Racists are stupid... and not for obvious reasons!

[Joe90]

There is a reason why Shakespeare has survived the ages.

Japanese Macbeth is Brilliant.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HWC1MGPWL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

All Stories that survive over time are constantly being reimagined to suit the context for contemporary audiences. Christian Bale's Dark Knight quite happily resides alongside Adam West's Caped Crusader in popular culture. There is room enough on this planet for different interpretations of any given text if the story is compelling to the human condition.

Yes, I can see the framework of Macbeth working in a Japanese milieu. As long as the Samurai aren't wearing plaid...

Fine...then don't call it "Hamlet". Just steal the plot line, and re-imagine it all you want.

Strangely enough, Daisetz T. Suzuki, an authority on Zen Buddhism and its effect on Japanese Culture, claimed the play Hamlet was unappealing to the Japanese psyche in that the Prince of Denmark's wavering is completely contrary to the Zen concept of Direct Action.

Was he being culturally chauvinistic? Or just stating a fact?

[ODBJBG]

Uh, I think this guy was cast because they thought he did the role best. In Hollywood, they have these little thing called auditions. It's crazy, I know.

As it turns out, usually hundreds (sometimes thousands) of people try out for a role. On some rare occasions a role is predetermined for someone, but even then, casting directors usually have a few other people run lines for the director, just to make sure.

Any other theory as to why this guy was cast, is ignorant.

Unless of course, they were only looking at black dudes for the roles. Which seems, HIGHLY unlikely.

[mego73]

I'll lay you odds that that reason why these groups are doing this is to gain publicity and claim victory at the 80% possibility that this movie will stink on ice and bomb at the box office.

I wonder if they did the same thing for "Catwoman" "Wild Wild West" and "The Honeymooners" (although I caught the Honeymooners remake on cable and didn't think it was half bad but far from good enough to be based on Gleason's Honeymooners).

I do get annoyed at casting an established white character as black because:

1. It smacks of gimmick/stunt casting and an opportunity for some people making the movie to break their arms patting themselves on the back for their supposed inclusiveness for pointlessly redefining an established character to a different complexion.

2. It wouldn't be tolerated in reverse. You will never see a white Urkel for instance.

[Joe90]

I wonder if they did the same thing for "Catwoman" ...

Catwoman's a different story. When I was a pre-pubescent lad I was so hot for Eartha Kitt. I saw her in concert shortly before she died and I fell in Love with her all over again. The television show brought back the Catwoman character from a 12 year hiatus and so the producers had a lot of freedom to do as they wished. Julie, and Lee were fantastic in the role, but Eartha was purrrrfect. To this day I love all three.

I haven't seen Halle do the role. I stayed away because I hate reworkings of established characters. She looks magnificent -- I just wish she had been Selena Kyle...

[Hector]

Catwoman with Halle Berry was pretty bad...however...as a stand alone character...Berry was indeed HOT as Catwoman...but the movie is pretty bad...very similar to Supergirl...bad movie...but HOT Helen Slater as Supergirl.

[saildog]

You will never see a white Urkel for instance.

Not within the same context, but I served with a guy that we called "White Urkel" and he answered to it.

[enyawd72]

It has nothing to do with being politically correct. These movies cost tens and hundreds of millions of dollars to make, and the people that finance these movies want to reach as broad an audience as possible.

It has EVERYTHING to do with being politically correct. America is all about being PC. This country is the only one who uses terms like African-American. There are no African Americans. Only Americans. We continue to segregate ourselves.

You NEVER hear the term African-British do you? No, because blacks who live in Britain consider themselves British, nothing more, and find our PC labels to be utterly ridiculous, which they are.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Uh, I think this guy was cast because they thought he did the role best. In Hollywood, they have these little thing called auditions. It's crazy, I know.

As it turns out, usually hundreds (sometimes thousands) of people try out for a role. On some rare occasions a role is predetermined for someone, but even then, casting directors usually have a few other people run lines for the director, just to make sure.

Any other theory as to why this guy was cast, is ignorant.

There is a term in theatre called "non-traditional casting". Basically if the person can act the part they will be cast. I understand where folks are coming from with how a character they grew up with is portrayed, but to be honest it really doesn't bother me who is cast as long as I connect with the performer and want to watch their acting.

[jimsmegos]

It has EVERYTHING to do with being politically correct. America is all about being PC. This country is the only one who uses terms like African-American. There are no African Americans. Only Americans. We continue to segregate ourselves.

You NEVER hear the term African-British do you? No, because blacks who live in Britain consider themselves British, nothing more, and find our PC labels to be utterly ridiculous, which they are.

AMEN! and, Can I get a witness! Very well put!

[The Bat]

It has EVERYTHING to do with being politically correct. America is all about being PC. This country is the only one who uses terms like African-American. There are no African Americans. Only Americans. We continue to segregate ourselves.

You NEVER hear the term African-British do you? No, because blacks who live in Britain consider themselves British, nothing more, and find our PC labels to be utterly ridiculous, which they are.

[boynightwing]

I know these characters are Norse Gods but seeing that they are GODS could they not be any colors they wished to be? If you can conceive that these beings created the world and the universe etc, then why can't they be different colors? If the actor can play the part and bring with him a strong performance, then go for it.

[mego73]

I know these characters are Norse Gods but seeing that they are GODS could they not be any colors they wished to be? If you can conceive that these beings created the world and the universe etc, then why can't they be different colors? If the actor can play the part and bring with him a strong performance, then go for it.

Well, speaking for myself, one of the big deals of bringing a comic book character to screen is that it looks as much as possible like the drawings (like Chris Reeve and Superman).

[Nostalgiabuff]

I agree that a well known, established character who is white should not be played by an asian or black actor, and vice versa. but when you are dealing with second and third string characters that no one but the fan boys even know, then what difference does it make? it does make the movie more culturaly diverse. is that such a bad thing? I don't remember people getting all ****ed off about Sam Jackson playing Nick Fury. and he did a great job and continues to do so

[Joe90]

There is a term in theatre called "non-traditional casting". Basically if the person can act the part they will be cast. I understand where folks are coming from with how a character they grew up with is portrayed, but to be honest it really doesn't bother me who is cast as long as I connect with the performer and want to watch their acting.

This is a good point.

Still, if we're talking theatre, Shakespeare's Othello used to be played by white (European extraction) dudes, then by black (sub-Saharan African extraction) dudes. But really he's neither. The Moors were Berbers, a group closer related to Semites than Africans.

Both black and white actors have given strong performances of Othello.

[The Bat]

There is a term in theatre called "non-traditional casting".

Well, I'm just glad they didn't do any "non-traditional casting" for Steve Rogers in Captain America. As great as an Actor I think Laurence Fishburne is...I sure don't want to see him as Cap.