Avatar :: The Last Airbender Movie Controversy “Racism Still Present in the US?”
Wow. Avator::The Last Airbender, a Nickelodeon animated series, is garnishing some controversy over its upcoming movie release. How? For totally bypassing ANY Asians being cast in the film! To bring you up to speed.
Avatar::The Last Airbender is a very popular animated series on Nickelodeon with a story centralized around mythical Asia. Asian theme, clearly an Asian character set. So naturally, if you are going to make a film franchise based on the series, you’d want an Asian Actor somewhere in the main cast, right? Nope. Not a trace! Is there a shortage of Asian Actors that we weren’t aware of? Or, are people still targets of racism???
But what really blows me away is how this whole controversy is being treated by the films’ own DIRECTOR – M. Night Shyamalan. Come on, guy! Throw your fellow Asian a bone and do something! When asked why there weren’t any Asian Actors as leads ,his response (or rather non-response) was… “he couldn’t be reached for comment.” To add insult to injury Twilight Star, Jackson Rathbone chimes in on his new leading role in Avatar. A snippet:
Due in theaters in summer 2010, “Airbender” has already begun to face a bit of controversy over the casting of white actors like Rathbone, Ringer and McCartney to play Asian characters —a concern the actor was quick to dismiss. “I think it’s one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan,” he said of the transformation he’ll go through to look more like Sokka. “It’s one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit.
Really? Is that all you need, buddy? A tan? Pshh! This is going to go well. Just like DragonBall: Evolution. Oh, boy…
One Derek Kirk Kim chimes in on the “Airbender controversy” citing what we knew all along – that Hollywood isn’t very kind to Asian Americans. Check it out here. Highly relevant, poignant read that really makes you go “Hmmm.” So, is there still racism in America? Sadly, for Asian American actors/entertainers…I’d say there is. What do YOU think? Are people just too hyper-sensitive and should get over themselves? Or, is there racism? Love to hear your thoughts…
You should also read:
>> Racebending.com
>> AngryAsianman.com
Update: Proof from Avatar :: the Last Airbender show bible.
Update: And now, for your viewing (dis)pleasure, the *sigh movie trailer:
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113 Comments
Jun 27, 20098:21 pm
Hey my old message was deleted! Oh well….im just going to make this clear! Everyone is going to hate Shyamalan! You think differently but everyone is going to hate him because he fucked up a good show! Someone needs to fire his DUMBASS from making movies! All his shit never made money….so why hire a DUMBASS director to make a movie based on a GREAT SHOW!
I guess and hop that if there is a director in the making or somthing please remake this movie!
Hot debate. What do you think? 
9 
7
Jun 28, 20099:15 am
Sorry about the deleted comment, I have updated servers and am starting to re-update the content on the site. As always, thanks for coming by everyone!
And as far as this M. Night deal, *shakes head…
Haute or Not: 0 1
Jun 30, 20099:43 am
Don’t worry Kellen, the show isn’t F up, because it’s just another crappy street fighter movie. Just as long as it doesn’t follow the cartoon story, it’s fine. The movie = fail
Show = still win! If they combine the story with the movie then it’s F up!
Hot debate. What do you think? 5 7
Jun 30, 20099:21 pm
if there really is a discrimination against asians in this movie just like the lame Db movie where everything that makes up the story just was cut out like the fact that Goku was human and not a Saiyan sigh then thats sad sigh but still this movie ould look 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 times better with asians because there are light colored asians thus why in anime’s you see so called “white” characters and there are even black asians/dark asians thus you see the “african” characters but everyone is still asian or indian atleast use the actual martial artist stunt doubles…. asian’s Indian’s and pacific islanders would be so much better then white people no offense but this show was made with asians not americans this movie isnt the wild wild west this is myth East sure the whites can play the role but looks is more harder to do considering when your white and you part is a black man @.@ also if this man does have a racial discrimination against asians and pacific islanders then he should be fired and be hit with a lawsuit
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 8 4
Jul 1, 20096:36 am
All im saying is that this is just another movie that’s going to have to be remade! But what bothers me is that no one took control over the situation. The creators of Avatar, Nickelodeon, or even some of the fans. Why would you hire a dumb director to make a movie based on a show that has affected tons of people all over?
i hope they have screening for this movie because i would be the first person to go and see so i can just yell at all the producers and more!
Hot debate. What do you think? 5 6
Jul 1, 200911:59 pm
its alright
just some of the white people in hollywood look at asian people and culture – jackie chan, jet li, and they’re like, wow, im jealous
so guess what?
they gotta be asian too. haha.
Hot debate. What do you think? 7 9
Jul 5, 20096:06 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 14 39
Jul 6, 20099:23 am
Plz the casting was totally racial! Many people dont know this but discrimination is still alive but its invisible. Its called Invisible Discrimination! Many people can see it in the media especially in T.V shows, news, and etc. This movie should have Asian, Mongolian, or Pacific Islander actors. I mean having a white person play Katara i means its either really racial or REEEEAAAAALLLLYYYY CHEAP!!!
DOWN WITH SHYAMALAN!!!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 22 8
Jul 12, 20093:04 pm
The character of Aang is fine, he looks white (thats not racist) But Katara should be played by someone who is pacific islander, as well as Sokka and Zuko needs to be played by a light colored Asian. I don’t know if this guy is colorblind, it looks like for everyone except Aang that he reversed.
Hot debate. What do you think? 9 8
Jul 14, 200911:42 am
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 15 35
Jul 15, 20098:53 pm
Becky, what are you talking about? M. Night Shyamalan is a great director! If you think people are pessimistic, you should take a look at yourself.
I personally think the filmmakers or the studio execs or actors/actresses for this movie did not really take in consideration for the sensitivity of race especially when the characters and the setting for the film is clearly Asian. I don’t know what America they (meaning Hollywood) think they’re living in, but do they really think the American audience is living in LA LA LAND and are too ignorant to figure out that Avatar The Last Airbender Movie has Asian influence? The United States is supposed to be a melting pot. Hollywood is supposed to deliver what the fans of Avatar movie want not what they (meaning Hollywood) want – this is exactly the reason Dragonball Evolution has not done very well here in the States.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 17 7
Jul 15, 200910:16 pm
I just want to add, if anyone is thinking about going to see this movie, ask yourself this question, “Picture a world filled with people who are just like you and yet there is no one other than your own kind exist because they are not like you…will your life be fulfilling?”
I’m not suggesting people shouldn’t see this movie, nor am I suggesting Hollywood is racist, or that the film would be better or worse with an Asian cast. I just feel Hollywood should move forward and not backwards like in the days of John Wayne as Ghengis Khan lol.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 15 2
Jul 16, 20099:33 am
If Hollywood doesn’t change, the Asian community may have to form their own studio which will segregate this country even more, there’s alreay black and hispanic tv channels, radio shows. Long ago, Jewish immigrants practically formed Hollywood because they couldn’t find jobs, and this is why there are a lot of Jewish entertainers (the entertainment industry wasn’t considered a threat for them).
