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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Hamilcar on July 30, 2016, 02:39:10 AM

Title: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Hamilcar on July 30, 2016, 02:39:10 AM
http://www.thegreatwallmovie.com/

So triggered right now. Ugh.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: The Brain on July 30, 2016, 02:42:08 AM
Not that guy.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2016, 07:33:13 AM
How do the Chinese "whitewash" a monster movie?
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: celedhring on July 30, 2016, 07:38:15 AM
Zhang Yimou is pretty close to the Chinese political establishment, so I'm pretty sure the film is "ideologically correct".
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2016, 07:41:38 AM
OK, but again, so what?  You guys do know it's a monster flick, right?  Or are we getting butthurt over some metaphorical use of monsters?
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: celedhring on July 30, 2016, 07:44:05 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2016, 07:41:38 AM
OK, but again, so what?  You guys do know it's a monster flick, right?  Or are we getting butthurt over some metaphorical use of monsters?

Knowing Yimou, yeah, I'm pretty sure the story will be very allegorical of West vs East relations.

Film looks kickass anyhow.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2016, 08:03:09 AM
Big fucking deal.  Nobody had any problem lapping up that big Japanese denial of why they we were bombed until they glowed called Godzilla, you know.

Now, Hollywood bending over and taking it up the ass for the sake of Chinese market share (Red Dawn, Iron Man 3) is way more offensive.  Shitbag sellouts.

Who gives a royal rat fuck about allegories over West versus East relations, little yellow rat bastard godless heathens have been doing that for years.


Personally, I prefer my Chinese cinema to be allegory-free (https://youtu.be/NbSQc6btIQc).
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: viper37 on July 30, 2016, 09:07:50 AM
Looks similar to Dragon Blade.  Crap East vs West movie with international actors.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: celedhring on July 30, 2016, 09:21:15 AM
I doubt it will be crappy, at least not completely. Yimou shoots some really sweet action nowadays.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Razgovory on July 30, 2016, 09:38:56 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 30, 2016, 07:44:05 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2016, 07:41:38 AM
OK, but again, so what?  You guys do know it's a monster flick, right?  Or are we getting butthurt over some metaphorical use of monsters?

Knowing Yimou, yeah, I'm pretty sure the story will be very allegorical of West vs East relations.

Film looks kickass anyhow.

So was invasion the body snatchers.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 11:18:41 AM
Movie looks good.  I'm not bothered by the race of the lead actor.  It is fiction anyway.  If they have to do it for commercial reasons, I understand.  That's something I can easily overlook.

In other news, they have picked a white actress for the lead role of the Ghost in the Shell live action movie.  So I guess this sort of thing is quite common.  Don't know what the big deal is.  The anime isn't entirely clear that the major is Japanese anyway. 
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
QuoteConstance Wu has a simple, direct response to the upcoming Matt Damon thriller The Great Wall: "We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world."

The Taiwanese-American actress, known for her role as Jessica Huang on ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, took to Twitter to share her thoughts on the sci-fi co-production between Legendary Entertainment and Chinese companies Le Vision Pictues and China Film Group, which features Damon and Willem Dafoe joining a number of big name actors from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan to battle an ancient Chinese monster.

"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/constance-wu-on-the-great-wall-our-heroes-dont-look-like-matt-damon/ar-BBv2sHN?ocid=ASUDHP (http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/constance-wu-on-the-great-wall-our-heroes-dont-look-like-matt-damon/ar-BBv2sHN?ocid=ASUDHP)
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: grumbler on July 30, 2016, 12:52:08 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
QuoteConstance Wu has a simple, direct response to the upcoming Matt Damon thriller The Great Wall: "We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world."

The Taiwanese-American actress, known for her role as Jessica Huang on ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, took to Twitter to share her thoughts on the sci-fi co-production between Legendary Entertainment and Chinese companies Le Vision Pictues and China Film Group, which features Damon and Willem Dafoe joining a number of big name actors from Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan to battle an ancient Chinese monster.

