Live Action Movie Discussion Thread

[Rocketman]

There's one point, though, that'll make this movie watchable or unwatchable for me: if they're doing this in a real-world style highschool setting, but keeping character names like Chi Chi, Goku, Mai and such, then they MUST use at least some Asian actors.

Goku's not Asian.

[Olivier Hague]

Not technically, but I sure would expect him to look Asian...

[Rocketman]

Not technically, but I sure would expect him to look Asian...

Why?

[Anonymous Friend]

Just got done watching a few Kung-fu Hustle and Shaolin Soccer clips and kinda wish Stephen Chow had a hand in developing this movie. But if they can't do with $100 million what Chow did with $20 million on Kung-fu Hustle then that's just sad.

[Teclo]

Not technically, but I sure would expect him to look Asian...

Why?

Well the fact that all Saiyajins seem to have black hair and eyes lends some weight to the idea of them being based on Asians. When you add in the idea that he has a Japanese name, an adoptive grandfather with a Japanese name, a son with a Japanese name, a wife with a Japanese name, a best friend with a Japanese name and he has Japanese writing on his clothes, has moves with Japanese names, a cloud and staff with Japanese names... Bearing in mind that most other characters didn't have Japanese names (just Japanese takes on English words).

Did I mention Japanese names?

I know that there is no Japan in the DBZ world but it's clearly based on it to such a point, and written from that perspective, that it would be foolish to deny the strong associations and any expectations that may arise from them.

(It's kind of like Middle Earth which isn't meant to be Europe and the surrounding area but the Shire which appears as an idealised version of the British countryside is where the UK would be, Rohan who are famous for their cavalry is where France is, who were also famous for their cavalry (the word is even etymologically French), the place where the elephant riding black guys come from is roughly were Africa would be... The evil Mordor is roughly were Germany would be (remember it was written during around the World Wars). Not to mention that Mediterranean (as in the sea) even means "middle earth".)

[Rocketman]

When you add in the idea that he has a Japanese name, an adoptive grandfather with a Japanese name, a son with a Japanese name, a wife with a Japanese name, a best friend with a Japanese name and he has Japanese writing on his clothes, has moves with Japanese names, a cloud and staff with Japanese names...

Which affects his ethnicity/species....how?

[SSJmole]

I agree about goku looking Asain.

Goku in a way (origin and some powers) is like a Japanese version of Superman , When you see him , he looks like everyone else around him who are Japanese.

Just like superman looks like an American as he blends with the Americans around him.


If my point makes sense at all.

[Teclo]

When you add in the idea that he has a Japanese name, an adoptive grandfather with a Japanese name, a son with a Japanese name, a wife with a Japanese name, a best friend with a Japanese name and he has Japanese writing on his clothes, has moves with Japanese names, a cloud and staff with Japanese names...

Which affects his ethnicity/species....how?

Because when a Japanese writer/artist draws a character to look Japanese (more Japanese than most other anime characters who are meant to be Japanese, anyway), gives him and his family Japanese names, has them eat Japanese meals and wear traditional Japanese and Chinese clothing (often with Japanese writing on), it's only natural to take it that maybe, just maybe, he was putting a bit of a Japanese spin on them (to say the least.)

If I made a manga character called Henry Blithington-Stoke, dressed him in a top hat and monocle, had it so he always drank tea and drove a Rolls Royce and had him compete in a football (soccer) tournament called The Bloody Spiffing Football Tournament... Wouldn't you sort of get the impression that he's either meant to be British or at least strongly based on a British person? (Especially since that's my own nationality.) Especially if the planet he lived on was called Earth and had the same climate range, just rearranged continents.

[Contra Deus]

Well the fact that all Saiyajins seem to have black hair and eyes lends some weight to the idea of them being based on Asians. When you add in the idea that he has a Japanese name, an adoptive grandfather with a Japanese name, a son with a Japanese name, a wife with a Japanese name, a best friend with a Japanese name and he has Japanese writing on his clothes, has moves with Japanese names, a cloud and staff with Japanese names... Bearing in mind that most other characters didn't have Japanese names (just Japanese takes on English words).

Did I mention Japanese names?

I know that there is no Japan in the DBZ world but it's clearly based on it to such a point, and written from that perspective, that it would be foolish to deny the strong associations and any expectations that may arise from them.

(It's kind of like Middle Earth which isn't meant to be Europe and the surrounding area but the Shire which appears as an idealised version of the British countryside is where the UK would be, Rohan who are famous for their cavalry is where France is, who were also famous for their cavalry (the word is even etymologically French), the place where the elephant riding black guys come from is roughly were Africa would be... The evil Mordor is roughly were Germany would be (remember it was written during around the World Wars). Not to mention that Mediterranean (as in the sea) even means "middle earth".)

Well, Dragonball was inspired by a Chinese legend, and much of the natural scenery in the DB world seems to reflect rural China (or mainland Asia). Although Goku, Gohan, and Chichi are Japanese, many of the other characters have names that are spoofed off various things (like food, vegetables, fruits, ect.). Mt. Paozu, for instance, could be Chinese, and so could Taopaipai. Because DB is a Japanese production, the characters all speak Japanese, write in Japanese, and observe Japanese customs and characteristics.

