MovieChat Forums > Radio (2003) Discussion > OVERATED, EXPLOITIVE CRAP

OVERATED, EXPLOITIVE CRAP

posted 21 years ago by jg2_ansbach
75 replies | jump to latest

This is one of the worst movies about the disabled that has ever been made. If this movie was about a different subject matter it would have a 4.8 instead of a 6.8. No wonder Cuba Gooding Jr. is getting a Razzie for this movie. Hollywood's blatant exploitation of these kinds of subjects is disgusting.

Attention would-be directors: if you want your movie to be automatically liked by the masses, who can't think for themselves enough to separate the quality of a movie from the subject matter, just make a movie on one of the following topics:

- The Mentally or Physically Disabled Overcoming Adversity
- Racism
- Dying a Slow or Tragic Death
- Dealing with Homosexuality or Aids

You will have a guaranteed 'feel-good' hit, now matter how crappy your movie actually is.

NOW PAY VERY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS PART BEFORE YOU REPLY:
I'm not taking any issue with those topics themselves - all of which are tragic and deserve to be talked about both in private and public, and which deserve to have GOOD movies made about them. What irks me is the fact that BAD movies about those topics get a 'free pass' even when they are still just a BAD MOVIE.

I'm sure Radio is a great guy and the real story is heartwarming - all the more reason it is an injustice to make a BAD movie about it!

[–] koolnut 18 years ago

You are SO WRONG.
What you're saying is that this movie doesn't deserve all the stuff about how great it is..because you think it's not.
You're focusing on the negative...i like this movie because it seemed so real.
All of the cases,all of the things Radio had to go through...that is usually what nearly every person with disabilities actually have to go through to finally find ACCEPTANCE.
People have to go through tough situations to find what they're looking for,how can we experience feeling great if we haven't experienced pain?...this movie is inspiring because in the end,despite the difficult obstacles,Radio finally found acceptance in the people around him,he found his purpose in life.

You don't understand how hard life is for people like that,I don't know myself...but I have seen how hard life is for them and I know that putting out movies like this, shows that there is always hope in the negative.

[–] reandylyn 18 years ago

Just so you know, you never stated WHY the movie is bad, so your BAD REVIEW is not really a review at all.

[–] jg2_ansbach 16 years ago

Actually, I never stated that I was posting a review - just an opinion. There are plenty of reviews that talk about the failings of this movie at great length - there's even a link to them over there on the left-hand side.

[–] angelstarr_1586 18 years ago

You know, just because there weren't in blood and gore or a sex scene doesn't make it overrated. It's very inspirational film, everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion, but you didn't HAVE to watch it, knowing it's a movie about a handicapped individual. They actually turned down about three scripts (from different companies) before filming this one.

Again, opinions are titled, but there is no reason to completely trashed a movie just because it's not YOUR idea of what makes a good movie.

$0.02

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sockscats 16 years ago

I agree it's crap.

The ed harris character in this movie doesn't take an interest in this guy he is obsessed with him. The whole concept is stupid.

This radio character is so dense he doesn't know what a police officer is but despite his handicap he is still better than any non handicapped white person.

Another example of many of hollywood to lecture us on how to be nice to people who are different than us. Yawn.

[–] t_resident 15 years ago

"I just wish for once Hollywood would make a realistic movie about retarded people, where a retarded guy leaves his house, people stare at him for a while and then lock him up." -Howard Stern

[–] blynnpatton 14 years ago

The movie is based on a true story. Also, we should be nice to others.

[–] LadyLovie 16 years ago

I would'nt call it exploitive.but i found it boring myself.something was missing.
better movies on this subject are
rain man
forrest gump
what's eating gilbert grape.
digging to china-bacon's over doing it just a tad though-but good story line
I'm not sure,but this could be the 1st(or 1 of the few) movies about a mentally disabled african american person(where they are the main character& the focus is on them). too bad it was this much of a disappointment.should have been more bonus footage on the real Radio. yeah,I could'nt wait for it to be over.

[–] everysfavwhitey 16 years ago

you never go full retard

[–] blynnpatton 15 years ago

Please do not use the terms full retard. It is offensive to people with intellectual disabilities. They are people first. They have feelings just like you and me. They also have various talents, strengths, and weaknesses just like everyone else in society.

[–] bluesguy 15 years ago

Your a Republican, correct? LOSER. Go and watch Shrek....

[–] wishingwell57 14 years ago

How does this make him a loser. And, why should he watch Shrek? You may have assumed that you spouted out something that made sense. But it didn't. You made yourself look like a loser.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] davidbharding 14 years ago

The movie wasn't too bad, I thought Cuba Gooding Jr did a decent job of the movie, I doubt it would have been easy to have acted that way. 'Cause really, you have to make it seem like you are really disabled, and not pouring it on (see Johnny Knoxvilles character in "The Ringer" where "Jeffy" was piling it on thick, I know that was the point of that character I am just saying for some actors to do it right and not like that, it takes work.)

It would have been a challenge for Cuba to do, and I thought he did well, it's not a super awesome movie, it's a decent movie, I saw most of the movie, stopped watching because I was doing other things....but, seriously it wasn't as bad as some movies out today.

I think the main message in this movie was that people like Radio get a lot of bullying, and I think that was what this movie tried to show a lot of that even though Radio has a disability he's still a decent human as well. That was the message I was getting, that the town once didn't care for him because they thought maybe he was a bit annoying (and let's face it at times he was very annoying..) but inside there is a good hearted person that doesn't know how the world works, and needed a hand in life, and the Coach came along and took a guy that no one cared about apart from his mother, didn't have any social skills, and helped him fit in, and got people to see past his disabilities.

So yes, they laid on the message very strong, but the point of the movie is out there, some of you in this thread have actually unwillingly noticed the point of the movie...

People like Radio are mocked and called retards, made to feel like they aren't worth *beep* in society, well this movie took that, laid it on thick, and then Radio was accepted for him, and now there's a good ending with the charities and such.

The Ringer, I am Sam, Rainman, all had messages in there, even though The Ringer was a comedy, it showed how people with disabilities cope with their disabilities, and yeah, even though this movie wasn't great, a message was sent.