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 9 3
Jul 16, 20096:13 pm
So if Don Cheadle wanted to play a George W. Bush in a biography and gave an outstanding performance during tryouts you think he would have been given the part?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 17 3
Jul 16, 20099:17 pm
Kim and Yang, I applaud you. Is there any other director out there that can PLEASE pull off another Avatar: The Last Airbender movie? There is so much outrage from the fans about the casting. You just don’t get the full effect. The character’s names, fighting styles, culture, etc. are all based on Asian culture! No offense to the actors already cast, but I would like to see more diversity in this film! Something like Mongol/Tibet for Aang Air Nomad, Filipino/Vietnamese/Indonesian for Katara, Sokka & Water Tribes, Thai/Chinese/Indian for Toph Earth Kingdom, Japanese/Korean for Zuko, Azula & Fire Nation. If they did so many open castings, SURELY THERE WOULD’VE BEEN SOME OF THESE! Bah, I will still see the movie to see if they pulled it off, I’m not counting on it. However, I encourage other directors to make something BETTER! I was expecting more from M. Night Shyamalan.. NOT.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 14 2
Jul 16, 20099:18 pm
wait, maybe i won’t see it.
maybe i’ll wait for a psycho friend to buy the dvd…
yeah that’s what i’ll do.
so that it doesn’t make any money!!
who’s in?
protest against the movie!!!!!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 12 7
Jul 16, 200911:58 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 6 11
Jul 17, 200910:23 am
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 2 5
Jul 17, 200911:28 am
Ok so this is what they should do since they are already making the movie and there’s nothing we can really do but once its over or the movie is sooooooo bad that is doesn’t make enough money…..they should remake it! This time they should hire directors that have great movie history such as
Chris Columbus( Home Alone, Harry Potter 1&2)
Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean 1,2,&3)
Ang Lee( Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon)
Robert Shaye( The Last Mimzy)
Well those are just a few! But anyways but i do agree with Emica and that the casting should consist of something like Mongol/Tibet for Aang Air Nomad, Filipino/Vietnamese/Indonesian for Katara, Sokka & Water Tribe,(well not Vietnamese since they r hella mad at us Thai/Chinese/Indian for Toph Earth Kingdom, Japanese/Korean for Zuko, Azula & Fire Nation
I mean its not entirely hard to cast “Asians” i mean China has more people in their country than any other country in the world and your telling me Shyamalan couldn’t find any people to play Zuko or Azula!
And for those who think the casting was not racist! You have another thing coming! I mean if you have seen the show the ENTIRE series is based on Asian culture from the houses, writing, fighting, beliefs, and more. It would not be realistic to see a “White” person play Asian influenced characters. And you may disagree and blame the cartoonist for making the characters look white or black or whatever.
The bottom line is that this movie was designed to be a money maker instead of an epic classic! They should just remake the movie…..
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 9 3
Jul 22, 20093:22 pm
Just a lil sad and disappointed that they did not cast Katara and Sokka as Alaskan or Islander looking kids or Aang or Zuko with Asian actors (there must be none)….Its like a person of color is making this film and he couldn’t find Asian or people of color actors to play these parts! Grrrrrr I am sure the film will be good just had to throw in my two cents…
Also, for people who just think “they went with the best actor”…1 you must be white yourself lol….and two. REALL???? That means that we have no strong Asian actors??? Well the reason could be is Hollywood never gives them the opportunity to work so how would be know if there are any strong Asian actors….Here is my partial cast list of Avatar
Aang – I actually like the lil boy who is playing him. I think he looks like him and to me, looks like he could be mixed Asian.
Katara – Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider), she is a strong actor and has a very similar look to Katara.
Sokka – I would have switch. Dev Patel would have made a better Sokka. He has got a similar look and also has a goofiness to him.
Zuko – Either Ken Leung (Lost) would be my choice or for a younger actor Ken Leung (Disturbia) I have only seen him do goofy comedy but like they always say comedy is harder then drama…
Anyway this is just my partial list….I wish I could have casted the film lol
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 7 2
Jul 23, 20098:10 pm
There are 3 facts I’d like to point out.
1) Dragonball movie was just out which had a a similar style of casting like Avatar.
2) Chronicles of Narnia has a European medieval theme and Avatar has Asian medieval theme. Both movies are based on series of family themed stories and I’ve heard Avatar will have sequels like Narnia.
3) In transformers 2 movie, there was a controversy with the twins and Michael Bay was nice enough to talk about the controversy, but in Avatar, M. Night won’t even respond back.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 7 1
Jul 25, 20091:04 pm
This is ridiculous!!! I truly empathize with many Asians with this whole bull shit of a crew. But one thing that bothers me is people who think that racism is over. It will never be over. Just because a black man and his family is in the white house doesn’t mean that racism is over. It just means that people are hopeful now but it is only the lives of him and his family that have changed. Now regarding this whole controversy I am honestly disappointed because this is not fair. They can do better. And I truly believe that the cast HAD to be a majority white because if otherwise then many people wouldn’t see the film. They do this to appeal to the white pop. or else they wouldn’t even give the movie the time of day.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 10 2
Jul 25, 20094:35 pm
Dave that just shows how M. Night doesnt really care about this movie!
Haute or Not: 2 0
Jul 27, 20097:58 pm
Fank Marshall the exec producer of Avatar, directed the movie alive, which also had a casting controversy.
Haute or Not: 1 0
Jul 30, 20092:01 pm
It is rather disapointing that our society is reverting back to 1972 where David Carradine was cast over Bruce Lee to play an Asian Shaolin monk in the series Kung Fu. Maybe next year we will see Hollywood revert further back to their early day where white actor paint their face with burnt cork to play an African American role.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 9 1
Aug 1, 20094:08 pm
I believe that their are plenty of Asian-American talents out there, just that they’re not discover yet. It’s nothing for the producers to find Asian actors of any age.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 7 0
Aug 8, 200910:32 am
What really annoys me is those people who defend the casting of the film. They lack this very human trait called “empathy”.
I hear things like, “Who cares. I don’t understand why you Asians make such a big deal out of it. Stop complaining.”
They can’t see it through my eyes.
Everyone uses this analogy, but it’s a perfect example of faulty casting.
What if there was film called, “The Founding Fathers of America” starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan? That doesn’t sound right.
It’s the exact same thing.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 22 2
Aug 10, 20092:26 pm
I totally agree with gman, i may not be asian but i understnad where you are coming from. Im black mix and i understand your guy’s pain and thats why i totally disagree and hate what they are doin to this movie!
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 8 2
Sep 20, 20094:52 pm
Jesus is Asian.
Jesus’ origins trace back to the West Asia, where Jerusalem is, mind you.
Jerusalem, as of the moment, is occupied by three main religions, namely Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
People just think Jesus is European because of the way he is portrayed. Society today use the artistic representations of Jesus Christ from the Middle Ages/Renaissance period, wherein they would NOT be painting a person that came from Asia.
It’s a sad fact, really. Jesus is not white, so I’ve heard, he did not have an aquiline nose like most westerners, but he is tanned and shorter than he is depicted. At least that’s what I’ve heard. He’s just depicted to reflect what is “most beautiful and most accepted”
So there.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 15 2
Oct 28, 20098:54 am
let me tell you this is a absulote digrace to have a asian themed anime which was great turned into a movie with guess what no asian, my god it like there are no asian actor around, this is so like in the old days using white actor to play indian , and asian. I for one will not spend my money on this crap and someone should tell the director to wake up and relize that we won’t put up with this crap any more. enough already what a disgrace pure and simple
Haute or Not: 4 2
Nov 8, 200912:40 pm
Screw this movie!! Hollywood only cares about money! There’s an inner circle with Hollywood and the producers and execs picked these actors because they know them and not necessarily because of talent or the quality of the show. Doesn’t this sound like DB movie to you guys???
