Spike Lee (Old School) vs Tyler Perry (New School)

Just recently I got a chance to watch Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls on television. Going in I didn't know what to expect. All I knew was Idris Elba of The Wire fame was in it. I knew he wasn't going to be playing a Stringer Bell-like character so I was ready for anything. It was a good movie overall. The story was ok and the actors' performances were straight. Yet for some reason I couldn't shake this feeling of "EHHHHHH."

I'm sorry but every time I see a Madea trailer or anything to do with Tyler Perry I'm like "WTF...AGAIN???" I'm not hating. I like the the man's movies but he is the epitome of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." We always get the same thing. Seems like all of his movies feature the following:

1. Some funny moments
2. Black people, black crisis
3. Character's faith is tested
4. Hints of slavery to remind black folks why we must stick together
5. Talented Black actors/actresses who for years were underutilized by mainstream Hollywood 

Growing up I really didn't care too much for Spike Lee. I was all about my cartoons and Nintendo growing up. Even when my mom had me and my brother take off from school to see Malcolm X I mostly was focused on the twizzlers and popcorn than the movie. Over the years I've gotten around to watching a good number of his films. Not all of Mr. Lee's movies were classics but I give him props for not pigeonholing himself. He was the first major Black filmmaker to put Black issues out there for public discussion. Interracial relationships, light skin/dark skin tension, racism and the wonder that is the black woman were first captured by this guy's one of a kind vision. When it comes to his movies you either hate them or love them. The only thing you can count on is that you are seeing HIS vision on HIS own terms.

Both filmmakers are good in their own right. Its not really fair to compare the two's body of work but f*ck it. Tyler Perry is making the kind of movies that appeal to Blacks and to other races. You can see his ambition to crossover and that's not wrong at all. Spike has and always will be a pioneer and in some ways unappreciated in some circles. I'm sure he could make the kind of movies that have mass appeal but that's not the reason he was put on this earth. Hate it or love it, Spike gives you what you need to know whether you like it or not.

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