to do is jerk their viewers around.
>>Beck: "Maybe I'm in the minority -- and I probably am..."<<
Notice that Republicans have lost the House, Becky? You're part of that minority. And it's because you guys take positions like this. So please continue to keep doing us Democrats a favor.
If Michael Medved hates this movie, it MUST be good!!!
opposite movie review system myself.
If he trashes it, I'm getting in line.
I've already done it on MMFA, so I won't bore anyone with my "Medved the failed movie reviewer/entertainment reporter, not too cute, got a little old and didn't meet a sugar daddy, really hates Hollywood and gays Republican" theory.
Oops, I just did.
It's PENGUIN LUST the most vile disgusting thing in history
The two bestest penguins in the world
....the Teletubbies and their "gay agenda".
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
:)
I posted this same thing on newshounds . . . strange how these wingnut noisemakers seem more concerned about animated fictional characters than they do real life . . .
Purple Teletubby, SpongeBob, DaVinci Code, Brokeback Mountain, Happy Feet...next!
You know they have no credibility left when they are reduced to swiftboating penguins. Maybe an ostrich movie with heads in sand for 90 minutes would be a more acceptable kids movie for these right wing wackos who don't believe in empirical facts about glabal warming.
Medved: "[Happy Feet is] the darkest, most disturbing feature length animated film ever offered by a major studio."
Sounds pretty good to me!
...and never will.
Numerous animated films, particularly in the Japanese Anime genre, are some of the most violent and graphic cartoons you'll ever see.
You want to see a dark animated film try the Ghost in the Machine some time. Great plot, dark as midnight
Very little can beat "Ninja Scroll", however.
to Fritz the Cat, America!
Yes I know how to spell global, so you spellcheck-nazis can relax. If you can't attack an idea attack the puntuation and spelling I always say....
Punctuation... I know I know, I should type my comments in word, spellcheck them, then post.
Dude, now THAT is funny...
Firefox 2.0 has an integrated spell-checker.
Can anyone name a watch-able animated film that doesn't have it's dark moments? How about any kids story for that matter? Are we so concerned that our kids will come to the conclusion that the world can be a frightening place at times?
These two idiots, (Beck & Cavuto) have been selling war for more than three years now and they don't see the harm it could do to kids. What hypocrisy.
I'm NOT sure whether there were any subliminal messages in them but I've yet to drop an anvil on anyone's head or blow anyone or anything up with dynamite from Acme...
I can't figure WHY Beck or Cavuto are carping over this. It's a cartoon. And IF it teaches something about saving our environment, then what's the big deal. Is that a bad thing?
I probably wouldn't like this movie simply because they mention there are "too many songs"... I don't do musicals, human or cartoon.
You mean you've never gone out chasing a wascally wabbit while singing Wagner tunes?
Daffy Duck is my favorite ;-)
I miss being a kid sometimes...
King, Have a great Thanksgiving!
Have a great Thanksgiving.
BS. They don't like the message so they invent crap like that. Perhaps a film where the penguins launch a pre-emptive strike against the seals because of WMDs would be more to their liking.
BECK: But you know what? I'd like to teach my children how to think for themselves about the issues.
CAVUTO: I just think it's a little tacky and big-time objectionable when you start foisting [it] on kids who don't know any better.
SAM I AM: I just know it's a Lot Tacky and big-time objectionable when Beck & Cavuto start fousting [IT] on their kids who don't know any better!
(Cavuto & Beck) and ALL the right-winged Pundits should protect their kids from [IT], hateful lies and false propaganda.
Therefore they should immediately release their own kids from the brainwashed bondage they are now living under. Free them before any further damage is done.
Place them in protective custody for adaption into families who will, and I quote BECK, "Teach my children how to think for themselves about the issues".
First, no one complained about the "terrorist" activities of the penquins from "Madagascar," the negative commentary of Suburbia from "Over the Hedge," the issues of abandonment in the "Toy Story" films, how corporations think more about profits instead of people from "Monster's Inc." What about the Ice Age films? What kind of message are the filmmakers preaching with having three bachelors (with none or very little marriage prospects) trying to take care of a baby. (I have a five year old that loves these movies, so I get to see and hear them a lot). This is meant to distract from the real issues and to show that these puppets have nothing else left to talk about.