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 9 1
Nov 10, 200911:29 am
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 3 18
Nov 11, 20097:16 pm
@ #1 Is Jesus Asian? :
It’s not just the fact that white people are playing heroes either, it’s also makes me question that since M. Night is of Indian descent, that he also picked Indian actors to be the Fire Nation. C’mon, I can stand if white people were portrayed in the film as the supposed asian characters but there’s a clear skin difference between characters when you make someone like Iroh or Zuko having a different skin color ALONG with not being of the same ethnicity. It’s like if they replaced Bob Saget to be Denzel Washington in Full House, it makes no sense whatsoever. Thank you M. Night for fucking up Avatar casting (let’s hope he doesn’t mess up the movie too).
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 8 2
Nov 25, 20097:17 pm
i know its probably too late but they should def do some recasting if they want the movie to be hit. Its an ASIAN based show but no asians what kind of garbage is that. Im not even asian and i find it racist and offensive.
Haute or Not: 5 2
Dec 7, 20091:26 am
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 6 23
Dec 9, 20092:43 am
Hey Jeff, so what if airbender movie was an all asian cast, did anyone say anything when Lord of the Rings was an all white cast?
People aren’t saying this movie should be an all asian cast, they are just angry with Hollywood’s blatant disregard to the ethnic race that the characters are in the animated show. The animated show was marketed for being diverse with different ethnic races and cultures, and yet, the live action version seems to be doing the complete opposite.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 16 0
Dec 10, 200910:24 am
Please take 10 minutes of your time to read this through and pass the message along if you agree with me:
Casting primarily Caucasian actors for ALL the main roles of a movie based on a show with OBVIOUS and PREDOMINATE Asian themes while relegating a few minor and marginal roles to actors of color (any color, that is, with even fewer being actual Asian ethnicity) is a shameful farce in poor taste. To be fair, M. Night Shyamalan may have the artistic license to change certain aspects of the original TV show for his live-action movie adaptation and the original TV show itself is entirely fantasy and doesn’t have any canonical rules regarding race. However, given the CLEAR depictions of CHINESE and other EASTERN ASIAN style writing, clothing, food, architecture, rites, etc. in the show, the effort of using almost all Caucasian cast, or rather, the lack of effort in seeking out Asian actors, is ridiculous in a racial, social, and artistic sense. Without going in-depth into the various arguments and counter-arguments regarding this stance, just imagine if the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars or Narnia films had all Asian, or African, or Hispanic actors. Sure the names of places and people of Middle Earth are Caucasian, but they COULD be Asian, right?
However, given that it is already this far into the production of the film and that it is going to be released this summer, it is too late to change the cast short of Viacom or Paramount picture scuttling the entire project to considerable loss to themselves, their investors, and the people working on the film – that that is NOT going to happen. What is left is simply to boycott The Last Airbender in protest. Although the cause is ideologically significant, its repercussions are not. A couple thousands or even a couple tens of thousands of people is a drop of water in an ocean when compared to the overall movie-going masses of the United States and the rest of the world. The damage of M. Night SHAMalan’s and/or Paramount’s decision will only impact the Asian-American community, the fans of The Avatar series, and a small number of other people who care about the subject. At the end of the day, it’ll be business as usual, and the millions of movie-goers who have never heard of The Avatar or are ignorant to such racial / social issues will still chip in their $7 – $11 at the theaters.
In order to amplify the voice of the protest against STRUCTURAL RACISM of the entertainment industry and AVERSIVE RACISM of the American society at large, the message must not only be written in words, but also in an more universal language – money. I propose that as many people as those who care about and support this cause contribute to the distribution of FREE versions of The Last Airbender movie upon its release. Find a link to some website that offers good quality of the movie for streaming or for download, and give that link to all of your friends and associates, and have them tell their friends and associates. Invite your friends to come over to have your own private screening of the movie together at your house for that movie theater experience if you want to. If you have the know-how, upload your own versions of the movies, provide subtitles in other languages for the other countries that this film will be released in (you can check the film’s website for the release dates and countries).
If everyone can see or have seen the movie for free (and I doubt it’ll be a great enough film for someone to actually go see it again at the theater), there’s no incentive for them to shell out money for it, and so Viacom and/or Paramont won’t get paid. If this is carried out on a large enough scale and results in a noticeable financial loss to Viacom and/or Paramount (as long as the difference is statistically significantly greater than the average range of financial loss due to piracy), then an otherwise marginal yet fundamentally important issue would be given the proper weight. Piracy is a severe problem in the entertainment industry and something that I do not endorse. However, given the situation, I feel that it would be a potentially effective and poetically just (China is known for the piracy of films, so why not bring some additional “Asian themes” to the movie?) way of addressing the issue of structural and aversive racism exacerbated by the farcical casting decisions made for The Last Airbender. Mainstream society and the industries that cater to it need to stop externalizing the cost of aversive racism – pass along this message to help.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 10 1
Dec 11, 200911:31 pm
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Dec 21, 20092:05 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 5 13
Dec 22, 20091:08 pm
Well, I agree with Tyler. some what. Racism issues aside. If this movie isnt good, M Night Im sure will be done. He has had some stinker recently. He’ll be directing movie ON television, instead of from Television. And the Casting, Im sure had nothing to do with him. He probably isnt in a position to choose who he wants. Im sure the people funding this thought it was good idea.
Haute or Not: 3 0
Dec 23, 20091:24 pm
This is what you expect from Movies coming out in the west.
to totally bypass Asian actors and actresses and show mostly whites
is just what i would call a tradition of racism in the west.
its a throw back to the old days like the racial stereotypes of African Americans,Asians,Latinos and the Native People of the USA.
It doesn’t amaze me that much anymore it just shows that the west will always be ass backwards when it comes to doing anything. And it shows very well how people think in thier movies when it comes to culture.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 7 2
Dec 27, 20096:23 pm
Oh god the irony….. Avatar (the one with the aliens) is a movie that passionatly expresses tolerance and logic, while Avatar (air bender) is the exact opposite….
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 9 2
Dec 28, 200910:48 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 4 19
Jan 1, 20105:52 am
the cartoon series is the best of all cartoon history cartoons…
i think the movie will be a huge disappointment,
i’m talking about clearly POOR casting,,,
worst casting ever,
especially Zuko’s part…
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 5 1
Jan 12, 201011:23 pm
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Jan 15, 20106:23 am
@ Ferret: it’s not racism if the director purposely cast caucasian actors in the roles for which the characters were drawn asian-esque.
first and foremost – there isn’t much diversity in the cast.
Maybe the goal was to get more people interested in Avatar by casting Caucasian actors everyone in the West knows about; there are definitely people who will watch a movie just to catch a glimpse of their favourite start.
Second and biggest problem is that Zuko is BROWN while the fire nation blatantly expresses ancient Han Chinese themes in their culture – fortifications, costuming, customs, etc. You can’t pretend that the fire nation doesn’t look asian, especially when the depiction of Uncle is pretty much the same as that of almost all elderly asian males in past cartoon productions… and that’s just one example.
I think they totally missed the boat on this one – I’m willing to bet that most original Avatar fans like myself won’t go see (it in theatres, at the very least).
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 8 0
Jan 16, 201011:37 pm
Surprise surprise (sarcasm) that Hollywood yet again casts white actors as clearly Asian characters. Dragonball, and 21 weren’t enough eh? People who are fans of the show know that the characters are Asian, and yet the show is very successful and highly regarded. So what is the problem with casting an Asian cast? NOTHING! The film would do well, it would also remain true to its source material, AND WOULDN’T OFFEND ANYONE. I am not Asian (Hispanic) but I still think the casting of Caucasians as the leading heroic roles is absolutely racist , and no, throwing in some random East Indians isn’t good enough since they play the villains and the heroes are WHITE. Which is sending the message that White people are the greatest people on Earth and will save the world. Sounds like a whole lot of white supremacy to me. How would you feel if Hollywood put a white actor as Martin Luther King in a movie because they couldn’t find any “bankable” African-American actors? Yeah I thought so. Just because you put your actors in yellow face makeup does NOT make them Asian.
