first off, wow that was depressing as hell. I once heard a proverb or a tidbit of wisdom once that went something like this.
There once were two monks who had taken a vow never to touch a woman. One day they came across a woman who needed help crossing a river. The first monk, picked her up and carried her across the river, his fellow monk simply stood there
several days later the second monk asked the first why he had picked up the woman. The first monk said: "I let go of her along time ago." "Why haven't you?"
we need to let crap like this go, we have bigger problems. Specifically the fact that that Edward Norton's Character's brother John Conner was killed by a T-101 disguised as a gangbanger.
now because of hate we have to face a future full of evil robots..... thanks alot cycle of violence. Thanks alot. oh, and first?
This is totally on my top 5 for favorite movies. I enjoyed this the first time I watched this, And I enjoyed it this time also. Edward Norton is an amazing actor and anyone else wouldn't have made the movie as convincing as it was. The best part of the movie, and the also the most interesting was how Edward Norton realized though being incarcerated that everything wasn't as "black and white" as he may have thought before. That even the people with the most hate and resentment find ways to live and create relationships with people they are theoretically supposed to hate. That by forming these bonds it actually saved his life. I think we can take alot from this in seeing that if we put all our differences aside. we can be a much happier and more easy going society.
Everywhere we look we see discrimination, I had it hit a friend of mine just today actually. Simply because he drives a red car, we was vandalized by a gang that has an affiliation with another color. The thoughtless, juvenile and careless act was based on the color of his car. The people that did it knew nothing about him, about his wife or family. It makes me sick that we have to deal with it day in and day out.
My first reaction in class to hearing we were watching this movie was "Fuck Yeah!" I would definitely rate it in my top 10 favorites, but I have to say I looked at it in a new perspective on Thursday. I watched it my first time from an entertainment stand point and was very satisfied, but this time I watched it as a person who deals with racism on a daily basis. The depiction of these characters in this movie was almost to real for me.
Edward Norton playing the part of this Aryan Nation follower and the way he acts towards races is very empowering not in a good way, but in an accurately horrifying way. The impact it has on his brother is all to real.
My grandpa is the most racist man on the planet and a lot of the time in this movie I swear to god I saw glimpses in him. The way blacks, and asians, and every type of race is portrayed in this movie is how my grandpa depicts it. Well, he has been in trouble with the law many times because of it and his son, my uncle, is carrying on the racist tradition and passing it to his whole family.
I find it disgusting and avoid them in my family because of it. They have been in trouble with the law many times and they still haven't learned. The movie took an all to real turn for me this time around, and it possibly went from my top 10 to one of the movies I will never watch again. Not because I like it, but because I like it so much, but it is too real for me. From one standpoint I can't believe people are actually so biased towards other, but from the other standpoint I can see why they are biased. Because my mother grew up with my racist grandpa she sometimes says things that make me think, and I even slip sometimes, but I hate it.
You told us if you didn't offend us you failed, well you accomplished with me probably more than you or I thought you would.
You took one of my all time favorite shows and made me see it in a way I never would have in my life, and I can never watch it again.
The movies of American History X is can be very unpresent about most American people who never realized and depception. Is is despair, demonization of hatred, war, or racism. Wake Up People!! I know this craps!. you must really what is the priciples and doctrice of the founding father. Does anyone can explain about freedom? with out justification and put the dirt on society. This half true half and half lie of evils and planing to conquer the people, by taking away individualism and people. The ideal of individual must sacrific if neassary to great thing. We are haeding toward totalitarian rule society. two egde of swords.
I wonder what happen with that comred who trained derik. he is probable allow that kid to kill his younger brother. and find more comred to join his tearm. and started revolution.
American History X is even better the second time watching it. I guess Ed Norton is a aquired taste, I like him more the older I get... Principal Sweeny said best, "He learned this crap some where, he can unlearn it." Hate is definately learned. It is picked mostly in our more younger impressionable years. There is no wonder groups such as gangs, religion, milatary, politics recruit the young. Younger people are more maluble. If the hate is instilled young and the longer it is left to churn in a person the harder it is to reroute. thats why the phrase "stuck in your ways" in assossiated with older age. I love how the movie goes full circle in the end... Its was Ed's father that put the bug in his ear with out knowing his reprocussions.
I have seen this movie before, and it is for sure one of my favorites. The reason why I like this show so much is because it shows both sides of Derek Vinyard.His life completely turned around, he went from a former neo-NAZI to sees that there is good and bad in every race. Another thing that I really liked in this show, is that a many times when we mention the word Racism, most of us go straight thinking about Whites hating Blacks. But truth is Racism is a discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race. It doesn't matter black or white, and I have seen from black side their version too. The truth in all is that we are all humans, and we all have the same body anatomy, our body color doesn't not makes us better than anybody.
Wow, I really enjoyed this movie. I am a huge Edward Norton fan but sadly had never seen this movie. I am also glad we got to see him turn his life around even if it ended sadly. I suppose that is what stuck with me the most. In the beginning of the movie we see this man who loses his father and blames all the wrong people. In his anger we someone who will accept any doctrine that will fuel the fire of his sorrow. We then see him commit murder himself in a most violent way. What was once just vulgar anger has turned into violence and then murder. At the end we see someone different. We see someone who realizes that life is not black or white.You are not predetermined by race. Being Jewish, black, or white does not set you on the path to violence or peace. What makes me most happy is that in the end, Derek did not turn back. When his brother is shot and killed. Derek did not blame the race or even the person. He blamed himself. It was a powerful ending that rests in the fact that there are always consequences. We have to make the right choices and act the right way now. The longer we wait the more we will lose. Great movie!
This video was very precise in how it wanted to portray its message. I think they did an amazing job on showing Derek growing up. I mean this by we see how his father was killed at a young age and then his situation put him in a position to be lead down a different path if certain events were to not happen. We see how he is a very intelligent person through out the movie, but how "stupid" he was in the way he was thinking and acting. Although this film chose discrimination as the main focus to convey its message, I think its main purpose was to show how even a bright, good young man can be mislead and turned to do horrible things. However, once he is in prison, I think is where the film catches my attention. Here we see a change in how Derek starts to view things. He starts to see how narrow minded he was, and that "his" type of people didn't even take it as serious as he did. Then while in prison we see a co-worker who happens to be Black, help out a person who had so much hate and resentment towards them. During his time in prison Derek probably not knowing developed a connection with his co-worker and started to influence his mind set towards that group of people. Also, in prison he saw his own people act more like how he first viewed the Black people, which is what made him very confused. When he was raped, I think that was the moment when he knew everything was just a lie. Everything he had lived for was for false information and nonsense. Here he started to change drastically having all the time to himself to think and look back on his life. Only after he is able to leave does he realize that his co-worker and friend now, was the one who saved him while in prison. From that moment on he was now grown up and knew that he wanted to change, and try to help those who he had influenced the wrong way. Sadly, there is always a consequence for your actions and his was losing his brother to a shooting. At the end though he did not blame any race or person, but himself. This is where we know he is completely grown up or changed is when he now realizes that his actions were what caused most of this to happen and he will have to live with them from that moment on.
So Ive seen this movie several times before and agree its a good movie but its not a great movie. The whole seen with Derek running out and shooting the gang members and stomping that kids face into the curb doesn't make any sense.I mean come on he just unloads his magazine on the car and when he crabs the kid by the collar and tells him to put his teeth on the curb he's already out of bullets no one is going to bite down on a curb when someone is holding an empty gun to their head. Well any way that's my main problem with the movie. Yeah sure its still a good movie for entertainment purposes but it doesn't solve any problems it just pisses you off. Danny doesn't even get killed for being a racist he gets killed for protected that kid from getting beaten up in the bathroom and I cant recall him even saying anything racist he blows smoke in the kids face and that's it. So he didn't get killed because of Derek he gets killed for sticking up for someone. So I don't think the movie is good at getting you to be anti racists its just gets you to hate Nazi's and gang bangers. There is something though in the movie that I think is way awesome and that's when Dr. Sweeney asks Derek what if anything he has done has made him happy. So yeah lets just be happy.
Many people will make some regretable choices in their state of anger and hate. Some people may have been affect by other's decision and follow thier steps. Some choices' consequence may just a moment, some may last forever. So people should think twice before before they do anything. Some must learn a painful lesson before they think through. But for some, it might be too late. What a pity.
The idea about racism is unnecessary, but it will be just keep coming up from the mind of people. The racism idea is from the past events of history, the hate and blame to other cultural group, and the self arrogant. We must find a way to let go this. This idea is doing nothing good but torn us apart and hating each other.
From an entertainment point of view, this is one of my favorite films of all time. The cinematography and the musical score was excellent. Edward Norton did an superb job on his role. The reason I think the cinematography was perfect was that when Derek is out of prison, it is shown in color, despite the fact that his brother is following in Derek's old ways. But when the Derek's past is being told and shown, its all black and white. This is a perfect way to show how Derek saw the world; White and black in the past and color in the present, representing his change to his past.
From a controversial view concerning racism and neo-nazism, things are not black and white as Derek first first explains. He certainly learns that while in prison. He also "unlearns" something: hate. One of the last lines in the movie is "Hate is baggage". That is true. You can hate, you can hold a grudge, you can be a bigot, you can be prejudice, but in the end, you must ask yourself what Principal Sweeny asked Derek in prison. Has anything that you have done made you happy?
Stephen死神Marston: if you watch closely he closes the gun back up before he turns around to the guy at the curb. the guy has just been shot so i don't think he was really paying attention to how many shots were fired. so for all he knows the gun is still loaded. but personally i would have just rather been shot. also the kid in the bathroom that he blew smoke into his face, he followed him around for a while after, basically daring him to try something.
i have seen this movie several times, it is really scary to know that there are really people like this out there. i hate people that are this racist. if that is hypocrytical of me then so be it.
too bad the terminator wasn't there to save john connor...
I thought the movie was very well done. You can’t go around blaming everyone for your misfortune. The said part is that this happens in today’s society all the time. The biggest example is the most historic with Obama becoming the first black president. I know that there are some people that voted for him just because he is black. For example my brother-in-law’s grandma voted for him because she felt like it was time for a black president not because of his political view. I can’t say much on this vote because I didn’t participate in this election. All I am saying is we need to be judged on your ability to do the job or task at hand not what color are skin is, or what religion we are, or where we grew up. The iron is that there is some much of that going on around us in today’s society that I am afraid that we will never get over this big hurdle of what color is your skin or what religion are you from, etc.
Hmm…thoughts. Well my initial thought when I saw this movie for the first time (like 7 yrs ago) was that of bewilderment and disappointment. Not because the movie sucked but because of the content. I knew that there were white supremacist but I wasn’t aware of the extent of their hate. I knew this movie wasn’t an extensive delineation of white supremacy but it did open my eyes to the fact that hate is strong and deep seeded. The typical, happy Hollywood ending wasn’t enough of a diversion to make me forget that fact.
Now, fast forwarding to the future and seeing this movie once more (at least the 4th time) we as a society have made some real progress and I believe it has a lot to do with technology and better access to education. But racism, bigotry and prejudice is still prevalent in our society and sometimes I feel Utah is stuck in a time portal. I’m black and I've grown up here and I’ve faced many problems growing up here. I don’t need or want any pity for it; I’m only validating a point.
Racism doesn’t have to be as hardcore as wanting to annihilate another race it can be as subtle as someone treating someone differently because of preexisting prejudices, it’s all wrong. So stop it all you fucking bigots and go read a book! Lol... Sorry. I must digress, as per another comment on this blog making reference to the election to our recent president. I’m not disputing the fact that people might have voting for him because of his ethnicity. BUT and it’s a big “but” Let’s not forget the all the people who didn’t vote for him or didn’t vote at all because of it and I would bet the numbers would be fairly similar. And that is equally wrong. Well my overall opinion about this movie is positive and I think we are all on the right track however; there are still a lot of people who need way more education.