"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/constance-wu-on-the-great-wall-our-heroes-dont-look-like-matt-damon/ar-BBv2sHN?ocid=ASUDHP (http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/constance-wu-on-the-great-wall-our-heroes-dont-look-like-matt-damon/ar-BBv2sHN?ocid=ASUDHP)

She does have a point.  Her perpetuation of the myth that only white men can save the world really must stop.  Being a white supremacist has got to be damaging to her career.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Eddie Teach on July 30, 2016, 01:35:39 PM
When does Jason Bourne save the world?
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: grumbler on July 30, 2016, 02:44:07 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on July 30, 2016, 01:35:39 PM
When does Jason Bourne save the world?

3:47 PM
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: CountDeMoney on July 30, 2016, 06:33:36 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
QuoteConstance Wu has a simple, direct response to the upcoming Matt Damon thriller The Great Wall: "We have to stop perpetuating the racist myth that only a white man can save the world."

Funny, considering it's that side of the planet full of yellow, brown and burnt sienna that are committing the most egregious acts of ecocide in destroying the world, from emissions to environmental destruction, to endangered species and the population bomb.  The white man is the only one that can save the world, because the rest of the world is a fucking shithole*.

Constance Wu can polish my mighty Age of Enlightenment knob in all her demure almond-eyed soccermom nose-hooked submissiveness. Right before I pee on her.  Squee. Mew.






*Most of Europe graciously not included in said fucking shithole.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: jimmy olsen on July 30, 2016, 07:09:54 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 11:18:41 AM
Movie looks good.  I'm not bothered by the race of the lead actor.  It is fiction anyway.  If they have to do it for commercial reasons, I understand.  That's something I can easily overlook.

In other news, they have picked a white actress for the lead role of the Ghost in the Shell live action movie.  So I guess this sort of thing is quite common.  Don't know what the big deal is.  The anime isn't entirely clear that the major is Japanese anyway.

Her name is the Japanese equivalent of an English woman named Jane Excalibur!

How the fuck is it not clear that she is Japanese?
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 08:15:22 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 30, 2016, 07:09:54 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 11:18:41 AM
Movie looks good.  I'm not bothered by the race of the lead actor.  It is fiction anyway.  If they have to do it for commercial reasons, I understand.  That's something I can easily overlook.

In other news, they have picked a white actress for the lead role of the Ghost in the Shell live action movie.  So I guess this sort of thing is quite common.  Don't know what the big deal is.  The anime isn't entirely clear that the major is Japanese anyway.

Her name is the Japanese equivalent of an English woman named Jane Excalibur!

How the fuck is it not clear that she is Japanese?

So?  I can change my name to Peter Excalibur.  Doesn't make me English. 
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: jimmy olsen on July 30, 2016, 09:14:28 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 08:15:22 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 30, 2016, 07:09:54 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 11:18:41 AM
Movie looks good.  I'm not bothered by the race of the lead actor.  It is fiction anyway.  If they have to do it for commercial reasons, I understand.  That's something I can easily overlook.

In other news, they have picked a white actress for the lead role of the Ghost in the Shell live action movie.  So I guess this sort of thing is quite common.  Don't know what the big deal is.  The anime isn't entirely clear that the major is Japanese anyway.

Her name is the Japanese equivalent of an English woman named Jane Excalibur!

How the fuck is it not clear that she is Japanese?

So?  I can change my name to Peter Excalibur.  Doesn't make me English.

Because you're a real person. Fictional characters are given a names that have meaning for a reason.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Monoriu on July 30, 2016, 10:02:21 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on July 30, 2016, 09:14:28 PM


Because you're a real person. Fictional characters are given a names that have meaning for a reason.

By this logic, the protagonist of Dragonball must be Chinese, as Goku is a Chinese name and is based on one of the most well known classic Chinese novels.  Yet it is clearly established in story that he is an alien :P
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: celedhring on July 31, 2016, 07:44:55 AM
My FB is aflame with people raging about this. It's stupid, accusing Zhang Yimou of whitewashing Chinese history is like accusing MLK of picking up a fight in a bar. Have people not seen the kind of movies this guy does? (rethorical) I'm damn sure having white guys at the center of the film is the entire point of the story he wants to tell.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: The Minsky Moment on August 01, 2016, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
Quote
"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.

