On the bright side: Haley Joel Osmond isn't playing Aang.

[innerbrat]

I'm rather relieved, actually, that everyone's talking about the cast for the upcoming movie of Avatar: the Last Airbender, and talking about my greatest concern above all: The cast is all white.

For those not familiar with the  source material, Avatar is a superior quality children's cartoon based around four separate nations with very distinct

Comments

[tyrell]

The cast is all white.

*Headdesks himself into a coma*

[innerbrat]

Don't you wish you were remotely surprised? Even a little?

[tyrell]

I'm still recovering from Earthsea, my skepticism clearly isn't up to par yet.

[innerbrat]

I think even Ursula le Guin is recovering form Earthsea. This is just kicking you when you're down.

[sumerianhaze]

I read your subject heading and I thought: "They're making an Avatar movie? Holy crap I have to see that!!!".

Then I read the small print and it sort of killed the joy.

[majingojira]

Frankly, I saw it coming a mile off

Doesn't make it suck any less.

[timjr]

Dude, not to get off subject, but almost the entirety of the casting on 'Colour of Magic' was extreme fail, too.

[innerbrat]

Jeremy Irons was not extreme fail.

[timjr]

I agree. Jeremy Irons and David Bradley were perfect... but I still get grumbly about how lame Sean Astin was in general, and how way too old David Jason was.

It's like... Hogfather hit all the right buttons.

Colour of Magic felt like... bad community theater. With the requisite folks that were totally above and beyond the rest of the cast.

[innerbrat]

That's it exactly!

(Although Christopher Lee will always be my Death)

[kierthos]

Doesn't surprise me much.... I mean, how many times previous have we seen absolutely crap casting in movies?

Jennifer Garner as Elektra?
Ben Affleck as Daredevil?
Keanu Reeves as Don John? (Much Ado About Nothing)
and to pull one from the vaults... John Wayne as Genghis Khan? (The Conquerors)

And there are tons more out there. This is, yes, a more blatant stupidity, but not out of character for Hollywood and the general movie industry.

[innerbrat]

Well, yes, of course it isn't unexpected, new or out of character.

That doesn't give it a free pass. None of your examples are a blatent change of race (although I think Denzel Washington's half brother might...y'know, look like he shared at least 50% of their ancestry)

[davegodfrey]

Apart from John Wayne.

[innerbrat]

*facepalm*

I'm just not that bright.

Also, dude, if I don't see you before Christmas, I'm officially declaring you MIA and making off with your computer.