Phony Purple Heart Taken Off Film Web Site

[Uncle Fester]

By JENNIFER TALHELM, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 20 minutes ago



WASHINGTON - Following complaints from a congressman, the producers of "Wedding Crashers" on Monday yanked from the movie's Web site a printable Purple Heart advertised as a gimmick to pick up women and get free drinks.

The movie characters — played by Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn — use the medals to pick up women. But advocates for a bill introduced by Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., say it's no joke — impostors also use the fake medals or fraudulent stories of medals to get ahead in business.
"We understand the sensitivity regarding the medals and did not intend to make light of their significance in any way," New Line Cinema spokesman Richard Socarides said Monday.

Wearing, manufacturing, buying, selling or trading a Medal of Honor is a crime. Salazar's Stolen Valor Act, introduced Friday, would expand the law to include more medals and would allow prosecution of anyone who falsely claims to have earned a military medal or a Purple Heart

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050725/ap_on_go_co/wedding_crashers_salazar

[ConservativeYouthMovement]

I like the idea, i just dont like the reason i think they are doing it. I think they are doing it just to defend their buddy john kerry's purple hearts(if they happen to remember that far back, which i doubt) or are trying to appease to soldiers since they realize that was a big killer for them in the last election.

[Trevelyan]

It's a movie!

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

It's a movie!

Boy have I ever heard THAT before! :smirky: It's just a movie . . . that influences people, no matter how subtly or indirectly, the fact remains. ET was just a movie to, but do you know what happened to sales of Reeces Pieces after that "movie" aired? They skyrocketed.

Product Placement I Films (http://it.stlawu.edu/~alspoo01/a2.html)
"There are no doubts that product placement is effective. Back in 1982 placing Reece's Pieces in E.T. boosted sales of the candy by 65%. Peter Gardiner, a partner and chief media officer at Deutch said that "the E.T. product placement was so well done and powerful, it drove sales for years and years." (Commercial Alert, 10)"

And how about rewriting history so that volumes of unsuspecting children learn "history" the WRONG way? Do you know the story of Pocahontas is NOT like the one on Disney film?

Table of Contents and Excerpt, Ward, Mouse Morality (http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exwarmou.html)
"Generations are now raised on Disney fairy tales, and original story lines are forgotten or dismissed as not the real thing. Disney rewrites the original tales for its particular version of American values. For example, <CITE>Disney's Hercules</CITE> creates an amalgamation of myths that confuse the original story of Hercules' parentage, exploits, and motivations. Or consider <CITE>Disney's Pocahontas.</CITE> The movie changes Pocahontas's age, looks, and accomplishments from the few historical facts that we do have to a romanticized beauty. Disney is a central storyteller in our society, aiming its messages at families with children. And families have responded with overwhelming acceptance of Disney products and, by implication, Disney messages."

And I could go on, and on, and on. Nope -- they've become MUCH more than "mere" movies.

[Trevelyan]

Boy have I ever heard THAT before! :smirky: It's just a movie . . . that influences people, no matter how subtly or indirectly, the fact remains. ET was just a movie to, but do you know what happened to sales of Reeces Pieces after that "movie" aired? They skyrocketed.

Product Placement I Films (http://it.stlawu.edu/~alspoo01/a2.html)
"There are no doubts that product placement is effective. Back in 1982 placing Reece's Pieces in E.T. boosted sales of the candy by 65%. Peter Gardiner, a partner and chief media officer at Deutch said that "the E.T. product placement was so well done and powerful, it drove sales for years and years." (Commercial Alert, 10)"

And how about rewriting history so that volumes of unsuspecting children learn "history" the WRONG way? Do you know the story of Pocahontas is NOT like the one on Disney film?

Table of Contents and Excerpt, Ward, Mouse Morality (http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/excerpts/exwarmou.html)
"Generations are now raised on Disney fairy tales, and original story lines are forgotten or dismissed as not the real thing. Disney rewrites the original tales for its particular version of American values. For example, <CITE>Disney's Hercules</CITE> creates an amalgamation of myths that confuse the original story of Hercules' parentage, exploits, and motivations. Or consider <CITE>Disney's Pocahontas.</CITE> The movie changes Pocahontas's age, looks, and accomplishments from the few historical facts that we do have to a romanticized beauty. Disney is a central storyteller in our society, aiming its messages at families with children. And families have responded with overwhelming acceptance of Disney products and, by implication, Disney messages."

And I could go on, and on, and on. Nope -- they've become MUCH more than "mere" movies.

I thought it was liberals who are accused of having no sense of humor and being too PC. I don't know how anyone could take that seriously.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

I thought it was liberals who are accused of having no sense of humor and being too PC. I don't know how anyone could take that seriously.

I'm not sure if you were referring to me taking your post seriously, or people taking the movie seriously. Sorry if my post annoyed you . . . your statement annoyed me, because I have had this argument before on numerous occassions. One of my greatest pet peeves is the influence Hollyweird has on young people when it comes to historical distortions. I have a great respect for history, and I do not suffer the fools lightly who play games with the historical record for profit, while leading people astray.

Please feel free to ignore my thoughts and posts. I will also feel free to continue sharing them.

[Trevelyan]

I'm not sure if you were referring to me taking your post seriously, or people taking the movie seriously. Sorry if my post annoyed you . . . your statement annoyed me, because I have had this argument before on numerous occassions. One of my greatest pet peeves is the influence Hollyweird has on young people when it comes to historical distortions. I have a great respect for history, and I do not suffer the fools lightly who play games with the historical record for profit, while leading people astray.

I meant that I do not know how anyone could take that movie seriously. It's just a stupid comedy. I'm just talking about this movie here, not trying to get into a debate about all movies and distortions of history. "The Wedding Crashers" doesn't have anything to do with historical events. <O:p</O:p


Please feel free to ignore my thoughts and posts. I will also feel free to continue sharing them.

:question:

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

I meant that I do not know how anyone could take that movie seriously. It's just a stupid comedy. I'm just talking about this movie here, not trying to get into a debate about all movies and distortions of history. "The Wedding Crashers" doesn't have anything to do with historical events.

There are people everywhere that are underestimated, until they do the "unthinkable" and then we see their neighbors on TV saying things like, "They were quiet, but never caused any trouble, and I never thought they would do anything like THAT." People emulate the actions, and wrong behaviors, of others all the time, and they come up with stupid things to do on their own. (Ever heard Bill Engvall's schtick about "here's your sign"?)

:question:

Please forgive me Trev, I must be getting tired now. I took your post to mean that you were addressing me of having no humor and being PC. My apologies for the misunderstanding.

[Trevelyan]

There are people everywhere that are underestimated, until they do the "unthinkable" and then we see their neighbors on TV saying things like, "They were quiet, but never caused any trouble, and I never thought they would do anything like THAT." People emulate the actions, and wrong behaviors, of others all the time, and they come up with stupid things to do on their own. (Ever heard Bill Engvall's schtick about "here's your sign"?)

Ok, but I sincerely doubt there will be a dramatic increase in the levels of people pretending to have purple hearts because of this movie. Also, there is much worse that could be emulated. If this were emulated, nobody is going to get hurt.

Please forgive me Trev, I must be getting tired now. I took your post to mean that you were addressing me of having no humor and being PC. My apologies for the misunderstanding.

That's alright.