China must be more ethnically diverse than I thought.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Berkut on August 01, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 01, 2016, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
Quote
"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.

China must be more ethnically diverse than I thought.

Indeed. Their heroes look like anyone BUT white guys, apparently.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Jaron on August 02, 2016, 04:18:12 AM
This is so disappointing. They should have used a Chinese actor as the lead. They totally ruined this movie with a bad casting decision.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Martinus on August 02, 2016, 04:41:13 AM
Given that Matt Damon is a communist, he may have been selected based on ideological credentials. :P
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Sheilbh on August 02, 2016, 06:51:11 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 31, 2016, 07:44:55 AM
My FB is aflame with people raging about this. It's stupid, accusing Zhang Yimou of whitewashing Chinese history is like accusing MLK of picking up a fight in a bar. Have people not seen the kind of movies this guy does? (rethorical) I'm damn sure having white guys at the center of the film is the entire point of the story he wants to tell.
Yeah we need to see. So far it's not as if Damon is doing a Mickey Rooney which would be more problematic.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: garbon on August 02, 2016, 07:51:42 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 01, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 01, 2016, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
Quote
"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.

China must be more ethnically diverse than I thought.

Indeed. Their heroes look like anyone BUT white guys, apparently.

I guess just the opposite of what white people think. :(
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Malthus on August 02, 2016, 08:05:52 AM
Isn't Matt Damon's whole acting career basically getting saved?  :D
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: celedhring on August 02, 2016, 08:17:59 AM
Quote from: Sheilbh on August 02, 2016, 06:51:11 AM
Quote from: celedhring on July 31, 2016, 07:44:55 AM
My FB is aflame with people raging about this. It's stupid, accusing Zhang Yimou of whitewashing Chinese history is like accusing MLK of picking up a fight in a bar. Have people not seen the kind of movies this guy does? (rethorical) I'm damn sure having white guys at the center of the film is the entire point of the story he wants to tell.
Yeah we need to see. So far it's not as if Damon is doing a Mickey Rooney which would be more problematic.

Most of his films are commentaries on current Chinese society and culture using Chinese past (real or mythic) and projecting it into the present and future. I'm sure that if he's chosen to cast Matt Damon, he has a pretty good reason to do so outside of the usual "we need white leads to make it sellable to western audiences" thinking.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Berkut on August 02, 2016, 08:43:06 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 02, 2016, 07:51:42 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 01, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 01, 2016, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
Quote
"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.

China must be more ethnically diverse than I thought.

Indeed. Their heroes look like anyone BUT white guys, apparently.

I guess just the opposite of what white people think. :(

Indeed. All white people think the same, it is part of being white.
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Malthus on August 02, 2016, 09:00:21 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 02, 2016, 07:51:42 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 01, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 01, 2016, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
Quote
"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.

China must be more ethnically diverse than I thought.

Indeed. Their heroes look like anyone BUT white guys, apparently.

I guess just the opposite of what white people think. :(

No true Whiteman thinks otherwise.  :D
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: garbon on August 02, 2016, 09:18:10 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 02, 2016, 08:43:06 AM
Quote from: garbon on August 02, 2016, 07:51:42 AM
Quote from: Berkut on August 01, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 01, 2016, 03:00:52 PM
Quote from: Kleves on July 30, 2016, 12:38:35 PM
Quote
"Our heroes don't look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela," she wrote.

China must be more ethnically diverse than I thought.

Indeed. Their heroes look like anyone BUT white guys, apparently.

I guess just the opposite of what white people think. :(

Indeed. All white people think the same, it is part of being white.

You don't have to explain. I spend a lot of time around white people. :mellow:
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: Berkut on August 02, 2016, 11:24:43 AM
Some of your best friends?
Title: Re: Now even Chinese cinema whitewashes movies
Post by: garbon on August 02, 2016, 11:53:25 AM
No, none of them. :(