I have seen American History X once all the way through but after that only saw bits and pieces of it. This is one of those movies that makes me think it's such a shame and disgusting to see people live their life through a telescope filtered of such hate, rage and racism. It's horrible to know that hate does breed hate. It doesn't get anyone anywhere having to, as mentioned, carry it as luggage that only weighs someone down past the person they can be. I am a firm believer of equal rights and don't feel that anyone has the right to judge someone whether it be by race, sex, religion, or anything else.
But overall, it was a good movie. It portrays, such as starting with the late-father in the movie, that people can influence and have an impact on how someone thinks. For example, the father passed that one thought on to Derek at dinner, who then, at the time of his father's passing, had that to almost justify that people of colored skin were nothing but criminals. All of them are to him even though not all of them are like that at all. He almost needed someone who would agree with him to vent to and unfortunately....he found that person.
After that, Derek's younger brother needed that same presense and there was Derek with the ideas and beliefs instilled in him by that figure he had previously found. It lead to nothing for Derek at all. I mean, I understand that someone breaking into your car can rush unwanted emotions but there are better ways to act upon them. Derek had taken it to the extreme which only landed him in prison to experience harsh and brutal things he's going to have to live with. It's hard to surpress things like that and just have them go away and forget about it ever happening.
There is always a scar left to that degree whether it be skin deep or mind and in his case...it was both. For mind, well, it's for obvious reason with how he was raped in prison and exiled by his supposed-to-be-"brothers" and skin deep by having to look and see his tattoos that reminded him why he got there in the first place. I'm glad that near the end of his sentence though that he found someone to talk to that was a good person and showed him that not everyone is a drug dealer or criminal if they're colored. I mean someone of color who he was taught to hate, actually saved him. It was the thing he needed to turn him around.
It's just heartbreaking that the chain was broken too late in time. I know Derek had remourse of how he had been living his life previously to prison after he got out but having his brother killed at the end by the hand of someone colored and instead of blaming and stereotyping again, he knew more why it happened and did feel guilt that he could have done something different and steered his brother into the light instead of having him travel through that dark and dangerous tunnel that ended in his death. This movie does teach that the chain can be broken but sometimes too late. I hope many, many people out of our class were able to see what hate can do to someone and prove it gets you nowhere fast.
In this film, as in any other I had deep feelings regarding the occurrences of some of the different scenes. I felt some anger at first, because it’s hard for me to comprehend how there could possibly be people out there in the world who really do hate others because of not only their race, but religion and culture as well. These people think that causing harm is a reasonable manner and an everyday life routine, none of them realize the true impact it has not only on the race that is being discriminated ,but on younger generations as well. This form anger is bad and degrading; it causes people to do things for no apparent reason, and even leads up to murder. What I would say about this is that people need to learn that when they hurt another individual or commit a crime, they are not affecting only their “kind.” It affects everyone around them, and everyone who may have ever come in contact with them. Murder is not a diminutive word, and defiantly has great meaning. White supremacists in my opinion (as well as many other people I’m sure), are nothing but a group of people who have had a lousy lifestyle and never really got enough balls to outgrow this way of living. If some of these people would just reach out then all of this hate would slowly disappear, it’s a matter of being shown what is right and what is wrong and that sometimes, a person of a different race or religion may be more willing to help you than one of your own “kind.” In conclusion I thing that anyone who watches this movie can surely get a great lesson out of it. The two strongest points, which are “hate is baggage, and not letting others manipulate your ways of thinking” are great points to live by. Be yourself!! My personal life experience has taught me a number of lessons, therefore making it easier for me to relate to such a film.
i thought the movie was great all over. my only problem with it is that the whole movie is very stereotypical with the gangs and everyone living in or by the projects, granted thisdoes make the movie the best it could possibly be, but i hate how it does not show how racism could affect normal people or the rich.
my favorite part of the entire movie is when derek tries to make an impact on everyone around him for the better after he gets out because he knows what he has done is wrong and wants to improve their lives.
too many criminals get out and sadly end up right back in prison soon after because they dont see how their decisions effect their lives and can even take 10 15 20 years away for them for what? getting 500 bucks for ripping a convienience store off not thinking that there are 20 cameras in that one store alone and hoping they wont get caught.
then the irony hits, as soon as derek tries to get them out, his little brother gets brutally murdered in the bathroom by the kid he stood up to.
i really liked this movie and it was way better than JFK in my opinion.
This movie is a piece of art. It's unpleasant, brutal, eye-opening, and shocking. It shows that white supremacy does exist, and that some take it to large extremes. It also attacks the white supremacist ideals, as it chronicles Derek's transformation both into and from Neo-Nazism.
I think movies that depict low-income families in dangerous movies are hard to believe for people who have lived in this state all their lives, because they likely have never been exposed to anything severe in regards to racism or gang violence.
The ending really was very poignant. It did multiple things. First off, it allowed us to see that Derek really had changed, as he didn't run in there screaming about the kid that did it, he was blaming himself for getting Danny into it. Also, it really helps implant the movie into your mind FOREVER.
Superb and believable acting, should be seen by everyone, especially in this sheltered state.
this movie perfectly shows how no good can come from hate. a reacurring theme in the movie is hate, and how it screws up the lives of those who use it. hate is self destructive and derek was destroying wis life throughout the movie until he was raped. that was a turning point in his life. after being betrayed by "his own kind" he began to question what he truly believed. after derek had changed for the better, he found out that he had negativly influenced his brother who followed in his footsteps. only when derek and his brother had changed their ways did their actions catch up with them. this was a good eye-opening film into the life of racism. but can't we watch any "happy" controversial films????
That was a very well done movie!!! It really opened my eye's on a lot of things. It was my first time watching it and I enjoyed it.
One of the things I got out of the movie is that life isn't that bad. If you think about it, whatever your life is you can choose your attitude. I love the quote at the end where he says "Hate is Baggage" Whatever you're going to do in life do it with a positive attitude.
It also opened my eyes to a new look on friends. Whatever your life is you are probably living the life your friends are so choose what kind of friends you want because whether you like it or not they will make an impact on you!!!
If you have older siblings just know that they are watching your every move!!! Danny worshipped his older brother on everything he did. His brother wasn't the best of example for him but he did however always show his love for him which is important. He tried to help him out towards the end but it was to late... He wished it would have never happened.
I thought the movie was a good adaption of what life is like among the different gangs in a community. It goes through what it is like to be outside of the gang life and feel helpless as they are persecuted by the gangs. The movie show how with little hints of prejudice over years of time can influence people without them knowing it. It is with these circumstances that you get the violence that happened in the movie. I thought that it was interesting that the person that instigated the violence in the beginning of the movie was trying to run away from it by the end and that the violence he had started finally caught up to him and his family at the moment he was trying to better his family.
The first time I saw this movie I called it a COMPLETE WASTE OF MY TIME!! I was really upset. But now that I am a little older and wiser the second time I saw it, I was able to focus on the movie instead of the several shocking moments in this film.
Over the past week I have been thinking about this movie and what I would write about it... one point that I can come up with is that we are completely products of our environment. In the movie, it was his fathers last racist words to him and his sudden death that started his "downfall". Then, the people he surrounded himself with contributed to his behavior and supported his hatred for any other race different to his own. Take him out of that environment and he was put in a situation that made him question his beliefs. Also it allowed him to really think about life for the first time and the person he wanted to be. This is just one concept in this very moving film.
I couldnt say that this film is one of my favorites. I'm more of a happy ending person, but i think this movie deserves to be watched and thought about for it raises several excellent points that are still an issue in our country.
Its very sad to see how some events all start from something so small and then snowball into an unstoppable force. So initially Derek was liking what he was learning from Dr. Sweeney and he was excited to tell his family. Dear old dad is fed up with 'black culture influence' you could say and therefore; plants a seed in his sons mind that its all bullshit. Pretty much this film just reaffirms that racism and hate is both taught and learned. Nobody hates for anybody for no reason. When Derek's mother says that her younger son reminds her of Derek, you can see thats how things go. It starts with people you look up to and follow. The whole prison period caused me to think what would I do if I were betrayed by those people I thought were my friends; especially when they weren't holding the same standard of Facism as me. That would rock my world! It was really touching to see Derek and Danny take down all the Nazi propaganda and the bare wall seemed to denote a clean slate and fresh start. That's realistically what everyone needs to do regardless of what is going on in their lives: rethink how they choose to 'other' people in those negative connotations.
This movie was disturbing to me. The most disturbing part was when Derek curbed one of the guys that was breaking into his car. It was very hard for me to watch. It makes me so sad that there are still people in this world today that are just like this. Also, I thought it was hard to watch Derek get raped in jail and when Danny got shot multiple times in the bathroom at the very end. I think racism is a very serious subject and people need to know that you cant judge someone by the color of their skin. Obviously they aren't educated enough to know that its just a pigment in your skin. I thought it was way cool that Derek changed for the better in jail and tried to help others change. Even though Danny got shot, he still changed and knew that it was wrong. I thought that this movie had a good outcome. I just hope that the world realizes that you cant just kill someone for the color of ones skin.
WOW, it throws a spear through my abdomen anytime I watch this one. I saw it in 1999 when it first came out. I was excited to see the skinny runt from a Woody Allen musical and a stint as a dual-personality alter boy, perform as a nazi (notice I don’t choose to capitalize the word).
Let’s talk about it as a “FILM”. It is not the best of camera work, it has poor lighting at times and there is a moment of incontinuity when an outfit changes momentarily. I have a tendency to notice detail. However, I failed to notice it initially and was caught up in the message.
This is a film that I do not watch often because of all the negative emotions that it causes. It pains me to know that there are people with such deep-seated convictions to a cause that has no real grounds for debate. It angers me that people could be so blind. We all need to open our eyes to each other. It saddens me that there are still people that are hard-hearted.
Edward Norton shows amazing acting chops on this one. He portrays a man with a misguided belief. He IS willing to die for his convictions, even of it is wrong. His transformation is subtle and timely. It takes further tragic events and a disenchantment with “his own” to bring him to a realization of the truth. The way he was led to believe is wrong.
I felt it only appropriate that Danny was killed in the end. It goes to show the levels that hate affects us. He hated in a direction of pigment and shape of nose. The other boy disrespected his right to live in return.
It is a tale of tragedy and acceptance, In the end all that happens is people must come to grips with their actions. Just as in real life.
As a closing statement, I must say that I found it amusing to see Sgt. Stedenko at the head of the LA County Nazis, I always wait for him to confess and chow some pizza.
Thanks for a great day in class and I'll see you all tomorrow,
first i would like to say that Sara seems to pick some very good movies for showing the more controversial sides of our culture, but what is really scary is that they are real and out there to one extent or another. racism in all its horror is honestly not shown here,but we do see a very sad and disturbing tail of one family that is torn because of hate. in this movie we see how one person can manipulate and control the emotions of several, because he can tap into their fear and use this as a motivation point for them to change into what he wants. Cameron here is shown really as a mastermind/teacher and Derek is his general/recruiter in the beginning. they also show how Derek was sensitized to this particular brand of thinking by his father. this movie in particular is about white on black hate crime, but there is a history in the US for white on white hate crime as well. Irish vs English and others. i honestly dont know how much of this type of discrimination there is anymore, but there are other kinds of hate as well. when i lived in japan, i meet Koreans that talked about being hated and abused by Japanese kids and gangs as well. here we see hate associated with nationality again. i feel that the best part of the movie was the way that they show Derek changing in prison. he meets and then learns about a black man and learns that the prejudices that he had learned and preached were not true. this was a firsthand experience!!! also he was betrayed by his own group and then they tried to beat him back into submission. i am sure that as you study the relations between people in general and gangs in particular this is a common occurrence. in relating this to my life, i can say that i have meet good and bad of every color and creed that i have come across. deciding who is good and who is bad isn't something that you can blanket on a whole kind of people, it is something that must be learned on an individual basis.