AANG CAN STAY ASIAN AND STILL SAVE THE WORLD
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 8 0
Jan 24, 20107:50 pm
“The story of Aang, a young boy with the power to bend the elements who is called upon to bring order to his war-torn world, Avatar is the brainchild of seasoned animators Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. When asked how he would describe the show to someone who’s never seen it before, Konietzko called it ‘an epic, Asian, martial-arts fantasy/action/adventure/comedy/drama series about the four elements. It isn’t easy to fit it all into one sentence!’”
Clark, Christian. “It’s Elementary — Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Animation World Network. 17 Oct. 2007. Web.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 4 0
Jan 27, 20102:07 am
I disagree with Ferret. Just because it’s an American cartoon doesn’t mean that the characters have to be white. If you look at Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films, many of their stories takes place in a European setting, and some of them have a European fantasy theme even though they’re drawn by Japanese animators. I also don’t agree with Ferret saying it’s racist to bring it up about the ethnicities of the actors. If you look at the cast most of the heroes are caucasians and most of the villains are people of color, how is this not some sort of favoritism when there is a definite asian and native american theme? Why are Paramount and Nickelodeon causing themselves so much trouble when there are successful asian actors and actresses (if not here in the states, there are plenty overseas and some are bilingual) in Hollywood?
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 5 0
Jan 27, 201012:50 pm
@The Truth
What are you talking about? Why did Slumdog and Crouching Tiger received numerous Oscars? They both had an all asian cast and were low budget films (about $15 million) and yet they made over $100 million just in the United States alone. If you go back in the 80′s The Last Emperor received Best Picture and with the exception of Peter O’ Toole, it also had an all asian cast. Harold and Kumar films made more than the budget.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 4 0
Feb 6, 20104:43 pm
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=293202205783
White, Black, or Asian it is clear that inuit/asian culture is very essential to the cartoon. With the release of the cast list i have to say I feel disapointed
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Feb 8, 20103:19 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 1 10
Feb 20, 20108:25 pm
As a Young Japanese women i have seen so many bad representations of the Women of my culture in American Cinema. This current problem of white washing an entire cast is just what i expect from American Cinema. For years especially in the 1930s and 40s Asian were always played by white actors just like Native American portrays by Italians.
Its 2010 and i’m still seeing this crap.
WHY???
Is this just a standard attempt to show Whites as the master race?
I guess This is why White America will always be seen as racist and as ignorant
as they have been through out the years.
I’m not surprised and yet again i will have to explain to my daughter why in this day and age we don’t exist in America.
that there will always be a white face that doesn’t belong in our images.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 10 1
Feb 25, 20107:17 pm
If I were a big-shot director should cast an Arab guy as Captain America, just to spite these fools. Or how about an Asian guy as Thor? Then when they say, “But Thor has blond hair!” I will say, “But he is a god and gods don’t technically have skin.”
Haute or Not: 4 2
Feb 26, 20107:42 am
4Dolo your exactly right my step-father told me how would white Americans feel if we took one of thier classic movies like “Gone with the wind” and made all the characters Asian,African Arab etc. White American don’t really understand how people of different races feel when they see something that is from thier culture raped and white washed.
Haute or Not: 5 2
Mar 3, 20102:12 am
I disagree with Ferret. Just because it’s an American cartoon doesn’t mean that the characters have to be white. If you look at Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli films,
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 5 0
Mar 10, 20108:36 am
I agree so much with Mayumi i hate it.
I hate the way everyone thinks that this is the way its suppose to be.
I’m Young but i just feel so angered that this happens in cinema.
My favorite Manga is Dragon Ball Z
and when i saw that film on my visit to the states i felt so angered.
Why? Why do they think the world especailly people of different cultures want to see this.
I felt like this when that horrible movie Fast and furious tokyo drift came out.
the same stupid racist storylines.
My fiancee is African/Asian and we always talk about this.
His gripe is just like mine but its an open view he saws on how African men
are portrayed in American Cinema.
His anger was always about how america shows African men to be Loud,acting dumb,Abusive,confrontational and blaming everyone else.
This is off subject so please forgive me.
Last Airbender shows alot about Asian and other native cultures.
and i think the way they are doing it is just plain wrong.
When will people figure out that doing films like this only bring out the hate that has been in america since its begining.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 8 0
Mar 10, 20104:19 pm
I have never actually seen racism against Asian until today. *sighs*. That is what I get for living in an Asian Ghetto in California. but hey, when obama got elected, i forgot all about this bs.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike: 4 0
Mar 13, 20108:37 am
This will show the world that this country has no imagination or education when it comes to film making. We get films over and over again about white teens trying to get laided and other stupid plot lines. We should just come to the terms that Hollywood is racist and will always be racist when it comes to making anything.
Look at the 3rd mummy movie we can see the suttle racism in this film towards China.
or for that matter look at ALL the films made in the 20th century that depicts Asians,Africans,Latinos,Native Americans in a light as marrauders or killers or rapists.
This is what America loves to see.
every few years i see what i call TARZAN films.
White Americans in other countries acting like they are GOOD and the locals are out of the jungle doing what America has been doing socially and physically to the world.
Running around terrorizing everyone.
What am i getting at?
well what i’m saying here is we always had these films here making anyone of color look like they are evil or out to do things agains innocent white people in areas.
Just turn on the tv
look at how many shows pop up where Blacks or Latinos are gangbangers.
NOW! this is about Last Airbender being white washed even though ALL the characters should be Asian.
What i have been typing just brings to mind what has been happening in Popular American Media.
That the good guys always seem to wear white or are white and anything of color seems to be bad in American films.
America may be a melting pot.
But in its media?
well that another question.
we seem to have alot of D. W. Griffith style movies out there.
Portraying anyone of color as the bad guys.
And whites always looking good.
It will never change unless we all stand up and start writing and speaking up!
Haute or Not: 3 0
Mar 21, 201011:55 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 3 10
Mar 23, 20105:35 am
Spoken by a person who has never met the ugly side of America.
Hotpockets do you know how it feels to be given the look.
or to know how it feels when scores of people whisper and call you names
that make fun of your race or culture.
Movies that are quite a few years old don’t matter now.
were are looking at what is going on right now.
When you see a film that shows a certain culture or soceity and everyone is replaced with
the wrong people we are reacting to it.
We see the BULLSHIT and i think you don’t fricken understand that.
Or do you pay attention to the details.
How old are you? Hotpockets???
Because i don’t think you know how others feel.
You think everything is nice and ok.
So i’m guessing your not of color.
Like most of the people here making comments.
when you say things about films where they put African/Americans in parts instead if Whites.
your just trivalizing a whole culture of crap that most minorities see on tv and cinema.
so i suggest before you say something look at it from the point of view of the people who find this old backwards way in hollywood stupid.
Its 2010 not 1910 this charlie chan crap is getting very fricken old.
there is a young Japanese lady here who made a comment here.
Shes my wife and we see so much of this bullshit throughout our lives.
So if you don’t know how it feels.
WHY ARE YOUR HERE?