Secondly, The sad fact that animation has touched on "green" issues for decades. Some of the Dr. Suess films were anti-industrialization, Disney's Pocahontas is another such film and Japan's very excellent film "Princess Mononoke" has all kinds of messages about about industrialization and the destruction of the environment. And it's not just animation. H.G. Wells' "War of the Worlds" is another piece that's anti-industrialization (that message is completely lost in the subsequent films). This just augments the fact that Beck and Cavuto are idiots and that they staff incompetent "yes men" that don't keep them abreast of what else is going on out there. "Happy Feet" didn't occur in isolation, and it's not the first nor will it be the last.
of compelling facts! OH NO!
it is ungodly to demonstrate concern for the world in which we live.
would be so much better if there was no ethical message to them.
Has Beck EVER said anything that gets into the list of 50,000 things to be concerened about? The guy is such an incredible joke.
She certainly doesn't have a clue what she's talking about when it comes to film. Dirty Dancing was a coming-of-age film (young Jewish girl meets inappropriate, but hot, stud at a resort one summer and learns about a life she would otherwise not ever know about). I don't recall anything preaching against dancing (tap or otherwise) as having significance in Dirty Dancing nor do I recall anything overly "liberal" in the film (teenage rebellion against the parents is hardly "liberal"; if anything, it's technically "conservative" as it's a tradition). I'm not sure where she's coming from with the "stay conformed"; rebelling against conformity is typically a part of that "teenage rebellion" tradition (Alex P Keaton from "Family Ties" certainly wasn't conforming to his parents' ideas). But there really wasn't much of a "conformity" message in Dirty Dancing.
Now, perhaps the cultural illiterate passing as an "entertainment critic" MIGHT have mistaken Dirty Dancing with another 1980s dance film, Footloose which WAS about rebellion and fighting conformity because of a conservative town's attitudes towards dancing (I don't recall if the attitude was based on religious motivations but many strict Southern Baptist churches hold very stringent attitudes against any form of dancing as a "sinful behavior").
As for the comments about the film being "too dark", that REALLY shows the woman has NO merit as an "entertainment critic". Has the woman ever watched The Wizard of Oz or Bambi or Pinocchio or 101 Dalmatians or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? ALL of those movies have "dark" moments, some incredibly "dark": Miss Gulch's taking away Toto to be destroyed and the Wicked Witch of the West putting a torch to the Scarecrow aren't exactly light and cheery moments in TWoZ; Bambi's mother being killed, Pinocchio's very dying--yeah, really cheery happy times for the kiddies. The point is that when parents go to the movies WITH the kids, and watch those films WITH the kids, and then discuss those films WITH the kids, the kids can handle "dark". When incompetent parents drop off the kiddies for two hours at the local multiplex to watch a G-rated film (or even a PG film) and don't seem to care, then obviously it must be Hollywood's fault for making a film too "dark" for the kiddies.
McClure might want to rent the Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVDs to see just how "political" messages have been used in animation ALL THE TIME. (Or, she could just have a talk with Leonard Maltin--a man who really is worthy of the title "entertainment critic"--about how animation once functioned on a variety of levels so that kids laughed at one thing while their parents laughed at the same thing, but not necessarily for the same reason.)
While it isnt animated gave me nightmares for months as a kid. My wife watched it the other night and I left the room when I heard the music that meant the flying monkeys were coming and I am almost 50. The people that made that movie for kids are SICK
The town's moratorium on dancing in Footloose was both for religious AND personal reasons. Actually the personal reasons came first. John Lithgow's character lost his son in an automobile accident before the action of the film starts. His son was on his way to (or perhaps from) a dance. Therefore, Lithgow's character uses his position of religious authority to convince people that dancing is against Christian values, but it's really just a front because he blames the dancing on his son's death. And you're right on. McClure IS confusing the two films.
