Recent Comments:
Do You Care About the 'Last Airbender' Casting Controversy? {Cinematical}
Apr 14th 2010 5:18PM I think a lot of the Simpsons is made in Korea, but nobody calls it a Korean anime. I'm just saying just because it's made in America and showed on Nickelodeon, it doesn't mean it's necessarily an "American Kids TV Show".
Do You Care About the 'Last Airbender' Casting Controversy? {Cinematical}
Apr 14th 2010 5:03PM I haven't seen the series, so maybe the ethnicities of the characters are actually unclear. But by looking at some images of the show I'm pretty sure it's at least an Asian styled cartoon. (It even has Chinese on the title.) For the Airbender movie, I think, if the style and culture of the characters are obviously Asian, then white actors, even good ones, would make the film feel weird. Like the main hero kid, he is obviously a Chinese or Japanese Monk. I will go see it if it turns out to be a good movie. I'm just concerned the casting would potentially affect the story. Again, I am not the movie maker, so, we'll see.
About the race thing, you don't feel it unless you are the one being discriminated. Of course anyone can say we are being over sensitive and tell us to "chill". It's not the "imaginary racial hatred" they are drawing, it's the subconscious racial bias that's hurting people in a very subtle way. Yes black people can go to college now, or even become president, but I wouldn't call it "this post-racial American age" just yet. Just because it's gone on the surface, it doesn't mean you don't feel it.
I understand why some people decided not to "chill" and wanted to stand up for the Asian community over this issue, because you have to speak up and have your voice heard once in a while. However, I don't think there would be enough good Asian actors in Hollywood if they had gone with an all Asian cast anyway. I believe as the population grows, more Asian talents will emerge in time and when they do, let's hope they will get the opportunities they deserve, then we can all "chill".
Anyway, just some thoughts while reading all these comments.
Do You Care About the 'Last Airbender' Casting Controversy? {Cinematical}
Apr 14th 2010 4:03PM I never noticed Airbender before this discussion. And from what I learned here it's a pretty clear Asian setting. But many people here said it's not. Then I checked it out on wikipedia... come on, it's got Chinese characters in the title, how is it not clear it's Asian?
Do You Care About the 'Last Airbender' Casting Controversy? {Cinematical}
Apr 14th 2010 12:04PM I think whether Bart Simpson is voiced by a woman is beside the point here. When voicing for a cartoon, what we need is a voice that goes with the character and is understandable by the audience. It would be absurd to ask for Airbender characters to be voiced by Asians, or even in Japanese or Chinese or something. But casting Asian characters with white actors in a story with clear Asian culture settings is totally a different thing.
Do You Care About the 'Last Airbender' Casting Controversy? {Cinematical}
Apr 14th 2010 11:50AM Very well said Vanessa, I think you have a very good point. But for 21, I don't think it bothered me because it was not from a previous show, and, with the Vegas and MIT settings, the race of the characters won't hurt the story. But Airbender, on the other hand, is clearly an Asian story from what I learned in this post. With people in it being white, it just won't feel right.
Do You Care About the 'Last Airbender' Casting Controversy? {Cinematical}
Apr 12th 2010 4:04PM As a non-activist (never heard of "airbender"), I think it's a pretty lame move to cast white actors for clear Asian roles. But I wouldn't be pissed enough to join a boycott. Besides I don't know if they can find enough good, and suitable for the roles, Asian actors in Hollywood. I probably won't go see it either now that I know it will be about some white people pretending to be Asian. It just can't be a good film. By the way, the Dragonball thing was totally unacceptable, because I am a die-hard Dragonball fan and Goku was THE superhero to me growing up. Trying to make a third class movie with a third class white actor out of it is a pure shame.
What's Your Favorite Christopher Walken Performance? {Cinematical}
Mar 31st 2010 1:26PM I haven't seen that many of his work. But I really loved his part in Pulp Fiction. He was so funny.
Will "I See You" Become the Next "You Complete Me"? {Cinematical}
Dec 29th 2009 4:02PM Well, I noticed Cameron's intention the second I heard the line, and I think it will stick to some extent. It's funny because I can't remember now whether they said it to each other when Neytiri saved the real human Jake after the final battle, because that was when this line comes the most relevant: I see You, not who's body you are in. But, in my opinion, it's far from as striking and memorable as the combination of 'you, complete me' and 'shut up, you had me at hello'. Actually not even as powerful as Titanic's 'I trust you' and 'you jump, i jump'. Don't get me wrong, I think the world of Titanic, but when it comes to tear drawing power of words, no one tops Jerry McGuire.
The Best of the Decade: Comedy {Cinematical}
Dec 29th 2009 3:43PM Superbad was at least worth a shout here, man, worth a shout.
Todd's Top 10 of 2009 {Cinematical}
Dec 29th 2009 3:28PM I can't believe Avatar is not in your top 10. I know the story was not well written blah blah blah, but the technological advance and aesthetic perfection are not worthless either. I don't know which one it should replace, but it still should be on the list.