Haute or Not: 3 2
Mar 25, 20105:06 am
look i am eleven and i know this why the heck they pick white characters pick someone mixed or like they said asian but due to the way the characters looked they cannot be white and i seen every episode and i still watch it whites can be in it but not for the main characters but i do not want to be racis its just not that kind of movie and and for jessie mcartney to be in it hes pale !?!?!
Haute or Not: 0 2
May 2, 20107:12 am
I am asking Asians to deface any and all Avatar posters by spray painting RACISTS on them. Also, I heard they are makig a Genghis Kahn movie starring Mickey Rourke. Jews in Hollywood and the media have always been racist towards Asians. Unless Asian Americans take a stand and stomp these assholes out in their tracks, they’re going to keep on commiting to their divisive and racist policies against Asians. All it does is minimize Asian Americans who have been in this country for the last 150 years. These racist Hollywood Assholes don’t want Asian Americans to be Americanized. It’s always been about divide and conquer with them. There are enough starving actors looking for work. Stuff like this is racist and these idiots will keep on doing it unless Asian Americans come togther as a group and threaten them with either physical, fininacial or social consequences. This country has a problem with selective racism. Apparently, it’s only racist if something negative is done to blacks, Hispanics, gays or Jews. With Asians, they just don’t care.
Haute or Not: 3 1
May 19, 20103:07 pm
aang is asian. and zuko is not white either, so how is this racism?
Haute or Not: 2 1
May 19, 20103:51 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 1 5
May 20, 20109:24 pm
AVATAR TO ME IS THE BEST ANIMATED SERIES OF ALL TIMES. WHEN I HEARD THAT THEY WERE MAKING ALIVE ACTION MOVIE I ALMOST PISSED MY PANTS I WAS SO EXCITED. BUT I ALSO FELT THE SAME WAY WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE FIRST TRANSFORMERS MOVIE. BUT US TRUE FANS KNOW HOW MUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WAS. WITH MY HOPES UP HIGH I SAID TO MYSELF THEY CANT MESS THIS UP!! THEN WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT M. Night Shyamalan BEING THE DIRECTOR I WAS LIKE GREAT, THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD. THEN CAME THE CASTING RELEASE……….. I AM SURROUNDED BY RACISM EVERYDAY. I AM YOUST TO SOME OF IT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. BUT THIS IS WAR!!! I WILL NOT GO SEE OR PROMOTE THIS MOVIE. I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO GO SEE IT.( AND I KNOW THOUSANDS) I AM GOING TO BUY NINE HUNDRED BLANK DVD’S, DOWNLOAD THE BOOTLEG AND SELL THEM FOR 50CENT EACH. I AM GOING ON FACE BOOK MYSPACE TWITTER, AND ANYTHING ELSE I CAN REACH OUT MY VOICE ON THIS MATTER IN CAPITAL BOLD LETTERS AND LET THE WORLD KNOW THAT THIS IS SOME RACIST BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE.
AND F@#K PARAMOUNT PICTURES
FOR F@#KING UP WHAT COULD OF BEEN A MASTER PEACE.
P.S.
EAT A D@%K M. Night Shyamalan!!!
ILL NEVER WATCH ONE OF YOUR MOVIES AGAIN! YOU UNCLE TOM!!
Haute or Not: 3 2
May 20, 20109:36 pm
AND TO #66WHY? THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT WHITE FOLKS. YOU CAN SAY SH$T UNTIL YOU WALK IN OUR SHOES FOR TEN YEARS. SO SHUT UP YOUR OPINION DOESN’T COUNT!!! AND HELL NO WERE NOT WITH YOU. (were racist i cant believe you said that)
Haute or Not: 3 1
May 22, 20101:09 pm
Yesterday me and my husband William went to see Iron Man 2 with our Son Shinji.
while waiting for the film to start we saw the preview for Last Airbender
and was disgusted.
We never felt so much anger in our hearts to see what was left out.
My great grandparents immigrated to this country in 1932 where from what i heard from my late grandfather was a horrible portrayal of Asian in American cinema at that time.
My grandfather fought in WW2 as a Nisei and told me so many things told to him because he was Japanese and Korean.
When i saw this preview i was reminded of the films of the USA at that time when Asians were portrayed as shifty and vile. And played by whites……
My husband was angered as he is Filipino African we now know that nothing has changed and from seeing what a few ignorant people have written here who support films like this nothing has changed in this country.
White America will still and always portray minorties in a way that is so unfavorable.
and the final insult an Indian director something is very wrong.
I’m sad that we will still get these films.
And my Son likes Avatar the last airbender.
But now he like me and my husband are very very angry.
And we pray for the failure of this film.
A young lady here quoted its 2010 not 1910 she is most correct.
i’m a film student at the university.
and this film makes me think of D. W. Griffith’s Birth of a nation because for this very reason…..
There are nothing tying this movie to the animation. It lacks an equation
Asians…
this film is very politically incorrect.
Haute or Not: 3 3
May 22, 20103:57 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 0 4
May 23, 20107:21 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 4 7
May 23, 20109:00 pm
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Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 2 5
May 24, 201010:46 am
It deserves a fair shot in hollywood hell.
Every damn fantasy made in the USA falls into the same stupid category.
Always about whites always about thier struggle which to people of color this makes no sense. Ever since my childhood i was treated like a stereotype.
Only other people of color saw me for myself and not a stereotype.
You don’t know how it feels to walk into a room full of whites and have one of them say “love you long time” you don’t know that bad feeling.
I like Avatar the last Airbender and i aplaud the artist and writers who are not Asian themselves but love the culture that it represents BUT! i don’t like it when the whole dynamics of a series is changed so much that its not recognizable when brought to live action. For example Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Balls made in the States and screwed over in the states.
Or the Racism in any film about the Vietnam war.
This is what people of color notice.
why don’t you try reading the Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and before you get dumb on me this book is about African-Americans who are still invisible in the Country even though
the president is Half Black.
This discussion is about what People of color see when they turn on the TV,News and entertainment.
This is why were angry…..
Because we are treated as if were invisible.
Haute or Not: 4 1
Jun 10, 20109:53 am
Everyone who is bitching about this movie being “whitewashed” is an idiot.
It has one (repeat that) ONE! white character in it.
has no one noticed that the “white” sokka and katara in the movie appear more native american than anything else? Im cherokee and despite whatever their heritage may be, they honestly look more like my people than some european white folks. After that of course the entire fire nation is eastern indian… And every single bit of casting released to date for anyone earth nation all seem to be asian. The only “white” character in there so far is ang… and since he is “the last airbender” I doubt there will be many other white people in there.
So each nation in the film has its own ethnicity it would seem. The movie hasn’t been whitewashed. Its been diversified!
Hot debate. What do you think? 3 5
Jun 10, 20104:34 pm
In response to why?’s comments, I’m asian and I do think you and anyone else, despite their skin color should be entitled to their opinions. If we continue to try to segregate someone else’s opinions just because they are white, then it’s another example of racism. But do I think this movie should be given a fair shot, I honestly don’t think so. The only way to make a stand is for other’s who believe in fair casting in Hollywood, avoid this film. I’ve never seen the Avatar cartoon but have heard so much praise for it. But after I heard who they were casting, I, being a person of asian descent felt jilted and disappointed and have no plans to pay $10 for a ticket to watch this movie. I honestly feel disappointed in M Night Shyamalan, who is of Asian descent himself, in his choice of casting after years of me defending his films. I can’t defend him on this at all. It makes me wonder, how everyone would react if they casted someone Filipino or Japanese or Korean to play Harry Potter. The book covers show him as white and obviously, everyone who’s a fan of Harry Potter expect someone who’s white. What about The Last Airbender? Shouldn’t the main characters be similar to how they were drawn, in skin color? I think so. Peter Parker is white, so I expect a white actor to play him in a movie. Batman is white, I expect a white actor to play him. Now, since the main actors in Avatar, The Last Airbender were purposely drawn asian, shouldn’t it be the same idea? I think so. In fact, I know so. It is so much like the David Carradine casting over Bruce Lee in the ’70′s Kung Fu series all over again. Do I hope this film fails, yes I do. But I do hope all the filmmakers learn from their mistakes and given a second chance to make things right in future films regarding asians.