Happy Feet is a Warner Bros. film. After Disney owned ABC ran its revisionist history 911 movie the right owes Disney one so they are panning an animated film from a rival studio.
Just about anything Beck says is like listening to fingernails on a blackboard. Is there a more obtuse person in television? Cavuto and McClure are leading the parade for the dumbing of America. Doesn’t anyone have conversations with their children about the films they watch anymore?
It’s increasingly obvious that the goal of the weird right is to breed lemmings that will follow any idiot that’s out front into whatever hole or quagmire as long as they’re promised a profit. God forbid they should have to discuss those “far left” environmental concerns with their children. It’s much better to treat them like the mushrooms that their patents have become.
"I just think it's a little tacky and big-time objectionable when you start foisting it on kids who don't know any better."
I have to ask...were these pukes equally offended by the ham-handed Christian symbolism in "The Chronicles of Narnia"? Somehow, I doubt it.
Calling Glenn Dreck crazy is an insult to crazy people.
Glenn Beck is so incredibly stupid,it is truly mind boggling. An environmental message in a kids movie is propaganda? Apparently he is unaware that virtually every reputable scientist agrees that global warming is occurring and is and will cause major problems for the planet. I wonder if the moron Cavuto actually saw this movie. I did and it is nowhere near two hours long. And I took my two nephews,who enjoyed greatly, so apparently it is fun for kids. Sorry Holly. Just imagine how terribly boring the movies these right wing dopes would make. Passion of the Christ anyone?
Where are the helpful contact links?
"I'd like to teach my children how to think for themselves about the issues, including global warming and the environment, instead of having them indoctrinated by some Hollywood director."
You mean, you want them to think like you on these issues?
it'll save him a lot of parenting work if he can just forward his Rush LImbaugh newsletter to the tykes.
Now that's stinkin' scary!
If God had wanted penguins to live in Sea World he would've lined the Pacific Ocean in cement and made oranges out of plastic with built in straws...but why confuse these right wing rapture nit wits?
Glen Beck is a dumbf*ck's dumbf*ck.
Part time circus clown, radio host, tv host and movie critic El-Glenn-Bo hits the nail on the head again!
I took my kids to see this movie and the first thing my 4 year old said as we left was, "Sure, the computer animation was good; loved the dancing penguin, but they really lost me with the global warming propaganda crap. And Dad, I'd sleep with one eye open if I were you." I overheard several other children mutter similar sentiments and I thought maybe, just maybe a riot occur. One pigtailed lass even had to drag her parents kicking and screaming from the theater... "Think for yourself," she screamed with a mouthful of lightly buttered popcorn. It's something you don't want to see twice in a lifetime.
Other than that the movie was pretty good. Can't wait for Glenn to find the political angle to "Flushed Away."
(Wasn't the voice of the fuzzy little penguin Michael Moore?)
har har, good one.
Did any of these people who want to protect our tots from all learning about some of the problems in the world check out the MPAA rating - it was PG. I was going to take my 4 yo grandson, but decided that he could wait until he's able to do something about problems he knows about. I ordinarily don't trust MPAA much, but I check it very closely for animated movies.
Do you have a point? PG in innocuous.
must have a very high developed gag reflex.
It's a freaking penguine movie for God's sake! There's so many things wrong with this I'm actually too tired to number them all. This reminds me of that whacko Christian right organization that called for the boycott of Shark Tale because they thought the main character shark was gay, and sending the message of "tolerance" to young kids. He was gay because he disappointed his father, and because he didn't act like a tough, mean old shark, and because he cross-dressed as a dophin...etc.. I'm Swiss, I swear. And I love how Holly dismisses the film because it has a message that you shouldn't conform. This is the subtle mind of the modern conservative. They actually WANT children to conform. They think that non-conformity is a BAD thing. So I suppose the Boston Tea Party should never have happened. They make me sick. I shudder to think that there may come a day when our art, music, films, books, etc...are teaching messages of conformity because the decision makers are afraid of boycotts, like what Beck called for.