Get Rich or Die Trying

[Diakonos]

I saw this movie over the weekend (very entertaining). Since this flick is suppose to be 75% biographical, I tried to figure out who the characters in this film were supposed to represent in real life as I was watching it. Of course some characters were easy to figure out. 50 Cent was obviously represented Marcus (played by 50 Cent). I also believe that Ja Rule was represented by Dangerous (the rival rapper played by Michael Miller).



Will anyone else who has seen this movie, help me figure out the following?



Who was Majestic (played by Adewale Akinnuoye) supposed to represent?



Who was Bama (played by Terrence Howard) supposed to represent? Was he supposed to be one of the members of the G-unit (Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo)?



Who was Levar (played by Bill Dukes) supposed to represent? Also, did you get the impression that Levar was Marcus’ father?



Who was Odell (played by Russell Hornsby) supposed to represent?



All of these characters were involved in serious criminal activity. I wondered throughout the movie how much of it was fact, and how much of it was fiction?

 

[Lithium Hobo]

Hopefully die trying. Yes it sounds morbid and cruel, but damit, I hate rap.

 

[revrobor]

Why would a Christian want to see a film that has caused theatres all over the country to hire extra security because of the type of customers this type of film is drawing?

 

[Diakonos]

Why would a Christian want to see a film that has caused theatres all over the country to hire extra security because of the type of customers this type of film is drawing?

And what type of customers is this type of film attracting? When I went to go see this movie, I didn't see any "extra security", nor did I see any need for extra security. I saw average everyday people enjoying a day at the movies. Surely, your not saying that is was the content of the movie that warranted extra security. If that were the case, maybe they should have had extra security at the showing of The Terminater. That movie was very voilent. And they definitely should have had it at the showing of Lethal Weapon 1,2,3 and 4. They had all kinds of voilence in that movie. How about Kingdom of Heavan, where people were being slaughtered in the name of God? What type of customers did that film attract? Did they need extra security? I had better not go see Jarhead. Never can tell what type of crowd might go to see it.

If this movie had been about a rock star, instead of a rap star, it would not have received such bad publicity. Yeah, there was some voilence in this movie, but no more than I saw in Scarface or The Godfather. There was also a good plot in this movie, where the main character turns his life around and abandons a life of crime.

By the way, if anyone has seen this movie, (which is really who addressed this thread to anyway) I would be curious to hear your take on it.

 

[SteelDisciple]

the fact that a RAPPER is in the star of the movie...means I will never watch it. I have better movie tastes then that

 

[revrobor]

And what type of customers is this type of film attracting? When I went to go see this movie, I didn't see any "extra security", nor did I see any need for extra security. I saw average everyday people enjoying a day at the movies. Surely, your not saying that is was the content of the movie that warranted extra security. If that were the case, maybe they should have had extra security at the showing of The Terminater. That movie was very voilent. And they definitely should have had it at the showing of Lethal Weapon 1,2,3 and 4. They had all kinds of voilence in that movie. How about Kingdom of Heavan, where people were being slaughtered in the name of God? What type of customers did that film attract? Did they need extra security? I had better not go see Jarhead. Never can tell what type of crowd might go to see it.

If this movie had been about a rock star, instead of a rap star, it would not have received such bad publicity. Yeah, there was some voilence in this movie, but no more than I saw in Scarface or The Godfather. There was also a good plot in this movie, where the main character turns his life around and abandons a life of crime.

By the way, if anyone has seen this movie, (which is really who addressed this thread to anyway) I would be curious to hear your take on it.

I spent more than a quarter of a century in the movie theatre business and left the country's largest theatre chain as manager last April. I also subscribe to an industry magazine which keeps me up to date on what's happening in the motion picture industry. In the latest edition it is reported that multiplexes all across the country have had to hire extra security. And in one location a patron was shot by another who had seen the film. This type of film serves no useful purpose other than to incite those on the verge to violence. It is general knowledge that those in the rap music field are prone to violence and certainly not examples of what an upstanding citizen should be.

 

[Diakonos]

I spent more than a quarter of a century in the movie theatre business and left the country's largest theatre chain as manager last April. I also subscribe to an industry magazine which keeps me up to date on what's happening in the motion picture industry. In the latest edition it is reported that multiplexes all across the country have had to hire extra security. And in one location a patron was shot by another who had seen the film. This type of film serves no useful purpose other than to incite those on the verge to violence. It is general knowledge that those in the rap music field are prone to violence and certainly not examples of what an upstanding citizen should be.