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jun 10, 20107:52 pm
Flipped your words have moved me and i totally agree.
I was raised in the generation that saw so many horrible movies where
Characters who are of another race are replaced with white actors and actresses
Like you i hope this film bombs.
So other filmmakers will be politcally correct when casting for a film about another culture.
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jun 11, 20109:25 pm
@ rainingcrow
Are you even a real cherokee person or just pretending? The show is assuredly asian/native american world, it makes no sense to cast non asian/native american actors as the heros in a world that’s mostly a pan asian fantasy.
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jun 12, 20108:38 pm
But why is it that in X-Men, the actors fit the physical appearance of the cartoon characters?!?!?!?! why couldn’t they do that for the Avatar!
Haute or Not: 3 2
Jun 13, 20109:04 am
@ is JESUS ASIAN
YES HE IS.
Europeans have given son of MARYAM, REAL NAME YASSU, called him jesus. He was born in WESTERN ASIA. SEMITES ARE PART OF THE ASIAN RACE
Haute or Not: 2 0
Jun 19, 20108:40 am
Honestly, I don’t believe the casting was racist. Perhaps the actors that were cast portray the part best–not because they were Caucasian. If they play the part best, shouldn’t they get the role? I also think that they wanted to hire actors that are more popular with Americans. (Ex. Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel) I don’t mean to sound apathetic to this situation and forgive me if I offended anyone. I know that racism is a serious issue and that it still exists. I’ve tried seeing from other’s point of view, but I still don’t see the injustice made by the casting.
Haute or Not: 5 2
Jun 19, 201010:09 pm
@Alicia
The argument isn’t about the qualification of the actors/actresses, but it has more to do with the characters being represented fairly. Why didn’t Paramount and Nickelodeon go all the way with the lead protagonists being descended of the diverse asian and native american cultures when the show is heavily a pan asian fantasy?
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jun 20, 20101:41 am
Also, according to wiki, M. Night says he didn’t want to make the film without Nicola Peltz when interviewed by People magazine, so I’m not really convinced there were even tryouts with some of the actors/actresses.
Haute or Not: 2 0
Jun 21, 20103:58 pm
To the people who keep saying “if the cast had all asians it would be just as racist”. What the hell are you talking about?! Just shutup. That’s like saying Jet Li movies are racist because even though it’s obviously an asian themed movie it’s racist cause there’s no diversity. Uhh, really? Bottom line, the fans are complaining about how there seems to be no asian people in the movie. Not one. I personally don’t mind if there are other ethnicities playing some parts in the movie but at least put some asians in there!
Haute or Not: 3 2
Jun 24, 201010:16 am
Zuko is portrayed by an actor named Dev Patel. He’s English born with an Indian heritage. He was in Slum-dog Millionaire.
I see the point of white actors portraying Sokka and Katara, but Aang is white, he looks white in the animation and he is obviously and blatantly a child version of the white bald guy who co-created Avatar. A white bald boy makes sense for the role and he’s already a well trained Martial Artist which is definitely a plus when it comes to a role like Aang.
Suki, Iroh, Ozai, Zhao, Yue among others are all portrayed by non white actors.
In fact, I checked the IMDB for all of the notable roles and 6 of the characters are white. 18 of them are non white (Asian, Latino, Indian, One of them is black, etc)
I seriously don’t see the problem.
Haute or Not: 3 2
Jun 24, 20104:04 pm
Crikey.. this thread is massive. Is it personal for everyone or what?
I have to say, when I saw the preview I didn’t even notice this racial aspect of the movie. Am I ignorant? Maybe someones race just isn’t as big of an issue to me as is it to you. If it irkes you, then tell people you won’t watch it (even though you will). But either way takes Sam’s (#83) advice and “Just shutup.”
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jun 24, 201011:26 pm
I mean to each his own. Telling people to shut up won’t do anything. If you want to go further boycott it. Hollywood has always had a racist past but this day in age no one notices because it’s not explicit. Anyone remember Non-Native Americans playing the role of a chief? Or how about people wearing heavy makeup to play the role of an Asian. It’s kind of sad imo. If there was more films staring Asians nowadays, I don’t think people would have an issue but to be oblivious to different cultures.
I understand peoples’ opinions but remember before you judge another comment think about one thing:
1. Have you walked a mile in that person’s shoes? (i.e. their childhood and experiences)
Go to alllooksame.com shows the variety of Asian cultures. Let’s see who fails that.
Haute or Not: 2 0
Jun 25, 20107:11 pm
Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
Poorly-rated. Like or Dislike: 1 6
Jun 26, 201011:17 am
I posted this somewhere else, but thought it to add it here since I’ve posted here in before.
The Kid who plays Aang definitely is very qualified for the role. He’s a martial artist, he’s a huge fan of the show and he seems to have the role down from the trailers. Too bad this kid’s first experience in Hollywood involves people who he would consider fellow fans of the show being extremely negative against him for no other reason but his race.
Haute or Not: 2 1
Jun 26, 20108:47 pm
Kei Arigato Gozaimasu.
I’ve seen so much in my life that made me cry and feel so ashamed to be Asian in a pre-dominate White soceity. Until i met my Husband i felt alone and now my children are mixed race with African/Filipino decent.
I will still feel anger towards this film because of my childhood.
And in most it can be said Most white Americans will not understand the feeling of a great many minorities in this great nation.
Like my husband says its a melting pot but with a large hole in it.
Haute or Not: 1 1
Jun 28, 20105:24 pm
I’m torn between wanting to see this movie and boycotting. As a black person, I thought Hollywood was making great strides in the race department. What with Disney having the first black princess and ‘The Karate Kid’ having two minorities not normally seen together (and getting along) working with each other (and it taking place in China instead of the USA.) But after seeing the trailer for the ATLA movie, it hurt my heart. To see two of the most important main characters (one of them being my favorite character) portrayed by white actors seems trifling. Was there no talented Asian actors they could’ve chosen from? I’m judging the actors themselves, they’ll probably do a good job. However, I don’t think I can watch this movie without feeling a little hurt inside.
Haute or Not: 4 1
Jun 30, 20106:38 pm
at first when i heard that the Last Airbender was becoming a movie i was like YESSS YEESSS FINALLYY!! and i really expected the cast to be mostly asian since the characters appeared asian. But it disappointed me to see the cast. I think that aang actually looks like the character but the actor does appear a little too young. i think that zuko should’ve been played by a korean, chinese or japanese since he appears more east asian in the cartoon. Katara and sokka are too pale and have white features unlike the characters in the cartoon. I’m not hating on the white race but i feel that for an asian cartoon, an asian cast is needed. I feel like this movie is going to make me dislike the cartoon that i absolutely love but i’m just hoping that in the future another person will remake the last airbender correctly.
Haute or Not: 1 1
Jul 1, 20105:49 pm
I’ve posted here before… I’m an African-American man and I still seriously don’t see a problem with the races of the cast of the Last Airbender. (I love that it’s more diverse than most movies and way more diverse than the almost all white cast of Avatar TV series’ Voice actors.)
