'Django Unchained' Draws Crowds and Controversy: Most Controversial Film of 2012?

by SodaHead Slideshows Posted 2012/12/28 16:00:00

Related Topics: Django Unchained, Zero Dark Thirty, The Avengers

Read More

1 of 8

Django Unchained

Spike Lee accused Tarantino's latest of making light of slavery — without actually watching it, naturally.

Django Unchained

Spike Lee accused Tarantino's latest of making light of slavery — without actually watching it, naturally.
Zero Dark Thirty

Kathryn Bigelow's film about the death of Osama Bin Laden has been accused of glorifying torture.
The Avengers

Samuel L. Jackson personally attacked New York Times critic A.O. Scott over Twitter because of his not-that-negative review of "The Avengers."
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Many lost interest in Peter Jackson's latest after finding out that the short book was to be made into three 180-minute movies.
Cloud Atlas

The casting of white actors in Korean roles caused the Media Network for Asian Americans to call it "badly done yellowface."
The Artist

Kim Novak, who played the lead in "Vertigo," described the use of parts of that film's score in "The Artist" as "rape."
2016: Obama's America

The director of this anti-Obama documentary has had his integrity questioned after murky details about his personal life emerged.
Innocence of Muslims

This film was screened exactly once, by its own director. It sparked outrage because of its depiction of the prophet Muhammad and his followers.

'Django Unchained' Draws Crowds and Controversy: Most Controversial Film of 2012?

3,140 votes
Read all 291 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

	Django Unchained
	Zero Dark Thirty
	The Avengers
	The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
	Cloud Atlas
	The Artist
	2016: Obama's America
	Innocence of Muslims

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Django Unchained	1,055 votes	34%
	Zero Dark Thirty	384 votes	12%
	The Avengers	94 votes	3%
	The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey	151 votes	5%
	Cloud Atlas	81 votes	3%
	The Artist	49 votes	2%
	2016: Obama's America	641 votes	20%
	Innocence of Muslims	685 votes	22%

"Django Unchained," the latest film from visionary director Quentin Tarantino, has been delighting critics and audiences all over the country. However, some are not so happy with it. Director Spike Lee called it's depiction of slavery "disrespectful," and Slate described it as having a feeling of "vague moral unease."

Does this make it the most controversial film of 2012? Another big movie of the holiday season, "Zero Dark Thirty," came under fire for its depiction of torture, while "Cloud Atlas" was accused of containing "badly done yellowface" by the Media Network for Asian Americans thanks to its casting of white actors as Korean characters.

Other films were controversial because of Twitter beef. Samuel L. Jackson personally attached New York Times critic A.O. Scott on Twitter because of his review of "The Avengers" — which wasn't even very negative. And Kim Novak, who played the lead in "Vertigo," described the use of parts of that film's score in "The Artist" as "rape."

There were other, smaller controversial films. "2016: Obama's America" was the most successful documentary of 2012, but attitudes toward it changed after details emerged about the director's private life. And "The Innocence of Muslims" sparked outrage for depicting the prophet Mohammad (as well as being awful).

And then there's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey." Many fans were incensed when they found out that the short book was to be made into three 180-minute movies.

Take a look at the slideshow and tell us: Which do you think was the year's most controversial movie?

+10

Add a comment above

Bailey C 2012/12/30 00:42:44

2016: Obama's America

+10
Ben Mankiewicz said it best "2016 is another reminder of how many people in this country find Obama so shockingly unlikesome that they are seemingly ready to believe the most nonsensical theories about him."
>> See Replies

More polls by SodaHead Slideshows

angeliquemartinsmith 2012/12/28 21:45:06 (edited)

Django Unchained

+3
Spike is a bleeping hater; I was Spikes biggest supporter when he started. He hates on any good movies that include the black experience if he didnt make it. And lately his movies have sucked. Stop being a hater Spike!

reply
Tattooe... to angeliq... 2012/12/28 22:14:58

On the other hand Tarrentino is the Rizzas mentor! Spike just doesn't know what a good movie looks like.

reply
Raphy to angeliq... 2012/12/29 02:22:39

I think Spike really mad that he didn't think of it first. Tarantino probably was the best man to make this kind of film. I haven seen it yet. But I bet it sort of feel like his hit Pulp Fiction.

reply
Chaguy 2012/12/28 21:14:02

Zero Dark Thirty

+2
Why is the Avengers on this list?
(let the hate come, i'm saying this based on what my friends have said

reply
MadMax to Chaguy 2012/12/28 23:22:55 (edited)

+1
I couldn't figure it out either. Maybe because Hulk's pants don't fit? Cap believes in God? A black man was in charge of the nation's top security agency? Wait, I remember now, this one is not a joke. Thor made fun of orphans. This is legit, he made that joke about Loki being adopted and the...Justice League of Orphans, (Not what they're really called, I can't think of the name though) got mad. I'd link you, but I'm on my phone and if I can do that I haven't figured it out.

reply
Monty to MadMax 2012/12/29 20:24:11

people are being way to sensative again! who got mad now? over the avengers?

reply
MadMax to Monty 2012/12/29 22:39:21

The national adoption something or other. They got ticked because of the adopted joke Thor tells when Black Widow tells him how many people Loki killed.

reply
Monty to MadMax 2012/12/29 22:52:53

+1
man,can't joke about anything these days

reply
MadMax to Monty 2012/12/29 23:18:55

Exactly. I think that's why I find old comedies so much funnier.