It was very good movie but very sad. We still have people who cannot accept different races. We all have somebody who are hard to get along with.But it is nothing to do with thier race.It is very sad that there are still so many people who judge people by thier race. It is very important to try to understnad people who are differenf from who you are. You do not need to have same habit, same skin color to be a good friend.If you did something cruel to people, it will come back to you somehow. It might not be you, it can be to your important people like in movie. I think what I learned from movie is if I make mistake, I need to take care of till end. Yes,Derek learned in jail that what he has been doing was wrong and he tried to fix his problems.But he did not take care of the people who he led. I do not know if he told at the party that what his freinds believed is not true and told same story he told to his brother could stop Derek's brother's death.But I really think he needed to do that instead of running away from his past.Staying away and running away from past does not solve any problems.
I had never seen the movie until now. I found the movie to be verg good. I like how good of a job Edward Norton did. It was a very strong movie. I think that what i got out of it the most was. What i came way from this was you have to find out what people are like for your self. Just like the saying you can't judge a book by its cover. I think thats was Derek's was like. He always saw the bad and got told to stay away, but then when he was in jail and got to see for himself what people are like then he started to realize the truth and that changed his opinion on people and life.
I've never seen this movie, but I have heard a lot about it. It is so sad what how hatred can hurt and kill so many people. It was weird to me that the "skin heads" were Hitler oriented. Hitler wanted the perfect race. Blonde hair, blue eyes and German. He was racist against everyone else and he himself didn't live up to his standards. All these boys would just shave their head and act like no one else was good enough because they were different than them. It just doesn't really all come together for me why they were Hitler oriented. The movie was great and it opened up my eyes that there are still people like that in the world. It's so horrible.
I thought it was a very good film, I had seen parts of it in the past but never completely finished it. It definitely shows how easily the human mind can be twisted at a young age. The same concept reminds me of child soldiers throughout the world, they are led to believe in something so much, that they are willing to do anything for that belief. All it takes is for someone to prey on them when they are most vulnerable by making promises of belonging and understanding, through this process they can shape them however they want. Towards the end of the film, Derek tries to redeem himself but since the damage he had caused was so severe, it leads to the death of his brother Danny. Also, while watching this movie I could see a resemblance between Danny and the kid who kills him, they both looked up to an older individual. Danny looked up to his brother, while the “gang banger” kid looked up to an older brother figure that probably encouraged him to make the attack. It made me wonder how different both Danny and the Gang banger would have been had they had somebody positive to look up to, just my thoughts on it.
Wow, what a movie. Far more entertaining than JFK, but not sure how the movie made me feel. Does it leave me with hope for our racial problem, despair what? Are we doomed with united or is there hope in our segregation. I feel I'm not qualified to answer the question primarily because I'm so shelter from thing like that happen in the movie. I hear, read, and watch things on the news about white supremists, but will never understand them. I feel their so ignorant to what life is about and how crazy their beliefs are. However a devout member of one of these groups might look at me and say the same thing. About how ignorant i am, and how if i were to just open my eyes I'd see all our problem are do the this or that. Well the movie was well done, makes you think which i like. I'd be interested in reading a post of someone who is a white supremists, and their take on the movie.
Very intense movie! The part where Derek and his little clan harass the people in the store made me sick. It's crazy to think that there really are people out there that do shit like that. However, I felt like the movie really wanted you to see why someone like Derek might join a group like the Nazi's. They seem to be very mislead and think it's cool because they are angry about something. And then it wanted you to see how stupid it is to think like that... be mad at everyone because something bad happened. This is clearly not the way to live and it showed when his little brother was killed because of it. But I was glad to see that Derek turned himself around in the end.
“His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope.” - American History X
What a great movie! American History X might be one of the more realistic and controversial films I have seen. The film deals with issues we have been and still dealing with in society; not only does the movie deal with racism, it also covers: discrimination, stereo typing, gang violence, the deterioration and the union of a family, older influences, pride, judgment, regret, and friendship, just to name a few. This movie really shows how there is racism against all different types of cultures; it’s just not black and white. I like how the movie shows the evolution of the character, Derek. In the first scenes when the movie introduced Derek, I began to judge him. By seeing his tattoos, shaved head, and the anger in his eyes, I said to myself this guy is a racist, ignorant, Nazi psycho idiot, which he was! However, through the movie I began to feel more sympathetic towards Derek because his experiences lead him to judge and develop hatred against the diverse characters in society.
Instead of prison being a punishment it was a blessing in disguise. Derek’s “experience(s)” in prison made him realize that even the most corrupt individuals are able to see pass race and interact with one another. Another interesting character in the film is Derek’s brother Danny. He is a young teenager who has no male figure to look up to while Derek is in prison, he is influenced by Derek’s old views and feels a need to follow in his older brother’s foot step. Danny is drastically impacted when he finds out that his older brother has changed. He doesn’t know what to think because racism is all he knew and all his strive to be like his brother was now pointless, to an extent. I say to an extent because after seeing his brother change it made him realize that all he beliefs didn’t mean anything.
The most dramatic and emotional scene in the film is when Danny gets shot. Even though it’s a devastating scene I think it was necessary to prove the film’s point. The emotional impact leaves the audiences thinking how racism lives in our society and how useless it is to build hate against other cultures.
Great movie. Will this story ever end? What is it going to take for us to understand each other? I pesonally have had enough of this notion that one race is supreme to another. We are all created equall! Not the same but equall! Not individually but collectively. Anyone that takes the time to know a person prior to final judgement understands this. Lets not just say this but show this. Most of us say this openly but behind closed doors and in the heart racial and national bigotry still exist.
What a great i opener this movie was, How can people be so mean and have all that hate inside them. but really it is about choice we choose to be happy we also choose to be mad. we saw from the movie that the skin heads mad choices that where not good at all. Ed Nortons character made a couple of choices one before he went to jail and one while he was in jail. but with all choices come consequences good or bad. And at the end even though he had changed he was getting better making better choices he still had the consequence of his choice to join the skin heads and it resulted in getting his brother killed. Remember we choose to be happy
WOW! What a movie! This is one of Edward Norton's best movies ever. It totally shows that people can change when their eyes are opened to a little bit more of reality. Ed Norton believed that what he was doing was the right way to things, and if you dealt with any one out of the white race you were going against everything he believed. When he realized that people that he hung out with in prison that had the same belief as he did were doing things with other races he rebelled and got raped! Then his black friend protects him so he realizes that what he was doing is wrong.
It is scary to think that groups like that do exist. I would hope that they could take a page out of Ed Nortons book and realize that racial discrimination is wrong and that all it causes is problems.
American History X. I saw it before back in highschool, so the wow factor wasnt really there for me anymore. Despite the fact that i knew what was going to happen next I still think the show is just depressing. I hate watching that guy get curbed, and nobody likes to watch anyone get raped. The show teaches a pretty good lesson on what will happen if we arent accepting of each other but at what cost? It was almost not worth watching the show to get that message. What i will say however is this was at least an entertaining show. I hope to see more entertaining shows out of this class in the future,with less rape scences though. Thats just gross.
ok so ya i have seen this movie about ten times and its still an awesome movie i think the main reason is it makes you think even in this day and age even when we like to pretend how the we live in this perfect little world of ours its not even close there is still things out there there are sickening like prejudice or things of that nature and this movie brings out this topic in a big way and i dont think most people like to believe this kind of prejudice still exist sadly. and this movie does a very good job of bringing it out and also showing alot of flaws in that perticular way of thinking sure there are bad people but it is not race defined as edward norton finds out during his prison term his views where flipped because his friends betrayed him and his hated enemy saved him anyways really good movie its what i like to cal a thinking movie ha ha
i watched this movie years ago, but not in its entirety. Now that I have been able to watch this movie again, I believe that racism is learned. The character was raised in home with a narrow minded father and a mother that was passive and did anything the father wanted. The character truly believed that the white race was superior, even up to the time he was put in prison. He quickly learned that he was wrong as he saw that his friends were not true to the race or to him. This character quickly learned that the white race was not superior and the people that kept him safe while in prison were once his enemy, was never his enemy to begin with. Unfortunately, he learned this too late and lost his brother to the same hatred. I enjoyed the movie.
This movie had all the elements that make a movie entertaining and enjoyable, controversy, hate, love, passion. It wrenches at all of your emotions. It was more graphic than the usual movies that I decide to watch, but I think the position that the movie portrays is brilliantly done. There are several lessons portrayed in the movie; racism, change, and family. I enjoyed the refreshing optimistic outlook the movie helped me to walk away with. Despite the negative death ending.
When you said that we were going to watch this movie I was excited because it is on my list of movies to see. Overall I thought it was a good movie, I always like Edward Norton films so I liked it. I thought that the message that the movie portrayed was a very strong one, it really got the point across. I've been lucky to not have witnessed anything like that in the real world, I've heard things on the news but I just feel grateful that racism has not been a big deal in my life. I really liked how at the end of the movie the family was getting along and looking out for each other. I was very sad about the shooting at the end but I wouldn't change the movie at all.
First off let me say great movie. This is one of those movies that i think anybody could sit and watch and feel changed or want to change their ways. I've seen it before but, wasn't disappointed to see it again. The acting is great in this movie very serious but for sake of getting a valuble point across. I honestly have never understood racism and have the belief that you can't be proud of something you didn't choose such as skin color. Be proud and take pride in the content of your character and the things you do as a person if they are things to be proud of. This movie sums it up though. HATE IS BAGGAGE.
This movie was an incredibly entertaining but very depressing movie as well. Watching Danny grow up idolizing his brother Derek. I could relate to Derek because i was always trying to idolize my older brother growing up as a kid. American History X does an amazing job depicting the racial issues that still exist in our society. Luckily growing up in the SLC, i have not experienced too many dramatic racial issues like the one's portrayed in this movie. Derek's evolution from white supremacy leader to the idea of equal rights and opportunity for all men is touching. His time in jail turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He no longer kept his hate and aggression towards the minorities of society.
The end of this movie is extremely heart-wrenching. but i believe the ending was the movie's strongest point. It showed the never ending struggle of racism and how me must not fight violence with violence. Or else disparity and tragedy will be forever part of us.
First and formost, Edward Norton is awesome!! Now that I have said that, the movie has a great message. It's hard to see it at the beginning of the movie.
The lesson that Derek learns is just that it's not worth having all the hate built up inside like that, it literally can only lead you down a dark path. I also think that the film shows how hipocritical people can be. I say this because Derek because of the hate turned into the very thing that he was hating.
It's not that there are bad races, the fact is that there are just bad people, and good people. We should look at the people as individuals, not as a group. It's the decisions that we make that shape us. Anyway, to sum up, Awesome Movie!!
Some of my classmates postings depress me. This isn't meant to be a sad movie. I guess if Reese Witherspoon doesn't make an appearance with some sort of talking animal it's automatically placed in the same category as Requiem for a Dream,which is a great movie by the way. This was a beautiful story about courage and hope, the imagery and production quality were amazing, and afterward I felt the need to take a deep introspective look at how I deal with racism and issues of prejudice. As for those who feel that these are issues of the past and that we just need to get over it. A quick glance at the paper is all that is needed to prove that these are very pressing, relevant issues. As Israel slides into what can only be described as an apartheid, it becomes clear that these are concepts that have not left us. A small percent of the voters this year were actually convince Obama was a terrorist. Anyway once again clear level headed thinking wins the day. Don't believe everything that you read.
