Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry

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Permalink Reply by L.A. Lucas on June 23, 2009 at 6:18pm

Spike should probably not direct for stage, but Perry should not direct for screen

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Permalink Reply by Richard Carl Evans on June 23, 2009 at 6:59pm

Spike Lee was being interviewed by Ed Gordon and did what Spike Lee has done throughout his career namely to criticize his peers by way of the media (when you throw in the Amos and Andy comparison things get even worse). I like Spike Lee the artist but there are times when Spike Lee the man needs to keep his mouth shut (he criticized Clint Eastwood by way of the media as well). When you criticize by way of the media it comes across negatively (one might think Spike is simply jealous among other things). I'd be willing to bet the farm that Spike Lee has access to Tyler Perry (Clint Eastwood to). I'm sure that if he wanted to chat with anyone in private about his or her artform he could (especially a fellow African American). My life experience has taught me that unwanted criticism is bad enough but unwanted criticism done in front of an audience can burn bridges. I hope Tyler Perry does the right thing and simply ignore this foolishness.

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Permalink Reply by Saddi on June 23, 2009 at 9:52pm

L.A. your right.
I think Tyler movies are good when he is not in them.
Spike can be a trip sometime. But i think he's a better filmmaker than critic but hey you can say what you want but watch what you say.

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Permalink Reply by Vaun Monroe on June 25, 2009 at 10:39am

imo, "Daddy's Little Girls" was Perry's best film. He finally got a sense of what a cinematographer does and what editing is for. He cast a dark skinned brother that wasn't there to whoop a sister's azz so a light skinned brother could come along and save her.

But Black women-his core audience-didn't turn out in droves to see it, preferring his revenge fantasies instead.

So he put his dress back on and went back to the similac.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Carl Evans on June 28, 2009 at 2:25pm

Tyler Perry's brand of entertainment is like a McDonalds hamburger, it's nowhere near the best but it get's the job done. This brand of entertaiment is based on making money not creating a higher art form. I'm not mad at him but it is what it is.

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Permalink Reply by BK Waller on July 2, 2009 at 10:02am

Tyler Perry is by far a worse director, though both of them are too concerned with racial identification to have a long-lasting impact on the industry these days. Sure they both have made money, Perry more than Spike recently, but that doesn't mean they are to be prasied for what they do; maybe Spike depending on the film. BET also makes a lot of money and we all saw what they have to offer when its time for an awards show. Bernie Madeoff made a lot of money too. Crack dealers make a lot of money, or at least they used to.

All I am saying is 9 out of 10 times, I'm seeing a Spike Lee movie than the shuckin and jiving, uneducated, "God over common sense" stereotypical images that Perry continues to offer. Matter fact, the only role I have seen where Perry wasn't a part of the negative stereotypes of Black people was in Star Trek. Spike Lee is too race aware and these days, unfortunately, people (black people?) want to be entertained mindlessly and not be made aware when it comes to films or film making. That's why the Wayans Bros. are so successful.
And because of this, Perry has become a successful (money wise) filmmaker because he's really just giving people (black people?) what they want or used to which is shucking and jiving, God and ebonics.
So if I had to choose it would be Spike because at least I won't be ashamed of black images as I walk out the theater.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Carl Evans on July 2, 2009 at 12:43pm

"Malcolm X" was Spike's best film in my book (Denzel's to for that matter). The man against all odds is a great premise (Al Pacino was the absolute best at playing this role). What I would like to see from Tyler Perry is a total and complete slapstick farce where character and plot generate the laughs (not costumes, props and stereotypes). Of course in order for him to do this he must master the art of screenwriting which at this point he obiviously has not. When Spike put out "She's Gotta' Have It" he was not trying to prove anything. He simply entertained you with one of the best comedy/dramas these eyes have ever seen. Not just these two gent's but all black filmmakers need to zero in on that often overlooked element of filmmaking. The art of screenwriting!

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Permalink Reply by Gina Robinson on July 13, 2009 at 12:47pm

Why does it have to be any type of bickering in the first place, you don't see Spielberg and Tarantino pointing fingers, my goodness black people, there is ENOUGH for everyone if we just for ONCE do things as a whole and not divided!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Carl Evans on July 13, 2009 at 1:21pm

African Americans should avoid sitting in judgement of one another like the plague. When this behaviour occurs between two artists by way of the media the negativity is magnified. I hope Tyler Perry remains silent on this issue.

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