reply
Monty to MadMax 2012/12/29 23:20:12

+1
me to,a good comedy these days is rare,soon,there probably won't be anymore in case someone might get offended

reply
Monty to MadMax 2012/12/29 23:07:47 (edited)

i just read about that. i put my daughter up for adoption and i didn't even notice that joke in the movie,i swear,some people are just looking for things to be upset about. censorship is in the near future probably. the had a boycott and a petition that a whole 300 people signed

reply
Katt 2012/12/28 21:08:38

Django Unchained

+1
People make controversy over anything.

reply
Monty to Katt 2012/12/29 20:24:23

+1
very very true

reply
Flowers 2012/12/28 20:49:48

Zero Dark Thirty

+3
I frankly refuse to choose Django Unchained for anything, even when it's relevant bc I dislike the movie and the premise that much. So, I chose the second option. I'm getting really tired of the crap coming out of hollywood lately.

reply
Jimm 2012/12/28 20:30:11

2016: Obama's America

+5
A real hot potato that more people should have seen and paid attention to!

reply
jj.hantsch 2012/12/28 20:26:37

2016: Obama's America

+2
So controversial Hollywood won't touch it.

reply
lurx: the soda jerk 2012/12/28 20:19:22

2016: Obama's America

+2
Actually I would put "Innocence of Muslims" on the top of my list.

reply
Tobi 2012/12/28 20:03:24

Django Unchained

My type of movie

reply
Scoobe 2012/12/28 19:46:29 (edited)

Django Unchained

+1
I wonder what would have happened if A Clockwork Orange had been released in this era of "everything offends me". I dare to say there would pandemonium in the streets. Get a life folks. Preferably your own.

reply
Blueskies to Scoobe 2012/12/29 03:50:15

Nobody would understand wtf was going on!
Would they even understand it's a sci fi story like Soylent Green, about a dystopic future that never was, or will be ?
Did you know Burgess wrote it in only 3 weeks?

reply
ClintAustin26 2012/12/28 19:19:22

2016: Obama's America

+3
Did 1000 people even watch the Innocence of Muslims video? I'm looking forward to seeing Django. Leave it to Spike Lee to criticize something he hasn't even watched. Has he done anything good since He Got Game? Go away, Spike Lee.

reply
Medulla Oblongata 2012/12/28 19:18:09

2016: Obama's America

+3
It was either this, or the "Innocence of Muslims." The hoopla surrounding the other movies is hardly what I'd call "controversial."

reply
Jiorgia 2012/12/28 18:55:51

2016: Obama's America

+2
Either this one or "Innocence of Muslims", because anything that attacks a politician or religious faith is going to spark outrage, they were made to be controversial.

The "scandal" involving the director of this film isn't even that bad, but I guess in the Christian world it would be...

reply
dear•LT13☻ 2012/12/28 18:51:15

2016: Obama's America

+3
Spike Lee upset at a white guy... NO WAY!!
Probably because he makes better movies than him.

reply
Luxxie 2012/12/28 18:30:38

Innocence of Muslims

+5
Because it sparked violence and caused the death of people.

reply
Flowers to Luxxie 2012/12/28 20:52:24

+1
no, LIES sparked violence and death of people. THERE IS A VERY BIG AND TERRIBLE DIFFERENCE. Was that not the documentary blamed for the supposed riots that killed 4 people in the Syrian Embassy? The US government lied about what happened from the beginning, they knew what happened and thought we were ignorant enough to believe the story.

reply
Luxxie to Flowers 2012/12/29 04:39:20

You seem to know the truth. Tell us the truth then.

reply
Flowers to Luxxie 2012/12/29 12:45:57

+1
I know they weren't killed because of a poorly made video, because the Obama administration admitted to having "false information". Basically, they lied and they didn't want to take responsibility for the consequences of that lie. Not that I'm surprised, just mad that people continue to allow them to lie

reply
rightside to Luxxie 2012/12/28 22:07:29

+1
No, it didn't. Quit listening to lies. Had nothing, nothing to do with Benghazi.

reply
Todd Parsons 2012/12/28 18:25:33

Django Unchained

+3
Because that racist wants to kill white people.

reply
codenamev to Todd Pa... 2012/12/29 00:36:43

+2
Which racist is that? Quentin Tarantino? The white guy who wrote and directed this film?

Why does it seem like every time I see a poll you answer, it's always some sort of trolling?

reply
Todd Pa... to codenamev 2012/12/29 23:29:45

You're a racist too!

reply
codenamev to Todd Pa... 2012/12/31 01:46:24

And the trolling just keeps on coming.

reply
Todd Pa... to codenamev 2012/12/31 01:50:08

Another Racial Statement!

reply
codenamev to Todd Pa... 2012/12/31 01:55:05

Yes; I guess I'm racist against internet trolls. Bye!

reply
Todd Pa... to Todd Pa... 2012/12/31 01:56:00 (edited)

That racial bigot blocked me! achievement unlocked!

reply
karen.nash.925 2012/12/28 18:23:52

2016: Obama's America

+3
I would think anything personally depicting the US Government or a religious group of any denomination would be considered "controversial." The rest of these films made for entertainment value... Come on!

reply
joe mauro 2012/12/28 18:09:55

The Artist

+3
i would hardly call tarantino a VISIONARY.

reply
karen.n... to joe mauro 2012/12/28 18:24:51

he has more vision than me!! lol

reply
joe mauro to karen.n... 2012/12/29 01:30:05

me too that hardly makes him a visionary

reply