I'm not going to lie...this was not my favorite movie of all time. In fact, I probably will never watch it again. With that said, I feel that there is still a lesson that can be learned from the movie and the message that it contains. One of my favorite quotes is "the more things change, the more they stay the same". As I watched the movie, I saw a lot of things in it that made me think, and realize that this nation and world have come a long way from where we all used to be, yet we are still doing the same things over and again. We have come so far in equal rights, but there is still racism all around. It is not just whites hating one race, or another hating whites. It is in every race in some way shape or form. Why is that? I feel that it is because, as a whole, we feel comfortable with people we can associate with who are like us. And it is not just race that we see this. The rich are more likely to spend more time with the rich. The jocks will hang out with the jocks. Wanting to associate with others of your own circumstance does not bother me. It is when that segregation turns to hate and violence, like in the movie. A jock does not need to play chess with a "nerd" just to be politically correct, but when he beats up the "nerd" because he is different, then that is crossing the line. The same is true with race. I have never grown up as anything other than white, and I never will. So I will never know what it is like for someone of another race. But, I can, and we all can, show respect for others. Respect them for who they are. If we all tried to do that, we would see a lot less of the hate and violence that the movie portrayed, and a lot more acceptance of everyone for their unique and distinct differences. It is good to be different if we treat each other with respect.
I find that particularly dark films often make me search for elements of levity to help soften the emotional toll. So it was unsurprising that as I was watching American History X I adapted the following to the film: The first rule of white club is you do not talk about white club; the second rule of white club is YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT WHITE CLUB.
This movie is important as it contains a number of vital and powerful themes. The most obvious of which has been covered more than adequately by others before me: racism and the destructive acts that hatred inspires. I would rather talk about some of the subtler aspects that are every bit at intentional as the core theme, and just as relevant as a commentary on social construction.
The two ideas I find most interesting are linked: that of the importance of fraternity and male role models and the inherent misogyny in the male-female relationships in the film. American History X shows hatred based on more than just race, which I find particularly interesting. Both Danny and Derek Vinyard display a deep need for inspiring male role models.
Derek finds these in his father, in Mr. Sweeny, in Cameron Alexander, even in the fellow inmate, Lamont. It is the influence of these important men in his life that directly affect his ways of thinking and the evolution of his attitudes over time. Tied to this is his need for fraternal interactions; before he went to prison, the friendships within his local white supremist organization was the central organizing focus of his life. And naturally, after he went to prison, the need for friends shifted from a mere need for acceptance to survival. But still, Derek needed people with whom he could truly be friends. When he finds that those who he has befriended are less than they claim to be, Derek needs to form a more meaningful relationship, although he doesn’t immediately realize this. Derek’s friendship with Lamont is as much a surprise to him as his fellow prison inmates’ betrayal.
In Danny Vinyard, we see less of a need for basic friendship as much as a desperate need for an example upon which to model himself. As the narrator of the film, Danny seeks constantly to define who he is, and the men in his life help him decide that. In a very real way, when Derek is arrested and sent to prison, Danny feels the need to fill his shoes and replace his brother while he is away. Danny is then crushed when his idol is released and no longer seems to hold true to their ideals; his core sense of self is shaken and he is forced to reexamine some of his own choices when his brother explains how his views have changed.
It is important that note that neither of the brothers regard their mother as the kind of role model that their father or his surrogates are. You find that their attitudes of women are very much in line with the two roles that many misogynists relegate women: mother and whore. When you see Derek’s interaction with his mother throughout the film, you find that although he feels a need to protect and care for his mother, he does not respect her authority or opinions. After his father’s death, he becomes the primary breadwinner for the family, and regards the family home as his house rather than his mother’s house. And as the “man of the house” he feels he has the authority to make decisions regarding the men that his widowed mother is allowed to date. Derek (and to a lesser degree, Danny as we see with how he allows his friends to address his sister) is content to generally ignore his sister until she challenges his beliefs and by extension, his authority over her. It is then that you find he snaps and suppresses her violently. It is also telling that Derek has selected a partner that is supportive, compliant and submissive just as his mother was toward his father. American History X shows that the supremist values are not just the celebration of the dominance of a white society, but more importantly, a white male (not to mention protestant) society.
I had already seen this movie and it is definately one of my very favorites. I thought edward norton did a perfect job in that role and it's one of my favorite performances of his. I also think the message in the movie is a very good one. And while the movie is fairly depressing in the end i think it's good because it makes it that much more realistic. Things in life don't always end up happily ever after and in this particular instance because of the actions derek had taken in his life it ended up getting his younger brother killed. One of my most favorite parts in the movie and my most favorite line is after derek gets raped in prison and sweeney comes to see him and he asks derek "has anything you've done up to this point made your life better?" I think after all the things that have happened to derek that made his question his beliefs that line was the icing on the cake that made him come to a realization and want to turn his life around.
Wow, I loved this movie, easily one of my top movies. One part that really stood out to me was when Derek put the black guys teeth on the curb and stomped on his head, the reason it stood out to me was because my friends dad told me a story of his childhood. He said he grew up in Southern California in the hood part, where the gangsters were. My friends dad said he never joined any gangs but he would always fight with them, everyday he walked home from school he would get into a least one fight and come home with lumps on is heads, his parents didn’t really care because they said it would toughen him up. It was really crazy because he said he use to do what we saw on the movie “curb checking” them, but what he said they called it back then was “eating the curb”. I don’t think he did it to kill them though, so when I saw Derek do that to the black guy it just reminded me of the story my friend’s dad told me.
I also really liked the story line of how Derek went to prison, and in prison he learned a lot about his “gang/crew” how they aren’t that true/dedicated as he was, and how he got betrayed by his own people. I think everyone should watch this movie because a lot of this stuff is happening right now in this world, lots of gangs. And usually what happens is either people grow out of this gang stuff like Derek and try to fix their lives and some do something terrible and are put in prison for life or close to it, and just think back “was it worth it?” and usually it isn’t. This is one of the best and well played movies I have ever seen and everyone should watch it, it could really change a lot of people’s lives.
this movie is one of my top 5, the feelings and tones portrayed in this film really capture the heart of hatred, ignorance and blindness. young smart minds allow themselves to get so caught up in an idea that it literally takes over their life and closes them off to other possibilities. this film portrays the importance of the "we arent so different" cliche when derek goes to prison, the simple fact is that we are all human beings, some decent and genuine and others indecent and hostile. derek learns that he cannot change his circumstances through violence and rage, but that he can change himself to help his circumstances. danny who looks up to his big brother also sees in derek a change when he comes back from prison and realizes that he has allowed his smart mind to be influence and blinded by hate, and when we allow our minds to become influenced like that we become ignorant. education and understanding are the keys to fighting this ignorance and blindness.
I had heard a million good things about this movie and now I know why. I loved how this movie showed how bad things really are in this world and how stupid some people really are. I liked how the movie kept flashing back to the past just as Danny is telling his brother's story. One of my favorite aspects of this movie is that it didn't hide anything and how the camera took on different and interesting angles. Probably the sadest part of the movie to me was the end because Derek tried so hard to get Danny to see how stupid they were for following who they did, and how life is about so much more then in the end it didn't matter once Danny realized everything it caught up to him in the end.
American History X, in my opinion, states a clear message of what hate can bring us in our lives. History has shown how hate brings nothing good. Wars have been fought. Hitler hated Judaism, and we all know what horrible things he did. The Terrorist attacks came from hate. A civil war was fought because people didn't like the idea of freeing slaves. As a country, we have come along way since the civil war. The election of Barrack Obama can testify to that, but it is clear to me that we still have along way to go. I am not sure that racism will ever die out. Peoples beliefs are being passed down to their children.
This movie is One of the best movies I've ever seen hands down, it's in my top 3! My eyes were peeled to the screen, every feeling I had was heart throbbing. This movie created so many emotions inside me that I've never really thought about or felt, I hated the part when Derek curbed the black guy it was unbearable, I thought that he was the most F'd up person ever, over a car come on.. Who does that?.
I look at Danny and feel sorry for him, for all the pain he had to witness and go through, all the hatred and remorse. I would never want to feel that kind of pain. Derek in my eyes is a great role model figure. He knows how life is and how things are, he has witnessed the pain and he finally grew up and got over it. I can clearly say that this movie has changed my perspective on many things in life, not just on race but on others friends, family, even people that I may dislike at times. As the quote in the movie said "Hate is Baggage" it truly is that's why you need to open your eyes up and realize what is really in front of you.
American History X is an amazing movie. I come from a prejedice family. When I got some African American Barbies for Christmas and my dad made fun of me and have them call eachother the N word. It was always hard for me to remind my father it hurt my feelings and have him just laugh at me. Dereks father was also prejedice but when he died it really hit Derek. Its really sad that he turned all that negativity into a horible cult full of hatred and murder. He created a whole new gang which he was trying to fight against in the first place. When his own guys messed him up in prison though everything turned really crazy. Derek realized his hatred was only ruining his family, his neighborhood, and his own future. I absolutely loved his African American buddy. I want to be like him. He was so happy and generous even though he had nothing and got the crappy end of the stick. Danny is my favorite character. He is so smart and he quickly understood the changes he needed to make and did. His paper brought peace to the end of the movie.
WoW Chanelle I couldn't have said it any better myself. Great mind you have.
"Hate is baggage" Way to go Martin! You said it man. If everybody lived their lives with idealogy the world would truly be apetter place for all. People need to be more accepting of others and willing to take different perspectives, myself included. Just the other day I was leaving Smiths grocery store and as I was walking out there was a Hispanic man with his daughter walking in front of me and as they passed through the doors the man bent over to pick up a piece of trash and throw it in the garbage. Without any thought that simple act seemed out of the ordinary to me because of ideas that have been put in my head all life by myself and the world around me. I think it is important to recognize these things inorder to help change.
As for the movie itself, it was great. very entertaining. I loved the characters and the changes they went through however I do think it would have brougt more credibility to Sweeny to explore his past and show what it was that made him change his ways, which in turn allowed him to "save" Derek.
This movie was a perfect example of why hate can conquer someone's life. Here in Utah, we are in a way suppressed from many cultures of the world, which is not necessarily a bad or good thing but from that most youth in this state do not feel prejudice against different races as much as a kid in Southern California would. Here when someone is being racist against blacks, I do not get it. I grew up with only two black kids in my school, and therefore they were practically white. Nurture has a great affect on people, if you grew up in Southern California, white people hate black people, black people hate the Mexicans, the Mexicans hate the Asians, and it goes back and forth constantly, its hard not to feel the need to be apart of something. Although racism is a sick and twisted idea and I HATE it, I grew up in Utah, we have Mormons and Mexican's so I do not quite understand. If I stayed in Southern California where I might have gotten picked on or bullied more, I unfortunately might have had a better idea of the feelings of racism. Although, I can understand where racism sources from, I understand that it is also very ignorant. People need to understand why and then look at the of the big picture, I am for the individual, and if more people were, the world would not be so hateful because prejudices and accusations would be dismal between people. An example in the movie of this was when Derek made a friendship with the black man in the prison.
What a treat. If ever I walk a straight line down the curbside anymore, I picture my teeth getting smashed into it. Props to that screen-writer! I will hate him forever. Well, we have a President of controversial ethnicity. Hooray for America!... Maybe we've come further than some of us had anticipated... Some of us. There's a lot of hate out there, but it all boils down to HUSTLIN' to make that money and stay alive. God bless American History-XOXOXO
this movie was very sad. I do like how they portray the racial views however. I liked how they showed the extremes on both sides of the issues. I do not agree with hurting people of an opposite race or ethnicity. I do not agree with the rude or inhumane ways they treat the people in this movie. I don't understand how people can victomize and terrorize people in this sense. it is so hard to believe that things like this happen in life on a daily basis.
first off, wow that was depressing as hell. I once heard a proverb or a tidbit of wisdom once that went something like this.
ReplyDeleteThere once were two monks who had taken a vow never to touch a woman.
One day they came across a woman who needed help crossing a river.
The first monk, picked her up and carried her across the river, his fellow monk simply stood there
several days later the second monk asked the first why he had picked up the woman.