Since you have been in the movie theatre business for a over a quarter of a century, then you more than anybody should know that violence in movies is not new. Furthermore, the magazine that you subscribe to is no different from the rest of the media hype that has blown the publicity for this movie way out of proportion. Speaking as a person who saw this movie, I saw more violence in The Godfather. Can you honestly say, as someone who has been in the movie business for over 25 years, that you have never seen a gangster film (and maybe even enjoyed it)? You mean to tell me that you have never seen The Untouchables, Casino, Scarface, The Godfather 1,2 and/or 3, Goodfellas or A Bronx Tale? Should we have boycotted such actors as Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Joe Peschi, Mel Gibson or any other actor that has been in a film that portrayed violence? Robert Deniro took a baseball bat and bashed a man’s head in on a dinner table for crying out loud.



By the way, not everyone in the rap music field is prone to violence. To believe otherwise is ignorant. I guess you never heard of Will Smith, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, MC Hammer, T-Bone (a gospel rapper), The BB Jay (another gospel rapper),The Roots, De la Soul (known to many as hip hop hippies), Tribe called Quest and etc. Chance are (and I could be wrong, but I doubt it), you just don’t like the music (or understand it for that matter).

 

[revrobor]

Since you have been in the movie theatre business for a over a quarter of a century, then you more than anybody should know that violence in movies is not new. Furthermore, the magazine that you subscribe to is no different from the rest of the media hype that has blown the publicity for this movie way out of proportion. Speaking as a person who saw this movie, I saw more violence in The Godfather. Can you honestly say, as someone who has been in the movie business for over 25 years, that you have never seen a gangster film (and maybe even enjoyed it)? You mean to tell me that you have never seen The Untouchables, Casino, Scarface, The Godfather 1,2 and/or 3, Goodfellas or A Bronx Tale? Should we have boycotted such actors as Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Joe Peschi, Mel Gibson or any other actor that has been in a film that portrayed violence? Robert Deniro took a baseball bat and bashed a man’s head in on a dinner table for crying out loud.



By the way, not everyone in the rap music field is prone to violence. To believe otherwise is ignorant. I guess you never heard of Will Smith, Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, MC Hammer, T-Bone (a gospel rapper), The BB Jay (another gospel rapper),The Roots, De la Soul (known to many as hip hop hippies), Tribe called Quest and etc. Chance are (and I could be wrong, but I doubt it), you just don’t like the music (or understand it for that matter).

I did not watch most of the films you mentioned as I don't care for the genre and you're right, I don't care for rap music. Most of it I've heard deals with killing, profanity and sex. If you're defending a Christian watching this type of film then your effort is lost on me. IMO this film serves no useful purpose in anyone's life, let alone a Christians. Ever hear the expression GIGO ("garbage in, garbage out")? Boxoffice Magazine is a trade journal not a fan magazine.

 

[HelloToAll]

Why would a Christian want to see a film that has caused theatres all over the country to hire extra security because of the type of customers this type of film is drawing?

Exactly! A lot of people were protesting that this film is giving children a lot of negative images.

 

[Diakonos]

Exactly! A lot of people were protesting that this film is giving children a lot of negative images.

How about The Last Samurai staring Tom Cruise? That movie had way more blood and killing scenes in it than Get Rich or Die Trying.

How about First Blood staring Sylvester Stalone? Did Rambo create any negative images for kids with his guerrilla warfare tactics?

Tom Cruise stars in a movie where he hacks people to pieces with a sword, and its a box-office smash.

Sylvester Stallone stars in a movie where he guns people down in the jungle, and its a classic.

But when 50 Cent stars in a movie that has violence in it, he's "giving children a lot of negative images."

Am I the only one who sees the hypocracy in all of this?

 

[SteelDisciple]

How about The Last Samurai staring Tom Cruise? That movie had way more blood and killing scenes in it than Get Rich or Die Trying.

How about First Blood staring Sylvester Stalone? Did Rambo create any negative images for kids with his guerrilla warfare tactics?

Tom Cruise stars in a movie where he hacks people to pieces with a sword, and its a box-office smash.

Sylvester Stallone stars in a movie where he guns people down in the jungle, and its a classic.

But when 50 Cent stars in a movie that has violence in it, he's "giving children a lot of negative images."

Am I the only one who sees the hypocracy in all of this?

SAd as this may seem....50 Cent is a role model to many youths today..unlike the above stars you mentioned. Not only does he give negative images in his music...now he's pumping his junk into the heads of kids visually too.

 

[wanderingone]

Exactly! A lot of people were protesting that this film is giving children a lot of negative images.

Why would children be seeing this film?

 

[firestar]

Good point wanderingone!! I'm all for role models being mindful of the fact that they *are* role models, but 50 cent is not parenting these kids, and if he is by proxy their parental role model then the actual parents have a lot of answering to do.

I also agree with Diakonos, if this movie was based on any other music genre it would not be getting this type of reaction because we are saturated by violence day in and day out. You can't even safely turn on the evening news with your kids in the room! Christians can watch this movie and take it for what it is, a semi-biographical account of one man's life.