Take Bleach for example: the Soul Society is the afterlife where supposedly everyone from all over the world goes to when they die, but for some reason, everything about SS is uniquely Japanese; the architecture, the language and writing, the food, the clothes, the customs, ect. Though, some of the residents of SS are blatantly non-Asian (Tousen, for example, and possibly Matsumoto), they all have Japanese names and speak Japanese.

Anyway, if this movie is being marketed for North America, regardless of whether or not it'll be set in the real world or the DB world, it may not be done from a Japanese perspective. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like Tom Welling in the role of Goku.

[MajinVejitaXV]

Movie has been given a project start date of Fall '08. Wanna bet it doesn't materialize?

-Corey

[Toniofalcon]

Now lets not get prickish.

To me, I just think it wouldn't be quite right if Goku was anything but Asian. Anime characters look so far out that you can't really say they look like a certain race. Though, if you notice, most anime live action adoptions have asian actors. This is probably because these are pretty exclusive to Japan, but still, just wouldn't feel right. Not sure why.

I think all saiyans (+ videl , chi chi, 17, basically most black haired characters that aren't Mr. Satan ) should be asian. Anyone else, probably not.

It doesn't matter if they're asian or not, that hair's going to look fuckin' weird.

[Rocketman]

If I made a manga character called Henry Blithington-Stoke, dressed him in a top hat and monocle, had it so he always drank tea and drove a Rolls Royce and had him compete in a football (soccer) tournament called The Bloody Spiffing Football Tournament... Wouldn't you sort of get the impression that he's either meant to be British or at least strongly based on a British person? (Especially since that's my own nationality.) Especially if the planet he lived on was called Earth and had the same climate range, just rearranged continents.

Yes, he would be culturally British. But if you say he's of another species from a distant planet, then he can never be ethnically British. (Unless the British are the same kind of alien)

Another example, it doesn't matter how well I could integrate into Japanese culture, I will always be Caucasian.

[Alice]

I don't mean every single character must be Asian, just that some characters would seem very wrong cast as white and I'm hoping not every lead will be.

Toriyama said at some point (this is from memory, I can't point out a source) that Goku was originally imagined, before all the alien stuff, as being Chinese-like.

For a movie... eh, he wouldn't have to be. But Chichi, Master Roshi, etc...

[JohnnyBoy_Z]

When you add in the idea that he has a Japanese name, an adoptive grandfather with a Japanese name, a son with a Japanese name, a wife with a Japanese name, a best friend with a Japanese name and he has Japanese writing on his clothes, has moves with Japanese names, a cloud and staff with Japanese names...

Which affects his ethnicity/species....how?

Yeah. I was thinking about this too. If a live action movie does happen, then all of the Saiyans should all have the same features. Remember, they're aliens from another planet. And even though their species does have the same type of body structure as ours, despite their tales, that doesn't mean that their kind has a variety of races like ours does. And that's pretty much how it is. You shouldn't assume that they all should be of asian descent just because they all speak Japanese in the series. That would be a stupid ass idea for a live action movie. They should look like PERFECT human beings, in that their bodies are pure muscle and their strength is beyond human comprehention.

It's common sense, really.

Grandpa Gohan, Muten Roshi, Chi Chi, Kuririn, Yamcha, Tien (not too sure about Chaotzu), Tao Pai Pai and the Crane Hermit are all definitely Chinese. They all wear Chinese attire in the series. Yajirobe is the only Japanese character in the series, I'm guessing. Oh, and there's that one ninja dude Goku fought in Dragon Ball.

[BrollysKin]

Is there actually any new news on the live action movie, or is everyone just yelling at one another because of some absurd issue?

[Chuquita]

I have this.
http://www.animecentral.com/news/story.aspx?ID=45

It's not much though; just says when the movie's due out. (I think its got a later due date than the previous articles).

[mystic trunks]

I think Robin Shou should play Goku. I read in an interview that he is even a fan of the manga so he already knows it pretty well.

[tinlunlau]

I think Robin Shou should play Goku. I read in an interview that he is even a fan of the manga so he already knows it pretty well.

Robin Shou doesn't have that "family guy" look that Goku has.
I think someone younger like Wu Jing (most well known for the recent "S.P.L.") deserves the role more since he has the kid-friendly look as well as his skills in wushu taken in consideration.

[mystic trunks]

I think Robin Shou should play Goku. I read in an interview that he is even a fan of the manga so he already knows it pretty well.

Robin Shou doesn't have that "family guy" look that Goku has.
I think someone younger like Wu Jing (most well known for the recent "S.P.L.") deserves the role more since he has the kid-friendly look as well as his skills in wushu taken in consideration.

I think Robin looks more like goku and he is highly trained. The guy is in phenominal shape. I think his personality fits goku well too.

[Humpski]

Johnny Ngyugen should play Vegeta.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Nguyen

He's a good villain. Watch Tom Yum Goong and see.