The first monk said: "I let go of her along time ago." "Why haven't you?"
we need to let crap like this go, we have bigger problems. Specifically the fact that that Edward Norton's Character's brother John Conner was killed by a T-101 disguised as a gangbanger.
now because of hate we have to face a future full of evil robots..... thanks alot cycle of violence. Thanks alot. oh, and first?
This is totally on my top 5 for favorite movies. I enjoyed this the first time I watched this, And I enjoyed it this time also. Edward Norton is an amazing actor and anyone else wouldn't have made the movie as convincing as it was. The best part of the movie, and the also the most interesting was how Edward Norton realized though being incarcerated that everything wasn't as "black and white" as he may have thought before. That even the people with the most hate and resentment find ways to live and create relationships with people they are theoretically supposed to hate. That by forming these bonds it actually saved his life. I think we can take alot from this in seeing that if we put all our differences aside. we can be a much happier and more easy going society.
ReplyDeleteEverywhere we look we see discrimination, I had it hit a friend of mine just today actually. Simply because he drives a red car, we was vandalized by a gang that has an affiliation with another color. The thoughtless, juvenile and careless act was based on the color of his car. The people that did it knew nothing about him, about his wife or family. It makes me sick that we have to deal with it day in and day out.
My first reaction in class to hearing we were watching this movie was "Fuck Yeah!" I would definitely rate it in my top 10 favorites, but I have to say I looked at it in a new perspective on Thursday. I watched it my first time from an entertainment stand point and was very satisfied, but this time I watched it as a person who deals with racism on a daily basis. The depiction of these characters in this movie was almost to real for me.
ReplyDeleteEdward Norton playing the part of this Aryan Nation follower and the way he acts towards races is very empowering not in a good way, but in an accurately horrifying way. The impact it has on his brother is all to real.
My grandpa is the most racist man on the planet and a lot of the time in this movie I swear to god I saw glimpses in him. The way blacks, and asians, and every type of race is portrayed in this movie is how my grandpa depicts it. Well, he has been in trouble with the law many times because of it and his son, my uncle, is carrying on the racist tradition and passing it to his whole family.
I find it disgusting and avoid them in my family because of it. They have been in trouble with the law many times and they still haven't learned. The movie took an all to real turn for me this time around, and it possibly went from my top 10 to one of the movies I will never watch again. Not because I like it, but because I like it so much, but it is too real for me. From one standpoint I can't believe people are actually so biased towards other, but from the other standpoint I can see why they are biased. Because my mother grew up with my racist grandpa she sometimes says things that make me think, and I even slip sometimes, but I hate it.
You told us if you didn't offend us you failed, well you accomplished with me probably more than you or I thought you would.
You took one of my all time favorite shows and made me see it in a way I never would have in my life, and I can never watch it again.
Total Awesomness!
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ReplyDeleteThe movies of American History X is can be very unpresent about most American people who never realized and depception. Is is despair, demonization of hatred, war, or racism. Wake Up People!! I know this craps!. you must really what is the priciples and doctrice of the founding father. Does anyone can explain about freedom? with out justification and put the dirt on society. This half true half and half lie of evils and planing to conquer the people, by taking away individualism and people. The ideal of individual must sacrific if neassary to great thing. We are haeding toward totalitarian rule society. two egde of swords.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what happen with that comred who trained derik. he is probable allow that kid to kill his younger brother. and find more comred to join his tearm. and started revolution.
American History X is even better the second time watching it. I guess Ed Norton is a aquired taste, I like him more the older I get... Principal Sweeny said best, "He learned this crap some where, he can unlearn it." Hate is definately learned. It is picked mostly in our more younger impressionable years. There is no wonder groups such as gangs, religion, milatary, politics recruit the young. Younger people are more maluble. If the hate is instilled young and the longer it is left to churn in a person the harder it is to reroute. thats why the phrase "stuck in your ways" in assossiated with older age. I love how the movie goes full circle in the end... Its was Ed's father that put the bug in his ear with out knowing his reprocussions.
ReplyDeleteI have seen this movie before, and it is for sure one of my favorites. The reason why I like this show so much is because it shows both sides of Derek Vinyard.His life completely turned around, he went from a former neo-NAZI to sees that there is good and bad in every race. Another thing that I really liked in this show, is that a many times when we mention the word Racism, most of us go straight thinking about Whites hating Blacks. But truth is Racism is a discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race. It doesn't matter black or white, and I have seen from black side their version too. The truth in all is that we are all humans, and we all have the same body anatomy, our body color doesn't not makes us better than anybody.
ReplyDeleteWow, I really enjoyed this movie. I am a huge Edward Norton fan but sadly had never seen this movie. I am also glad we got to see him turn his life around even if it ended sadly. I suppose that is what stuck with me the most. In the beginning of the movie we see this man who loses his father and blames all the wrong people. In his anger we someone who will accept any doctrine that will fuel the fire of his sorrow. We then see him commit murder himself in a most violent way. What was once just vulgar anger has turned into violence and then murder. At the end we see someone different. We see someone who realizes that life is not black or white.You are not predetermined by race. Being Jewish, black, or white does not set you on the path to violence or peace.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me most happy is that in the end, Derek did not turn back. When his brother is shot and killed. Derek did not blame the race or even the person. He blamed himself. It was a powerful ending that rests in the fact that there are always consequences. We have to make the right choices and act the right way now. The longer we wait the more we will lose. Great movie!
This video was very precise in how it wanted to portray its message. I think they did an amazing job on showing Derek growing up. I mean this by we see how his father was killed at a young age and then his situation put him in a position to be lead down a different path if certain events were to not happen. We see how he is a very intelligent person through out the movie, but how "stupid" he was in the way he was thinking and acting. Although this film chose discrimination as the main focus to convey its message, I think its main purpose was to show how even a bright, good young man can be mislead and turned to do horrible things.
ReplyDeleteHowever, once he is in prison, I think is where the film catches my attention. Here we see a change in how Derek starts to view things. He starts to see how narrow minded he was, and that "his" type of people didn't even take it as serious as he did. Then while in prison we see a co-worker who happens to be Black, help out a person who had so much hate and resentment towards them. During his time in prison Derek probably not knowing developed a connection with his co-worker and started to influence his mind set towards that group of people. Also, in prison he saw his own people act more like how he first viewed the Black people, which is what made him very confused. When he was raped, I think that was the moment when he knew everything was just a lie. Everything he had lived for was for false information and nonsense. Here he started to change drastically having all the time to himself to think and look back on his life.
Only after he is able to leave does he realize that his co-worker and friend now, was the one who saved him while in prison. From that moment on he was now grown up and knew that he wanted to change, and try to help those who he had influenced the wrong way. Sadly, there is always a consequence for your actions and his was losing his brother to a shooting. At the end though he did not blame any race or person, but himself. This is where we know he is completely grown up or changed is when he now realizes that his actions were what caused most of this to happen and he will have to live with them from that moment on.
So Ive seen this movie several times before and agree its a good movie but its not a great movie. The whole seen with Derek running out and shooting the gang members and stomping that kids face into the curb doesn't make any sense.I mean come on he just unloads his magazine on the car and when he crabs the kid by the collar and tells him to put his teeth on the curb he's already out of bullets no one is going to bite down on a curb when someone is holding an empty gun to their head. Well any way that's my main problem with the movie. Yeah sure its still a good movie for entertainment purposes but it doesn't solve any problems it just pisses you off. Danny doesn't even get killed for being a racist he gets killed for protected that kid from getting beaten up in the bathroom and I cant recall him even saying anything racist he blows smoke in the kids face and that's it. So he didn't get killed because of Derek he gets killed for sticking up for someone. So I don't think the movie is good at getting you to be anti racists its just gets you to hate Nazi's and gang bangers. There is something though in the movie that I think is way awesome and that's when Dr. Sweeney asks Derek what if anything he has done has made him happy. So yeah lets just be happy.
ReplyDeleteMany people will make some regretable choices in their state of anger and hate. Some people may have been affect by other's decision and follow thier steps. Some choices' consequence may just a moment, some may last forever. So people should think twice before before they do anything. Some must learn a painful lesson before they think through. But for some, it might be too late. What a pity.
ReplyDeleteThe idea about racism is unnecessary, but it will be just keep coming up from the mind of people. The racism idea is from the past events of history, the hate and blame to other cultural group, and the self arrogant. We must find a way to let go this. This idea is doing nothing good but torn us apart and hating each other.
From an entertainment point of view, this is one of my favorite films of all time. The cinematography and the musical score was excellent. Edward Norton did an superb job on his role. The reason I think the cinematography was perfect was that when Derek is out of prison, it is shown in color, despite the fact that his brother is following in Derek's old ways. But when the Derek's past is being told and shown, its all black and white. This is a perfect way to show how Derek saw the world; White and black in the past and color in the present, representing his change to his past.
ReplyDeleteFrom a controversial view concerning racism and neo-nazism, things are not black and white as Derek first first explains. He certainly learns that while in prison. He also "unlearns" something: hate. One of the last lines in the movie is "Hate is baggage". That is true. You can hate, you can hold a grudge, you can be a bigot, you can be prejudice, but in the end, you must ask yourself what Principal Sweeny asked Derek in prison. Has anything that you have done made you happy?
Stephen死神Marston:
ReplyDeleteif you watch closely he closes the gun back up before he turns around to the guy at the curb. the guy has just been shot so i don't think he was really paying attention to how many shots were fired. so for all he knows the gun is still loaded. but personally i would have just rather been shot. also the kid in the bathroom that he blew smoke into his face, he followed him around for a while after, basically daring him to try something.
i have seen this movie several times, it is really scary to know that there are really people like this out there. i hate people that are this racist. if that is hypocrytical of me then so be it.
too bad the terminator wasn't there to save john connor...
I thought the movie was very well done. You can’t go around blaming everyone for your misfortune. The said part is that this happens in today’s society all the time. The biggest example is the most historic with Obama becoming the first black president. I know that there are some people that voted for him just because he is black. For example my brother-in-law’s grandma voted for him because she felt like it was time for a black president not because of his political view. I can’t say much on this vote because I didn’t participate in this election. All I am saying is we need to be judged on your ability to do the job or task at hand not what color are skin is, or what religion we are, or where we grew up. The iron is that there is some much of that going on around us in today’s society that I am afraid that we will never get over this big hurdle of what color is your skin or what religion are you from, etc.
ReplyDeleteHmm…thoughts. Well my initial thought when I saw this movie for the first time (like 7 yrs ago) was that of bewilderment and disappointment. Not because the movie sucked but because of the content. I knew that there were white supremacist but I wasn’t aware of the extent of their hate. I knew this movie wasn’t an extensive delineation of white supremacy but it did open my eyes to the fact that hate is strong and deep seeded. The typical, happy Hollywood ending wasn’t enough of a diversion to make me forget that fact.
ReplyDeleteNow, fast forwarding to the future and seeing this movie once more (at least the 4th time) we as a society have made some real progress and I believe it has a lot to do with technology and better access to education. But racism, bigotry and prejudice is still prevalent in our society and sometimes I feel Utah is stuck in a time portal. I’m black and I've grown up here and I’ve faced many problems growing up here. I don’t need or want any pity for it; I’m only validating a point.
Racism doesn’t have to be as hardcore as wanting to annihilate another race it can be as subtle as someone treating someone differently because of preexisting prejudices, it’s all wrong. So stop it all you fucking bigots and go read a book! Lol... Sorry. I must digress, as per another comment on this blog making reference to the election to our recent president. I’m not disputing the fact that people might have voting for him because of his ethnicity. BUT and it’s a big “but” Let’s not forget the all the people who didn’t vote for him or didn’t vote at all because of it and I would bet the numbers would be fairly similar. And that is equally wrong. Well my overall opinion about this movie is positive and I think we are all on the right track however; there are still a lot of people who need way more education.
