Controversy on The Last Airbender (And, why I am sick of all the race controversies)

[butterflyalice]

Nothing annoys me more then when someone comes along and tells me I shouldn’t like a movie because of something in it they don’t agree with. In The Golden Compass and Angels and Demons, it was because it was Anti-Christian. In The Princess and The Frog, it was because the lead African American female was “too stereotypically black”. In The Blind

Comments

[blueserenity22]

I gotta say, this is a almost identical to the reaction I had (though much more eloquent) to that entry I linked on my post. I felt bullied and belittled after reading it and I didn't like that she invalidated any anger or outrage directed at her post by saying it supported her cause. Iseewhatyoudidthere.

I think there's definitely merit to the disgust to the film; will it mean that I will refuse to go see it? I'm not sure. I feel like it's already starting to be ruined for me because I'm going to be labeled a racist if I go see it; yet I have Asian friends that want to go see it, so are they racists, too?

[butterflyalice]

This is the very calm and rational rant. I had a very angry one but I decided against it. And yes, this lady obviously has no tolerance for anyone other then herself. Personally, I don't think anyone should give her the time of day. If you write something, you should be able to take the other side's opinion, even if you don't like it. You don't have to agree, but you do have to respect that not everyone is going to have the same views. She's basically sticking her fingers in her ears and going "I'm not listening lalalalalalaa". It's beyond childish.

I think if you want to go see it, go see it. I don't think you should have to worry about some people on the internet who say this "encourages racism". If the movie is good, it's good. If it's bad, it's bad. You shouldn't let others ruin your fun either way. :)

[blueserenity22]

I've let this process overnight and definitely have more thoughts on it. Once I found something to compare it to in my life I started realizing how fucked up it was that people were pushing their beliefs and ideals onto me to the point that they felt it appropriate to call me a racist.

Phew. I'll save my ranting. :-p

[xrawrcarrotcake]

This is stupid.

The race of the actors should NOT matter. The quality of their acting should.

Who cares if their not Asian as long as the acting is good?

Would you rather see a crappy Asian actor play the character or a good white actor play the character?

I know which one I'm going for.

Although it is a pity they didn't hire Asian actors but it doesn't mean the film or the films creators or the people who go to see the film are racist and to even accuse them of that is idiotic.

If they were racist why would they have hired Aasif Mandvi? Who is obviously NOT white. Or Dev Patel who again is obviously NOT white.

[xrawrcarrotcake]

haha replying to my own comment x]

But I just remembered the films directed by M. Night Shyamalan who isn't white... does that mean he's racist again himself? o.o

[butterflyalice]

Yes, I did originally write more about quality of actor versus the appearance of an actor but I cut it. I do agree with you 100%.

And yeah, this person just ignored the actual people in the film who aren't white just to further their racebaiting. It's not cool.

[elandae]

You know, I don't know anything much about the movie, but someone else on my flist was commenting on the fact that they changed the race of the main characters. While I do think that is in poor taste on the part of the creators of the movie, I'm with you in that i hate the way people have to make everything into huge PC issue and anything that goes even slightly against what they believe. People have to take everything to such an extreme and there's simply no tolerance for someone voicing another opinion. The only way watching this movie = you are racist, is if someone were watching it ONLY because the characters are now white.

It irritates me so much how people deal with things. If they disagree with what's been done with the movie, then they shouldn't see it. They don't need to force their opinions on everyone else.

[butterflyalice]

EXACTLY. You summed up pretty much everything i'm thinking.

[elandae]

Hell, I had a girl on my flist unfriend me a couple weeks ago cause someone on my journal made a joke she thought was offensive and I dared to laugh at it cause I know that girl and know she meant absolutely nothing by it. People are so extreme. :/

[blueserenity22]

Ugh I feel you. I have a LJ friend threatening to de-friend people if they go see this movie.

Sorry but if you're going to defriend me over a movie (or over an out-of-context joke, in your opinion) I'm gonna say our friendship wasn't that great to begin with. Or you're just a major asshole. lol