Two scans from a Japanese magazine about the l.a. movie

[Adamant]

We are just judging everything by a few images on some random fansites, We should just all remember that it does have a pretty good budget, and it's being produced by one of the biggest companies (Fox!)

I'm sure they don't want to let their reputation down by filming something as big as this, and making it look pants.

Well, Fox are American, after all, so they might be more influenced by the FUNi dub than they should. American fans tend to have a somewhat screwy idea of what Dragonball is supposed to be like, after all, so their reputation might not be too damaged by producing a hackjob.

[Kaboom]

Well, we've just got our latest bit of casting news. It was known that Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters fame was playing some sort of monk character. But now, someone has caught him at a convention, asked him about it, and it turns out he's playing Mutaito, Roshi's Master who was responsible for Piccolo being sealed away.

Very cool, and seems to me like a plus for the movie in terms of story and integrity. Now let's see if we get as much whining from the internet about a black Mutaito as we still are about a non-Asian Goku.

[Kendamu]

What's wrong with wanting an Asian Goku?

[TheGreatness25]

What are the chances that an alien would look human? Now take that and multiply that by the chances of that alien looking like an Asian human. If you ask me, it's miracle enough that he looked human at all.

[Kaboom]

What's wrong with wanting an Asian Goku?

Nothing, it just doesn't seem worth worrying about or throwing a fit over. :/

[Raki]

What's wrong with wanting an Asian Goku?

I think you are asking too much of Fox. They want Americanized Dragonball, so casting an Asian Goku wouldn't make much sense.

[desirecampbell]

Is it too much to ask that Goku have emotions?

[Raki]

Is it too much to ask that Goku have emotions?

{Emotionless Goku pictures snipped}

Any asking is too much when you talk about Dragonball in America.

Post 420.

[disturbed001]

What's wrong with wanting an Asian Goku?

I think you are asking too much of Fox. They want Americanized Dragonball, so casting an Asian Goku wouldn't make much sense.

Yet they cast every other character Asian?

[Raki]

What's wrong with wanting an Asian Goku?

I think you are asking too much of Fox. They want Americanized Dragonball, so casting an Asian Goku wouldn't make much sense.

Yet they cast every other character Asian?

I think they are banking on big returns in America based on their casting choice for Goku.

[Kaboom]

Is it too much to ask that Goku have emotions?

http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/5826/chatwinwe8.jpg

It's just par-for-the-course action movie promotional shots. How often do you see Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis smiling and laughing on their movies' posters?

I think you are asking too much of Fox. They want Americanized Dragonball, so casting an Asian Goku wouldn't make much sense.

Yet they cast every other character Asian?

I think they are banking on big returns in America based on their casting choice for Goku.

They casted appropriately. I hate to resort to this, but Goku... isn't Asian. He doesn't even look Asian. He's a Saiyan, and they're factoring that in from the "beginning." Chi-Chi, Yamcha, and Mai, all characters with more Eastern appearances and names, are casted accordingly. Bulma and Piccolo are casted well for their appearances and personalities, too.

Goku's not Asian, so they didn't cast an Asian dude to play him. That's all there really is to it.

And although it's American-made, they're promoting and giving special treatment to Japanese audiences (Doesn't it premiere over there a week before everywhere else?). I oughta ask around some Japanese residents on other forums how people seem to be taking or anticipating it over there.

[Herms]

They casted appropriately. I hate to resort to this, but Goku... isn't Asian. He doesn't even look Asian. He's a Saiyan, and they're factoring that in from the "beginning." Chi-Chi, Yamcha, and Mai, all characters with more Eastern appearances and names, are casted accordingly. Bulma and Piccolo are casted well for their appearances and personalities, too.

Goku's not Asian, so they didn't cast an Asian dude to play him. That's all there really is to it.

He's not Caucasian either, and he doesn't look any more Caucasian than any of the other Dragon Ball characters. But he certainly has far and away the most Asian name and clothing of any of the initial main characters, being based on Sun Wukong and all. I don't particularly mind the fact that he's being played by a Caucasian rather than Asian actor, but the idea that it somehow makes more sense for it to be that way strikes me as really weird.

I think Ernie Hudson as Mutaito sounds really cool, though I'm not sure why. Maybe just because I like that screencap of him sitting at that round table.

[Rocketman]

Yet they cast every other character Asian?

It is indeed shocking that the non-human is cast to appear different from everyone else.

[Chuquita]

I'd be happier if "Goku" would at least give some emotion. Even if its just a smirk.

No expression at all leads me to think that Chatwin doesn't really care about being in the movie or think much of the role; I could be looking too deep into it though.

[Tanooki Kuribo]

Is it too much to ask that Goku have emotions?

I agree. The Goku we all know and love always has a smile on his face. Eh, maybe we just need to wait to see an actuall clip. Every time I see that image though, this comes to mind...

[Kaboom]

Action movie.

Promotional material for action movie.

Main hero character featured in promotional material for action movie.


"Smiles" do not fit anywhere in that.

[Herms]

Action movie.

Promotional material for action movie.

Main hero character featured in promotional material for action movie.

"Smiles" do not fit anywhere in that.

Does thiscount?

But you do have a point. I mean, even on the poster/covers for Toei's Dragon Ball movies, they generally have Goku with basically the same stern look on his face. The main variation is whether or not his mouth is open...

[Rocketman]

It's just par-for-the-course action movie promotional shots. How often do you see Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis smiling and laughing on their movies' posters?

In my quest to be contrary, I must present this



while agreeing with you that the reaction of "OH GOD TWO STILLS DON'T HAVE HIM SMILING LORD SMITE THESE SINNERS AND DEFILERS OF THINE HOLY WORKS" is, just maybe, overreacting.

[Anonymous Friend]

Herms: Rush Hour's a Buddy-Cop-Comedy. Unless you're gonna say that Chris Tucker is a action hero.

Rocketman: The Indiana Jones series are Adventure theme. See the word Adventure on the poster?

And heck if you took three random pictures of me throught the day you'd probaly get one with my eye crossed, one with my finger in my ear, and the other with one of my eyebrows raised and my head going from side to side.

[Jerseymilk]

And although it's American-made, they're promoting and giving special treatment to Japanese audiences (Doesn't it premiere over there a week before everywhere else?). I oughta ask around some Japanese residents on other forums how people seem to be taking or anticipating it over there.

It is indeed premiering earlier there. From what I've seen around so far, the Japanese media at least anyway, seem quite hyped about it. I think they're just really pleased and excited that this classic anime export of theirs has gotten enough success that Hollywood is making a film.