I have seen American History X once all the way through but after that only saw bits and pieces of it. This is one of those movies that makes me think it's such a shame and disgusting to see people live their life through a telescope filtered of such hate, rage and racism. It's horrible to know that hate does breed hate. It doesn't get anyone anywhere having to, as mentioned, carry it as luggage that only weighs someone down past the person they can be. I am a firm believer of equal rights and don't feel that anyone has the right to judge someone whether it be by race, sex, religion, or anything else.
ReplyDeleteBut overall, it was a good movie. It portrays, such as starting with the late-father in the movie, that people can influence and have an impact on how someone thinks. For example, the father passed that one thought on to Derek at dinner, who then, at the time of his father's passing, had that to almost justify that people of colored skin were nothing but criminals. All of them are to him even though not all of them are like that at all. He almost needed someone who would agree with him to vent to and unfortunately....he found that person.
After that, Derek's younger brother needed that same presense and there was Derek with the ideas and beliefs instilled in him by that figure he had previously found. It lead to nothing for Derek at all. I mean, I understand that someone breaking into your car can rush unwanted emotions but there are better ways to act upon them. Derek had taken it to the extreme which only landed him in prison to experience harsh and brutal things he's going to have to live with. It's hard to surpress things like that and just have them go away and forget about it ever happening.
There is always a scar left to that degree whether it be skin deep or mind and in his case...it was both. For mind, well, it's for obvious reason with how he was raped in prison and exiled by his supposed-to-be-"brothers" and skin deep by having to look and see his tattoos that reminded him why he got there in the first place. I'm glad that near the end of his sentence though that he found someone to talk to that was a good person and showed him that not everyone is a drug dealer or criminal if they're colored. I mean someone of color who he was taught to hate, actually saved him. It was the thing he needed to turn him around.
It's just heartbreaking that the chain was broken too late in time. I know Derek had remourse of how he had been living his life previously to prison after he got out but having his brother killed at the end by the hand of someone colored and instead of blaming and stereotyping again, he knew more why it happened and did feel guilt that he could have done something different and steered his brother into the light instead of having him travel through that dark and dangerous tunnel that ended in his death. This movie does teach that the chain can be broken but sometimes too late. I hope many, many people out of our class were able to see what hate can do to someone and prove it gets you nowhere fast.
In this film, as in any other I had deep feelings regarding the occurrences of some of the different scenes. I felt some anger at first, because it’s hard for me to comprehend how there could possibly be people out there in the world who really do hate others because of not only their race, but religion and culture as well. These people think that causing harm is a reasonable manner and an everyday life routine, none of them realize the true impact it has not only on the race that is being discriminated ,but on younger generations as well. This form anger is bad and degrading; it causes people to do things for no apparent reason, and even leads up to murder. What I would say about this is that people need to learn that when they hurt another individual or commit a crime, they are not affecting only their “kind.” It affects everyone around them, and everyone who may have ever come in contact with them. Murder is not a diminutive word, and defiantly has great meaning. White supremacists in my opinion (as well as many other people I’m sure), are nothing but a group of people who have had a lousy lifestyle and never really got enough balls to outgrow this way of living. If some of these people would just reach out then all of this hate would slowly disappear, it’s a matter of being shown what is right and what is wrong and that sometimes, a person of a different race or religion may be more willing to help you than one of your own “kind.” In conclusion I thing that anyone who watches this movie can surely get a great lesson out of it. The two strongest points, which are “hate is baggage, and not letting others manipulate your ways of thinking” are great points to live by. Be yourself!! My personal life experience has taught me a number of lessons, therefore making it easier for me to relate to such a film.
ReplyDeletei thought the movie was great all over. my only problem with it is that the whole movie is very stereotypical with the gangs and everyone living in or by the projects, granted thisdoes make the movie the best it could possibly be, but i hate how it does not show how racism could affect normal people or the rich.
ReplyDeletemy favorite part of the entire movie is when derek tries to make an impact on everyone around him for the better after he gets out because he knows what he has done is wrong and wants to improve their lives.
too many criminals get out and sadly end up right back in prison soon after because they dont see how their decisions effect their lives and can even take 10 15 20 years away for them for what? getting 500 bucks for ripping a convienience store off not thinking that there are 20 cameras in that one store alone and hoping they wont get caught.
then the irony hits, as soon as derek tries to get them out, his little brother gets brutally murdered in the bathroom by the kid he stood up to.
i really liked this movie and it was way better than JFK in my opinion.
This movie is a piece of art. It's unpleasant, brutal, eye-opening, and shocking. It shows that white supremacy does exist, and that some take it to large extremes. It also attacks the white supremacist ideals, as it chronicles Derek's transformation both into and from Neo-Nazism.
ReplyDeleteI think movies that depict low-income families in dangerous movies are hard to believe for people who have lived in this state all their lives, because they likely have never been exposed to anything severe in regards to racism or gang violence.
The ending really was very poignant. It did multiple things. First off, it allowed us to see that Derek really had changed, as he didn't run in there screaming about the kid that did it, he was blaming himself for getting Danny into it. Also, it really helps implant the movie into your mind FOREVER.
Superb and believable acting, should be seen by everyone, especially in this sheltered state.
this movie perfectly shows how no good can come from hate. a reacurring theme in the movie is hate, and how it screws up the lives of those who use it. hate is self destructive and derek was destroying wis life throughout the movie until he was raped. that was a turning point in his life. after being betrayed by "his own kind" he began to question what he truly believed. after derek had changed for the better, he found out that he had negativly influenced his brother who followed in his footsteps. only when derek and his brother had changed their ways did their actions catch up with them. this was a good eye-opening film into the life of racism. but can't we watch any "happy" controversial films????
ReplyDeleteThat was a very well done movie!!! It really opened my eye's on a lot of things. It was my first time watching it and I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I got out of the movie is that life isn't that bad. If you think about it, whatever your life is you can choose your attitude. I love the quote at the end where he says "Hate is Baggage" Whatever you're going to do in life do it with a positive attitude.
It also opened my eyes to a new look on friends. Whatever your life is you are probably living the life your friends are so choose what kind of friends you want because whether you like it or not they will make an impact on you!!!
If you have older siblings just know that they are watching your every move!!! Danny worshipped his older brother on everything he did. His brother wasn't the best of example for him but he did however always show his love for him which is important. He tried to help him out towards the end but it was to late... He wished it would have never happened.
I thought the movie was a good adaption of what life is like among the different gangs in a community. It goes through what it is like to be outside of the gang life and feel helpless as they are persecuted by the gangs. The movie show how with little hints of prejudice over years of time can influence people without them knowing it. It is with these circumstances that you get the violence that happened in the movie. I thought that it was interesting that the person that instigated the violence in the beginning of the movie was trying to run away from it by the end and that the violence he had started finally caught up to him and his family at the moment he was trying to better his family.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I saw this movie I called it a COMPLETE WASTE OF MY TIME!! I was really upset. But now that I am a little older and wiser the second time I saw it, I was able to focus on the movie instead of the several shocking moments in this film.
ReplyDeleteOver the past week I have been thinking about this movie and what I would write about it... one point that I can come up with is that we are completely products of our environment. In the movie, it was his fathers last racist words to him and his sudden death that started his "downfall". Then, the people he surrounded himself with contributed to his behavior and supported his hatred for any other race different to his own. Take him out of that environment and he was put in a situation that made him question his beliefs. Also it allowed him to really think about life for the first time and the person he wanted to be. This is just one concept in this very moving film.
I couldnt say that this film is one of my favorites. I'm more of a happy ending person, but i think this movie deserves to be watched and thought about for it raises several excellent points that are still an issue in our country.
Its very sad to see how some events all start from something so small and then snowball into an unstoppable force. So initially Derek was liking what he was learning from Dr. Sweeney and he was excited to tell his family. Dear old dad is fed up with 'black culture influence' you could say and therefore; plants a seed in his sons mind that its all bullshit. Pretty much this film just reaffirms that racism and hate is both taught and learned. Nobody hates for anybody for no reason. When Derek's mother says that her younger son reminds her of Derek, you can see thats how things go. It starts with people you look up to and follow.
ReplyDeleteThe whole prison period caused me to think what would I do if I were betrayed by those people I thought were my friends; especially when they weren't holding the same standard of Facism as me. That would rock my world! It was really touching to see Derek and Danny take down all the Nazi propaganda and the bare wall seemed to denote a clean slate and fresh start. That's realistically what everyone needs to do regardless of what is going on in their lives: rethink how they choose to 'other' people in those negative connotations.
This movie was disturbing to me. The most disturbing part was when Derek curbed one of the guys that was breaking into his car. It was very hard for me to watch. It makes me so sad that there are still people in this world today that are just like this. Also, I thought it was hard to watch Derek get raped in jail and when Danny got shot multiple times in the bathroom at the very end. I think racism is a very serious subject and people need to know that you cant judge someone by the color of their skin. Obviously they aren't educated enough to know that its just a pigment in your skin. I thought it was way cool that Derek changed for the better in jail and tried to help others change. Even though Danny got shot, he still changed and knew that it was wrong. I thought that this movie had a good outcome. I just hope that the world realizes that you cant just kill someone for the color of ones skin.
ReplyDeleteWOW, it throws a spear through my abdomen anytime I watch this one. I saw it in 1999 when it first came out. I was excited to see the skinny runt from a Woody Allen musical and a stint as a dual-personality alter boy, perform as a nazi (notice I don’t choose to capitalize the word).
ReplyDeleteLet’s talk about it as a “FILM”. It is not the best of camera work, it has poor lighting at times and there is a moment of incontinuity when an outfit changes momentarily. I have a tendency to notice detail. However, I failed to notice it initially and was caught up in the message.
This is a film that I do not watch often because of all the negative emotions that it causes. It pains me to know that there are people with such deep-seated convictions to a cause that has no real grounds for debate. It angers me that people could be so blind. We all need to open our eyes to each other. It saddens me that there are still people that are hard-hearted.
Edward Norton shows amazing acting chops on this one. He portrays a man with a misguided belief. He IS willing to die for his convictions, even of it is wrong. His transformation is subtle and timely. It takes further tragic events and a disenchantment with “his own” to bring him to a realization of the truth. The way he was led to believe is wrong.
I felt it only appropriate that Danny was killed in the end. It goes to show the levels that hate affects us. He hated in a direction of pigment and shape of nose. The other boy disrespected his right to live in return.
It is a tale of tragedy and acceptance, In the end all that happens is people must come to grips with their actions. Just as in real life.
As a closing statement, I must say that I found it amusing to see Sgt. Stedenko at the head of the LA County Nazis, I always wait for him to confess and chow some pizza.
Thanks for a great day in class and I'll see you all tomorrow,
Jeremiah
first i would like to say that Sara seems to pick some very good movies for showing the more controversial sides of our culture, but what is really scary is that they are real and out there to one extent or another. racism in all its horror is honestly not shown here,but we do see a very sad and disturbing tail of one family that is torn because of hate. in this movie we see how one person can manipulate and control the emotions of several, because he can tap into their fear and use this as a motivation point for them to change into what he wants. Cameron here is shown really as a mastermind/teacher and Derek is his general/recruiter in the beginning. they also show how Derek was sensitized to this particular brand of thinking by his father. this movie in particular is about white on black hate crime, but there is a history in the US for white on white hate crime as well. Irish vs English and others. i honestly dont know how much of this type of discrimination there is anymore, but there are other kinds of hate as well. when i lived in japan, i meet Koreans that talked about being hated and abused by Japanese kids and gangs as well. here we see hate associated with nationality again. i feel that the best part of the movie was the way that they show Derek changing in prison. he meets and then learns about a black man and learns that the prejudices that he had learned and preached were not true. this was a firsthand experience!!! also he was betrayed by his own group and then they tried to beat him back into submission. i am sure that as you study the relations between people in general and gangs in particular this is a common occurrence.
ReplyDeletein relating this to my life, i can say that i have meet good and bad of every color and creed that i have come across. deciding who is good and who is bad isn't something that you can blanket on a whole kind of people, it is something that must be learned on an individual basis.
