more on the avatar casting.

[samatethecookie]

So, remember the white washing of the Avatar cast for the live action movie?

Due in theaters in summer 2010, "Airbender" has already begun to face a bit of controversy over the casting of white actors like Rathbone, Ringer and McCartney to play Asian characters — a concern [Jackson Rathbone] was quick to dismiss. "I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan," he said of the transformation he'll go through to look more like Sokka. "It's one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit."

Uh. No. It's not 'one of those things'. Seriously.

The universe just loves pissing me off today, doesn't it?


Context is this interview.

Comments

[darthnat.livejournal.com]

Well, just think of it this way: it's not going to be a good movie anyway since M. Night Whateverthefuck is directing it and will probably not continue after the first installment.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, I didn't expect the movie to be great, since M. Night Whatever is going to be the director. If it doesn't bomb, I'm honestly going to be surprised.

I'm just upset with the casting, since they obviously didn't even try to get some diversity; they really couldn't find ANY Asian actors to properly play these characters? Or anyone with darker skin to play Sokka and Katara? :\

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

ENTER KEY, WHY DO YOU FAIL ME. */misses paid account* Sorry, wasn't done with the first paragraph.

The fact that there's a good chance it won't continue after the first installment is a good thing. I think it's going to be like the live action Dragon Ball movie that's coming out: you can't even watch it for the lulz.

[darthnat.livejournal.com]

What's funny is that the Dragonball cast is made up predominantly of Asians when Dragonball doesn't take place in Japan or Asia. And yet Avatar has tons of white people when it does take place in a fictional Asia. Figure that one out.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

HAHA. Yeah, really, go figure. Goku, I can understand since he's an alien from another place.

I think the main problem I have with the Dragon Ball movie is that, while it has Asian actors, it seems heavily dependent on stereotypes that doesn't do it justice. Admittedly, I'm more upset about the characterization, like lack of a proper Picollo. :[

[darthnat.livejournal.com]

My problem with Dragonball is... well, it doesn't look very much at all like Dragonball. They chose a cool dude for Master Roshi, but the problem is that, while he's a cool dude, he doesn't look at all like Master Roshi. And the rest of the cast seems to be made up of unknown Asian chicks that were chosen because they're hot, so my hopes are not high that we're going to get any brilliant acting out of them.

And then there's Picollo. I don't think I even need to talk about Picollo.

[samatethecookie.livejournal.com]

You're right about all of that. It doesn't feel like Dragonball. They just took the idea and ran with it. Dragonball was always good crack with a lot of humor in it; this movie has little to no trace of the original Dragonball.

Oh man, Master Roshi. I'm just telling myself it's not Master Roshi; it's a guy that beat up the real Roshi, locked him in the closet, and stole his shirt.

But what annoys me the most is what they did to Goku. Goku's always been goofy, adventurous, and always determined to save the world no matter what. Now he's this angsty high school kid who lacks the confidence to be a hero. That's not Goku!