But the movie itself… the Acting, the Editing, The Directing, The Dialogue, the Last minute 3D thing, etc all seem like reasons for this movie to deserve the bad reviews it’s getting.
(Also wanting to kick Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Middle Easterners, South Asians, etc out of the movie because they’re not East Asian is still a form of racism.)
Haute or Not: 2 0
Jul 1, 20106:37 pm
Wow…the movie isn’t racist……G-d…..I swear…..that’s like saying movies with too many blacks is racist, or movies with not enough blacks is racist…..the actors do NOT have to be Asian! The directors was looking for a kid good for the part for Aang, and so on. They picked a kid doing martial arts stuff off the internet and put him into the movie because he was good at it! (Heck I think the kid is Asian!). This whole thing about the movie being racist is a bunch of BS. If you think the film is racist then call movies where blacks and Hispanics get killed “racist”. I am guessing the SAW 3 was racist because it had a black man dying, and not “Enough” black people……can’t be just that the people that they had were not good enough for the part. ALSO IT’S A DAMN MOVIE MADE FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT AT LEAST RECOGNIZE THAT!!!….Ingrates!
Haute or Not: 2 2
Jul 1, 20109:29 pm
really? The only asians or people of color they cast are the villains (People of the Fire Nation)Its an insult that they didnt even bother filling a stereotypical asian character in at all for martial arts or anything. The audition list for aang, sokka, and katara was even listed as “Preferably Caucasian or any other race” I was looking forward to this movie but not so much anymore. Nice job Night, nice job
Haute or Not: 1 2
Jul 2, 201012:36 am
The movie is based on the Asian culture, they shouldn’t let a Caucasian actor take over. It’s like an insult saying that there’s no Asian can handle the role. It’s like they trying to steal our culture and make it theirs. I already disappointed with DragonBall, now this one too. Not much Asian casted for main role when its based on Asian culture. I hope i makes sense. lol
Haute or Not: 1 1
Jul 2, 201012:57 am
Why does it have to be cultural? Why can’t the characters match the series. Funniest scene in the avatar was when the white grand mother opens that scroll written in some kind of Chinese and she’s explaining the history of the Avatar. What was that about. And the ending…. A wave? Listen, I’m not racist but at least try to match the charcters. Night chose the wrong movie to make his own version. Usually M. Night puts himself in just about every film he makes somehow, he went too far by playing the role of every fire nation character. hahaha
Haute or Not: 0 0
Jul 2, 20104:52 pm
to Robin… You are wrong about all of the characters are white except for the Fire Nation.
The Fire Nation of this movie has South Asian and Middle Eastern characters.
The Earth Kingdom has East Asians and Black people
The Air Nomads are mixed with a bunch of light skinned Races (Whites, East Asians and Mixed Raced people)
The Water Tribes are White (It totally makes sense for the Swamp Water Tribe no mater how you look at it) And mixed with other races (The Actress who plays Princess Yue is Hispanic)
I’m hearing a lot of negative reviews about this movie. And it seems like Night definitely failed in this movie, but I believe Race of the actors have nothing to do with the movie being bad.
Bad Script Writing, Bad Directing, Bad Editing, Possibly Bad Acting (Though some think that might be because of bad directing and writing too) crappy last minute conversion to 3D all are reasons that this movie is bad.
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jul 2, 20104:53 pm
Sorry, I meant to Ribbon. Not Robin.
Haute or Not: 0 0
Jul 2, 20108:57 pm
ahhahahah just as i thought the movie sucked i’m glad it wasn’t that good it didn’t deserve it
Haute or Not: 0 1
Jul 3, 201012:25 pm
Race has nothing to do with this movie being bad. M Night could have hired people who looked like Mirror Images of the cartoon character (and also an Asian version of Aang) and still directed it to the ground.
People will continue to say race had something to do with the negative reception of this movie, but the truth is it’s the editing, dialogue, and directing (all of that is the work of M Night, since he directed and wrote the movie) that did it.
One reviewer recognized this and basically summed it up by saying M Night has only had one good movie his whole career…
and Bruce Willis was dead the whole time in it.
Haute or Not: 1 0
Jul 3, 20107:49 pm
M. Night DID cast Asians–the entire Earth Kingdom was populated by Asian actors. Not to mention the actors who played characters in the Fire Nation, who were primarily (if not all) Asian-Indian.
Haute or Not: 3 0
Jul 4, 20106:11 pm
we saw this movie last night and were shocked by the attempt to re-write the cast of Avatar. Its totally racist. The main characters that were supposed to be the good guys were all white. The bad guys were dark skinned, middle eastern looking and all of the extras were asian. This was an absolute insult to Asians and reminded me of how Hollywood tried to depict Egyptians in the late sixties early seventies by using white actors with lots of makup. For those who dont think this is an insult to Asians, imagine someone making a movie about Elvis staring Chris Rock! BOYCOTT THE LAST AIR BENDER, SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT code words like “mainstream” will no longer be tolerated.
Haute or Not: 1 3
Jul 5, 20101:05 am
Shyamalan is Asian. He is of Indian ethnicity, which is from the country of India which is part of the Asian continent thus Shyamalan is Asian. Dev Patel, one of the leads in the movie, is Asian. I highly doubt Shyamalan of being a racist. He may be a capitalist, riding on the American system that is capitalism, but he is not a racist. It was mentioned that the American populace as a whole prefer white characters, maybe Shyamalan was only maximizing profits. After all, it’s all business. It would only make sense that an apt director would choose actors best suited for the role he is seeking, regardless of color as long as one has the skills the actor is looking for. To illustrate, one does not choose a mate because of color, but because of personality trait, emotional and and intellectual connection. And I think that is what Shyamlan is guilty of–of being a director. Not to mention the fact that movies are always the director’s interpretation. The director makes the movie, spends the money, and makes it all possible for the audience to critique and have something to share. Not for slander, mind you. It makes sense that he get to choose his own actors.
On another note, Avatar, the series on Nickelodean, was an American enterprise. Sure it had Asian characters, setting, etc. but really it was made for the American audience. Maybe Shyamalan was only trying to broaden his audience range. I don’t know I can only assume.
In the end, no one is being racist. Someone may just have been extremely bored to cause a very successful spark on the internet that is making the film they are speaking out against that much more popular. If one is not happy about this particular rendition of Avatar, one has the freedom to create his own version. After all, we are in the US, where criticism is welcomed. Slander, on the other hand, is punishable by law.
Haute or Not: 0 1
Jul 5, 20107:07 am
My goodness… there are too many people who just don’t listen… I’m tired of defending this race issue (or NON ISSUE) people obviously choose not to listen…
The irony is M Night planned for Toph (A strong independent young girl main character for the sequels) to be Asian… If people boycott because of race, and that causes the next movie not to be made then those people took away an opportunity for an Asian Actress to have a main character role.
Also… I wouldn’t mind if Chris Rock played Elvis… it’s already a well known fact that Elvis stole his music from Black people to become popular anyways.
I just saw the Box Office numbers for movies… Twilight number 1 for the weekend, The Last Airbender is number 2 and Toy Story 3 is 3rd….
Haute or Not: 2 2
Jul 5, 20101:59 pm
There are a few things I think people are missing. Yes, creative license to change a few things is fine, in fact, I’m willing to let the casting of the water tribe go; if you watch the series carefully, all the characters from the watertribe have blue eyes. The last time I checked there were few to no members of the asian community with NATURALLY blue eyes. Whatever. The casting of Aang, is actually fairly accurate to the cartoons portrayal.
