Posted on 07/06/2011 8:08:18 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
Paramount and Marvel Studios have a bit of a marketing challenge on their hands with their upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger. Namely, how do you sell a pro-U.S.A superhero movie to the many regions of the globe that can't stand us? Their solution was to play it safe, and release the film in all foreign markets as just "The First Avenger."
But then a wonderful thing happened. From the Times:
[I]n a surprise, Paramount's overseas operation objected, arguing that Captain America had too much brand value, even in spots like France that are leery of embracing Team America too readily.
Call it the Obama Effect, call it No One Caring What the Hell the Movie is About So Long As Shit Gets Blown Up, call it what have you — but Captain America is wanted! They like him! They really like him! Well, except in Russia, Ukraine and South Korea. Those were the only countries who opted out of using his name in the title, because 1) they have no idea who Captain America is, and 2) they hate America. Hopefully the change is enough of a concession for those markets, but the studio isn't completely ruling out running the movie in reverse, and telling leery audiences it's the story of a musclebound American coward who flees from Nazis until he shrivels down to the size of a nine-year-old.
In my experience visiting Korea numerous times, the nation is NOT anti-American.
The First Avenger always sounded dumb. For me it’s just Captain America, I’m dropping the PC subtitle.
Looks like EVERYWHERE you go it’s:
“Nazis. I hate those guys. . . “
(grin)
There are anti-American minorities--mostly among some students and Marxist professors and professional "community organizers" within the ROK populace, and they occupy a central part of the Minjudang and other leftist parties, but in no way is the entire country classified as "anti-American". That would have to be the biggest load of shit I have heard in a long time. I can attest to that first hand, like you.
I would hardly call the Ukraine anti-American either.
Yeah, we were putting up with the anti-American students 20 years ago when I was there. Songtan city (outside Osan Air Base) leaders and business folk turned away a convoy of buses of these losers when I was there.
We met folks all the time while exploring the countryside. Speak a little correct Korean to them (a great sign of respect), and we were like long-lost family. We even got invites to the homes of complete strangers for dinner.
The elders remembered the war, and they knew why we were there.
In the Arab nations I can see the U.S. Roundly despised. It’s an anti-Israeli thing. Even then I believe there are a lot of folks who don’t really hate us.
This ‘they hate us’ paradigm is the Left’s creature they like to pull out of the closet and dust off whenever they think they can game mush headed voters with it.
For instance, in 2008 Obama was going to turn all the hate for the U.S. around the world into peace and love.
Most of this is overblown IMO.
Koreans younger than 50 or so are extremely anti-American blaming us for their separation from their northern brothers - I was told, “There will be only one Cho-Sun! It is inevitable!!!” American soldiers stationed there are recommended not to wear any US uniform in public.
Yeah - it was kind of funny where you would get respect from the older folks and the kids acted like they wanted to spit on you (or worse.)
I once got caught up in a tear gas response to the annual end of summer student protests in Seoul, so I know there is a lefty bent among the kids. That does not mean the whole country is anti-American.
In 1980, when I was first stationed in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, by Tongduchon, it was a glorious tour. I had a real good time, even with all of the alerts, the use of script for downtown purchases, the requirement for passes to leave post. The people were very friendly and it was enjoyable just to be off-post and walking around, or going down to Seoul on the bus to walk around the shopping districts.
My second tour to Camp Casey in 1988 was less enjoyable, the people .. particularly those in Seoul .. were far less friendly. I spent a lot more time on-post, even though we could now use dollars downtown and the pass privileges were a lot more lenient.
My final tour to Camp Casey in 1994 was very unpleasant. Other than the Korean nationals, KATUSAs, and the very old people, it didn't seem like anyone was friendly with Americans and, except for specific purchase trips, I pretty much remained on Camp Casey for my entire tour.
After my first tour, I recommended to anyone who asked that a one-year tour to Korea was the best kept secret in the Army. After my last tour, my attitude was that we should let the North have the South, even for just a little bit, so that they would wipe out all of those anti-American student ***holes that infested the country.
What are they calling it in Washington DC?
I was there between your second and third tours. I was there from ‘89-’91 (two years - Korean Linguist, Osan AB, 6903 ESG). I’d say my experience in the more rural area around Osan AB mirrored what you saw in your first tour as far as pleasantness. I’d say, maybe in 1993, when I returned for Team Spirit, that the folks off-base were maybe headed toward the attitude of your second tour, but I couldn’t say for certain, as I was only there for a few weeks, and didn’t have an opportunity to get off base as much as I wanted. The attitude may have been due to the Team Spirit exercise, though.
Not really, Ukraine is just more recently involved in events that cause these changes in public perception.
I wonder if any of those ‘’anti-American students’’ were asked if they like to come live in the US what their response would be?
One of the LG guys who came here bitched about our toilets - he wanted a “squatter” installed in our plant.
Ukraine has had a revival of pro-Russianism as of late. Their current leader extended the lease on the Sevestapol base to Russia, and allowed Russia to spy on the wargames and into the wargames conducted by Ukraine and NATO this year.
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