People who knew the original series are the ones who are the most affected by the "racial" issues. Because the series was very clearly asian oriented. They had a chinese language and a ancient clothing specialist as part of the development team. For a kids shows. And all the signs in the background are written in flawless ancient chinese. In the tv series, it was more then a "slightly asian setting". It was fully a magical version of ancien asia.
Though I can see why this debate can seem ridiculous to someone who doesn't know the series and goes "what gives?" But it's about the same type of debate as the one that surrounded the "all white" cast of the "Tales of Earthsea" miniseries. If you haven't read the books, you don't care. But if you read the books and know that that world is suppose to be uber-diversified, you feel somewhat hurt or insulted by the changes.
As for the last Airbender, The casting itself is not the thing that really bothers people I think. It was the pure insensitivity of the casting crew who told people to come in ethnic garb with sentences such as "If you're Korean, wear a kimono!" (sic). Of course, that's their own lack of research speaking.
I think my point is, I see both sides of the debate, both the "who the hell cares?" side and the "racist movie" side.
And yeah, the movie looks kinda fun. The bottom line is, I want to see it and make my own opinion.
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Date: 2010-06-30 06:28 pm (UTC)Though I can see why this debate can seem ridiculous to someone who doesn't know the series and goes "what gives?" But it's about the same type of debate as the one that surrounded the "all white" cast of the "Tales of Earthsea" miniseries. If you haven't read the books, you don't care. But if you read the books and know that that world is suppose to be uber-diversified, you feel somewhat hurt or insulted by the changes.
As for the last Airbender, The casting itself is not the thing that really bothers people I think. It was the pure insensitivity of the casting crew who told people to come in ethnic garb with sentences such as "If you're Korean, wear a kimono!" (sic). Of course, that's their own lack of research speaking.
I think my point is, I see both sides of the debate, both the "who the hell cares?" side and the "racist movie" side.
And yeah, the movie looks kinda fun. The bottom line is, I want to see it and make my own opinion.