It was very good movie but very sad. We still have people who cannot accept different races. We all have somebody who are hard to get along with.But it is nothing to do with thier race.It is very sad that there are still so many people who judge people by thier race. It is very important to try to understnad people who are differenf from who you are. You do not need to have same habit, same skin color to be a good friend.If you did something cruel to people, it will come back to you somehow. It might not be you, it can be to your important people like in movie.
ReplyDeleteI think what I learned from movie is if I make mistake, I need to take care of till end.
Yes,Derek learned in jail that what he has been doing was wrong and he tried to fix his problems.But he did not take care of the people who he led. I do not know if he told at the party that what his freinds believed is not true and told same story he told to his brother could stop Derek's brother's death.But I really think he needed to do that instead of running away from his past.Staying away and running away from past does not solve any problems.
I had never seen the movie until now. I found the movie to be verg good. I like how good of a job Edward Norton did. It was a very strong movie. I think that what i got out of it the most was. What i came way from this was you have to find out what people are like for your self. Just like the saying you can't judge a book by its cover. I think thats was Derek's was like. He always saw the bad and got told to stay away, but then when he was in jail and got to see for himself what people are like then he started to realize the truth and that changed his opinion on people and life.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this movie, but I have heard a lot about it. It is so sad what how hatred can hurt and kill so many people. It was weird to me that the "skin heads" were Hitler oriented. Hitler wanted the perfect race. Blonde hair, blue eyes and German. He was racist against everyone else and he himself didn't live up to his standards. All these boys would just shave their head and act like no one else was good enough because they were different than them. It just doesn't really all come together for me why they were Hitler oriented. The movie was great and it opened up my eyes that there are still people like that in the world. It's so horrible.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a very good film, I had seen parts of it in the past but never completely finished it. It definitely shows how easily the human mind can be twisted at a young age. The same concept reminds me of child soldiers throughout the world, they are led to believe in something so much, that they are willing to do anything for that belief. All it takes is for someone to prey on them when they are most vulnerable by making promises of belonging and understanding, through this process they can shape them however they want. Towards the end of the film, Derek tries to redeem himself but since the damage he had caused was so severe, it leads to the death of his brother Danny. Also, while watching this movie I could see a resemblance between Danny and the kid who kills him, they both looked up to an older individual. Danny looked up to his brother, while the “gang banger” kid looked up to an older brother figure that probably encouraged him to make the attack. It made me wonder how different both Danny and the Gang banger would have been had they had somebody positive to look up to, just my thoughts on it.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a movie. Far more entertaining than JFK, but not sure how the movie made me feel. Does it leave me with hope for our racial problem, despair what? Are we doomed with united or is there hope in our segregation. I feel I'm not qualified to answer the question primarily because I'm so shelter from thing like that happen in the movie. I hear, read, and watch things on the news about white supremists, but will never understand them. I feel their so ignorant to what life is about and how crazy their beliefs are. However a devout member of one of these groups might look at me and say the same thing. About how ignorant i am, and how if i were to just open my eyes I'd see all our problem are do the this or that. Well the movie was well done, makes you think which i like. I'd be interested in reading a post of someone who is a white supremists, and their take on the movie.
ReplyDeleteVery intense movie! The part where Derek and his little clan harass the people in the store made me sick. It's crazy to think that there really are people out there that do shit like that. However, I felt like the movie really wanted you to see why someone like Derek might join a group like the Nazi's. They seem to be very mislead and think it's cool because they are angry about something. And then it wanted you to see how stupid it is to think like that... be mad at everyone because something bad happened. This is clearly not the way to live and it showed when his little brother was killed because of it. But I was glad to see that Derek turned himself around in the end.
ReplyDelete“His father taught him to hate. His friends taught him rage. His enemies gave him hope.”
ReplyDelete- American History X
What a great movie! American History X might be one of the more realistic and controversial films I have seen. The film deals with issues we have been and still dealing with in society; not only does the movie deal with racism, it also covers: discrimination, stereo typing, gang violence, the deterioration and the union of a family, older influences, pride, judgment, regret, and friendship, just to name a few. This movie really shows how there is racism against all different types of cultures; it’s just not black and white. I like how the movie shows the evolution of the character, Derek. In the first scenes when the movie introduced Derek, I began to judge him. By seeing his tattoos, shaved head, and the anger in his eyes, I said to myself this guy is a racist, ignorant, Nazi psycho idiot, which he was! However, through the movie I began to feel more sympathetic towards Derek because his experiences lead him to judge and develop hatred against the diverse characters in society.
Instead of prison being a punishment it was a blessing in disguise. Derek’s “experience(s)” in prison made him realize that even the most corrupt individuals are able to see pass race and interact with one another. Another interesting character in the film is Derek’s brother Danny. He is a young teenager who has no male figure to look up to while Derek is in prison, he is influenced by Derek’s old views and feels a need to follow in his older brother’s foot step. Danny is drastically impacted when he finds out that his older brother has changed. He doesn’t know what to think because racism is all he knew and all his strive to be like his brother was now pointless, to an extent. I say to an extent because after seeing his brother change it made him realize that all he beliefs didn’t mean anything.
The most dramatic and emotional scene in the film is when Danny gets shot. Even though it’s a devastating scene I think it was necessary to prove the film’s point. The emotional impact leaves the audiences thinking how racism lives in our society and how useless it is to build hate against other cultures.
Great movie. Will this story ever end? What is it going to take for us to understand each other? I pesonally have had enough of this notion that one race is supreme to another. We are all created equall! Not the same but equall! Not individually but collectively. Anyone that takes the time to know a person prior to final judgement understands this. Lets not just say this but show this. Most of us say this openly but behind closed doors and in the heart racial and national bigotry still exist.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great i opener this movie was, How can people be so mean and have all that hate inside them. but really it is about choice we choose to be happy we also choose to be mad. we saw from the movie that the skin heads mad choices that where not good at all. Ed Nortons character made a couple of choices one before he went to jail and one while he was in jail. but with all choices come consequences good or bad. And at the end even though he had changed he was getting better making better choices he still had the consequence of his choice to join the skin heads and it resulted in getting his brother killed. Remember we choose to be happy
ReplyDeleteWOW! What a movie! This is one of Edward Norton's best movies ever. It totally shows that people can change when their eyes are opened to a little bit more of reality. Ed Norton believed that what he was doing was the right way to things, and if you dealt with any one out of the white race you were going against everything he believed. When he realized that people that he hung out with in prison that had the same belief as he did were doing things with other races he rebelled and got raped! Then his black friend protects him so he realizes that what he was doing is wrong.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary to think that groups like that do exist. I would hope that they could take a page out of Ed Nortons book and realize that racial discrimination is wrong and that all it causes is problems.
American History X. I saw it before back in highschool, so the wow factor wasnt really there for me anymore. Despite the fact that i knew what was going to happen next I still think the show is just depressing. I hate watching that guy get curbed, and nobody likes to watch anyone get raped. The show teaches a pretty good lesson on what will happen if we arent accepting of each other but at what cost? It was almost not worth watching the show to get that message. What i will say however is this was at least an entertaining show. I hope to see more entertaining shows out of this class in the future,with less rape scences though. Thats just gross.
ReplyDeleteok so ya i have seen this movie about ten times and its still an awesome movie i think the main reason is it makes you think even in this day and age even when we like to pretend how the we live in this perfect little world of ours its not even close there is still things out there there are sickening like prejudice or things of that nature and this movie brings out this topic in a big way and i dont think most people like to believe this kind of prejudice still exist sadly. and this movie does a very good job of bringing it out and also showing alot of flaws in that perticular way of thinking sure there are bad people but it is not race defined as edward norton finds out during his prison term his views where flipped because his friends betrayed him and his hated enemy saved him anyways really good movie its what i like to cal a thinking movie ha ha
ReplyDeletei watched this movie years ago, but not in its entirety. Now that I have been able to watch this movie again, I believe that racism is learned. The character was raised in home with a narrow minded father and a mother that was passive and did anything the father wanted. The character truly believed that the white race was superior, even up to the time he was put in prison. He quickly learned that he was wrong as he saw that his friends were not true to the race or to him. This character quickly learned that the white race was not superior and the people that kept him safe while in prison were once his enemy, was never his enemy to begin with. Unfortunately, he learned this too late and lost his brother to the same hatred. I enjoyed the movie.
ReplyDeleteThis movie had all the elements that make a movie entertaining and enjoyable, controversy, hate, love, passion. It wrenches at all of your emotions. It was more graphic than the usual movies that I decide to watch, but I think the position that the movie portrays is brilliantly done.
ReplyDeleteThere are several lessons portrayed in the movie; racism, change, and family.
I enjoyed the refreshing optimistic outlook the movie helped me to walk away with. Despite the negative death ending.
When you said that we were going to watch this movie I was excited because it is on my list of movies to see. Overall I thought it was a good movie, I always like Edward Norton films so I liked it. I thought that the message that the movie portrayed was a very strong one, it really got the point across. I've been lucky to not have witnessed anything like that in the real world, I've heard things on the news but I just feel grateful that racism has not been a big deal in my life. I really liked how at the end of the movie the family was getting along and looking out for each other. I was very sad about the shooting at the end but I wouldn't change the movie at all.
ReplyDeleteFirst off let me say great movie. This is one of those movies that i think anybody could sit and watch and feel changed or want to change their ways. I've seen it before but, wasn't disappointed to see it again. The acting is great in this movie very serious but for sake of getting a valuble point across. I honestly have never understood racism and have the belief that you can't be proud of something you didn't choose such as skin color. Be proud and take pride in the content of your character and the things you do as a person if they are things to be proud of. This movie sums it up though. HATE IS BAGGAGE.
ReplyDeleteThis movie was an incredibly entertaining but very depressing movie as well. Watching Danny grow up idolizing his brother Derek. I could relate to Derek because i was always trying to idolize my older brother growing up as a kid. American History X does an amazing job depicting the racial issues that still exist in our society. Luckily growing up in the SLC, i have not experienced too many dramatic racial issues like the one's portrayed in this movie. Derek's evolution from white supremacy leader to the idea of equal rights and opportunity for all men is touching. His time in jail turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He no longer kept his hate and aggression towards the minorities of society.
ReplyDeleteThe end of this movie is extremely heart-wrenching. but i believe the ending was the movie's strongest point. It showed the never ending struggle of racism and how me must not fight violence with violence. Or else disparity and tragedy will be forever part of us.
First and formost, Edward Norton is awesome!! Now that I have said that, the movie has a great message. It's hard to see it at the beginning of the movie.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson that Derek learns is just that it's not worth having all the hate built up inside like that, it literally can only lead you down a dark path. I also think that the film shows how hipocritical people can be. I say this because Derek because of the hate turned into the very thing that he was hating.
It's not that there are bad races, the fact is that there are just bad people, and good people. We should look at the people as individuals, not as a group. It's the decisions that we make that shape us. Anyway, to sum up, Awesome Movie!!
