Director Quentin Tarantino gestures as he poses during the photocall of his movie “Django Unchained” on Jan. 4, 2013 in Rome. (credit: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images)
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBS Connecticut) — Director Quentin Tarantino calls it “disrespectful” to the victims of the Newtown school shooting to link that tragedy to movie violence.
In an interview with National Public Radio, the “Django Unchained” director, who got annoyed answering the question, said the true issue is about gun control and mental health rather than violence in movies.
“I think it’s disrespectful to … the memory of the people who died to talk about movies,” Tarantino said. “I think it’s totally disrespectful to their memory.”
Tarantino said his stance on movie violence “hasn’t changed one iota” over the past 20 years.
“Obviously I don’t think one has to do with the other,” Tarantino said in the interview with NPR.
Tarantino added that the violence in “Django Unchained” is “fun” and “cool.”
But there’s two types of violence in this film: There’s the brutal reality that slaves lived under for … 245 years, and then there’s the violence of Django’s retribution. And that’s movie violence, and that’s fun and that’s cool, and that’s really enjoyable and kind of what you’re waiting for,” Tarantino told NPR.
Despite being critically acclaimed, the movie has faced criticism for its use of violence and the “n”-word.
The movie’s star Jamie Foxx said during a press junket last month that he believes that violence in films does have an impact on society.
According to Box Office Mojo, the film, which opened Christmas Day, has already grossed more than $82 million.