And for the record... I've listened to rap most of my life, and I've NEVER done drugs of any kind, committed any kind of felony, belonged to any gang, committed violent acts, taken part in promiscuous behaviour, I've rarely even attended parties or clubs (I can count on one hand the number of times). Not everyone who appreciates this genre is a gangster and I'm sick to death of it being villified. If you don't enjoy the way it sounds, FINE, but would people stop trying to make it seem like rap is the root of all evil?!

 

[Evee]

Good point wanderingone!! I'm all for role models being mindful of the fact that they *are* role models, but 50 cent is not parenting these kids, and if he is by proxy their parental role model then the actual parents have a lot of answering to do.

I also agree with Diakonos, if this movie was based on any other music genre it would not be getting this type of reaction because we are saturated by violence day in and day out. You can't even safely turn on the evening news with your kids in the room! Christians can watch this movie and take it for what it is, a semi-biographical account of one man's life.

And for the record... I've listened to rap most of my life, and I've NEVER done drugs of any kind, committed any kind of felony, belonged to any gang, committed violent acts, taken part in promiscuous behaviour, I've rarely even attended parties or clubs (I can count on one hand the number of times). Not everyone who appreciates this genre is a gangster and I'm sick to death of it being villified. If you don't enjoy the way it sounds, FINE, but would people stop trying to make it seem like rap is the root of all evil?!

Ok but has anyone saw anything good from it?
It really don't matter what I think anyway because if not rap then something else.

 

[Diakonos]

I also agree with Diakonos, if this movie was based on any other music genre it would not be getting this type of reaction because we are saturated by violence day in and day out. You can't even safely turn on the evening news with your kids in the room! Christians can watch this movie and take it for what it is, a semi-biographical account of one man's life.

I'll bet nobody has prostested or tried to boycott Walk the Line (the Movie about Johnny Cash). There is a song on the soundtrack called Cocaine Blues. Will that movie be srutinized like Get Rich or Die Trying? Or will get a get a pass because that movie centers around a country artist instead of a rap artist?

 

[revrobor]

I'll bet nobody has prostested or tried to boycott Walk the Line (the Movie about Johnny Cash). There is a song on the soundtrack called Cocaine Blues. Will that movie be srutinized like Get Rich or Die Trying? Or will get a get a pass because that movie centers around a country artist instead of a rap artist?

Johnny Cash became a Believer. The movie portrays his struugles to free himself from his addictions. Johnny was known for helping others, most notably the Oakridge Boys who he convinced to include country music in their repertoire of Christian music which accounts for their success today.

I don't know if 50 Cent is a Believer but I've never heard anything about 50 Cent helping anyone and the garbage he puts out is has got to be destructive. The title of his film says a lot about his philosophy.

The criticism has nothing to do with the type of music but the lifestyle the two very different artists lead and led.

 

[* kittie *]

Nah...the sad part of this movie is that the title is often very true.

Personally, I think it's stupid to criticize someone so easily.

But w/e...

 

[419gam]

I don't know if 50 Cent is a Believer but I've never heard anything about 50 Cent helping anyone and the garbage he puts out is has got to be destructive. The title of his film says a lot about his philosophy.

The criticism has nothing to do with the type of music but the lifestyle the two very different artists lead and led.

I don't agree with revrobor's original post that the way certain people react to a film should dictate whether or not a christian should see it, but his extra security point is valid. The same thing happened when Boyz N the Hood, and Menace II Society Came out, and before that in the seventies when The Warriors was released in theatres.

Films that portray gang life and inner city violence have a history of drawing violence to the theatre. Although lots of films that have portrayed these havn't sparked violence.

 

[Diakonos]

By the way, has anyone actually seen this movie? Not that I haven't enjoyed the spirited discussion about whether or not christians should see this movie, or what kind of impact 50 Cent is having on people. However, if anyone has seen this movie, I would love a response to my first thread:

I saw this movie over the weekend (very entertaining). Since this flick is suppose to be 75% biographical, I tried to figure out who the characters in this film were supposed to represent in real life as I was watching it. Of course some characters were easy to figure out. 50 Cent was obviously represented Marcus (played by 50 Cent). I also believe that Ja Rule was represented by Dangerous (the rival rapper played by Michael Miller).



Will anyone else who has seen this movie, help me figure out the following?



Who was Majestic (played by Adewale Akinnuoye) supposed to represent?



Who was Bama (played by Terrence Howard) supposed to represent? Was he supposed to be one of the members of the G-unit (Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo)?



Who was Levar (played by Bill Dukes) supposed to represent? Also, did you get the impression that Levar was Marcus’ father?



Who was Odell (played by Russell Hornsby) supposed to represent?



All of these characters were involved in serious criminal activity. I wondered throughout the movie how much of it was fact, and how much of it was fiction?

 

[419gam]

Sorry I am waiting for it to become a rental or show up on HBO. Try IMDB I bet people there will have your answer.