Your comparisons don't even equate. Granted Spike Lee has his style and Tyler Perry has another style. There's not way you can compare the two. Spike Lee has depicted people in his movies to be drug pushers, ignorant and menial delivery boys, prostitues, killers, etc. He has done some good works but he has also produced garbage too. At least when I go see a movie by Tyler Perry I'm assured I won't hear profanity and see violence. They both are blessed and they both have what it takes to open people's eyes. I just think it's a shame that Spike Lee publicly put down another brother for no reason. Again, I'll say he's just a hater.

You're also assured you won't see anything of actual substance. Not all of Lee's films may be perfect, but he at least tries to do something more than just play to cheap laughs and stereotypes. Do The Right Thing and Malcom X were both landmark moments in modern cinema, and box office pull does not equate to actual quality.

And really, is that how you judge what films you see? The ones without swears?

Your ignorant and its sad. Comments like that, you should keep to yourself. Both are great and different.

Perry's movies show some of the undersides of black (and all other) society: rape, incest, drug use, dysfunctional families. His works also show redemption from these pitfalls is possible. Who else is doing this now?



Spike's movies provide powerful messages from a viewpoint that others could not ever grasp (Malcolm X, Miracle at St. Anna). He allows black society to see that they are an integral part of society as a whole; that everything in our country and the world has been touched and positively affected by what we have done throughout time. He produces great works.



Tyler's movies provide powerful messages from a viewpoint that others could not ever grasp. He knows of abuse and rape firsthand. Tyler deals with societal ills that are not readily or openly addressed. Incest exists in the black family, but it is only whispered about by Mama and Aunt Lizzy when no one else is around. We know that our pre-teen and teenage girls (and boys!) are being "turned out" by their mother's boyfriend/drug dealer/husband but we turn our collective heads and do nothing. Our sisters are being abused, physically and emotionally, but that's what happened to momma and grandma and the woman at church; it's just the way it is. That person stumbles through feeling lost because they assume no one else has ever had to deal with what they're dealing with; or because they see others acquiesce, they should too.



If a movie or a book or a song can impart a spark of hope in someone who is floundering in despair, why deny them that means of enlightenment?



There are plenty of black directors, producers, and writers whose stories have not yet been told. They have their own perspectives and will tell wonderful stories, too, when given the chance.



In the meantime, both Tyler and Spike can entertain the moving going public with differing but nonetheless compelling views of us.

Why are we putting down a man that has come from no where and made it to where he is now? His shows and his movies do not put us back 500 years. If anything they are uplifting. I am not particularly a fan of his shows but all of his movies and plays have been inspirational. It is also a pleasure to sit and watch a movie without hearing profanity and seeing violence for 2 hours. To compare Tyler Perry's movies to Spike Lee's is not fair. They are not in the same league and have very different ideas and concepts. Another thing that is no comparison is Tyler Perry write, directs and produces his movies in his own studio. He doesn't have to get anyone to put up any money because when he did they wanted him to bow down to him and do things their way. He is blessed enoughed tobe able to do his projects on his own and he doesn't have to bow down to a sole. As far as his characters I admit some of them are silly. But without some laughter in this life we would all be miserable. I don't think Tyler Perry means to degrade anyone but look at it realistically, we do have some people that really live, act and talk like that. It's sad but true. We should all be a little more aware of things before we pass judgement. Bringing reality to the screen is one way of people seeing that these things still exist and need to be addressed.

The difference is, after "She's Gotta Have It," Lee made films like Crooklyn, Do the Right Thing, Malcom X, whereas after "Madea's Family Reunion," Tyler Perry keeps making more Madea films without actually showing any progress as a filmmaker.

At least Tyler Perry, in addition to employing unknown black actors, character honestly depicts all aspects of the spectrum, not just "racial" stereotypes. His characters are educated, professionals, wealthy, illeterate, blue collar, poor, etc. If he shows a womanizer or "bad" man, he will also show a "good" man. Through comedy he tells a story of the true human spitirt, forgiveness and the beauty of the wins "grace & mercy". He uses film as medium to tell inform and encourage people beyond their circumstances or mistakes. If what he does is bafoonery, what about shows like "Martin" or "Fresh Prince" or "In Living Color" or "sanford & Son" or "The Jeffersons" or "Good Times"... or movies like "House Party" or "Boys In The Hood" or "Friday" or "Barbershop" or "Booty Call". I could on and on.

I get that you are a Mom, but these are not positive images on his TV shows, or movies. Your children will subconsciously compare these images( as all blacks do with black images. it is one of the reasons we think so poorly about ourselves) of blacks with the images they see of whites in other TV shows and films, and rightly feel that the blacks displayed, are dressed act and carry themselves like fools in comparison to a white film or TV show. Just because Perry throws in a message at the end of his films doesn't mean the film or TV show was overall a positive experience. Also your children may not understand the overall message of a Spike film, that doesn't mean they wouldn't benefit from the experience and pick up positive things from his work about black people, also it is good to stretch their abilities anyway, they may end up understanding more than you give them credit for.

Arron, I have to get with BBW on this. Raise your kids now, not later. OTOH, maybe the problem is not the image of Blacks that Tyler Perry is promoting. The problem is the image of Blacks being promoted by the rest of the media. I say STAND UP AGAINST THAT.

how many men would dress as a woman to make jokes? hmmm, lets see....flip wilson, milton berle, martin lawrence, jerry lewis, wesley snipes and patrick swayze, jack lemmon and tony curtis, eddie murphy. I'm willing to bet that their mothers are pretty darn proud of their sons. In Shakespeare's time, all the parts in a play, male and female, were played by males.



Wearing a dress for a role does not connote a lack of morals nor a lack of good parenting.



i DO hope that tyler will find someone else to play the role of "Madea" only so that he can fully devote himself to the other aspects production company: writing, directing, and producing (Precious).