As for the casting of the fire nation and Earth kingdom, these two nations are very clearly built strongly on South East Asian culture. I say and re-iterate South East Asian to clarify for a particular reason.
@ Camil ‘s comment on Shymalan being Asian. Yes. India is part of the Asian continent, but so is Russia, by that definition, Russians, who are included as Caucasian/European in descent, should be considered Asian? Obviously not. I’m not sure how it is around where you live or grew up, but I have not once had an Indian person refer to themselves as Asian. They consider themselves just that, Indian, (or more commonly and much less Politcally Correct, Brown).
The point has been made already, but truly and honestly ask yourself, can you really see past racial re-casting for roles that are written for a particular race?
There are some fantastic Actors out there, amazing actors infact, but the second an audience has to ‘suspend belief’, the actor isn’t doing their job.
A cat can bark and sit and whine like a dog, you can love it, you can hold it, pet it, but in the end, a cat is still a cat.
Haute or Not: 0 1
Jul 9, 20108:35 am
Seriously people? I found the whole Asian movie full of (save for India) non-Asians to be rather interesting and/or contributing to the fantasy factor. One could easily read the racism another way here as Asian culture being exported successfully to non-Asia characters. Oh yeah time for white kids to see how the world will be when China is exporting the Disney tales to Texas.
Haute or Not: 1 0
Jul 11, 20103:26 am
The actual genders and races of what the elements represent are in Rodney St.Michael’s book, Sync My World: Thief’s Honor GA SK. (myconnected.webs.com)
Air = Yellow “race” = Males = Scholars.
Water = Small Browns = Females = Shamans.
Earth = Blacks = Lesbian = Social Ubuntu Business Class.
Fire = Whites = Gays = Military, Militant Business Class.
Ether or Metal = Big Browns = Bisexuals = Working Class, Bi-military
(females & bis go together like Katara & Sokka or brown females and males).
Therefore Aang should be Chinese.
Katara should be a Malay like a Filipina.
The Earth Kingdom should be African.
Zuko should be White like Hitler, Alexander the Gay or Gen. Arthur McArthur.
The Fire Nation’s army should be like the fiery Sacred Band of Thebes (an ancient elite gay army that Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell troops would be envious of) or the Sturmabteilung, the much-feared homosexual stormtroopers of Hitler.
And the Slumdog Millionaire (casted as Zuko) should be Sokka.
This film is just as messed up as the movie Angels and Demons. The branding of the priests were incorrect.
But anyway, from the guy who gave you the Sixth Sense, which did not portray childhood schizophrenia accurately or anywhere near the real world, what do you expect?
Bisexuals love horror and terror. They also scam people, just like the Wizard of Oz. The old Oz film which is also about the Elements is understandably all-white because they were ignorant back then. People have higher standards now, and realism is a must.
But M.Night, the Wizard of South Asia also has lessons for everyone after conning them:
1) Clearly, when people don’t play roles that fit them, everything is messed up. (e.g. “male” clergy in what should be a female realm, forbidding gays in the military which is their territory)
2) Whites are not fit to play the leading roles of Air and Water in the world scene. Leave that to the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea and South East Asia).
3) Arabs are not necessarily the greatest evil in the world. Occasionally, they float like Ether to the ranks of Water. It is fiery whites that fit the role of Lucifer or Satan.
4) By acquiring objective reviews from leading critics, they have agreed themselves that these are all factual objective realities.
Thus, the Wizard, even if he is a con man, is also an accidental pseudo teacher. Partly, it’s called sunyata or “emptiness.”
Haute or Not: 0 2
Jul 11, 20105:00 pm
It’s pretty hilarious to read so many passionate opinions about a movie nearly no one has seen. It is also interesting that those who are complaining about the race issue don’t realize how racist their comments are. Remember that Omar Sharif, who is Franco-Arabic, played a Russian in “Doctor Zhivago,” Vivien Leigh, a Brit played an American southern belle in “Gone With The Wind,” James Caviezel, who is not a Jew, played Jesus in “The Passion Of The Christ,” and Liam Neeson, who is definitely not German, portrayed one in “Schindler’s List.” The list goes on and on. All this racial grumbling is merely ethno-centricism. Get over yourself.
Haute or Not: 3 1
Jul 12, 20109:04 pm
It comes down to making money. The question is who is going ot bring in more money, a cast of Asian charcters or a cast good looking ala “Twilight” actors. Unfortunately, I think we all know the answer.
Haute or Not: 0 1
Jul 13, 20102:54 am
Agree to Jim, it isn’t about color of the skin its about how to bring a character down in the movie…. ( which I don’t see it ).. but any way its nice movie…. U should see it
Haute or Not: 2 0
Jul 17, 201011:05 am
You are all morons… Sorry. Had to say it. Whiny, whiny, morons. Have any of you actually SEEN the movie? There are TONS of Asians in it! Way more than white people, so QUIT YER BELLYACHIN!!! Not to mention, have any of you actually SEEN the cartoon? They’re so ambiguously drawn that they LOOK WHITE! So as far as I can see, they were just trying to play along with EXACTLY what made the cartoon popular! And come on people… If M. Night was WHITE and made this move… sure. Whine all you want about racism. But he’s ASIAN! (Indian, yes, but that’s still technically Asian) If anything, he can do what he wants! Ever see a movie called “Walking Tall,” with the Rock? That’s a TRUE STORY about a WHITE GUY… Is the Rock white? Um.. No. Hear us whining about racism? What about “Gridiron Gang?” Yet again, the Rock playing the roll of a white guy. Yet again, NO WHINING! So when an Asian comes along, and makes and Asian movie about an Asian cartoon where they LOOK WHITE, NOW you all complain? Gimme a break. Grow up and stop pulling the race card. It’s so 90′s! 
Haute or Not: 1 1
Jul 21, 20101:09 pm
you guys are all nuts. the show is an american made, aisian influenced tv series. so for things to be quite clear. Asia does not even exist in the show. i thought it would be obvious if you all understand that just brcause names and culture sound asian, it really does not matter because the show is an animation and the movie is a movie, where actors count and the quality of the movie is based on what we are willig to see as opposed to what everyone believes should be what they think we see, par se , no one is asian!
Haute or Not: 1 1
Jul 30, 20101:15 pm
if you want us to stop pulling the race card QUIT ACTING LIKE A BUNCH OF BACKWARDS ASS RACISTS. Seeing in the news daily about the racist rightwing and thier tea party lapdogs reminds us of how the countries perspectives will never change.
Haute or Not: 0 1
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3:20 pm
Hey what most people fail to see is pure logic…They are either being fooled or want to believe on ideals that doesn’t add up.
An Asian world…..with characters with Asian names…where everyone dress in Asian atire….Writing in Asian language…Practice Asian marital arts…Believe in Asian gods and monsters Philosophy….Buildings and houses are all Asian…. Food they eat are asian styled….Asian features such as black hair balck eyes….. All these seems pretty clear. Is characters nationality White or Asian is pretty clear.
Because American entertainment is a Caucasian fantasy world (most heroes are white). If People believe the characters nationality are european or white decent contradicts with the very series and setting of avatar.
I mean what role does a european or white nationality play in this?
Aside from what I said so far what makes this racist is…….
A European or white descent dressing Asian clothing and rating food with chopsticks and refer him or herself as an Asian is mocking the Asian culture! If Hong kong made a film about Jesus can he be Asian? is very similar as see an Asian person as jesus christ.
Can people accept an Asian as Jesus Christ if so I can accept White people acting as Asians.
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