Would Raiders be considered disrespectful of Arabs if released today?

I'm enjoying watching one of my all-time favorite movies on AMC tonight RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. I've watched it a million times. A classic American action film from Steven Spielberg and Lucasfilm.

Thinking about the world we live in today, the concern about terrorism from the Arab world, and the way that Arabs are presented in the film as somewhat subservient to Indy,
would there be a controversy about the depiction of Arabs if it came out in say 2001 or 2002 instead of 1981?

For example, I don't think Arabs would be too happy about Indy blowing away the Arab swordsman, even though I think most of us regard it as a very funny, classic movie moment.

Comments?

 

I'm sure that someone would have a problem with it. I'm also sure that someone would claim that Indiana Jones is just another example of the big bad American's coming to the Middle East to rape and pillage their land, and take what we want.
Rampant PC'ism must be stopped. Someday, if this continues, we won't be able to have any more fun.

 

If Spielberg and Lucas start to think that way, we can kiss goodbye that classic movie moment as they replace it with Indy throwing a Walkie-Talkie at the Arab guy instead of shooting him.

 

Good line!

But somehow it just wouldn't be the same,

 

I agree with the guys above.
People'd be complaining, but hey, they don't have to watch it.

 

Carosel, some will want to prevent others from watching it though...

 

Where was that walkie-talkie scene from? I just can't remember... arrrgh... must... think... it was the "toned-down" version of a movie, that's what I remember... but.... which one???

 

LOL, I was going to make a similar comment jamesdrax.

Laserschwert, the walkie talkie reference is about the ET 20th Anniversary edition.

It's already staring to happen. Witness The Sum of All Fears to see how much the story was butchered to make it more PC.

 

Forgive my ignorance, but what does PC stand for?

 

PC stands for Politically Correct. And, I agree, if someone doesn't like the movie, they don't have to watch it. I personally thought the scene when Indy shot the swordsman hilarious

 

Politically Correct - ie. as inoffensive to as many people as possible.

 

Man, I swear, so many abbreviations to learn on the internet

And people everywhere oppose things and try to bring them down. I don't see how an Indiana Jones flick could be brought down by the public unless the media smeared it.

 

Some of the Arabs were mercenaries for Belloq and the Nazis but when the Nazis stole the Ark, the Arabs helped hide Indy when he got it back. There was nothing necessarally anti-Arabic about the film. Only anti-Nazi.

On a side note, Raiders of the Lost Ark is my favorite movie ever. Every actor in it was perfect, the stunts were great, the music second only to TESB. And as a small child, it taught me an important life lesson. When life sends you a submarine full of Nazis who steal your prize possession and your girl, you don't cry about it. You jump in the water and swim towards the submarine

 

And as a small child, it taught me an important life lesson. When life sends you a submarine full of Nazis who steal your prize possession and your girl, you don't cry about it. You jump in the water and swim towards the submarine

Have you ever had the chance to put that life lesson into practice?

Perhaps figuratively, not literally...

 

jamesdrax

If Raiders was released again today...

Indy would have turned the corner in the market to find the Arab stairing him down, and then we would have digitally pushed in on his face to see him say...

"Don't forget to log on to Amazon.com to get your copy of the 20th Anniversary Edition of E.T. today!"

 

Quote:
"Have you ever had the chance to put that life lesson into practice?"

Well not literally.

But as a skinny kid growing up, who had the fortune to have some pretty attractive girlfriends, I used to have to get into some fights as you can imagine. I got my butt kicked a lot, like Indy does. But like Indy, I fought back, not caring about the consequences. That's what his character's about.

 

You don't hear too much about James Bond movies offending Russians so I don't anything would be made about Raiders if it was made today. Besides one of the main heros, Sallah, is an Arab so I don't think Arabs would take offence to it.

 

We've become too politically correct.

 

Too much political correctness
makes for bland movies where everyone
is trying not to offend anyone's sensibilities.

 

Actually, it was very disrespectful to Nazis!

 

If anyone should be annoyed it should be Blonde blue eyed people because apparently they are all Nazi's.

Personally I think we should all fight against PC values before they ruin the world.

Being taught to be respectful is one thing, being FORCED to be respectful is another which in the long run will only create a backlash from the mass of the general public that are forced to alter their language and traditions because of other peoples guilt.
This is especially so when the Politcal Correctness is not returned from the other parties involved.

 

Well, considering that Indy's friend Gimli, er, I mean Sallah is an Arab, I don't think they're portrayed in a negative light in Raiders.

OTOH, I have heard arguements that Temple of Doom was disrespectful against Indians (eating monkey brains and such.) I don't agree with that either.

 

Wether the silver screen or a glowing box, its always someone else that misinterprets the picture.

Sometimes I wonder if the only reason why the planet is so at arms with each others ideals is cause each culure wishes to be the heir to God.

 

If you want to talk about a swashbuckling throwback film that was possibly racist watch The Mummy. Everytime an arab character walked onto the screen someone commented on the smell. That's racist. Shooting a sword wielding villian that just happens to be arab is not racist.

 

Actually, it was very disrespectful to Nazis!

Why do I have a feeling that in 10 years, if PC keeps going the way it is, that line will be said by someone seriously.