Some of my classmates postings depress me. This isn't meant to be a sad movie. I guess if Reese Witherspoon doesn't make an appearance with some sort of talking animal it's automatically placed in the same category as Requiem for a Dream,which is a great movie by the way. This was a beautiful story about courage and hope, the imagery and production quality were amazing, and afterward I felt the need to take a deep introspective look at how I deal with racism and issues of prejudice. As for those who feel that these are issues of the past and that we just need to get over it. A quick glance at the paper is all that is needed to prove that these are very pressing, relevant issues. As Israel slides into what can only be described as an apartheid, it becomes clear that these are concepts that have not left us. A small percent of the voters this year were actually convince Obama was a terrorist. Anyway once again clear level headed thinking wins the day. Don't believe everything that you read.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to lie...this was not my favorite movie of all time. In fact, I probably will never watch it again. With that said, I feel that there is still a lesson that can be learned from the movie and the message that it contains. One of my favorite quotes is "the more things change, the more they stay the same". As I watched the movie, I saw a lot of things in it that made me think, and realize that this nation and world have come a long way from where we all used to be, yet we are still doing the same things over and again. We have come so far in equal rights, but there is still racism all around. It is not just whites hating one race, or another hating whites. It is in every race in some way shape or form. Why is that? I feel that it is because, as a whole, we feel comfortable with people we can associate with who are like us. And it is not just race that we see this. The rich are more likely to spend more time with the rich. The jocks will hang out with the jocks. Wanting to associate with others of your own circumstance does not bother me. It is when that segregation turns to hate and violence, like in the movie. A jock does not need to play chess with a "nerd" just to be politically correct, but when he beats up the "nerd" because he is different, then that is crossing the line. The same is true with race. I have never grown up as anything other than white, and I never will. So I will never know what it is like for someone of another race. But, I can, and we all can, show respect for others. Respect them for who they are. If we all tried to do that, we would see a lot less of the hate and violence that the movie portrayed, and a lot more acceptance of everyone for their unique and distinct differences. It is good to be different if we treat each other with respect.
ReplyDeleteI find that particularly dark films often make me search for elements of levity to help soften the emotional toll. So it was unsurprising that as I was watching American History X I adapted the following to the film: The first rule of white club is you do not talk about white club; the second rule of white club is YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT WHITE CLUB.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is important as it contains a number of vital and powerful themes. The most obvious of which has been covered more than adequately by others before me: racism and the destructive acts that hatred inspires. I would rather talk about some of the subtler aspects that are every bit at intentional as the core theme, and just as relevant as a commentary on social construction.
The two ideas I find most interesting are linked: that of the importance of fraternity and male role models and the inherent misogyny in the male-female relationships in the film. American History X shows hatred based on more than just race, which I find particularly interesting. Both Danny and Derek Vinyard display a deep need for inspiring male role models.
Derek finds these in his father, in Mr. Sweeny, in Cameron Alexander, even in the fellow inmate, Lamont. It is the influence of these important men in his life that directly affect his ways of thinking and the evolution of his attitudes over time. Tied to this is his need for fraternal interactions; before he went to prison, the friendships within his local white supremist organization was the central organizing focus of his life. And naturally, after he went to prison, the need for friends shifted from a mere need for acceptance to survival. But still, Derek needed people with whom he could truly be friends. When he finds that those who he has befriended are less than they claim to be, Derek needs to form a more meaningful relationship, although he doesn’t immediately realize this. Derek’s friendship with Lamont is as much a surprise to him as his fellow prison inmates’ betrayal.
In Danny Vinyard, we see less of a need for basic friendship as much as a desperate need for an example upon which to model himself. As the narrator of the film, Danny seeks constantly to define who he is, and the men in his life help him decide that. In a very real way, when Derek is arrested and sent to prison, Danny feels the need to fill his shoes and replace his brother while he is away. Danny is then crushed when his idol is released and no longer seems to hold true to their ideals; his core sense of self is shaken and he is forced to reexamine some of his own choices when his brother explains how his views have changed.
It is important that note that neither of the brothers regard their mother as the kind of role model that their father or his surrogates are. You find that their attitudes of women are very much in line with the two roles that many misogynists relegate women: mother and whore. When you see Derek’s interaction with his mother throughout the film, you find that although he feels a need to protect and care for his mother, he does not respect her authority or opinions. After his father’s death, he becomes the primary breadwinner for the family, and regards the family home as his house rather than his mother’s house. And as the “man of the house” he feels he has the authority to make decisions regarding the men that his widowed mother is allowed to date. Derek (and to a lesser degree, Danny as we see with how he allows his friends to address his sister) is content to generally ignore his sister until she challenges his beliefs and by extension, his authority over her. It is then that you find he snaps and suppresses her violently. It is also telling that Derek has selected a partner that is supportive, compliant and submissive just as his mother was toward his father. American History X shows that the supremist values are not just the celebration of the dominance of a white society, but more importantly, a white male (not to mention protestant) society.
I had already seen this movie and it is definately one of my very favorites. I thought edward norton did a perfect job in that role and it's one of my favorite performances of his. I also think the message in the movie is a very good one. And while the movie is fairly depressing in the end i think it's good because it makes it that much more realistic. Things in life don't always end up happily ever after and in this particular instance because of the actions derek had taken in his life it ended up getting his younger brother killed. One of my most favorite parts in the movie and my most favorite line is after derek gets raped in prison and sweeney comes to see him and he asks derek "has anything you've done up to this point made your life better?" I think after all the things that have happened to derek that made his question his beliefs that line was the icing on the cake that made him come to a realization and want to turn his life around.
ReplyDeleteWow, I loved this movie, easily one of my top movies. One part that really stood out to me was when Derek put the black guys teeth on the curb and stomped on his head, the reason it stood out to me was because my friends dad told me a story of his childhood. He said he grew up in Southern California in the hood part, where the gangsters were. My friends dad said he never joined any gangs but he would always fight with them, everyday he walked home from school he would get into a least one fight and come home with lumps on is heads, his parents didn’t really care because they said it would toughen him up. It was really crazy because he said he use to do what we saw on the movie “curb checking” them, but what he said they called it back then was “eating the curb”. I don’t think he did it to kill them though, so when I saw Derek do that to the black guy it just reminded me of the story my friend’s dad told me.
ReplyDeleteI also really liked the story line of how Derek went to prison, and in prison he learned a lot about his “gang/crew” how they aren’t that true/dedicated as he was, and how he got betrayed by his own people. I think everyone should watch this movie because a lot of this stuff is happening right now in this world, lots of gangs. And usually what happens is either people grow out of this gang stuff like Derek and try to fix their lives and some do something terrible and are put in prison for life or close to it, and just think back “was it worth it?” and usually it isn’t. This is one of the best and well played movies I have ever seen and everyone should watch it, it could really change a lot of people’s lives.
this movie is one of my top 5, the feelings and tones portrayed in this film really capture the heart of hatred, ignorance and blindness. young smart minds allow themselves to get so caught up in an idea that it literally takes over their life and closes them off to other possibilities. this film portrays the importance of the "we arent so different" cliche when derek goes to prison, the simple fact is that we are all human beings, some decent and genuine and others indecent and hostile. derek learns that he cannot change his circumstances through violence and rage, but that he can change himself to help his circumstances. danny who looks up to his big brother also sees in derek a change when he comes back from prison and realizes that he has allowed his smart mind to be influence and blinded by hate, and when we allow our minds to become influenced like that we become ignorant. education and understanding are the keys to fighting this ignorance and blindness.
ReplyDeleteI had heard a million good things about this movie and now I know why. I loved how this movie showed how bad things really are in this world and how stupid some people really are. I liked how the movie kept flashing back to the past just as Danny is telling his brother's story. One of my favorite aspects of this movie is that it didn't hide anything and how the camera took on different and interesting angles. Probably the sadest part of the movie to me was the end because Derek tried so hard to get Danny to see how stupid they were for following who they did, and how life is about so much more then in the end it didn't matter once Danny realized everything it caught up to him in the end.
ReplyDeleteAmerican History X, in my opinion, states a clear message of what hate can bring us in our lives. History has shown how hate brings nothing good. Wars have been fought. Hitler hated Judaism, and we all know what horrible things he did. The Terrorist attacks came from hate. A civil war was fought because people didn't like the idea of freeing slaves. As a country, we have come along way since the civil war. The election of Barrack Obama can testify to that, but it is clear to me that we still have along way to go. I am not sure that racism will ever die out. Peoples beliefs are being passed down to their children.
ReplyDeleteThis movie is One of the best movies I've ever seen hands down, it's in my top 3! My eyes were peeled to the screen, every feeling I had was heart throbbing. This movie created so many emotions inside me that I've never really thought about or felt, I hated the part when Derek curbed the black guy it was unbearable, I thought that he was the most F'd up person ever, over a car come on.. Who does that?.
ReplyDeleteI look at Danny and feel sorry for him, for all the pain he had to witness and go through, all the hatred and remorse. I would never want to feel that kind of pain. Derek in my eyes is a great role model figure. He knows how life is and how things are, he has witnessed the pain and he finally grew up and got over it. I can clearly say that this movie has changed my perspective on many things in life, not just on race but on others friends, family, even people that I may dislike at times. As the quote in the movie said "Hate is Baggage" it truly is that's why you need to open your eyes up and realize what is really in front of you.
American History X is an amazing movie. I come from a prejedice family. When I got some African American Barbies for Christmas and my dad made fun of me and have them call eachother the N word. It was always hard for me to remind my father it hurt my feelings and have him just laugh at me. Dereks father was also prejedice but when he died it really hit Derek. Its really sad that he turned all that negativity into a horible cult full of hatred and murder. He created a whole new gang which he was trying to fight against in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWhen his own guys messed him up in prison though everything turned really crazy. Derek realized his hatred was only ruining his family, his neighborhood, and his own future. I absolutely loved his African American buddy. I want to be like him. He was so happy and generous even though he had nothing and got the crappy end of the stick.
Danny is my favorite character. He is so smart and he quickly understood the changes he needed to make and did. His paper brought peace to the end of the movie.
WoW Chanelle I couldn't have said it any better myself. Great mind you have.
ReplyDelete"Hate is baggage" Way to go Martin! You said it man. If everybody lived their lives with idealogy the world would truly be apetter place for all. People need to be more accepting of others and willing to take different perspectives, myself included. Just the other day I was leaving Smiths grocery store and as I was walking out there was a Hispanic man with his daughter walking in front of me and as they passed through the doors the man bent over to pick up a piece of trash and throw it in the garbage. Without any thought that simple act seemed out of the ordinary to me because of ideas that have been put in my head all life by myself and the world around me. I think it is important to recognize these things inorder to help change.
As for the movie itself, it was great. very entertaining. I loved the characters and the changes they went through however I do think it would have brougt more credibility to Sweeny to explore his past and show what it was that made him change his ways, which in turn allowed him to "save" Derek.
This movie was a perfect example of why hate can conquer someone's life. Here in Utah, we are in a way suppressed from many cultures of the world, which is not necessarily a bad or good thing but from that most youth in this state do not feel prejudice against different races as much as a kid in Southern California would.
ReplyDeleteHere when someone is being racist against blacks, I do not get it. I grew up with only two black kids in my school, and therefore they were practically white. Nurture has a great affect on people, if you grew up in Southern California, white people hate black people, black people hate the Mexicans, the Mexicans hate the Asians, and it goes back and forth constantly, its hard not to feel the need to be apart of something. Although racism is a sick and twisted idea and I HATE it, I grew up in Utah, we have Mormons and Mexican's so I do not quite understand. If I stayed in Southern California where I might have gotten picked on or bullied more, I unfortunately might have had a better idea of the feelings of racism. Although, I can understand where racism sources from, I understand that it is also very ignorant. People need to understand why and then look at the of the big picture, I am for the individual, and if more people were, the world would not be so hateful because prejudices and accusations would be dismal between people. An example in the movie of this was when Derek made a friendship with the black man in the prison.
What a treat. If ever I walk a straight line down the curbside anymore, I picture my teeth getting smashed into it. Props to that screen-writer! I will hate him forever.
ReplyDeleteWell, we have a President of controversial ethnicity. Hooray for America!... Maybe we've come further than some of us had anticipated... Some of us.
There's a lot of hate out there, but it all boils down to HUSTLIN' to make that money and stay alive.
God bless American History-XOXOXO
this movie was very sad. I do like how they portray the racial views however. I liked how they showed the extremes on both sides of the issues. I do not agree with hurting people of an opposite race or ethnicity. I do not agree with the rude or inhumane ways they treat the people in this movie. I don't understand how people can victomize and terrorize people in this sense. it is so hard to believe that things like this happen in life on a daily basis.
ReplyDelete